HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>There is an increasing likelihood that the duty-free quota of mainland tourists visiting Hong Kong will rise to Rmb30,000 from Rmb5,000. This will benefit many retail-related sectors.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/luk-fook-holdings-intl-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19054:1" rel="noopener">Luk Fook Holdings (590 HK)</a> is the best play among jewellery retailers given it has 65% of revenue from Hong Kong. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sa-sa-international-hldgs" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20143:1" rel="noopener">Sa Sa International (178 HK)</a> is the cosmetics play.</li>
<li>Property investors including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wharf-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:51:1" rel="noopener">Wharf Holdings (4 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hysan-development-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14169:1" rel="noopener">Hysan Development Co (14 HK)</a> will gain from the shopping malls in major tourist areas in Hong Kong.</li>
</ul>


There is an increasing likelihood that the duty-free quota of mainland tourists visiting Hong Kong will rise to Rmb30,000 from Rmb5,000. This will benefit many retail-related sectors.

Luk Fook Holdings (590 HK) is the best play among jewellery retailers given it has 65% of revenue from Hong Kong. Sa Sa International (178 HK) is the cosmetics play.
Property investors including Wharf Holdings (4 HK) and Hysan Development Co (14 HK) will gain from the shopping malls in major tourist areas in Hong Kong.


Increasing HK Duty Free Quota: The Beneficaries

<ul>
<li>Relaxation of China's local COVID-combating measures in last two weeks has induced expectations of HK-China border opening. This is speculated to come as early as 9 Jan 2023. </li>
<li>We identify <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-travel-international-investment-hong-kong" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3879:1" rel="noopener">China Travel International Investment Hong Kong (308 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sa-sa-international-hldgs" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20143:1" rel="noopener">Sa Sa International Hldgs (178 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shangri-la-asia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19690:1" rel="noopener">Shangri-La Asia (69 HK)</a> as interesting names to be benefited.</li>
<li>While all have rebounded sharply lately, they are still significantly off pre-pandemic peaks back in 2018. We also like the solid financial positions of CTII and Sa Sa.</li>
</ul>


Relaxation of China's local COVID-combating measures in last two weeks has induced expectations of HK-China border opening. This is speculated to come as early as 9 Jan 2023. 
We identify China Travel International Investment Hong Kong (308 HK), Sa Sa International Hldgs (178 HK) and Shangri-La Asia (69 HK) as interesting names to be benefited.
While all have rebounded sharply lately, they are still significantly off pre-pandemic peaks back in 2018. We also like the solid financial positions of CTII and Sa Sa.


HK-China Border Opening: Here Are Some Interesting Names

HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Equity Capital Markets

Eternal Beauty Holdings Limited / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>The essence of Eternal Beauty’s business model is to earn a “price difference” of the brand and product portfolios, but this business model is difficult to generate high profit margins.</li>
<li>The situation and prospects of China's perfume market are facing major changes. It‘s uncertain whether the perfume sales in the China market can maintain double-digit growth in the long term.</li>
<li>Eternal Beauty’s financial performance would face challenges due to changes in consumer preferences, shifts in China's domestic policies, international trade disputes, geopolitical conflicts, etc. Valuation could be lower than peers.</li>
</ul>


The essence of Eternal Beauty’s business model is to earn a “price difference” of the brand and product portfolios, but this business model is difficult to generate high profit margins.
The situation and prospects of China's perfume market are facing major changes. It‘s uncertain whether the perfume sales in the China market can maintain double-digit growth in the long term.
Eternal Beauty’s financial performance would face challenges due to changes in consumer preferences, shifts in China's domestic policies, international trade disputes, geopolitical conflicts, etc. Valuation could be lower than peers.


Pre-IPO Eternal Beauty Holdings - The Perfume Business in China May Not Be as Good as Expected

Equity Bottom-Up

Sa Sa International Hldgs / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Besides turnaround in the bottom line, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sa-sa-international-hldgs" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20143:1" rel="noopener">Sa Sa International (178 HK)</a> achieved good store efficiency improvement and enviable cost control. It will enjoy further operating leverage.</li>
<li>The 5.3pp sequential increase in sales contribution from tourists highlights its position to benefit from revival of tourist arrivals. Three to-be-opened stores will boost sales momentum. </li>
<li>Initial sales figures for 3QFY24 point to 27% overall sales growth, which is encouraging. Sa Sa stays in a very solid financial position with HK$196m of net cash.</li>
</ul>


Besides turnaround in the bottom line, Sa Sa International (178 HK) achieved good store efficiency improvement and enviable cost control. It will enjoy further operating leverage.
The 5.3pp sequential increase in sales contribution from tourists highlights its position to benefit from revival of tourist arrivals. Three to-be-opened stores will boost sales momentum. 
Initial sales figures for 3QFY24 point to 27% overall sales growth, which is encouraging. Sa Sa stays in a very solid financial position with HK$196m of net cash.


