HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lonking-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3944:1" rel="noopener">Lonking Holdings (3339 HK)</a>'s demand should pick up in 2H24 supported by the government's "Action plan to promote large-scale equipment renewals and consumer goods trade-ins". </li>
<li>Industry volume sales have already witnessed a narrower YoY decline in Mar, with solid exports of wheel loaders and domestic sales of excavators.</li>
<li>After going ex- in late-May, its PER will drop to 7.0x and yield will rise to 6.6%. Net cash of HK$1.56/share is more than fully cover its share price.</li>
</ul>



Lonking Holdings (3339 HK)'s demand should pick up in 2H24 supported by the government's "Action plan to promote large-scale equipment renewals and consumer goods trade-ins". 
Industry volume sales have already witnessed a narrower YoY decline in Mar, with solid exports of wheel loaders and domestic sales of excavators.
After going ex- in late-May, its PER will drop to 7.0x and yield will rise to 6.6%. Net cash of HK$1.56/share is more than fully cover its share price.


<ul>
<li>While the 2H23 result of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lonking-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3944:1" rel="noopener">Lonking Holdings (3339 HK)</a> may disappoint due to a plunge in sales volume, it is a yield play given the high historical payout ratio.</li>
<li>Assuming a DPS of HK$0.10 for FY23-25 as in FY22, yielding 8.3%, the total dividend will amount to Rmb1.2bn. This only equals 22% of its net cash (including short-term investments).</li>
<li>Its controlling shareholders bought 7.3m shares since 27 Dec, raising the stake by 0.13pp to 56.2%, demonstrating their positive view on the share's value and long-term outlook. </li>
</ul>


While the 2H23 result of Lonking Holdings (3339 HK) may disappoint due to a plunge in sales volume, it is a yield play given the high historical payout ratio.
Assuming a DPS of HK$0.10 for FY23-25 as in FY22, yielding 8.3%, the total dividend will amount to Rmb1.2bn. This only equals 22% of its net cash (including short-term investments).
Its controlling shareholders bought 7.3m shares since 27 Dec, raising the stake by 0.13pp to 56.2%, demonstrating their positive view on the share's value and long-term outlook. 


<ul>
<li>After a poor FY22, 1H23 will stay challenging for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lonking-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3944:1" rel="noopener">Lonking Holdings (3339 HK)</a>. However, we expect pick-up in business momentum going forward, and export is a major growth driver.</li>
<li>Gross margin rebounded HoH and YoY in 2H22, and Lonking maintained good operating cost control. Recovery of equity market suggests potential big positive swing in investment income. </li>
<li>Including investment portfolio, 92% of the current market capitalisation is net cash, providing solid downside buffer. Its 6.5x PER, 9.2% yield and 0.52x P/B are very attractive valuations.</li>
</ul>


After a poor FY22, 1H23 will stay challenging for Lonking Holdings (3339 HK). However, we expect pick-up in business momentum going forward, and export is a major growth driver.
Gross margin rebounded HoH and YoY in 2H22, and Lonking maintained good operating cost control. Recovery of equity market suggests potential big positive swing in investment income. 
Including investment portfolio, 92% of the current market capitalisation is net cash, providing solid downside buffer. Its 6.5x PER, 9.2% yield and 0.52x P/B are very attractive valuations.


Lonking (3339 HK): Back to Attractive Zone

<ul>
<li>Share price of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lonking-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3944:1" rel="noopener">Lonking Holdings (3339 HK)</a> has seen muted reaction to weak industry figures recently but it is still unexciting in near-term, based on our catch-up with the company. </li>
<li>It has underperformed industry sales volume in 5M22 across all product categories, with that for wheel loader behind 4pp and excavator by 10pp. Forklift sales were down 18% YoY. </li>
<li>Both gross margin and investment income are set to contract in this year, making it highly likely to see significant earnings downgrade after 1H22 result announcement in Aug. </li>
</ul>


Share price of Lonking Holdings (3339 HK) has seen muted reaction to weak industry figures recently but it is still unexciting in near-term, based on our catch-up with the company. 
It has underperformed industry sales volume in 5M22 across all product categories, with that for wheel loader behind 4pp and excavator by 10pp. Forklift sales were down 18% YoY. 
Both gross margin and investment income are set to contract in this year, making it highly likely to see significant earnings downgrade after 1H22 result announcement in Aug. 


Lonking (3339 HK): Not Out of the Woods Yet

<ul>
<li>While valuations for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lonking-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3944:1" rel="noopener">Lonking Holdings (3339 HK)</a> do not appear expensive, there is a risk that the 2H23 earnings outlook is weaker than expected. This opens room for disappointment.</li>
<li>There is no sign that domestic sales have picked up and Jul-Aug was still down significantly. Meanwhile, the strong export in 1H23 has not sustained in the last two months. </li>
<li>The weaker A-share market so far in 2H23 also does not bode well for investment gains, which are important contributors to the impressive earnings rebound in 1H23.</li>
</ul>


While valuations for Lonking Holdings (3339 HK) do not appear expensive, there is a risk that the 2H23 earnings outlook is weaker than expected. This opens room for disappointment.
There is no sign that domestic sales have picked up and Jul-Aug was still down significantly. Meanwhile, the strong export in 1H23 has not sustained in the last two months. 
The weaker A-share market so far in 2H23 also does not bode well for investment gains, which are important contributors to the impressive earnings rebound in 1H23.


Lonking (3339 HK): Between a Rock and a Hard Place

China

Lonking Holdings Ltd. designs, manufactures and sells wheel loaders and infrastructure machinery in the People's Republic of China.

Lonking Holdings (3339 HK)

Lonking (3339 HK): Policy Tailwind

Government policy support and improving industry demand should drive a potential uptick in sales for Lonking in 2H24. Attractive valuations and a...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lonking (3339 HK): A Yield Play?

Lonking will disappoint on weak 2H23 sales volume, but the high historical payout ratio makes it a yield play at 8.3%. Controlling shareholders...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lonking (3339 HK): Back to Attractive Zone

We turned bullish on Lonking on 17 Apr, and since then, the stock has performed well. It has just issued a positive profit alert with 91-158% YoY...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lonking (3339 HK): Not Out of the Woods Yet

Lonking may disappoint the market by wide margin when it reports 1H22 result in Aug. Sales of its key product categories have been behind the...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lonking (3339 HK): Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Lonking's valuations are not too expensive, but 2H23 earnings may disappoint. Domestic sales have not improved, strong export in 1H23 not...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lonking (3339 HK): Policy Tailwind

Government policy support and improving industry demand should drive a potential uptick in sales for Lonking in 2H24. Attractive valuations and a...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lonking (3339 HK): A Yield Play?

​Lonking will disappoint on weak 2H23 sales volume, but the high historical payout ratio makes it a yield play at 8.3%. Controlling shareholders...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lonking (3339 HK): Back to Attractive Zone

We turned bullish on Lonking on 17 Apr, and since then, the stock has performed well. It has just issued a positive profit alert with 91-158% YoY...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lonking (3339 HK): Not Out of the Woods Yet

Lonking may disappoint the market by wide margin when it reports 1H22 result in Aug. Sales of its key product categories have been behind the...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lonking (3339 HK): Between a Rock and a Hard Place

​Lonking's valuations are not too expensive, but 2H23 earnings may disappoint. Domestic sales have not improved, strong export in 1H23 not...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Lonking will disappoint on weak 2H23 sales volume, but the high historical payout ratio makes it a yield play at 8.3%. Controlling shareholders...

Lonking's valuations are not too expensive, but 2H23 earnings may disappoint. Domestic sales have not improved, strong export in 1H23 not...