HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Data from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd-23a341d0-4f63-4175-a8c5-ee990906cacd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36424:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com Group (9961 HK)</a> showed good improvement in travel demand for the 2024 New Year holidays. The volume of various orders has surged between 2x and 5x YoY. </li>
<li>Aggregate net profit for the tourism and hospitality sector has turned around to Rmb20.4bn in 3Q23, from losses of Rmb24.7bn a year ago, demonstrating solid profitability recovery.</li>
<li>An average of 32% drop in the sector's share price YTD is unjustified. We like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tongcheng-travel-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27363:1" rel="noopener">Tongcheng Travel (780 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China (H) (753 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fosun-tourism-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27439:1" rel="noopener">Fosun Tourism (1992 HK)</a>.  </li>
</ul>


Data from Trip.com Group (9961 HK) showed good improvement in travel demand for the 2024 New Year holidays. The volume of various orders has surged between 2x and 5x YoY. 
Aggregate net profit for the tourism and hospitality sector has turned around to Rmb20.4bn in 3Q23, from losses of Rmb24.7bn a year ago, demonstrating solid profitability recovery.
An average of 32% drop in the sector's share price YTD is unjustified. We like Tongcheng Travel (780 HK), Air China (H) (753 HK) and Fosun Tourism (1992 HK).  


China Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Boom in 2024 New Year Travel Demand

Equity Bottom-Up

<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 (H) (753 HK)</a> is proposing a new share placement to raise Rmb6bn and HK$2bn. EPS dilution is manageable at 6% so we view the proposal positively.  </li>
<li>The new equity will enhance book value by 11.5% and lower its gearing by 103pp to 399.8%. The full subscription by the parent is also a vote of confidence. </li>
<li>Recent share price weakness is due to the overall weakness in the Chinese equity market, but both macro and operating environments are improving. Selldown is unjustified.</li>
</ul>



Air China (H) (753 HK) is proposing a new share placement to raise Rmb6bn and HK$2bn. EPS dilution is manageable at 6% so we view the proposal positively.  
The new equity will enhance book value by 11.5% and lower its gearing by 103pp to 399.8%. The full subscription by the parent is also a vote of confidence. 
Recent share price weakness is due to the overall weakness in the Chinese equity market, but both macro and operating environments are improving. Selldown is unjustified.


2024 High Conviction: Air China (753 HK) - Update on Proposed Share Placement

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>"Pent-Up demand"? No signs of it anywhere in outbound or domestic metrics</li>
<li>Sluggish outbound demand, capacity trajectories continued to lag in November</li>
<li>YTD share performance weak, mirrors disappointing recovery in travel activity</li>
</ul>


"Pent-Up demand"? No signs of it anywhere in outbound or domestic metrics
Sluggish outbound demand, capacity trajectories continued to lag in November
YTD share performance weak, mirrors disappointing recovery in travel activity


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | No "Pent-Up Demand"! | Weak YTD Returns, Too | (December 2023)

Global Mobility/Transport, Equity Long-Short

Mohshin Aziz

<ul>
<li>FT article uncovers other contributors to surging air freight rates—Chinese online brands Temu and Shein are flooding Western nations with fast fashion and inexpensive e-commerce goods  </li>
<li>The biggest beneficiaries are Chinese carriers with significant air cargo exposure, and Cathay Pacific. This presents a potential catalyst for an earnings beat and a boost to the share price.</li>
<li>Carriers from Taiwan and South Korea will benefit from supply tightness to the U.S.. Logistics providers are unlikely to benefit much due to tight margins and volatile high freight rates </li>
</ul>


FT article uncovers other contributors to surging air freight rates—Chinese online brands Temu and Shein are flooding Western nations with fast fashion and inexpensive e-commerce goods  
The biggest beneficiaries are Chinese carriers with significant air cargo exposure, and Cathay Pacific. This presents a potential catalyst for an earnings beat and a boost to the share price.
Carriers from Taiwan and South Korea will benefit from supply tightness to the U.S.. Logistics providers are unlikely to benefit much due to tight margins and volatile high freight rates 


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fedex-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14577:1" rel="noopener">FedEx Corp (FDX US)</a> (FedEx) will release its 2QFY24 results on 19 Dec after market close. Closely watched as it is the bellwether for global trade and commerce  </li>
<li>Cost reduction initiatives has delivered, and resurgence in e-commerce activities across Asia Pacific could potentially provide positive earnings surprise    </li>
<li>Target price US$299 (7% UPSIDE) based on 15x CY2024 PE (FedEx's historical mean). Our recommendation is to give FedEx a miss, too little upside for the risk </li>
</ul>



FedEx Corp (FDX US) (FedEx) will release its 2QFY24 results on 19 Dec after market close. Closely watched as it is the bellwether for global trade and commerce  
Cost reduction initiatives has delivered, and resurgence in e-commerce activities across Asia Pacific could potentially provide positive earnings surprise    
Target price US$299 (7% UPSIDE) based on 15x CY2024 PE (FedEx's historical mean). Our recommendation is to give FedEx a miss, too little upside for the risk 


FedEx (FDX US, BUY, TP:$299): 2QFY24 Will Shed Light on E-Commerce Resurgence

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)

China Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Boom in 2024 New Year Travel Demand

China's National Immigration Administration estimates there will be 1.56m travelers passing through immigration during the 2024 Chinese New Year...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | No "Pent-Up Demand"! | Weak YTD Returns, Too | (December 2023)

November outbound data were disappointing, and even domestic travel activity metrics appeared to move in the wrong direction. Not surprisingly,...

Tracking Traffic

There's Something About Air Cargo

Chinese e-commerce platforms are driving up air freight rates, benefiting Chinese carriers and other North Asian carriers. This can be a catalyst...

Mohshin Aziz

FedEx (FDX US, BUY, TP:$299): 2QFY24 Will Shed Light on E-Commerce Resurgence

FedEx's 2QFY24 results will be released on Dec 19. The company's cost reduction efforts have been successful, and a boost in e-commerce in Asia...

Mohshin Aziz

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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China Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Boom in 2024 New Year Travel Demand

China's National Immigration Administration estimates there will be 1.56m travelers passing through immigration during the 2024 Chinese New Year...

Osbert Tang, CFA

2024 High Conviction: Air China (753 HK) - Update on Proposed Share Placement

​Air China plans to raise Rmb6bn and HK$2bn through a new share placement to its parent. This will enhance book value by 11.5% and lower gearing by...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | No "Pent-Up Demand"! | Weak YTD Returns, Too | (December 2023)

November outbound data were disappointing, and even domestic travel activity metrics appeared to move in the wrong direction. Not surprisingly,...

Tracking Traffic

There's Something About Air Cargo

​Chinese e-commerce platforms are driving up air freight rates, benefiting Chinese carriers and other North Asian carriers. This can be a catalyst...

Mohshin Aziz

FedEx (FDX US, BUY, TP:$299): 2QFY24 Will Shed Light on E-Commerce Resurgence

​FedEx's 2QFY24 results will be released on Dec 19. The company's cost reduction efforts have been successful, and a boost in e-commerce in Asia...

Mohshin Aziz

Air China plans to raise Rmb6bn and HK$2bn through a new share placement to its parent. This will enhance book value by 11.5% and lower gearing by...

Chinese e-commerce platforms are driving up air freight rates, benefiting Chinese carriers and other North Asian carriers. This can be a catalyst...

FedEx's 2QFY24 results will be released on Dec 19. The company's cost reduction efforts have been successful, and a boost in e-commerce in Asia...