HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>We believe the recent underperformance of A-share consumer staples is unjustified. Their 1Q23 results are generally decent despite negative impact from the pandemic in Jan 2023.</li>
<li>Both <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanxi-xinghuacun-fen-wine-factory-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9288:1" rel="noopener">Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine Factory Co (600809 CH)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fu-jian-anjoy-foods-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:30110:1" rel="noopener">Fu Jian Anjoy Foods Co Ltd (603345 CH)</a> witnessed good revenue growth and margin expansion. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/foshan-haitian-flavouring-food-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15577:1" rel="noopener">Foshan Haitian Flavouring &amp; Food (603288 CH)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/inner-mongolia-yili-indus-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3220:1" rel="noopener">Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group (600887 CH)</a> have less satisfactory revenue and margin. Nonetheless, all four companies exhibited good operating cost control. </li>
</ul>


We believe the recent underperformance of A-share consumer staples is unjustified. Their 1Q23 results are generally decent despite negative impact from the pandemic in Jan 2023.
Both Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine Factory Co (600809 CH) and Fu Jian Anjoy Foods Co Ltd (603345 CH) witnessed good revenue growth and margin expansion. 

Foshan Haitian Flavouring &amp; Food (603288 CH) and Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group (600887 CH) have less satisfactory revenue and margin. Nonetheless, all four companies exhibited good operating cost control. 


China A-Share Consumer Staples: Depressed Share Price Cannot Reflect Decent Earnings

<ul>
<li>Disappointing FY22 result from raw milk company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/austasia-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36655:1" rel="noopener">AustAsia Group (2425 HK)</a> should be well expected, but the issue is its guidance that FY23 industry outlook will stay challenging. </li>
<li>Raw milk price is still coming down and 1H23 dairy product demand recovery is slow. Capacity influx will disrupt demand-supply balance, but feed costs pressure seems to have moderated. </li>
<li>Consensus profit projections for the sector are overly optimistic and there is earnings downgrade risk after FY22 result announcement. We will shy away in the near term.</li>
</ul>


Disappointing FY22 result from raw milk company AustAsia Group (2425 HK) should be well expected, but the issue is its guidance that FY23 industry outlook will stay challenging. 
Raw milk price is still coming down and 1H23 dairy product demand recovery is slow. Capacity influx will disrupt demand-supply balance, but feed costs pressure seems to have moderated. 
Consensus profit projections for the sector are overly optimistic and there is earnings downgrade risk after FY22 result announcement. We will shy away in the near term.


China Raw Milk Industry: Takeaways from AustAsia (2425 HK) Call

<ul>
<li>With an average gain of 26.3%, China's A-share consumer staples outperformed the Shanghai Composite Index by significant margins in the last three months.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanxi-xinghuacun-fen-wine-factory-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9288:1" rel="noopener">Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine Factory Co (600809 CH)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fu-jian-anjoy-foods-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:30110:1" rel="noopener">Fu Jian Anjoy Foods Co Ltd (603345 CH)</a> both issued express announcement on decent 4Q22 and FY22 results.</li>
<li>Both <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/foshan-haitian-flavouring-food-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15577:1" rel="noopener">Foshan Haitian Flavouring &amp; Food (603288 CH)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/inner-mongolia-yili-indus-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3220:1" rel="noopener">Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group (A) (600887 CH)</a> are likely to have weak 4Q22, but outlook for FY23 should improve.</li>
</ul>


With an average gain of 26.3%, China's A-share consumer staples outperformed the Shanghai Composite Index by significant margins in the last three months.

Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine Factory Co (600809 CH) and Fu Jian Anjoy Foods Co Ltd (603345 CH) both issued express announcement on decent 4Q22 and FY22 results.
Both Foshan Haitian Flavouring &amp; Food (603288 CH) and Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group (A) (600887 CH) are likely to have weak 4Q22, but outlook for FY23 should improve.