Sa Sa Intl (178 HK): Many Bright Spots in 1HFY24 Result

<ul>
<li>Market expectation for FY23/24 earnings of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sa-sa-international-hldgs" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20143:1" rel="noopener">Sa Sa International Hldgs (178 HK)</a> is overly conservative. It achieved HK$110-125m of profit in 1H, and 2H is the normal peak season.</li>
<li>Offline sales in 2Q23/24 recovered to 47.2% of the 2019 level and the rebound in mainland tourist arrivals should boost sales over the next 12 months. </li>
<li>Lower rent costs should allow for higher operating leverage as revenue revives. Its gross margin for 1H23/24 has further expanded and we think this trend can be sustained. </li>
</ul>


Market expectation for FY23/24 earnings of Sa Sa International Hldgs (178 HK) is overly conservative. It achieved HK$110-125m of profit in 1H, and 2H is the normal peak season.
Offline sales in 2Q23/24 recovered to 47.2% of the 2019 level and the rebound in mainland tourist arrivals should boost sales over the next 12 months. 
Lower rent costs should allow for higher operating leverage as revenue revives. Its gross margin for 1H23/24 has further expanded and we think this trend can be sustained. 


Sa Sa Intl (178 HK): Revival Well on Track

Hong Kong

Sa Sa International Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, retails and wholesales cosmetics. The Company also provides beauty and health club services to members.

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Sa Sa International Hldgs (178 HK)

Increasing HK Duty Free Quota: The Beneficaries

Potential increase in duty-free quota for mainland visitors to Hong Kong to benefit retail sectors, with Luk Fook as the top jewellery play, Sa Sa...

Osbert Tang, CFA

HK-China Border Opening: Here Are Some Interesting Names

We look into details of China Travel Intl, Sa Sa Intl and Shangri-La Asia which will potentially be benefited from impending HK-China border...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Pre-IPO Eternal Beauty Holdings - The Perfume Business in China May Not Be as Good as Expected

Eternal Beauty's business model struggles to generate high profits in a changing China perfume market, facing challenges from the shifts of...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Sa Sa Intl (178 HK): Many Bright Spots in 1HFY24 Result

Sa Sa improved its store efficiency and cost control, benefiting from tourist arrival and sales revivals. 3QFY24 sales grew 27% initially and it...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Sa Sa Intl (178 HK): Revival Well on Track

Market expectation for FY23/24 earnings of Sa Sa is too conservative. Strong 1H profits and rebounding sales indicate growth potential. Lower rent...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Increasing HK Duty Free Quota: The Beneficaries

​Potential increase in duty-free quota for mainland visitors to Hong Kong to benefit retail sectors, with Luk Fook as the top jewellery play, Sa Sa...

Osbert Tang, CFA

HK-China Border Opening: Here Are Some Interesting Names

We look into details of China Travel Intl, Sa Sa Intl and Shangri-La Asia which will potentially be benefited from impending HK-China border...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Pre-IPO Eternal Beauty Holdings - The Perfume Business in China May Not Be as Good as Expected

​Eternal Beauty's business model struggles to generate high profits in a changing China perfume market, facing challenges from the shifts of...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Sa Sa Intl (178 HK): Many Bright Spots in 1HFY24 Result

​Sa Sa improved its store efficiency and cost control, benefiting from tourist arrival and sales revivals. 3QFY24 sales grew 27% initially and it...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Sa Sa Intl (178 HK): Revival Well on Track

​Market expectation for FY23/24 earnings of Sa Sa is too conservative. Strong 1H profits and rebounding sales indicate growth potential. Lower rent...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Potential increase in duty-free quota for mainland visitors to Hong Kong to benefit retail sectors, with Luk Fook as the top jewellery play, Sa Sa...

Eternal Beauty's business model struggles to generate high profits in a changing China perfume market, facing challenges from the shifts of...

Sa Sa improved its store efficiency and cost control, benefiting from tourist arrival and sales revivals. 3QFY24 sales grew 27% initially and it...

Market expectation for FY23/24 earnings of Sa Sa is too conservative. Strong 1H profits and rebounding sales indicate growth potential. Lower rent...