Greater China Equity Long/Short Analyst

Eric Chen

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Sentiment driven rally is fading. Although COVID exit remains swing factor, individual company’s performance will increasingly be driven by their business models.</li>
<li>Our proprietary store expansion framework suggests divergent growth outlook for major players - stretched for Haidilao, moderate for Jiumaojiu and Yum China, and ample for Xiabuxiabu.</li>
<li>Xiabuxiabu is our top pick due to its strong turnaround not yet priced in depressed valuation. We also like Yum China but stay cautious on Jiumaojiu and Haidilao on valuation.     </li>
</ul>


Sentiment driven rally is fading. Although COVID exit remains swing factor, individual company’s performance will increasingly be driven by their business models.
Our proprietary store expansion framework suggests divergent growth outlook for major players - stretched for Haidilao, moderate for Jiumaojiu and Yum China, and ample for Xiabuxiabu.
Xiabuxiabu is our top pick due to its strong turnaround not yet priced in depressed valuation. We also like Yum China but stay cautious on Jiumaojiu and Haidilao on valuation.     


China Catering Sector: In Search of Alpha

<ul>
<li>China catering players have seen strong recovery during the Chinese New Year starting from Jan 22th, amidst a broad-based revival of the service sector as a whole.</li>
<li>For Xiabuxiabu, latest data points suggest significant progress in turnaround and higher visibility into 2023 performance.</li>
<li>We see upside to our financial projection for 2023 and are more confident that Xiabuxiabu is the most attractively-priced to play re-opening in China catering sector. Expect 50% upside.</li>
</ul>


China catering players have seen strong recovery during the Chinese New Year starting from Jan 22th, amidst a broad-based revival of the service sector as a whole.
For Xiabuxiabu, latest data points suggest significant progress in turnaround and higher visibility into 2023 performance.
We see upside to our financial projection for 2023 and are more confident that Xiabuxiabu is the most attractively-priced to play re-opening in China catering sector. Expect 50% upside.


Xiabuxiabu (520 HK): Strong CNY Bodes Well for the Year of 2023

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>YTD 2023 performance of XBXB and Cou Cou were far below expectation, evidenced by weak SSS recovery rate and margins.</li><li>Just because of its cheap valuation, we maintain BUY and cut TP to HK$ 4.89, based on 15x FY24E P/E.</li><li>1H23 results inline, but demand is still weak. G</li></ul><p><em>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.</em></p>

YTD 2023 performance of XBXB and Cou Cou were far below expectation, evidenced by weak SSS recovery rate and margins.Just because of its cheap valuation, we maintain BUY and cut TP to HK$ 4.89, based on 15x FY24E P/E.1H23 results inline, but demand is still weak. GContent is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Xiabu Xiabu (520 HK) – More Time Is Needed to Reform and Recover

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tao-heung" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2668:1" rel="noopener">Tao Heung (573 HK)</a>, a Chinese cuisine restaurant operator, has lost significant shop-days in 1H22 due to the pandemic. However, this is behind us and 2H22 outlook is better.</li>
<li>The recovery of Hong Kong operations will be supported by further relaxation of social distancing measures while, for mainland China, business has rebounded following removal of lockdowns.   </li>
<li>Its Chairman has upped his stake, signaling a vote of confidence. The stock's valuations are not expensive, but given low turnover, there will be potential share price volatility.</li>
</ul>



Tao Heung (573 HK), a Chinese cuisine restaurant operator, has lost significant shop-days in 1H22 due to the pandemic. However, this is behind us and 2H22 outlook is better.
The recovery of Hong Kong operations will be supported by further relaxation of social distancing measures while, for mainland China, business has rebounded following removal of lockdowns.   
Its Chairman has upped his stake, signaling a vote of confidence. The stock's valuations are not expensive, but given low turnover, there will be potential share price volatility.


Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>China State Construction International and Sinopec Engineering have short term reversal patterns indicating profit taking from recent advances.</li>
<li>China Resources Cement reverses downtrend with volume indicating some near term gains after reporting that 1st half profit was under pressure.</li>
<li>Yum China continues to show downward pressure given the increasing competition in the retail food segment, while Nongfu Spring collapses on news about the safety of its products.</li>
</ul>


China State Construction International and Sinopec Engineering have short term reversal patterns indicating profit taking from recent advances.
China Resources Cement reverses downtrend with volume indicating some near term gains after reporting that 1st half profit was under pressure.
Yum China continues to show downward pressure given the increasing competition in the retail food segment, while Nongfu Spring collapses on news about the safety of its products.


Technically Speaking: Breakouts & Breakdowns: HONG KONG (July 17)

China

Xiabuxiabu Catering Management China Holdings Co Ltd  owns and operates a chain of restaurants in China. The company allows customers to choose from a selection of vegetables, meats, and seafood to cook in their own individual hot pot in its restaurants.

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Xiabuxiabu Catering (520 HK)

China Catering Sector: In Search of Alpha

Sentiment-driven rally is fading. We expect investors' focus to shift to company fundamental. Our store expansion framework points to Xiabu as the...

Eric Chen

Xiabuxiabu (520 HK): Strong CNY Bodes Well for the Year of 2023

Strong operating data of Xiabuxiabu Group during CNY highlighted not only very favorable industry tailwinds but also significant progress in...

Eric Chen

Xiabu Xiabu (520 HK) – More Time Is Needed to Reform and Recover

YTD 2023 performance of XBXB and Cou Cou were far below expectation, evidenced by weak SSS recovery rate and margins. Just because of its cheap...

CMB International

Tao Heung (573 HK): Bon Appetit

Tao Heung should have a better 2H22 given recovery of Hong Kong operations as consumer spending improves. Also, mainland China market is not...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Technically Speaking: Breakouts & Breakdowns: HONG KONG (July 17)

Sinopec Engineering and China State Construction have entered short term corrections while CRC has broken its downtrend in the near term. Yum...

David Mudd

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