HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China New Higher Education / Equity Bottom-Up

China New University operates private universities in Central and South West China.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-new-university" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23626:1" rel="noopener">China New Higher Education (2001 HK)</a> has rebounded by 40% from its post-result trough but was still down by 34% from the pre-FY24 result level, despite healthy FY24 results.</li>
<li>Net profit is healthy, but it is the all-scrip final dividends that dragged on the share price. Concerns are on higher gearing, but at 69.9%, this is still acceptable. </li>
<li>The consensus earnings forecast of a 6% growth in FY25 and FY26 seems not excessive. At 2.2x PER and 22% yield for FY25, it seems worthy of the risks.</li>
</ul>



China New Higher Education (2001 HK) has rebounded by 40% from its post-result trough but was still down by 34% from the pre-FY24 result level, despite healthy FY24 results.
Net profit is healthy, but it is the all-scrip final dividends that dragged on the share price. Concerns are on higher gearing, but at 69.9%, this is still acceptable. 
The consensus earnings forecast of a 6% growth in FY25 and FY26 seems not excessive. At 2.2x PER and 22% yield for FY25, it seems worthy of the risks.


China New Higher Education (2001 HK): 2.2x PE, 22% Yield, Worth Taking the Risk?

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>CSRC's Market Value Management Guidelines will indirectly benefit the H-share stocks with their A-share counterparts with a P/B of below 1x.  </li>
<li>Chinese banks dominated the list with below-book A-shares. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16221:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Bank (6818 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-citic-bank-corp-ltd-ea6c25fd-4b20-45cb-a4a6-df7a60136f03" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:653:1" rel="noopener">China Citic Bank H (998 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/industrial-and-commercial-bank-of-china-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">ICBC (H) (1398 HK)</a> are the prime beneficiaries.</li>
<li>Infrastructure construction companies <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-railway-construction-corp-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:263:1" rel="noopener">China Railway Cons Corp (1186 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-railway-group-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:264:1" rel="noopener">China Railway Group H (390 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Comm Cons (1800 HK)</a> are also well-positioned to gain.</li>
</ul>


CSRC's Market Value Management Guidelines will indirectly benefit the H-share stocks with their A-share counterparts with a P/B of below 1x.  
Chinese banks dominated the list with below-book A-shares. China Everbright Bank (6818 HK), China Citic Bank H (998 HK), and ICBC (H) (1398 HK) are the prime beneficiaries.
Infrastructure construction companies China Railway Cons Corp (1186 HK), China Railway Group H (390 HK), and China Comm Cons (1800 HK) are also well-positioned to gain.


China & HK Strategy: Names to Watch for Market Value Management

Fosun Tourism Group operates as a leisure focused integrated tourism group. The Company provides resorts management, tourism destinations development, and other related services. Fosun Tourism Group offers its services worldwide.

<ul>
<li>It is difficult for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fosun-tourism-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27439:1" rel="noopener">Fosun Tourism (1992 HK)</a> to return to its peak and IPO share prices over the next two years. The buyback proposal represents a good exit opportunity.</li>
<li>Net profit is unlikely to go back to FY19 level even in FY26F. The derating of the Chinese equities and Fosun Group, as well as its high gearing, are barriers.</li>
<li>Its PER multiples have already aligned back to the sector average from the extremely depressed level previously. Relative to global names, it is now only at slight discounts.</li>
</ul>


It is difficult for Fosun Tourism (1992 HK) to return to its peak and IPO share prices over the next two years. The buyback proposal represents a good exit opportunity.
Net profit is unlikely to go back to FY19 level even in FY26F. The derating of the Chinese equities and Fosun Group, as well as its high gearing, are barriers.
Its PER multiples have already aligned back to the sector average from the extremely depressed level previously. Relative to global names, it is now only at slight discounts.


China Tobacco International (HK) / Equity Bottom-Up

China Tobacco International (HK) Company Limited engages in tobacco international trading business. The Company provides tobacco leaf products import and export, cigarettes export, new tobacco products export, and other services. China Tobacco International (HK) serves customers primarily from China and Southeast Asia.

