Global Mobility/Transport, Equity Long-Short

Mohshin Aziz

Equity Bottom-Up

Cathay Pacific Airways / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>All positives from management: strong demand, loads and yields strong, cargo improving, costs are high but can cope, big profits coming but have to redeem preference shares  </li>
<li>The near-term future is a golden runaway for Cathay Pacific. All the parameters are in the right place and we think this will persist until 1H-2024 at the very least </li>
<li>Cathay Pacific is a value <strong>BUY</strong>, our target price of HK$9.90 (+21% UPSIDE) implies 10x FY2024 PE, parity multiple against its arch-rival <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-airlines-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:74:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Airlines (SIA SP)</a>. </li>
</ul>


All positives from management: strong demand, loads and yields strong, cargo improving, costs are high but can cope, big profits coming but have to redeem preference shares  
The near-term future is a golden runaway for Cathay Pacific. All the parameters are in the right place and we think this will persist until 1H-2024 at the very least 
Cathay Pacific is a value BUY, our target price of HK$9.90 (+21% UPSIDE) implies 10x FY2024 PE, parity multiple against its arch-rival Singapore Airlines (SIA SP). 


Cathay Pacific (293 HK, BUY, TP HK$9.90): Inputs from Analyst Briefing

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

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.


Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

<ul>
<li>Several US customs brokers have been suspended under new, tighter rules</li>
<li>The new rules could make 'de minimis' imports slightly more difficult</li>
<li>Whether it lists in London or NYC, additional rule changes could threaten SHEIN</li>
</ul>


Several US customs brokers have been suspended under new, tighter rules
The new rules could make 'de minimis' imports slightly more difficult
Whether it lists in London or NYC, additional rule changes could threaten SHEIN


SHEIN: Several US Customs Broker Suspensions Tied to Tighter 'de Minimis' Rules

<ul>
<li>In aggregate, traffic among the Big-3 Chinese airlines was up 67% YoY in February and +18% vs 2019. Incontestable proof that China has regained its air travel mojo. </li>
<li>Published March schedules show total implied capacity is 31% higher YoY and 9% higher than 2019 levels. This is driven by domestic travel, international remains depressed. </li>
<li>Driven by domestic travel, international remains depressed. POSITIVE for China Eastern and other North Asian carriers that provide the missing North America link. </li>
</ul>


In aggregate, traffic among the Big-3 Chinese airlines was up 67% YoY in February and +18% vs 2019. Incontestable proof that China has regained its air travel mojo. 
Published March schedules show total implied capacity is 31% higher YoY and 9% higher than 2019 levels. This is driven by domestic travel, international remains depressed. 
Driven by domestic travel, international remains depressed. POSITIVE for China Eastern and other North Asian carriers that provide the missing North America link. 


China BIG-3 Mainland Airlines Traffic 18% Higher than 2019!

<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. 


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)

Cathay Pacific (293 HK, BUY, TP HK$9.90): Inputs from Analyst Briefing

Cathay Pacific analyst briefing states that passenger demand is solid, cargo is improving and cost is fairly manageable. Recovery is here and we...

Mohshin Aziz

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

SHEIN: Several US Customs Broker Suspensions Tied to Tighter 'de Minimis' Rules

US Customs and Border Protection has tightened the rules under which SHEIN and Temu import cheap goods into the US. As a result, six US customs...

Tracking Traffic

China BIG-3 Mainland Airlines Traffic 18% Higher than 2019!

Chinese airlines see significant increase in traffic, with domestic travel driving growth while international remains depressed. China's air...

Mohshin Aziz

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

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Cathay Pacific (293 HK, BUY, TP HK$9.90): Inputs from Analyst Briefing

​Cathay Pacific analyst briefing states that passenger demand is solid, cargo is improving and cost is fairly manageable. Recovery is here and we...

Mohshin Aziz

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

SHEIN: Several US Customs Broker Suspensions Tied to Tighter 'de Minimis' Rules

US Customs and Border Protection has tightened the rules under which SHEIN and Temu import cheap goods into the US. As a result, six US customs...

Tracking Traffic

China BIG-3 Mainland Airlines Traffic 18% Higher than 2019!

​Chinese airlines see significant increase in traffic, with domestic travel driving growth while international remains depressed. China's air...

Mohshin Aziz

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

Cathay Pacific analyst briefing states that passenger demand is solid, cargo is improving and cost is fairly manageable. Recovery is here and we...

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

Chinese airlines see significant increase in traffic, with domestic travel driving growth while international remains depressed. China's air...