SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Equity Bottom-Up

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://api2.sgx.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/Micromechanics-CEO.PNG" class="editor-image img-responsive"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Micro Mechanics CEO</div>

For semiconductor industry veteran Christopher Borch, “People Make Everything Happen” has been a key guiding principle through business and life. This was one indelible lesson that Los Angeles, California-born Borch learned over the past four decades, after arriving in Singapore in 1981 for work. “The American company that sent me here was a fledgling maker of automated equipment for the assembly of semiconductors. As I travelled from factory to factory to install and service our machines, I fell in love with the people and culture of the region,” he recalled. When a customer in Malaysia came to him with a suggestion for improving the miniature tools needed for one of the critical chip-assembly processes, Borch decided to strike out on his own.&nbsp; “We began operations in the back of a friend’s hat-sewing factory with just S$1,200 and a 30-year-old lathe machine - that’s how Micro-Mechanics was born,” said its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, who has nearly 40 years of engineering, manufacturing and management experience in the chip industry. “And perhaps because the company started so modestly, we’ve seen first-hand that the basis for sustainable growth is not a building, a fancy machine or a big bank account, but rather people - their skills, diligence and hard work,” added Borch, who earned his undergraduate degree from Furman University, and a MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. “It’s really a privilege to have so many incredible people working at Micro-Mechanics today, including a large number who have given us nearly their entire careers.” Established in 1983, Micro-Mechanics (Holdings) Ltd designs, manufactures and markets high-precision parts and tools used in process-critical applications for the wafer fabrication and assembly processes of the semiconductor industry. The Group serves a global base of customers from production plants located in Singapore, Malaysia, China, the Philippines and the US, with a direct sales presence in Europe. Borch credits the company’s success today to the decision early on to decentralise its manufacturing operations, so as to better support its customers. About five years after starting up in Singapore, Micro-Mechanics opened its second plant in Penang. It now has a total of five manufacturing facilities globally. “This proved to be the right strategy. Not only has being decentralised helped us serve a growing customer base with fast and cost-effective support, running multiple locations also forced us to strengthen processes, structures and policies, which resulted in greater organisational maturity,” he said.&nbsp; “I’m probably most proud to say that each of our plants is managed by a team that is made up of 100% local staff. When COVID-19 interrupted travel, our approach to building strong and independent teams really paid off, as our plants continued to operate without major hiccups.” Enhancing Stakeholder Value Another feather in the Group’s cap is its focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues - in particular, building a robust corporate governance culture in the organisation. “Although it is usually associated with tedious compliance and voluminous reporting, governance is really a simple methodology for aligning the way people at all levels of the organisation - from the board room to the shop floor - make decisions and take actions,” Borch pointed out. “It’s about putting aside personal interests and working to enhance and protect stakeholder value. As a public company, good governance also means respecting the way investors make decisions. This means being transparent and providing accurate, complete and timely information.” To this end, it was easy for Micro-Mechanics’ Board to agree unanimously about a year ago to continue with its quarterly financial reporting after SGX allowed companies to shift to half-yearly reporting.&nbsp; “Given the fast-moving events during the last year with COVID-19, not to mention rapidly changing markets, unpredictable advances in technology and uncertain geopolitics, I think we’ve taken the right reporting approach, even though it requires more work,” he added. Since its SGX listing in 2003, Micro-Mechanics has won over 30 awards in recognition of its high standards of corporate governance, quality of disclosure, transparency and investor relations. In the latest Singapore Governance and Transparency Index published in August 2021, Micro-Mechanics was ranked 15th out of 519 companies for its practice of good governance. Last year, the Group bagged the Most Profitable Company 2020 award by The Edge Singapore Centurion Club. Meanwhile, prospects for the chip industry remain bright.