Equity, Bottom-up Analyst, Investics Research

Sameer Taneja

Equity, Bottom-up Analyst

Investics Research

It is important to note that the information provided by Investics Research is based on publicly available data and own knowledge, which has been gathered and analyzed from a variety of sources. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information provided, it is not guaranteed to be free from errors or omissions. All forecasts and estimates are based on information that has been obtained from public sources that are considered to be reliable. The sources include but are not limited to, company announcements, exchange filings, presentations, etc. Investics does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the forecasts, estimates, and/or other information.

Equity Bottom-up Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We compile a report card for <strong>dividend-yielding mid-caps</strong> that filter out on favorable characteristics of having net cash, decent ROEs, growth, etc. </li>
<li>It's been a disappointing year in share price performance owing to the negativity surrounding China and soft business performance in some cases, but there have been some bright spots.</li>
<li>We help provide a comprehensive list of our updates on some names and an outlook for 2024. It's our last insight for 2023, so happy new year everyone!</li>
</ul>


We compile a report card for dividend-yielding mid-caps that filter out on favorable characteristics of having net cash, decent ROEs, growth, etc. 
It's been a disappointing year in share price performance owing to the negativity surrounding China and soft business performance in some cases, but there have been some bright spots.
We help provide a comprehensive list of our updates on some names and an outlook for 2024. It's our last insight for 2023, so happy new year everyone!


23 Dividend Yielding Small/Mid Caps - Report Card for 2023

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<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

<ul>
<li>Despite the rally in share price after trading resumption and a reasonable FY22 result, there are still several tough issues faced by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-yuhua-education" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23627:1" rel="noopener">China Yuhua Education (6169 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>Cash management, especially for offshore; no dividend payout in the near term; availability of CB refinancing and weakened margins are just some of the challenges. </li>
<li>Conversion to profit-basis for its schools and the operating outlook for new schools are also added issues that it needs to address. In our view, risks still outweigh return.</li>
</ul>


Despite the rally in share price after trading resumption and a reasonable FY22 result, there are still several tough issues faced by China Yuhua Education (6169 HK). 
Cash management, especially for offshore; no dividend payout in the near term; availability of CB refinancing and weakened margins are just some of the challenges. 
Conversion to profit-basis for its schools and the operating outlook for new schools are also added issues that it needs to address. In our view, risks still outweigh return.


China Yuhua Education (6169 HK): Issues Are Not over Yet

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The sharp rally of China's higher education stocks on 18 Nov reflects positive sentiment from announcement of "Implementation Plan for the Project of Reaching the Standards for Running Vocational Schools".</li>
<li>For <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>, potential resumption of dividend will be a driver. The 48% increase in 2022/23 registered students and 10pp utilisation growth have secured FY23 outlook.  </li>
<li>CEG's premium valuations are justified by execution capability, asset quality and earnings outlook. FY23 consensus forecasts are just too low and upgrades will be positive catalysts.</li>
</ul>


The sharp rally of China's higher education stocks on 18 Nov reflects positive sentiment from announcement of "Implementation Plan for the Project of Reaching the Standards for Running Vocational Schools".
For China Education Group (839 HK), potential resumption of dividend will be a driver. The 48% increase in 2022/23 registered students and 10pp utilisation growth have secured FY23 outlook.  
CEG's premium valuations are justified by execution capability, asset quality and earnings outlook. FY23 consensus forecasts are just too low and upgrades will be positive catalysts.


China Private Education: A Massive Comeback?

China

Edvantage Group Holdings Ltd is a private higher education group. The Company operates private, higher education institutions located in China and Australia. Edvantage Group Holdings operates as a holding company.

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Edvantage Group (382 HK)

23 Dividend Yielding Small/Mid Caps - Report Card for 2023

We compile a report card for dividend-yielding mid-caps that filter out favorable characteristics of having net cash, decent ROEs, growth, etc. We...

Sameer Taneja

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

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

CEG is facing challenges from higher USD interest rates, reduced capitalised interest, and write-offs. Despite a 17.8% increase in new students,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Yuhua Education (6169 HK): Issues Are Not over Yet

Despite avoiding default on CBs, Yuhua still faces challenges from cash management, no near-term dividend payout, availability of CB refinancing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Private Education: A Massive Comeback?

China's latest announcements on vocational education suggested that private involvement in higher education will continue to be welcomed. We like...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

23 Dividend Yielding Small/Mid Caps - Report Card for 2023

We compile a report card for dividend-yielding mid-caps that filter out favorable characteristics of having net cash, decent ROEs, growth, etc. We...

Sameer Taneja

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

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

​CEG is facing challenges from higher USD interest rates, reduced capitalised interest, and write-offs. Despite a 17.8% increase in new students,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Yuhua Education (6169 HK): Issues Are Not over Yet

Despite avoiding default on CBs, Yuhua still faces challenges from cash management, no near-term dividend payout, availability of CB refinancing...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Private Education: A Massive Comeback?

China's latest announcements on vocational education suggested that private involvement in higher education will continue to be welcomed. We like...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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

CEG is facing challenges from higher USD interest rates, reduced capitalised interest, and write-offs. Despite a 17.8% increase in new students,...