HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Speculations on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (753 HK)</a> seeking control of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cathay-pacific-airways-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:243:1" rel="noopener">Cathay Pacific (293 HK)</a> reappeared recently. We think a change in CX's ownership is just a matter of time.</li>
<li>CX has been a more important profit contributor to Air China after the pandemic, and depends on pricing, Air China is expected to benefit from such acquisition.</li>
<li>Both are trading on 0.5SD below their 5-year P/B average and we prefer CX in the short term, but Air China looks to be a better long-term choice. </li>
</ul>


Speculations on Air China Ltd (753 HK) seeking control of Cathay Pacific (293 HK) reappeared recently. We think a change in CX's ownership is just a matter of time.
CX has been a more important profit contributor to Air China after the pandemic, and depends on pricing, Air China is expected to benefit from such acquisition.
Both are trading on 0.5SD below their 5-year P/B average and we prefer CX in the short term, but Air China looks to be a better long-term choice. 


<ul>
<li>Losses at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)</a> narrowed by 42.8% YoY to Rmb1.67bn in 1Q24. If not for the exchange losses, it will be reduced to below Rmb1bn.</li>
<li>Higher jet fuel prices have dragged result despite record 1Q revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% decline in unit costs indicated profitability is climbing. </li>
<li>Valuations are too depressed as the share price is still lacklustre but quarterly losses and gross margin have already trimmed from the troughs of Rmb10.5bn and -98%, respectively.</li>
</ul>


Losses at Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) narrowed by 42.8% YoY to Rmb1.67bn in 1Q24. If not for the exchange losses, it will be reduced to below Rmb1bn.
Higher jet fuel prices have dragged result despite record 1Q revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% decline in unit costs indicated profitability is climbing. 
Valuations are too depressed as the share price is still lacklustre but quarterly losses and gross margin have already trimmed from the troughs of Rmb10.5bn and -98%, respectively.


Air China (753 HK): Steering Back to the Right Lane

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>All three Chinese airlines trimmed their losses in 1H24, suggesting a pick-up in sector fundamentals. However, their 2Q24 bottom line displayed different trends.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)</a> is performing the best, with QoQ improvement in both reported and recurring losses (reduction by 41.7% and 7.4%, respectively).</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-southern-airlines-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1078:1" rel="noopener">China Southern Airlines (1055 HK)</a>, however, dipped back into red in 2Q24 after making a profit in 1Q24. With Air China underperforming YTD, there is room to revenge in 2H24.</li>
</ul>


All three Chinese airlines trimmed their losses in 1H24, suggesting a pick-up in sector fundamentals. However, their 2Q24 bottom line displayed different trends.

Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) is performing the best, with QoQ improvement in both reported and recurring losses (reduction by 41.7% and 7.4%, respectively).

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK), however, dipped back into red in 2Q24 after making a profit in 1Q24. With Air China underperforming YTD, there is room to revenge in 2H24.


Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyse the changes of A-H premium on 146 stocks over the last week. The average A-H premium was 107.8% as of Jul 19th.</li>
<li>The average A-H premium changed by 2.0ppt week-on-week, led by communication services, energy, utilities and offset by consumer staples, information technology, real estate.</li>
<li>We highlight weekly changes in A-H premium for Wuapptec, Air China, China Longyuan, Smic, Yofc, Flat Glass, Ganfeng Lithium.</li>
</ul>


We analyse the changes of A-H premium on 146 stocks over the last week. The average A-H premium was 107.8% as of Jul 19th.
The average A-H premium changed by 2.0ppt week-on-week, led by communication services, energy, utilities and offset by consumer staples, information technology, real estate.
We highlight weekly changes in A-H premium for Wuapptec, Air China, China Longyuan, Smic, Yofc, Flat Glass, Ganfeng Lithium.


A-H Premium Weekly (Jul 19th):Wuxi Apptec, Air China, China Longyuan, Smic, Yofc, Flat Glass

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)</a> had 15.4% interest-bearing debt denominated in USD, vs. 21.3% for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-southern-airlines-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1078:1" rel="noopener">China Southern Airlines (1055 HK)</a>, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. </li>
<li>Recovery of international traffic and routes will help to lower unit costs. Air China's unit costs for FY23 were Rmb4.0445, whereas CSA's were only Rmb3.2000.</li>
<li>There is more upside for Air China's load factor which was down 7.8pp YoY in FY23, compared with -4.7pp for CSA. </li>
</ul>



Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) had 15.4% interest-bearing debt denominated in USD, vs. 21.3% for China Southern Airlines (1055 HK), making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. 
Recovery of international traffic and routes will help to lower unit costs. Air China's unit costs for FY23 were Rmb4.0445, whereas CSA's were only Rmb3.2000.
There is more upside for Air China's load factor which was down 7.8pp YoY in FY23, compared with -4.7pp for CSA. 


China Pair Trade Idea: Long Air China (753 HK), Short CSA (1055 HK)

China

China Southern Airlines Company Limited provides commercial airline services throughout China, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.  The Company also provides other airline related services including aircraft maintenance and air catering.

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the civil aviation industry. It offers passenger, cargo, mail delivery, ground, cargo handling, and other extended transportation services.

Hainan Airlines Co., Ltd. provides passenger and freight air transportation. The Company also provides charter flight services. 

Spring Airlines Co., Ltd. offers air transportation services. The Company provides domestic air transportation, international air transportation, cargo transportation, and other services. Spring Airlines also offers ticket home delivery, insurance transaction, and other services.

Juneyao Airlines Co. Ltd. supplies air transportation services. The Company provides domestic and international routes for passengers and cargoes. Juneyao Airlines also offers ticket home delivery and electronic ticketing services.

