Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

ICBC <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ind-comm-bk-of-china-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">(1398 HK</a> | <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ind-comm-bk-of-china-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:494:1" rel="noopener">601398 CH)</a> 
The market rout since April has taken ICBC-H <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ind-comm-bk-of-china-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">(1398 HK)</a> back to HKD5.00/share. The stock is now trading at historically low forward P/B and P/E multiples and offers a hefty yield of 7%. Investors are pricing the shares exactly as if the bank is a dividend stock with no perpetual growth.
A perpetual bond may just be what the bank is. The market-implied NPL ratio of over 8% is not out of the realm of possibility. We forecast cumulative loan write-offs of CNY1 trillion (USD155 billion) over the next five years. It doesn't take another global crisis for us to get there. Asset quality concerns will continue to weigh heavily on the stock and the lack of catalysts will limit re-rating potential, in our view.
A multi-year ROE compression story is taking shape. Even the most bullish forecasts see the bank's ROE trending lower as impairment charges eat into interest and fee income. A strong provision level helps to an extent. But we expect the bank to burn down its reserve cover considerably in 2021E to 2025E just to maintain its dividends. 
Asset quality will likely get worse, but the mortgage book provides a glimmer of hope. ICBC continues to be a major funding source of China's capital-intensive recovery. The bank's infrastructure book has grown by CNY1.6 trillion (USD247 billion) since 2016. Indirect exposures to local government finances have also been on the rise. On a more positive note, the mortgage book has been a star. Even if NPLs tick up moderately as the portfolio seasons, homeowners are paying most of the bank's shareholder dividends.
We are underweight ICBC-H against MSCI China <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/msci-china-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22895:1" rel="noopener">(MXCN INDEX)</a> and would look to build a net short position if the stock edges past HKD6.00/share. The bank's dividend capacity puts a floor on the stock, but offers limited room for capital appreciation. The key risks to our call are macro-related. Rising tides lift all boats and any unexpected form of monetary easing by the PBOC will drive the shares higher.
(Attachment: Financial Summary)

ICBC (1398 HK | 601398 CH) 
The market rout since April has taken ICBC-H (1398 HK) back to HKD5.00/share. The stock is now trading at historically low forward P/B and P/E multiples and offers a hefty yield of 7%. Investors are pricing the shares exactly as if the bank is a dividend stock with no perpetual growth.
A perpetual bond may just be what the bank is. The market-implied NPL ratio of over 8% is not out of the realm of possibility. We forecast cumulative loan write-offs of CNY1 trillion (USD155 billion) over the next five years. It doesn't take another global crisis for us to get there. Asset quality concerns will continue to weigh heavily on the stock and the lack of catalysts will limit re-rating potential, in our view.
A multi-year ROE compression story is taking shape. Even the most bullish forecasts see the bank's ROE trending lower as impairment charges eat into interest and fee income. A strong provision level helps to an extent. But we expect the bank to burn down its reserve cover considerably in 2021E to 2025E just to maintain its dividends. 
Asset quality will likely get worse, but the mortgage book provides a glimmer of hope. ICBC continues to be a major funding source of China's capital-intensive recovery. The bank's infrastructure book has grown by CNY1.6 trillion (USD247 billion) since 2016. Indirect exposures to local government finances have also been on the rise. On a more positive note, the mortgage book has been a star. Even if NPLs tick up moderately as the portfolio seasons, homeowners are paying most of the bank's shareholder dividends.
We are underweight ICBC-H against MSCI China (MXCN INDEX) and would look to build a net short position if the stock edges past HKD6.00/share. The bank's dividend capacity puts a floor on the stock, but offers limited room for capital appreciation. The key risks to our call are macro-related. Rising tides lift all boats and any unexpected form of monetary easing by the PBOC will drive the shares higher.
(Attachment: Financial Summary)

ICBC: The Bond Identity | A Zero-Growth Dividend Discount Story

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

*Positive Operating Jaws: China Everbright Bank (6818.HK) [CEB] reported 1Q21 results of CNY 11.5 bn, increasing CNY 3.3 bn (40.1%) linked quarter. When we exclude securities gains, results were less robust coming in at CNY 8.5 bn, but still improving CNY 1.8 bn (27.4%). Results were driven by CEB’s positive operating jaws, as revenues improved CNY 2.6 bn (7.7%) while costs declined CNY 660 mn (6.1%); and*Credit Wall Continues To Grow: Net new problem loans continue to accelerate at Indian bank pace of CNY 11.5 bn or 110.8% on an annualized basis. By our calculation, reserve are short in the neighborhood of CNY 103 mn which represents about three years of 1Q20 core operating results. Provided (and its not a stretch) that the net new NPL ratio trajectory holds, reserve cover of NPLs will drop to 77%.

*Positive Operating Jaws: China Everbright Bank (6818.HK) [CEB] reported 1Q21 results of CNY 11.5 bn, increasing CNY 3.3 bn (40.1%) linked quarter. When we exclude securities gains, results were less robust coming in at CNY 8.5 bn, but still improving CNY 1.8 bn (27.4%). Results were driven by CEB’s positive operating jaws, as revenues improved CNY 2.6 bn (7.7%) while costs declined CNY 660 mn (6.1%); and*Credit Wall Continues To Grow: Net new problem loans continue to accelerate at Indian bank pace of CNY 11.5 bn or 110.8% on an annualized basis. By our calculation, reserve are short in the neighborhood of CNY 103 mn which represents about three years of 1Q20 core operating results. Provided (and its not a stretch) that the net new NPL ratio trajectory holds, reserve cover of NPLs will drop to 77%. 

