HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sitc-international-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15301:1" rel="noopener">SITC International (1308 HK)</a> achieved a record net profit which surged 2.3x in FY21, but our concern is that much of news has been well in the share price.</li>
<li>While management is optimistic on its outlook, we think challenges are higher costs (port, bunker and charterhire) and little room for further significant freight rate increase. </li>
<li>Its 6.7x P/B for FY22F has well reflected its quality but with ROE likely to dip back in FY22 and FY23, we think upside does not look impressive.</li>
</ul>



SITC International (1308 HK) achieved a record net profit which surged 2.3x in FY21, but our concern is that much of news has been well in the share price.
While management is optimistic on its outlook, we think challenges are higher costs (port, bunker and charterhire) and little room for further significant freight rate increase. 
Its 6.7x P/B for FY22F has well reflected its quality but with ROE likely to dip back in FY22 and FY23, we think upside does not look impressive.


SITC International (1308 HK): All Priced In

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sinotrans-limited-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1321:1" rel="noopener">Sinotrans (598 HK)</a> posted another set of strong result in 3Q21 with recurring earnings grew by 34.2% YoY. The slow growth of 5.8% in reported earnings is distorted by an Rmb143m provision in litigation loss, and investors should not let this non-recurring figure mask the interpretation of good result. We saw healthy double-digit volume growth for logistics and e-commerce businesses in the quarter, and international express JV DHL-Sinotrans continued to stage a solid growth in profit contribution.We believe Sinotrans is deeply undervalued at 0.47x 12-month forward P/B given an 11.7% ROE and a 41% earnings growth for FY21F. The 21% pullback in share price along with the container shipping sector in a month's time looks unjustified, in our view. Sinotrans has a solid financial position with 3Q21 gearing of just 6.6%, and assume a stable dividend payout, it is sitting on an attractive dividend yield of 7.4% for this year.

Sinotrans (598 HK) posted another set of strong result in 3Q21 with recurring earnings grew by 34.2% YoY. The slow growth of 5.8% in reported earnings is distorted by an Rmb143m provision in litigation loss, and investors should not let this non-recurring figure mask the interpretation of good result. We saw healthy double-digit volume growth for logistics and e-commerce businesses in the quarter, and international express JV DHL-Sinotrans continued to stage a solid growth in profit contribution.We believe Sinotrans is deeply undervalued at 0.47x 12-month forward P/B given an 11.7% ROE and a 41% earnings growth for FY21F. The 21% pullback in share price along with the container shipping sector in a month's time looks unjustified, in our view. Sinotrans has a solid financial position with 3Q21 gearing of just 6.6%, and assume a stable dividend payout, it is sitting on an attractive dividend yield of 7.4% for this year.  

Sinotrans (598 HK): From Strength to Strength

Pacific Basin Shipping / Equity Bottom-Up

The 3Q21 trading update for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pacific-basin-shipping-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:929:1" rel="noopener">Pacific Basin Shipping (2343 HK)</a> painted a positive picture for the earnings performance for 2H21 and FY22. There is good QoQ improvement in time-charter equivalents for its Handysize and Supramax fleet in 3Q21, which are 69.3% and 98.6%, respectively, higher than 1H21. On such basis, we estimate that its 3Q21 profit may be some 33% more than 1H21, blowing away market consensus by sizeable margin.Additionally, the growth in minor bulk trade, particularly construction materials, cement and clinker and grains, has underpinned good Handysize and Supramax demand. The supply pressure is also light as net fleet growth is expected to be 3% and 1.8% for FY21 and FY22, respectively. We also think Pacific Basin may take opportunistic disposals of vessel to capture the favourable capital value movements. All in all, we think that having retreated 25% from the peak, the stock has returned to more attractive valuation multiples.

The 3Q21 trading update for Pacific Basin Shipping (2343 HK) painted a positive picture for the earnings performance for 2H21 and FY22. There is good QoQ improvement in time-charter equivalents for its Handysize and Supramax fleet in 3Q21, which are 69.3% and 98.6%, respectively, higher than 1H21. On such basis, we estimate that its 3Q21 profit may be some 33% more than 1H21, blowing away market consensus by sizeable margin.Additionally, the growth in minor bulk trade, particularly construction materials, cement and clinker and grains, has underpinned good Handysize and Supramax demand. The supply pressure is also light as net fleet growth is expected to be 3% and 1.8% for FY21 and FY22, respectively. We also think Pacific Basin may take opportunistic disposals of vessel to capture the favourable capital value movements. All in all, we think that having retreated 25% from the peak, the stock has returned to more attractive valuation multiples.

