HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport / Equity Bottom-Up

Jan traffic for <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> does not look encouraging due to the local COVID-19 cases in China induced softening in domestic air travel demand. Aircraft movement and passenger throughput was down 23.6% and 43.8% YoY, respectively, reflecting various local governments' no cross-province travel recommendation and the distortion from a later Chinese New Year than 2020. Cargo throughput, however, holds up well.We believe GBIA will fare better than its peers in Jan-Feb traffic, as southern China has not reported any local COVID-19 case. GBIA's share price has been hit by the spillover effect of the unfavourable duty free agreement signed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-international-airport-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6511:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH)</a> which we think is unwarranted. On a cheaper 1.5x P/B, we see GBIA outperform SIAC in the near term given its more stable earnings mix and better profitability.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/thai-airways-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18317:1" rel="noopener"></a>

Jan traffic for Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH) does not look encouraging due to the local COVID-19 cases in China induced softening in domestic air travel demand. Aircraft movement and passenger throughput was down 23.6% and 43.8% YoY, respectively, reflecting various local governments' no cross-province travel recommendation and the distortion from a later Chinese New Year than 2020. Cargo throughput, however, holds up well.We believe GBIA will fare better than its peers in Jan-Feb traffic, as southern China has not reported any local COVID-19 case. GBIA's share price has been hit by the spillover effect of the unfavourable duty free agreement signed by Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH) which we think is unwarranted. On a cheaper 1.5x P/B, we see GBIA outperform SIAC in the near term given its more stable earnings mix and better profitability.

Guangzhou Baiyun Intl Airport (600004 CH): On a Better Playing Field

Shanghai International Airport / Equity Bottom-Up

The announcement by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-international-airport-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6511:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH)</a> of a loss of between Rmb1.2-1.3bn for FY20 will disappoint the market due to the significant QoQ deterioration, in our view. While weaker domestic traffic and limited recovery of international traffic are reasons, the less favourable duty free agreement reached with Sunrise duty free, a subsidiary of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-tourism-group-duty-free-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12278:1" rel="noopener">China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (601888 CH)</a>, has further added to the loss in last year.Based on the current pace of international traffic recovery, we believe SIAC will be difficult to achieve the required traffic for the minimum guarantee rental in the next two years, and this will have a negative effect on its bottom line. Since 2020, share price of SIAC has outperformed <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> by over 20pp. With SIAC's new agreement and GBIA's stronger FY20 result, we believe there is room for SIAC to give back some of such outperformance in the near term.

The announcement by Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH) of a loss of between Rmb1.2-1.3bn for FY20 will disappoint the market due to the significant QoQ deterioration, in our view. While weaker domestic traffic and limited recovery of international traffic are reasons, the less favourable duty free agreement reached with Sunrise duty free, a subsidiary of China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (601888 CH), has further added to the loss in last year.Based on the current pace of international traffic recovery, we believe SIAC will be difficult to achieve the required traffic for the minimum guarantee rental in the next two years, and this will have a negative effect on its bottom line. Since 2020, share price of SIAC has outperformed Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH) by over 20pp. With SIAC's new agreement and GBIA's stronger FY20 result, we believe there is room for SIAC to give back some of such outperformance in the near term.

Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH): Dragged by Unfavourable Duty Free Agreement

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The big three Chinese airlines have announced the range of their expected FY20 losses over the weekend, and the general indication is that the 4Q20 results have returned to wider losses after an improvement in 3Q20. We rank their 4Q20 performance in the following descending order: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-eastern-airlines-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1079:1" rel="noopener">China Eastern Airlines Co (H) (670 HK)</a> &gt; <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> &gt; <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>. Although we think the market should have anticipated the deterioration, the trend is not promising and we believe there will be near-term pressure on the sector's performance.In our view, weaker domestic passenger traffic, resurgence in cost pressure and fading positive impact of Rmb appreciation are some of the headwinds faced by the sector in 1Q21. However, we think this is a good opportunity to set up our high conviction trade - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/2021-high-conviction-pair-trade-long-air-china-753-hk-short-china-southern-1055-hk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45584" rel="noopener">2021 High Conviction: Pair Trade - Long Air China (753 HK), Short China Southern (1055 HK)</a>.

The big three Chinese airlines have announced the range of their expected FY20 losses over the weekend, and the general indication is that the 4Q20 results have returned to wider losses after an improvement in 3Q20. We rank their 4Q20 performance in the following descending order: China Eastern Airlines Co (H) (670 HK) &gt; China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) &gt; Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK). Although we think the market should have anticipated the deterioration, the trend is not promising and we believe there will be near-term pressure on the sector's performance.In our view, weaker domestic passenger traffic, resurgence in cost pressure and fading positive impact of Rmb appreciation are some of the headwinds faced by the sector in 1Q21. However, we think this is a good opportunity to set up our high conviction trade - 2021 High Conviction: Pair Trade - Long Air China (753 HK), Short China Southern (1055 HK). 

Chinese Airlines: Initial FY20 Results Suggest Tough Market Has Already Begun

<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

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Japan Airport Terminal Co / Equity Bottom-Up

Investors rushed to buy <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-airport-terminal-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18034:1" rel="noopener">Japan Airport Terminal Co (9706 JP)</a>as the Go-To campaign in Japan showed early promise of success and the finding of the vaccine and drove the share price to increase by 65% in less than 6 months despite the loss-making 2 quarters, 
With the new COVID-19 variant and the uncertainty whether the current vaccine can be used to treat the new mutation of the virus, and the possibly weak quarter ahead as the widespread COVID-19 cases in Japan has halted the Go-To campaign, investors should think it is an opportune time to start shorting <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-airport-terminal-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18034:1" rel="noopener">Japan Airport Terminal Co (9706 JP)</a> . In addition to that, the company is trading at a 93% premium to the peers' tangible book value multiples.

Investors rushed to buy Japan Airport Terminal Co (9706 JP)as the Go-To campaign in Japan showed early promise of success and the finding of the vaccine and drove the share price to increase by 65% in less than 6 months despite the loss-making 2 quarters, 
With the new COVID-19 variant and the uncertainty whether the current vaccine can be used to treat the new mutation of the virus, and the possibly weak quarter ahead as the widespread COVID-19 cases in Japan has halted the Go-To campaign, investors should think it is an opportune time to start shorting Japan Airport Terminal Co (9706 JP) . In addition to that, the company is trading at a 93% premium to the peers' tangible book value multiples. 

Japan Airport Terminal (9706): Close Border Means Weak Revenues?

China

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)

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Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) (694 HK)

Guangzhou Baiyun Intl Airport (600004 CH): On a Better Playing Field

Weak Jan traffic reflected poor domestic air travel appetite but GBIA should fare better than SIAC and BCIA. It has less exposure to duty free and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH): Dragged by Unfavourable Duty Free Agreement

We see SIAC's FY20 unencouraging, mostly due to the unfavourable duty free agreement reached which will erode its profitability. It is possibly...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chinese Airlines: Initial FY20 Results Suggest Tough Market Has Already Begun

Chinese airlines posted weak 4Q20 result ranges and this is expected to put near-term pressure on share prices. However, we believe Air China is in...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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

Ending 2020 with good traffic in Dec, we expect a favourable traffic comparison base in 1Q21 than its peers. Its location also means that it will...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Japan Airport Terminal (9706): Close Border Means Weak Revenues?

With the new COVID-19 variant, uncertainty whether the vaccine is working, and possibly weak quarter as the COVID-19 in Japan increased halted the...

Henry Soediarko

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