HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Southern Airlines / Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-southern-airlines-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1078:1" rel="noopener">China Southern Airlines (1055 HK)</a> looks to be facing stronger pressure from weaker domestic traffic posed by the precautionary measures amid the local COVID-19 cases in China. We see the average fare and frequency on its flights on China's top 5 domestic routes have almost returned to the depressed levels back in Mar 2020, and this is not an encouraging sign, in our view. The vast availability of flights and the reasonable prices during CNY also suggested mediocre demand in the traditional peak air travel season.Also working against the company are the rise in domestic jet fuel price and the slowdown in Rmb appreciation against USD. Although the share price has retreated 21% from the intra-day high of HK$5.23, we still see downside risk given that data points on traffic released over the next two months are unlikely to be encouraging. That said, there is room for the 1Q21 result to disappoint the market, and we see any rebound in share price opportunities to trim ahead of the result announcement in Apr.

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) looks to be facing stronger pressure from weaker domestic traffic posed by the precautionary measures amid the local COVID-19 cases in China. We see the average fare and frequency on its flights on China's top 5 domestic routes have almost returned to the depressed levels back in Mar 2020, and this is not an encouraging sign, in our view. The vast availability of flights and the reasonable prices during CNY also suggested mediocre demand in the traditional peak air travel season.Also working against the company are the rise in domestic jet fuel price and the slowdown in Rmb appreciation against USD. Although the share price has retreated 21% from the intra-day high of HK$5.23, we still see downside risk given that data points on traffic released over the next two months are unlikely to be encouraging. That said, there is room for the 1Q21 result to disappoint the market, and we see any rebound in share price opportunities to trim ahead of the result announcement in Apr.

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): Facing Stronger Headwinds

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The recent rise in local COVID-19 cases in China has made domestic air travel market more challenging in the near term, and this has already reflected on slowing traffic in Dec 2020. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-southern-airlines-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1078:1" rel="noopener">China Southern Airlines (1055 HK)</a> has the best performance in Dec and FY20 but we see headwinds given its significant domestic exposure. The government has advised minimising cross-province travel in the Spring Chinese New Year Travel Peak Season and many schools are suggesting the same.We think there are two trades to capture such trend. One, "Long <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>, short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-southern-airlines-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1078:1" rel="noopener">China Southern Airlines (1055 HK)</a>" as positive expectations on CSA's domestic exposure provides room for disappointment. Two, go long on domestic consumption names as savings in transportation and lodging expenses may be re-directed to F&amp;B and consumer discretionary. These include <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haidilao-international-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27044:1" rel="noopener">Haidilao (6862 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jiumaojiu-international-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28293:1" rel="noopener">Jiumaojiu (9922 HK)</a>, <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 Inc (9987 HK)</a>, <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/li-ning-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6047:1" rel="noopener">Li Ning Co Ltd (2331 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/topsports-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28153:1" rel="noopener">Topsports International (6110 HK)</a>. Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> may benefit on both the revenue and cost sides.

The recent rise in local COVID-19 cases in China has made domestic air travel market more challenging in the near term, and this has already reflected on slowing traffic in Dec 2020. China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) has the best performance in Dec and FY20 but we see headwinds given its significant domestic exposure. The government has advised minimising cross-province travel in the Spring Chinese New Year Travel Peak Season and many schools are suggesting the same.We think there are two trades to capture such trend. One, "Long Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK), short China Southern Airlines (1055 HK)" as positive expectations on CSA's domestic exposure provides room for disappointment. Two, go long on domestic consumption names as savings in transportation and lodging expenses may be re-directed to F&amp;B and consumer discretionary. These include Haidilao (6862 HK), Jiumaojiu (9922 HK), Yum China Holdings Inc (9987 HK), Anta Sports Products (2020 HK), Li Ning Co Ltd (2331 HK) and Topsports International (6110 HK). Meanwhile, Meituan (3690 HK) may benefit on both the revenue and cost sides. 

Chinese Airlines: Domestic Market Gets a Little Challenging in the Near Term, How to Play It?

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/179/678/original/BANNER-TTOtherDec20_GreyOrange.png?1608575984" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="179678"></figure></section>We launched this product about a month ago, promising to revisit our suggested pair trades every month or so. Returns on our three pair trade ideas since December 4? Not good, not good at all!If we consider only four of the six names that make up our three suggested pair trades, the portfolio returned a measly +0.2% between December 4 and January 6 (not including costs of trading). However, the two positions that moved hard against us -- which in reality we probably would have been forced to exit due to stop-loss orders -- resulted in a big loss for the portfolio. What happened? Unfortunately, we stepped in front of a surge in momentum in two small-cap names, one on the Long side and one one the Short side. We still believe longer-term trends favor these positions, but in the near-term,  price action simply overwhelmed our investment theses. Despite the substantial paper losses, we're sticking to our guns and keeping the portfolio as-is. We'll be back in a month or so with another update, hopefully with better returns to report.

