HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The A-H share premium has narrowed by an average of 35pp YTD. Despite the recent A-share recovery, the premium remains depressed relative to the start of the year.</li>
<li>Aggressive players may keep playing the leaders in the trend - the Chinese insurers like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-life-insurance-co-ltd-9f877d22-7cf7-4b00-b525-cec71139f369" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5794:1" rel="noopener">China Life (2628 HK)</a> and securities companies like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guolian-securities-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:535:1" rel="noopener">Guolian Minsheng Securities H (1456 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>Conservative players, however, may look at the laggards in AH premium contraction like the Chinese banks - <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> and <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>. </li>
</ul>


The A-H share premium has narrowed by an average of 35pp YTD. Despite the recent A-share recovery, the premium remains depressed relative to the start of the year.
Aggressive players may keep playing the leaders in the trend - the Chinese insurers like China Life (2628 HK) and securities companies like Guolian Minsheng Securities H (1456 HK). 
Conservative players, however, may look at the laggards in AH premium contraction like the Chinese banks - ICBC (H) (1398 HK) and China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK). 


China Strategy: Trading the A-H Premium Stocks

<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

<ul>
<li>Although the H-share securities companies have retreated significantly from their peaks, there are still "fats" in their share prices in the near term, relative to the market turnover.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/citic-securities-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:463:1" rel="noopener">Citic Securities (H) (6030 HK)</a> looks vulnerable given its high valuations, low H-A share discount, limited correction from its peak, and significant rebound from the trough.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-securities-co-4f5d644c-0051-426f-9706-eaa74b0ba280" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22738:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Securities (6099 HK)</a> appears exposed though valuations are not high. It has the best YTD performance and rebound from the trough, and its H-A share discount is light.   </li>
</ul>


Although the H-share securities companies have retreated significantly from their peaks, there are still "fats" in their share prices in the near term, relative to the market turnover.

Citic Securities (H) (6030 HK) looks vulnerable given its high valuations, low H-A share discount, limited correction from its peak, and significant rebound from the trough.

China Merchants Securities (6099 HK) appears exposed though valuations are not high. It has the best YTD performance and rebound from the trough, and its H-A share discount is light.   


China Strategy: Screening the H-Share Securities Companies

Equity Bottom-Up

China International Capital Corporation / Equity Bottom-Up

China International Capital Corporation (3908 HK)

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-international-capital-corp-ltd-class-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1071:1" rel="noopener">CICC (3908 HK)</a> has received CSRC approval for its merger with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cinda Securities (601059 CH)</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dongxing Securities (601198 CH)</a>, but its share price has fallen. </li>
<li>Concerns about EPS dilution are valid, as CDS' and DXS' 1H26 earnings are weaker than CICC's. However, amid increased industry consolidation, the merger is strategically important.</li>
<li>CICC now sits at 0.57x 12-month forward P/B, just the average since 2021. We expect the merger to enhance book value, and H-shareholders will benefit more. </li>
</ul>



CICC (3908 HK) has received CSRC approval for its merger with Cinda Securities (601059 CH) and Dongxing Securities (601198 CH), but its share price has fallen. 
Concerns about EPS dilution are valid, as CDS' and DXS' 1H26 earnings are weaker than CICC's. However, amid increased industry consolidation, the merger is strategically important.
CICC now sits at 0.57x 12-month forward P/B, just the average since 2021. We expect the merger to enhance book value, and H-shareholders will benefit more. 


CICC (3908 HK): CSRC's Approval of the Merger

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

Shenton Research

Shenton Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyze the weekly Hong Kong Connect flows with our data engine for holding position as of August 28th.</li>
<li>The top stocks by inflows and outflows were tabulated for all market, HSCEI, mid cap and s/mid cap groups.</li>
<li>We highlight flows for Alibaba, Smic, Hua Hong Semi, Akeso, Yofc, Cspc Pharma, Innovent Bio, Minimax, Kuaishou, Ping An.</li>
</ul>


We analyze the weekly Hong Kong Connect flows with our data engine for holding position as of August 28th.
The top stocks by inflows and outflows were tabulated for all market, HSCEI, mid cap and s/mid cap groups.
We highlight flows for Alibaba, Smic, Hua Hong Semi, Akeso, Yofc, Cspc Pharma, Innovent Bio, Minimax, Kuaishou, Ping An.


HK Connect Flows Weekly (Aug 28th): Alibaba, Smic, Hua Hong Semi, Akeso, Yofc, Cspc Pharma, Minimax

China

CSC Financial Co., Ltd. provides investment management services. The Company offers investment banking, wealth management, and trading and institutional client services. CSC Financial conducts its business in Hong Kong.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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CSC Financial (601066 CH)

China Strategy: Trading the A-H Premium Stocks

The A-H share premium has narrowed by 35pp YTD, with Chinese insurers and securities companies leading the trend for aggressive players, while...

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

CICC (3908 HK): CSRC's Approval of the Merger

The market has concerns about the merger's EPS dilution for CICC. However, it is strategically important. Also, CICC's 0.57x 12-month forward P/B...

Osbert Tang, CFA

HK Connect Flows Weekly (Aug 28th): Alibaba, Smic, Hua Hong Semi, Akeso, Yofc, Cspc Pharma, Minimax

We analyzed southbound Hong Kong connect flows in the past week and highlighted flows for Alibaba, Smic, Hua Hong Semi, Akeso, Yofc, Cspc Pharma,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

China Strategy: Trading the A-H Premium Stocks

​The A-H share premium has narrowed by 35pp YTD, with Chinese insurers and securities companies leading the trend for aggressive players, while...

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

China Strategy: Screening the H-Share Securities Companies

​H-share securities companies still have room for corrections despite recent retreats, with Citic Securities and China Merchants Securities looking...

Osbert Tang, CFA

CICC (3908 HK): CSRC's Approval of the Merger

The market has concerns about the merger's EPS dilution for CICC. However, it is strategically important. Also, CICC's 0.57x 12-month forward P/B...

Osbert Tang, CFA

HK Connect Flows Weekly (Aug 28th): Alibaba, Smic, Hua Hong Semi, Akeso, Yofc, Cspc Pharma, Minimax

We analyzed southbound Hong Kong connect flows in the past week and highlighted flows for Alibaba, Smic, Hua Hong Semi, Akeso, Yofc, Cspc Pharma,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

The A-H share premium has narrowed by 35pp YTD, with Chinese insurers and securities companies leading the trend for aggressive players, while...

H-share securities companies still have room for corrections despite recent retreats, with Citic Securities and China Merchants Securities looking...