HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

Shanghai International Airport / Equity Bottom-Up

The announcement by <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> of a loss of between Rmb1.2-1.3bn for FY20 will disappoint the market due to the significant QoQ deterioration, in our view. While weaker domestic traffic and limited recovery of international traffic are reasons, the less favourable duty free agreement reached with Sunrise duty free, a subsidiary of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-tourism-group-duty-free-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12278:1" rel="noopener">China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (601888 CH)</a>, has further added to the loss in last year.Based on the current pace of international traffic recovery, we believe SIAC will be difficult to achieve the required traffic for the minimum guarantee rental in the next two years, and this will have a negative effect on its bottom line. Since 2020, share price of SIAC has outperformed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guangzhou-baiyun-international-airport" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10819:1" rel="noopener">Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH)</a> by over 20pp. With SIAC's new agreement and GBIA's stronger FY20 result, we believe there is room for SIAC to give back some of such outperformance in the near term.

The announcement by Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH) of a loss of between Rmb1.2-1.3bn for FY20 will disappoint the market due to the significant QoQ deterioration, in our view. While weaker domestic traffic and limited recovery of international traffic are reasons, the less favourable duty free agreement reached with Sunrise duty free, a subsidiary of China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (601888 CH), has further added to the loss in last year.Based on the current pace of international traffic recovery, we believe SIAC will be difficult to achieve the required traffic for the minimum guarantee rental in the next two years, and this will have a negative effect on its bottom line. Since 2020, share price of SIAC has outperformed Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH) by over 20pp. With SIAC's new agreement and GBIA's stronger FY20 result, we believe there is room for SIAC to give back some of such outperformance in the near term.

Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH): Dragged by Unfavourable Duty Free Agreement

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The big three Chinese airlines have announced the range of their expected FY20 losses over the weekend, and the general indication is that the 4Q20 results have returned to wider losses after an improvement in 3Q20. We rank their 4Q20 performance in the following descending order: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-eastern-airlines-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1079:1" rel="noopener">China Eastern Airlines Co (H) (670 HK)</a> &gt; <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> &gt; <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>. Although we think the market should have anticipated the deterioration, the trend is not promising and we believe there will be near-term pressure on the sector's performance.In our view, weaker domestic passenger traffic, resurgence in cost pressure and fading positive impact of Rmb appreciation are some of the headwinds faced by the sector in 1Q21. However, we think this is a good opportunity to set up our high conviction trade - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/2021-high-conviction-pair-trade-long-air-china-753-hk-short-china-southern-1055-hk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45584" rel="noopener">2021 High Conviction: Pair Trade - Long Air China (753 HK), Short China Southern (1055 HK)</a>.

The big three Chinese airlines have announced the range of their expected FY20 losses over the weekend, and the general indication is that the 4Q20 results have returned to wider losses after an improvement in 3Q20. We rank their 4Q20 performance in the following descending order: China Eastern Airlines Co (H) (670 HK) &gt; China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) &gt; Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK). Although we think the market should have anticipated the deterioration, the trend is not promising and we believe there will be near-term pressure on the sector's performance.In our view, weaker domestic passenger traffic, resurgence in cost pressure and fading positive impact of Rmb appreciation are some of the headwinds faced by the sector in 1Q21. However, we think this is a good opportunity to set up our high conviction trade - 2021 High Conviction: Pair Trade - Long Air China (753 HK), Short China Southern (1055 HK). 

Chinese Airlines: Initial FY20 Results Suggest Tough Market Has Already Begun

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport / Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guangzhou-baiyun-international-airport" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10819:1" rel="noopener">Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH)</a> achieved the least YoY decline in aircraft movement and cargo throughput in Dec, ending a rough year on a sweet note. In particular, domestic aircraft movement soared 21.8% and international cargo traffic rose 4.8% in last month, which are both very encouraging paces. GBIA's heavy domestic exposure - 87.7% of total aircraft movement and 94.1% of total passenger throughput - should provide a favourable traffic comparison base for 1Q21 given the domestic market was the hardest hit in 1Q20. The relatively fewer scattered local cases in southern China, for example, only 1 in Guangdong since Jun 2020, will likely mean the region is a better travel option in the upcoming month-long Winter Break, and this should be positive to GBIA.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH) achieved the least YoY decline in aircraft movement and cargo throughput in Dec, ending a rough year on a sweet note. In particular, domestic aircraft movement soared 21.8% and international cargo traffic rose 4.8% in last month, which are both very encouraging paces. GBIA's heavy domestic exposure - 87.7% of total aircraft movement and 94.1% of total passenger throughput - should provide a favourable traffic comparison base for 1Q21 given the domestic market was the hardest hit in 1Q20. The relatively fewer scattered local cases in southern China, for example, only 1 in Guangdong since Jun 2020, will likely mean the region is a better travel option in the upcoming month-long Winter Break, and this should be positive to GBIA. 

