HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>By way of its 54.79% ownership in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zheshang-securities-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29981:1" rel="noopener">Zheshang Securities (601878 CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhejiang-expressway-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2178:1" rel="noopener">Zhejiang Expressway Co H (576 HK)</a> is an attractive indirect vehicle to access the mainland securities sector.  </li>
<li>The attributable market cap of Zheshang equals 90% of ZJE's market cap, implying that the toll road business is almost free. However, Zheshang only contributed 16% of ZJE's 1H24 profit.</li>
<li>ZJE trades on 6.7x FY24F PER, vs. 31.3x for Zheshang and 17.6x for H-share securities companies. A stable toll road business also minimises the risk for ZJE.</li>
</ul>


By way of its 54.79% ownership in Zheshang Securities (601878 CH), Zhejiang Expressway Co H (576 HK) is an attractive indirect vehicle to access the mainland securities sector.  
The attributable market cap of Zheshang equals 90% of ZJE's market cap, implying that the toll road business is almost free. However, Zheshang only contributed 16% of ZJE's 1H24 profit.
ZJE trades on 6.7x FY24F PER, vs. 31.3x for Zheshang and 17.6x for H-share securities companies. A stable toll road business also minimises the risk for ZJE.


Zhejiang Expressway (576 HK): Cheap Access to the Roaring Securities Sector

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>YTD, H-share securities companies outperformed the HSI and HSCEI, but valuations are still undemanding at 12.7x and 11.7x PERs for FY25 and FY26.</li>
<li>2H25F earnings for the sector are too conservative at -2.5%, compared with 64.9% YoY growth in 1H25. There is significant earnings upgrade potential after the 3Q25 result announcements.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-international-capital-corporation-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1071:1" rel="noopener">China International Capital Corporation (3908 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-galaxy-securities-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:165:1" rel="noopener">China Galaxy Securities (H) (6881 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/everbright-securities-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22736:1" rel="noopener">Everbright Securities (H) (6178 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/csc-financial-co-ltd-115216b6-b1c3-42f3-a314-a7ed93ea0b8e" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23710:1" rel="noopener">CSC Financial (6066 HK)</a> appear interesting.</li>
</ul>


YTD, H-share securities companies outperformed the HSI and HSCEI, but valuations are still undemanding at 12.7x and 11.7x PERs for FY25 and FY26.
2H25F earnings for the sector are too conservative at -2.5%, compared with 64.9% YoY growth in 1H25. There is significant earnings upgrade potential after the 3Q25 result announcements.

China International Capital Corporation (3908 HK), China Galaxy Securities (H) (6881 HK), Everbright Securities (H) (6178 HK), and CSC Financial (6066 HK) appear interesting.


China Strategy: Interesting H-Share Securities Companies

<ul>
<li>CSRC's Market Value Management Guidelines will indirectly benefit the H-share stocks with their A-share counterparts with a P/B of below 1x.  </li>
<li>Chinese banks dominated the list with below-book A-shares. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16221:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Bank (6818 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-citic-bank-corp-ltd-ea6c25fd-4b20-45cb-a4a6-df7a60136f03" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:653:1" rel="noopener">China Citic Bank H (998 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/industrial-and-commercial-bank-of-china-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">ICBC (H) (1398 HK)</a> are the prime beneficiaries.</li>
<li>Infrastructure construction companies <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-railway-construction-corp-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:263:1" rel="noopener">China Railway Cons Corp (1186 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-railway-group-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:264:1" rel="noopener">China Railway Group H (390 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Comm Cons (1800 HK)</a> are also well-positioned to gain.</li>
</ul>


CSRC's Market Value Management Guidelines will indirectly benefit the H-share stocks with their A-share counterparts with a P/B of below 1x.  
Chinese banks dominated the list with below-book A-shares. China Everbright Bank (6818 HK), China Citic Bank H (998 HK), and ICBC (H) (1398 HK) are the prime beneficiaries.
Infrastructure construction companies China Railway Cons Corp (1186 HK), China Railway Group H (390 HK), and China Comm Cons (1800 HK) are also well-positioned to gain.


