HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Losses at <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> narrowed by 42.8% YoY to Rmb1.67bn in 1Q24. If not for the exchange losses, it will be reduced to below Rmb1bn.</li>
<li>Higher jet fuel prices have dragged result despite record 1Q revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% decline in unit costs indicated profitability is climbing. </li>
<li>Valuations are too depressed as the share price is still lacklustre but quarterly losses and gross margin have already trimmed from the troughs of Rmb10.5bn and -98%, respectively.</li>
</ul>


Losses at Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) narrowed by 42.8% YoY to Rmb1.67bn in 1Q24. If not for the exchange losses, it will be reduced to below Rmb1bn.
Higher jet fuel prices have dragged result despite record 1Q revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% decline in unit costs indicated profitability is climbing. 
Valuations are too depressed as the share price is still lacklustre but quarterly losses and gross margin have already trimmed from the troughs of Rmb10.5bn and -98%, respectively.


Air China (753 HK): Steering Back to the Right Lane

<ul>
<li>
<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> had 15.4% interest-bearing debt denominated in USD, vs. 21.3% for <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>, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. </li>
<li>Recovery of international traffic and routes will help to lower unit costs. Air China's unit costs for FY23 were Rmb4.0445, whereas CSA's were only Rmb3.2000.</li>
<li>There is more upside for Air China's load factor which was down 7.8pp YoY in FY23, compared with -4.7pp for CSA. </li>
</ul>



Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) had 15.4% interest-bearing debt denominated in USD, vs. 21.3% for China Southern Airlines (1055 HK), making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. 
Recovery of international traffic and routes will help to lower unit costs. Air China's unit costs for FY23 were Rmb4.0445, whereas CSA's were only Rmb3.2000.
There is more upside for Air China's load factor which was down 7.8pp YoY in FY23, compared with -4.7pp for CSA. 


China Pair Trade Idea: Long Air China (753 HK), Short CSA (1055 HK)

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

<ul>
<li>Chinese outbound travel demand continued to recover nicely in February</li>
<li>Major airlines' decision to slow capacity rebuild now looks very prudent</li>
<li>But the airlines have underperformed, surprisingly; Buy Trip.com below US$43</li>
</ul>


Chinese outbound travel demand continued to recover nicely in February
Major airlines' decision to slow capacity rebuild now looks very prudent
But the airlines have underperformed, surprisingly; Buy Trip.com below US$43


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Decision to Slow Capacity Rebuild in Mid-2023 Now Looks Prudent

<ul>
<li>Adjusting for impact of LNY timing, January numbers still seem firm</li>
<li>Headline February / LNY 2024 traffic growth also appears solid</li>
<li>Our thesis remains that tourism recovery takes longer, strongest in H124</li>
</ul>


Adjusting for impact of LNY timing, January numbers still seem firm
Headline February / LNY 2024 traffic growth also appears solid
Our thesis remains that tourism recovery takes longer, strongest in H124


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | January & Initial Read On February Both Indicate Solid Growth

<ul>
<li>Trip.com reported a strong set of Q4 and FY23 earnings results last week</li>
<li>Company has held the line on SG&amp;A expenses; look for strong H124 growth</li>
<li>We believe shares are cheap and recommend investors buy below US$43/ADS</li>
</ul>


Trip.com reported a strong set of Q4 and FY23 earnings results last week
Company has held the line on SG&amp;A expenses; look for strong H124 growth
We believe shares are cheap and recommend investors buy below US$43/ADS


Trip.com Q4 Quick Take: Strong Top-Line Growth | Impressive Expense Control | And Not Expensive

China

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the civil aviation industry. It offers passenger, cargo, mail delivery, ground, cargo handling, and other extended transportation services.

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China Eastern Airlines (670 HK)

Air China (753 HK): Steering Back to the Right Lane

Exchange losses, lower load, and higher jet fuel prices dragged 1Q24 despite record revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% unit...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade Idea: Long Air China (753 HK), Short CSA (1055 HK)

Air China has lower USD debt than CSA, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. Recovery of international traffic will lower unit costs and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Decision to Slow Capacity Rebuild in Mid-2023 Now Looks Prudent

February outbound travel demand continued to recovery nicely, and the major airlines' decision to slow their capacity rebuild in H223 now appears...

Tracking Traffic

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | January & Initial Read On February Both Indicate Solid Growth

In January 2024 Chinese travel demand continued to recover, and initial indications are that demand related to the long LNY holiday was also strong.

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q4 Quick Take: Strong Top-Line Growth | Impressive Expense Control | And Not Expensive

Trip.com reported another strong set of quarterly results last week that featured strong top-line growth and admirable expense control. We suggest...

Tracking Traffic

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Air China (753 HK): Steering Back to the Right Lane

Exchange losses, lower load, and higher jet fuel prices dragged 1Q24 despite record revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% unit...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade Idea: Long Air China (753 HK), Short CSA (1055 HK)

​Air China has lower USD debt than CSA, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. Recovery of international traffic will lower unit costs and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Decision to Slow Capacity Rebuild in Mid-2023 Now Looks Prudent

February outbound travel demand continued to recovery nicely, and the major airlines' decision to slow their capacity rebuild in H223 now appears...

Tracking Traffic

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | January & Initial Read On February Both Indicate Solid Growth

In January 2024 Chinese travel demand continued to recover, and initial indications are that demand related to the long LNY holiday was also strong.

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q4 Quick Take: Strong Top-Line Growth | Impressive Expense Control | And Not Expensive

Trip.com reported another strong set of quarterly results last week that featured strong top-line growth and admirable expense control. We suggest...

Tracking Traffic

Air China has lower USD debt than CSA, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. Recovery of international traffic will lower unit costs and...