HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tongcheng-travel-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27363:1" rel="noopener">Tongcheng Travel Holdings (780 HK)</a>'s 1Q25 adjusted net profit surged 41.1%, suggesting an accelerating momentum. It should continue to outperform <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd-23a341d0-4f63-4175-a8c5-ee990906cacd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36424:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com Group (9961 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>Good cost management, even as revenue rose 13.2%, has enhanced adjusted EBITDA margin by 5.3pp YoY - this trend will sustain. </li>
<li>More visa convenience will boost inbound and outbound travel. At end-1Q25, net cash equals 14% of market capitalisation, and it can still generate ROE of 12-15%. </li>
</ul>



Tongcheng Travel Holdings (780 HK)'s 1Q25 adjusted net profit surged 41.1%, suggesting an accelerating momentum. It should continue to outperform Trip.com Group (9961 HK). 
Good cost management, even as revenue rose 13.2%, has enhanced adjusted EBITDA margin by 5.3pp YoY - this trend will sustain. 
More visa convenience will boost inbound and outbound travel. At end-1Q25, net cash equals 14% of market capitalisation, and it can still generate ROE of 12-15%. 


Tongcheng Travel (780 HK): Regaining Momentum, Better Choice than Trip.com

Equity Long-Short

Mo Aziz

<ul>
<li>4Q23 results beat expectations with record revenues and profits and announced a maiden cash dividend of USD8.75/share (0.35% yield)</li>
<li>But, share price plunged by 10% on soft guidance of 4-6% YoY growth in room-night booked in 1Q24, due to the impact of high-interest rates and the ongoing wars </li>
<li>Good opportunity to buy on dips, stock trading at ~20x FY24 PE, ~18% discount to LT mean. Plus, there is a balance USD7.5b (6.1% shares in issue) of share buybacks  </li>
</ul>


4Q23 results beat expectations with record revenues and profits and announced a maiden cash dividend of USD8.75/share (0.35% yield)
But, share price plunged by 10% on soft guidance of 4-6% YoY growth in room-night booked in 1Q24, due to the impact of high-interest rates and the ongoing wars 
Good opportunity to buy on dips, stock trading at ~20x FY24 PE, ~18% discount to LT mean. Plus, there is a balance USD7.5b (6.1% shares in issue) of share buybacks  


Booking.com (BKNG US): Buying Back Shares Until There Is None Left

<ul>
<li>The upcoming Chinese New Year travel rush is expected to see air passenger volume reach 80m, a 9.8% increase vs. 2019. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tongcheng-travel-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27363:1" rel="noopener">Tongcheng Travel Holdings (780 HK)</a> is a key beneficiary.</li>
<li>In addition to air ticket booking, Tongcheng can gain from demand for related services and products. The focus on lower-tier cities will make it better satisfy their demand. </li>
<li>Its FY24F PER of 15.2x is lower than sector average of 16.4x, yet 3-year EPS CAGR of 30.7% is higher. Its underperformance against <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> can be reversed.</li>
</ul>


The upcoming Chinese New Year travel rush is expected to see air passenger volume reach 80m, a 9.8% increase vs. 2019. Tongcheng Travel Holdings (780 HK) is a key beneficiary.
In addition to air ticket booking, Tongcheng can gain from demand for related services and products. The focus on lower-tier cities will make it better satisfy their demand. 
Its FY24F PER of 15.2x is lower than sector average of 16.4x, yet 3-year EPS CAGR of 30.7% is higher. Its underperformance against Trip.com (TCOM US) can be reversed.


Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Of the seven US metrics we track, six showed a weaker pace of Y/Y change vs July data</li>
<li>Five of the seven border crossing metrics showed Y/Y declines in August (vs only two in July)</li>
<li>As a proxy for US leisure and travel activity, the August numbers paint a bleak picture</li>
</ul>


Of the seven US metrics we track, six showed a weaker pace of Y/Y change vs July data
Five of the seven border crossing metrics showed Y/Y declines in August (vs only two in July)
As a proxy for US leisure and travel activity, the August numbers paint a bleak picture


August US Customs & Border Protection Data Confirm Softening Travel Trend in Most Segments, Regions

Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

<ul><li>Booking Holdings reported solid performance in the first quarter of 2026, marked by resilience amid geopolitical challenges, particularly the ongoing Middle East conflict that began in late February 2026.</li><li>Despite this situation, the company achieved 6% year-over-year growth in room nights, amounting to 338 million, with an estimated 2 percentage point drag attributed to the conflict; excluding this impact, room nights would have grown approximately 8%.</li><li>Gross bookings rose 15% year-over-year to $53.8 billion, revenue increased by 16% to $5.5 billion, adjusted EBITDA grew 19% to about $1.3 billion, and adjusted EPS rose 14% to $1.14 (reflecting a 25-for-1 stock split).</li></ul>

Booking Holdings reported solid performance in the first quarter of 2026, marked by resilience amid geopolitical challenges, particularly the ongoing Middle East conflict that began in late February 2026.Despite this situation, the company achieved 6% year-over-year growth in room nights, amounting to 338 million, with an estimated 2 percentage point drag attributed to the conflict; excluding this impact, room nights would have grown approximately 8%.Gross bookings rose 15% year-over-year to $53.8 billion, revenue increased by 16% to $5.5 billion, adjusted EBITDA grew 19% to about $1.3 billion, and adjusted EPS rose 14% to $1.14 (reflecting a 25-for-1 stock split).

Booking Holdings: $53.8 Billion In Gross Bookings But Middle East Cuts Q2 Growth To 2%!

United States

Booking Holdings Inc. operates as an online travel company. The Company offers a platform that allows to make travel reservations with providers of travel services, as well as provides accommodation reservations, rentals cars, airline tickets, and vacation packages. Booking Holdings serves customers worldwide.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Booking Holdings (BKNG US)

Tongcheng Travel (780 HK): Regaining Momentum, Better Choice than Trip.com

Tongcheng reports a 41.1% surge in 1Q25 adjusted net profit, driven by good cost control. More visa convenience will boost growth, and it is...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Booking.com (BKNG US): Buying Back Shares Until There Is None Left

Booking.com's record 2023 results and cash dividend announcement was overshadowed by soft guidance, leading to a 10% share price drop. However,...

Mo Aziz

Tongcheng Travel (780 HK): We Are Back

CNY travel rush is expected to boost air passenger volume by 9.8% vs. 2019, benefiting Tongcheng. Its focus on lower-tier cities and strong EPS...

Osbert Tang, CFA

August US Customs & Border Protection Data Confirm Softening Travel Trend in Most Segments, Regions

By almost every measure, August's US border crossing data look even weaker than the mediocre numbers from July. Clearly, US travel and leisure...

Tracking Traffic

Booking Holdings: $53.8 Billion In Gross Bookings But Middle East Cuts Q2 Growth To 2%!

Booking Holdings reported solid performance in the first quarter of 2026, marked by resilience amid geopolitical challenges, particularly the...

Baptista Research

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Tongcheng Travel (780 HK): Regaining Momentum, Better Choice than Trip.com

​Tongcheng reports a 41.1% surge in 1Q25 adjusted net profit, driven by good cost control. More visa convenience will boost growth, and it is...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Booking.com (BKNG US): Buying Back Shares Until There Is None Left

Booking.com's record 2023 results and cash dividend announcement was overshadowed by soft guidance, leading to a 10% share price drop. However,...

Mo Aziz

Tongcheng Travel (780 HK): We Are Back

CNY travel rush is expected to boost air passenger volume by 9.8% vs. 2019, benefiting Tongcheng. Its focus on lower-tier cities and strong EPS...

Osbert Tang, CFA

August US Customs & Border Protection Data Confirm Softening Travel Trend in Most Segments, Regions

By almost every measure, August's US border crossing data look even weaker than the mediocre numbers from July. Clearly, US travel and leisure...

Tracking Traffic

Booking Holdings: $53.8 Billion In Gross Bookings But Middle East Cuts Q2 Growth To 2%!

Booking Holdings reported solid performance in the first quarter of 2026, marked by resilience amid geopolitical challenges, particularly the...

Baptista Research

Tongcheng reports a 41.1% surge in 1Q25 adjusted net profit, driven by good cost control. More visa convenience will boost growth, and it is...