Daily Brief Industrials: HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Fluor Corp, Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co. Ltd. (H), CNMC Goldmine Holdings, Forward Air, Nippecraft Ltd, Perak Corp Bhd, Randstad Holding Nv and more

• Market sniffing policy push; low-float names flagged as junk risk with skewed control. Desks circling, Palliser hit early—LG Chem trade popped, timing spot on.
• Trade setup: screen >₩1tn caps with low float, parent stakes 60–80%. Policy push likely forces stake cuts, driving float higher and squeezing NAV discounts—LG Chem shows the play.
• Screening >₩1tn caps flags 11 names: parents hold 60–80%. All potential stake-sale plays to boost float, squeeze NAV discount.

• Fluor Corporation shares have surged following reports that activist investor Starboard Value has taken a nearly 5% stake in the engineering and construction giant.
• The rally comes amid growing expectations that Starboard, led by Jeff Smith, will push Fluor to unlock value by exploring strategic alternatives for its 40% stake in NuScale Power, a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) company that has seen its own stock skyrocket amid AI-driven power demand.
• With Fluor’s core business lagging and NuScale’s valuation surging, Starboard’s campaign centers on the market’s apparent mispricing of Fluor’s sum-of-the-parts.

• The market consensus is too conservative for Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co. (1138 HK). A better-than-expected 3Q25 result is likely to prompt an earnings upgrade.   
• Spot VLCC rate is 32.7% higher than 1H25 so far for 2H25, and average bunker price has declined 6.2% in 3Q25, both implying improved earnings prospects.
• With an average ROE for FY25-27 at over 12%, its 1.05x P/B is not stretched. During FY20-23, the average ROE of 1.6% has supported a P/B ratio of 0.56x. 

• Among Singapore’s 100 most traded stocks, 22 have a combined ADT of S$42.9 million and market cap of S$8.15 billion.
• Industrials, Technology, and Energy sectors make up nearly 80% of these stocks, reflecting global trends in infrastructure, AI, and renewables.
• The 22 stocks recorded a net institutional inflow of S$132.35 million in 2025, led by CSE Global.

Key points (machine generated)

• Forward Air Corporation is expected to be sold to a financial buyer within two months for around $40, offering a potential return of 30%.
• The market may be overly pessimistic about the sale’s likelihood and timing, underestimating the deal premium due to the strategic value of Forward Air’s assets.
• Despite challenges in executing a sale, analysts believe a sale is imminent, with the stock trading around $30.50, below pre-announcement levels.

This article is sourced from an online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. This article was originally published 3 months ago on Value Investors Club.

• Nippecraft is navigating a challenging environment characterized by secular declines in its core stationery business, evidenced by a consistent fall in revenue over the past three years. The company’s strategy to counteract this involves diversification into pulp trading and a focus on lifestyle branding.
• Despite falling sales, the company has demonstrated an ability to grow net income and EPS over medium-to-long term horizons, suggesting successful cost control and restructuring efforts. However, recent profitability is thin and cash flow generation remains a significant concern, with negative operating and free cash flow in the latest fiscal year.
• Valuation appears attractive on a price-to-book basis, trading at a significant discount to its book value. This may appeal to value-oriented investors, but the low valuation reflects substantial risks, including the structural decline of the paper products industry and intense competitive pressure.

This content is AI-generated and displayed for general informational purposes only. Please verify independently before use.

• Perak Corp is a state-linked, diversified investment holding company with core operations in Property Development, Port & Logistics, and Hospitality, but faces significant financial challenges evidenced by its PN17 status.
• The company is undergoing a crucial financial restructuring via a proposed regularisation plan involving capital reduction, asset sales, and debt settlement, which is critical for its survival and future viability.
• While recent financial data shows a return to marginal profitability, the company has a history of losses, negative free cash flow, and has not paid dividends, indicating a high-risk investment profile dependent on the successful execution of its turnaround strategy.

This content is AI-generated and displayed for general informational purposes only. Please verify independently before use.

• In this edition: • AkzoNobel | 3Q25 results hit by FX headwind; EUR 300m charge for Project Ichtys • Heineken | 3Q25 volumes disappoint across the board • Randstad | organic revenue per working remains negative and lags its US peer • Unilever | spin-off ice cream unit delayed because of US shutdown • TKH Group | completed divestment of Dewetron • Nexperia | warns customers not to buy chips from its Chinese branch • Dutch politics | EenVandaag poll: Bontenbal most trusted candidate PM