HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Various statistics suggested that China's tourism and hospitality industry has staged a significant recovery during the 2024 CNY holidays, with traffic surging high double-digit.</li>
<li>While consumers are more cautious about retail product spending, they are willing to spend more on traveling. Such a trend will continue to bode well for the sector.</li>
<li>We like OTAs including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tongcheng-travel-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27363:1" rel="noopener">Tongcheng Travel (780 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd-23a341d0-4f63-4175-a8c5-ee990906cacd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36424:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (9961 HK)</a> despite their YTD surge in share prices. Meanwhile, <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> stays as the top pick.</li>
</ul>


Various statistics suggested that China's tourism and hospitality industry has staged a significant recovery during the 2024 CNY holidays, with traffic surging high double-digit.
While consumers are more cautious about retail product spending, they are willing to spend more on traveling. Such a trend will continue to bode well for the sector.
We like OTAs including Tongcheng Travel (780 HK) and Trip.com (9961 HK) despite their YTD surge in share prices. Meanwhile, Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) stays as the top pick.


China Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Roundup of a Solid CNY

Global Mobility/Transport, Equity Long-Short

Mohshin Aziz

<ul>
<li>Chinese airports have turnaround with Xiamen, Guangzhou, and Shanghai airports reported 9M23 profits. The others (Beijing, Shenzhen, Hainan) are still lossmaking, but should turnaround soon   </li>
<li>The upcoming Winter/Spring schedule reveals international capacity at 70% of 2019's level, a catalyst for strong earnings growth, as international flights generate &gt;2.5x higher revenues   </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiamen-international-air-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18544:1" rel="noopener">Xiamen International Air A (600897 CH)</a> exhibits the best value; <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> is the most appealing due to its size and liquidity </li>
</ul>


Chinese airports have turnaround with Xiamen, Guangzhou, and Shanghai airports reported 9M23 profits. The others (Beijing, Shenzhen, Hainan) are still lossmaking, but should turnaround soon   
The upcoming Winter/Spring schedule reveals international capacity at 70% of 2019's level, a catalyst for strong earnings growth, as international flights generate &gt;2.5x higher revenues   

Xiamen International Air A (600897 CH) exhibits the best value; Shanghai International Airport (600009 CH) is the most appealing due to its size and liquidity 


Chinese Airports at Inflection Point, Low Risk and High Visibility Growth Sector

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Nearly 90% through the review period, we see 6 potential adds and 5 potential deletes in June. However, there can be a maximum of 5 changes at a rebalance.</li>
<li>We estimate a one-way turnover of 5.07% at the June rebalance leading to a one-way trade of CNY 3.97bn. Index arb activity could add to the impact on the stocks.</li>
<li>The potential adds have outperformed the potential deletes by 17% over the last month and by 21% over the last two months.</li>
</ul>


Nearly 90% through the review period, we see 6 potential adds and 5 potential deletes in June. However, there can be a maximum of 5 changes at a rebalance.
We estimate a one-way turnover of 5.07% at the June rebalance leading to a one-way trade of CNY 3.97bn. Index arb activity could add to the impact on the stocks.
The potential adds have outperformed the potential deletes by 17% over the last month and by 21% over the last two months.


SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: BIG Outperformance Over the Last Month

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!

<p>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.</p><p>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.  </p>

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.  

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)

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (600004 CH)

China Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Roundup of a Solid CNY

China's tourism industry sees a strong recovery during the 2024 CNY holidays, with a high double-digit traffic surge. OTAs like Tongcheng and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chinese Airports at Inflection Point, Low Risk and High Visibility Growth Sector

Chinese airports have underperformed the CSI 300 despite a successful turnaround. There will be a surge in lucrative international flights that...

Mohshin Aziz

SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: BIG Outperformance Over the Last Month

There could be 5 changes for the SSE50 in June. Estimate one-way turnover is 5.07% and the one-way trade is CNY 3.97bn. The potential adds have...

Brian Freitas

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

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

China Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Roundup of a Solid CNY

​China's tourism industry sees a strong recovery during the 2024 CNY holidays, with a high double-digit traffic surge. OTAs like Tongcheng and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chinese Airports at Inflection Point, Low Risk and High Visibility Growth Sector

​Chinese airports have underperformed the CSI 300 despite a successful turnaround. There will be a surge in lucrative international flights that...

Mohshin Aziz

SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: BIG Outperformance Over the Last Month

There could be 5 changes for the SSE50 in June. Estimate one-way turnover is 5.07% and the one-way trade is CNY 3.97bn. The potential adds have...

Brian Freitas

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

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

China's tourism industry sees a strong recovery during the 2024 CNY holidays, with a high double-digit traffic surge. OTAs like Tongcheng and...

Chinese airports have underperformed the CSI 300 despite a successful turnaround. There will be a surge in lucrative international flights that...