HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Everbright Water / Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-water-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31446:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Water (1857 HK)</a> (CEW) posted impressive 35.5% rise in 1H21 net profit to HK$548m, driven by strengths across all revenue sources. Besides good increase in construction revenue as more projects are under construction, the 42.4% surge in revenue from operation is a very positive trend. A 4.5pp higher dividend payout ratio YoY suggested that management is confident on 2H21 outlook. CEW has an excellent pipeline of new waste water treatment projects, with 26 of them currently under construction and this should underpin medium-term growth. Moreover, tariff hike will be an added driver for 2H21 bottom line. In our view, there is still huge room to growth through M&amp;As and upgrade of existing projects. At just 0.4x P/B and 3.7x PER for FY21, CEW's valuations have well reflected the concerns of weak cash flow and tight financial position and we believe the current multiples have grossly undervalued the stock.

China Everbright Water (1857 HK) (CEW) posted impressive 35.5% rise in 1H21 net profit to HK$548m, driven by strengths across all revenue sources. Besides good increase in construction revenue as more projects are under construction, the 42.4% surge in revenue from operation is a very positive trend. A 4.5pp higher dividend payout ratio YoY suggested that management is confident on 2H21 outlook. CEW has an excellent pipeline of new waste water treatment projects, with 26 of them currently under construction and this should underpin medium-term growth. Moreover, tariff hike will be an added driver for 2H21 bottom line. In our view, there is still huge room to growth through M&amp;As and upgrade of existing projects. At just 0.4x P/B and 3.7x PER for FY21, CEW's valuations have well reflected the concerns of weak cash flow and tight financial position and we believe the current multiples have grossly undervalued the stock.

China Everbright Water (1857 HK): Post 1H21 Call - Strengths Will Sustain

China Everbright Greentech / Equity Bottom-Up

Due to weaker construction revenue for biomass projects and higher finance costs, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-greentech-0377b31c-5401-466f-987e-9a176b05fb52" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24085:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK)</a> realised a 15% YoY decline in net profit in 1H21. But on HoH basis, this has still increased 3.2%. Except biomass construction, all business segments witnessed good growth. It is encouraging to see operational projects contributed 70% of revenue in 1H21, up massively from 56% a year ago. We believe this trend will improve its earnings quality and financial position over the medium term. Management expects good growth for hazardous and waste treatment segment, both in construction and operational revenue given the project pipeline. Lower capex, collection of subsidies and securitisation will further lift its financial position. At 3.9x PER for FY21, CEGT is not expensive but we still prefer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-environment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15946:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Environment (257 HK)</a>. Alternatively, we cannot rule out the possibility that CEGT will be privatise some time in the future, given its undemanding 0.4x P/B and the reducing need for such a separately-listed vehicle within the China Everbright Group.

Due to weaker construction revenue for biomass projects and higher finance costs, China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK) realised a 15% YoY decline in net profit in 1H21. But on HoH basis, this has still increased 3.2%. Except biomass construction, all business segments witnessed good growth. It is encouraging to see operational projects contributed 70% of revenue in 1H21, up massively from 56% a year ago. We believe this trend will improve its earnings quality and financial position over the medium term. Management expects good growth for hazardous and waste treatment segment, both in construction and operational revenue given the project pipeline. Lower capex, collection of subsidies and securitisation will further lift its financial position. At 3.9x PER for FY21, CEGT is not expensive but we still prefer China Everbright Environment (257 HK). Alternatively, we cannot rule out the possibility that CEGT will be privatise some time in the future, given its undemanding 0.4x P/B and the reducing need for such a separately-listed vehicle within the China Everbright Group.

China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK): Updates from Post-1H21 Call

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

China kicked off its public infrastructure REIT issuance in Jun with an overwhelmingly positive subscription response from the market. For the 9 REITs in the first batch issuance, average placement allocation rate is 14.5% and public allocation rate is just 6.3%. The fund raised only represented a mere 3.3% average discount to the value of the underlying assets, with toll road dominated the overall mix to account for 40% of the overall amount raised.We think that the good demand is positive for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhejiang-expressway-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2178:1" rel="noopener">Zhejiang Expressway Co H (576 HK)</a>, which is the only one under our coverage involved in the first batch, paving the way for more future issuance by the company. We continue to see the following names as the major beneficiaries of China's public infrastructure REIT program - <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhen-intl-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhen Intl (152 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sinotrans-limited-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1321:1" rel="noopener">Sinotrans (598 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-environment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15946:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Environment (257 HK)</a>.