&nbsp; “The pandemic has accelerated remote work, video conferencing, cloud-based computing and a host of other applications, which have greatly increased the demand for chips,” Borch noted. “Over the longer term, our view of the future of the semiconductor industry remains unchanged, if not enhanced. We believe the industry is poised for a prolonged period of solid growth as chips become increasingly embedded in nearly every aspect of modern life, from today’s smartphones to tomorrow’s driverless cars,” he added. “The key to the Group’s success lies in our continuing ability to seize long-term opportunities, and correctly identify the initiatives and investments that bring value to our customers.” In its market forecast released on 8 June 2021, the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) said it now expects global semiconductor sales to expand by a stellar 19.7% this year - corresponding to a market size of US$527 billion - compared with a March 2021 projection of 10.9% growth.&nbsp; For 2022, the global semiconductor market is forecast to rise a further 8.8% to US$573 billion, driven by double-digit growth of memory chips, according to WSTS data. Ahead of the Curve “As the industry continues to grow and develop new equipment and processes for manufacturing chips with device geometries below 10 nanometres, we think only a handful of suppliers will have the abilities to meet these increasingly stringent requirements,” Borch pointed out. “We believe our strong customer focus, rigorous evaluation process for making investments, and the great work by our people should enable the Group to maintain its competitive edge.” Nevertheless, the Group continues to grapple with a number of challenges, including&nbsp;staying ahead of the technology curve. “As quality, cost and cycle-time pressures in the chip industry are tremendous, we need to find ways to meet these ever-increasing demands of customers,” Borch noted. This means advancing the Group’s know-how, improving processes and building advantages that set it apart from competitors.&nbsp; “A good example is the research work we’re doing at our plant in Singapore to develop proprietary elastomer materials to reduce the possibility of chip damage caused by electrostatic discharge or ionic contamination,” he added.&nbsp; “In the future, we think there may only be a handful of suppliers capable of meeting the industry’s rigorous standards, and we would like to be one of those leading companies.” Another bugbear is talent retention in the organisation. “Although our annualised employee turnover rate of less than 10% is low in comparison to what we hear other companies are experiencing, I’m always concerned about what more we can to do to attract, retain and build a great team of people. Our ability to do this will be a major factor in our long-term success,” Borch admitted. As it gets more difficult to hire skilled talent, the Group will also need to find ways to expand without adding people. “We’re putting a lot of emphasis into streamlining labour-intensive processes and increasing the level of automation at our factories,” he added. Work may be all-consuming, but this 65-year-old makes it a point to take time to unwind with an early morning run, or by hanging out with his wife, four children aged 21 to 29, and two dogs. “I think it’s important to have purpose, set some big goals, and pursue them with energy and diligence over the long term,” Borch said.&nbsp; “My wife and I work hard to be relevant to our children as they grow up and have their own careers and families. As I always tell our kids: “Every day is really the same - it’s an opportunity to listen, learn and love.” Micro-Mechanics Holdings Ltd
Micro-Mechanics designs, manufactures and markets high-precision tools and parts used in process-critical applications for the wafer-fabrication and assembly processes of the semiconductor industry. The Group serves a global base of customers from five manufacturing facilities located in Singapore, Malaysia, China, the Philippines and the US, with a direct sales presence in Taiwan and Europe. In addition to designing and manufacturing a market-leading range of consumable tools and parts used in the assembly and testing of semiconductors, the Group also engages in the contract manufacturing of precision parts and tools used in process-critical applications for the semiconductor wafer-fabrication industry. The company website is: <a href="http://www.micro-mechanics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.micro-mechanics.com</a> Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sgx.com/securities/equities/5DD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here&nbsp;</a>for the company's StockFacts page. For the full year ended 30 June 2021 financial results, click&nbsp;<a href="https://links.sgx.com/1.0.0/corporate-announcements/5MIJ25KOMJAO3K6Q/681878_MMH-FY2021%20News%20release-28Aug2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. &nbsp;
About&nbsp;kopi-C: the Company brew
Text: Jennifer Tan-Stanisic Photo: Company file kopi-C&nbsp;is a regular column on the SGX Research website that features C-level executives of leading companies listed on Singapore Exchange. These interviews are profiles of senior management aimed at helping investors better understand the individuals who run these corporations. For previous editions of&nbsp;kopi-C: the Company brew,&nbsp;please click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sgx.com/research-education/market-dialogues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. &nbsp; For more information, or if you would like your senior executives to be featured on SGX Market Dialogues, please send suggestions to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sgx.com/jennifer.t@sgx.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jennifer.t@sgx.com</a>.


