Greater China Equity Long/Short Analyst

Eric Chen

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Sentiment driven rally is fading. Although COVID exit remains swing factor, individual company’s performance will increasingly be driven by their business models.</li>
<li>Our proprietary store expansion framework suggests divergent growth outlook for major players - stretched for Haidilao, moderate for Jiumaojiu and Yum China, and ample for Xiabuxiabu.</li>
<li>Xiabuxiabu is our top pick due to its strong turnaround not yet priced in depressed valuation. We also like Yum China but stay cautious on Jiumaojiu and Haidilao on valuation.     </li>
</ul>


Sentiment driven rally is fading. Although COVID exit remains swing factor, individual company’s performance will increasingly be driven by their business models.
Our proprietary store expansion framework suggests divergent growth outlook for major players - stretched for Haidilao, moderate for Jiumaojiu and Yum China, and ample for Xiabuxiabu.
Xiabuxiabu is our top pick due to its strong turnaround not yet priced in depressed valuation. We also like Yum China but stay cautious on Jiumaojiu and Haidilao on valuation.     


China Catering Sector: In Search of Alpha

<ul>
<li>China catering players have seen strong recovery during the Chinese New Year starting from Jan 22th, amidst a broad-based revival of the service sector as a whole.</li>
<li>For Xiabuxiabu, latest data points suggest significant progress in turnaround and higher visibility into 2023 performance.</li>
<li>We see upside to our financial projection for 2023 and are more confident that Xiabuxiabu is the most attractively-priced to play re-opening in China catering sector. Expect 50% upside.</li>
</ul>


China catering players have seen strong recovery during the Chinese New Year starting from Jan 22th, amidst a broad-based revival of the service sector as a whole.
For Xiabuxiabu, latest data points suggest significant progress in turnaround and higher visibility into 2023 performance.
We see upside to our financial projection for 2023 and are more confident that Xiabuxiabu is the most attractively-priced to play re-opening in China catering sector. Expect 50% upside.


Xiabuxiabu (520 HK): Strong CNY Bodes Well for the Year of 2023

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Chinese government will continue to boost the slowing domestic economy by supporting consumption. The A-share consumer staples sector, which is less volatile than discretionary, will be benefited.</li>
<li>We see attractive stories for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanxi-xinghuacun-fen-wine-factory-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9288:1" rel="noopener">Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine (600809 CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/foshan-haitian-flavouring-food-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15577:1" rel="noopener">Foshan Haitian Flavouring (603288 CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/inner-mongolia-yili-indus-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3220:1" rel="noopener">Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial (600887 CH)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fu-jian-anjoy-foods-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:30110:1" rel="noopener">Fu Jian Anjoy Foods (603345 CH)</a>.  </li>
<li>While they are trading on high-end of peer multiples, their earnings quality, leadership status and product premiumisation provide good justifications for valuation. Also, all of them have solid financial position.  </li>
</ul>


Chinese government will continue to boost the slowing domestic economy by supporting consumption. The A-share consumer staples sector, which is less volatile than discretionary, will be benefited.
We see attractive stories for Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine (600809 CH), Foshan Haitian Flavouring (603288 CH), Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial (600887 CH) and Fu Jian Anjoy Foods (603345 CH).  
While they are trading on high-end of peer multiples, their earnings quality, leadership status and product premiumisation provide good justifications for valuation. Also, all of them have solid financial position.  


China A-Share Consumer Staples: An Analysis of the Opportunities Ahead

HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Equity Capital Markets

Banu International Holding / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Some key performance indicators indicate that the core driving force behind revenue growth has shifted from single restaurant efficiency to restaurant quantity, which isn't a good signal for chain brands</li>
<li>The label of "high price" cannot support strong profitability. High cost structure is an important factor affecting profit margin. Investment in heavy assets in supply chain has become an issue.</li>
<li>The rebound in performance in 25Q1 could be just temporary. In terms of valuation, we think the valuation of BANU could be lower than <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haidilao-international-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27044:1" rel="noopener">Haidilao </a>but higher than <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiabuxiabu-catering-mgt-chn-hldgs-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:76:1" rel="noopener">Xiabuxiabu Catering</a>.</li>
</ul>


Some key performance indicators indicate that the core driving force behind revenue growth has shifted from single restaurant efficiency to restaurant quantity, which isn't a good signal for chain brands
The label of "high price" cannot support strong profitability. High cost structure is an important factor affecting profit margin. Investment in heavy assets in supply chain has become an issue.
The rebound in performance in 25Q1 could be just temporary. In terms of valuation, we think the valuation of BANU could be lower than Haidilao but higher than Xiabuxiabu Catering.


