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

China Southern Airlines / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Outbound &amp; domestic travel activity continued to recover nicely in August</li>
<li>Initial reports suggest Mid-Autumn Festival travel activity was solid, too</li>
<li>After recent surge, we've cut Trip.com to HOLD; check out airlines instead</li>
</ul>


Outbound &amp; domestic travel activity continued to recover nicely in August
Initial reports suggest Mid-Autumn Festival travel activity was solid, too
After recent surge, we've cut Trip.com to HOLD; check out airlines instead


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker: Solid Outbound & Domestic Numbers in August | Cut Trip.com to HOLD

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.


<ul>
<li>The companies that suffered exchange losses in FY23 due to Rmb depreciation will now benefit from potential Rmb appreciation in 2H24 and FY25. Meanwhile, gainers will become losers. </li>
<li>The beneficiaries are <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhen-international-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhen International (152 HK)</a>, <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xinjiang-goldwind-science-technology-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10112:1" rel="noopener">Xinjiang Goldwind (2208 HK)</a>, and <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 (670 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>
<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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-east-education-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27843:1" rel="noopener">China East Education (667 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a> may need to book exchange losses (vs. gains in FY23). </li>
</ul>


The companies that suffered exchange losses in FY23 due to Rmb depreciation will now benefit from potential Rmb appreciation in 2H24 and FY25. Meanwhile, gainers will become losers. 
The beneficiaries are Air China Ltd (753 HK), Shenzhen International (152 HK), China Southern Airlines (1055 HK), Xinjiang Goldwind (2208 HK), and China Eastern Airlines (670 HK). 

Fosun Tourism (1992 HK), China East Education (667 HK), and China Communications Construction (1800 HK) may need to book exchange losses (vs. gains in FY23). 


China Strategy: Re-Assessing the Rmb Exchange Impacts

<ul>
<li>Media rife with narrative of booming inbound foreign tourism to China</li>
<li>But the numbers are well below historical highs, and climbing up from low base</li>
<li>Chinese tourists, not foreign, determine strength of Chinese tourism recovery</li>
</ul>


Media rife with narrative of booming inbound foreign tourism to China
But the numbers are well below historical highs, and climbing up from low base
Chinese tourists, not foreign, determine strength of Chinese tourism recovery


Chinese Inbound Foreign Tourist Arrivals Up 153% Y/Y in H124?! Much Ado About (Almost) Nothing

<ul>
<li>Despite slower top-line growth, Trip.com posted firmer margins in Q224</li>
<li>Cash Operating Expenses as a % of Net Revenue fell by around -250 bps Y/Y</li>
<li>Post-Covid, Trip.com has less competition; BUY with target of US$58 per ADS</li>
</ul>


Despite slower top-line growth, Trip.com posted firmer margins in Q224
Cash Operating Expenses as a % of Net Revenue fell by around -250 bps Y/Y
Post-Covid, Trip.com has less competition; BUY with target of US$58 per ADS


Trip.com Q224: Slower Growth | But Higher Margins | Competition Has Eased | BUY with US$58 Target

China

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.

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China Eastern Airlines (670 HK)

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker: Solid Outbound & Domestic Numbers in August | Cut Trip.com to HOLD

Chinese travel activity in August continued its gradual recovery, and early reports from the recent Mid Autumn Festival suggest activity remained...

Tracking Traffic

Chinese Airlines: Diverging Performance

Chinese airlines are the key beneficiaries of stronger Rmb as US rates drop, driven primarily by their high gearing and significant USD borrowings....

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Strategy: Re-Assessing the Rmb Exchange Impacts

With the US kick-starting the lower interest rate cycle with a 50bp cut overnight and indicated an expectation of an aggregate further 50bp cut in...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chinese Inbound Foreign Tourist Arrivals Up 153% Y/Y in H124?! Much Ado About (Almost) Nothing

Yes, foreign inbound travel to China has shown strong growth so far in 2024, but the numbers are rising from a very low base, and ultimately matter...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q224: Slower Growth | But Higher Margins | Competition Has Eased | BUY with US$58 Target

Trip.com posted slower revenue growth in Q2, but margins improved as the company expertly managed operating expenses. Post-Covid, Trip.com's...

Tracking Traffic

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