Geely’s 2023 core net profit came in above estimates at Rmb5,693m (+74% yoy). The earnings beat lies in ASP and margins. Looking ahead, we expect Geely’s margin to be underpinned by the turnaround of Zeekr and ramp-up of sales of Galaxy and Lynk & Co. We lift 2024-25 net profit forecasts from Rmb4.0b/Rmb4.4b to Rmb7.4b/Rmb8.2b respectively and introduce 2026 net profit forecast of Rmb9.5b. Upgrade from SELL to BUY. Raise target price from HK$6.00 to HK$11.00.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS Results Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK/BUY/HK$17.20/Target: HK$21.00) 2023: In line; all set to expand market share. CSPC Pharmaceutical Group (1093 HK/BUY/HK$6.41/Target: HK$7.80) 2023: Results in line; expects double-digit revenue and earnings growth in 2024. Geely Auto (175 HK/BUY/HK$8.83/Target: HK$11.00) 2023: Results beat on margins again; upgrade to BUY. Raise target price from HK$6.50 to HK$11.00. Innovent Biologics (1801 HK/BUY/HK$39.35/Target: HK$60.00) 2023: Results ...
GREATER CHINA Results Geely Auto (175 HK/BUY/HK$8.83/Target: HK$11.00): 2023: Results beat on margins again; upgrade to BUY. Raise target price from HK$6.50 to HK$11.00. Innovent Biologics (1801 HK/BUY/HK$39.35/Target: HK$60.00): 2023: Results beat; well positioned for sustainable growth in 2024. Kuaishou (1024 HK/BUY/HK$52.25/Target: HK$85.00): 4Q23: Resilient earnings beat; strong ad monetisation momentum continues. Li Ning (2331 HK/HOLD/HK$21.45/Target: HK$19.60): 2023: Results miss; remain c...
PEV market share reached a record of 48% last week due to price cuts. BYD’s retail sales rebounded by 27% wow in the week ending 10 Mar 24 after price cuts of 10-20% on seven major models. Li Auto’s retail sales rebounded due to launches of 2024 Li L7/L8/L9. Despite the strong sales last week, PEVs are facing stiffening price competition. CATL's market share in China’s power battery market hit a record of 55% in Feb 24. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT. Top BUYs: CATL, Tuopu, Desay. Top SELL: XPeng.
ASEAN has long been considered one of the global auto markets with the best growth prospects, but expectations have not been met. With China in trouble and ASEAN auto sales lacklustre, Japanese automakers need to review their positioning in Asia. Analyst Julie Boote provides a short-term outlook for the ASEAN auto market, and discusses Japanese assemblers’ options within this context.
Major automakers saw their PEV insurance registrations rebound last week due to price cuts. BYD’s retail sales rebounded less than expected last week even after implementing price cuts. The market response to Li Mega turned out to be disappointing, with over 10,000 orders cancelled. Europe and the US are abandoning all-electric plans and restricting Chinese-made electric vehicles. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT. Top SELL: XPeng. Top BUYs: CATL, Tuopu, Desay.
GREATER CHINA Strategy Alpha Picks: March Conviction Call: Adding CMB, COLI, CR Beer, Kuaishou and TUL to our BUY list, closing out SELL calls. INDONESIA Strategy Alpha Picks: Significant Outperformance In Feb 24: Our picks are BBTN, CMRY, SIDO, EXCL, MAPI, JSMR, CTRA, MYOR and AKRA. MALAYSIA Strategy Alpha Picks: Focusing On Earnings Momentum: Our Alpha Picks underperformed the KLCI in Feb 24 (-0.9% vs 2.5%). Mar 24 picks significantly feature companies with good earnings momentum. SINGAPORE...
The HSMBI has soared 8.5% ytd, riding on the tailwinds of valuation recovery and Central Huijin purchase. We opine that the subsequent valuation recovery needs to be further supported by fundamental improvements. However, the recent five-year LPR cut could continue to weigh on banks’ NIM and top-line growth. Banks’ asset quality remains stable, but the underlying vulnerabilities still persist. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT with CMB as our top pick.
Ytd, EV sales came in worse than expected. BYD’s 20% price cut on Qin Plus DM-i triggered a new round of price war. This will leave no winner as major players will keep engaging in the price war for a sustained period while small players like HiPhi will possibly be edged out of the arena. Following the heavy snowfall in Hubei, the Hainan incident reminds us of the limitation of EVs. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT. Top SELLs: BYD, XPeng and Li Auto. Top BUY: CATL. Upgrade Xusheng from HOLD to BUY on valuat...
As this week is the Chinese New Year holiday, the weekly EV insurance registration numbers will only be posted next week. The most eye-catching news is the snow in Hubei last week, which crippled hundreds of EVs on highways. This shows the limitation of BEVs in regard to long-haul drive and recharging. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT on China’s auto sector. Top SELLs: BYD, XPeng and Li Auto. Top BUY: CATL. Upgrade GAC from SELL to HOLD on valuation.