We launched this product about a month ago, promising to revisit our suggested pair trades every month or so. Returns on our three pair trade ideas since December 4? Not good, not good at all!If we consider only four of the six names that make up our three suggested pair trades, the portfolio returned a measly +0.2% between December 4 and January 6 (not including costs of trading). However, the two positions that moved hard against us -- which in reality we probably would have been forced to exit due to stop-loss orders -- resulted in a big loss for the portfolio. What happened? Unfortunately, we stepped in front of a surge in momentum in two small-cap names, one on the Long side and one one the Short side. We still believe longer-term trends favor these positions, but in the near-term,  price action simply overwhelmed our investment theses. Despite the substantial paper losses, we're sticking to our guns and keeping the portfolio as-is. We'll be back in a month or so with another update, hopefully with better returns to report.

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Pair Trades Update: 'Want to See a Dead Body?' (January 7 2021)

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport / Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guangzhou-baiyun-international-airport" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10819:1" rel="noopener">Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH)</a> achieved the least YoY decline in aircraft movement and cargo throughput in Dec, ending a rough year on a sweet note. In particular, domestic aircraft movement soared 21.8% and international cargo traffic rose 4.8% in last month, which are both very encouraging paces. GBIA's heavy domestic exposure - 87.7% of total aircraft movement and 94.1% of total passenger throughput - should provide a favourable traffic comparison base for 1Q21 given the domestic market was the hardest hit in 1Q20. The relatively fewer scattered local cases in southern China, for example, only 1 in Guangdong since Jun 2020, will likely mean the region is a better travel option in the upcoming month-long Winter Break, and this should be positive to GBIA.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH) achieved the least YoY decline in aircraft movement and cargo throughput in Dec, ending a rough year on a sweet note. In particular, domestic aircraft movement soared 21.8% and international cargo traffic rose 4.8% in last month, which are both very encouraging paces. GBIA's heavy domestic exposure - 87.7% of total aircraft movement and 94.1% of total passenger throughput - should provide a favourable traffic comparison base for 1Q21 given the domestic market was the hardest hit in 1Q20. The relatively fewer scattered local cases in southern China, for example, only 1 in Guangdong since Jun 2020, will likely mean the region is a better travel option in the upcoming month-long Winter Break, and this should be positive to GBIA. 

Guangzhou Baiyun Intl Airport (600004 CH): Concluding 2020 with a Sweet Note

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/179/973/original/BANNER-TourDec20.png?1608779882" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="179973"></figure></section>Outbound Chinese tourism activity remained dormant in November. Macau's recovery slowed, and the appearance of a new variant of the Covid19 virus suggests a potential recovery in Chinese outbound travel may be pushed back until at least the middle of 2021, maybe later. To our surprise, the recovery in domestic Chinese tourism also appears to have lost steam in November. Passenger counts at the three major national airlines fell YoY, and overall activity was well below that of October. Chinese consumers remain cautious towards discretionary travel. We believe Chinese travel demand will recover gradually in 2021, and that the recovery could gain momentum in the second half of the year. Still, the emergence of a new strain of the virus will likely cap outbound travel in the near-term, and it also appears the rebound in domestic demand is moderating. For now, we would avoid pricey travel-related stocks like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a>.

Outbound Chinese tourism activity remained dormant in November. Macau's recovery slowed, and the appearance of a new variant of the Covid19 virus suggests a potential recovery in Chinese outbound travel may be pushed back until at least the middle of 2021, maybe later. To our surprise, the recovery in domestic Chinese tourism also appears to have lost steam in November. Passenger counts at the three major national airlines fell YoY, and overall activity was well below that of October. Chinese consumers remain cautious towards discretionary travel. We believe Chinese travel demand will recover gradually in 2021, and that the recovery could gain momentum in the second half of the year. Still, the emergence of a new strain of the virus will likely cap outbound travel in the near-term, and it also appears the rebound in domestic demand is moderating. For now, we would avoid pricey travel-related stocks like Trip.com (TCOM US).

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: Domestic Recovery Lost Steam in November

China

China Southern Airlines Company Limited provides commercial airline services throughout China, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.  The Company also provides other airline related services including aircraft maintenance and air catering.

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China Southern Airlines (1055 HK)