Pacific Basin Shipping (2343 HK): Stellar 2H21 in the Making

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sitc-international-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15301:1" rel="noopener">SITC International (1308 HK)</a> has a very spectacular 1H21, achieving a 309.4% YoY growth in net profit, even better than the high-end of the range indicated in the positive profit alert. The strength is driven by improvements in both volume (+29.4%) and freight rate (+42.3%), which supported a 6.9pp increase in dividend payout ratio to 70.6%. It is now yielding 7.8% for FY21F.While the result is good and management continued to be positive towards the volume and rate outlook, we think that the market seems to have well-factored in such expectations. In fact, we expect earnings to peak in FY21, with ROE to average at 45% for FY22-23. While this is still very decent return levels, its 12-month forward P/B of 6.3x looks to leave limited further upside. Meanwhile, we see risks that the market has overlooked the negative swing factors.

SITC International (1308 HK) has a very spectacular 1H21, achieving a 309.4% YoY growth in net profit, even better than the high-end of the range indicated in the positive profit alert. The strength is driven by improvements in both volume (+29.4%) and freight rate (+42.3%), which supported a 6.9pp increase in dividend payout ratio to 70.6%. It is now yielding 7.8% for FY21F.While the result is good and management continued to be positive towards the volume and rate outlook, we think that the market seems to have well-factored in such expectations. In fact, we expect earnings to peak in FY21, with ROE to average at 45% for FY22-23. While this is still very decent return levels, its 12-month forward P/B of 6.3x looks to leave limited further upside. Meanwhile, we see risks that the market has overlooked the negative swing factors. 

SITC International (1308 HK): Takeaways from Call, and We Are Cautious on the Downside Risk

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

For investors who are not based in Singapore, the mini lockdown in Singapore has started again due to the sudden increase in the number of community cases which previously was relatively under control. Before one thinks that it is a too-harsh of a policy, the rate of the increase of unlinked community cases in Singapore is high. This matters a lot because every Singapore residents need to check in every establishment using either an Identification card, Trace Together app, or token which has proved to be very effective as for months, most of the COVID-19 cases can be traced and therefore allows the government to take the necessary actions. 
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This time is different. Alongside the third wave that has hit India and Thailand, Singapore, too, is hit. The Singapore government's response to this is very much like the first lock-down (Circuit Breaker), that they minimize public interactions so that the number of community cases does not increase and provide them with the time to perform contact tracing thoroughly. 
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In this report, we identify that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sheng-siong-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6824:1" rel="noopener">Sheng Siong (SSG SP)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-post-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:150:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Post (SPOST SP)</a>as winners while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/comfortdelgro-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:497:1" rel="noopener">Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/genting-singapore-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:439:1" rel="noopener">Genting Singapore (GENS SP)</a>as losers.

For investors who are not based in Singapore, the mini lockdown in Singapore has started again due to the sudden increase in the number of community cases which previously was relatively under control. Before one thinks that it is a too-harsh of a policy, the rate of the increase of unlinked community cases in Singapore is high. This matters a lot because every Singapore residents need to check in every establishment using either an Identification card, Trace Together app, or token which has proved to be very effective as for months, most of the COVID-19 cases can be traced and therefore allows the government to take the necessary actions. 

This time is different. Alongside the third wave that has hit India and Thailand, Singapore, too, is hit. The Singapore government's response to this is very much like the first lock-down (Circuit Breaker), that they minimize public interactions so that the number of community cases does not increase and provide them with the time to perform contact tracing thoroughly. 

In this report, we identify that Sheng Siong (SSG SP) , Sea Ltd (SE US) and Singapore Post (SPOST SP)as winners while Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP) and Genting Singapore (GENS SP)as losers. 

Singapore Mini Lockdown: Winners and Losers

Hong Kong

SITC International Holdings Company Ltd. offers marine shipping services.  The Company offers container liner shipping, freight forwarding, customs clearance, shipping agency, and ship brokerage services.  SITC operates in Asia.

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SITC International (1308 HK)