HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

Kunlun Energy Company Ltd, through its subsidiaries, explores and produces crude oil and natural gas in China.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a>'s net profit grew 7.9% in 2H24, accelerating from 2.6% in 1H24. It is encouraging to see the dividend payout ratio increase by 2pp YoY.</li>
<li>An increase in the adoption of the residential price linkage system is positive for the dollar margin, while the distortion from E&amp;P expiry will no longer impact earnings. </li>
<li>With net cash equals HK$2.56/share, or 31% of the share price, such financial strength is unmatched by peers. Its PER valuations are also inexpensive.</li>
</ul>



Kunlun Energy (135 HK)'s net profit grew 7.9% in 2H24, accelerating from 2.6% in 1H24. It is encouraging to see the dividend payout ratio increase by 2pp YoY.
An increase in the adoption of the residential price linkage system is positive for the dollar margin, while the distortion from E&amp;P expiry will no longer impact earnings. 
With net cash equals HK$2.56/share, or 31% of the share price, such financial strength is unmatched by peers. Its PER valuations are also inexpensive.


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Remains Very Decent

ENN Energy Holdings Ltd. distributes natural gas in China.  The Company, through its subsidiaries, invests in, operates, and manages gas pipelines, and sells and distributes piped and bottled gas in China.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/enn-energy-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:316:1" rel="noopener">ENN Energy (2688 HK)</a> has suspended trading. The possibilities include privatisation, third-party offer, increase in stake by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/enn-natural-gas-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16456:1" rel="noopener">ENN Natural Gas (600803 CH)</a>, and a change in control. </li>
<li>It trades on 1.16x 12-month forward P/B, vs. 5-year average of 2.42x and 1.31x since 2024. Given the lower forward ROE, it is difficult to return to the 5-year average.</li>
<li>For PER, it should be higher than <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-gas-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14315:1" rel="noopener">China Gas Holdings (384 HK)</a> but lower than <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-resources-gas-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20525:1" rel="noopener">CR Gas (1193 HK)</a>. At 10.8x (average of the two), it equates to HK$74.26.  </li>
</ul>



ENN Energy (2688 HK) has suspended trading. The possibilities include privatisation, third-party offer, increase in stake by ENN Natural Gas (600803 CH), and a change in control. 
It trades on 1.16x 12-month forward P/B, vs. 5-year average of 2.42x and 1.31x since 2024. Given the lower forward ROE, it is difficult to return to the 5-year average.
For PER, it should be higher than China Gas Holdings (384 HK) but lower than CR Gas (1193 HK). At 10.8x (average of the two), it equates to HK$74.26.  


ENN Energy (2688 HK): Privatisation or What? A Look at the Valuations

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The YTD rally in the Hong Kong and China markets has made it appealing for highly leveraged and outperforming stocks to make placements to raise fresh equity.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gds-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32157:1" rel="noopener">GDS Holdings (9698 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-youran-dairy-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31075:1" rel="noopener">China Youran Dairy Group (9858 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shandong-gold-mining-co-ltd-4527fb98-bb5d-4d74-91fe-66f9c0224eb3" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27455:1" rel="noopener">Shandong Gold Mining (1787 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhaojin-mining-industry-company-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4626:1" rel="noopener">Zhaojin Mining Industry (1818 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/byd-electronic-international-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1927:1" rel="noopener">BYD Electronics (285 HK)</a> are possible candidates.</li>
<li>Four of the top 30 YTD best-performing Hang Seng Composite stocks have made placements in the last three months, raising a total of HK$1.3bn with mixed performance since then.</li>
</ul>


The YTD rally in the Hong Kong and China markets has made it appealing for highly leveraged and outperforming stocks to make placements to raise fresh equity.

GDS Holdings (9698 HK), China Youran Dairy Group (9858 HK), Shandong Gold Mining (1787 HK), Zhaojin Mining Industry (1818 HK), and BYD Electronics (285 HK) are possible candidates.
Four of the top 30 YTD best-performing Hang Seng Composite stocks have made placements in the last three months, raising a total of HK$1.3bn with mixed performance since then.


China & HK Strategy: Assessing Placement Risks, Who Needs Money?

China Merchants Holdings International Company Limited, through its subsidiaries and associated companies, operates container and cargo terminals, port transportation, and airport cargo handling.  The Company also manufactures containers, paint, and trailers as well as operates toll road, shipping, property, and dealing securities businesses.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-port-holdings-company-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15155:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Port (144 HK)</a> may potentially play a role in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ck-hutchison-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:132:1" rel="noopener">CK Hutchison Holdings (1 HK)</a>'s port portfolio disposal should the mainland government want to step in. </li>
<li>While CMPH's size is small relative to the port portfolio, its parent China Merchants Group and sister <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd-3388a037-4214-4997-b45d-520518cfdb57" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10987:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK)</a> can easily facilitate such a transaction.</li>
<li>Having the portfolio in the hands of mainland company is desirable to the Chinese government. Even if CMPH has no role, its 7.6x PER and 6% yield are attractive.</li>
</ul>



China Merchants Port (144 HK) may potentially play a role in CK Hutchison Holdings (1 HK)'s port portfolio disposal should the mainland government want to step in. 
While CMPH's size is small relative to the port portfolio, its parent China Merchants Group and sister China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK) can easily facilitate such a transaction.
Having the portfolio in the hands of mainland company is desirable to the Chinese government. Even if CMPH has no role, its 7.6x PER and 6% yield are attractive.


