MOF Inc Set To Exit DNB; DNB’s Operating Losses To Pressure Shareholders’ Bottom Line Highlights MOF Inc has exercised its put options in relation to its existing 41.67% stake in DNB, requiring CelcomDigi, Maxis and YTL Power International (YTL Power) to each fork out RM327.9m to honour the shareholders’ agreement. We expect DNB to operate at a loss (2025 estimated loss is RM1b) in the near term. Our sensitivity analysis suggests -10% and -12% impact to 2026 earnings forecasts for CelcomDigi...
Greater China Strategy | Alpha Picks: December Conviction Calls Market consolidation slowed in November as expectations of a 25bp Fed cut improved sentiment. The HSI and MSCI China fell 0.2% and 2.4% mom 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 Jacobson,...
MOF Exercises Put Options For Its 41.67% Stake In DNB Highlights In a recent Bursa announcement by CelcomDigi and Maxis, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) has exercised its put options in relations to its existing 41.67% stake in Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB). The put option notice requires the three investor shareholders, CelcomDigi, Maxis and YTL Power International to purchase the ordinary shares in DNB owned by MOF and take over the MOF loan together with accrued interest. The trio is required ...
3Q25: Below Expectations; Margin Compression To Persist Highlights CelcomDigi reported a 3Q25 core net profit of RM400m (-7% qoq; -8% yoy), excluding a one-off bad debt provision expense and device rebate reversal. This brings 9M25 core net profit to RM1,262m, accounting for 70% and 73% of our and consensus full-year estimates respectively. We deem the results below expectations. We cut our 2025-27 earnings estimates by 3-6% on the back of higher depreciation charges, bad debt charges and hi...
Greater China Company Results | Geely Auto (175 HK/BUY/HK$17.20/Target: HK$42.00 Geely’s 3Q25 results meet expectations with GAAP net profit/core net profit growing 58%/19% yoy and 6%/24% qoq to Rmb3.82b/Rmb3.96b respectively. Earnings growth will be driven by a strong product cycle, optimisation of sales mix, penetration into overseas markets, and consolidation of its brand portfolios. We maintain our 2025-27 earnings estimates. Maintain BUY with an unchanged target price of HK$42.00 pegged...
Capitalising On Enterprise Segment Amid Saturated Mobile Landscape Highlights The enterprise segment is expected to drive revenue expansion among telco players as the saturated mobile market experiences a muted subscriber and ARPU outlook. In the recent Budget 2026, the government is allocating up to RM780m to expand fibre coverage to more than 2,700 locations under JENDELA 2. This will benefit telco infrastructure players and MNOs. The sector trades at 8x EV/EBITDA, +2SD above the mean. M...
Greater China Economics | Inflation September’s CPI inflation improved slightly to -0.3% yoy (+0.1ppt), with core CPI reaching a ytd high of 1.0% yoy. However, food prices remained weak (-4.4% yoy), led by a 17% yoy fall in pork prices. PPI deflation eased to -2.3% yoy (+0.6ppt), with broad recovery in mining and quarrying and raw metal materials. Looking ahead, look out for improvement in consumer goods PPI inflation, which should be indicative of a sustainable improvement in pricing power....
TM Leads Peers On The Path To Full Compliance Of Bursa Malaysia’s NSRF Highlights Malaysian telcos appear to be well-equipped to meet Bursa Malaysia’s sustainability reporting requirements, progressively aligning disclosures with Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) pillars and the NSRF. In addition, our ESG scoring suggests that TM and Maxis are ahead of their peers when it comes to ESG undertakings. The sector trades at 8x EV/EBITDA, +2SD above mean. Maintain MARKET...
Greater China Company Update | Miniso (MNSO US/BUY/US$23.53/Target: US$26.80) Miniso’s qtd business performance was in line with management’s expectations. Domestically, it has 12 Miniso Land stores, with a payback period of 3-4 months. Overseas, adjustments were implemented in the US market following the appointment of the new CEO, who has over 15 years of experience in local retailing. On proprietary IP strategy, Yoyo’s sales are expected to exceed Rmb100m in 2026. Management expects propr...
