Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Chinese online travel agency (OTA) <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tongcheng-elong-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27363:1" rel="noopener">Tongcheng-Elong Holdings Ltd (780 HK)</a> released Q3 results on Monday evening in HK. Revenue and adjusted EBITDA were still below year-ago levels, but both metrics were significantly improved from Q2 levels. Notably, purchasing users in Q3 were flat YoY.</p>
<p>Market leading OTA <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a> will report its Q3 results on Tuesday, December 1st after the US close. We expect Trip.com to report a sequential improvement, but we believe Q3 results will show its recovery lags Tongcheng-ELong's, mainly due to Trip.com's international exposure.</p>
<p>The expected availability of Covid19 vaccines in 2021 should eventually open up cross-border travel for Chinese tourists next year, but Trip.com and other travel service providers may still be facing a difficult start to 2021, including the long Lunar New Year holiday in February.</p>
<p>As such, we retain a negative view of Chinese tourism demand in the medium-term, anticipating that even a return to the modest demand growth seen pre-Covid19 will require another few quarters, at least. </p>

Chinese online travel agency (OTA) Tongcheng-Elong Holdings Ltd (780 HK) released Q3 results on Monday evening in HK. Revenue and adjusted EBITDA were still below year-ago levels, but both metrics were significantly improved from Q2 levels. Notably, purchasing users in Q3 were flat YoY.
Market leading OTA Trip.com (TCOM US) will report its Q3 results on Tuesday, December 1st after the US close. We expect Trip.com to report a sequential improvement, but we believe Q3 results will show its recovery lags Tongcheng-ELong's, mainly due to Trip.com's international exposure.
The expected availability of Covid19 vaccines in 2021 should eventually open up cross-border travel for Chinese tourists next year, but Trip.com and other travel service providers may still be facing a difficult start to 2021, including the long Lunar New Year holiday in February.
As such, we retain a negative view of Chinese tourism demand in the medium-term, anticipating that even a return to the modest demand growth seen pre-Covid19 will require another few quarters, at least. 

Tough Times (Still) In Chinese Tourism | Trip.com Q3 Preview | TongCheng-ELong Q3 Review

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Southern Airlines / Equity Bottom-Up

<p><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> blew away its peers <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-eastern-airlines-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1079:1" rel="noopener">China Eastern Airlines Co (H) (670 HK)</a> and <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> in Oct with its impressive traffic and load performance, thanks to the encouraging demand during the "Double Festivals" Golden Week. Meanwhile, its freight traffic is also the strongest among the Big 3s, logging just a 2.1% decline but both regional and international routes are back in the positive zone.</p><p>CSA has given back 2-3pp of its outperformance against Air China in last week due to the expectation of international traffic recovery, but it has still outperformed the latter by 13.6pp. We believe such recovery will be very gradual, and CSA will stay benefiting from the resilient domestic traffic and the strength of Rmb against USD.</p>

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) blew away its peers China Eastern Airlines Co (H) (670 HK) and Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) in Oct with its impressive traffic and load performance, thanks to the encouraging demand during the "Double Festivals" Golden Week. Meanwhile, its freight traffic is also the strongest among the Big 3s, logging just a 2.1% decline but both regional and international routes are back in the positive zone.CSA has given back 2-3pp of its outperformance against Air China in last week due to the expectation of international traffic recovery, but it has still outperformed the latter by 13.6pp. We believe such recovery will be very gradual, and CSA will stay benefiting from the resilient domestic traffic and the strength of Rmb against USD.

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): Domestic Strength Stays on Course

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

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.

Equity Capital Markets

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<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-airlines-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1184:1" rel="noopener">Japan Airlines (9201 JP)</a> plans to raise around US$1.4bn in order to shore up its balance sheet and aid its longer term transformation.</p>
<p> I have covered the background of the deal in my earlier write-up, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-airlines-placement-given-the-uncertain-outlook-might-need-further-correction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japan Airlines Placement - Given the Uncertain Outlook, Might Need Further Correction</a>.</p>
</div><div><div id="annotable-executive_summary-2">In this insight, I'll talk about the updates since then.</div></div>


Japan Airlines (9201 JP) plans to raise around US$1.4bn in order to shore up its balance sheet and aid its longer term transformation.
 I have covered the background of the deal in my earlier write-up, Japan Airlines Placement - Given the Uncertain Outlook, Might Need Further Correction.
In this insight, I'll talk about the updates since then.