China Merchants Port (144 HK): Will It Have a Role in CKH's Port Sale?

ANTA Sports Products Limited designs, develops, manufactures, and markets sportswear, including sports footwear and apparel for professionals and the general public.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anta-sports-products-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10261:1" rel="noopener">Anta Sports Products (2020 HK)</a>'s strong FY24 result is masked by one-offs and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amer-sports-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21751:1" rel="noopener">Amer Sports (AS US)</a>. Without them, its earnings would have declined by an alarming 5.4% in 2H24. </li>
<li>Its ANTA and FILA brands have seen YoY operating profit drop in 2H24, with heavy margin pressure. Their revenue growth has also showed meaningful slowdown sequentially.</li>
<li>The 18.6x PER for FY25 is at a 50% premium to the sector, but the market expectation of 15% growth looks challenging. The YTD rally has opened room for profit-taking.</li>
</ul>



Anta Sports Products (2020 HK)'s strong FY24 result is masked by one-offs and Amer Sports (AS US). Without them, its earnings would have declined by an alarming 5.4% in 2H24. 
Its ANTA and FILA brands have seen YoY operating profit drop in 2H24, with heavy margin pressure. Their revenue growth has also showed meaningful slowdown sequentially.
The 18.6x PER for FY25 is at a 50% premium to the sector, but the market expectation of 15% growth looks challenging. The YTD rally has opened room for profit-taking.


Anta Sports (2020 HK): Need to Exercise Caution

Osbert Tang is an equity analyst with over 20 years of experience with focuses on China transport, infrastructure, industrials and utilities sectors. He has been based in Shanghai since 2003, accumulated nearly 20 years of on-ground knowledge on the Chinese economy and financial markets, and has a wealth of contacts with China corporates and government entities. 

Osbert has received votes from top-tier institutional investors and has been a highly-ranked transport and infrastructure analyst in the Asiamoney, Institutional Investors and Greenwich surveys. In addition to his extensive experience with international investment banks including RBS, ABN AMRO (both served as Shanghai Chief Representative), Paribas Asia Equity, Maybank Kim Eng and DBS Securities, he has been a senior analyst with Moody’s Investors Service with focus on ratings of China infrastructure and related LGFV issuers. He has also worked in the area of strategic development at Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited. 

Osbert holds a BBA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a MSSc in Applied Psychology from the City University of Hong Kong. He was accredited with the CFA charter in 1997, and is a member of both British Psychological Society and Hong Kong Psychological Society.

Osbert Tang, CFA
HK/China Equity Long-Short

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Remains Very Decent

Kunlun's net profit grew 7.9% in 2H24, accelerating from 2.6% in 1H24. Its increased dividend payout ratio, strong financial position and positive...

Osbert Tang, CFA

ENN Energy (2688 HK): Privatisation or What? A Look at the Valuations

Possibilities for ENN Energy including privatisation, third-party offer, stake increase by parent, and change in control. A price of at least...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China & HK Strategy: Assessing Placement Risks, Who Needs Money?

Zhaojin Mining Industry (1818 HK) is the first one in our top 5 list to make a placement. The company is placing 140m H-shares at HK$14.08 to raise...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Merchants Port (144 HK): Will It Have a Role in CKH's Port Sale?

China Merchants Port may play a role in CK Hutchison's port portfolio disposal if the government intervenes. A mainland ownership of the ports is...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Anta Sports (2020 HK): Need to Exercise Caution

Anta's strong FY24 result was overshadowed by one-offs and Amer's impact, with earnings declining by 5.4% in 2H24. ANTA and FILA brands facing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Remains Very Decent

​Kunlun's net profit grew 7.9% in 2H24, accelerating from 2.6% in 1H24. Its increased dividend payout ratio, strong financial position and positive...

Osbert Tang, CFA

ENN Energy (2688 HK): Privatisation or What? A Look at the Valuations

​Possibilities for ENN Energy including privatisation, third-party offer, stake increase by parent, and change in control. A price of at least...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China & HK Strategy: Assessing Placement Risks, Who Needs Money?

Zhaojin Mining Industry (1818 HK) is the first one in our top 5 list to make a placement. The company is placing 140m H-shares at HK$14.08 to raise...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Merchants Port (144 HK): Will It Have a Role in CKH's Port Sale?

​China Merchants Port may play a role in CK Hutchison's port portfolio disposal if the government intervenes. A mainland ownership of the ports is...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Anta Sports (2020 HK): Need to Exercise Caution

​Anta's strong FY24 result was overshadowed by one-offs and Amer's impact, with earnings declining by 5.4% in 2H24. ANTA and FILA brands facing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Kunlun's net profit grew 7.9% in 2H24, accelerating from 2.6% in 1H24. Its increased dividend payout ratio, strong financial position and positive...

Possibilities for ENN Energy including privatisation, third-party offer, stake increase by parent, and change in control. A price of at least...

China Merchants Port may play a role in CK Hutchison's port portfolio disposal if the government intervenes. A mainland ownership of the ports is...

Anta's strong FY24 result was overshadowed by one-offs and Amer's impact, with earnings declining by 5.4% in 2H24. ANTA and FILA brands facing...