HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a>'s 2.2% drop in core earnings in FY23 is distorted by the expiry of exploration rights of oilfield projects. All other segments have done well.  </li>
<li>FY24 outlook is positive - reduction in E&amp;P distortion, addition of more city gas projects, higher utilisation of LNG plants and terminals, and optimisation of gas pricing mechanism.</li>
<li>Net cash of Rmb20.4bn equals 29% of market capitalisation, providing room for a higher dividend payout. A re-inclusion into the HSI is not totally out of the cards.</li>
</ul>



Kunlun Energy (135 HK)'s 2.2% drop in core earnings in FY23 is distorted by the expiry of exploration rights of oilfield projects. All other segments have done well.  
FY24 outlook is positive - reduction in E&amp;P distortion, addition of more city gas projects, higher utilisation of LNG plants and terminals, and optimisation of gas pricing mechanism.
Net cash of Rmb20.4bn equals 29% of market capitalisation, providing room for a higher dividend payout. A re-inclusion into the HSI is not totally out of the cards.


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Delivering Resilience

<ul>
<li>Core earnings of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> rose 25.2% in FY22, providing solid evidence for its strength against peers. We are delighted to see dollar margin even expanded 4.1%.</li>
<li>Pace of new project addition has not weakened as it secured 25 new projects in FY22. Collectively, they will increase sales volume by 3.2bn cu.m., 7% of FY22 volume.</li>
<li>Net cash of Rmb13.6bn equals 28% of share price, making 8.9% ROE look decent. Market earnings forecast is too low; and even so, it trades on just 7.2x FY23 PER.</li>
</ul>


Core earnings of Kunlun Energy (135 HK) rose 25.2% in FY22, providing solid evidence for its strength against peers. We are delighted to see dollar margin even expanded 4.1%.
Pace of new project addition has not weakened as it secured 25 new projects in FY22. Collectively, they will increase sales volume by 3.2bn cu.m., 7% of FY22 volume.
Net cash of Rmb13.6bn equals 28% of share price, making 8.9% ROE look decent. Market earnings forecast is too low; and even so, it trades on just 7.2x FY23 PER.


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Rock Solid as Usual

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> disclosed that it has reached agreement to dispose of its 25% stake in the K&amp;K oilfields in Azerbaijan. Although the transaction is relatively small given that it does not pass the 5% threshold of the listing rule, we still think such a small move has big positive meaning. In our view, the disposal marks an important step in its plan to exit the volatile Exploration &amp; Production segment which dragged on its valuation; and the market should welcome this.</p><p>The current high oil price environment is good for Kunlun from both an operational and a transactional point of view. We estimate that at crude oil price of US$75/bbl, the E&amp;P segment may bring in an addition of at least Rmb300-400m of pre-tax profit in 2H21. Despite the good share price movement YTD (+73% including dividends), it is still trading on just 11x PER for FY21, the cheapest among its key peers. The removal of a volatile E&amp;P segment from its business portfolio should narrow Kunlun's discount, in our view. </p>

Kunlun Energy (135 HK) disclosed that it has reached agreement to dispose of its 25% stake in the K&amp;K oilfields in Azerbaijan. Although the transaction is relatively small given that it does not pass the 5% threshold of the listing rule, we still think such a small move has big positive meaning. In our view, the disposal marks an important step in its plan to exit the volatile Exploration &amp; Production segment which dragged on its valuation; and the market should welcome this.The current high oil price environment is good for Kunlun from both an operational and a transactional point of view. We estimate that at crude oil price of US$75/bbl, the E&amp;P segment may bring in an addition of at least Rmb300-400m of pre-tax profit in 2H21. Despite the good share price movement YTD (+73% including dividends), it is still trading on just 11x PER for FY21, the cheapest among its key peers. The removal of a volatile E&amp;P segment from its business portfolio should narrow Kunlun's discount, in our view. 

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Small Move, Big Meaning

<ul>
<li>With an 18.6% growth in 1H22 profit from continuing operations, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> has not disappointed us. Natural gas sales segment is a bright spot with solid growth.</li>
<li>Net cash swelled to Rmb10.2bn at end-Jun, about 2x more than the level at end-FY21. We estimate this roughly equals to 19% of the current share price. </li>
<li>New project momentum looks healthy and the market seems to have underestimated FY22 earnings. Its 8x and 7.5x PERs for FY22 and FY23 are clearly attractive. </li>
</ul>


With an 18.6% growth in 1H22 profit from continuing operations, Kunlun Energy (135 HK) has not disappointed us. Natural gas sales segment is a bright spot with solid growth.
Net cash swelled to Rmb10.2bn at end-Jun, about 2x more than the level at end-FY21. We estimate this roughly equals to 19% of the current share price. 
New project momentum looks healthy and the market seems to have underestimated FY22 earnings. Its 8x and 7.5x PERs for FY22 and FY23 are clearly attractive. 


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): An Excellent Show

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<p>The last time I wrote about <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> was in early June 2021 when I discussed the little extra trick one might use to maximise dividend payout. It worked. But I was bullish.</p><p>At that time, my conclusion was...</p><blockquote><p>I am still VERY bullish on Kunlun Energy vs a basket of the three listed HK peers, and at this point, a dollar-neutral position is probably appropriate. </p></blockquote><p>The stock was a little wishy-washy the day the Special Dividend went ex- - for whatever reason I do not know - then rallied sharply but since 4 June, though the stock itself rallied 30% from that post ex-div rally to early September, the sharp rise in gas input costs caused the shares to fall back to their post-div rally point last week. However the stock has continued to outperform peers - outperforming a basket of three liquid HK-listed city gas peers by 37.9% since I last wrote (the dots). </p><section class="figure"><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/237/339/original/Screenshot+2021-10-25+at+6.55.32+PM.png?1635159349" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="237339"></figure></section><p>But despite that performance... </p></section><p>I am still VERY bullish on Kunlun Energy vs a basket of the three listed HK peers, and at this point, EITHER a dollar-neutral position OR an outright long is appropriate. </p><p>More below the fold. </p>

The last time I wrote about Kunlun Energy (135 HK) was in early June 2021 when I discussed the little extra trick one might use to maximise dividend payout. It worked. But I was bullish.At that time, my conclusion was...I am still VERY bullish on Kunlun Energy vs a basket of the three listed HK peers, and at this point, a dollar-neutral position is probably appropriate. The stock was a little wishy-washy the day the Special Dividend went ex- - for whatever reason I do not know - then rallied sharply but since 4 June, though the stock itself rallied 30% from that post ex-div rally to early September, the sharp rise in gas input costs caused the shares to fall back to their post-div rally point last week. However the stock has continued to outperform peers - outperforming a basket of three liquid HK-listed city gas peers by 37.9% since I last wrote (the dots). But despite that performance... I am still VERY bullish on Kunlun Energy vs a basket of the three listed HK peers, and at this point, EITHER a dollar-neutral position OR an outright long is appropriate. More below the fold. 

Kunlun Energy - People Still Don't Get It So Gas It Up Some More

Hong Kong

Kunlun Energy Company Ltd, through its subsidiaries, explores and produces crude oil and natural gas in China.

Kunlun Energy (135 HK)