HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<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 positive profit alert beat the FY24 forecast by 12%. It also suggests an acceleration in growth to 1.9-2.1x in 2H24, from +13% in 1H24. </li>
<li>The muted share price performance reflects concerns about an influx of capacity, intra-Asia demand outlook, and freight rate prospects. We refute such worries.</li>
<li>It stands on an attractive dividend yield of 11.1% for FY24. Even under conservative earnings forecasts, its 8.1% and 6.6% yields for FY25 and FY26 are appealing.</li>
</ul>



SITC International (1308 HK)'s positive profit alert beat the FY24 forecast by 12%. It also suggests an acceleration in growth to 1.9-2.1x in 2H24, from +13% in 1H24. 
The muted share price performance reflects concerns about an influx of capacity, intra-Asia demand outlook, and freight rate prospects. We refute such worries.
It stands on an attractive dividend yield of 11.1% for FY24. Even under conservative earnings forecasts, its 8.1% and 6.6% yields for FY25 and FY26 are appealing.


SITC International (1308 HK): Beating Expectations Again

Orient Overseas International / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Lower average freight rate momentum and deceleration in 4Q24 load factor expansions for <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> have raised alarm for a weaker industry outlook.</li>
<li>Spot freight rate has come down by 6.8% in the last two weeks. The potential ease of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East may induce a capacity return.</li>
<li>The consensus forecasts for FY25-26 have been downgraded by 5-9%, suggesting caution in the market. Its dividend yield will lower from 14.0% in FY24 to just 4.3% in FY26.</li>
</ul>


Lower average freight rate momentum and deceleration in 4Q24 load factor expansions for Orient Overseas International (316 HK) have raised alarm for a weaker industry outlook.
Spot freight rate has come down by 6.8% in the last two weeks. The potential ease of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East may induce a capacity return.
The consensus forecasts for FY25-26 have been downgraded by 5-9%, suggesting caution in the market. Its dividend yield will lower from 14.0% in FY24 to just 4.3% in FY26.


Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Initial Warning Signs?

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>With a range of 34.5-68.1%, our five best calls in 2024 generated an average return of 54.1% YTD, outperforming the Hang Seng Index by 26.2pp. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-communications-construction-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:265:1" rel="noopener">China Communications Construction (1800 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dongfang-electric-corporation-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1251:1" rel="noopener">Dongfang Electric (1072 HK)</a> are expected to sustain strengths into 2025 on market value management and pick-up in new orders.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xinhua-winshare-publishing-media-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15072:1" rel="noopener">Xinhua Winshare (811 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-everbright-environment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15946:1" rel="noopener">China Everbright Environment (257 HK)</a>, and <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> may hold their share price, but gains are unlikely to be as much as 2024.</li>
</ul>


With a range of 34.5-68.1%, our five best calls in 2024 generated an average return of 54.1% YTD, outperforming the Hang Seng Index by 26.2pp. 

China Communications Construction (1800 HK) and Dongfang Electric (1072 HK) are expected to sustain strengths into 2025 on market value management and pick-up in new orders.

Xinhua Winshare (811 HK), China Everbright Environment (257 HK), and SITC International (1308 HK) may hold their share price, but gains are unlikely to be as much as 2024.


Our Best Calls in 2024: Review and Outlook for 2025

<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> sits on decent yields of 12% for FY24 and 9.6% for FY25. Its net cash (66.2% of the share price) can support such dividends.</li>
<li>Despite the retreat from the recent peak, the spot freight rates are 9.7% and 145% higher than 1H24 and 2H23 respectively, pointing to better 2H24 earnings.</li>
<li>Operationally, it recorded the first YoY realised rate increase in 2Q24 after 6 quarters of consecutive decline. Its load factor also grew 2.3pp YoY in the quarter.</li>
</ul>



Orient Overseas International (316 HK) sits on decent yields of 12% for FY24 and 9.6% for FY25. Its net cash (66.2% of the share price) can support such dividends.
Despite the retreat from the recent peak, the spot freight rates are 9.7% and 145% higher than 1H24 and 2H23 respectively, pointing to better 2H24 earnings.
Operationally, it recorded the first YoY realised rate increase in 2Q24 after 6 quarters of consecutive decline. Its load factor also grew 2.3pp YoY in the quarter.


Orient Overseas Intl (316 HK): Don't Overlook Its Yield, Backed by Net Cash

<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

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.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

SITC International (1308 HK)