HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

Orient Overseas International / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orient-overseas-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:801:1" rel="noopener">Orient Overseas International (316 HK)</a> saw 27.2% QoQ freight rate uptick in 1Q24. This is a positive start and we should not be too concerned about the 12% YoY decline.</li>
<li>Its overall load factor also expanded 0.9pp YoY in the quarter, and this is the first YoY improvement since 2Q22. A better utilisation level is good for unit costs.</li>
<li>At end-FY23, net cash equals 62.4% of the share price, dragging ROE to 7.5% for the next three years. But with such solid financials, its 0.7x P/B is not expensive.</li>
</ul>



Orient Overseas International (316 HK) saw 27.2% QoQ freight rate uptick in 1Q24. This is a positive start and we should not be too concerned about the 12% YoY decline.
Its overall load factor also expanded 0.9pp YoY in the quarter, and this is the first YoY improvement since 2Q22. A better utilisation level is good for unit costs.
At end-FY23, net cash equals 62.4% of the share price, dragging ROE to 7.5% for the next three years. But with such solid financials, its 0.7x P/B is not expensive.


Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Spotting Initial Signs of Recovery

<ul>
<li>The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index has popped by 25% in the first two weeks of 2024 due to the Red Sea crisis. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orient-overseas-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:801:1" rel="noopener">Orient Overseas International (316 HK)</a> is a beneficiary.</li>
<li>There are already signs of bottoming out of realised freight rate and load factor in 4Q23. The spike in freight rate means that consensus forecasts are too bearish. </li>
<li>OOIL's net cash of US$5.6bn equals 58% of its market capitalisation, making its 0.7x P/B and 8% yield attractive. There is also a possibility for a higher dividend payout. </li>
</ul>


The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index has popped by 25% in the first two weeks of 2024 due to the Red Sea crisis. Orient Overseas International (316 HK) is a beneficiary.
There are already signs of bottoming out of realised freight rate and load factor in 4Q23. The spike in freight rate means that consensus forecasts are too bearish. 
OOIL's net cash of US$5.6bn equals 58% of its market capitalisation, making its 0.7x P/B and 8% yield attractive. There is also a possibility for a higher dividend payout. 


Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Is It Time for a Reversal?

<ul>
<li>We believe the 11.4% decline in share price of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orient-overseas-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:801:1" rel="noopener">Orient Overseas International (316 HK)</a> YTD is not sufficient to reflect the plunge in freight rate and weakened load performance.</li>
<li>Its 4Q22 average revenue/TEU of US$1,822.3 has returned to 2Q21 level; but with latest spot rate already plunged to early-2020 times, there is further downside for OOIL's realised rate.</li>
<li>Export outlook is uninspiring as well, indicating pressure on demand. With similar ROE, OOIL only trades at 0.3x P/B in FY20, that makes its current P/B of 0.9x expensive.</li>
</ul>


We believe the 11.4% decline in share price of Orient Overseas International (316 HK) YTD is not sufficient to reflect the plunge in freight rate and weakened load performance.
Its 4Q22 average revenue/TEU of US$1,822.3 has returned to 2Q21 level; but with latest spot rate already plunged to early-2020 times, there is further downside for OOIL's realised rate.
Export outlook is uninspiring as well, indicating pressure on demand. With similar ROE, OOIL only trades at 0.3x P/B in FY20, that makes its current P/B of 0.9x expensive.


Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Still Not Too Late to Be Bearish

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Our positive calls on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fu-shou-yuan-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18168:1" rel="noopener">Fu Shou Yuan (1448 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (753 HK)</a> and negative call on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-conch-environment-protection-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4827:1" rel="noopener">Conch Environment (587 HK)</a> have generated the best wins in 2022.</li>
<li>These calls achieved returns of 56.8%, 34.2% and 43.5%, respectively, which we think are remarkable given the losses of 16.3% for HSI and 19.3% for HSCEI YTD.</li>
<li>In 2023, we expect Fu Shou Yuan <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fu-shou-yuan-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18168:1" rel="noopener"></a>continue to do well and Conch Environment to remain under pressure. It may be prudent to take some profit on Air China. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener"></a> </li>
</ul>


Our positive calls on Fu Shou Yuan (1448 HK) and Air China Ltd (753 HK) and negative call on Conch Environment (587 HK) have generated the best wins in 2022.
These calls achieved returns of 56.8%, 34.2% and 43.5%, respectively, which we think are remarkable given the losses of 16.3% for HSI and 19.3% for HSCEI YTD.
In 2023, we expect Fu Shou Yuan continue to do well and Conch Environment to remain under pressure. It may be prudent to take some profit on Air China.  


