HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<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

<ul>
<li>While management of <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> thinks that the worst is over, we are less positive given the lacklustre demand and the disappointing Jul-Aug market freight rates.</li>
<li>Its gross margin is still significantly ahead of the pre-COVID levels, and financially, its net cash balance has been coming down. The dividend payout ratio has also lowered slightly.</li>
<li>The FY23 consensus earnings forecast is too optimistic given 1H23 net profit is only 33.5% of the full-year estimate. The downside risk will cap near-term share price performance. </li>
</ul>


While management of SITC International (1308 HK) thinks that the worst is over, we are less positive given the lacklustre demand and the disappointing Jul-Aug market freight rates.
Its gross margin is still significantly ahead of the pre-COVID levels, and financially, its net cash balance has been coming down. The dividend payout ratio has also lowered slightly.
The FY23 consensus earnings forecast is too optimistic given 1H23 net profit is only 33.5% of the full-year estimate. The downside risk will cap near-term share price performance. 


SITC International (1308 HK): Uneasy Times

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>There is no immediate impact of termination of 2M Alliance between <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ap-moller-maersk-a-s" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24755:1" rel="noopener">Ap Moller - Maersk A/S (MAERSKA DC)</a> and Mediterranean Shipping Company in 2025, but there are some long-term implications.</li>
<li>The change in competitive landscape will add uncertain operating variables to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-cosco-holdings-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:286:1" rel="noopener">COSCO Shipping Holdings (1919 HK)</a> and <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> as there is possibility of stiffer industry competition. </li>
<li>Port companies like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cosco-shipping-ports-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:360:1" rel="noopener">Cosco Shipping Ports (1199 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-port-holdings-company-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15155:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Port (144 HK)</a> may see improvement in their relative bargaining power, with potentially lower bulk volume discounts offered. </li>
</ul>


There is no immediate impact of termination of 2M Alliance between Ap Moller - Maersk A/S (MAERSKA DC) and Mediterranean Shipping Company in 2025, but there are some long-term implications.
The change in competitive landscape will add uncertain operating variables to COSCO Shipping Holdings (1919 HK) and Orient Overseas International (316 HK) as there is possibility of stiffer industry competition. 
Port companies like Cosco Shipping Ports (1199 HK) and China Merchants Port (144 HK) may see improvement in their relative bargaining power, with potentially lower bulk volume discounts offered. 


China Shipping Sector: Impacts of the Termination of 2M Alliance

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sinotrans-limited-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1321:1" rel="noopener">Sinotrans (598 HK)</a> posted another set of strong result in 3Q21 with recurring earnings grew by 34.2% YoY. The slow growth of 5.8% in reported earnings is distorted by an Rmb143m provision in litigation loss, and investors should not let this non-recurring figure mask the interpretation of good result. We saw healthy double-digit volume growth for logistics and e-commerce businesses in the quarter, and international express JV DHL-Sinotrans continued to stage a solid growth in profit contribution.We believe Sinotrans is deeply undervalued at 0.47x 12-month forward P/B given an 11.7% ROE and a 41% earnings growth for FY21F. The 21% pullback in share price along with the container shipping sector in a month's time looks unjustified, in our view. Sinotrans has a solid financial position with 3Q21 gearing of just 6.6%, and assume a stable dividend payout, it is sitting on an attractive dividend yield of 7.4% for this year.

Sinotrans (598 HK) posted another set of strong result in 3Q21 with recurring earnings grew by 34.2% YoY. The slow growth of 5.8% in reported earnings is distorted by an Rmb143m provision in litigation loss, and investors should not let this non-recurring figure mask the interpretation of good result. We saw healthy double-digit volume growth for logistics and e-commerce businesses in the quarter, and international express JV DHL-Sinotrans continued to stage a solid growth in profit contribution.We believe Sinotrans is deeply undervalued at 0.47x 12-month forward P/B given an 11.7% ROE and a 41% earnings growth for FY21F. The 21% pullback in share price along with the container shipping sector in a month's time looks unjustified, in our view. Sinotrans has a solid financial position with 3Q21 gearing of just 6.6%, and assume a stable dividend payout, it is sitting on an attractive dividend yield of 7.4% for this year.  

Sinotrans (598 HK): From Strength to Strength

Pacific Basin Shipping / Equity Bottom-Up

The 3Q21 trading update for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pacific-basin-shipping-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:929:1" rel="noopener">Pacific Basin Shipping (2343 HK)</a> painted a positive picture for the earnings performance for 2H21 and FY22. There is good QoQ improvement in time-charter equivalents for its Handysize and Supramax fleet in 3Q21, which are 69.3% and 98.6%, respectively, higher than 1H21. On such basis, we estimate that its 3Q21 profit may be some 33% more than 1H21, blowing away market consensus by sizeable margin.Additionally, the growth in minor bulk trade, particularly construction materials, cement and clinker and grains, has underpinned good Handysize and Supramax demand. The supply pressure is also light as net fleet growth is expected to be 3% and 1.8% for FY21 and FY22, respectively. We also think Pacific Basin may take opportunistic disposals of vessel to capture the favourable capital value movements. All in all, we think that having retreated 25% from the peak, the stock has returned to more attractive valuation multiples.

The 3Q21 trading update for Pacific Basin Shipping (2343 HK) painted a positive picture for the earnings performance for 2H21 and FY22. There is good QoQ improvement in time-charter equivalents for its Handysize and Supramax fleet in 3Q21, which are 69.3% and 98.6%, respectively, higher than 1H21. On such basis, we estimate that its 3Q21 profit may be some 33% more than 1H21, blowing away market consensus by sizeable margin.Additionally, the growth in minor bulk trade, particularly construction materials, cement and clinker and grains, has underpinned good Handysize and Supramax demand. The supply pressure is also light as net fleet growth is expected to be 3% and 1.8% for FY21 and FY22, respectively. We also think Pacific Basin may take opportunistic disposals of vessel to capture the favourable capital value movements. All in all, we think that having retreated 25% from the peak, the stock has returned to more attractive valuation multiples.

Pacific Basin Shipping (2343 HK): Stellar 2H21 in the Making

Hong Kong

SITC International Holdings Company Ltd. offers marine shipping services.  The Company offers container liner shipping, freight forwarding, customs clearance, shipping agency, and ship brokerage services.  SITC operates in Asia.

SITC International (1308 HK)