Equity Research in HK and Mainland China

Li Tang

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>We have seen a shift in the property policy stance from comprehensive tightening to finetuning policy, which includes some significant local easing such as the raft of measures announced in Harbin as well restarted RMBS issuance that is expected to top up mortgage quotas.</p>
<p>Two recent PBOC meetings affirmed the importance of “healthy property market development” and protecting homebuyers’ rights. This means that policymakers want the property market to be not too hot (as it was late last year) and not too cold.</p>
<p>The backdrop is the Evergrande crisis, based on high liabilities and triggered by plummeting home sales, but also expected growth pressures as the pandemic continues and with power shortages.</p>

We have seen a shift in the property policy stance from comprehensive tightening to finetuning policy, which includes some significant local easing such as the raft of measures announced in Harbin as well restarted RMBS issuance that is expected to top up mortgage quotas.
Two recent PBOC meetings affirmed the importance of “healthy property market development” and protecting homebuyers’ rights. This means that policymakers want the property market to be not too hot (as it was late last year) and not too cold.
The backdrop is the Evergrande crisis, based on high liabilities and triggered by plummeting home sales, but also expected growth pressures as the pandemic continues and with power shortages.

Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

<p>For all the roller coaster rides the sector has taken investors on over the years, the Chinese property developers have been unsettlingly consistent in one regard. The CNY1tn fixed asset investment (FAI) homebuilders coughed up in May continued a two-decades long secular trend that may make or break China's still fragile recovery (Exhibit 1).</p>
<p><strong>The Debt-Fueled Supercycle. </strong>The sector has seen its share of excesses and corrections, exemplified by the post-GFC FAI expansion and subsequent retrenchment. Covid might have driven up construction costs, but the enthusiasm of would-be homeowners has shown no signs of abating. Just as the developers are working overtime to deleverage their balance sheets, household debt is piling up and may approach alarming levels over the next five years if mortgage growth doesn't decelerate quickly enough.</p>
<p><strong>The Inventory Drawdown. </strong>Behind the headline FAI number is a more nuanced picture of inventory reductions and landbank replenishment. Housing starts slowed in May and dipped below project completions on a 12-month rolling basis. This affords cash-strapped property firms an opportunity to rebuild their cashflows, while deploying cash to projects in hand.</p>
<p><strong>The Insatiable Demand. </strong>The 0.5% m/m or 5% y/y rise in home prices last month may appear benign in other settings. In the context of China's already exorbitant base, recent data points are a cause for concern. Among the largest cities across the country, those in the Greater Bay Area stand out as outliers, with valuations skyrocketing in spite of the latest round of lockdowns.</p>
<p><strong>The Aggressive Developers. </strong>The increasingly bullish undertones of sell-side notes that have landed on our desks are centered around the inventory drawdown / cashflow rebuild story of the perceived higher-quality names in the space. We are not buyers of that story just yet and our work suggests that many developers have been acquiring land at a more aggressive rate than they had planned at the beginning of the year. Regulators are already keeping a close eye on recent transactions and we think we should too.</p>
<table class="table table-striped">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 746px;"><strong>Exhibit 1: Monthly Housing FAI | 3M Moving Avg (CNY bn)</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 746px;">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/215/144/original/image_45072834061624549646155.png?1624549646" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="215144"></figure>
<p>Source: National Bureau of Statistics, Our analysis</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Related Insights</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-financials-silver-linings-playbook" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53013" rel="noopener">China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/glut-and-famine-we-might-see-snow-in-china-this-summer" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52840" rel="noopener">Glut and Famine: We Might See Snow in China This Summer</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-operation-twist-the-deposit-version" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53435" rel="noopener">China Macro: Operation Twist | The Deposit Version</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-consumers-remain-on-the-sidelines-as-their-home-equity-grows" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53210" rel="noopener">China Macro: Consumers Remain on the Sidelines, as Their Home Equity Grows</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-ppi-peaks-while-cpi-eases-tightening-fears" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52778" rel="noopener">China Macro: PPI Peaks, while CPI Eases Tightening Fears</a> </li>
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<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-exports-disappoint-but-it-s-still-early-in-the-game" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52728" rel="noopener">China Macro: Exports Disappoint, but It's Still Early in the Game</a> </li>
</ul>

