HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The spin-off of the value-added business (VAS) of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-gas-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14315:1" rel="noopener">China Gas Holdings (384 HK)</a> may add HK$0.22-0.83/share to the stock price, or 3.4-12.8%, based on our initial assessment.</li>
<li>VAS generated an operating profit of HK$1.58bn in FY24, up by 5.7% YoY. It is significant to China Gas as this accounted for 23.5% of its total segment profit.</li>
<li>The share price has not reacted much to the news because weak Chinese equity market and uncertainties on the upcoming 1H FY25 result. Once cleared, we see good upside.</li>
</ul>


The spin-off of the value-added business (VAS) of China Gas Holdings (384 HK) may add HK$0.22-0.83/share to the stock price, or 3.4-12.8%, based on our initial assessment.
VAS generated an operating profit of HK$1.58bn in FY24, up by 5.7% YoY. It is significant to China Gas as this accounted for 23.5% of its total segment profit.
The share price has not reacted much to the news because weak Chinese equity market and uncertainties on the upcoming 1H FY25 result. Once cleared, we see good upside.


China Gas Holdings (384 HK): Assessing the Spin-Off of Value-Added Business

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-gas-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14315:1" rel="noopener">China Gas Holdings (384 HK)</a>'s FY24 result is distorted by non-recurring items and provisions. Adjusted net profit, however, has declined by only 4.3%, and is only 2.6% below consensus. </li>
<li>FY25 guidance looks positive as a 6% increase in dollar margin and a 5% increase in gas volume are expected. The Apr-May operating figures support such projections.</li>
<li>China Gas maintained its DPS despite a drop in reported profit, showcasing its confidence. Assuming the same dividend in FY25 and FY26, it will sit on a yield of 7%. </li>
</ul>



China Gas Holdings (384 HK)'s FY24 result is distorted by non-recurring items and provisions. Adjusted net profit, however, has declined by only 4.3%, and is only 2.6% below consensus. 
FY25 guidance looks positive as a 6% increase in dollar margin and a 5% increase in gas volume are expected. The Apr-May operating figures support such projections.
China Gas maintained its DPS despite a drop in reported profit, showcasing its confidence. Assuming the same dividend in FY25 and FY26, it will sit on a yield of 7%. 


China Gas Holdings (384 HK): Still Warrants a Look

<ul>
<li>Dismal share price performance for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-gas-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14315:1" rel="noopener">China Gas Holdings (384 HK)</a> has created an opportunity for bottom fishing. Management also looks positive with 30% profit growth guidance for FY23.</li>
<li>There are rooms for good dollar margin recovery, unit sales rebound and improvement in free cash flow in FY24. Spin-off of value-added services is also a value-enhancing move. </li>
<li>De-Rating over the last three years has put the stock on undemanding multiples of 8x PER and 0.75x P/B. Its 14.8% 3-year EPS CAGR is also better than sector average.</li>
</ul>


Dismal share price performance for China Gas Holdings (384 HK) has created an opportunity for bottom fishing. Management also looks positive with 30% profit growth guidance for FY23.
There are rooms for good dollar margin recovery, unit sales rebound and improvement in free cash flow in FY24. Spin-off of value-added services is also a value-enhancing move. 
De-Rating over the last three years has put the stock on undemanding multiples of 8x PER and 0.75x P/B. Its 14.8% 3-year EPS CAGR is also better than sector average.


China Gas Holdings (384 HK): Worth a Bet Now

<ul>
<li>Core earnings of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> rose 25.2% in FY22, providing solid evidence for its strength against peers. We are delighted to see dollar margin even expanded 4.1%.</li>
<li>Pace of new project addition has not weakened as it secured 25 new projects in FY22. Collectively, they will increase sales volume by 3.2bn cu.m., 7% of FY22 volume.</li>
<li>Net cash of Rmb13.6bn equals 28% of share price, making 8.9% ROE look decent. Market earnings forecast is too low; and even so, it trades on just 7.2x FY23 PER.</li>
</ul>


Core earnings of Kunlun Energy (135 HK) rose 25.2% in FY22, providing solid evidence for its strength against peers. We are delighted to see dollar margin even expanded 4.1%.
Pace of new project addition has not weakened as it secured 25 new projects in FY22. Collectively, they will increase sales volume by 3.2bn cu.m., 7% of FY22 volume.
Net cash of Rmb13.6bn equals 28% of share price, making 8.9% ROE look decent. Market earnings forecast is too low; and even so, it trades on just 7.2x FY23 PER.


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Rock Solid as Usual

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> posted a healthy 2.6% earnings growth for 1H24. If not for the expiry of two oilfields last year, its earnings growth would have reached 6.8%. </li>
<li>Natural gas sales pre-tax margin contracted 0.5pp YoY, but has recovered significantly HoH. Other businesses have all seen good margin expansion. </li>
<li>The company has further accumulated net cash which increased 8.3% in the last six months. At HK$2.76/share, this equals 35% of the share price.</li>
</ul>



Kunlun Energy (135 HK) posted a healthy 2.6% earnings growth for 1H24. If not for the expiry of two oilfields last year, its earnings growth would have reached 6.8%. 
Natural gas sales pre-tax margin contracted 0.5pp YoY, but has recovered significantly HoH. Other businesses have all seen good margin expansion. 
The company has further accumulated net cash which increased 8.3% in the last six months. At HK$2.76/share, this equals 35% of the share price.


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): The Most Solid Play

Hong Kong

China Gas Holdings Ltd. invests in, operates and manages natural gas distribution pipelines.  The Company distributes and sells natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial users, and bottles and sells compressed natural gas.  China Gas also constructs and operates gas stations.

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China Gas Holdings (384 HK)