HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Construction machinery sales sustained sequential improvement in Jun. Excavator sales -10.1% (-24.2% in May and -47.3% in Apr) and wheel loader sales -5.8% (-27% in May and -40.2% in Apr).  </li>
<li>It is likely to return to positive YoY in the next two months. Aided by a low base for comparison and increase infrastructure spending in 2H22, industry prospects look brighter. </li>
<li>Both <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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zoomlion-heavy-industry-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7817:1" rel="noopener">Zoomlion Heavy Industry (1157 HK)</a> are close to inflexion point, though risks remain high before the disappointing 1H22 result. Beyond that, value may emerge. </li>
</ul>


Construction machinery sales sustained sequential improvement in Jun. Excavator sales -10.1% (-24.2% in May and -47.3% in Apr) and wheel loader sales -5.8% (-27% in May and -40.2% in Apr).  
It is likely to return to positive YoY in the next two months. Aided by a low base for comparison and increase infrastructure spending in 2H22, industry prospects look brighter. 
Both Lonking Holdings (3339 HK) and Zoomlion Heavy Industry (1157 HK) are close to inflexion point, though risks remain high before the disappointing 1H22 result. Beyond that, value may emerge. 


China Construction Machinery: Turning to Positive Soon?

<ul>
<li>Infrastructure, new energy, consumer discretionary and, to a lesser extent, transportation and logistics are sectors that will benefit from extensive government economic supportive policies over the last few days. </li>
<li>Acceleration of special purpose bonds will drive <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a>. We see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-longyuan-power-group-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14215:1" rel="noopener">China Longyuan Power (916 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dongfang-electric-corporation-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1251:1" rel="noopener">Dongfang Electric (1072 HK)</a> benefit from new energy initiatives.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/li-ning-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6047:1" rel="noopener">Li Ning (2331 HK)</a> will be the near-term winner in the consumer discretionary space and so as <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 Co Ltd (6690 HK)</a>.</li>
</ul>


Infrastructure, new energy, consumer discretionary and, to a lesser extent, transportation and logistics are sectors that will benefit from extensive government economic supportive policies over the last few days. 
Acceleration of special purpose bonds will drive China Communications Construction (1800 HK). We see China Longyuan Power (916 HK) and Dongfang Electric (1072 HK) benefit from new energy initiatives.

Li Ning (2331 HK) will be the near-term winner in the consumer discretionary space and so as Haier Smart Home Co Ltd (6690 HK).


Roundup of Government Economic Supportive Policies: Key Winners

<ul>
<li>China's construction machinery companies should benefit from the decision of bringing forward infrastructure investments by the Central Economic Work Conference; but the Nov industry figures still showed lacklustre performance.</li>
<li>Excavator sales volume was down 36.6% YoY in the month, with domestic sales even plunged by 51.4%. Wheel loader looks to be better with a lesser YoY decline at 8.5%.</li>
<li>High base and time lag for translating into demand mean unit sales will stay weak over the next few months. We prefer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a> as infrastructure play. </li>
</ul>


China's construction machinery companies should benefit from the decision of bringing forward infrastructure investments by the Central Economic Work Conference; but the Nov industry figures still showed lacklustre performance.
Excavator sales volume was down 36.6% YoY in the month, with domestic sales even plunged by 51.4%. Wheel loader looks to be better with a lesser YoY decline at 8.5%.
High base and time lag for translating into demand mean unit sales will stay weak over the next few months. We prefer China Communications Construction (1800 HK) as infrastructure play. 


China Construction Machinery: Not Seeing the End of the Tunnel Yet

While sales for excavators and wheel loaders are still seeing YoY decline of 9.2% and 11.5% for Jul, there is no further significant deterioration when compared with the pace in Jun. We think that part of the reasons for the slowdown in the last few months are high base effect, and the extreme weather situation and outbreak of local COVID-19 cases have both exacerbated the headwinds. Nonetheless, we see outlook for 2H21 to be more promising.Similarly, a high base for 2H21 comparison should be well-anticipated. However, the recent positive tone from the government on infrastructure investment and the potential acceleration in special purpose bond issuance should bode well for the industry and we continue to see <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> as well-placed. The encouraging new contract signed in 1H21 at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a> also lent a helping hand to the demand, in our view.

While sales for excavators and wheel loaders are still seeing YoY decline of 9.2% and 11.5% for Jul, there is no further significant deterioration when compared with the pace in Jun. We think that part of the reasons for the slowdown in the last few months are high base effect, and the extreme weather situation and outbreak of local COVID-19 cases have both exacerbated the headwinds. Nonetheless, we see outlook for 2H21 to be more promising.Similarly, a high base for 2H21 comparison should be well-anticipated. However, the recent positive tone from the government on infrastructure investment and the potential acceleration in special purpose bond issuance should bode well for the industry and we continue to see Lonking Holdings (3339 HK) as well-placed. The encouraging new contract signed in 1H21 at China Communications Construction (1800 HK) also lent a helping hand to the demand, in our view.

China Construction Machinery: Better Trajectory for 2H21

Jan excavator and wheel loader sales surged 97.2% YoY and 52.4% YoY, respectively, kicking off the year with a solid momentum. While a low base has partly contributed to the surge, this is not the entire reason as we found underlying demand very encouraging. Domestic market maintained its strength, and export sales growth rate has also improved against Dec 2020. All in all, the initial figures point to a robust year in 2021.Commencement of massive infrastructure projects and good order book of engine and equipment suppliers suggest continuation of the impressive growth pace in 1H21. Despite an 18.8% rise in share price YTD, <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> is still trading on just 5.2x PER and an attractive 10.4% dividend yield for FY21F, and we see the stock stay appealing.

Jan excavator and wheel loader sales surged 97.2% YoY and 52.4% YoY, respectively, kicking off the year with a solid momentum. While a low base has partly contributed to the surge, this is not the entire reason as we found underlying demand very encouraging. Domestic market maintained its strength, and export sales growth rate has also improved against Dec 2020. All in all, the initial figures point to a robust year in 2021.Commencement of massive infrastructure projects and good order book of engine and equipment suppliers suggest continuation of the impressive growth pace in 1H21. Despite an 18.8% rise in share price YTD, Lonking Holdings (3339 HK) is still trading on just 5.2x PER and an attractive 10.4% dividend yield for FY21F, and we see the stock stay appealing. 

China Construction Machinery: An Excellent Start for a Sustained Uptrend in This Year

China

Lonking Holdings Limited is a major manufacturer and distributor of construction machinery, including wheel loaders, excavators, road rollers, forklifts, motor graders, and skid steer loaders. The company also develops and produces core components such as gearboxes, torque converters, axles, and hydraulic components. It was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

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Lonking (3339 HK)

China Construction Machinery: Turning to Positive Soon?

The pace of decline in construction machinery sales continued to narrow in Jun, and prospects will further improve in 2H22. Opportunities may...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Roundup of Government Economic Supportive Policies: Key Winners

We expect the government economic supportive policies released in the last few days to drive the infrastructure, new energy, consumer discretionary...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Construction Machinery: Not Seeing the End of the Tunnel Yet

While CEWC's decision to accelerate infrastructure investment bodes well for the construction machinery sector, high base and time lag in demand...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Construction Machinery: Better Trajectory for 2H21

We are positive on the 2H21 outlook of construction machinery industry, driven by potential accelaration in China's infrastructure spending and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Construction Machinery: An Excellent Start for a Sustained Uptrend in This Year

Excavator and wheel loader sales growth rates reached a monthly high in Jan since Jan-2018, suggesting excellent demand momentum. Lonking is an...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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