HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

Orient Overseas International / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Lower average freight rate momentum and deceleration in 4Q24 load factor expansions for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orient-overseas-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:801:1" rel="noopener">Orient Overseas International (316 HK)</a> have raised alarm for a weaker industry outlook.</li>
<li>Spot freight rate has come down by 6.8% in the last two weeks. The potential ease of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East may induce a capacity return.</li>
<li>The consensus forecasts for FY25-26 have been downgraded by 5-9%, suggesting caution in the market. Its dividend yield will lower from 14.0% in FY24 to just 4.3% in FY26.</li>
</ul>


Lower average freight rate momentum and deceleration in 4Q24 load factor expansions for Orient Overseas International (316 HK) have raised alarm for a weaker industry outlook.
Spot freight rate has come down by 6.8% in the last two weeks. The potential ease of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East may induce a capacity return.
The consensus forecasts for FY25-26 have been downgraded by 5-9%, suggesting caution in the market. Its dividend yield will lower from 14.0% in FY24 to just 4.3% in FY26.


Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Initial Warning Signs?

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orient-overseas-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:801:1" rel="noopener">Orient Overseas International (316 HK)</a> sits on decent yields of 12% for FY24 and 9.6% for FY25. Its net cash (66.2% of the share price) can support such dividends.</li>
<li>Despite the retreat from the recent peak, the spot freight rates are 9.7% and 145% higher than 1H24 and 2H23 respectively, pointing to better 2H24 earnings.</li>
<li>Operationally, it recorded the first YoY realised rate increase in 2Q24 after 6 quarters of consecutive decline. Its load factor also grew 2.3pp YoY in the quarter.</li>
</ul>



Orient Overseas International (316 HK) sits on decent yields of 12% for FY24 and 9.6% for FY25. Its net cash (66.2% of the share price) can support such dividends.
Despite the retreat from the recent peak, the spot freight rates are 9.7% and 145% higher than 1H24 and 2H23 respectively, pointing to better 2H24 earnings.
Operationally, it recorded the first YoY realised rate increase in 2Q24 after 6 quarters of consecutive decline. Its load factor also grew 2.3pp YoY in the quarter.


Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Don't Overlook Its Yield, Backed by Net Cash

<ul>
<li>A "Long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sitc-international-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15301:1" rel="noopener">SITC Intl (1308 HK)</a>, Short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orient-overseas-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:801:1" rel="noopener">OOIL (316 HK)</a>" pair trade should benefit from the more resilient intra-Asia trade and capture the tariff-induced challenges on Trans-Pacific trade. </li>
<li>OOIL derived 28.3% of its volume and 38.7% of its revenue from the Trans-Pacific route in 1Q25. Instead, SITC generated 100% of its revenue from the Asian market.</li>
<li>While OOIL's 0.7x P/B is cheaper than SITC's 2.5x, its FY25 ROE of 10.6% is lower than SITC's 34.6%. SITC's dividend yield is also trending up, against OOIL's down.</li>
</ul>


A "Long SITC Intl (1308 HK), Short OOIL (316 HK)" pair trade should benefit from the more resilient intra-Asia trade and capture the tariff-induced challenges on Trans-Pacific trade. 
OOIL derived 28.3% of its volume and 38.7% of its revenue from the Trans-Pacific route in 1Q25. Instead, SITC generated 100% of its revenue from the Asian market.
While OOIL's 0.7x P/B is cheaper than SITC's 2.5x, its FY25 ROE of 10.6% is lower than SITC's 34.6%. SITC's dividend yield is also trending up, against OOIL's down.


China Pair Trade: Long SITC Intl (1308 HK), Short OOIL (316 HK)

<ul>
<li>The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index has popped by 25% in the first two weeks of 2024 due to the Red Sea crisis. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orient-overseas-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:801:1" rel="noopener">Orient Overseas International (316 HK)</a> is a beneficiary.</li>
<li>There are already signs of bottoming out of realised freight rate and load factor in 4Q23. The spike in freight rate means that consensus forecasts are too bearish. </li>
<li>OOIL's net cash of US$5.6bn equals 58% of its market capitalisation, making its 0.7x P/B and 8% yield attractive. There is also a possibility for a higher dividend payout. </li>
</ul>


The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index has popped by 25% in the first two weeks of 2024 due to the Red Sea crisis. Orient Overseas International (316 HK) is a beneficiary.
There are already signs of bottoming out of realised freight rate and load factor in 4Q23. The spike in freight rate means that consensus forecasts are too bearish. 
OOIL's net cash of US$5.6bn equals 58% of its market capitalisation, making its 0.7x P/B and 8% yield attractive. There is also a possibility for a higher dividend payout. 


Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Is It Time for a Reversal?

<ul>
<li>We believe the 11.4% decline in share price of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orient-overseas-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:801:1" rel="noopener">Orient Overseas International (316 HK)</a> YTD is not sufficient to reflect the plunge in freight rate and weakened load performance.</li>
<li>Its 4Q22 average revenue/TEU of US$1,822.3 has returned to 2Q21 level; but with latest spot rate already plunged to early-2020 times, there is further downside for OOIL's realised rate.</li>
<li>Export outlook is uninspiring as well, indicating pressure on demand. With similar ROE, OOIL only trades at 0.3x P/B in FY20, that makes its current P/B of 0.9x expensive.</li>
</ul>


We believe the 11.4% decline in share price of Orient Overseas International (316 HK) YTD is not sufficient to reflect the plunge in freight rate and weakened load performance.
Its 4Q22 average revenue/TEU of US$1,822.3 has returned to 2Q21 level; but with latest spot rate already plunged to early-2020 times, there is further downside for OOIL's realised rate.
Export outlook is uninspiring as well, indicating pressure on demand. With similar ROE, OOIL only trades at 0.3x P/B in FY20, that makes its current P/B of 0.9x expensive.


Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Still Not Too Late to Be Bearish

Hong Kong

Orient Overseas International Ltd, through its subsidiaries, owns and leases ships, operates terminals, and provides freight forwarding and container transportation services.  The Company also develops and invests in properties, leases equipment, and invests in securities.

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Orient Overseas International (316 HK)

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Initial Warning Signs?

Lower freight rates and load factor expansion signal a weaker outlook, with potential capacity return due to easing conflicts. FY25-26 forecasts...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Don't Overlook Its Yield, Backed by Net Cash

Supported by net cash, OOIL offers attractive yields of 12% and 9.6% for FY24 and FY25. Improving operational performance points to a positive 2H24...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade: Long SITC Intl (1308 HK), Short OOIL (316 HK)

There is a clear divergence between SITC's and OOIL's 1Q25 operating performance. SITC's revenue grew 38.6%, driven by a 6.8% volume growth and a...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Is It Time for a Reversal?

SCFI surged 25% due to the Red Sea crisis, benefiting OOIL, suggesting consensus forecasts are too bearish. It is attractive at 0.7x P/B and 8%...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Still Not Too Late to Be Bearish

OOIL's 4Q22 average revenue/TEU has returned to 2Q21 level. As latest spot rate plunged to early-2020 level, there is further downside to realised...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Initial Warning Signs?

​Lower freight rates and load factor expansion signal a weaker outlook, with potential capacity return due to easing conflicts. FY25-26 forecasts...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Don't Overlook Its Yield, Backed by Net Cash

Supported by net cash, OOIL offers attractive yields of 12% and 9.6% for FY24 and FY25. Improving operational performance points to a positive 2H24...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade: Long SITC Intl (1308 HK), Short OOIL (316 HK)

There is a clear divergence between SITC's and OOIL's 1Q25 operating performance. SITC's revenue grew 38.6%, driven by a 6.8% volume growth and a...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Is It Time for a Reversal?

​SCFI surged 25% due to the Red Sea crisis, benefiting OOIL, suggesting consensus forecasts are too bearish. It is attractive at 0.7x P/B and 8%...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Still Not Too Late to Be Bearish

OOIL's 4Q22 average revenue/TEU has returned to 2Q21 level. As latest spot rate plunged to early-2020 level, there is further downside to realised...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lower freight rates and load factor expansion signal a weaker outlook, with potential capacity return due to easing conflicts. FY25-26 forecasts...

SCFI surged 25% due to the Red Sea crisis, benefiting OOIL, suggesting consensus forecasts are too bearish. It is attractive at 0.7x P/B and 8%...