Our Three Best Calls in 2022: Review and Outlook for 2023

<ul>
<li>The 72.5% decline in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sitc-international-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15301:1" rel="noopener">SITC International (1308 HK)</a>'s FY23 earnings is disappointing but should already reflected in the share price given the profit warning. Instead, this may be the trough.  </li>
<li>Spot freight rates for key intra-Asia routes have already recovered since 3Q23, with the YTD level higher than the 2H23 average. The 1H24 result may show a sequential rebound.</li>
<li>Even assuming flat YoY earnings in FY24, it still sits on a 9% dividend yield. The projected ROE of over 24% and net cash position mean 1.6-1.7x P/B undemanding.</li>
</ul>


The 72.5% decline in SITC International (1308 HK)'s FY23 earnings is disappointing but should already reflected in the share price given the profit warning. Instead, this may be the trough.  
Spot freight rates for key intra-Asia routes have already recovered since 3Q23, with the YTD level higher than the 2H23 average. The 1H24 result may show a sequential rebound.
Even assuming flat YoY earnings in FY24, it still sits on a 9% dividend yield. The projected ROE of over 24% and net cash position mean 1.6-1.7x P/B undemanding.


SITC International (1308 HK): Bidding Farewell to the Trough

Hong Kong

Orient Overseas International Ltd, through its subsidiaries, owns and leases ships, operates terminals, and provides freight forwarding and container transportation services.  The Company also develops and invests in properties, leases equipment, and invests in securities.

Orient Overseas International (316 HK)

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Spotting Initial Signs of Recovery

OOIL shows a QoQ freight rate uptick at 27.2% in 1Q24, with the load factor improving 0.9pp YoY. Given that 62.4% of the stock price is net cash,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Is It Time for a Reversal?

SCFI surged 25% due to the Red Sea crisis, benefiting OOIL, suggesting consensus forecasts are too bearish. It is attractive at 0.7x P/B and 8%...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Still Not Too Late to Be Bearish

OOIL's 4Q22 average revenue/TEU has returned to 2Q21 level. As latest spot rate plunged to early-2020 level, there is further downside to realised...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Our Three Best Calls in 2022: Review and Outlook for 2023

In 2023, we expect share prices of Fu Shou Yuan to continue to do well and Conch Environment to remain under pressure. For Air China, given rich...

Osbert Tang, CFA

SITC International (1308 HK): Bidding Farewell to the Trough

SITC's disappointing FY23 earnings decline may be already priced in. With sequentially higher freight rates, there is a potential for a rebound in...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Spotting Initial Signs of Recovery

​OOIL shows a QoQ freight rate uptick at 27.2% in 1Q24, with the load factor improving 0.9pp YoY. Given that 62.4% of the stock price is net cash,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Is It Time for a Reversal?

​SCFI surged 25% due to the Red Sea crisis, benefiting OOIL, suggesting consensus forecasts are too bearish. It is attractive at 0.7x P/B and 8%...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Still Not Too Late to Be Bearish

OOIL's 4Q22 average revenue/TEU has returned to 2Q21 level. As latest spot rate plunged to early-2020 level, there is further downside to realised...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Our Three Best Calls in 2022: Review and Outlook for 2023

In 2023, we expect share prices of Fu Shou Yuan to continue to do well and Conch Environment to remain under pressure. For Air China, given rich...

Osbert Tang, CFA

SITC International (1308 HK): Bidding Farewell to the Trough

​SITC's disappointing FY23 earnings decline may be already priced in. With sequentially higher freight rates, there is a potential for a rebound in...

Osbert Tang, CFA

OOIL shows a QoQ freight rate uptick at 27.2% in 1Q24, with the load factor improving 0.9pp YoY. Given that 62.4% of the stock price is net cash,...

SCFI surged 25% due to the Red Sea crisis, benefiting OOIL, suggesting consensus forecasts are too bearish. It is attractive at 0.7x P/B and 8%...

SITC's disappointing FY23 earnings decline may be already priced in. With sequentially higher freight rates, there is a potential for a rebound in...