HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-east-education-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27843:1" rel="noopener">China East Education (667 HK)</a> is interesting as it is probably the only education company with no debt. Net cash amounted to Rmb2.1bn, or 42% of its market capitalisation. </li>
<li>Earnings have bottomed out and the marginal YoY decline in 1H23 is due to upfront costs for staff recruitment. Its vocational education focus also faces fewer regulatory risks.</li>
<li>We consider it a potential privatisation candidate at 0.8x P/B. Its major shareholders owned 75% of the company, leaving a free float of less than HK$1.4bn.</li>
</ul>



China East Education (667 HK) is interesting as it is probably the only education company with no debt. Net cash amounted to Rmb2.1bn, or 42% of its market capitalisation. 
Earnings have bottomed out and the marginal YoY decline in 1H23 is due to upfront costs for staff recruitment. Its vocational education focus also faces fewer regulatory risks.
We consider it a potential privatisation candidate at 0.8x P/B. Its major shareholders owned 75% of the company, leaving a free float of less than HK$1.4bn.


China East Education (667 HK): Getting More Interesting

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-education-group-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18218:1" rel="noopener">China Education Group (839 HK)</a> appears to be facing the headwinds from higher USD interest rate and reduction in capitalised interest. The intangible write-off is another drag on FY23.</li>
<li>Newly registered students increased 17.8% for FY24. With better average fees, this will help the topline. Our concerns are high finance and operating costs will erode revenue growth.</li>
<li>Consensus is overly aggressive and there are risks of downgrade. Earnings may re-accelerate in the future, but weaker 1H FY24F keeps us on the sideline in the short term. </li>
</ul>



China Education Group (839 HK) appears to be facing the headwinds from higher USD interest rate and reduction in capitalised interest. The intangible write-off is another drag on FY23.
Newly registered students increased 17.8% for FY24. With better average fees, this will help the topline. Our concerns are high finance and operating costs will erode revenue growth.
Consensus is overly aggressive and there are risks of downgrade. Earnings may re-accelerate in the future, but weaker 1H FY24F keeps us on the sideline in the short term. 


China Education Group (839 HK): Not so Encouraging in the near Term

Education Sector Analyst, Schoolhouse Solutions

Anik Siwach

Education Sector Analyst

Schoolhouse Solutions

Schoolhouse is a strategy and research provider for the Education sector. We publish differentiated reports and bespoke research on the sector, focused on private and public companies in Asia-Pacific. Our team has decades of experience working with Education companies ranging from K-12 to Tertiary and Edtech.

Strategy and Research Provider

<ul>
<li>
Agile Response to Visa Changes: NextEd's nimble approach to the end of the COVID-19 408 visa showcases adaptability in uncertain times.</li>
<li>
Tech Sector Growth Potential: Expanding in the thriving tech field, NextEd taps into strong post-study work rights and sector support.</li>
<li>
Regulatory Challenges: Navigating regulatory shifts, NextEd's resilience shines amid uncertainty in the non-university education landscape.</li>
</ul>



Agile Response to Visa Changes: NextEd's nimble approach to the end of the COVID-19 408 visa showcases adaptability in uncertain times.

Tech Sector Growth Potential: Expanding in the thriving tech field, NextEd taps into strong post-study work rights and sector support.

Regulatory Challenges: Navigating regulatory shifts, NextEd's resilience shines amid uncertainty in the non-university education landscape.


NextEd Group (NXD):  Whiplash! Market Reaction to Australia’s Visa Changes Highlights the Risk.

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyze the weekly Hong Kong Connect flows with our data engine for holding position as of May 12th.</li>
<li>The top stocks by inflows and outflows were tabulated for all market, HSCEI, mid cap and s/mid cap groups.</li>
<li>We highlight flows for Cnooc, Bank Of China, Petrochina, China Shenhua Energy, CCB, HKEX, SMIC.</li>
</ul>


We analyze the weekly Hong Kong Connect flows with our data engine for holding position as of May 12th.
The top stocks by inflows and outflows were tabulated for all market, HSCEI, mid cap and s/mid cap groups.
We highlight flows for Cnooc, Bank Of China, Petrochina, China Shenhua Energy, CCB, HKEX, SMIC.


Hong Kong Connect Flows (May 12th): CNOOC, BOC, Petrochina, China Shenhua Energy, CCB, HKEX, SMIC

<ul>
<li>Adjusted net profit at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-education-group-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18218:1" rel="noopener">China Education Group (839 HK)</a> grew 15.1% in 1H23, accelerated from 5% in 2H22. We are delighted to see resumption of interim DPS at Rmb0.164.</li>
<li>FY23 outlook will be underpinned by higher education student enrollment and tuition increase. Strengthened financial position offers opportunities for both organic and M&amp;A growth.</li>
<li>Potential upside will also come from completion of for-profit conversion at Jiangxi University of Technology. We consider its 7.9x PER, 1x P/B, 13.3% ROE and 5.5% yield attractive.</li>
</ul>


Adjusted net profit at China Education Group (839 HK) grew 15.1% in 1H23, accelerated from 5% in 2H22. We are delighted to see resumption of interim DPS at Rmb0.164.
FY23 outlook will be underpinned by higher education student enrollment and tuition increase. Strengthened financial position offers opportunities for both organic and M&amp;A growth.
Potential upside will also come from completion of for-profit conversion at Jiangxi University of Technology. We consider its 7.9x PER, 1x P/B, 13.3% ROE and 5.5% yield attractive.


China Education Group (839 HK): Sustaining the Healthy Track Record

China

China Education Group Holdings Limited offers educational services. The Company provides private universities operating services, education training services, and other services. China Education Group Holdings offers services in Hong Kong.

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China Education Group (839 HK)

China East Education (667 HK): Getting More Interesting

China East Education is debt-free with strong net cash. Earnings have stabilised, and it faces fewer regulatory risks. It is a potential...

Osbert Tang, CFA