HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The "Buy the worst" basket has outperformed the HSI by a massive 16.7pp YTD, mainly boosted by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chow-tai-fook-jewellery-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:549:1" rel="noopener">Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wuxi-apptec" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23679:1" rel="noopener">Wuxi Biologics (2269 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>The best-performing constituents in 2024, however, lagged behind the HSI, dragged down by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd-23a341d0-4f63-4175-a8c5-ee990906cacd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36424:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com Group (9961 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>Government's consumption boost should benefit <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chow-tai-fook-jewellery-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:549:1" rel="noopener">Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/budweiser-brewing-co-apac-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28077:1" rel="noopener">Budweiser Brewing APAC (1876 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-lung-properties-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:49:1" rel="noopener">Hang Lung Properties (101 HK)</a> in 2H25.</li>
</ul>


The "Buy the worst" basket has outperformed the HSI by a massive 16.7pp YTD, mainly boosted by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK) and Wuxi Biologics (2269 HK). 
The best-performing constituents in 2024, however, lagged behind the HSI, dragged down by Trip.com Group (9961 HK) and Meituan (3690 HK). 
Government's consumption boost should benefit Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK), Budweiser Brewing APAC (1876 HK), and Hang Lung Properties (101 HK) in 2H25.


"Buy the Worst" HSI Strategy: Solid Gains in 1H25

<ul>
<li>Rare earth is an important area in the US-China trade negotiation, as China processes 90% of the world's supply, and the US depends on China for 70% of its imports.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-northern-rare-earth-group-high-tech-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13440:1" rel="noopener">China Northern Rare Earth Group High-Tech (600111 CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-minmetals-rare-earth-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2083:1" rel="noopener">China Minmetals Rare Earth (000831 CH)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenghe-resources-holding-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17058:1" rel="noopener">Shenghe Resources Holding (600392 CH)</a> are the main listed A-shares.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jl-mag-rare-earth-co-ltd-71612cf2-8326-48fd-8a92-d5dc0e9fa720" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36201:1" rel="noopener">JL Mag Rare-Earth (6680 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-rare-earth-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12729:1" rel="noopener">China Rare Earth Holdings (769 HK)</a> are the key Hong Kong-listed ones. They all witnessed better YoY profit in the latest reported results.</li>
</ul>


Rare earth is an important area in the US-China trade negotiation, as China processes 90% of the world's supply, and the US depends on China for 70% of its imports.

China Northern Rare Earth Group High-Tech (600111 CH), China Minmetals Rare Earth (000831 CH), and Shenghe Resources Holding (600392 CH) are the main listed A-shares.

JL Mag Rare-Earth (6680 HK) and China Rare Earth Holdings (769 HK) are the key Hong Kong-listed ones. They all witnessed better YoY profit in the latest reported results.


China & HK Strategy: Rare Earths - What and How?

<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

Equity Bottom-Up

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery / Equity Bottom-Up

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited retails jewelry.  The Company sells rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and small statues.  Chow Tai Fook Jewellery operates retail stores in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore.

<ul>
<li>While <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chow-tai-fook-jewellery-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:549:1" rel="noopener">Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK)</a> has a stellar share price performance YTD, it still lags the HSI since 2023. The solid 2H FY25 result should support further upside. </li>
<li>SSS growth has recovered sharply in Apr-May 2025 (the first two months of 1Q FY26), and CTF should reap further benefits from cost management and product transformation.</li>
<li>FY26F ROE may reach 27.2%. While its current yield is only 4.6%, it is possible to declare special dividend this year, easily pushing it to over 10%.</li>
</ul>


While Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK) has a stellar share price performance YTD, it still lags the HSI since 2023. The solid 2H FY25 result should support further upside. 
SSS growth has recovered sharply in Apr-May 2025 (the first two months of 1Q FY26), and CTF should reap further benefits from cost management and product transformation.
FY26F ROE may reach 27.2%. While its current yield is only 4.6%, it is possible to declare special dividend this year, easily pushing it to over 10%.


Chow Tai Fook (1929 HK): A Decent Rebound

Equity Capital Markets

Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food Company / Equity Capital Markets

Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food Company Ltd. manufactures food seasonings. The Company develops, produces, and distributes condiments including soy sauce, oyster sauce, vinegar, flavoring sauce, chicken stock, monosodium glutamate, and oil.

Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food Company (3288 HK)

<ul>
<li>Fundamentals first, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/foshan-haitian-flavouring-food-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44279:1" rel="noopener">Foshan Haitian Flavouring &amp; Food Company (3288 HK)</a>'s IPO is interesting given a positive growth outlook - 1Q25 growth accelerated to 14.8% with margin expansion. </li>
<li>We value the H-share at HK$39.35, 8.4% higher than the high-end of the IPO price based on 28.2x FY25F PER to reflect its significantly stronger 3-year earnings growth.  </li>
<li>It equals 5.9x pre-money FY25F P/B, justified by ROE of 21.8-22%, sharply ahead of peers. Net cash equals 12.4% of its A-share market cap. </li>
</ul>


Fundamentals first, Foshan Haitian Flavouring &amp; Food Company (3288 HK)'s IPO is interesting given a positive growth outlook - 1Q25 growth accelerated to 14.8% with margin expansion. 
We value the H-share at HK$39.35, 8.4% higher than the high-end of the IPO price based on 28.2x FY25F PER to reflect its significantly stronger 3-year earnings growth.  
It equals 5.9x pre-money FY25F P/B, justified by ROE of 21.8-22%, sharply ahead of peers. Net cash equals 12.4% of its A-share market cap. 


Foshan Haitian Flavouring (3288 HK) IPO: The Valuation Perspective

Osbert Tang is an equity analyst with over 20 years of experience with focuses on China transport, infrastructure, industrials and utilities sectors. He has been based in Shanghai since 2003, accumulated nearly 20 years of on-ground knowledge on the Chinese economy and financial markets, and has a wealth of contacts with China corporates and government entities. 

Osbert has received votes from top-tier institutional investors and has been a highly-ranked transport and infrastructure analyst in the Asiamoney, Institutional Investors and Greenwich surveys. In addition to his extensive experience with international investment banks including RBS, ABN AMRO (both served as Shanghai Chief Representative), Paribas Asia Equity, Maybank Kim Eng and DBS Securities, he has been a senior analyst with Moody’s Investors Service with focus on ratings of China infrastructure and related LGFV issuers. He has also worked in the area of strategic development at Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited. 

Osbert holds a BBA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a MSSc in Applied Psychology from the City University of Hong Kong. He was accredited with the CFA charter in 1997, and is a member of both British Psychological Society and Hong Kong Psychological Society.

Osbert Tang, CFA
HK/China Equity Long-Short

"Buy the Worst" HSI Strategy: Solid Gains in 1H25

The "Buy the worst" basket outperformed the HSI by 16.7pp YTD, boosted by Chow Tai Fook and Wuxi Biologics, while top performers in 2024 lagged,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China & HK Strategy: Rare Earths - What and How?

US-China trade negotiation is heavily influenced by rare earths, with China processing 90% of the global supply and the US relying on China for...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chow Tai Fook (1929 HK): A Decent Rebound

Despite lagging the HSI since end-2023, CTF's solid 2H FY25 results, product transformation, and cost control achievement will boost the share...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Foshan Haitian Flavouring (3288 HK) IPO: The Valuation Perspective

Foshan Haitian H-share's IPO is attractive given a positive outlook with accelerated growth and margin expansion, valued at HK$39.35 based on...

Osbert Tang, CFA

"Buy the Worst" HSI Strategy: Solid Gains in 1H25

​The "Buy the worst" basket outperformed the HSI by 16.7pp YTD, boosted by Chow Tai Fook and Wuxi Biologics, while top performers in 2024 lagged,...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China & HK Strategy: Rare Earths - What and How?

​US-China trade negotiation is heavily influenced by rare earths, with China processing 90% of the global supply and the US relying on China for...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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

Chow Tai Fook (1929 HK): A Decent Rebound

Despite lagging the HSI since end-2023, ​CTF's solid 2H FY25 results, product transformation, and cost control achievement will boost the share...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Foshan Haitian Flavouring (3288 HK) IPO: The Valuation Perspective

​Foshan Haitian H-share's IPO is attractive given a positive outlook with accelerated growth and margin expansion, valued at HK$39.35 based on...

Osbert Tang, CFA

The "Buy the worst" basket outperformed the HSI by 16.7pp YTD, boosted by Chow Tai Fook and Wuxi Biologics, while top performers in 2024 lagged,...

US-China trade negotiation is heavily influenced by rare earths, with China processing 90% of the global supply and the US relying on China for...

Despite lagging the HSI since end-2023, CTF's solid 2H FY25 results, product transformation, and cost control achievement will boost the share...

Foshan Haitian H-share's IPO is attractive given a positive outlook with accelerated growth and margin expansion, valued at HK$39.35 based on...