For all the roller coaster rides the sector has taken investors on over the years, the Chinese property developers have been unsettlingly consistent in one regard. The CNY1tn fixed asset investment (FAI) homebuilders coughed up in May continued a two-decades long secular trend that may make or break China's still fragile recovery (Exhibit 1).
The Debt-Fueled Supercycle. The sector has seen its share of excesses and corrections, exemplified by the post-GFC FAI expansion and subsequent retrenchment. Covid might have driven up construction costs, but the enthusiasm of would-be homeowners has shown no signs of abating. Just as the developers are working overtime to deleverage their balance sheets, household debt is piling up and may approach alarming levels over the next five years if mortgage growth doesn't decelerate quickly enough.
The Inventory Drawdown. Behind the headline FAI number is a more nuanced picture of inventory reductions and landbank replenishment. Housing starts slowed in May and dipped below project completions on a 12-month rolling basis. This affords cash-strapped property firms an opportunity to rebuild their cashflows, while deploying cash to projects in hand.
The Insatiable Demand. The 0.5% m/m or 5% y/y rise in home prices last month may appear benign in other settings. In the context of China's already exorbitant base, recent data points are a cause for concern. Among the largest cities across the country, those in the Greater Bay Area stand out as outliers, with valuations skyrocketing in spite of the latest round of lockdowns.
The Aggressive Developers. The increasingly bullish undertones of sell-side notes that have landed on our desks are centered around the inventory drawdown / cashflow rebuild story of the perceived higher-quality names in the space. We are not buyers of that story just yet and our work suggests that many developers have been acquiring land at a more aggressive rate than they had planned at the beginning of the year. Regulators are already keeping a close eye on recent transactions and we think we should too.



Exhibit 1: Monthly Housing FAI | 3M Moving Avg (CNY bn)




Source: National Bureau of Statistics, Our analysis




Related Insights


China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook 

Glut and Famine: We Might See Snow in China This Summer 

China Macro: Operation Twist | The Deposit Version 

China Macro: Consumers Remain on the Sidelines, as Their Home Equity Grows 

China Macro: PPI Peaks, while CPI Eases Tightening Fears 

China Macro: Exports Disappoint, but It's Still Early in the Game 


China Properties: Like Clockwork, Real Estate Investments Haven't Skipped a Beat

<p>Vice-Premier Liu He wrote an article in the people's Daily on China's 'dual circulation' strategy on Wednesday in which he noted that the real estate industry influences investment and consumption, and is connected to people's livelihoods and development. Liu's speech maintains existing top-level property policy, but at the same time relates property to investment and consumption, implying that property policy setting could be considered jointly with investment and consumption targets. This suggests a more pragmatic approach towards property policy weighting up risks against growth benefits.</p>
<p>Rumour spread in the market that regulator will tighten the trust funding quota approved due to a risk concern, fears were quick to emerge of a liquidity squeeze for some of China's indebted developer, causing its shares and bonds to tumble. However, in the last week we have seen several cities such as Harbin in last week issuing the policy to support property sales. Those can be seen as policy support for the sector.</p>

Vice-Premier Liu He wrote an article in the people's Daily on China's 'dual circulation' strategy on Wednesday in which he noted that the real estate industry influences investment and consumption, and is connected to people's livelihoods and development. Liu's speech maintains existing top-level property policy, but at the same time relates property to investment and consumption, implying that property policy setting could be considered jointly with investment and consumption targets. This suggests a more pragmatic approach towards property policy weighting up risks against growth benefits.
Rumour spread in the market that regulator will tighten the trust funding quota approved due to a risk concern, fears were quick to emerge of a liquidity squeeze for some of China's indebted developer, causing its shares and bonds to tumble. However, in the last week we have seen several cities such as Harbin in last week issuing the policy to support property sales. Those can be seen as policy support for the sector.

China's Real Estate Sector to Be Tightened

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Capital Markets

China Resources Mixc Lifestyle / Equity Capital Markets

<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-resources-mixc-lifestyle-services" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29285:1" rel="noopener">China Resources Mixc Lifestyle Services (1209 HK)</a> ("CRM") is the latest property management service company to seek a listing. The Offer Price is expected to be announced on the 8 December, with the commencement of trading in the shares on the 9 December.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>CRM is the spin-off of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-resources-land-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:418:1" rel="noopener">China Resources Land (1109 HK)</a>, which will own 75% in CRM after the IPO, down from 100% currently, before over-allotment.</p>
<p>CRM intends to raise HK$11.2bn (US$1.4bn) if using HK$20.45/share, the mid-point of the indicative Offer Price range.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>Even at the bottom end of its IPO range, CRM's FY20(L) PER surpasses all peers. It also has below-average revenue growth and gross margins. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>For CR Land, it is trading marginally above its P/B premium to peers from a historical standpoint, and its implied stub P/B is an outlier compared to other parents of property management spin-offs. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>More below the fold. </p>
</div>


China Resources Mixc Lifestyle Services (1209 HK) ("CRM") is the latest property management service company to seek a listing. The Offer Price is expected to be announced on the 8 December, with the commencement of trading in the shares on the 9 December.


