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.
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.
After a banner 2024 (+33% on average), 2025 saw further absolute upside for the Chinese telcos, albeit underperforming a strong local index (HSI +32%). Valuations have increased relative to the past, but the stocks remain cheap in our view, and should grind higher, as modest top line growth and falling capex lead to decent cash flow and shareholder remuneration growth.
Greater China Strategy | Alpha Picks: December Conviction Calls Market consolidation slowed in November as expectations of a 25bp Fed cut buoyed sentiment. The HSI and MSCI China fell 0.2% and 2.4% mom respectively amid weak data and limited catalysts. While the upcoming Economic Work Conference may offer a catalyst to end this phase, we remain cautious, preferring defensives and oversold names. We add BeOne Medicines, HKEX, NetEase and Plover Bay to BUY, take profit on AIA, and cut losses on Ja...
Greater China Economics | PMI November PMI undershot expectations; manufacturing PMI was at 49.2 (+0.2pt mom) and non-manufacturing PMI slipped to 49.5 (-0.6pt mom), the first contraction in nearly three years. With the services industry index weakened to 49.5 (-0.7pt mom). PMI data confirms growth momentum is easing, so expect more supportive policies to be rolled out soon, but for economic confidence to return, we need a sustainable bottom in the real estate sector. Sector Update | Heal...
A director at Indosat Tbk Pt bought 2,370,200 shares at 2,105.662IDR and the significance rating of the trade was 60/100. Is that information sufficient for you to make an investment decision? This report gives details of those trades and adds context and analysis to them such that you can judge whether these trading decisions are ones worth following. Included in the report is a detailed share price chart which plots discretionary trades by all the company's directors over the last two years ...
Greater China Strategy | Alpha Picks: November Conviction Calls HSI and MSCI China fell 3.5%/4.0% mom in October, dragged by renewed US-China trade tensions and lack of fresh policy signals from the 4th Plenum. We remain constructive in the medium term but expect further consolidation as uncertainties persist. The best performer among our picks was SELL-rated Li Auto (+21.4% mom). For November, we rotate into oversold names with near-term upside: add AIA, LINK REIT, NAURA, Pinduoduo, PICC P&C an...
Chinese telcos faced slower service revenue growth on mobile headwind. Despite the muted topline, cost control remained decent as China Telecom continues to grow EBITDA while Unicom starts to stabilise after three consecutive YoY declines. Earnings grew low to mid single digits for all three, suggesting 6-7% dividend yields in 2026
Greater China Strategy | Alpha Picks: October Conviction Calls The HSI and MSCI China gained 7.1%/8.2% mom in September on Fed easing and optimism over advancements in semiconductors and AI. We remain positive in the medium term but expect near-term consolidation after the recent strong gains. The best performer of the month was Alibaba (+53.0% mom). With some rotations expected in non-tech stocks, our October calls are: add Galaxy, Jacobson, Ping An, Trip.com and WuXi Bio to BUY; SELL Meituan. ...
Service revenue improved to almost flat (-0.3% YoY from -1.1%), supported by Fibre growth and Postpaid growth offsetting Prepaid weakness. Operationally, Maxis delivered stronger EBITDA growth on cost efficiencies while CelcomDigi was weighed by higher bad debt provisions. Both reiterated their LSD service revenue guidance, implying a stronger second half.
Thai telcos posted LSD service revenue growth, while EBITDA slowed to MSD. TRUE underperformed due to May’s power outage but still guided for 2H recovery on spectrum rental savings despite the guidance downgrade. While risks from soft tourism may persist, sector discipline and its value-based pricing approach remains intact.
Greater China Economics | Inflation China’s August CPI returned to deflation at -0.4% yoy (-0.4ppt), below consensus, led by a sharper fall in food prices (-4.3% yoy) which includes a 16.1% yoy drop in pork prices. In contrast, core CPI rose to a ytd high of 0.9% (+0.1ppt), underpinned by services inflation. PPI deflation eased to -2.9% yoy (+0.7ppt), reflecting upstream stabilisation in mining and raw materials. The CPI-PPI divergence underscores fragile consumer demand. Broader policy supp...
A director at True Corporation Public Company Ltd bought 550,000 shares at 11.300THB and the significance rating of the trade was 78/100. Is that information sufficient for you to make an investment decision? This report gives details of those trades and adds context and analysis to them such that you can judge whether these trading decisions are ones worth following. Included in the report is a detailed share price chart which plots discretionary trades by all the company's directors over the...
Unfortunately, this report is not available for the investor type or country you selected.
Report is subscription only.
Thank you, your report is ready.
Thank you, your report is ready.