Japan Airlines Placement - Tricky Tricky, Needs to Correct

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

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<div>During COVID-19, tech stocks have led the markets supported by demand expansion, strong balance sheets filled with cash, and innovative products. At the end of the cycle, there should be a rotation towards cyclical and value stocks but this time around is policy-induced recovery and during the COVID-19 crisis, tech stocks have led the recovery ahead of the cyclical. The question is whether this will carry on and large tech names to continue leading market recovery while cyclical drag their feet?</div>
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<div>The regulator in China has given dominant tech names a slap in the wrist with the anti-trust law that proposes to democratize the payment systems that will inevitably break up the monopolies and these companies will lose their customers' stickiness. </div>
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<div>In light of the <strong>antitrust</strong> law and the real economic recovery in China, investors should start to underweight technology stocks in China such as Tencent, Alibaba, Meituan, and start to overweight travel and tourism stocks such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1080:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (A) (601111 CH)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/travelsky-technology-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19829:1" rel="noopener">Travelsky Technology Ltd H (696 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cathay-pacific-airways-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:243:1" rel="noopener">Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK)</a> and also Industrials such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zoomlion-heavy-industry-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7817:1" rel="noopener">Zoomlion Heavy Industry H (1157 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sany-heavy-equipment-intl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11104:1" rel="noopener">Sany Heavy Equipment Intl (631 HK)</a>expecting that construction works can resume at full capacity anytime soon. </div>
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<div>Globally, dominant tech stocks (FANGS) such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/facebook-inc-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:665:1" rel="noopener">Facebook Inc A (FB US)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apple-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:666:1" rel="noopener">Apple Inc (AAPL US)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netflix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20451:1" rel="noopener">Netflix Inc (NFLX US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alphabet-inc-cl-c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11369:1" rel="noopener">Alphabet Inc Cl C (GOOG US)</a> should start to be underweight due to the potential punitive measures from the House if Democrats win. Investors should start to overweight industrial stocks such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/caterpillar-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:697:1" rel="noopener">Caterpillar Inc (CAT US)</a> and staples such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/procter-gamble-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:978:1" rel="noopener">Procter &amp; Gamble Co (PG US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nestle-sa-020546b9-e58a-465b-a5ac-98e84143bf4c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27908:1" rel="noopener">Nestle SA (NESN SW)</a> . </div>
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<div>Investors should also consider start building positions in blue-chip with moat names such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/visa-inc-class-a-shares" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8707:1" rel="noopener">Visa Inc Class A Shares (V US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/travelers-cos-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10300:1" rel="noopener">Travelers Cos (TRV US)</a> as they provide stability and proxy to America's economic recovery. </div>


During COVID-19, tech stocks have led the markets supported by demand expansion, strong balance sheets filled with cash, and innovative products. At the end of the cycle, there should be a rotation towards cyclical and value stocks but this time around is policy-induced recovery and during the COVID-19 crisis, tech stocks have led the recovery ahead of the cyclical. The question is whether this will carry on and large tech names to continue leading market recovery while cyclical drag their feet?


The regulator in China has given dominant tech names a slap in the wrist with the anti-trust law that proposes to democratize the payment systems that will inevitably break up the monopolies and these companies will lose their customers' stickiness. 



In light of the antitrust law and the real economic recovery in China, investors should start to underweight technology stocks in China such as Tencent, Alibaba, Meituan, and start to overweight travel and tourism stocks such as Air China Ltd (A) (601111 CH) , Travelsky Technology Ltd H (696 HK) , Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK) and also Industrials such as Zoomlion Heavy Industry H (1157 HK) and Sany Heavy Equipment Intl (631 HK)expecting that construction works can resume at full capacity anytime soon. 

