Daily Brief China: Tencent, Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, China Education Group, Air China Ltd (H), China Vanke , Hygeia Healthcare Group and more

• China announced game approval for the April batch. The number of games approved remained at a higher level than 2023.
• The pace of China game approval appears to have accelerated to the same level as pre-tightening, though the number of approvals appears to be slower than March.
• While Tencent scored zero, Netease got approval for one game.

• The performance of most TCM formula granule enterprises showed slow growth or even decline due to VBP in 2023. Although VBP will continue, it also brings opportunities for related companies. 
• Customized production, expensive upstream raw materials/production equipment, complex supply chain systems, etc. are all major reasons for the high prices of CAR-T therapy, but we see hope for changes.
• Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals (603087 CH)’s core insulin business will continue to have decent growth based on positive VBP renewal results. It’s expected that in 2024, performance would further rebound.

• China Education Group (839 HK) has turned more attractive after a valuation retreat and the return of reported and adjusted net profit to a positive trend in its 1H24 result.
• Increase in the proportion of undergraduate studies, a better subject specialisation mix, higher accommodation revenue, and a rise in international education will drive unit student revenue.
• More capacity upgrades will allow for a steady increase in student enrollment. Management expects adjusted EBITDA margin to stay stable in the next few years.

• Losses at Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) narrowed by 42.8% YoY to Rmb1.67bn in 1Q24. If not for the exchange losses, it will be reduced to below Rmb1bn.
• Higher jet fuel prices have dragged result despite record 1Q revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% decline in unit costs indicated profitability is climbing. 
• Valuations are too depressed as the share price is still lacklustre but quarterly losses and gross margin have already trimmed from the troughs of Rmb10.5bn and -98%, respectively.

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.

• China Vanke
• Road King Infrastructure

• According to Hygeia’s management, the 25% growth in previous guidance for 2024 would be exceeded. 24H1 would maintain a growth rate of 40+%, and the growth in 24H2 would accelerate.
• However, progress of some projects is slower than expected, so a growth rate of 25%+ in performance forecast seems aggressive.After all, downward adjustment of performance guidance again is very uncomfortable.
• P/E of 30-40 is reasonable range in short term. So, Hygeia is undervalued.In long term, revenue growth could fall to 15-20% because the contribution of M&A to performance would decline.