China & HK Strategy: Names to Watch for Market Value Management

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

Rikki Malik

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Expectation management of any stimulus package gives the potential to overdeliver</li>
<li>Recent economic data is surprising to the upside in China</li>
<li>Divergent investor viewpoints and Trump's win likely mean offshore markets will be more volatile than onshore</li>
</ul>


Expectation management of any stimulus package gives the potential to overdeliver
Recent economic data is surprising to the upside in China
Divergent investor viewpoints and Trump's win likely mean offshore markets will be more volatile than onshore


Much Ado About Nothing -Or Why the China Stimulus Package Doesn’t Matter as Much as Investors Think

<ul>
<li>Although the H-share securities companies have retreated significantly from their peaks, there are still "fats" in their share prices in the near term, relative to the market turnover.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/citic-securities-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:463:1" rel="noopener">Citic Securities (H) (6030 HK)</a> looks vulnerable given its high valuations, low H-A share discount, limited correction from its peak, and significant rebound from the trough.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-securities-co-4f5d644c-0051-426f-9706-eaa74b0ba280" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22738:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Securities (6099 HK)</a> appears exposed though valuations are not high. It has the best YTD performance and rebound from the trough, and its H-A share discount is light.   </li>
</ul>


Although the H-share securities companies have retreated significantly from their peaks, there are still "fats" in their share prices in the near term, relative to the market turnover.

Citic Securities (H) (6030 HK) looks vulnerable given its high valuations, low H-A share discount, limited correction from its peak, and significant rebound from the trough.

China Merchants Securities (6099 HK) appears exposed though valuations are not high. It has the best YTD performance and rebound from the trough, and its H-A share discount is light.   


China Strategy: Screening the H-Share Securities Companies

China

Huatai Securities Co., Ltd. operates securities businesses. The Company provides securities brokerage, securities underwriting, asset management, investment banking, and online exchange services. Huatai Securities mainly conducts businesses domestically.

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Huatai Securities Co Ltd (HTSC LI)

Zhejiang Expressway (576 HK): Cheap Access to the Roaring Securities Sector

Zhejiang Expressway provides indirect cheap access to mainland securities through its ownership in Zheshang Securities, with a stable toll road...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China & HK Strategy: Names to Watch for Market Value Management

SASAC issued "Several opinions on improving and strengthening the market value management of listed companies controlled by central enterprises"...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Much Ado About Nothing -Or Why the China Stimulus Package Doesn’t Matter as Much as Investors Think

Expectation management has been key as China's economic data surprises on the upside, but divergent investor views and Trump's win may lead to...

Rikki Malik

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Zhejiang Expressway (576 HK): Cheap Access to the Roaring Securities Sector

​Zhejiang Expressway provides indirect cheap access to mainland securities through its ownership in Zheshang Securities, with a stable toll road...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Strategy: Interesting H-Share Securities Companies

​H-share securities companies show strong performance and potential for earnings upgrades, with undemanding valuations. CICC, China Galaxy,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China & HK Strategy: Names to Watch for Market Value Management

SASAC issued "Several opinions on improving and strengthening the market value management of listed companies controlled by central enterprises"...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Much Ado About Nothing -Or Why the China Stimulus Package Doesn’t Matter as Much as Investors Think

​Expectation management has been key as China's economic data surprises on the upside, but divergent investor views and Trump's win may lead to...

Rikki Malik

China Strategy: Screening the H-Share Securities Companies

​H-share securities companies still have room for corrections despite recent retreats, with Citic Securities and China Merchants Securities looking...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Zhejiang Expressway provides indirect cheap access to mainland securities through its ownership in Zheshang Securities, with a stable toll road...

H-share securities companies show strong performance and potential for earnings upgrades, with undemanding valuations. CICC, China Galaxy,...

Expectation management has been key as China's economic data surprises on the upside, but divergent investor views and Trump's win may lead to...

H-share securities companies still have room for corrections despite recent retreats, with Citic Securities and China Merchants Securities looking...