Micro Mechanics CEO

For semiconductor industry veteran Christopher Borch, “People Make Everything Happen” has been a key guiding principle through business and life.  This was one indelible lesson that Los Angeles, California-born Borch learned over the past four decades, after arriving in Singapore in 1981 for work.  “The American company that sent me here was a fledgling maker of automated equipment for the assembly of semiconductors. As I travelled from factory to factory to install and service our machines, I fell in love with the people and culture of the region,” he recalled.  When a customer in Malaysia came to him with a suggestion for improving the miniature tools needed for one of the critical chip-assembly processes, Borch decided to strike out on his own.&nbsp;  “We began operations in the back of a friend’s hat-sewing factory with just S$1,200 and a 30-year-old lathe machine - that’s how Micro-Mechanics was born,” said its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, who has nearly 40 years of engineering, manufacturing and management experience in the chip industry.  “And perhaps because the company started so modestly, we’ve seen first-hand that the basis for sustainable growth is not a building, a fancy machine or a big bank account, but rather people - their skills, diligence and hard work,” added Borch, who earned his undergraduate degree from Furman University, and a MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  “It’s really a privilege to have so many incredible people working at Micro-Mechanics today, including a large number who have given us nearly their entire careers.”  Established in 1983, Micro-Mechanics (Holdings) Ltd designs, manufactures and markets high-precision parts and tools used in process-critical applications for the wafer fabrication and assembly processes of the semiconductor industry.  The Group serves a global base of customers from production plants located in Singapore, Malaysia, China, the Philippines and the US, with a direct sales presence in Europe.  Borch credits the company’s success today to the decision early on to decentralise its manufacturing operations, so as to better support its customers.  About five years after starting up in Singapore, Micro-Mechanics opened its second plant in Penang. It now has a total of five manufacturing facilities globally.  “This proved to be the right strategy. Not only has being decentralised helped us serve a growing customer base with fast and cost-effective support, running multiple locations also forced us to strengthen processes, structures and policies, which resulted in greater organisational maturity,” he said.&nbsp;  “I’m probably most proud to say that each of our plants is managed by a team that is made up of 100% local staff. When COVID-19 interrupted travel, our approach to building strong and independent teams really paid off, as our plants continued to operate without major hiccups.”  Enhancing Stakeholder Value  Another feather in the Group’s cap is its focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues - in particular, building a robust corporate governance culture in the organisation.  “Although it is usually associated with tedious compliance and voluminous reporting, governance is really a simple methodology for aligning the way people at all levels of the organisation - from the board room to the shop floor - make decisions and take actions,” Borch pointed out.  “It’s about putting aside personal interests and working to enhance and protect stakeholder value. As a public company, good governance also means respecting the way investors make decisions. This means being transparent and providing accurate, complete and timely information.”  To this end, it was easy for Micro-Mechanics’ Board to agree unanimously about a year ago to continue with its quarterly financial reporting after SGX allowed companies to shift to half-yearly reporting.&nbsp;  “Given the fast-moving events during the last year with COVID-19, not to mention rapidly changing markets, unpredictable advances in technology and uncertain geopolitics, I think we’ve taken the right reporting approach, even though it requires more work,” he added.  Since its SGX listing in 2003, Micro-Mechanics has won over 30 awards in recognition of its high standards of corporate governance, quality of disclosure, transparency and investor relations.  In the latest Singapore Governance and Transparency Index published in August 2021, Micro-Mechanics was ranked 15th out of 519 companies for its practice of good governance. Last year, the Group bagged the Most Profitable Company 2020 award by The Edge Singapore Centurion Club.  Meanwhile, prospects for the chip industry remain bright.&nbsp;  “The pandemic has accelerated remote work, video conferencing, cloud-based computing and a host of other applications, which have greatly increased the demand for chips,” Borch noted.  “Over the longer term, our view of the future of the semiconductor industry remains unchanged, if not enhanced. We believe the industry is poised for a prolonged period of solid growth as chips become increasingly embedded in nearly every aspect of modern life, from today’s smartphones to tomorrow’s driverless cars,” he added.  “The key to the Group’s success lies in our continuing ability to seize long-term opportunities, and correctly identify the initiatives and investments that bring value to our customers.”  In its market forecast released on 8 June 2021, the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) said it now expects global semiconductor sales to expand by a stellar 19.7% this year - corresponding to a market size of US$527 billion - compared with a March 2021 projection of 10.9% growth.&nbsp;  For 2022, the global semiconductor market is forecast to rise a further 8.8% to US$573 billion, driven by double-digit growth of memory chips, according to WSTS data.  Ahead of the Curve  “As the industry continues to grow and develop new equipment and processes for manufacturing chips with device geometries below 10 nanometres, we think only a handful of suppliers will have the abilities to meet these increasingly stringent requirements,” Borch pointed out.  “We believe our strong customer focus, rigorous evaluation process for making investments, and the great work by our people should enable the Group to maintain its competitive edge.”  Nevertheless, the Group continues to grapple with a number of challenges, including&nbsp;staying ahead of the technology curve.  “As quality, cost and cycle-time pressures in the chip industry are tremendous, we need to find ways to meet these ever-increasing demands of customers,” Borch noted.  This means advancing the Group’s know-how, improving processes and building advantages that set it apart from competitors.&nbsp;  “A good example is the research work we’re doing at our plant in Singapore to develop proprietary elastomer materials to reduce the possibility of chip damage caused by electrostatic discharge or ionic contamination,” he added.&nbsp;  “In the future, we think there may only be a handful of suppliers capable of meeting the industry’s rigorous standards, and we would like to be one of those leading companies.”  Another bugbear is talent retention in the organisation. “Although our annualised employee turnover rate of less than 10% is low in comparison to what we hear other companies are experiencing, I’m always concerned about what more we can to do to attract, retain and build a great team of people. Our ability to do this will be a major factor in our long-term success,” Borch admitted.  As it gets more difficult to hire skilled talent, the Group will also need to find ways to expand without adding people. “We’re putting a lot of emphasis into streamlining labour-intensive processes and increasing the level of automation at our factories,” he added.  Work may be all-consuming, but this 65-year-old makes it a point to take time to unwind with an early morning run, or by hanging out with his wife, four children aged 21 to 29, and two dogs.  “I think it’s important to have purpose, set some big goals, and pursue them with energy and diligence over the long term,” Borch said.&nbsp;  “My wife and I work hard to be relevant to our children as they grow up and have their own careers and families. As I always tell our kids: “Every day is really the same - it’s an opportunity to listen, learn and love.”  Micro-Mechanics Holdings Ltd
Micro-Mechanics designs, manufactures and markets high-precision tools and parts used in process-critical applications for the wafer-fabrication and assembly processes of the semiconductor industry. The Group serves a global base of customers from five manufacturing facilities located in Singapore, Malaysia, China, the Philippines and the US, with a direct sales presence in Taiwan and Europe. In addition to designing and manufacturing a market-leading range of consumable tools and parts used in the assembly and testing of semiconductors, the Group also engages in the contract manufacturing of precision parts and tools used in process-critical applications for the semiconductor wafer-fabrication industry.  The company website is: www.micro-mechanics.com  Click&nbsp;here&nbsp;for the company's StockFacts page.  For the full year ended 30 June 2021 financial results, click&nbsp;here.  &nbsp;
About&nbsp;kopi-C: the Company brew
Text: Jennifer Tan-Stanisic Photo: Company file  kopi-C&nbsp;is a regular column on the SGX Research website that features C-level executives of leading companies listed on Singapore Exchange. These interviews are profiles of senior management aimed at helping investors better understand the individuals who run these corporations.  For previous editions of&nbsp;kopi-C: the Company brew,&nbsp;please click&nbsp;here. &nbsp;  For more information, or if you would like your senior executives to be featured on SGX Market Dialogues, please send suggestions to&nbsp;jennifer.t@sgx.com.

