Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

Equity Bottom-Up

Hua Hong Semiconductor / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Operating loss in 1Q25 will persist in 2Q25 – I expect throughout 2025. Hua Hong rapid capacity increase is supposedly sold out but D&amp;A is increasing much faster than revenue. </li>
<li>Consensus is not expecting an end-demand slowdown resulting from US import tariffs, or sluggish China domestic consumption. Consensus expects Hua Hong to sell its capacity increase fully. </li>
<li>Given losses in 1H25, Consensus EPS forecast is too high for 2025, probably for 2026 as well. Stock is expensive at 43x 2025 EPS, EPS forecasts looks too high.</li>
</ul>


Operating loss in 1Q25 will persist in 2Q25 – I expect throughout 2025. Hua Hong rapid capacity increase is supposedly sold out but D&amp;A is increasing much faster than revenue. 
Consensus is not expecting an end-demand slowdown resulting from US import tariffs, or sluggish China domestic consumption. Consensus expects Hua Hong to sell its capacity increase fully. 
Given losses in 1H25, Consensus EPS forecast is too high for 2025, probably for 2026 as well. Stock is expensive at 43x 2025 EPS, EPS forecasts looks too high.


Hua Hong: Very Poor Margins to Continue, Operating Losses for Longer

Chief Executive Officer, Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Chief Executive Officer

Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Emmer Capital Partners is an Asia Pacific focused financial advisory firm engaging in strategic financial asset allocation advice, bespoke thematic research and advising early-stage companies and connecting them to investors. Emmer Capital provides macro-economic and multi-asset investment strategy inputs to institutions, family offices, private wealth managers, private equity, and corporate boards directly and through independent research platforms. Emmer Capital also advises a wide range of startup companies on fund raising and business strategy. Emmer Capital's active engagement with the print and electronic media reaches a broad spectrum of investors across the globe.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>From the superlative September (US$24.2 bn net buy), onshore investors' net Southbound buying dipped in October (US$11.9 bn) and November (US$15.7 bn). Xiaomi, Alibaba, PopMart and Meituan were bought most.</li>
<li>The most sold stocks during October-November were SMIC, Hua Hong Semi, Innovent Biologics. Enthusiasm for semiconductor and biotech seems to be cooling off, though we believe biotech focus should revive.</li>
<li>Investors' sustained preference is for stocks catering to domestic consumption that are able to adopt AI to improve productivity and expand their cash-generating businesses. Internet platforms fall in this silo.</li>
</ul>


From the superlative September (US$24.2 bn net buy), onshore investors' net Southbound buying dipped in October (US$11.9 bn) and November (US$15.7 bn). Xiaomi, Alibaba, PopMart and Meituan were bought most.
The most sold stocks during October-November were SMIC, Hua Hong Semi, Innovent Biologics. Enthusiasm for semiconductor and biotech seems to be cooling off, though we believe biotech focus should revive.
Investors' sustained preference is for stocks catering to domestic consumption that are able to adopt AI to improve productivity and expand their cash-generating businesses. Internet platforms fall in this silo.


Asian Equities: Southbound Zeal Dips; Some Established Themes Looking Tired, Others Rejuvenated.

Asia L/S Equity PM/Macro/Thematic Idea Generation

Rikki Malik

<ul>
<li>Government stabilisation measures kick in as tariff war starts to bite</li>
<li>Can the HK and China markets continue their bull run as markets dislocate?</li>
<li>Is it time to selectively get back into the Chinese tech sector?</li>
</ul>


Government stabilisation measures kick in as tariff war starts to bite
Can the HK and China markets continue their bull run as markets dislocate?
Is it time to selectively get back into the Chinese tech sector?


Hong Kong Market Strategy - Trade and Portfolio Ideas Amidst the Volatility

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sichuan-kelun-biotech-biopharm" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40071:1" rel="noopener">Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Bio (6990 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/techtronic-industries-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4561:1" rel="noopener">Techtronic Ind. (669 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vesync" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31067:1" rel="noopener">Vesync (2148 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chervon-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35309:1" rel="noopener">Chervon Hldgs (2285 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wuxi-apptec-co-ltd-bf4a1265-beef-48b6-b82d-29308426030f" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27795:1" rel="noopener">WuXi AppTec (2359 HK)</a> have a very high reliance on the US market.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vtech-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18812:1" rel="noopener">Vtech Hldgs (303 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsonite-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12790:1" rel="noopener">Samsonite (1910 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haier-smart-home-co-ltd-b3ef445f-0f54-4586-8c58-9073de98d60e" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31105:1" rel="noopener">Haier Smart Home (6690 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tcl-multimedia-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15654:1" rel="noopener">Tcl Multimedia (1070 HK)</a> ranked lower on the list, but consumer cutbacks will have a bigger impact. </li>
<li>The spillover effect of a US recession to other countries will pressurise companies that have low direct exposure, like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orient-overseas-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:801:1" rel="noopener">Orient Overseas International (316 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/prada-s-p-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:889:1" rel="noopener">Prada S.P.A. (1913 HK)</a>.</li>
</ul>



Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Bio (6990 HK), Techtronic Ind. (669 HK), Vesync (2148 HK), Chervon Hldgs (2285 HK), and WuXi AppTec (2359 HK) have a very high reliance on the US market.