China Everbright Bank – Credit Remains Troublesome

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Allocations in the Financials sector have broken below the decade long range.  In their place are increased exposures in Technology and Consumer Discretionary companies.  At the moment, allocations within the sector are consolidating, with Asia Ex-Japan funds actively increasing weights, but still remaining a long way below previous levels. In this analysis, we look at the mechanics of the downturn, identifying the countries and stocks hardest hit.  We then look at the extent to which Financials stocks have consolidated and moved towards the early stages of a recovery.

Allocations in the Financials sector have broken below the decade long range.  In their place are increased exposures in Technology and Consumer Discretionary companies.  At the moment, allocations within the sector are consolidating, with Asia Ex-Japan funds actively increasing weights, but still remaining a long way below previous levels. In this analysis, we look at the mechanics of the downturn, identifying the countries and stocks hardest hit.  We then look at the extent to which Financials stocks have consolidated and moved towards the early stages of a recovery.

Asia Ex-Japan Financials.  Slowly Regaining the Faith.

China Merchants Bank H / Equity Bottom-Up

*Good 1Q21 Bottom-Line: China Merchants Bank (3968.HK) [CMB] reported 1Q21 results of CNY 32.0 bn, increasing CNY 11.3 bn (54.4%) linked quarter. Results were driven by net interest income improvement; robust fee growth; and an operating expense reduction; and *Credit Wall Continues To Grow: Net new problem loans continue to accelerate at an Indian bank pace of CNY 18.9 bn or 138.5% on an annualized basis, accelerating form the 04.7% growth rate posted in 4Q20. Provided (and its not a stretch) that the net new NPL ratio trajectory holds, reserve cover of NPLs will drop to 184% - suggesting that even the mighty are falling.

*Good 1Q21 Bottom-Line: China Merchants Bank (3968.HK) [CMB] reported 1Q21 results of CNY 32.0 bn, increasing CNY 11.3 bn (54.4%) linked quarter. Results were driven by net interest income improvement; robust fee growth; and an operating expense reduction; and *Credit Wall Continues To Grow: Net new problem loans continue to accelerate at an Indian bank pace of CNY 18.9 bn or 138.5% on an annualized basis, accelerating form the 04.7% growth rate posted in 4Q20. Provided (and its not a stretch) that the net new NPL ratio trajectory holds, reserve cover of NPLs will drop to 184% - suggesting that even the mighty are falling. 

China Merchants Bank – Pig Still In Python

*Many Moving Parts: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, remains challenged. For 1Q21, PAB reported results of CNY 10.1 bn – increasing CNY 3.6 bn (55.2%) on a linked quarter basis. Revenues, however, did increase CNY 4.8 bn (13.0%), much of which, in our view, can likely be attributed to gains while operating expenses contracted CNY 802 mn or 6.2% over the period; and*Credit Seeing Improvement: By our analysis, we find that credit weakness continues to occur as net new NPLs have increased CNY 4.2 bn or 53.6% on an annualized basis. In fairness, however, this is far better than the CNY 20.5 bn or a massive 241% (223% in 3Q20) increase on an annualized basis. Assuming the credit break in the PAB portfolio continues to remain at the current improved level, we find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 19 bn if we assume a 2x NPL ratio. This shortfall represents 6% of stated equity.

*Many Moving Parts: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, remains challenged. For 1Q21, PAB reported results of CNY 10.1 bn – increasing CNY 3.6 bn (55.2%) on a linked quarter basis. Revenues, however, did increase CNY 4.8 bn (13.0%), much of which, in our view, can likely be attributed to gains while operating expenses contracted CNY 802 mn or 6.2% over the period; and*Credit Seeing Improvement: By our analysis, we find that credit weakness continues to occur as net new NPLs have increased CNY 4.2 bn or 53.6% on an annualized basis. In fairness, however, this is far better than the CNY 20.5 bn or a massive 241% (223% in 3Q20) increase on an annualized basis. Assuming the credit break in the PAB portfolio continues to remain at the current improved level, we find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 19 bn if we assume a 2x NPL ratio. This shortfall represents 6% of stated equity.  

China

China Construction Bank Corporation provides banking services. The Company offers deposits, loans, fund management, foreign exchange, and other services. China Construction Bank provides its services to individuals, enterprises, and other clients.

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China Construction Bank (601939 CH)

ICBC: The Bond Identity | A Zero-Growth Dividend Discount Story

ICBC-H offers a hefty yield of 7% and is trading precisely as a zero-growth dividend-paying stock. But we are not buyers just yet and there is a...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

China Everbright Bank – Credit Remains Troublesome

CHINA EVERBRIGHT BANK: Operating results grew 27.4% QOQ, driven by positive operating jaws. Credit continues to weaken and the loss reserve...

Thomas J. Monaco

Asia Ex-Japan Financials. Slowly Regaining the Faith.

Active Asia Ex-Japan managers move back in to the Financials sector after a period of heavy rotation, however allocations remain well below...

Steven Holden

China Merchants Bank – Pig Still In Python

CHINA MERCHANTS BANK: CMB reported a 1Q21 QOQ results increase of 54.4% driven by net interest income; fee growth; and lower expenses. Net new...

Thomas J. Monaco

Ping An Insurance – Sea Change At Bank

PING AN INSURANCE: PAB reported a 55.2% QOQ improvement in results. Net new NPLs have increased 53.6% on an annualized basis - far better than the...

Thomas J. Monaco

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