Micro-Mechanics: Staying on the Cutting-Edge 

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<div>Non- SGX Report: These equity research reports are not written by the SGX.&nbsp;SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.</div>
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COMPANY RESULTS
<h2>Micro-Mechanics (MMH SP)</h2>
<h3>4QFY20: Results Beat On Resilient Demand In Semiconductor Industry</h3>

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4QFY20 earnings of S$3.9m (+45.5% yoy) brought FY20 net profit to S$14.7m (+13.1%), beating expectations on higher-than-expected capacity utilisation and gross profitability. Pricing environment remains healthy going into 1HFY21. On valuation grounds, however, we maintain HOLD with a higher target price of S$2.01. Entry price: S$1.70.
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RESULTS
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<li>Strong 4QFY20 results. Micro-Mechanics’ (MMH) net profit of S$3.9m brought FY20 earnings to S$14.7m, surpassing our estimates by 23%. The strong set of results stemmed from resilient demand for high-precision parts and tools, despite global lockdowns and near shutdowns of whole industries. From our understanding, customers have increased their orders in 4QFY20 to stock up on their consumables inventory - hence benefitting MMH - in case of a subsequent wave of lockdowns.</li>
<li>Growth momentum in semiconductor segment to continue. On the back of a strong recovery in the global semiconductor industry, we anticipate continued strength going into the second half of 2020. According to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, 2H20 billings are projected at US$217.84b (+4.7% hoh; +0.9% yoy), with the increase coming from integrated circuits (except analog), memory and logic. For 2021, the global semiconductor market is forecasted to grow 6.2% yoy, driven by double-digit growth in the memory segment.</li>
<li>Positioned as key industry downstream supplier. Management’s astute positioning for MMH as a leading parts and consumables supplier in the broad spectrum of the semiconductor industry has proven effective, as reflected in its solid long-term revenue CAGR of 8.2% and net profit CAGR of 14.9% from FY02 to FY20. The extensive product range, production scale and geographical coverage have put MMH in a superior position among downstream peers, providing customer stickiness. Furthermore, the group’s stable gross profitability range between 46% and 63% since its listing (excluding 2009 GFC of 39%) is a strong testament to its competitive edge and management’s ability to retain pricing power in the cyclical sector.</li>
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Non- SGX Report: These equity research reports are not written by the SGX.&nbsp;SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.

COMPANY RESULTS
Micro-Mechanics (MMH SP)
4QFY20: Results Beat On Resilient Demand In Semiconductor Industry





4QFY20 earnings of S$3.9m (+45.5% yoy) brought FY20 net profit to S$14.7m (+13.1%), beating expectations on higher-than-expected capacity utilisation and gross profitability. Pricing environment remains healthy going into 1HFY21. On valuation grounds, however, we maintain HOLD with a higher target price of S$2.01. Entry price: S$1.70.





RESULTS





Strong 4QFY20 results. Micro-Mechanics’ (MMH) net profit of S$3.9m brought FY20 earnings to S$14.7m, surpassing our estimates by 23%. The strong set of results stemmed from resilient demand for high-precision parts and tools, despite global lockdowns and near shutdowns of whole industries. From our understanding, customers have increased their orders in 4QFY20 to stock up on their consumables inventory - hence benefitting MMH - in case of a subsequent wave of lockdowns.
Growth momentum in semiconductor segment to continue. On the back of a strong recovery in the global semiconductor industry, we anticipate continued strength going into the second half of 2020. According to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, 2H20 billings are projected at US$217.84b (+4.7% hoh; +0.9% yoy), with the increase coming from integrated circuits (except analog), memory and logic. For 2021, the global semiconductor market is forecasted to grow 6.2% yoy, driven by double-digit growth in the memory segment.
Positioned as key industry downstream supplier. Management’s astute positioning for MMH as a leading parts and consumables supplier in the broad spectrum of the semiconductor industry has proven effective, as reflected in its solid long-term revenue CAGR of 8.2% and net profit CAGR of 14.9% from FY02 to FY20. The extensive product range, production scale and geographical coverage have put MMH in a superior position among downstream peers, providing customer stickiness. Furthermore, the group’s stable gross profitability range between 46% and 63% since its listing (excluding 2009 GFC of 39%) is a strong testament to its competitive edge and management’s ability to retain pricing power in the cyclical sector.


















