In 1Q25, the combined EBITDA of Indonesia’s big telcos dropped 6% yoy, but was stable qoq. Combined 1Q25 NPAT was also slightly lower (2% yoy). Among the big three telcos, ISAT and Telkomsel (majority owned by TLKM) gained market share in 1Q25 (based on EBITDA) vs 4Q24. We are monitoring TLKM’s upcoming AGM (27 May) as we expect a potential dividend yield of around 7% (assuming an 80% payout). Maintain MARKET WEIGHT on the telecommunications sector with ISAT as our top pick.
In our latest Asia Monthly, we discuss the performance of major Asian credit indices and review UST curve movements in April 2025. We also provide a recap of major news and macroeconomic releases, including those from the US, China, India, Indonesia and Japan. In addition, we summarise the top/bottom performers, recent USD bond issuances and rating actions in Asian corporate credit, as well as a list of our recent research. The Asia Monthly publication serves to keep investors updated on dev...
Big Telcos’ 4Q24 EBITDA was roughly stable (-0.2%) qoq, but declined slightly by 4% yoy Meanwhile, combined 4Q24 net profit fell slightly by 2% yoy, but rose 11% qoq. During 4Q24, EXCL slightly increased its market share (based on EBITDA) among the top three telcos. We downgrade the telecommunications sector to MARKET WEIGHT from OVERWEIGHT as we expect TLKM, the parent company of Telkomsel (market leader), to book only a slightly moderate top-line growth of 2% yoy in 2025. Our top pick is ISAT.
GREATER CHINA Results Aier Eye Hospital Group (300015 CH/BUY/Rmb12.72/Target: Rmb17.80) 2024: Satisfactory results; expects strong recovery in 2025. Upgrade to BUY. Ningbo Tuopu Group Co (601689 CH/BUY/Rmb50.96/Target: Rmb83.00) 4Q24: Earnings up 38.5% yoy, in line. Maintain BUY with target price unchanged at Rmb83.00. TAL Educational Group (TAL US/BUY/US$9.36/Target: US$14.00) 4QFY25: Earnings miss amid ramped-up investments in AI-powered learning. INDONESIA Sector Telecommun...
Telecommunications: 4Q24: NPAT down slightly by 2% yoy. Downgrade to MARKET WEIGHT. Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ/BUY/Rp8,475/Target: Rp10,500): 1Q25: Net profit grows 9.8% yoy on the back of NIM expansion. TRADERS’ CORNER Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGEO IJ): Technical BUY Indosat (ISAT IJ): Technical BUY
The Asia Trade Book for April 2025 includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also features relative-value charts and lists of the bonds across Asia HY and crossover credits. Please reach out to our analysts to discuss any of these ideas, or other trade recommendations from our Asia coverage.
GREATER CHINA Initiate Coverage Tencent Music Entertainment Group (1698 HK/BUY/HK$47.80/Target: HK$60.00) World’s largest music platform with evolving social ecosystem. Results Dian Diagnostics (300244 CH/HOLD/Rmb13.99/Target: Rmb15.00) 2024: Results in line; maintain 2025 revenue growth estimate of 8.8% yoy. iFlytek (002230 CH/SELL/Rmb45.18/Target: Rmb35.00) 2024 and 1Q25: Earnings miss on heightened R&D spending; solid top-line growth. Update Sunn...
TLKM recorded 2024 EBITDA of Rp75t. This was in line with our and consensus full-year estimates. The strong yoy growth in 4Q24 NPAT was primarily supported by the digital investments’ appreciation (non-cash income) of Rp664b. Cellular (mobile) ARPU rose slightly by 2% qoq in 4Q24, but fell 7% yoy. The company guides lower capex to revenue (at 17-19%) in 2025 compared with its 2024 guidance (at 22-24%). Maintain HOLD with a higher target price of Rp2,700.