Guangzhou Baiyun Intl Airport (600004 CH): Concluding 2020 with a Sweet Note

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guangzhou-baiyun-international-airport" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10819:1" rel="noopener">Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH)</a> (GBIA) has another solid month in Nov, continuing the promising trend in Oct and logging a massive 20.2% YoY surge in domestic aircraft movement and a 4.8% leap in domestic passenger traffic. Moreover, the decline in cargo and mail throughput has narrowed to 1.3% YoY only, the best in the last 5 months. We believe this set of traffic performance signals that there is no abatement in its growth paces.Despite the positive trend, GBIA has underperformed <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> (SIAC) by a significant 16.4pp YTD. It is true that the construction of a new Guangzhou airport and the closer co-operation between the Hong Kong airport and Zhuhai airport are challenges in the future. However, with a favourable base for YoY comparison in 1Q21 and the sustained strength in domestic traffic in the next few months, we believe there is room for GBIA to narrow its performance gap against SIAC in the near term.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH) (GBIA) has another solid month in Nov, continuing the promising trend in Oct and logging a massive 20.2% YoY surge in domestic aircraft movement and a 4.8% leap in domestic passenger traffic. Moreover, the decline in cargo and mail throughput has narrowed to 1.3% YoY only, the best in the last 5 months. We believe this set of traffic performance signals that there is no abatement in its growth paces.Despite the positive trend, GBIA has underperformed Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH) (SIAC) by a significant 16.4pp YTD. It is true that the construction of a new Guangzhou airport and the closer co-operation between the Hong Kong airport and Zhuhai airport are challenges in the future. However, with a favourable base for YoY comparison in 1Q21 and the sustained strength in domestic traffic in the next few months, we believe there is room for GBIA to narrow its performance gap against SIAC in the near term.

Guangzhou Baiyun Intl Airport (600004 CH): No Abatement in Growth Paces

China Southern Airlines / Equity Bottom-Up

<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> blew away its peers <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-eastern-airlines-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1079:1" rel="noopener">China Eastern Airlines Co (H) (670 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> in Oct with its impressive traffic and load performance, thanks to the encouraging demand during the "Double Festivals" Golden Week. Meanwhile, its freight traffic is also the strongest among the Big 3s, logging just a 2.1% decline but both regional and international routes are back in the positive zone.CSA has given back 2-3pp of its outperformance against Air China in last week due to the expectation of international traffic recovery, but it has still outperformed the latter by 13.6pp. We believe such recovery will be very gradual, and CSA will stay benefiting from the resilient domestic traffic and the strength of Rmb against USD.

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) blew away its peers China Eastern Airlines Co (H) (670 HK) and Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) in Oct with its impressive traffic and load performance, thanks to the encouraging demand during the "Double Festivals" Golden Week. Meanwhile, its freight traffic is also the strongest among the Big 3s, logging just a 2.1% decline but both regional and international routes are back in the positive zone.CSA has given back 2-3pp of its outperformance against Air China in last week due to the expectation of international traffic recovery, but it has still outperformed the latter by 13.6pp. We believe such recovery will be very gradual, and CSA will stay benefiting from the resilient domestic traffic and the strength of Rmb against USD.

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): Domestic Strength Stays on Course

China

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co., Ltd. operates the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and provides related transportation services, including ground, passenger, storage, airplane maintenance and repair, and other services.  The Company also provides food, space rental, and advertising services.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH)

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH)

Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH): Dragged by Unfavourable Duty Free Agreement

We see SIAC's FY20 unencouraging, mostly due to the unfavourable duty free agreement reached which will erode its profitability. It is possibly...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chinese Airlines: Initial FY20 Results Suggest Tough Market Has Already Begun

Chinese airlines posted weak 4Q20 result ranges and this is expected to put near-term pressure on share prices. However, we believe Air China is in...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Guangzhou Baiyun Intl Airport (600004 CH): Concluding 2020 with a Sweet Note

Ending 2020 with good traffic in Dec, we expect a favourable traffic comparison base in 1Q21 than its peers. Its location also means that it will...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Guangzhou Baiyun Intl Airport (600004 CH): No Abatement in Growth Paces

No sign of slowing traffic growth and decline for cargo throughput have further moderated in Nov. Having underperformed SIAC significantly YTD,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): Domestic Strength Stays on Course

CSA sustained its passenger traffic outperformance into Oct, and its freight volume is also the best among the Big 3s. 4Q20 will stay encouraging...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)