HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Everbright Environment / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<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> will benefit immensely from the lower debt burden of local governments as the central government rolls out more fiscal support measures.</li>
<li>We anticipate an acceleration in receivable collection to improve its cash flow while the new projects pipeline may speed up. Its FCF has positively turned around in 1H24.</li>
<li>Despite recent outperformance, it remains a laggard since 2022. Still, it trades on an undemanding 5.5x PER and an appealing 6.3% yield on a higher dividend payout. </li>
</ul>



China Everbright Environment (257 HK) will benefit immensely from the lower debt burden of local governments as the central government rolls out more fiscal support measures.
We anticipate an acceleration in receivable collection to improve its cash flow while the new projects pipeline may speed up. Its FCF has positively turned around in 1H24.
Despite recent outperformance, it remains a laggard since 2022. Still, it trades on an undemanding 5.5x PER and an appealing 6.3% yield on a higher dividend payout. 


China Everbright Env (257 HK): An Underappreciated Beneficiary

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>With a range of 34.5-68.1%, our five best calls in 2024 generated an average return of 54.1% YTD, outperforming the Hang Seng Index by 26.2pp. </li>
<li>
<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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dongfang-electric-corporation-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1251:1" rel="noopener">Dongfang Electric (1072 HK)</a> are expected to sustain strengths into 2025 on market value management and pick-up in new orders.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xinhua-winshare-publishing-media-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15072:1" rel="noopener">Xinhua Winshare (811 HK)</a>, <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>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sitc-international-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15301:1" rel="noopener">SITC International (1308 HK)</a> may hold their share price, but gains are unlikely to be as much as 2024.</li>
</ul>


With a range of 34.5-68.1%, our five best calls in 2024 generated an average return of 54.1% YTD, outperforming the Hang Seng Index by 26.2pp. 

China Communications Construction (1800 HK) and Dongfang Electric (1072 HK) are expected to sustain strengths into 2025 on market value management and pick-up in new orders.

Xinhua Winshare (811 HK), China Everbright Environment (257 HK), and SITC International (1308 HK) may hold their share price, but gains are unlikely to be as much as 2024.


Our Best Calls in 2024: Review and Outlook for 2025

China Conch Venture Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

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<li>
<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> is now at negative stub value, the low-end since 2020. This is despite a 16.4% growth in 1H22 core earnings to Rmb542m.</li>
<li>The company's waste-to-energy (WTE) capacity will increase by 25% in FY23 and its internal target calls for an earnings CAGR of 33% between FY21 and FY25 for WTE segment.</li>
<li>We should not underestimate the potential from new business initiatives including cathode and anode materials and lithium battery recycling. They have good medium-to-long term exposure to China's new energy industry.</li>
</ul>



China Conch Venture Holdings (586 HK) is now at negative stub value, the low-end since 2020. This is despite a 16.4% growth in 1H22 core earnings to Rmb542m.
The company's waste-to-energy (WTE) capacity will increase by 25% in FY23 and its internal target calls for an earnings CAGR of 33% between FY21 and FY25 for WTE segment.
We should not underestimate the potential from new business initiatives including cathode and anode materials and lithium battery recycling. They have good medium-to-long term exposure to China's new energy industry.


Conch Venture (586 HK): An Overlooked Value Play

<ul>
<li>The FY21 result of <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> (CEE) should look impressive and we see improvement in cash flow to relieve market concerns on leverage and financial position.  </li>
<li>New project addition is solid over the last three months, adding about 5% to operational project portfolio. Strong special purpose bonds issuance in 4Q21 and 2022 will fuel pipeline momentum.</li>
<li>Valuations look undemanding at 4.1x PER and 0.65x P/B for FY22F; and by maintaining payout ratio at c.30%, dividend yields are at attractive 6.4% and 7.4% for next 2 years.</li>
</ul>


The FY21 result of China Everbright Environment (257 HK) (CEE) should look impressive and we see improvement in cash flow to relieve market concerns on leverage and financial position.  
New project addition is solid over the last three months, adding about 5% to operational project portfolio. Strong special purpose bonds issuance in 4Q21 and 2022 will fuel pipeline momentum.
Valuations look undemanding at 4.1x PER and 0.65x P/B for FY22F; and by maintaining payout ratio at c.30%, dividend yields are at attractive 6.4% and 7.4% for next 2 years.


China Everbright Environment (257 HK): Roaring in the Year of Tiger!

<ul>
<li>Despite a 3.8% decline in FY23 net profit, <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>'s profitability has still outperformed its peers by significant magnitudes. </li>
<li>Positive notes in the result are an increase in operation service revenue proportion, expansion in EBITDA margin, improvement in financial position, and addition of new projects.</li>
<li>It is easy for CEE to achieve the market expectation of a 9.8% growth in FY24. Yet, it just trade on 3.6x PER, 8.5% yield, and 0.34x P/B. </li>
</ul>


Despite a 3.8% decline in FY23 net profit, China Everbright Environment (257 HK)'s profitability has still outperformed its peers by significant magnitudes. 
Positive notes in the result are an increase in operation service revenue proportion, expansion in EBITDA margin, improvement in financial position, and addition of new projects.
It is easy for CEE to achieve the market expectation of a 9.8% growth in FY24. Yet, it just trade on 3.6x PER, 8.5% yield, and 0.34x P/B. 


China Everbright Environment (257 HK): Being Penalised Too Much

Hong Kong

China Everbright International Limited provides environmental protection project management and consultancy services. The Company's operations are broken up into environmental energy, environmental water, environmental construction and environmental technology.

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China Everbright Environment (257 HK)

China Everbright Env (257 HK): An Underappreciated Beneficiary

CEE is poised to benefit from a lower local government debt burden on increased fiscal support, with improved cash flow, accelerated project...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Our Best Calls in 2024: Review and Outlook for 2025

Our best calls for 2024 outperformed HSI, with CCCC and Dongfang Electric expected to sustain into 2025. Xinhua Winshare, China Everbright Env,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Conch Venture (586 HK): An Overlooked Value Play

The market has deeply undervalued Conch Venture's waste-to-energy business as reflected by the negative stub value. New business initiatives and...

Osbert Tang, CFA