HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

Hope Education Group Co Ltd / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Despite the plunge in share price after FY22 result, we think <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hope-education-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27321:1" rel="noopener">Hope Education Group Co Ltd (1765 HK)</a> has not yet reached its bottom given the challenging outlook faced.</li>
<li>We are concerned about stretched financial position with gearing surged 32.5pp in last year. Heavy capex and need to repay outstanding convertible bonds will strain its cash flow.  </li>
<li>Market earnings expectations are still overly optimistic. New schools looks to drag on near-term margins while surge in staffing, primarily teacher, costs is an added pressure.</li>
</ul>


Despite the plunge in share price after FY22 result, we think Hope Education Group Co Ltd (1765 HK) has not yet reached its bottom given the challenging outlook faced.
We are concerned about stretched financial position with gearing surged 32.5pp in last year. Heavy capex and need to repay outstanding convertible bonds will strain its cash flow.  
Market earnings expectations are still overly optimistic. New schools looks to drag on near-term margins while surge in staffing, primarily teacher, costs is an added pressure.


Hope Education (1765 HK): Have We Reached the Bottom?

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The sharp rally of China's higher education stocks on 18 Nov reflects positive sentiment from announcement of "Implementation Plan for the Project of Reaching the Standards for Running Vocational Schools".</li>
<li>For <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-education-group-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18218:1" rel="noopener">China Education Group (839 HK)</a>, potential resumption of dividend will be a driver. The 48% increase in 2022/23 registered students and 10pp utilisation growth have secured FY23 outlook.  </li>
<li>CEG's premium valuations are justified by execution capability, asset quality and earnings outlook. FY23 consensus forecasts are just too low and upgrades will be positive catalysts.</li>
</ul>


The sharp rally of China's higher education stocks on 18 Nov reflects positive sentiment from announcement of "Implementation Plan for the Project of Reaching the Standards for Running Vocational Schools".
For China Education Group (839 HK), potential resumption of dividend will be a driver. The 48% increase in 2022/23 registered students and 10pp utilisation growth have secured FY23 outlook.  
CEG's premium valuations are justified by execution capability, asset quality and earnings outlook. FY23 consensus forecasts are just too low and upgrades will be positive catalysts.


China Private Education: A Massive Comeback?

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

Brilliance China Automotive / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>We see 3 potential adds for the HSCI in December. We also see 26 potential adds and 16 potential deletes for the index in March.</li>
<li>Following the March rebalance, we see 22 potential inclusions to Stock Connect while we expect 37 stocks to be removed from the link.</li>
<li>Some of the potential deletions/ Stock Connect drops have large Southbound holdings and some of these positions could be pared back over the next few months.</li>
</ul>


We see 3 potential adds for the HSCI in December. We also see 26 potential adds and 16 potential deletes for the index in March.
Following the March rebalance, we see 22 potential inclusions to Stock Connect while we expect 37 stocks to be removed from the link.
Some of the potential deletions/ Stock Connect drops have large Southbound holdings and some of these positions could be pared back over the next few months.


HSCI Index Rebalance and Stock Connect: Changes at the Margins

Zhejiang Leapmotor Technologie / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>We see three new listings as potential inclusions to the HSCI in December. One is already in Stock Connect, one will be added to Stock Connect while one will not.</li>
<li>Given the large market moves, there will be many changes to the HSCI in March 2023. Quite a few stocks could remain in the HSCI but drop out of Connect.</li>
<li>Some of the potential deletions/ Stock Connect drops have large Southbound holdings and some of these positions could be pared back over the next few months.</li>
</ul>


We see three new listings as potential inclusions to the HSCI in December. One is already in Stock Connect, one will be added to Stock Connect while one will not.
Given the large market moves, there will be many changes to the HSCI in March 2023. Quite a few stocks could remain in the HSCI but drop out of Connect.
Some of the potential deletions/ Stock Connect drops have large Southbound holdings and some of these positions could be pared back over the next few months.


HSCI Index Rebalance and Stock Connect: Potential Changes in December & March (There's a Lot!)

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hope-education-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27321:1" rel="noopener">Hope Education Group Co Ltd (1765 HK)</a> achieved good student enrollment quota increase for 2022/2023 academic year and student recruitment results at overseas schools are also very encouraging. </li>
<li>Improvement in teaching quality and better facilities should narrow the gap of fees per student (Rmb11,814) with the national average (Rmb20,000), driving net profit growth in 3-5 years. </li>
<li>Capex will come down over time given good upside in utilisation and the removal of management fees will relieve financial position. Its relative valuation is also inexpensive. </li>
</ul>



Hope Education Group Co Ltd (1765 HK) achieved good student enrollment quota increase for 2022/2023 academic year and student recruitment results at overseas schools are also very encouraging. 
Improvement in teaching quality and better facilities should narrow the gap of fees per student (Rmb11,814) with the national average (Rmb20,000), driving net profit growth in 3-5 years. 
Capex will come down over time given good upside in utilisation and the removal of management fees will relieve financial position. Its relative valuation is also inexpensive. 


Hope Education (1765 HK): More than Just Hopes

China

China YuHua Education operates private education from kindergarten to university in China.

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China Yuhua Education (6169 HK)

Hope Education (1765 HK): Have We Reached the Bottom?

Outlook for Hope Education is still very challenging given high cost pressure, heavy capex and tight financial position. There are significant...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Private Education: A Massive Comeback?

China's latest announcements on vocational education suggested that private involvement in higher education will continue to be welcomed. We like...

Osbert Tang, CFA

HSCI Index Rebalance and Stock Connect: Changes at the Margins

We see 3 inclusions for the index in Dec, and then 26 adds/16 deletions in March. Following the March rebal, we see 22 adds/37 deletions for Stock...

Brian Freitas

HSCI Index Rebalance and Stock Connect: Potential Changes in December & March (There's a Lot!)

There could be 3 adds in December while there will be MANY more changes in March. The adds should outnumber the deletes, but there will be many...

Brian Freitas

Hope Education (1765 HK): More than Just Hopes

The beaten-down stock has a good enrollment quota growth in China and encouraging overseas student recruitment result. Lower capex and removal of...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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