China A-Share Consumer Staples: Good Outperformance

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>We had positive takeaways on F&amp;B demand over the New Year holiday break from our chancel check with distributors.</li><li>In view of the strong foot traffic and hence gifting demand, Baijiu and Beer exceeded expectation, followed by soft drinks and RTD.</li><li>Dairies (including IMF) had a good recovery despite a relatively high inventory level. Both packaged snacks and instant noodle had good momentum.</li></ul><p><em>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.</em></p>

We had positive takeaways on F&amp;B demand over the New Year holiday break from our chancel check with distributors.In view of the strong foot traffic and hence gifting demand, Baijiu and Beer exceeded expectation, followed by soft drinks and RTD.Dairies (including IMF) had a good recovery despite a relatively high inventory level. Both packaged snacks and instant noodle had good momentum.Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

China Consumer – Positive Takeaway from F&B Distributors

<ul>
<li>While China's U-turn on COVID policy is expected to bring consumption rebound in 2023, the near-term surge in infections will weigh negatively on retail sales in Dec and Jan.</li>
<li>Residents are spending more time at home in the first wave, with subways and shopping malls empty. We think this will cast negativity on 4Q22 and 1Q23 consumer discretionary profit.</li>
<li>It is prudent to take some monies off the table, particularly F&amp;B stocks like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haidilao-international-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27044:1" rel="noopener">Haidilao (6862 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiabuxiabu-catering-mgt-chn-hldgs-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:76:1" rel="noopener">Xiabuxiabu (520 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/helen-s-international-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34113:1" rel="noopener">Helen's (9869 HK)</a> which have almost doubled from trough.</li>
</ul>


While China's U-turn on COVID policy is expected to bring consumption rebound in 2023, the near-term surge in infections will weigh negatively on retail sales in Dec and Jan.
Residents are spending more time at home in the first wave, with subways and shopping malls empty. We think this will cast negativity on 4Q22 and 1Q23 consumer discretionary profit.
It is prudent to take some monies off the table, particularly F&amp;B stocks like Haidilao (6862 HK), Xiabuxiabu (520 HK) and Helen's (9869 HK) which have almost doubled from trough.


China COVID Policy: Near-Term Pains for Consumer Discretionary

China

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. produces milk, powdered milk, ice cream, and other dairy products.  The Company also produces frozen food and noodles.

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group (A) (600887 CH)

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Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group (A) (600887 CH)

China Raw Milk Industry: Takeaways from AustAsia (2425 HK) Call

Outlook for the raw milk industry stays challenging in FY23. Raw milk price is still coming down, 1H23 dairy product demand recovery is slow and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Consumer – Positive Takeaway from F&B Distributors

In view of the strong foot traffic and hence gifting demand, Baijiu and Beer exceeded expectation, followed by soft drinks and RTD

CMB International

China COVID Policy: Near-Term Pains for Consumer Discretionary

Near-term negative impact of China's U-turn in COVID policy on consumer discretionary has been underestimated by the market. It is prudent to take...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

China A-Share Consumer Staples: Depressed Share Price Cannot Reflect Decent Earnings

Recent underperformace of A-share consumer staples are not justified, given their generally solid 1Q23 results. All of them achieved good operating...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Raw Milk Industry: Takeaways from AustAsia (2425 HK) Call

Outlook for the raw milk industry stays challenging in FY23. Raw milk price is still coming down, 1H23 dairy product demand recovery is slow and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China A-Share Consumer Staples: Good Outperformance

China's A-share consumer staples outperformed the Shanghai Composite Index by significant margins in the last three months; and we expect their...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Consumer – Positive Takeaway from F&B Distributors

In view of the strong foot traffic and hence gifting demand, Baijiu and Beer exceeded expectation, followed by soft drinks and RTD

CMB International

China COVID Policy: Near-Term Pains for Consumer Discretionary

Near-term negative impact of China's U-turn in COVID policy on consumer discretionary has been underestimated by the market. It is prudent to take...

Osbert Tang, CFA