Non-SGX Report: : Micro-Mechanics (MMH SP): 4QFY20: Results Beat On Resilient Demand In Semiconductor Industry

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In 1Q19, IT was the best-performing sector on SGX with a total return of 28.6%, after registering a total return of -16.3% in calendar year 2018. It was also among the top net buy sectors for the quarter, garnering total institutional inflow of S$100.5 million, the second-highest inflow after REITs (+S$242.6 million). 
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The 20 largest IT stocks on SGX have a combined market cap of nearly S$16 billion, and averaged a total return of +21.7% in the 2019 YTD. They also averaged a PE ratio of 13.6x, ROE of 13.8% and dividend indicated yield of 3.5%. 
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	<li>Among the 20, the five best performers in the YTD were: Hi-P (+65.0%), TPV Tech (+46.2%), Innotek (+41.0%), Venture (+37.9%), and CSE Global (+36.8%). The five have averaged a YTD total return of +45.4%, bringing their 1Y and 3Y total returns to +11.9% and +194.3% respectively.</li>
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Sector Draws Institutional Interest 

In the first quarter of 2019, Information Technology (IT) was the best-performing sector on SGX with a total return of 28.6%, reversing the -16.3% total return in calendar year 2018.

IT was also among the top net buy sectors for the January-March quarter, garnering total institutional inflow of S$100.5 million, according to SGX data. This comprised S$33.1 million, S$45.7 million, and S$21.7 million for the months of January, February and March 2019 respectively. IT received the second-highest inflows in the quarter after REITs, which garnered S$242.6 million.
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 <div class="content-caption">Institutional Inflows</div>
March Electronics Manufacturing Activity 

The <a href="https://sipmm.io/singapore-manufacturing-activity-picks-up-march-but-electronics-decline/">Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI)</a> for Singapore's key electronics sector edged higher in March to 49.8 from 49.5 in February, but remains in contraction – below the expansionary level of 50 – for the fifth consecutive month.

However, the overall manufacturing PMI – a key barometer of economic activity in the broader manufacturing industry – stood at 50.8 in March, up 0.4 percentage point from February. March’s reading marks the index’s 31st straight month of expansion.

The <a href="https://sipmm.edu.sg/">Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management</a> (SIPMM), which compiles the index by surveying around 150 industrial companies, attributed the stronger performance in March to faster growth in new orders, factory output and inventory levels.

Best-Performing IT Stocks in YTD

The 20 largest capitalised IT stocks on SGX have a combined market cap of nearly S$16 billion. In the 2019 year-to-date, they have averaged a total return of +21.7%, bringing their one-year and three-year total returns to -4.1% and +171.5% respectively.

These 20 largest IT stocks also averaged a price-earnings ratio of 13.6x, a Return on Equity (ROE) of 13.8% and a dividend indicated yield of 3.5%.

Among the 20, the five best performers in the YTD were: Hi-P International (+65.0%), TPV Technology (+46.2%), Innotek Ltd (+41.0%), Venture Corp (+37.9%), and CSE Global (+36.8%).

These five stocks – which are focused on the businesses of consumer electronics, electronics components, office automation, industrial machinery and electronics manufacturing services – have averaged a YTD total return of +45.4%, bringing their one-year and three-year total returns to +11.9% and +194.3% respectively.

The table below details the 20 largest IT stocks on SGX, sorted by YTD total return.

