HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Southern Airlines / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>While China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) saw passenger traffic up 17.3% in Jan, this is at the expense of higher capacity, leading to a 1.8pp YoY passenger load contraction. </li>
<li>Its cargo traffic underperformed both CEA and Air China with a YoY decline; and this is disappointing in a period of time where airfreight rate is at record-breaking level.  </li>
<li>We see reduced local travel demand, higher operating costs, weaker cargo business, pressure on yield and higher base of comparison key challenges in 2022, and prefer Air China Ltd (753 HK). </li>
</ul>


While China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) saw passenger traffic up 17.3% in Jan, this is at the expense of higher capacity, leading to a 1.8pp YoY passenger load contraction. 
Its cargo traffic underperformed both CEA and Air China with a YoY decline; and this is disappointing in a period of time where airfreight rate is at record-breaking level.  
We see reduced local travel demand, higher operating costs, weaker cargo business, pressure on yield and higher base of comparison key challenges in 2022, and prefer Air China Ltd (753 HK). 


China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): A Tough Start

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) / Equity Bottom-Up

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA)

<ul>
<li>We think there should not be much positive effect on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-capital-international-airport-bcia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10626:1" rel="noopener">Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) (694 HK)</a> from Winter Olympics and Paralympics. We expect near-term downside pressure on share price.</li>
<li>Higher operating costs, revenue waivers and tighter traffic control are likely to impair the profitability in next year, as evidenced by the precedent case in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. </li>
<li>While share price has been weak YTD, BCIA is likely to sustain losses into FY22, meaning further book value erosion. That said, even at 0.83x P/B, there is minimal upside.</li>
</ul>


We think there should not be much positive effect on Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) (694 HK) from Winter Olympics and Paralympics. We expect near-term downside pressure on share price.
Higher operating costs, revenue waivers and tighter traffic control are likely to impair the profitability in next year, as evidenced by the precedent case in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 
While share price has been weak YTD, BCIA is likely to sustain losses into FY22, meaning further book value erosion. That said, even at 0.83x P/B, there is minimal upside.


Beijing Capital Intl Airport (694 HK): Don't Bet on the Winter Olympics

Shanghai International Airport / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We consider the acquisitions of Hongqiao and related assets at a price tag of Rmb19.1bn as both financially fair for and strategically beneficial to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-international-airport-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6511:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH)</a>.</li>
<li>The 12.13pp increase in stake by the parent company is a vote of support and confidence, and the acquisitions trimmed its 1H21 loss by 29.8% and lowered LPS by 42.1%.</li>
<li>Profit guarantee for Logistics Company and Advertising Segment by the parent for FY22-24 is very welcomed and translated into undemanding acquisition PERs of 12.8x and 10.2x for FY24F.</li>
</ul>


We consider the acquisitions of Hongqiao and related assets at a price tag of Rmb19.1bn as both financially fair for and strategically beneficial to Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH).
The 12.13pp increase in stake by the parent company is a vote of support and confidence, and the acquisitions trimmed its 1H21 loss by 29.8% and lowered LPS by 42.1%.
Profit guarantee for Logistics Company and Advertising Segment by the parent for FY22-24 is very welcomed and translated into undemanding acquisition PERs of 12.8x and 10.2x for FY24F.


Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH): Hongqiao Acquisitions Are Fair Deals

The sharp rally in share price of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-southern-airlines-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1078:1" rel="noopener">China Southern Airlines (1055 HK)</a> seems to be too excessive as fundamentals are still weak and traffic is facing headwind. While outlook for border opening has improved and collection of fuel surcharges has restarted, we see 4Q21 and early-FY22 stay challenging for China's biggest domestic airline. Its return to loss of Rmb1.4bn in 3Q21, vs. profit of Rmb377m a year ago, is a clear demonstration of the tough operating situation in the near term.CSA's number of scheduled flights on China's top five routes has so far averaged at 61 per day for 4Q, down significantly by 34% YoY, and we think this will reflect unfavourably on the 4Q21 result. Market consensus expectation of a profitable 4Q21 looks clearly aggressive given that its loss was Rmb3.3bn in 4Q20. While the latest developments are positive, they are not enough to change the big picture, in our view. Also, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)</a> is a better play than CSA on China's potential border opening some time in FY22.