Globally, dominant tech stocks (FANGS) such as Facebook Inc A (FB US) , Apple Inc (AAPL US) , Netflix Inc (NFLX US) and Alphabet Inc Cl C (GOOG US) should start to be underweight due to the potential punitive measures from the House if Democrats win. Investors should start to overweight industrial stocks such as Caterpillar Inc (CAT US) and staples such as Procter &amp; Gamble Co (PG US) and Nestle SA (NESN SW) . 

Investors should also consider start building positions in blue-chip with moat names such as Visa Inc Class A Shares (V US) and Travelers Cos (TRV US) as they provide stability and proxy to America's economic recovery. 

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a> rallied 14% on Monday in the US on news that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pfizer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1131:1" rel="noopener">Pfizer Inc (PFE US)</a>'s Covid19 vaccine had been found highly effective, and that distribution of the vaccine would begin before the end of 2020. Many travel-related stocks, such as airlines (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/american-airlines-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3663:1" rel="noopener">American Airlines Group (AAL US)</a>, +15%) and cruise operators (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/royal-caribbean-cruises-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1629:1" rel="noopener">Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL US)</a>, +29%) also rallied by 10% or more. </p><p>We have anticipated a rebound in Chinese travel-related shares when there is positive news about a 'normalization' of travel, especially cross-border travel, which has been hit harder than domestic travel. As investors in Chinese travel-related stocks begin thinking about a return to 'normal' market conditions for the sector, now is probably a good time to revisit what 'normal' means. </p><p>In the months prior to the emergence of Covid19, Chinese travel demand -- outbound and domestic -- was by several measures quite weak. While there will likely be a brief period in 2021 during which pent-up demand is finally met with easing travel restrictions, we believe that in the medium-term demand growth will sink back to the single digits. </p>

Trip.com (TCOM US) rallied 14% on Monday in the US on news that Pfizer Inc (PFE US)'s Covid19 vaccine had been found highly effective, and that distribution of the vaccine would begin before the end of 2020. Many travel-related stocks, such as airlines (American Airlines Group (AAL US), +15%) and cruise operators (Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL US), +29%) also rallied by 10% or more. We have anticipated a rebound in Chinese travel-related shares when there is positive news about a 'normalization' of travel, especially cross-border travel, which has been hit harder than domestic travel. As investors in Chinese travel-related stocks begin thinking about a return to 'normal' market conditions for the sector, now is probably a good time to revisit what 'normal' means. In the months prior to the emergence of Covid19, Chinese travel demand -- outbound and domestic -- was by several measures quite weak. While there will likely be a brief period in 2021 during which pent-up demand is finally met with easing travel restrictions, we believe that in the medium-term demand growth will sink back to the single digits. 

Trip.com Rallies 14% on Vaccine News. But What's the 'Normal' We'll Return To in 2021?

Hong Kong

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

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Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK)

Tough Times (Still) In Chinese Tourism | Trip.com Q3 Preview | TongCheng-ELong Q3 Review

In Q3, TongCheng-ELong showed growth versus Q2, though revenue and earnings remain lower than a year ago. We expect Trip.com's Q3 results to be far...

Tracking Traffic

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): Domestic Strength Stays on Course

CSA sustained its passenger traffic outperformance into Oct, and its freight volume is also the best among the Big 3s. 4Q20 will stay encouraging...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Japan Airlines Placement - Tricky Tricky, Needs to Correct

Japan Airlines (9201 JP) plans to raise around US$1.4bn in order to shore up its balance sheet and aid its longer term transformation.

Sumeet Singh

Tech Sell-Off: Stop or Carry On?

In light of the anti-trust law in China, real economic recovery, higher corporate tax rates in the US, and breakup of dominant tech firms,...

Henry Soediarko

Trip.com Rallies 14% on Vaccine News. But What's the 'Normal' We'll Return To in 2021?

An effective vaccine is part of what will get China and the world back to 'normal' travel demand. But even before Covid19 erupted, Chinese travel...

Tracking Traffic

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