<table class="table table-striped"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>
			Name
			</td>
			<td>
			SGX Code
			</td>
			<td>
			Market Cap (S$M)
			</td>
			<td>
			Total Return YTD (%)
			</td>
			<td>
			Total Return 1Y (%)
			</td>
			<td>
			Total Return 3Y (%)
			</td>
			<td>
			P/E (x)
			</td>
			<td>
			Div Ind Yield (%)
			</td>
			<td>
			ROE (%)
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			HI-P INTL
			</td>
			<td>
			H17
			</td>
			<td>
			1,170
			</td>
			<td>
			65.0
			</td>
			<td>
			-27.3
			</td>
			<td>
			343.2
			</td>
			<td>
			11.7
			</td>
			<td>
			3.4
			</td>
			<td>
			18.5
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			TPV TECHNOLOGY
			</td>
			<td>
			T18
			</td>
			<td>
			669
			</td>
			<td>
			46.2
			</td>
			<td>
			45.5
			</td>
			<td>
			70.2
			</td>
			<td>
			23.0
			</td>
			<td>
			0.6
			</td>
			<td>
			1.4
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			INNOTEK LTD
			</td>
			<td>
			M14
			</td>
			<td>
			134
			</td>
			<td>
			41.0
			</td>
			<td>
			41.2
			</td>
			<td>
			354.0
			</td>
			<td>
			6.6
			</td>
			<td>
			1.7
			</td>
			<td>
			14.3
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			VENTURE CORP
			</td>
			<td>
			V03
			</td>
			<td>
			5,542
			</td>
			<td>
			37.9
			</td>
			<td>
			-30.4
			</td>
			<td>
			164.7
			</td>
			<td>
			13.8
			</td>
			<td>
			3.6
			</td>
			<td>
			16.4
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			CSE GLOBAL
			</td>
			<td>
			544
			</td>
			<td>
			264
			</td>
			<td>
			36.8
			</td>
			<td>
			30.5
			</td>
			<td>
			39.4
			</td>
			<td>
			13.3
			</td>
			<td>
			5.3
			</td>
			<td>
			11.7
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			CHUAN HUP
			</td>
			<td>
			C33
			</td>
			<td>
			343
			</td>
			<td>
			34.5
			</td>
			<td>
			27.4
			</td>
			<td>
			55.5
			</td>
			<td>
			28.5
			</td>
			<td>
			2.7
			</td>
			<td>
			3.1
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			AEM HOLDINGS
			</td>
			<td>
			AWX
			</td>
			<td>
			293
			</td>
			<td>
			30.9
			</td>
			<td>
			-36.4
			</td>
			<td>
			1414.9
			</td>
			<td>
			8.8
			</td>
			<td>
			3.2
			</td>
			<td>
			45.5
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			UMS HOLDINGS
			</td>
			<td>
			558
			</td>
			<td>
			386
			</td>
			<td>
			26.3
			</td>
			<td>
			-33.9
			</td>
			<td>
			75.8
			</td>
			<td>
			9.0
			</td>
			<td>
			6.3
			</td>
			<td>
			19.4
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			PCI LTD
			</td>
			<td>
			P19
			</td>
			<td>
			263
			</td>
			<td>
			24.5
			</td>
			<td>
			69.1
			</td>
			<td>
			271.3
			</td>
			<td>
			12.1
			</td>
			<td>
			2.3
			</td>
			<td>
			16.9
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			SILVERLAKE AXIS
			</td>
			<td>
			5CP
			</td>
			<td>
			1,349
			</td>
			<td>
			23.8
			</td>
			<td>
			0.1
			</td>
			<td>
			3.1
			</td>
			<td>
			21.2
			</td>
			<td>
			2.6
			</td>
			<td>
			29.1
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			MEMTECH INTL
			</td>
			<td>
			BOL
			</td>
			<td>
			134
			</td>
			<td>
			22.3
			</td>
			<td>
			-34.6
			</td>
			<td>
			50.4
			</td>
			<td>
			10.4
			</td>
			<td>
			3.1
			</td>
			<td>
			7.6
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			NERA TELECOM
			</td>
			<td>
			N01
			</td>
			<td>
			114
			</td>
			<td>
			16.7
			</td>
			<td>
			-10.8
			</td>
			<td>
			-15.9
			</td>
			<td>
			14.7
			</td>
			<td>
			7.9
			</td>
			<td>
			11.4
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			CREATIVE TECH
			</td>
			<td>
			C76
			</td>
			<td>
			320
			</td>
			<td>
			12.1
			</td>
			<td>
			-25.7
			</td>
			<td>
			302.8
			</td>
			<td>
			19.8
			</td>
			<td>
			NA
			</td>
			<td>
			11.1
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			ELEC &amp; ELTEK
			</td>
			<td>
			E16
			</td>
			<td>
			363
			</td>
			<td>
			9.5
			</td>
			<td>
			-3.8
			</td>
			<td>
			75.3
			</td>
			<td>
			11.0
			</td>
			<td>
			NA
			</td>
			<td>
			6.2
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			NETLINK NBN TRUST
			</td>
			<td>
			CJLU
			</td>
			<td>
			3,254
			</td>
			<td>
			9.2
			</td>
			<td>
			10.6
			</td>
			<td>
			NA
			</td>
			<td>
			1.0*
			</td>
			<td>
			4.9
			</td>
			<td>
			2.4
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			MICRO-MECHANICS
			</td>
			<td>
			5DD
			</td>
			<td>
			238
			</td>
			<td>
			4.3
			</td>
			<td>
			-9.4
			</td>
			<td>
			158.1
			</td>
			<td>
			15.1
			</td>
			<td>
			5.3
			</td>
			<td>
			27.1
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			VALUETRONICS LTD
			</td>
			<td>
			BN2
			</td>
			<td>
			295
			</td>
			<td>
			3.0
			</td>
			<td>
			-25.0
			</td>
			<td>
			82.2
			</td>
			<td>
			8.5
			</td>
			<td>
			5.2
			</td>
			<td>
			18.9
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			MDR LTD
			</td>
			<td>
			A27
			</td>
			<td>
			130
			</td>
			<td>
			0.0
			</td>
			<td>
			-28.7
			</td>
			<td>
			-44.1
			</td>
			<td>
			20.0
			</td>
			<td>
			1.6
			</td>
			<td>
			2.7
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			SUNNINGDALE TECH
			</td>
			<td>
			BHQ
			</td>
			<td>
			254
			</td>
			<td>
			-4.2
			</td>
			<td>
			-18.5
			</td>
			<td>
			21.4
			</td>
			<td>
			8.6
			</td>
			<td>
			5.6
			</td>
			<td>
			8.0
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			GP INDUSTRIES
			</td>
			<td>
			G20
			</td>
			<td>
			283
			</td>
			<td>
			-4.9
			</td>
			<td>
			-21.7
			</td>
			<td>
			7.8
			</td>
			<td>
			14.3
			</td>
			<td>
			5.1
			</td>
			<td>
			5.4
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			Average
			</td>
			<td>
			 