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.
2Q25: Results In Line; Continued Pre-To-Postpaid Migration Broadly, 2Q25 sector earnings came in within expectations, except for Axiata and CelcomDigi. After the 2Q25 results announcement, we cut our earnings forecasts by 6%. The quarter was characterised by: a) 2% qoq service revenue growth, b) cost discipline, c) encouraging enterprise business pipeline, and d) robust demand for fibre. Maintain MARKET WEIGHT; catalysts include Axiata’s infrastructure asset monetisation and CelcomDigi’s synergi...
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...
Axiata saw an all-around improvement as constant currency EBITDA inflected to growth and underlying EBIT accelerated. YTD EBIT performance (+8.4%) is tracking well against its high-single digit guidance. Leverage is also falling closer to its 2.5x target, aided by the cash proceeds received from the XLSmart merger.
2Q25: Slightly Below Expectations; On Track to Achieve FY25 Guidance CelcomDigi reported 2Q25 core net profit of RM439m (+7% yoy; +2% qoq), attributed to solid contributions from the enterprise and home and fibre segments, coupled with operating cost savings. However, this came in slightly below our expectations on the back of weak prepaid revenue contributions and elevated provisions for doubtful debts. We trim 2025 net profit forecasts by 5%. Maintain BUY with a DCF-based target price of RM4.3...
GREATER CHINA Strategy Small-Mid Cap Monthly: Keeping an eye on JBM Healthcare’s upcoming marketing campaigns in 2H25. Results China Resources Building Materials Technology (1313 HK/BUY/HK$1.92/Target: HK$2.30): 1H25: In line; cement margins rebound, concrete delivers growth. Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Company (3692 HK/BUY/HK$37.06/Target: HK$50.00): 1H25: Results beat; increases revenue growth guidance to high double-digit. Sino Biopharmaceutical (1177 HK/BUY/HK$7.91/Target: HK$10.50): 1H25: R...
Additional RM600m Of Shareholder Advance Invested Into DNB In a Bursa Malaysia announcement, both CelcomDigi and Maxis announced that they have each contributed an additional shareholder advance of RM116,666,667 on 15 Aug 25 at the request of Digital Nasional (DNB). Concurrently, YTL Power International (YTL) and MOF Inc. also injected RM116,666,667 and RM250,202,928 respectively into the additional shareholder advance exercise, bringing the total to RM600,202,929. Of the total RM600m additional...
Service revenue trends deteriorated in Q1, impacted by one-offs and ongoing prepaid competition. On an underlying basis, both CelcomDigi and Maxis were stable YoY. Still, EBITDA managed to inflect to positive territory (although barely). Both remained confident in delivering low-single digit service revenue growth in 2025 as they build up their Enterprise segments.
1Q25 Results Largely In Line; Mobile Competition Remains Intense 1Q25 sector earnings rose 5% qoq but fell 3% yoy driven by stable postpaid revenue, robust enterprise revenue and good cost control. Prepaid earnings were adversely impacted by intense unlimited data offerings. Broadly, earnings came in within expectations except for Axiata. After the results, we trim sector earnings by 7%. Maintain MARKET WEIGHT; catalysts include Axiata’s monetisation of EDOTCO and CelcomDigi’s synergistic saving...
1Q25: Within Expectations; Focus On Integration Efforts For The Year CelcomDigi’s 1Q25 net profit rose 141% qoq and 5% yoy to RM388m. This included costs related to changes in the operating model, inventory and equipment asset adjustments in 1Q25 and accelerated depreciation in 4Q24. Stripping these out, 1Q25 core net profit came in at RM430m (+6% qoq; -10% yoy), in line with expectations. The group maintains its 2025 guidance of low-to-mid single-digit EBIT growth. BUY on weakness with a DCF-ba...
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.