CMA CGM’s Latest Deal with CMPH (SEHK:0144) : A Win-Win for Everyone

CMPH: Age Cannot Wither CMPH, nor Custom Stale Its Variety

China Merchants Port Holdings (HK:0144): Resilient Performer in the Face of Multiple Headwinds

Equity Research Analyst, Maritime sector, Drewry Maritime Financial Research

Ankush Kathuria CFA, FRM

Equity Research Analyst, Maritime sector

Maritime Sector, Equity & Credit Research

Drewry Maritime Financial Research

With no ties to other players in the shipping, finance or banking world, we provide a uniquely impartial view of the markets and companies we cover. Our parent organization, Drewry is a leading independent provider of research services to the maritime and shipping industry, employing over 100 professionals across an international network of offices in London, Delhi, Singapore and Shanghai. Combining our market-leading resources with seasoned sector expertise DFRS offers a highly differentiated and comprehensive range of investment and financial research services to lenders and prospective investors in publicly listed maritime and shipping companies. The full service of reports, supporting resources and sector orientated webinars provides our clients with the most complete picture of the organisations under coverage as is possible. We have been charting and analysing the world’s maritime markets for more than 40 years. This unrivalled intelligence and understanding provides the foundation of our research service. Our analysts have access to one of the most up-to-date, comprehensive and reliable sources of market insight and research data available today. We look at globally listed companies within the following sectors: Port Operators, Container Shipping, Container Manufacturing & Leasing, LNG Shipping, Dry Bulk Shipping and Tanker Shipping. Combine in-depth sector expertise with financial analysis focusing on over 50 stocks globally.

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>On YTD basis, the stock underperformed the broader index (-13.2% vs Drewry Port Index: -9.4%) and the P/E of 6.3x remained well below the industry peers (Cosco: 7.5x, DP World: 8.6x, ICTSI: 17.7x and GLPR: 6.6x). Suppressed P/E mainly reflects trade war-related uncertainties and increased concerns about CMPH’s leveraged acquisition strategy adversely affecting its ROIC profile. Offsetting these pressures, the company benefited from its higher geographic diversification, its strategic importance in Chinese BRI initiative and its possession of strategically important port assets. We do not foresee any material uptick unless the management prefers generating value from its recent acquisitions or something positive happens on the trade war front.</p>

On YTD basis, the stock underperformed the broader index (-13.2% vs Drewry Port Index: -9.4%) and the P/E of 6.3x remained well below the industry peers (Cosco: 7.5x, DP World: 8.6x, ICTSI: 17.7x and GLPR: 6.6x). Suppressed P/E mainly reflects trade war-related uncertainties and increased concerns about CMPH’s leveraged acquisition strategy adversely affecting its ROIC profile. Offsetting these pressures, the company benefited from its higher geographic diversification, its strategic importance in Chinese BRI initiative and its possession of strategically important port assets. We do not foresee any material uptick unless the management prefers generating value from its recent acquisitions or something positive happens on the trade war front.

China Merchants Ports Holding (SEHK: 0144):Trade Conflict Choking Growth and Valuations