CRM is the spin-off of China Resources Land (1109 HK), which will own 75% in CRM after the IPO, down from 100% currently, before over-allotment.
CRM intends to raise HK$11.2bn (US$1.4bn) if using HK$20.45/share, the mid-point of the indicative Offer Price range.


Even at the bottom end of its IPO range, CRM's FY20(L) PER surpasses all peers. It also has below-average revenue growth and gross margins. 


For CR Land, it is trading marginally above its P/B premium to peers from a historical standpoint, and its implied stub P/B is an outlier compared to other parents of property management spin-offs. 


More below the fold. 


China Resources Mixc (1209 HK): This Is An Avoid

Event-Driven

Evergrande Property Services / Event-Driven

<div>
<p>The IPO for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evergrande-property-services" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:30921:1" rel="noopener">Evergrande Property Services (6666 HK)</a> ("EPS"), joins the ever-expanding listing of property management service company to seek a listing. The Offer Price is expected to be announced on the 1 December, with the commencement of trading in the shares on the 2 December.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>EPS is the spin-off of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-evergrande-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:479:1" rel="noopener">Evergrande Real Estate Group (3333 HK)</a>, which will own 59.04% in EPS after the IPO, down from 71.939% currently, before over-allotment. Both EPS and Evergrande will raise $7.4bn if using HK$9.13/share, the mid-point of the indicative Offer Price range.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>As with the recent listing of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kwg-living-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29231:1" rel="noopener">KWG Living Group (3913 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shimao-services-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29199:1" rel="noopener">Shimao Services Holdings (873 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunac-services-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29239:1" rel="noopener">Sunac Services (1516 HK)</a>, EPS is targeting a high-end PER, backed by recent strong earnings growth and expanding gross/profit margins. At the high-end of the IPO range, only <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunac-services-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29239:1" rel="noopener">Sunac Services (1516 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ever-sunshine-lifestyle-services-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28932:1" rel="noopener">Ever Sunshine Lifestyle Services (1995 HK)</a>'s FY20(L) PER surpass EPS'.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>For Evergrande, its recent capital actions (share issuance and market buybacks) appear unrelated to fundamental value creation for its shareholders. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>More below the fold. </p>
</div>


The IPO for Evergrande Property Services (6666 HK) ("EPS"), joins the ever-expanding listing of property management service company to seek a listing. The Offer Price is expected to be announced on the 1 December, with the commencement of trading in the shares on the 2 December.


EPS is the spin-off of Evergrande Real Estate Group (3333 HK), which will own 59.04% in EPS after the IPO, down from 71.939% currently, before over-allotment. Both EPS and Evergrande will raise $7.4bn if using HK$9.13/share, the mid-point of the indicative Offer Price range.


As with the recent listing of KWG Living Group (3913 HK), Shimao Services Holdings (873 HK), and Sunac Services (1516 HK), EPS is targeting a high-end PER, backed by recent strong earnings growth and expanding gross/profit margins. At the high-end of the IPO range, only Sunac Services (1516 HK) and Ever Sunshine Lifestyle Services (1995 HK)'s FY20(L) PER surpass EPS'.


For Evergrande, its recent capital actions (share issuance and market buybacks) appear unrelated to fundamental value creation for its shareholders. 


More below the fold. 


Evergrande Services (6666 HK): Evergrande Needs This More Than You

China

Poly Real Estate Group Co., Ltd. mainly develops and sells residential homes. The company is also in the business of leasing and rental of real estates, and property management.

Poly Real Estate Group Co., Ltd (600048 CH)

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Poly Real Estate Group Co., Ltd (600048 CH)

China Real Estate:Easing Builds Momentum

We have seen a shift in the property policy stance from comprehensive tightening to finetuning policy, which includes some significant local easing...

Li Tang

China Properties: Like Clockwork, Real Estate Investments Haven't Skipped a Beat

Housing FAI in May continued a secular trend that may make or break China's recovery. Inventory drawdowns may afford developers some breathing...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

China's Real Estate Sector to Be Tightened

Overall property policies lean towards tightening.The change will constrain highly leveraged developers mostly but providing opportunities for...

Li Tang

China Resources Mixc (1209 HK): This Is An Avoid

I'm also not a buyer of CRM. It is not cheap, even more expensive than some recent property management IPO's I have written about, ones I found...

David Blennerhassett

Evergrande Services (6666 HK): Evergrande Needs This More Than You

I find Evegrande to be effectively un-investable. I'm also not a buyer of Evergradne Services. The significant improvement in fundamentals in 2020...

David Blennerhassett

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