HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<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> is expected to declare a special dividend when it holds a board meeting on 20 Dec 2019, and we believe this will lift its payout ratio to 83% in FY19, from 71% in FY18. This showcases the company's underlying operation is sound, financial health is solid and management is confident on outlook.Our discussion with the company suggests that momentum has improved in 4Q19 with stronger freight rate and volume, after a dip in 3Q19. In the longer term, it has taken proactive moves to lower its cost and capture the structural trend of manufacturing migration from North Asia to South/Southeast Asia. Despite an 18.7pp outperformance in 2019, we continue to like SITC.

SITC International (1308 HK) is expected to declare a special dividend when it holds a board meeting on 20 Dec 2019, and we believe this will lift its payout ratio to 83% in FY19, from 71% in FY18. This showcases the company's underlying operation is sound, financial health is solid and management is confident on outlook.Our discussion with the company suggests that momentum has improved in 4Q19 with stronger freight rate and volume, after a dip in 3Q19. In the longer term, it has taken proactive moves to lower its cost and capture the structural trend of manufacturing migration from North Asia to South/Southeast Asia. Despite an 18.7pp outperformance in 2019, we continue to like SITC. 

SITC International (1308 HK): Positive Picture for 2020

The 3Q19 operating statistics announced by <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> showed that the average freight rate growth has moderated in the quarter. However, this is offset by a slight pick-up in overall container volume, which continued to fuel a healthy rise in revenue for the quarter.We expect the retreat in average bunker price in 3Q19 is one of the reasons for the lower freight rate, as surcharges may have adjusted marginally. Also, change in volume mix may also contribute to the pullback. We do not expect the trend to affect the profitability of the company. In fact, with the bunker price dropped by almost 9% YoY in 2H19, SITC's margin will potentially be better when compared with last year.

The 3Q19 operating statistics announced by SITC International (1308 HK) showed that the average freight rate growth has moderated in the quarter. However, this is offset by a slight pick-up in overall container volume, which continued to fuel a healthy rise in revenue for the quarter.We expect the retreat in average bunker price in 3Q19 is one of the reasons for the lower freight rate, as surcharges may have adjusted marginally. Also, change in volume mix may also contribute to the pullback. We do not expect the trend to affect the profitability of the company. In fact, with the bunker price dropped by almost 9% YoY in 2H19, SITC's margin will potentially be better when compared with last year. 

SITC International (1308 HK): Moderating Freight Rate in 3Q19 Not a Concern

<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> is an exceptional shareholder value creator, despite its operation in a traditional volatile low-return container shipping industry. Since its listing in 2010, it has delivered a 76% profit growth, achieved a 4.7ppt improvement in ROE to 19.7% and sustained a steadily rising dividend payout ratio from 36% to 71%.
SITC's share price has increased by over 70% since its IPO, with aggregate dividends of HK$2.16 being paid, translating into a return of 10% annually over such period. Moreover, it is currently still in a net cash position. 
We believe SITC's niche market focus, sound business model and excellent management quality will sustain this trend. With projected ROE to further expand in the next two years, the stock's current valuations are inexpensive, in our view.

Sitc International (1308 HK) is an exceptional shareholder value creator, despite its operation in a traditional volatile low-return container shipping industry. Since its listing in 2010, it has delivered a 76% profit growth, achieved a 4.7ppt improvement in ROE to 19.7% and sustained a steadily rising dividend payout ratio from 36% to 71%.
SITC's share price has increased by over 70% since its IPO, with aggregate dividends of HK$2.16 being paid, translating into a return of 10% annually over such period. Moreover, it is currently still in a net cash position. 
We believe SITC's niche market focus, sound business model and excellent management quality will sustain this trend. With projected ROE to further expand in the next two years, the stock's current valuations are inexpensive, in our view.

SITC International (1308 HK): Creator of Shareholder Value

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

Over the past several weeks we have outlined the case for our increasingly bullish outlook, noting that market internals remain favorable and S&amp;P 500 and MSCI ACWI price trends are showing evidence of early-stage uptrend formations. In today’s report we provide an overview of international markets and highlight our top recommendations.

Over the past several weeks we have outlined the case for our increasingly bullish outlook, noting that market internals remain favorable and S&amp;P 500 and MSCI ACWI price trends are showing evidence of early-stage uptrend formations. In today’s report we provide an overview of international markets and highlight our top recommendations.

Global markets are holding at support levels and we reiterate, our neutral but constructive outlook . In today’s report we highlight actionable stocks within countries that are displaying bullish price and relative strength trends, including Japan, Hong Kong, Italy and Norway.

Global markets are holding at support levels and we reiterate, our neutral but constructive outlook . In today’s report we highlight actionable stocks within countries that are displaying bullish price and relative strength trends, including Japan, Hong Kong, Italy and Norway.

Global Equity Strategy: Overweight TOPIX, Hang Seng

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.

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SITC International (1308 HK)