HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong / Equity Bottom-Up

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong

<ul>
<li>Share price of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-travel-international-investment-hong-kong" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3879:1" rel="noopener">China Travel International Investment Hong Kong (308 HK)</a> (CTII) rallied by 20% over the last 10 trading days but we see good room for more to come.</li>
<li>Our view is that HK-China border opening, revival in domestic tourism, supportive measures and upgrade in attractions are some key drivers for an increasing positive outlook.</li>
<li>At 0.45x 12-month forward P/B (1.5SD below average), there is significant potential for re-rating. Its net cash of HK$0.40/share, or 30% of share price, adds further comfort to us.</li>
</ul>


Share price of China Travel International Investment Hong Kong (308 HK) (CTII) rallied by 20% over the last 10 trading days but we see good room for more to come.
Our view is that HK-China border opening, revival in domestic tourism, supportive measures and upgrade in attractions are some key drivers for an increasing positive outlook.
At 0.45x 12-month forward P/B (1.5SD below average), there is significant potential for re-rating. Its net cash of HK$0.40/share, or 30% of share price, adds further comfort to us.


China Travel Intl Inv (308 HK): Here Comes My Turn!

China Southern Airlines / Equity Bottom-Up

The sharp rally in share price of <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> seems to be too excessive as fundamentals are still weak and traffic is facing headwind. While outlook for border opening has improved and collection of fuel surcharges has restarted, we see 4Q21 and early-FY22 stay challenging for China's biggest domestic airline. Its return to loss of Rmb1.4bn in 3Q21, vs. profit of Rmb377m a year ago, is a clear demonstration of the tough operating situation in the near term.CSA's number of scheduled flights on China's top five routes has so far averaged at 61 per day for 4Q, down significantly by 34% YoY, and we think this will reflect unfavourably on the 4Q21 result. Market consensus expectation of a profitable 4Q21 looks clearly aggressive given that its loss was Rmb3.3bn in 4Q20. While the latest developments are positive, they are not enough to change the big picture, in our view. Also, <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> is a better play than CSA on China's potential border opening some time in FY22.

The sharp rally in share price of China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) seems to be too excessive as fundamentals are still weak and traffic is facing headwind. While outlook for border opening has improved and collection of fuel surcharges has restarted, we see 4Q21 and early-FY22 stay challenging for China's biggest domestic airline. Its return to loss of Rmb1.4bn in 3Q21, vs. profit of Rmb377m a year ago, is a clear demonstration of the tough operating situation in the near term.CSA's number of scheduled flights on China's top five routes has so far averaged at 61 per day for 4Q, down significantly by 34% YoY, and we think this will reflect unfavourably on the 4Q21 result. Market consensus expectation of a profitable 4Q21 looks clearly aggressive given that its loss was Rmb3.3bn in 4Q20. While the latest developments are positive, they are not enough to change the big picture, in our view. Also, Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) is a better play than CSA on China's potential border opening some time in FY22. 

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): Is There More Room to Go?

Shanghai International Airport / Equity Bottom-Up

The 3Q21 result with widened losses at <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> clearly looks unexciting, but there are several factors that distorted both the YoY and QoQ comparison. These include a change in lease accounting, first-time interest expenses from super short-term bills issued, higher costs on pandemic control and a low base in jet fuel sales in last year. Excluding these factors, we consider SIAC's result is reasonable, and we believe it will turn better.The potential opening of China's borders, improvement in operating cash flow, removal of distorted bases for comparison and completion of asset acquisitions are just some of the favourable developments over the next 12 months, in our view. Well-controlled costs amid the tough operating environment are also setting a stage for SIAC to benefit from its high operating leverage when traffic returns in FY22. That said, we should not be too bearish on the name, especially as the share price has already gone off by 34% YTD.

The 3Q21 result with widened losses at Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH) clearly looks unexciting, but there are several factors that distorted both the YoY and QoQ comparison. These include a change in lease accounting, first-time interest expenses from super short-term bills issued, higher costs on pandemic control and a low base in jet fuel sales in last year. Excluding these factors, we consider SIAC's result is reasonable, and we believe it will turn better.The potential opening of China's borders, improvement in operating cash flow, removal of distorted bases for comparison and completion of asset acquisitions are just some of the favourable developments over the next 12 months, in our view. Well-controlled costs amid the tough operating environment are also setting a stage for SIAC to benefit from its high operating leverage when traffic returns in FY22. That said, we should not be too bearish on the name, especially as the share price has already gone off by 34% YTD.

Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH): We Shouldn't Be Too Bearish

We think that share price of <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> has yet to reflect the prospects of recovering international passenger traffic in FY22, despite its 15pp outperformance against the HSCEI YTD. There are news lately on plans to reopen borders by many overseas countries including the US and Australia. It is also speculated that China will do so as well in early 2022 after its vaccination rate hit 85%, vs. 78% currently.Its passenger traffic in Sep has recovered MoM when compared with the local case impacted Aug. Meanwhile, cargo stayed resilient and it will also benefit from the strength in airfreight rate. We think Air China should be appreciated for its capacity management as it has not aggressively expanded capacity despite YoY traffic rebound. This is evidenced by a flat passenger load factor and a 2.7pp expansion in cargo load factor for 9M21.

We think that share price of Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) has yet to reflect the prospects of recovering international passenger traffic in FY22, despite its 15pp outperformance against the HSCEI YTD. There are news lately on plans to reopen borders by many overseas countries including the US and Australia. It is also speculated that China will do so as well in early 2022 after its vaccination rate hit 85%, vs. 78% currently.Its passenger traffic in Sep has recovered MoM when compared with the local case impacted Aug. Meanwhile, cargo stayed resilient and it will also benefit from the strength in airfreight rate. We think Air China should be appreciated for its capacity management as it has not aggressively expanded capacity despite YoY traffic rebound. This is evidenced by a flat passenger load factor and a 2.7pp expansion in cargo load factor for 9M21.  

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Chinese airlines are expected to face sustained turbulence given the adverse impact of scattered outbreak of local COVID-19 cases, with the most recent ones being Fujian. We see risks for this round of spread to negatively affect the cross-province travel appetite during the mid-Autumn mini-break and potentially the all-important National Day Golden Week in Oct. With poor Aug traffic figures out (over 50% YoY drop in domestic passenger traffic for both <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> and <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>), Sep is also unlikely to be an easy month.We expect 3Q21 results to be under pressure, and we maintain that a long <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>, short <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> trade can position well amid the current environment. We see too much positive expectations have been built in CSA; meanwhile, Air China will have an easier base for comparison in 4Q21 and the reduction in losses at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cathay-pacific-airways-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:243:1" rel="noopener">Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK)</a> will continue to help its bottom line in 2H21.

Chinese airlines are expected to face sustained turbulence given the adverse impact of scattered outbreak of local COVID-19 cases, with the most recent ones being Fujian. We see risks for this round of spread to negatively affect the cross-province travel appetite during the mid-Autumn mini-break and potentially the all-important National Day Golden Week in Oct. With poor Aug traffic figures out (over 50% YoY drop in domestic passenger traffic for both China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) and Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)), Sep is also unlikely to be an easy month.We expect 3Q21 results to be under pressure, and we maintain that a long Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK), short China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) trade can position well amid the current environment. We see too much positive expectations have been built in CSA; meanwhile, Air China will have an easier base for comparison in 4Q21 and the reduction in losses at Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK) will continue to help its bottom line in 2H21.

Chinese Airlines: Cruising Within Sustained Turbulence

China

China Southern Airlines Company Limited provides air transportation services. The Company offers passenger and freight air transportation services, aviation equipment maintenance and aircraft leasing services. Shanghai Airlines also provides ticket and hotel booking and consulting services. China Southern Airlines provides services worldwide.

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China Southern Airlines (600029 CH)

China Travel Intl Inv (308 HK): Here Comes My Turn!

HK-China border opening, revival in domestic tourism, supportive measures and upgrade in attractions are some key drivers for an increasing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): Is There More Room to Go?

Recent rally seems to be more than enough to reflect on the latest news of COVID-19 drug development, collection of fuel surcharges and potential...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH): We Shouldn't Be Too Bearish

Distorting factors have made Shanghai International Airport's 3Q21 result weak on YoY and QoQ. However, a deep look showed that it is performing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Air China (753 HK): Come Fly with Me

Air China is well positioned to gain from increase in overseas border openings. Also, China's possible removal of quarantine requirements for...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chinese Airlines: Cruising Within Sustained Turbulence

After a devastating Aug, Sep will still be clouded by recent cases in Fujian. We think Long Air China, short CSA strategy should capture CSA's...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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