Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

After moderating in August, headline express sector volume surged in September. Total parcel volume grew by 44.6% last month, and key inter-city volume was up almost 50%. 
Pricing remains weak, however. For all express shipments, ASPs fell by 12.2%, and the companies that report monthly numbers all reported YoY ASP declines of between 15% and 31%.
In other express sector news: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhejiang-idc-fluid-control-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18695:1" rel="noopener">STO Express (002468 CH)</a> pre-announced Q3 losses, we check on how <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zto-express" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23628:1" rel="noopener">ZTO Express (ZTO US)</a>'s Hong Kong IPO has fared so far, and we note (again) <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/maanshan-dingtai-rare-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4128:1" rel="noopener">S.F. Holding (002352 CH)</a> massive scale relative to its Chinese peers -- and it's incredible year of growth. 
We continue to rate SF Holding BUY as we expect it to continue to gain share from peers. We also recently upgraded <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/best-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25494:1" rel="noopener">BEST Inc (BEST US) </a>to BUY on our expectation that it could become an attractive target once sector M&amp;A takes off. Meanwhile, ZTO remains a SELL in our view.

After moderating in August, headline express sector volume surged in September. Total parcel volume grew by 44.6% last month, and key inter-city volume was up almost 50%. 
Pricing remains weak, however. For all express shipments, ASPs fell by 12.2%, and the companies that report monthly numbers all reported YoY ASP declines of between 15% and 31%.
In other express sector news: STO Express (002468 CH) pre-announced Q3 losses, we check on how ZTO Express (ZTO US)'s Hong Kong IPO has fared so far, and we note (again) S.F. Holding (002352 CH) massive scale relative to its Chinese peers -- and it's incredible year of growth. 
We continue to rate SF Holding BUY as we expect it to continue to gain share from peers. We also recently upgraded BEST Inc (BEST US) to BUY on our expectation that it could become an attractive target once sector M&amp;A takes off. Meanwhile, ZTO remains a SELL in our view. 

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Express: Pricing Still Weak | STO Q3 Profit Warning | ZTO HK IPO Update

Event-Driven

Last week <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhejiang-idc-fluid-control-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18695:1" rel="noopener">STO Express (002468 CH)</a> warned investors that it lost money in Q3 2020, versus profits in the year-earlier period. It was the third profit warning issued by the company so far in 2020. 
STO Express appears to be retreating from its aggressive pursuit of volume share gains, but the company's new strategy remains unclear, in our view. 
We believe STO Express remains a potential acquisition target when Chinese express sector M&amp;A gains momentum, along with US-listed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/best-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25494:1" rel="noopener">BEST Inc (BEST US)</a>.

Last week STO Express (002468 CH) warned investors that it lost money in Q3 2020, versus profits in the year-earlier period. It was the third profit warning issued by the company so far in 2020. 
STO Express appears to be retreating from its aggressive pursuit of volume share gains, but the company's new strategy remains unclear, in our view. 
We believe STO Express remains a potential acquisition target when Chinese express sector M&amp;A gains momentum, along with US-listed BEST Inc (BEST US). 

As Profits Turn to Losses, STO Express Retreats from Growth Strategy. Is M&A Next?

We are upgrading <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/best-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25494:1" rel="noopener">BEST Inc (BEST US)</a> from HOLD to BUY on the expectation of Chinese express sector consolidation in the coming 12-18 months. Note that we do not expect sector fundamentals to improve in the near-term, nor do we expect Best to erase its losses in the next few quarters. 
While we concede we may be early in rating Best BUY, we believe conditions are developing in ways that make sector M&amp;A more likely in the medium-term. Given its size, its depressed valuation and its relationship to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a>, Best could become an acquisition target. 
We view Best as a cheap option on sector consolidation. At a 20% discount to peers on [EV/Revenue] and [EV/Parcel], we believe Best's express operation alone is worth US$5.05 per ADS -- investors effectively get the rest of its businesses for free. BUY below US$3 for ~70% upside.

We are upgrading BEST Inc (BEST US) from HOLD to BUY on the expectation of Chinese express sector consolidation in the coming 12-18 months. Note that we do not expect sector fundamentals to improve in the near-term, nor do we expect Best to erase its losses in the next few quarters. 
While we concede we may be early in rating Best BUY, we believe conditions are developing in ways that make sector M&amp;A more likely in the medium-term. Given its size, its depressed valuation and its relationship to Alibaba Group (BABA US), Best could become an acquisition target. 
We view Best as a cheap option on sector consolidation. At a 20% discount to peers on [EV/Revenue] and [EV/Parcel], we believe Best's express operation alone is worth US$5.05 per ADS -- investors effectively get the rest of its businesses for free. BUY below US$3 for ~70% upside. 

