Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Independent Insight Provider

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Equity Bottom-Up

*PAL Improves, But Fundamentals Weak: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK)[Ping An] reported a 1H20 operating profit of CNY 74.3 bn, increasing just 1% YOY and 5% below consensus. As a recovery appears underway with Ping An Life (PAL), Ping An results appeared to be well-supported by a HOH improvement of CNY 13.2 bn bn (40.4%) in net profits  - although its value of new business (VONB) declined CNY 3.9 bn (11.9%); *P&amp;C Remains A Challenge: Auto combined ratio reversed course and increased by 250 bp to 100.6%, and certainly warrants watching a driving returns to normal in mainland China. Auto insurance reform will remain a challenge for profitability going forward, and pricing has yet to stabilize. The credit insurance segment remains challenged, due to defaults on underlying loans.*Awful Bank Result: For 4Q20, PAB reported results of CNY 6.5 bn – declining CNY 2.2 bn (25.1%) on a linked quarter basis. In this environment, credit troubles no doubt are a foregone conclusion. However, this was not necessarily PAB’s biggest issue in its most results announcement, where the bulk of the earnings decline was attributed to a CNY 1.9 bn (17.1%) linked quarter increase in costs.

*PAL Improves, But Fundamentals Weak: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK)[Ping An] reported a 1H20 operating profit of CNY 74.3 bn, increasing just 1% YOY and 5% below consensus. As a recovery appears underway with Ping An Life (PAL), Ping An results appeared to be well-supported by a HOH improvement of CNY 13.2 bn bn (40.4%) in net profits  - although its value of new business (VONB) declined CNY 3.9 bn (11.9%); *P&amp;C Remains A Challenge: Auto combined ratio reversed course and increased by 250 bp to 100.6%, and certainly warrants watching a driving returns to normal in mainland China. Auto insurance reform will remain a challenge for profitability going forward, and pricing has yet to stabilize. The credit insurance segment remains challenged, due to defaults on underlying loans.*Awful Bank Result: For 4Q20, PAB reported results of CNY 6.5 bn – declining CNY 2.2 bn (25.1%) on a linked quarter basis. In this environment, credit troubles no doubt are a foregone conclusion. However, this was not necessarily PAB’s biggest issue in its most results announcement, where the bulk of the earnings decline was attributed to a CNY 1.9 bn (17.1%) linked quarter increase in costs.

Ping An Insurance – Hope Is Not A Strategy

*Costs Now An Issue: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported CNY 6.5 bn – declining CNY 2.2 bn (25.1%) on a linked quarter basis. In this environment, credit troubles no doubt are a foregone conclusion. However, this was not necessarily PAB’s biggest issue in its most results announcement, where the bulk of the earnings decline was attributed to a CNY 1.9 bn (17.1%) linked quarter increase in costs;*Credit Is WEAKER Still:  We find that credit weakness is actually deteriorating at an even more accelerated pace than in 3Q20, as net new NPLs have increased CNY 20.5 bn or a massive 241% (223% in 3Q20) on an annualized basis. We also find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 152 bn if we assume a 2x NPL ratio. This shortfall represents 60% of stated equity; and*Fundamentally Challenged Still: Despite the Investor Day cheerleading session, Ping An P&amp;C operating profits declined CNY 2.6 bn (29.2%) HOH in 1H20, as the overall combined ratio eroded 1.5% to 98.1% due primarily to continued weakness within the credit insurance unit where the combined ratio came in at 125.6% (up 32.4%). The credit insurance segment reported a CNY 3.5 bn underwriting loss, due to defaults on underlying loans.

*Costs Now An Issue: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported CNY 6.5 bn – declining CNY 2.2 bn (25.1%) on a linked quarter basis. In this environment, credit troubles no doubt are a foregone conclusion. However, this was not necessarily PAB’s biggest issue in its most results announcement, where the bulk of the earnings decline was attributed to a CNY 1.9 bn (17.1%) linked quarter increase in costs;*Credit Is WEAKER Still:  We find that credit weakness is actually deteriorating at an even more accelerated pace than in 3Q20, as net new NPLs have increased CNY 20.5 bn or a massive 241% (223% in 3Q20) on an annualized basis. We also find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 152 bn if we assume a 2x NPL ratio. This shortfall represents 60% of stated equity; and*Fundamentally Challenged Still: Despite the Investor Day cheerleading session, Ping An P&amp;C operating profits declined CNY 2.6 bn (29.2%) HOH in 1H20, as the overall combined ratio eroded 1.5% to 98.1% due primarily to continued weakness within the credit insurance unit where the combined ratio came in at 125.6% (up 32.4%). The credit insurance segment reported a CNY 3.5 bn underwriting loss, due to defaults on underlying loans. 

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

Following the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gamestop-corp-class-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13790:1" rel="noopener">GameStop Corp Class A (GME US)</a> saga that has been all over the financial press (and is now spreading into the mainstream press), we have been getting questions on names in Hong Kong that could be prone to a squeeze.We do not believe that retail players in Hong Kong have the heft that retail investors in the US do, nor are single stock options frequently used (though there is a lot of retail activity in warrants on large cap names), but the pain that is being felt in global portfolios could lead to unwinding in Hong Kong shorts too.Some highly shorted stocks in Hong Kong that have seen prices jump today along with volume surge are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-healthcare-and-technology-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27008:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (1833 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng Bank (11 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vitasoy-intl-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2807:1" rel="noopener">Vitasoy Intl Holdings (345 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-literature-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24388:1" rel="noopener">China Literature (772 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-east-asia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:341:1" rel="noopener">Bank of East Asia (23 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mtr-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13289:1" rel="noopener">MTR Corp (66 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/want-want-china-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:355:1" rel="noopener">Want Want (151 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsonite-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12790:1" rel="noopener">Samsonite (1910 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wharf-real-estate-investment" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26031:1" rel="noopener">Wharf Real Estate Investment (1997 HK)</a>.We identify more stocks that could be prone to short covering based on short interest as a percentage of issued shares, free float and in terms of days of ADV to cover.