China Express Airlines Co., Ltd. provides air transportation services. The Company offers passenger and freight air transportation, aviation equipment maintenance and aircraft leasing, ticket and hotel booking, consulting, and other services. China Express Airlines serves customers worldwide.

China Express Airlines Co Ltd (002928 CH)

COSCO SHIPPING Energy Transportation Co., Ltd. offers marine shipping services. The Company provides refined oil transportation, crude oil transportation, and other services. COSCO SHIPPING Energy Transportation also ships iron ores, dry bulks, coal, and other products.

Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co. Ltd. (H) (1138 HK)

Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co. Ltd. (H)

Shandong Hi-speed Co Ltd. operates and maintains toll roads, bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure facilities.  The Company operates the Jiqing Highway, the Taiqu Road, the Jinan-Huanghe Bridge, the Pingyin Bridge, and the Binzhou Bridge. Shandong Hi-speed also retails petroleum products.

Jiangsu Expressway Company Ltd. constructs, operates, manages and maintains expressways in China.  The Company also provides passenger transportation and other ancillary services along including fueling stations, restaurants, car maintenance and repair and advertising.

Ningbo Port Company Limited primarily provides container, iron ore, crude oil and other cargo handling and related services. The Company also provides integrated logistics and other businesses.

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited operates scheduled airline services. The Company also provides related services, including airline catering, aircraft handling, and engineering.

Qantas Airways Limited provides transportation of passengers through two airlines including Qantas (full service carrier) and Jetstar (low cost carrier), operating international, domestic and regional services. The Company also includes Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Freight which generates diverse revenue streams and adds value for customers and investors.

Japan Airlines Co. Ltd. provides air transportation services. The Company offers a variety of scheduled  flights and unscheduled flights throughout the world as well as offers air courier services. Japan Airlines also provides tickets, resort hotels, and travel agencies services.

American Airlines Group Inc. operates an airline that provides scheduled passenger, freight, and mail service throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and the Pacific.  The Company also provides connecting service throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.

ANA Holdings Inc provides a variety of air transportation-related services. The Company offers scheduled & unscheduled air passenger services and air courier services. ANA sells aircraft parts and provides travel arrangement & reservation services as well.

Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. operates air transportation services.  The Company's services include passenger and cargo transportation, aircraft maintenance, and air catering.  Korean Air Lines provides domestic and international airline services.

EVA Airways Corp. is an air carrier that transports passengers and cargos. The Company operates primarily in Taiwan and serves international route networks in North America, Asia, Europe, and Australasia.

Deutsche Lufthansa Aktiengesellschaft provides passenger and cargo air transportation services worldwide. The Company offers flight and connection programs in North America, Scandinavia, and Asia. Deutsche Lufthansa also provides travel agency, catering, and aircraft maintenance services.

LATAM Airlines Group S.A. is an airline that provides both domestic and international flight services.  The Company provides passenger and cargo services to destinations in Chile, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, and the Pacific.  LATAM Airlines operates passenger aircraft and cargo freighters.

China Airlines Limited provides scheduled international air transportation for passengers and cargo freight throughout cities in Europe, America, Asia, and Australia.

Air China Limited provides passenger, cargo, and airline-related services in China.  The Company is primarily based in Beijing and a major hub for domestic and international air transportation.  Air China's airline-related services include aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul service, ground services, and in-flight catering services.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)

Air China (753 HK): Up Stakes in CX?

With the significant improvement in profit at Cathay Pacific in FY23 and the sustained recovery in international traffic, Air China has an even...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Air China (753 HK): Steering Back to the Right Lane

Exchange losses, lower load, and higher jet fuel prices dragged 1Q24 despite record revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% unit...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chinese Airlines: Diverging Performance

Chinese airlines show signs of improvement in 1H24, but 2Q24 results vary: Air China leads with reduced losses, while China Southern slips back...

Osbert Tang, CFA

A-H Premium Weekly (Jul 19th):Wuxi Apptec, Air China, China Longyuan, Smic, Yofc, Flat Glass

We analyzed A-H premium changes in the past week and highlight A-H premium changes for Wuapptec, Air China, China Longyuan, Smic, Yofc, Flat Glass,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

China Pair Trade Idea: Long Air China (753 HK), Short CSA (1055 HK)

Air China has lower USD debt than CSA, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. Recovery of international traffic will lower unit costs and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Air China (753 HK): Up Stakes in CX?

With the significant improvement in profit at Cathay Pacific in FY23 and the sustained recovery in international traffic, Air China has an even...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Air China (753 HK): Steering Back to the Right Lane

Exchange losses, lower load, and higher jet fuel prices dragged 1Q24 despite record revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% unit...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chinese Airlines: Diverging Performance

​Chinese airlines show signs of improvement in 1H24, but 2Q24 results vary: Air China leads with reduced losses, while China Southern slips back...

Osbert Tang, CFA

A-H Premium Weekly (Jul 19th):Wuxi Apptec, Air China, China Longyuan, Smic, Yofc, Flat Glass

We analyzed A-H premium changes in the past week and highlight A-H premium changes for Wuapptec, Air China, China Longyuan, Smic, Yofc, Flat Glass,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

China Pair Trade Idea: Long Air China (753 HK), Short CSA (1055 HK)

​Air China has lower USD debt than CSA, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. Recovery of international traffic will lower unit costs and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chinese airlines show signs of improvement in 1H24, but 2Q24 results vary: Air China leads with reduced losses, while China Southern slips back...

Air China has lower USD debt than CSA, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. Recovery of international traffic will lower unit costs and...