Upgrading Best Inc To Speculative BUY on Expectation of Express Sector Consolidation

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Back in April of this year, China's President Xi Jinping <a href="http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2020-04/16/nw.D110000renmrb_20200416_1-09.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mentioned</a> taking the initiative to seek change and turn "crises into opportunities".
This was expanded upon in a Politburo meeting on the <a href="http://cpc.people.com.cn/n1/2020/0515/c64094-31709627.html?mc_cid=28966ada58&amp;mc_eid=902fe70bde" target="_blank" rel="noopener">14 May</a> under the guise of a "dual circulation" strategy, such that China will seek to primarily rely on "internal circulation" (domestic production, distribution, and consumption) for its future development. This "internal circulation" would be supplemented with "external circulation". 
During a 21 July <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200811045300/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/leaders/2020-07/21/c_1126267575.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speech</a> to public and private business in Beijing, Xi emphasized that “We must gradually form a new development pattern with the domestic internal circulation as the main body and the domestic and international dual circulations mutually promoting each other.
When  co-hosting a China-Germany-EU leaders last week, Xi Jinping <a href="https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-09-14/Xi-attends-China-Germany-EU-leaders-meeting-via-video-link-TMA0kfp5lK/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reiterated</a> that "China is working toward the goal of fostering a new, dual-cycle development architecture with the domestic cycle as the mainstay and with domestic and international development reinforcing each other."
This “dual circulation/cycle” strategy may form a key government initiative in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), which is expected to be released by the National People's Congress early next year, probably March. A Communist Party leaders’ meeting next month is expected to unveil more detail on this strategy. 
Does this strategy point to China turning its back to the world and taking on a closed and self-sufficient path?

Back in April of this year, China's President Xi Jinping mentioned taking the initiative to seek change and turn "crises into opportunities".
This was expanded upon in a Politburo meeting on the 14 May under the guise of a "dual circulation" strategy, such that China will seek to primarily rely on "internal circulation" (domestic production, distribution, and consumption) for its future development. This "internal circulation" would be supplemented with "external circulation". 
During a 21 July speech to public and private business in Beijing, Xi emphasized that “We must gradually form a new development pattern with the domestic internal circulation as the main body and the domestic and international dual circulations mutually promoting each other.
When  co-hosting a China-Germany-EU leaders last week, Xi Jinping reiterated that "China is working toward the goal of fostering a new, dual-cycle development architecture with the domestic cycle as the mainstay and with domestic and international development reinforcing each other."
This “dual circulation/cycle” strategy may form a key government initiative in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), which is expected to be released by the National People's Congress early next year, probably March. A Communist Party leaders’ meeting next month is expected to unveil more detail on this strategy. 
Does this strategy point to China turning its back to the world and taking on a closed and self-sufficient path?

China's Dual Circulation: Hedged Integration

The objectives of this report are to examine what express sector consolidation may look like over the next few years, and to offer investors guidance about how to play this trend when the dominoes begin to fall, most likely in 2021-22. We organize the report into six parts as follows:
<ol>
<li>How things used to work in China's express sector</li>
<li>How the sector has begun changing in ways that may force consolidation</li>
<li>The 'Why?' &amp; 'How?' of Chinese express sector consolidation</li>
<li>Alibaba's critical role in potential M&amp;A activity</li>
<li>Some thoughts about the timing of expected changes</li>
<li>Conclusions</li>
</ol>

The objectives of this report are to examine what express sector consolidation may look like over the next few years, and to offer investors guidance about how to play this trend when the dominoes begin to fall, most likely in 2021-22. We organize the report into six parts as follows:

How things used to work in China's express sector
How the sector has begun changing in ways that may force consolidation
The 'Why?' &amp; 'How?' of Chinese express sector consolidation
Alibaba's critical role in potential M&amp;A activity
Some thoughts about the timing of expected changes
Conclusions


Pressure Building: How Consolidation in China's Express Sector Might Look Over the Next Two Years

China

Yunda Holding Co Ltd operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides industrial investment, enterprise management, business consulting, car rental, technical development, information technology, and advertising services. Yunda Holding serves customers in China.

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Yunda Holding (002120 CH)

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Express: Pricing Still Weak | STO Q3 Profit Warning | ZTO HK IPO Update

Although volumes bounced back in September, pricing remains weak. We retain our BUY ratings on SF Holding and Best Inc, while ZTO Express remains a...

Tracking Traffic

As Profits Turn to Losses, STO Express Retreats from Growth Strategy. Is M&A Next?

STO Express recently warned investors it would report a loss in Q3 2020. The company seems to be rethinking its aggressive pursuit of volume share,...

Tracking Traffic

Upgrading Best Inc To Speculative BUY on Expectation of Express Sector Consolidation

What is rationale? What are catalysts? Why Best and not other potential targets? Price target?

Tracking Traffic

China's Dual Circulation: Hedged Integration

Back in April, Xi Jinping

David Blennerhassett

Pressure Building: How Consolidation in China's Express Sector Might Look Over the Next Two Years

Objective of this note: How things used to work How the sector has begun changing

Tracking Traffic

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