Following the GameStop Corp Class A (GME US) saga that has been all over the financial press (and is now spreading into the mainstream press), we have been getting questions on names in Hong Kong that could be prone to a squeeze.We do not believe that retail players in Hong Kong have the heft that retail investors in the US do, nor are single stock options frequently used (though there is a lot of retail activity in warrants on large cap names), but the pain that is being felt in global portfolios could lead to unwinding in Hong Kong shorts too.Some highly shorted stocks in Hong Kong that have seen prices jump today along with volume surge are Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (1833 HK), Hang Seng Bank (11 HK), Vitasoy Intl Holdings (345 HK), China Literature (772 HK), Bank of East Asia (23 HK), MTR Corp (66 HK), Want Want (151 HK), Samsonite (1910 HK) and Wharf Real Estate Investment (1997 HK).We identify more stocks that could be prone to short covering based on short interest as a percentage of issued shares, free float and in terms of days of ADV to cover.

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Capital Markets

The big data and AI solutions provider for healthcare sector in China, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yidu-tech-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29245:1" rel="noopener">Yidu Tech Inc (2158 HK)</a>  has set the terms for its IPO. The company was ranked no. 1 in terms of revenue among all healthcare big data solution providers in China in 2019.China is the world’s second largest healthcare market, and the country has been increasingly informatizing the healthcare system in order to improve the efficiency as well as close the huge healthcare resource gap to meet emerging demands for high quality holistic health management.The company plans to issue 156.5m shares at an indicative IPO price range of HK$23.5-26.5 per share, and at the midpoint of the IPO price range of HK$24.90 per share, Yidu Tech will raise gross proceeds of US$503m (HK$3.9bn).In our previous insights on the company’s IPO, we examined the company’s business model, segments, revenues and profitability. In this insight, we examine the company’s valuation.

The big data and AI solutions provider for healthcare sector in China, Yidu Tech Inc (2158 HK)  has set the terms for its IPO. The company was ranked no. 1 in terms of revenue among all healthcare big data solution providers in China in 2019.China is the world’s second largest healthcare market, and the country has been increasingly informatizing the healthcare system in order to improve the efficiency as well as close the huge healthcare resource gap to meet emerging demands for high quality holistic health management.The company plans to issue 156.5m shares at an indicative IPO price range of HK$23.5-26.5 per share, and at the midpoint of the IPO price range of HK$24.90 per share, Yidu Tech will raise gross proceeds of US$503m (HK$3.9bn).In our previous insights on the company’s IPO, we examined the company’s business model, segments, revenues and profitability. In this insight, we examine the company’s valuation.

Yidu Tech IPO Valuation: Attractive at the Low-End but Superior Growth Profile Justifies the Premium

Founder

Kemp Dolliver, CFA

Cherrystone Hill Research

New Horizon Health  / Equity Capital Markets

New Horizon Health is a China-based cancer diagnostics company that has filed an Application Proof to list on the HKEX. The company has innovative screening technologies for colorectal, gastric, and potentially cervical cancer. The management team is accomplished and the pre-IPO investors are experienced healthcare funds. We view the company favorably and will provide a definitive view in a future Insight closer to the actual offering.

New Horizon Health is a China-based cancer diagnostics company that has filed an Application Proof to list on the HKEX. The company has innovative screening technologies for colorectal, gastric, and potentially cervical cancer. The management team is accomplished and the pre-IPO investors are experienced healthcare funds. We view the company favorably and will provide a definitive view in a future Insight closer to the actual offering.

China

Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited provides health care software solutions. The Company offers mobile platform for online consultation, hospital referral and appointment, health management, and wellness interaction services, as well as connects consumers and patients with health care resources. Ping An Healthcare and Technology serves customers in China.

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Ping An Healthcare and Technol (1833 HK)

Ping An Insurance – Hope Is Not A Strategy

PING AN INSURANCE: Ping An reported 2H20 an operating profit decline of 12.2% HOH. Despite bottom-line improvement in Life, results are truly...

Thomas J. Monaco

Ping An Insurance - Awful Bank Result

PING AN INSURANCE: PAB reported a 25.1% lower linked quarter result. The bulk of the earnings decline was attributed to a 17.1% increase in costs;...

Thomas J. Monaco

HK Shorts: Squeeze-O-Meter

Following the GameStop saga, we try to identify stocks in HK that could be susceptible to a short squeeze based on short interest vs issued shares...

Brian Freitas

Yidu Tech IPO Valuation: Attractive at the Low-End but Superior Growth Profile Justifies the Premium

The big data and AI solutions provider for healthcare sector in China, Yidu Tech has set the terms for its IPO and in this insight, we examine Yidu...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

New Horizon IPO: Leaning Positive

New Horizon Health is a cancer diagnostics company that plans to list on the HKEX. The company has innovative tests for CRC, gastric, and...

Kemp Dolliver, CFA

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