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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>China may bring ahead quota for special purpose bond issuance in 2023 to 2H22. This may potentially at Rmb1.5trn (US$220bn), which will provide big boost to the economy.</li>
<li>For 5M22, the three most important areas of spending of local government bond proceeds are urban construction and industrial park, social services and transport infrastructure.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-state-construction-int-l-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10038:1" rel="noopener">China State Construction Int'l (3311 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-conch-cement-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:159:1" rel="noopener">Anhui Conch Cement (914 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 (390 HK)</a>, <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 (586 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anta-sports-products-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10261:1" rel="noopener">Anta Sports (2020 HK)</a> are the top picks.</li>
</ul>


China may bring ahead quota for special purpose bond issuance in 2023 to 2H22. This may potentially at Rmb1.5trn (US$220bn), which will provide big boost to the economy.
For 5M22, the three most important areas of spending of local government bond proceeds are urban construction and industrial park, social services and transport infrastructure.

China State Construction Int'l (3311 HK), Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK), China Railway Group (390 HK), China Conch Venture (586 HK) and Anta Sports (2020 HK) are the top picks.


China Stimulus: These Are the Key Beneficiaries

<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> made efforts to reduce debt and realise asset value lately through selling subsidiary minority stakes or issuing REIT. It is deeply undervalued at 0.21x P/B. </li>
<li>CCCC sold 4.84-9.98% stakes in four subsidiaries for Rmb7.5bn while maintaining controlling interests. We estimate this will reduce its end-3Q21 debt by 1.5%, with similar reduction in finance costs.</li>
<li>Its REIT issuance on the Jiatong Section of Wuhan-Shenzhen Expressway is progressing well and we see this to be an important tool for further recycle of projects to generate cash.</li>
</ul>



China Communications Construction (1800 HK) made efforts to reduce debt and realise asset value lately through selling subsidiary minority stakes or issuing REIT. It is deeply undervalued at 0.21x P/B. 
CCCC sold 4.84-9.98% stakes in four subsidiaries for Rmb7.5bn while maintaining controlling interests. We estimate this will reduce its end-3Q21 debt by 1.5%, with similar reduction in finance costs.
Its REIT issuance on the Jiatong Section of Wuhan-Shenzhen Expressway is progressing well and we see this to be an important tool for further recycle of projects to generate cash.


China Comm Const (1800 HK): Taking Meaningful Steps to Reduce Debt

China

China Railway Group Ltd. offers transportation systems construction services. The Company builds railroads, roads, tunnels, and bridges.

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China Railway Group Ltd H (390 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 Stimulus: These Are the Key Beneficiaries

Potential massive special purpose bond issuance by local governments in 2H22 (brought forward from 2023) will provide a much-needed boost to the...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Comm Const (1800 HK): Taking Meaningful Steps to Reduce Debt

CCCC is progressing to reduce debt by selling minority stakes in subsidiaries and issuing REIT on toll road asset. These moves are positive and its...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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