HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tongcheng-travel-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27363:1" rel="noopener">Tongcheng Travel Holdings (780 HK)</a> has a solid FY23 and 4Q23 with massive net profit recovery. Earnings momentum for FY24 and FY25 look to stay impressive.</li>
<li>FY23 is a record year of profit, demonstrating its ability to gain market share after COVID-19 disruption. Further volume growth will lead to better operating leverage.</li>
<li>Net cash reached Rmb2.3bn, up 90.4% YoY, showcasing its cash-generating ability. The first-time dividend payout also reflected management's confidence on the outlook.</li>
</ul>



Tongcheng Travel Holdings (780 HK) has a solid FY23 and 4Q23 with massive net profit recovery. Earnings momentum for FY24 and FY25 look to stay impressive.
FY23 is a record year of profit, demonstrating its ability to gain market share after COVID-19 disruption. Further volume growth will lead to better operating leverage.
Net cash reached Rmb2.3bn, up 90.4% YoY, showcasing its cash-generating ability. The first-time dividend payout also reflected management's confidence on the outlook.


Tongcheng Travel (780 HK): Riding the High Tide

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong / Equity Bottom-Up

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong (308 HK)

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong

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<li>
<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> has an impressive 2024 CNY with the volume and revenue of its tourist attractions increased by 46% to 123% YoY.</li>
<li>Relative to 2019 CNY, most businesses have fully recovered. 1H23 earnings is the highest since 1H20 and the market may have underestimated 2H23, providing upside surprise potential. </li>
<li>The share price is still some 30% below the peak in late-2021 when earnings have yet to recover. Also, its net cash now equals 19% of the share price. </li>
</ul>



China Travel International Investment Hong Kong (308 HK) has an impressive 2024 CNY with the volume and revenue of its tourist attractions increased by 46% to 123% YoY.
Relative to 2019 CNY, most businesses have fully recovered. 1H23 earnings is the highest since 1H20 and the market may have underestimated 2H23, providing upside surprise potential. 
The share price is still some 30% below the peak in late-2021 when earnings have yet to recover. Also, its net cash now equals 19% of the share price. 


China Travel Intl Inv (308 HK): A Laggard that Sets to Catch Up

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/h-world-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33487:1" rel="noopener">H World Group (1179 HK)</a> has been over-penalised by market weakness as its share price was off 16.8% YTD. It turned around in 3Q23 and guidance for 4Q23 is solid.</li>
<li>Surge in operating and adjusted EBITDA margins indicated high operating leverage. Occupancy has not returned to 2019 level, but there will be more margin expansion when this happens.</li>
<li>55% of rooms in China are of economy type, and 82% are in tier-2 and below cities. Such characteristics allow it to benefit from the prevailing consumption downgrade. </li>
</ul>



H World Group (1179 HK) has been over-penalised by market weakness as its share price was off 16.8% YTD. It turned around in 3Q23 and guidance for 4Q23 is solid.
Surge in operating and adjusted EBITDA margins indicated high operating leverage. Occupancy has not returned to 2019 level, but there will be more margin expansion when this happens.
55% of rooms in China are of economy type, and 82% are in tier-2 and below cities. Such characteristics allow it to benefit from the prevailing consumption downgrade. 


H World Group (1179 HK): Uniquely Well-Placed for Lower-Tier Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tongcheng-travel-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27363:1" rel="noopener">Tongcheng Travel Holdings (780 HK)</a> is best positioned to capture post-COVID travel, especially in lower-tier cities. This is reflected in a 146.5% growth in 3Q23 adjusted net profit.</li>
<li>The cooperation with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> continues to bear fruits and will drive accelerated momentum as it leverages on QQ Browser, Weixin mini-program, and Tencent Docs.</li>
<li>3Q23 net cash increased 1.5x from the end-FY22 level and now represents 10.9% of market capitalisation. Its earnings valuations are attractive relative to both growth and peers.</li>
</ul>



Tongcheng Travel Holdings (780 HK) is best positioned to capture post-COVID travel, especially in lower-tier cities. This is reflected in a 146.5% growth in 3Q23 adjusted net profit.
The cooperation with Tencent (700 HK) continues to bear fruits and will drive accelerated momentum as it leverages on QQ Browser, Weixin mini-program, and Tencent Docs.
3Q23 net cash increased 1.5x from the end-FY22 level and now represents 10.9% of market capitalisation. Its earnings valuations are attractive relative to both growth and peers.


Tongcheng Travel (780 HK): Rides on the Tourism Upswing

Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Independent, Fundamental Quantitative Research

Propitious Research

Fully independent, fundamental and quantitative equity research, focused on companies in the Telecommunication, Media, Technology, Internet and Healthcare sectors in the Global Emerging Markets. Idea generation focused on Quality stocks, trading below their intrinsic Value, with sound Corporate Governance.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>The 200 largest weighted companies in the GEM index reported average EPS growth of +6.3%y/y for 1Q23-to-date, slightly down from the +7.5% reported for 4Q22.</li>
<li>Only 51% of companies delivered positive sales surprises, whilst 60% delivered positive EPS surprises, an increase from the trend seen over the past year.</li>
<li>Historically, there has been a significant difference in relative share price performance between the largest positive versus negative surprise generators, for 3 months after the reporting date.</li>
</ul>


The 200 largest weighted companies in the GEM index reported average EPS growth of +6.3%y/y for 1Q23-to-date, slightly down from the +7.5% reported for 4Q22.
Only 51% of companies delivered positive sales surprises, whilst 60% delivered positive EPS surprises, an increase from the trend seen over the past year.
Historically, there has been a significant difference in relative share price performance between the largest positive versus negative surprise generators, for 3 months after the reporting date.


Global Emerging Markets: Reporting Season Summary, 1Q2023

China

H World Group is a leading global hospitality company that manages a diverse portfolio of hotel brands, ranging from economy to luxury segments. It provides quality accommodation and hospitality experiences through its leased and owned, manachised, and franchised hotel models. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Jiading District, Shanghai, China.

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H World Group (1179 HK)

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Osbert Tang, CFA

China Travel Intl Inv (308 HK): A Laggard that Sets to Catch Up

CTII shows tourist attractions volume and revenue growth in 2024 CNY, with the potential for upside surprise. We believe it is unjustified that...

Osbert Tang, CFA