In our latest Asia Monthly, we discuss the performance of major Asian credit indices and review UST curve movements in March 2025. We also provide a recap of major news and macroeconomic releases, including those from the US, China, India, Indonesia and Japan. In addition, we summarise the top/bottom performers, recent USD bond issuances and rating actions in Asian corporate credit, as well as a list of our recent research. The Asia Monthly publication serves to keep investors updated on dev...
Numbers were decent off its higher growth adjacent businesses where non-Tower contribution now stands at 33% of sales. While near-term tower headwind is anticipated now that the merger between XL and Smartfren is approved, TOWR’s exposure to FTTT and FTTH should act as support as telcos expand into the home broadband and into rural Indonesia.
We downgrade TLKM to HOLD with a lower target price of Rp2,600 due to several factors: a) other telcos’ expansion to outer Java may result in a lower premium for Telkomsel’s data pricing vs its peers; b) weak macroeconomic conditions could limit its ability to raise data pricing; and c) we conservatively expect only slight growth in EBITDA (2% yoy) and NPAT (3% yoy) for 2025. Potential catalyst: a potential dividend yield of 7.7% (depending on AGM, likely in May), assuming a 80% payout.
Telkom Indonesia (TLKM IJ/HOLD/Rp2,430/Target: Rp2,600): Weak macro environment could limit data monetisation; potential dividend yield of 7%. Downgrade to HOLD. TRADERS’ CORNER Charoen Pokphand Indonesia (CPIN IJ): Technical BUY Bank Mandiri (BMRI IJ): Technical BUY
GREATER CHINA Results Anta Sports (2020 HK/BUY/HK$97.90/Target: HK$108.80): 2024: Revenue beats estimates but profit in line; lower sales target and conservative margin outlook for Fila. Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK/BUY/HK$56.35/Target: HK$68.00): 4Q24: Earnings up 34% yoy, in line with estimates. Maintain BUY. HUTCHMED (China) (13 HK/BUY/HK$23.90/Target: HK$30.00): 2024: Became self-sustainable; Fruquintinib continues to drive growth in 2025. Kerry Properties (683 HK/BUY/HK$18.74/Target:...
In our latest Asia Monthly, we discuss the performance of major Asian credit indices and review UST curve movements in February 2025. We also provide a recap of major news and macroeconomic releases, including those from the US, China, India, Indonesia and Japan. In addition, we summarise the top/bottom performers, recent USD bond issuances and rating actions in Asian corporate credit, as well as a list of our recent research. The Asia Monthly publication serves to keep investors updated on ...
GREATER CHINA Sector Property Channel checks and observations of Shenzhen and Shanghai primary markets. INDONESIA Strategy Danantara – Who Could Benefit Beneficiaries: PGEO, ANTM, TINS, BMRI, BBNI, BBRI and TLKM. We have an end-25 target of 7,500 for the JCI. MALAYSIA Results 99 Speed Mart Retail (99SMART MK/BUY/RM2.14/Target: RM2.60) 4Q24: Delivers on earnings...
Danantara was officially founded with an initial capital injection of US$20b. The initial funding will be used for investments in metal downstreaming, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, petrochemical and agriculture. Danantara can be audited or investigated for corruption. It could increase investment, drive GDP growth, provide stability and lower financing costs. We see the impact of lower dividends to the state budget as minimal. Beneficiaries: PGEO, ANTM, TINS, BMRI, BBNI, BBRI and TL...
Strategy: Danantara – Who Could Benefit: Beneficiaries: PGEO, ANTM, TINS, BMRI, BBNI, BBRI and TLKM. We have an end-25 target of 7,500 for the JCI. TRADERS’ CORNER Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGEO IJ): Technical BUY Matahari Department Store (LPPF IJ): Technical BUY
We think the current trajectory of the JCI presents a buying opportunity as: a) it is now trading at -2SD PE, similar to the levels seen during the pandemic, although the current situation may not be as severe; b) GDP is still expected to rise above 5%; and c) many programmes are driven by the government. We add defensive names with strong growth and attractive valuations to our recommendations. Our picks are BBCA, BBTN, CMRY, ICBP, KLBF, CTRA, AMRT, PGEO, TLKM and ISAT.
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