China Tobacco International (HK) (6055 HK)

<ul>
<li>Management of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-tobacco-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27859:1" rel="noopener">China Tobacco International (HK) (6055 HK)</a> is bullish on earnings in the next two years, with tobacco leaf import and cigarette export being the key drivers.</li>
<li>Elevated tobacco leaf price is positive to CTI while more re-opening of duty-free shops (currently only 50% of pre-COVID level) will add to revenue momentum.</li>
<li>A light gearing of just 2% and potentially more parent asset injection are CTI's strengths. The company plans to maintain a steady uptrend on absolute DPS annually. </li>
</ul>


Management of China Tobacco International (HK) (6055 HK) is bullish on earnings in the next two years, with tobacco leaf import and cigarette export being the key drivers.
Elevated tobacco leaf price is positive to CTI while more re-opening of duty-free shops (currently only 50% of pre-COVID level) will add to revenue momentum.
A light gearing of just 2% and potentially more parent asset injection are CTI's strengths. The company plans to maintain a steady uptrend on absolute DPS annually. 


China Tobacco Intl (6055 HK): A Bullish Expectation

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) / Equity Bottom-Up

Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited operates both aeronautical and non-aeronautical business in the Beijing airport.  The Company provides aircraft movement and passenger service facilities, safety and security services, fire-fighting services, and ground handling services.  In addition, Beijing Capital operates duty free and other retail shops and leases properties.

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) (694 HK)

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA)

<ul>
<li>Long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-capital-international-airport-bcia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10626:1" rel="noopener">Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) (694 HK)</a>, and short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)</a> strategy should bring in good sector-neutral returns over the next 12 months. </li>
<li>BCIA will return to profit next year, fuelling the rebound of its share price. Air China, however, may face uncertainties related to stronger USD and higher-than-expected US interest rates.</li>
<li>Higher duty-free sales for BCIA should propel earnings outlook. BCIA's P/B is well below the 5-year average, while Air China has already returned to the historical average level.</li>
</ul>


Long Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) (694 HK), and short Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) strategy should bring in good sector-neutral returns over the next 12 months. 
BCIA will return to profit next year, fuelling the rebound of its share price. Air China, however, may face uncertainties related to stronger USD and higher-than-expected US interest rates.
Higher duty-free sales for BCIA should propel earnings outlook. BCIA's P/B is well below the 5-year average, while Air China has already returned to the historical average level.


China Pair Trade: Long BCIA (694 HK), Short Air China (753 HK)

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

China New Higher Education (2001 HK): 2.2x PE, 22% Yield, Worth Taking the Risk?

China New Higher Education sees a 40% share price rebound from the post-result trough but is still down 34% from pre-FY24 result levels. Concerns...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China & HK Strategy: Names to Watch for Market Value Management

SASAC issued "Several opinions on improving and strengthening the market value management of listed companies controlled by central enterprises"...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Fosun Tourism (1992 HK): Giving In

Fosun Tourism faces challenges in returning to peak and IPO share prices, making the buyback proposal a good exit opportunity due to barriers like...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Tobacco Intl (6055 HK): A Bullish Expectation

CTI is optimistic about future earnings, citing tobacco leaf import and cigarette export as key drivers. Rising tobacco leaf import revenue and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade: Long BCIA (694 HK), Short Air China (753 HK)

BCIA's profit rebound and duty-free sales recovery should drive returns, while Air China faces stronger USD and high US interest rates. These...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China New Higher Education (2001 HK): 2.2x PE, 22% Yield, Worth Taking the Risk?

​China New Higher Education sees a 40% share price rebound from the post-result trough but is still down 34% from pre-FY24 result levels. Concerns...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China & HK Strategy: Names to Watch for Market Value Management

SASAC issued "Several opinions on improving and strengthening the market value management of listed companies controlled by central enterprises"...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Fosun Tourism (1992 HK): Giving In

​Fosun Tourism faces challenges in returning to peak and IPO share prices, making the buyback proposal a good exit opportunity due to barriers like...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Tobacco Intl (6055 HK): A Bullish Expectation

CTI is optimistic about future earnings, citing tobacco leaf import and cigarette export as key drivers. Rising tobacco leaf import revenue and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade: Long BCIA (694 HK), Short Air China (753 HK)

​BCIA's profit rebound and duty-free sales recovery should drive returns, while Air China faces stronger USD and high US interest rates. These...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China New Higher Education sees a 40% share price rebound from the post-result trough but is still down 34% from pre-FY24 result levels. Concerns...

Fosun Tourism faces challenges in returning to peak and IPO share prices, making the buyback proposal a good exit opportunity due to barriers like...

BCIA's profit rebound and duty-free sales recovery should drive returns, while Air China faces stronger USD and high US interest rates. These...