Equity L/S Analyst | Forensic Accounting | India, Yellowstone Equity

Ankit Agrawal, CFA

Equity L/S Analyst | Forensic Accounting | India

Quantitative Analysis

Subsequent to our earlier update a quarter ago, below we publish updated results from our dividend forecasting models. Our models take into account most recent reported fiscal year-end financials to provide updated results. We also discuss notable changes within our top 10 conviction list.

Subsequent to our earlier update a quarter ago, below we publish updated results from our dividend forecasting models. Our models take into account most recent reported fiscal year-end financials to provide updated results. We also discuss notable changes within our top 10 conviction list.

Asia Dividend Forecasting | Quarterly Update 2.0

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Equity Bottom-Up

*A Poor Set Of Results: AIA Group (1299.HK) (AIA) reported 4Q20 Value of New Business (VONB) of USD 2.8 bn -  down 33% YOY, and net profit of USD 5.8 bn – down 3% over the period. 4Q20 VONB amounted to USD 639 mn, down 31% YOY.  The VONB decline can be attributed largely to weaker volumes and margins caused by mainland China’s new withholding tax, expense overruns in Hong Kong, along with product/mix shifts resultant of pandemic restrictions; and *No Hong Kong Rebound In Sight: The focus should remain Hong Kong, where a 66% YOY decline in VONB occurred as its border with mainland China continued to remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. This should continue to weigh on results over the next few quarters as well.

*A Poor Set Of Results: AIA Group (1299.HK) (AIA) reported 4Q20 Value of New Business (VONB) of USD 2.8 bn -  down 33% YOY, and net profit of USD 5.8 bn – down 3% over the period. 4Q20 VONB amounted to USD 639 mn, down 31% YOY.  The VONB decline can be attributed largely to weaker volumes and margins caused by mainland China’s new withholding tax, expense overruns in Hong Kong, along with product/mix shifts resultant of pandemic restrictions; and *No Hong Kong Rebound In Sight: The focus should remain Hong Kong, where a 66% YOY decline in VONB occurred as its border with mainland China continued to remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. This should continue to weigh on results over the next few quarters as well.   

Since our Original on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/asia-dividend-forecasting-the-rise-and-fall-of-dividends-across-asian-companies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43022" rel="noopener">Asia Dividend Forecasting | The Rise and Fall of Dividends Across Asian Companies</a>, published on Sep 30 2020, this is our first quarterly update. Our models take into account latest reported fiscal year-end financials to provide updated results. We also discuss companies where there is notable change in our conviction level based on updated data.
At the webinar in October, there was also a request for conducting price movement analysis corresponding to forward dividend growth/cut for our back-test results. This analysis is now available. Our results show a high correlation between price movements and dividend growth/cut, suggesting that users of our models will benefit from guiding their investment decisions based on dividend growth/cut outlook.

Since our Original on Asia Dividend Forecasting | The Rise and Fall of Dividends Across Asian Companies, published on Sep 30 2020, this is our first quarterly update. Our models take into account latest reported fiscal year-end financials to provide updated results. We also discuss companies where there is notable change in our conviction level based on updated data.
At the webinar in October, there was also a request for conducting price movement analysis corresponding to forward dividend growth/cut for our back-test results. This analysis is now available. Our results show a high correlation between price movements and dividend growth/cut, suggesting that users of our models will benefit from guiding their investment decisions based on dividend growth/cut outlook.

Asia Dividend Forecasting | Quarterly Update 1.0

In this Smartkarma Original, we bring to you a quantitative approach for identifying Asian companies that are likely to raise/cut dividend. Applying this approach to a universe of 920+ companies listed across Asia helped us identify 150+ and 20+ companies, respectively, that have a high likelihood of raising/cutting dividends, over the next five years.
<div class="content-highlight">
What's Original?
<ul>
<li>We have two separate models, one for forecasting Dividend Raise and the other for Dividend Cut.</li>
<li>Our back test results are very encouraging with &gt;90% hit rate for our Dividend Raise model and 100% hit rate for our Dividend Cut model.</li>
<li>For our Dividend Raise model, we apply a combination of eight stringent parameters and use last 7Y historical data to find companies that have consistently performed strong, lending our model a high hit rate.</li>
<li>For our Dividend Cut model, we differentiate from other models by focusing on companies that have had high dividend payout ratio (&gt;50%) over last 3Y. This criterion helps us in identifying companies where there is limited scope for dividend growth through increase in dividend payouts. In our observation, such companies are most vulnerable to cut dividend when faced with weakening fundamentals or deteriorating balance sheet.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Insight Flow</h3>
<ul>
<li>Live Dashboard</li>
<li> Methodology
<ul>
<li>Philosophy</li>
<li>Dividend Raise Model</li>
<li>Dividend Cut Model</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Universe</li>
<li>Back Test Results
<ul>
<li>Dividend Raise Model</li>
<li>Dividend Cut Model</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Model Results
<ul>
<li>Companies with High Probability of Dividend Raise</li>
<li>Companies with High Probability of Dividend Cut</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Model Risks &amp; Limitations</li>
<li>Conclusion</li>
</ul>