The sharp rally in share price of China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) seems to be too excessive as fundamentals are still weak and traffic is facing headwind. While outlook for border opening has improved and collection of fuel surcharges has restarted, we see 4Q21 and early-FY22 stay challenging for China's biggest domestic airline. Its return to loss of Rmb1.4bn in 3Q21, vs. profit of Rmb377m a year ago, is a clear demonstration of the tough operating situation in the near term.CSA's number of scheduled flights on China's top five routes has so far averaged at 61 per day for 4Q, down significantly by 34% YoY, and we think this will reflect unfavourably on the 4Q21 result. Market consensus expectation of a profitable 4Q21 looks clearly aggressive given that its loss was Rmb3.3bn in 4Q20. While the latest developments are positive, they are not enough to change the big picture, in our view. Also, Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) is a better play than CSA on China's potential border opening some time in FY22. 

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): Is There More Room to Go?

The 3Q21 result with widened losses at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-international-airport-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6511:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH)</a> clearly looks unexciting, but there are several factors that distorted both the YoY and QoQ comparison. These include a change in lease accounting, first-time interest expenses from super short-term bills issued, higher costs on pandemic control and a low base in jet fuel sales in last year. Excluding these factors, we consider SIAC's result is reasonable, and we believe it will turn better.The potential opening of China's borders, improvement in operating cash flow, removal of distorted bases for comparison and completion of asset acquisitions are just some of the favourable developments over the next 12 months, in our view. Well-controlled costs amid the tough operating environment are also setting a stage for SIAC to benefit from its high operating leverage when traffic returns in FY22. That said, we should not be too bearish on the name, especially as the share price has already gone off by 34% YTD.

The 3Q21 result with widened losses at Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH) clearly looks unexciting, but there are several factors that distorted both the YoY and QoQ comparison. These include a change in lease accounting, first-time interest expenses from super short-term bills issued, higher costs on pandemic control and a low base in jet fuel sales in last year. Excluding these factors, we consider SIAC's result is reasonable, and we believe it will turn better.The potential opening of China's borders, improvement in operating cash flow, removal of distorted bases for comparison and completion of asset acquisitions are just some of the favourable developments over the next 12 months, in our view. Well-controlled costs amid the tough operating environment are also setting a stage for SIAC to benefit from its high operating leverage when traffic returns in FY22. That said, we should not be too bearish on the name, especially as the share price has already gone off by 34% YTD.

Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH): We Shouldn't Be Too Bearish

China

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co., Ltd. operates the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and provides related transportation services, including ground, passenger, storage, airplane maintenance and repair, and other services.  The Company also provides food, space rental, and advertising services.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH)

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Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH)

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): A Tough Start

CSA has a tough start for 2022 as reflected in weak Jan load and cargo performance. We see many challenges brewing in this year and expect the...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Beijing Capital Intl Airport (694 HK): Don't Bet on the Winter Olympics

We expect BCIA's traffic and cost to be negatively, rather than positively, affected by the Winter Olympics and Paralympics to be held in Feb and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH): Hongqiao Acquisitions Are Fair Deals

The acquisitions of Hongqiao and related assets will enhance bottom line in next two years. The parent's profit guarantees and increase in stake...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): Is There More Room to Go?

Recent rally seems to be more than enough to reflect on the latest news of COVID-19 drug development, collection of fuel surcharges and potential...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH): We Shouldn't Be Too Bearish

Distorting factors have made Shanghai International Airport's 3Q21 result weak on YoY and QoQ. However, a deep look showed that it is performing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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