PEV market share dipped 1.2ppt wow to a 38-week low of 28.4%. BYD’s and Li Auto’s market shares also dropped 0.3ppt/0.9ppt wow to 29.5%/4.5% respectively during the week. Chinese authorities reiterated plans to boost automobile sales and exports, but we see limited impacts. Most auto stocks rallied along with the market this week due to the state’s bailout. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT on the sector on a grim outlook. Top SELLs: BYD, XPeng and Li Auto. We are adding CATL to our top BUY list as a hedge.
The A-shares for China banks are outperforming their H-shares due to the widening yield gaps and buying momentum from the sovereign fund. However, our analysis suggests that the attractive valuation and dividend yield could improve H-shares performance in the near term. CMB is our top pick.
GREATER CHINA Strategy Alpha Picks: February Conviction Calls: We remain hedged, adding COSCO Shipping Holdings and Foxconn Industrial Internet to our BUY list, but include additional SELL calls on Li Auto and Xpeng. INDONESIA Strategy Alpha Picks: Outperformance in Jan 24: Our picks are EXCL, MAPI, BMRI, JSMR, BBNI, CTRA, MYOR and AKRA. MALAYSIA Strategy Alpha Picks: Eyes Also On Results Season Winners: Our Alpha Picks performance again trounced the KLCI in Jan 24 (+9.6% vs +4.0%). Feb 24 pic...
EV sales in China continued to rebound in the fourth week of Jan 24, but remained low due to seasonal factors. We keep our estimate on China’s 2024 PEV sales growth at 11%, below consensus forecast of +20% yoy, based on destocking and diminishing effect of subsidies. BYD and Ganfeng posted disappointing 4Q23 net profit guidance on price cuts, triggering further downgrades. CATL’s guided 2023 profit beats market estimates, triggering a rebound. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT. Top SELLs: BYD, XPeng and Li A...
EV sales in China rebounded in the first week of Jan 24, driven by price cuts, which imply lower margins. BYD offered 2.5-9.0% discounts for the Ocean series. Tesla announced 2-6% price cuts in China. Li Auto cut prices for all of its models by over Rmb30,000. Looking into 2024, we keep our China PEV sales estimate at 9.9m units, well below consensus, on the diminishing effect of stimulus and destocking. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT. Top SELLs: BYD, XPeng and Li Auto.
The development of China’s auto market ytd came in as expected with sales weakening, inventories piling up and car prices falling. We maintain our forecasts on China’s 2024 PV and PEV sales growth at -6%/11% respectively, down from 10%/37% in 2023, based on a higher comparison base in 2023, the rollback of stimulus and destocking. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT. Top SELLs: BYD, XPeng and Ganfeng Lithium. Downgrade Li Auto from BUY to SELL, and downgrade Great Wall Motor from BUY to HOLD.
PEV insurance registrations in China grew 76% yoy and fell 20.3% mom/46% wow in the first week of 2024. However, PEV market share fell from 40% in early-Dec 23 to 31% during the week. Except for Aito, all EV brands saw a drop in insurance registrations, including BYD, Tesla, Li Auto and XPeng, as the year-end promotions had exhausted buying power. We keep our 2024 China PEV sales forecast at 9.9m units (+11% yoy). Maintain UNDERWEIGHT. Top SELLs: BYD, XPeng and Ganfeng Lithium.
GREATER CHINA Strategy Alpha Picks: January Conviction Calls: We add the potential beneficiaries of the upcoming CNY festival − Galaxy Entertainment and Trip.com − to our BUY list, but include SELL calls on BYD and Geely due to the subsidy reduction. INDONESIA Strategy Alpha Picks: Underperformance in 4Q23 and 2023: Our picks are MAPI, BMRI, JSMR, TLKM, BBNI, CTRA, MYOR and AKRA. MALAYSIA Strategy Alpha Picks: Domestic Event Winners: Our Alpha Picks outperformed the KLCI in Dec 23. Jan 24 pick...
EV sales in China spiked in the last week of Dec 23, driven by year-end promotions, which dampened margins. BYD gave Rmb10,000-20,000 in subsidies to customers in Dec 23, vs 3Q23 net profit per vehicle of Rmb11,000. Besides, BYD gave Rmb2b in cash reward to dealers. Looking into 2024, we expect China’s EV sales to grow 17% yoy to 10.5m units, well below consensus forecast, on the diminishing effect of stimulus and destocking. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT. Top SELLs: BYD and Ganfeng Lithium.
The HSI was flat in Dec 23 but the MSCI China fell 2.6% mom. Despite the announcement of new policy support and prospects of US rate cuts in 2024, investors sold into strength following weaker macro data. With MSCI China trading at 9.0x 12-month forward PE, we expect most negatives to have been priced in. We add the potential beneficiaries of the CNY festival − Galaxy Entertainment and Trip.com − to our BUY list, but include SELL calls on BYD and Geely due to the subsidy cut.
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