In this Smartkarma Original, we bring to you a quantitative approach for identifying Asian companies that are likely to raise/cut dividend. Applying this approach to a universe of 920+ companies listed across Asia helped us identify 150+ and 20+ companies, respectively, that have a high likelihood of raising/cutting dividends, over the next five years.

What's Original?

We have two separate models, one for forecasting Dividend Raise and the other for Dividend Cut.
Our back test results are very encouraging with &gt;90% hit rate for our Dividend Raise model and 100% hit rate for our Dividend Cut model.
For our Dividend Raise model, we apply a combination of eight stringent parameters and use last 7Y historical data to find companies that have consistently performed strong, lending our model a high hit rate.
For our Dividend Cut model, we differentiate from other models by focusing on companies that have had high dividend payout ratio (&gt;50%) over last 3Y. This criterion helps us in identifying companies where there is limited scope for dividend growth through increase in dividend payouts. In our observation, such companies are most vulnerable to cut dividend when faced with weakening fundamentals or deteriorating balance sheet.


Insight Flow

Live Dashboard
 Methodology

Philosophy
Dividend Raise Model
Dividend Cut Model


Universe
Back Test Results

Dividend Raise Model
Dividend Cut Model


Model Results

Companies with High Probability of Dividend Raise
Companies with High Probability of Dividend Cut


Model Risks &amp; Limitations
Conclusion


Asia Dividend Forecasting | The Rise and Fall of Dividends Across Asian Companies

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

*High Court Ruling: The United Kingdom High Court ruled on a test case brought forth by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indicates that the "COVID-19 pandemic and the government and public response were a single cause of the covered loss, which is a key requirement for claims to be paid even if the policy provides cover". The decision on th Business Interruption (BI) case against the insurance industry is mostly in favorable to policyholders; and *Asia-Pac To Follow: As many countries in Asia-Pacific are Common Law nations, High Court rulings such as this have a tendency to set precedent. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see significant capital raises given the challenges to solvency.

*High Court Ruling: The United Kingdom High Court ruled on a test case brought forth by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indicates that the "COVID-19 pandemic and the government and public response were a single cause of the covered loss, which is a key requirement for claims to be paid even if the policy provides cover". The decision on th Business Interruption (BI) case against the insurance industry is mostly in favorable to policyholders; and *Asia-Pac To Follow: As many countries in Asia-Pacific are Common Law nations, High Court rulings such as this have a tendency to set precedent. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see significant capital raises given the challenges to solvency.  

Asian Insurers – High Court Ruling A Harbinger For Region

Australia

QBE Insurance Group Limited is an insurance company which underwrites most forms of commercial and industrial insurance policies, as well as individual policies. QBE also manages Lloyds syndicates and provides investment management services. The Company provides its services both domestically and internationally.

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Qbe Insurance (QBE AU)

Asia Dividend Forecasting | Quarterly Update 2.0

Subsequent to our Dividend Forecasting Original in Sep 2020, this is our second quarterly update. Our models take into account latest reported...

Ankit Agrawal, CFA

AIA Group – Low Base Leverage

AIA GROUP: AIA posted a 4Q20 VONB decline of 33% YOY, largely due to weaker volumes and margins, expense overruns, and product/mix shifts due to...

Thomas J. Monaco

Asia Dividend Forecasting | Quarterly Update 1.0

We incorporate latest reported financial data to provide updated results for our Asia Dividend Forecasting models. We also ran an insightful price...

Ankit Agrawal, CFA

Asia Dividend Forecasting | The Rise and Fall of Dividends Across Asian Companies

Methodology Back Test Results Companied

Ankit Agrawal, CFA

Asian Insurers – High Court Ruling A Harbinger For Region

*High Court Ruling: The United Kingdom High Court ruled on a test case brought forth by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indicates that the...

Thomas J. Monaco

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