HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Communications Construction / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The fall in share price in the last five months have sent <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> back to very attractive level. The market has misread the strong 2Q23 result.</li>
<li>2Q23 recurring net profit surged 68.5% as 2Q22 has an inflated base. Gross margin has recorded meaningful YoY recovery while capex, particularly for BOT, has scaled back significantly. </li>
<li>There should not be concerns about CCCC's contract outlook. Its backlog is enough to cover 4.9x FY23F revenue and its PER of 2.7x has provided more than sufficient buffer.</li>
</ul>


The fall in share price in the last five months have sent China Communications Construction (1800 HK) back to very attractive level. The market has misread the strong 2Q23 result.
2Q23 recurring net profit surged 68.5% as 2Q22 has an inflated base. Gross margin has recorded meaningful YoY recovery while capex, particularly for BOT, has scaled back significantly. 
There should not be concerns about CCCC's contract outlook. Its backlog is enough to cover 4.9x FY23F revenue and its PER of 2.7x has provided more than sufficient buffer.


China Comm Const (1800 HK): Well Worth Revisiting

<ul>
<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> is expected to generate higher shareholder return through improvement in profitability/cash flow, spin-off, asset disposal and issuance of REITs.</li>
<li>Operationally, backlog reached Rmb3.39trn at end-FY22, enough to cover 3.9x FY23F revenue. It expects revenue to grow at least 7% and new contract by no less than 9.8% in FY23. </li>
<li>Employee incentive scheme has been adopted with targets including FY21-23 earnings CAGR of at least 8% and FY23 return on net assets of 7.7%. This aligns employee interests with shareholders'. </li>
</ul>



China Communications Construction (1800 HK) is expected to generate higher shareholder return through improvement in profitability/cash flow, spin-off, asset disposal and issuance of REITs.
Operationally, backlog reached Rmb3.39trn at end-FY22, enough to cover 3.9x FY23F revenue. It expects revenue to grow at least 7% and new contract by no less than 9.8% in FY23. 
Employee incentive scheme has been adopted with targets including FY21-23 earnings CAGR of at least 8% and FY23 return on net assets of 7.7%. This aligns employee interests with shareholders'. 


China Comm Const (1800 HK): We See More Stories Coming

<ul>
<li>There is a sharp escalation in business momentum of <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> in 4Q22, with value of new contracts signed surged 95.3% YoY to Rmb510bn.</li>
<li>New contract growth reached 21.6% in FY22, ahead of its target of 11.8%. We estimate its end-FY22 backlog at Rmb3.6trn, which is enough to cover 5x its FY22 revenue. </li>
<li>Local governments' special purpose bond quota may increase by 4-10% in FY23F, boosting CCCC's contract outlook. At 2x PER, 0.2x P/B and 7.6% dividend yield, CCCC stays attractive.</li>
</ul>


There is a sharp escalation in business momentum of China Communications Construction (1800 HK) in 4Q22, with value of new contracts signed surged 95.3% YoY to Rmb510bn.
New contract growth reached 21.6% in FY22, ahead of its target of 11.8%. We estimate its end-FY22 backlog at Rmb3.6trn, which is enough to cover 5x its FY22 revenue. 
Local governments' special purpose bond quota may increase by 4-10% in FY23F, boosting CCCC's contract outlook. At 2x PER, 0.2x P/B and 7.6% dividend yield, CCCC stays attractive.


China Comm Const (1800 HK): Securing Stronger Backlog to Fuel Growth

<ul>
<li>Long <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>, short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-railway-group-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:264:1" rel="noopener">China Railway Group Ltd H (390 HK)</a> is a good strategy to capitalise on the recent underperformance of CCCC.</li>
<li>CCCC has a stronger contract momentum than CRG - its FY24 new contracts were up 7.3%, but CRG was down 12.4%. CCCC is also better positioned for urban construction growth.</li>
<li>In terms of dividend yield, CCCC is higher at 6.8% for FY25, yet CRG is only 6.3%. CCCC's performance should pick up in the rest of 2025.</li>
</ul>


Long China Communications Construction (1800 HK), short China Railway Group Ltd H (390 HK) is a good strategy to capitalise on the recent underperformance of CCCC.
CCCC has a stronger contract momentum than CRG - its FY24 new contracts were up 7.3%, but CRG was down 12.4%. CCCC is also better positioned for urban construction growth.
In terms of dividend yield, CCCC is higher at 6.8% for FY25, yet CRG is only 6.3%. CCCC's performance should pick up in the rest of 2025.