Pre-IPO Banu International Holding - The Pain Points and the Outlook

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The spread to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toridoll-holdings-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8193:1" rel="noopener">TORIDOLL Holdings Corporation (3397 JP)</a>’s HK$1.58 offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tam-jai-international-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34227:1" rel="noopener">Tam Jai International (2217 HK)</a> has risen to 9.7% ahead of the scheme document's release. </li>
<li>Several readers have asked whether the Tam Jai offer will mirror the Goldlion and Soundwill deal break. The schemes share similarities but are also different in several ways.</li>
<li>The scheme's vote risk has undoubtedly increased partly due to the recent 2025 results and deal breaks. This situation warrants a safety-first approach.  </li>
</ul>


The spread to TORIDOLL Holdings Corporation (3397 JP)’s HK$1.58 offer for Tam Jai International (2217 HK) has risen to 9.7% ahead of the scheme document's release. 
Several readers have asked whether the Tam Jai offer will mirror the Goldlion and Soundwill deal break. The schemes share similarities but are also different in several ways.
The scheme's vote risk has undoubtedly increased partly due to the recent 2025 results and deal breaks. This situation warrants a safety-first approach.  


Tam Jai (2217 HK): Anxiety Creeps in Ahead of the Scheme Document

China

Xiabuxiabu Catering Management China Holdings Co Ltd  owns and operates a chain of restaurants in China. The company allows customers to choose from a selection of vegetables, meats, and seafood to cook in their own individual hot pot in its restaurants.

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Xiabuxiabu Catering (520 HK)

China Catering Sector: In Search of Alpha

Sentiment-driven rally is fading. We expect investors' focus to shift to company fundamental. Our store expansion framework points to Xiabu as the...

Eric Chen

Xiabuxiabu (520 HK): Strong CNY Bodes Well for the Year of 2023

Strong operating data of Xiabuxiabu Group during CNY highlighted not only very favorable industry tailwinds but also significant progress in...

Eric Chen

Pre-IPO Banu International Holding - The Pain Points and the Outlook

BANU's label of "high price" cannot support strong profitability. Heavy asset model in the supply chain has become an issue. 25Q1 performance...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Tam Jai (2217 HK): Anxiety Creeps in Ahead of the Scheme Document

Arbs cannot afford another HK deal break on their books. Recent events have undoubtedly increased the scheme's vote risk, warranting a safety-first...

Arun George

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

China Catering Sector: In Search of Alpha

Sentiment-driven rally is fading. We expect investors' focus to shift to company fundamental. Our store expansion framework points to Xiabu as the...

Eric Chen

Xiabuxiabu (520 HK): Strong CNY Bodes Well for the Year of 2023

Strong operating data of Xiabuxiabu Group during CNY highlighted not only very favorable industry tailwinds but also significant progress in...

Eric Chen

China A-Share Consumer Staples: An Analysis of the Opportunities Ahead

With the recent IPOs of Foshan Haitian Flavouring and Fujian Anjoy Foods (planned), we think the interest in China's consumer staples sector will...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Pre-IPO Banu International Holding - The Pain Points and the Outlook

BANU's label of "high price" cannot support strong profitability. Heavy asset model in the supply chain has become an issue. 25Q1 performance...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Tam Jai (2217 HK): Anxiety Creeps in Ahead of the Scheme Document

Arbs cannot afford another HK deal break on their books. Recent events have undoubtedly increased the scheme's vote risk, warranting a safety-first...

Arun George