			</td>
			<td>
			 
			</td>
			<td>
			21.7
			</td>
			<td>
			-4.1
			</td>
			<td>
			171.5
			</td>
			<td>
			13.6
			</td>
			<td>
			3.5
			</td>
			<td>
			13.8
			</td>
		</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: Bloomberg &amp; StockFacts (data as of 18 April 2019)

*Note P/B ratio used instead of P/E for NetLink as more relevant for business trusts
</body></html>





In 1Q19, IT was the best-performing sector on SGX with a total return of 28.6%, after registering a total return of -16.3% in calendar year 2018. It was also among the top net buy sectors for the quarter, garnering total institutional inflow of S$100.5 million, the second-highest inflow after REITs (+S$242.6 million).  
	 
	
The 20 largest IT stocks on SGX have a combined market cap of nearly S$16 billion, and averaged a total return of +21.7% in the 2019 YTD. They also averaged a PE ratio of 13.6x, ROE of 13.8% and dividend indicated yield of 3.5%. 
	 
	Among the 20, the five best performers in the YTD were: Hi-P (+65.0%), TPV Tech (+46.2%), Innotek (+41.0%), Venture (+37.9%), and CSE Global (+36.8%). The five have averaged a YTD total return of +45.4%, bringing their 1Y and 3Y total returns to +11.9% and +194.3% respectively.

Sector Draws Institutional Interest 

In the first quarter of 2019, Information Technology (IT) was the best-performing sector on SGX with a total return of 28.6%, reversing the -16.3% total return in calendar year 2018.

IT was also among the top net buy sectors for the January-March quarter, garnering total institutional inflow of S$100.5 million, according to SGX data. This comprised S$33.1 million, S$45.7 million, and S$21.7 million for the months of January, February and March 2019 respectively. IT received the second-highest inflows in the quarter after REITs, which garnered S$242.6 million.

      
    
    Institutional Inflows
March Electronics Manufacturing Activity 

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for Singapore's key electronics sector edged higher in March to 49.8 from 49.5 in February, but remains in contraction – below the expansionary level of 50 – for the fifth consecutive month.

However, the overall manufacturing PMI – a key barometer of economic activity in the broader manufacturing industry – stood at 50.8 in March, up 0.4 percentage point from February. March’s reading marks the index’s 31st straight month of expansion.

The Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM), which compiles the index by surveying around 150 industrial companies, attributed the stronger performance in March to faster growth in new orders, factory output and inventory levels.

Best-Performing IT Stocks in YTD

The 20 largest capitalised IT stocks on SGX have a combined market cap of nearly S$16 billion. In the 2019 year-to-date, they have averaged a total return of +21.7%, bringing their one-year and three-year total returns to -4.1% and +171.5% respectively.

These 20 largest IT stocks also averaged a price-earnings ratio of 13.6x, a Return on Equity (ROE) of 13.8% and a dividend indicated yield of 3.5%.

Among the 20, the five best performers in the YTD were: Hi-P International (+65.0%), TPV Technology (+46.2%), Innotek Ltd (+41.0%), Venture Corp (+37.9%), and CSE Global (+36.8%).

These five stocks – which are focused on the businesses of consumer electronics, electronics components, office automation, industrial machinery and electronics manufacturing services – have averaged a YTD total return of +45.4%, bringing their one-year and three-year total returns to +11.9% and +194.3% respectively.

The table below details the 20 largest IT stocks on SGX, sorted by YTD total return.




