HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We continued to be cautious on <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> given the challenges faced. It guided for a flat dollar margin in FY23 but we think this is optimistic.</li>
<li>Connection fees are likely to stay under pressure after a 42.1% decline in FY22. It only projects 2.6-2.9m new residential connections for FY23, compared with 2.9m in FY22.</li>
<li>Although China Gas is now the cheapest Hong Kong-listed China gas utilities company, it takes time to regain market confidence. At similar valuation, <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> looks more interesting. </li>
</ul>


We continued to be cautious on China Gas Holdings (384 HK) given the challenges faced. It guided for a flat dollar margin in FY23 but we think this is optimistic.
Connection fees are likely to stay under pressure after a 42.1% decline in FY22. It only projects 2.6-2.9m new residential connections for FY23, compared with 2.9m in FY22.
Although China Gas is now the cheapest Hong Kong-listed China gas utilities company, it takes time to regain market confidence. At similar valuation, Kunlun Energy (135 HK) looks more interesting. 


China Gas Holdings (384 HK): Not Giving It the Benefit of Doubt

<ul>
<li>Healthy 17.2% growth in 1Q22 net profit of Kunlun Gas, the most important subsidiary 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>, provides a welcoming evidence to ease market concerns on costs.  </li>
<li>While gross margin was down 0.2pp YoY, it expanded by 0.4pp QoQ. Key cost items including selling, administrative and R&amp;D are all under control, boosting EBIT margin by 0.5pp YoY.</li>
<li>1Q22 is a record quarter for Kunlun Gas, and gearing stays comfortable with strong operating cash flow. We believe such set of result signals good 1Q22 for Kunlun Energy. </li>
</ul>


Healthy 17.2% growth in 1Q22 net profit of Kunlun Gas, the most important subsidiary of Kunlun Energy (135 HK), provides a welcoming evidence to ease market concerns on costs.  
While gross margin was down 0.2pp YoY, it expanded by 0.4pp QoQ. Key cost items including selling, administrative and R&amp;D are all under control, boosting EBIT margin by 0.5pp YoY.
1Q22 is a record quarter for Kunlun Gas, and gearing stays comfortable with strong operating cash flow. We believe such set of result signals good 1Q22 for Kunlun Energy. 


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): A Record Quarter for Kunlun Gas

<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 43.6% YoY growth in net profit for FY21, which is ahead of peers like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/enn-energy-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:316:1" rel="noopener">ENN Energy (2688 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-resources-gas-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20525:1" rel="noopener">CR Gas (1193 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>While 2H21 gas sales segment is weaker, the contraction of dollar margin for Kunlun is light at 3.8% YoY. The other gas utilities companies are seeing 12-15% decline.</li>
<li>Its net cash reached Rmb3.3bn at end-FY21, and number of new city gas projects reached 17 in 2H21, vs. 13 only in 1H21, indicating good pick-up in momentum. </li>
</ul>



Kunlun Energy (135 HK) posted a 43.6% YoY growth in net profit for FY21, which is ahead of peers like ENN Energy (2688 HK) and CR Gas (1193 HK). 
While 2H21 gas sales segment is weaker, the contraction of dollar margin for Kunlun is light at 3.8% YoY. The other gas utilities companies are seeing 12-15% decline.
Its net cash reached Rmb3.3bn at end-FY21, and number of new city gas projects reached 17 in 2H21, vs. 13 only in 1H21, indicating good pick-up in momentum. 


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Better FY21 than Peers

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Russia-Ukraine war has raised commodity prices which are negative towards commodity users in short term. However, we see silver linings for Chinese utilities and energy companies in the longer term.</li>
<li>The conflict is expected to accelerate the progress of renewable projects currently under development, lead to a faster diversification away from fossils and increase gas supply from Russia to China. </li>
<li>Key beneficiaries include <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xinjiang-goldwind-science-technology-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10112:1" rel="noopener">Xinjiang Goldwind (2208 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dongfang-electric-corporation-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1251:1" rel="noopener">Dongfang Electric (1072 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-longyuan-power-group-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14215:1" rel="noopener">China Longyuan Power (916 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-energy-engineering-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21017:1" rel="noopener">Energy China (3996 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/power-construction-corporation-of-china-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24220:1" rel="noopener">Power China (601669 CH)</a> and the gas utilities.</li>
</ul>


Russia-Ukraine war has raised commodity prices which are negative towards commodity users in short term. However, we see silver linings for Chinese utilities and energy companies in the longer term.
The conflict is expected to accelerate the progress of renewable projects currently under development, lead to a faster diversification away from fossils and increase gas supply from Russia to China. 
Key beneficiaries include Xinjiang Goldwind (2208 HK), Dongfang Electric (1072 HK), China Longyuan Power (916 HK), Energy China (3996 HK), Power China (601669 CH) and the gas utilities.


