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

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.


HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Equity Capital Markets

Xiaocaiyuan International Holding / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>The financial data for 2024 has already shown investors weak growth signal.After IPO, Xiaocaiyuan may face stricter scrutiny from investors and the market in terms of its sustainable performance growth.</li>
<li>It’s not easy for Xiaocaiyuan to find new growth points. Catering companies commonly face problems such as performance fluctuations and uncertain profitability, which has left their share price underperforming.</li>
<li>Post investment valuation has already reached RMB10 billion, which far exceeds the market value of A-share peers. Due to concerns on the outlook, valuation performance after IPO could be lower-than-expected.</li>
</ul>


The financial data for 2024 has already shown investors weak growth signal.After IPO, Xiaocaiyuan may face stricter scrutiny from investors and the market in terms of its sustainable performance growth.
It’s not easy for Xiaocaiyuan to find new growth points. Catering companies commonly face problems such as performance fluctuations and uncertain profitability, which has left their share price underperforming.
Post investment valuation has already reached RMB10 billion, which far exceeds the market value of A-share peers. Due to concerns on the outlook, valuation performance after IPO could be lower-than-expected.


Pre-IPO Xiaocaiyuan International Holding (PHIP Updates) - Some Points Worth the Attention

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>During Hong Kong's market correction during November, we noticed that the Put/Call spread stayed below 1 and the skew moved to its lowest level in 3 years both bullish signals.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yum-china-holdings-inc-0533692c-6dae-4014-baa1-ed0b050638f2" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29259:1" rel="noopener">Yum China Holdings (9987 HK)</a> share price had a golden cross breakout on December 3, as the casual dining sector in China shows growth going into next year.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/miniso-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36659:1" rel="noopener">MINISO Group Holding (9896 HK)</a> had a breakout from a falling wedge pattern relative to MXEF.  The gap up in the share price and momentum signals confirms the uptrend.
</li>
</ul>


During Hong Kong's market correction during November, we noticed that the Put/Call spread stayed below 1 and the skew moved to its lowest level in 3 years both bullish signals.

Yum China Holdings (9987 HK) share price had a golden cross breakout on December 3, as the casual dining sector in China shows growth going into next year.


MINISO Group Holding (9896 HK) had a breakout from a falling wedge pattern relative to MXEF.  The gap up in the share price and momentum signals confirms the uptrend.



Technically Speaking, Breakouts and Breakdowns: HONG KONG (DECEMBER 5)

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

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

Pre-IPO Xiaocaiyuan International Holding (PHIP Updates) - Some Points Worth the Attention

Investors wary of Xiaocaiyuan's weak growth signal post-IPO, facing scrutiny over sustainability and struggle to find new growth points.Valuation...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Technically Speaking, Breakouts and Breakdowns: HONG KONG (DECEMBER 5)

Hong Kong show decreased volatility and increased mainland buying continue since the US election. YUM China share price broke out (golden...

David Mudd

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

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

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

Pre-IPO Xiaocaiyuan International Holding (PHIP Updates) - Some Points Worth the Attention

​Investors wary of Xiaocaiyuan's weak growth signal post-IPO, facing scrutiny over sustainability and struggle to find new growth points.Valuation...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Technically Speaking, Breakouts and Breakdowns: HONG KONG (DECEMBER 5)

Hong Kong show decreased volatility and increased mainland buying continue since the US election. YUM China share price broke out (golden...

David Mudd

Investors wary of Xiaocaiyuan's weak growth signal post-IPO, facing scrutiny over sustainability and struggle to find new growth points.Valuation...