			Name
			
			
			SGX Code
			
			
			Market Cap (S$M)
			
			
			Total Return YTD (%)
			
			
			Total Return 1Y (%)
			
			
			Total Return 3Y (%)
			
			
			P/E (x)
			
			
			Div Ind Yield (%)
			
			
			ROE (%)
			
		


			HI-P INTL
			
			
			H17
			
			
			1,170
			
			
			65.0
			
			
			-27.3
			
			
			343.2
			
			
			11.7
			
			
			3.4
			
			
			18.5
			
		


			TPV TECHNOLOGY
			
			
			T18
			
			
			669
			
			
			46.2
			
			
			45.5
			
			
			70.2
			
			
			23.0
			
			
			0.6
			
			
			1.4
			
		


			INNOTEK LTD
			
			
			M14
			
			
			134
			
			
			41.0
			
			
			41.2
			
			
			354.0
			
			
			6.6
			
			
			1.7
			
			
			14.3
			
		


			VENTURE CORP
			
			
			V03
			
			
			5,542
			
			
			37.9
			
			
			-30.4
			
			
			164.7
			
			
			13.8
			
			
			3.6
			
			
			16.4
			
		


			CSE GLOBAL
			
			
			544
			
			
			264
			
			
			36.8
			
			
			30.5
			
			
			39.4
			
			
			13.3
			
			
			5.3
			
			
			11.7
			
		


			CHUAN HUP
			
			
			C33
			
			
			343
			
			
			34.5
			
			
			27.4
			
			
			55.5
			
			
			28.5
			
			
			2.7
			
			
			3.1
			
		


			AEM HOLDINGS
			
			
			AWX
			
			
			293
			
			
			30.9
			
			
			-36.4
			
			
			1414.9
			
			
			8.8
			
			
			3.2
			
			
			45.5
			
		


			UMS HOLDINGS
			
			
			558
			
			
			386
			
			
			26.3
			
			
			-33.9
			
			
			75.8
			
			
			9.0
			
			
			6.3
			
			
			19.4
			
		


			PCI LTD
			
			
			P19
			
			
			263
			
			
			24.5
			
			
			69.1
			
			
			271.3
			
			
			12.1
			
			
			2.3
			
			
			16.9
			
		


			SILVERLAKE AXIS
			
			
			5CP
			
			
			1,349
			
			
			23.8
			
			
			0.1
			
			
			3.1
			
			
			21.2
			
			
			2.6
			
			
			29.1
			
		


			MEMTECH INTL
			
			
			BOL
			
			
			134
			
			
			22.3
			
			
			-34.6
			
			
			50.4
			
			
			10.4
			
			
			3.1
			
			
			7.6
			
		


			NERA TELECOM
			
			
			N01
			
			
			114
			
			
			16.7
			
			
			-10.8
			
			
			-15.9
			
			
			14.7
			
			
			7.9
			
			
			11.4
			
		


			CREATIVE TECH
			
			
			C76
			
			
			320
			
			
			12.1
			
			
			-25.7
			
			
			302.8
			
			
			19.8
			
			
			NA
			
			
			11.1
			
		


			ELEC &amp; ELTEK
			
			
			E16
			
			
			363
			
			
			9.5
			
			
			-3.8
			
			
			75.3
			
			
			11.0
			
			
			NA
			
			
			6.2
			
		


			NETLINK NBN TRUST
			
			
			CJLU
			
			
			3,254
			
			
			9.2
			
			
			10.6
			
			
			NA
			
			
			1.0*
			
			
			4.9
			
			
			2.4
			
		


			MICRO-MECHANICS
			
			
			5DD
			
			
			238
			
			
			4.3
			
			
			-9.4
			
			
			158.1
			
			
			15.1
			
			
			5.3
			
			
			27.1
			
		


			VALUETRONICS LTD
			
			
			BN2
			
			
			295
			
			
			3.0
			
			
			-25.0
			
			
			82.2
			
			
			8.5
			
			
			5.2
			
			
			18.9
			
		


			MDR LTD
			
			
			A27
			
			
			130
			
			
			0.0
			
			
			-28.7
			
			
			-44.1
			
			
			20.0
			
			
			1.6
			
			
			2.7
			
		


			SUNNINGDALE TECH
			
			
			BHQ
			
			
			254
			
			
			-4.2
			
			
			-18.5
			
			
			21.4
			
			
			8.6
			
			
			5.6
			
			
			8.0
			
		


			GP INDUSTRIES
			
			
			G20
			
			
			283
			
			
			-4.9
			
			
			-21.7
			
			
			7.8
			
			
			14.3
			
			
			5.1
			
			
			5.4
			
		


			Average
			
			
			 
			
			
			 
			
			
			21.7
			
			
			-4.1
			
			
			171.5
			
			
			13.6
			
			
			3.5
			
			
			13.8
			
		

Source: Bloomberg &amp; StockFacts (data as of 18 April 2019)

*Note P/B ratio used instead of P/E for NetLink as more relevant for business trusts



Five Largest, Best-Performing IT Stocks Averaged 45% YTD Total Return

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Strong Earnings Sees IT Sector Grow Two-Thirds in 2017 YTD

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STI Led Benchmarks, Technology Led Sectors

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Strong Earnings Sees IT Sector Grow Two-Thirds in 2017 YTD

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