Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyze the monthly Hong Kong Connect flows with our data engine.</li>
<li>We tabulate the top stocks by inflows, outlfows, and holding by mainland investors.</li>
<li>We highlight inflows into Meituan, HKEX, China Unicom, Shenzhou Intl, Sensetime, and outflows from Xiaomi, HSBC, Anta Sports, China Pacific.</li>
</ul>


We analyze the monthly Hong Kong Connect flows with our data engine.
We tabulate the top stocks by inflows, outlfows, and holding by mainland investors.
We highlight inflows into Meituan, HKEX, China Unicom, Shenzhou Intl, Sensetime, and outflows from Xiaomi, HSBC, Anta Sports, China Pacific.


Hong Kong Connect Flows Monthly: 12 Months of Inflows

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

Hope Education Group Co Ltd / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Despite the plunge in share price after FY22 result, we think <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hope-education-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27321:1" rel="noopener">Hope Education Group Co Ltd (1765 HK)</a> has not yet reached its bottom given the challenging outlook faced.</li>
<li>We are concerned about stretched financial position with gearing surged 32.5pp in last year. Heavy capex and need to repay outstanding convertible bonds will strain its cash flow.  </li>
<li>Market earnings expectations are still overly optimistic. New schools looks to drag on near-term margins while surge in staffing, primarily teacher, costs is an added pressure.</li>
</ul>


Despite the plunge in share price after FY22 result, we think Hope Education Group Co Ltd (1765 HK) has not yet reached its bottom given the challenging outlook faced.
We are concerned about stretched financial position with gearing surged 32.5pp in last year. Heavy capex and need to repay outstanding convertible bonds will strain its cash flow.  
Market earnings expectations are still overly optimistic. New schools looks to drag on near-term margins while surge in staffing, primarily teacher, costs is an added pressure.


Hope Education (1765 HK): Have We Reached the Bottom?

<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>'s 27.8% growth in net profit affirmed its solid fundamentals and minimal exposure to regulatory risks. We also welcome its resumption of dividends.</li>
<li>Management expects profitability will be driven by the 48% new student enrollment growth, potential for tuition increase and global education segment recovery. Consensus forecasts are currently too conservative.</li>
<li>Weaker 2H FY22 profit is due to higher depreciation and finance costs but will be absorbed with higher enrollment. Capex will be light and we also like its deleveraging move. </li>
</ul>



China Education Group (839 HK)'s 27.8% growth in net profit affirmed its solid fundamentals and minimal exposure to regulatory risks. We also welcome its resumption of dividends.
Management expects profitability will be driven by the 48% new student enrollment growth, potential for tuition increase and global education segment recovery. Consensus forecasts are currently too conservative.
Weaker 2H FY22 profit is due to higher depreciation and finance costs but will be absorbed with higher enrollment. Capex will be light and we also like its deleveraging move. 


China Education Group (839 HK): Shining Through

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?

<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> has retreated 23% from recent high with no regulatory and company news. Given its secured earnings growth outlook, we see an opportunity. </li>
<li>We believe drivers are higher enrollment and tuition, further capacity growth, good progress in overseas education and light capex. There are positive developments in these aspects recently. </li>
<li>CEG may return unused share buyback funds to shareholders via dividend, suggesting a potential resumption of payout. At just 5.7x PER for FY23F, its growth prospect is undervalued.</li>
</ul>



China Education Group (839 HK) has retreated 23% from recent high with no regulatory and company news. Given its secured earnings growth outlook, we see an opportunity. 
We believe drivers are higher enrollment and tuition, further capacity growth, good progress in overseas education and light capex. There are positive developments in these aspects recently. 
CEG may return unused share buyback funds to shareholders via dividend, suggesting a potential resumption of payout. At just 5.7x PER for FY23F, its growth prospect is undervalued.


China Education Group (839 HK): Sustaining Growth Trajectory

Hong Kong

Hope Education Group Co, Ltd. offers educational services. The Company provides educational training, knowledge point sharing, activities arrangement, and other services. Hope Education Group offers its services throughout China.

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Hope Education Group Co Ltd (1765 HK)

Hong Kong Connect Flows Monthly: 12 Months of Inflows

We analyzed the Hong Kong Connect Scheme for December and highlight flows for Meituan, HKEX, China Unicom, Shenzhou Intl, Sensetime, Xiaomi, HSBC,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Hope Education (1765 HK): Have We Reached the Bottom?

Outlook for Hope Education is still very challenging given high cost pressure, heavy capex and tight financial position. There are significant...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Education Group (839 HK): Shining Through

FY23 profit will be driven by a 48% new student enrollment growth, potential for tuition increase and global education segment recovery. The...

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 Education Group (839 HK): Sustaining Growth Trajectory

Higher enrollment and tuition, further capacity growth, good progress in overseas education and light capex are developments that will potentially...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)