Russia-Ukraine War: Longer Term Implications for China Utilities and Energy

<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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-longyuan-power-group-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14215:1" rel="noopener">China Longyuan Power (916 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 Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a> are the three stocks that made the most money in 2021 based on our call.</li>
<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> is the best-performing one with 52.3% return, and this is followed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-longyuan-power-group-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14215:1" rel="noopener">China Longyuan (916 HK)</a> at 45.1% and <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> at 33.9%.</li>
<li>We continue to like all of them into 2022 as they will be benefited by sustained growth of city-gas projects, government's push for wind power and infrastructure investments, respectively.</li>
</ul>



Kunlun Energy (135 HK), China Longyuan Power (916 HK) and China Communications Construction (1800 HK) are the three stocks that made the most money in 2021 based on our call.

Kunlun Energy (135 HK) is the best-performing one with 52.3% return, and this is followed by China Longyuan (916 HK) at 45.1% and China Communications Construction (1800 HK) at 33.9%.
We continue to like all of them into 2022 as they will be benefited by sustained growth of city-gas projects, government's push for wind power and infrastructure investments, respectively.


The Three Names that We Made the Most Money in 2021 and How They Will Fare in 2022

Hong Kong

Sinopec Kantons Holdings Limited trades crude oil, petroleum and petrochemical products.  The Company also operates a crude oil jetty and its ancillary facilities and petrol stations.

AAG Energy Holdings Limited is  an energy exploration and development company. The Company engages in coalbed methane exploration and development.

United Energy Group, Ltd. is engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. The Company owns and operates a producing oilfield Liaohe Province of the P.R. of China and owns an interest in an exploration field in Madura PSC, Java, Indonesia.  UEG mainly engages in the upstream oil and natural gas business.

Productive Technologies Company Limited provides productivity solutions to semiconductor and solar cell manufacturers. The Company is engaged in advanced manufacturing of equipment applied in semiconductor and solar power businesses, as well as operates a crude oil asset. Productive Technologies serves customers in China.

China LNG Group Limited is a holding company whose group's principal activities are investment in and trading of assets and engagement in the development of new  energy businesses including investment, construction and operation of LNG filling stations, terminals and related infrastructure, sales and conversion of LNG vehicles and vessels, providing financial leasing service to customers.

Yanchang Petroleum International Limited and its subsidiaries is principally engaged in investments in the oil, gas and energy related business. The Company also invests in oil and gas exploration and operation, and the trading of fuel oil.

Yanchang Petroleum International (346 HK)

Hans Energy Company Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates storage and transshipment of oil and liquid petrochemical products in China.  The Company also manufactures and sells corrugated paper packaging products as well as trades petroleum products.

SouthGobi Resources Ltd. mines metallurgical and thermal coal in Mongolia.  The Company sells its coal to customers in China.

Strong Petrochemical Holdings, Ltd. offers trades of crude oil, petroleum products, and petrochemical products.

JTF International Holdings Limited operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, refined and blended fuel oil, petrol, and petrochemical products. JTF International Holdings markets its products throughout China.

Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. explores, imports, refines, and distributes petroleum and its related products.  The Company also manufactures and sells petrochemical products.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation produces and trades petroleum and petrochemical products. The Company offers gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, ethylene, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, synthetic resins, and chemical fertilizers. China Petroleum & Chemical markets its products throughout China.

SK Innovation Co., Ltd. refines, markets, and distributes oil.  The Company produces a variety of petroleum products, such as gasoline, kerosene, liquefied petroleumgas (LPG), and diesel oil.  SK Energy also manufactures petrochemical p roducts, including paraxylene, synthetic resins, styrene monomer, and ethylene.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Company Limited is an investment holding company. The Company owns shares and properties, coal mining, bulk handling, commercial television licensee, telecommunications carrier, merchant banking, funds management, pharmaceutical retailing, manufacture, processing and marketing of biscuits and cakes.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (SOL AU)

Shanxi Xishan Coal & Electricity Power Co., Ltd. mines and processes coal. The Company also generates electric power.

Range Resources Corporation is an independent oil and gas company  that explore, develops, and acquires oil and gas properties. The Company conducts operations primarily in the Southwestern, Appalachian and Gulf Coast regions of the United States.

Shanxi Lu'an Environmental Energy Development Co., Ltd. mines, processes, and markets low sulfur high quality coal. The company also researches and develops coal and environment protection related technologies.

Shanxi Lu'An Environmental Energy Dev.Co (601699 CH)

Antero Resources Corporation explores, develops, and produces oil and natural gas. The Company focuses on the acquisition, development, and production of unconventional oil and liquids-rich natural gas properties. Antero Resources serves customers in the United States.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation produces oil and natural gas. The Company's operations are focused on discovering, developing, and acquiring conventional and unconventional natural gas reserves onshore in the United States.

PDC Energy, Inc. produces and distributes petroleum products. The Company produces, develops, explores and markets crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. PDC Energy operates in the United States.

Kunlun Energy Company Ltd, through its subsidiaries, explores and produces crude oil and natural gas in China.

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Kunlun Energy (135 HK)

China Gas Holdings (384 HK): Not Giving It the Benefit of Doubt

China Gas has a diasppointing FY22 and we think its operating and financial guidances for FY23 are likely to be optimistic. We prefer Kunlun Energy...

Osbert Tang, CFA