China Pair Trade: Long China Comm Const (1800 HK), Short China Railway Group (390 HK)

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>CSRC's Market Value Management Guidelines will indirectly benefit the H-share stocks with their A-share counterparts with a P/B of below 1x.  </li>
<li>Chinese banks dominated the list with below-book A-shares. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16221:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Bank (6818 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-citic-bank-corp-ltd-ea6c25fd-4b20-45cb-a4a6-df7a60136f03" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:653:1" rel="noopener">China Citic Bank H (998 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/industrial-and-commercial-bank-of-china-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">ICBC (H) (1398 HK)</a> are the prime beneficiaries.</li>
<li>Infrastructure construction companies <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-railway-construction-corp-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:263:1" rel="noopener">China Railway Cons Corp (1186 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-railway-group-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:264:1" rel="noopener">China Railway Group H (390 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 Comm Cons (1800 HK)</a> are also well-positioned to gain.</li>
</ul>


CSRC's Market Value Management Guidelines will indirectly benefit the H-share stocks with their A-share counterparts with a P/B of below 1x.  
Chinese banks dominated the list with below-book A-shares. China Everbright Bank (6818 HK), China Citic Bank H (998 HK), and ICBC (H) (1398 HK) are the prime beneficiaries.
Infrastructure construction companies China Railway Cons Corp (1186 HK), China Railway Group H (390 HK), and China Comm Cons (1800 HK) are also well-positioned to gain.


China & HK Strategy: Names to Watch for Market Value Management

China

China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd is a full service construction company.  The Company's services include construction operations, survey design and consulting. China Railway also has manufacturing operations, real estate operations, and logistics. The Company specializes in railway construction.

China Railway Construction Corp (1186 HK)

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China Railway Construction Corp (1186 HK)

China Comm Const (1800 HK): Well Worth Revisiting

CCCC has become very attractive due to an unjustified fall in share price. Recurring net profit surged 68.5% in 2Q23 and its contract outlook is...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Comm Const (1800 HK): We See More Stories Coming

CCCC is expected to generate higher shareholder return through improvement in profitability/cash flow, spin-off, asset disposal and issuance of...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Comm Const (1800 HK): Securing Stronger Backlog to Fuel Growth

CCCC recorded a sharp 95.3% YoY growth in new contracts signed in 4Q22, finishing the year sharply ahead of its target. Its shares stay very...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade: Long China Comm Const (1800 HK), Short China Railway Group (390 HK)

Long CCCC, short CRG is a strategic move to capitalise on CCCC's stronger contract momentum, better urban construction exposure and higher...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China & HK Strategy: Names to Watch for Market Value Management

SASAC issued "Several opinions on improving and strengthening the market value management of listed companies controlled by central enterprises"...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

China Comm Const (1800 HK): Well Worth Revisiting

CCCC has become very attractive due to an unjustified fall in share price. Recurring net profit surged 68.5% in 2Q23 and its contract outlook is...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Comm Const (1800 HK): We See More Stories Coming

CCCC is expected to generate higher shareholder return through improvement in profitability/cash flow, spin-off, asset disposal and issuance of...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Comm Const (1800 HK): Securing Stronger Backlog to Fuel Growth

CCCC recorded a sharp 95.3% YoY growth in new contracts signed in 4Q22, finishing the year sharply ahead of its target. Its shares stay very...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade: Long China Comm Const (1800 HK), Short China Railway Group (390 HK)

​Long CCCC, short CRG is a strategic move to capitalise on CCCC's stronger contract momentum, better urban construction exposure and higher...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China & HK Strategy: Names to Watch for Market Value Management

SASAC issued "Several opinions on improving and strengthening the market value management of listed companies controlled by central enterprises"...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Long CCCC, short CRG is a strategic move to capitalise on CCCC's stronger contract momentum, better urban construction exposure and higher...