Vtech Hldgs (303 HK), Samsonite (1910 HK), Haier Smart Home (6690 HK), and Tcl Multimedia (1070 HK) ranked lower on the list, but consumer cutbacks will have a bigger impact. 
The spillover effect of a US recession to other countries will pressurise companies that have low direct exposure, like Orient Overseas International (316 HK) and Prada S.P.A. (1913 HK).


China & HK Strategy: Who Are the Victims of a US Recession?

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

<ul>
<li>Hong Kong Alpha Portfolio returned 5.23% in December and outperformed the benchmark by 5.92%.  The portfolio has outperformed Hong Kong indexes by 10.36% to 14.38% since its inception on 10/01/24.</li>
<li>About 80% of the portfolio's excess returns have been from alpha generation.  The portfolio has no exposure to Real Estate, Healthcare, Materials, or Energy at this time.</li>
<li>At month end, we sold ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance C (6060 HK) , China Longyuan Power (916 HK) , CRRC Corp Ltd H (1766 HK), and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/weibo-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35280:1" rel="noopener">Weibo (9898 HK)</a> .</li>
</ul>


Hong Kong Alpha Portfolio returned 5.23% in December and outperformed the benchmark by 5.92%.  The portfolio has outperformed Hong Kong indexes by 10.36% to 14.38% since its inception on 10/01/24.
About 80% of the portfolio's excess returns have been from alpha generation.  The portfolio has no exposure to Real Estate, Healthcare, Materials, or Energy at this time.
At month end, we sold ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance C (6060 HK) , China Longyuan Power (916 HK) , CRRC Corp Ltd H (1766 HK), and Weibo (9898 HK) .


HONG KONG ALPHA PORTFOLIO (December 2024)

China

Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited manufactures semiconductors on 200mm wafers for specialty applications. The Company's products are used in the consumer electronic, communication, computing and industrial, and automotive industries.

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Hua Hong Semiconductor (1347 HK)

Hua Hong: Very Poor Margins to Continue, Operating Losses for Longer

Expect operating losses in 2025 for Hua Hong on rapid capacity increase, increasing D&A outpacing revenue growth. Consensus EPS forecasts are...

Nicolas Baratte

Asian Equities: Southbound Zeal Dips; Some Established Themes Looking Tired, Others Rejuvenated.

Southbound buying dipped in October-November. Focus remains on stocks catering to domestic consumption & AI adoption. Semiconductor & biotech zeal...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Hong Kong Market Strategy - Trade and Portfolio Ideas Amidst the Volatility

$769 has lagged other rare earth plays but it is now up 100% in two days. We would look to sell half and keep the rest as a free ride. Hard...

Rikki Malik

China & HK Strategy: Who Are the Victims of a US Recession?

Reliance on the US market varies among HK-listed companies, with some having high direct exposure to a recession. Those with low direct exposure...

Osbert Tang, CFA

HONG KONG ALPHA PORTFOLIO (December 2024)

Hong Kong Alpha porfolio returned 5.29% in December and has outperformed Hong Kong indexes by 10% to 14% since its inception on 10/01/24.The...

David Mudd

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Hua Hong: Very Poor Margins to Continue, Operating Losses for Longer

​Expect operating losses in 2025 for Hua Hong on rapid capacity increase, increasing D&A outpacing revenue growth. Consensus EPS forecasts are...

Nicolas Baratte

Asian Equities: Southbound Zeal Dips; Some Established Themes Looking Tired, Others Rejuvenated.

​Southbound buying dipped in October-November. Focus remains on stocks catering to domestic consumption & AI adoption. Semiconductor & biotech zeal...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Hong Kong Market Strategy - Trade and Portfolio Ideas Amidst the Volatility

$769 has lagged other rare earth plays but it is now up 100% in two days. We would look to sell half and keep the rest as a free ride. Hard...

Rikki Malik

China & HK Strategy: Who Are the Victims of a US Recession?

​Reliance on the US market varies among HK-listed companies, with some having high direct exposure to a recession. Those with low direct exposure...

Osbert Tang, CFA

HONG KONG ALPHA PORTFOLIO (December 2024)

Hong Kong Alpha porfolio returned 5.29% in December and has outperformed Hong Kong indexes by 10% to 14% since its inception on 10/01/24.The...

David Mudd

Expect operating losses in 2025 for Hua Hong on rapid capacity increase, increasing D&A outpacing revenue growth. Consensus EPS forecasts are...

Southbound buying dipped in October-November. Focus remains on stocks catering to domestic consumption & AI adoption. Semiconductor & biotech zeal...

Reliance on the US market varies among HK-listed companies, with some having high direct exposure to a recession. Those with low direct exposure...