Top Stories Company Results | Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust (FLT SP/BUY/S$1.01/Target: S$1.22) FLT’s logistics properties in Australia, Europe and the UK maintained full occupancy of 100% in 1QFY26. Its logistics properties in New South Wales, Australia clocked strong positive rental reversion of 43.3%. Occupancy at ATP improved 8.4ppt qoq to 86.3% after securing new ICT and healthcare tenants. Occupancy at Blythe Valley Park in the UK improved 6.8ppt qoq to 85.2% after securing a new tec...
Greater China Company Results | Yum China Holdings, Inc (9987 HK/NOT RATED/HK$392.40) In 4Q25, YUMC’s total revenue reached US$2,823m, up 9% yoy. Total system sales grew 7% yoy, with a 3% increase in same-store sales. Operating profit rose 25% yoy to US$187m, with operating margin at 6.6% (+80bp). For 1Q26, management targets positive SSS. It aims to maintain flat yoy restaurant margin and operating profit margin on a high base. For 2026, it expects to open more than 1,900 net new stores, wi...
Singtel and KKR announced the acquisition of STT GDC at an enterprise value of US$13.8b. Singtel will pay S$740m for a 25% stake in STT-GDC, with a further injection of S$400m-500m in equity over the next 2-3 years for capacity expansion. STT GDC owns 673MW of data centre capacity worldwide. The deal is viewed positively as it provides a longer-term earnings growth trajectory and cash flows. Maintain BUY on share price weakness with an SOTP-based target price of S$5.20.
Singtel announced it is acquiring a 25% stake in STT GDC. The deal was well flagged and we believe makes strategic sense but the detail is slightly underwhelming suggesting the stock is likely to see some profit taking near term.
Greater China Strategy | Alpha Picks: February Conviction Calls Chinese equities recovered in January, with the HSI and MSCI China rising 6.9% and 5.0% mom, respectively. Given the supportive macro policy environment, we maintain a constructive view on the markets despite risk of further volatility in February. Accordingly, we are adding Alibaba, Ganfeng Lithium, and Minth to our BUY list, while adding Meituan to our SELL list. Indonesia Company Results | Bank Negara Indonesia (BBNI IJ/B...
Singapore equities delivered a strong January performance, with the STI rising 5.6% to fresh record highs amid heightened geopolitical tensions that drove flight-to-safety flows. Manufacturing activity remained in mild expansion, led by electronics and AI-related demand. Market/corporate catalysts during the month include REIT earnings, IPO interest in Catalist and continued strength in gold-linked counters.
Our portfolio of Top Picks has started 2026 strongly, up 6% ytd already. This month we make no changes to our top picks. This note also includes key news & other thoughts, to try to help investors generate alpha within the EM Telco space.
Tower revenue trends were slightly slower across the board except for Indus Towers as it benefited again from VIL’s network catch up spend. EBITDA margins were roughly stable across EM except in Indonesia which faces the near-term pressure of the XL-Smartfren consolidation. Africa continue to perform well and the LatAm Towers space had a decent Q3.
Telenor has announced it is selling the majority of its stake in TRUE to a CP Group–affiliated company for THB 11.7, a 4% discount to the market price. In this brief note we discuss implications for TRUE, and thoughts for CelcomDigi.
Greater China Economics | Trade Exports growth accelerated to 6.6% yoy in December (+0.7ppt mom), well above consensus, supported by strong shipments growth to Hong Kong and ASEAN, while exports growth to the US weakened further. Import growth surged to 5.7% yoy (+3.8ppt mom), beating expectations amid broad-based commodity recovery. Trade surplus widened to US$114.1b. Growths of motor vehicle, hi-tech, and mechanical & electrical exports strengthened. Overall, December’s trade data is marke...
Service revenue bounced back (1.4% YoY from -0.3%), supported by Fibre and Postpaid offsetting Prepaid weakness. Operationally, Maxis delivered stronger EBITDA growth on cost efficiencies while CelcomDigi was weighed by higher bad debt provisions. Maxis raised its EBITDA guidance to MSD growth, from LSD and CelcomDigi reiterated their LSD service revenue guidance, implying a stronger 4Q for both.
Singtel and XLSmart were the standout performers in 2025 among ASEAN telcos as continued weak macro held back other markets even those which have seen consolidation. In 2026, we think the benefit of consolidation should be more apparent in the latter. Singtel and TRUE remain our top picks in the region.
Shift from Integration to Operational Efficiencies In 2026 Highlights 2026 synergistic savings will stem largely from lower cost of sales, lower rental charges and savings from retail consolidation, traffic optimisation and contract negotiations. Capex avoidance will fall from 63% (of synergistic savings in 2025) to 12% by 2026. By 2027, the steady state of savings could reach up to RM700m-800m. We project a relatively robust three-year earnings CAGR of 9% (2025-27) with 2026 projected earni...
Greater China Strategy | Alpha Picks: January Conviction Calls Chinese equities remained in consolidation through December, with the HSI and MSCI China down 0.9% mom and 1.5% mom, respectively, despite last week’s window dressing narrowing losses. Policy signals from the Economic Work Conference broadly met expectations. Looking ahead, we are constructive on 1Q26, supported by a favourable global liquidity cycle and potential macro supportive measures in China. We retain most of our December...
2025 was when the EM Telco bull market really took off. Two of our top picks returned >100% and four more 50%+. We make one change to our top picks for 2026 from 2025, introducing Megacable in exchange for IHS Towers. In a separate note out today we run through the Themes that we think will drive performance in 2026.
EM Telcos have been strong for some time, but 2025 was a banner year. Multiples have expanded somewhat, but we remain bullish, as we think EM Telcos operate on a long cycle driven by market structure which has now definitively turned up We therefore see EM Telcos in a true stealth bull market as conditions still seem ripe for the best to exhibit pricing power and hence GDP+ revenue growth and rising ROIC. This note explains the key themes we see for 2026.
2025 was a banner year for EM Telcos, following on from a good 2023 and 2024. As we head towards the New Year we thought it might be useful to highlight a few of the thematic pieces we wrote last year that we think help to highlight why EM Telcos are in a clear and sustained bull market and why therefore we are confident that 2026 will be another good year for investors in the space, as fundamentals continue to look much stronger than in the past. I hope you enjoy reading these and happy holiday...
India’s mobile revenue growth moderated as expected, after lapping last year’s tariff increase. As the IPO of Jio nears, we foresee another potential price increase. Separately for Vodafone Idea, we think AGR relief seems likely but we question whether this is sufficient to enable the company to reach “escape velocity” and become a viable 3rd operator again.
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