China kicked off its public infrastructure REIT issuance in Jun with an overwhelmingly positive subscription response from the market. For the 9 REITs in the first batch issuance, average placement allocation rate is 14.5% and public allocation rate is just 6.3%. The fund raised only represented a mere 3.3% average discount to the value of the underlying assets, with toll road dominated the overall mix to account for 40% of the overall amount raised.We think that the good demand is positive for Zhejiang Expressway Co H (576 HK), which is the only one under our coverage involved in the first batch, paving the way for more future issuance by the company. We continue to see the following names as the major beneficiaries of China's public infrastructure REIT program - China Communications Construction (1800 HK), Shenzhen Intl (152 HK), Sinotrans (598 HK) and China Everbright Environment (257 HK). 

China Infrastructure REITs: Excellent First Batch Result - Good for Zhejiang Expressway (576 HK)

China Conch Venture Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

We take the FY21 guidances for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-conch-venture-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19943:1" rel="noopener">China Conch Venture Holdings (586 HK)</a> positively and believe they are more important than the FY20 result. In fact, despite a slowdown from 40-50% YoY growth in the previous two years, Conch Venture's 24.6% growth in its core environmental business in FY20 is still a very decent show under a COVID-19 impacted situation.Conch Venture is expecting 76% growth in solid waste treatment volume and a 65% growth in municipal waste treated in its waste incineration business in FY21, on the back of capacity completion. We believe such volume growth should easily support over 80% surge in core environment profit in this year. Its solid project pipeline will further ensure growth beyond FY21. Adding low gearing and undemanding valuation multiples, Conch Venture is well placed in China's environment sector.

We take the FY21 guidances for China Conch Venture Holdings (586 HK) positively and believe they are more important than the FY20 result. In fact, despite a slowdown from 40-50% YoY growth in the previous two years, Conch Venture's 24.6% growth in its core environmental business in FY20 is still a very decent show under a COVID-19 impacted situation.Conch Venture is expecting 76% growth in solid waste treatment volume and a 65% growth in municipal waste treated in its waste incineration business in FY21, on the back of capacity completion. We believe such volume growth should easily support over 80% surge in core environment profit in this year. Its solid project pipeline will further ensure growth beyond FY21. Adding low gearing and undemanding valuation multiples, Conch Venture is well placed in China's environment sector. 

Conch Venture (586 HK): Still Very Well Placed

Canvest Environmental Protection Group / Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canvest-environmental-protection-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:100:1" rel="noopener">Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK)</a> witnessed a good comeback in 2H20 as its BOT construction segment regained pace after the disruption by the pandemic in 1H20. The company finished the year with an 18.1% YoY growth in profit to a record HK$1.05bn, accelerated from 12.7% in 1H20.Thanks to another 10,090 tonnes/day waste-to-energy capacity which will come on stream in FY21, there will be a 47% increase in operational capacity. Adding to this is better gross margin as new plants achieve higher utilisation levels. Hence, management guides for an encouraging outlook, and we expect healthy double-digit EPS growth over the next two years. Its low valuations of 6.8x PER and 1.1x P/B (ROE of 16.5%) have sufficiently discounted the concerns on high leverage, in our view.

Canvest Environmental Protection Group (1381 HK) witnessed a good comeback in 2H20 as its BOT construction segment regained pace after the disruption by the pandemic in 1H20. The company finished the year with an 18.1% YoY growth in profit to a record HK$1.05bn, accelerated from 12.7% in 1H20.Thanks to another 10,090 tonnes/day waste-to-energy capacity which will come on stream in FY21, there will be a 47% increase in operational capacity. Adding to this is better gross margin as new plants achieve higher utilisation levels. Hence, management guides for an encouraging outlook, and we expect healthy double-digit EPS growth over the next two years. Its low valuations of 6.8x PER and 1.1x P/B (ROE of 16.5%) have sufficiently discounted the concerns on high leverage, in our view.  

Canvest Env (1381 HK): Setting a Positive Tone for Further Strength

China

China Everbright Greentech Limited focuses on green technology businesses. The Company engages in projects revolving around biomass, hazardous waste treatment, and solar and wind energy.

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China Everbright Greentech (1257 HK)

China Everbright Water (1857 HK): Post 1H21 Call - Strengths Will Sustain

After posting solid 1H21 net profit, China Everbright Water will continue to see good prospects into 2H21. New project completion, higher tariff...

Osbert Tang, CFA