Friday, 2 September 2011

ECS Holdings: Likely limited impact from HP PSG spinoff (OCBC)

ECS Holdings (ECS) has released an announcement in response to HP's decision to spin off or sell its Personal Systems Group (PSG) business. This includes its PCs, notebooks and webOS operating system and devices. Given the uncertainty generated for HP's suppliers and consumers, ECS's management highlighted to us during a teleconference that HP has provided incentives for the group to entice it to continue its focus on their products. These include increased advertising and promotion and faster reimbursement of rebates. We believe that this would help to improve the working capital of ECS. Moreover, ECS has also returned all the HP tablets (TouchPad) and smartphones and received a full refund. Overall, ECS opines that the impact of a spinoff, should it materialise, is likely to mitigated as it is expected to continue to act as a regional distributor for PSG. This business contributed ~18% of ECS's total purchases (contribution has been declining) and ~8% of its total net profits. Moreover the group has also been diversifying by forging strategic agreements with other key vendors such as Dell and Lenovo. We believe that even if HP sells the PSG business to a competitor, the distributorship of the products could still continue given ECS's established relationships with most of the key vendors. Hence we maintain our BUY rating and fair value estimate of S$1.04.

Singapore Property: DC revisions market-neutral, deceleration ahead (OCBC)

DC revisions within expectations. Earlier this week, the Ministry of National Development announced its bi-annual revision of development charges (DC) rates effective for the next six months (Sep11-Feb12). In percentage terms, the rates increased the most for Industrial/Warehousing (Group D - 31%) and Commercial (Group A - 22%). The Residential groups (B1, B2) increased at a similar pace as the last revision. Overall, we believe the market would be neutral to this event. The rates increases were within expectations given the broad uptrend over the last six months in industrial and commercial property rentals (URA multiple-user factory rental index +13%; CBRE prime office +6%) and capital values (URA multiple-user factories price index +15%; CBRE prime office +11%).

Expect lower DC increases ahead. We judge that the incremental impact of these rates increases in itself would be relatively low for developers. But, coupled with current macro uncertainties and expected inflection points in residential prices and office rentals ahead, this could further push developers towards a cautious stance. This would also make it increasingly difficult for en-bloc deals to be accretive and could likely dampen the already slow enbloc scene. Going forward, however, we expect the rate of DC increases for the commercial and residential sector to decelerate as selling prices, rentals and capital values soften with macro headwinds.

Zooming into the numbers. We saw the highest DC rates increases in Industrial/Warehousing use with an average of 31% and in Commercial use with an average of 22%. In particular, the DC rates for Group A in Sector 101 (Paya Lebar Central: Paya Lebar/Eunos /Macpherson Road) had increased as much as 32%. For the remaining groups - Group B1 (Landed Residential), Group B2 (Non-landed Residential) and Group C (Hotel/Hospital) - the DC rates increased by an average of 17%, 12% and 7%, respectively. Also of note is that the DC rate increase were as high as 39% in Sector 57 (Serangoon Road / Whampoa / Bendemeer Road) for Group B2 (Non-landed Residential) use.

BUY UOL. Our preferred pick in the Singapore property sector continues to be UOL due to its limited residential exposure and the potential to pick up land-bank as the acquisition environment cools down further. We have a BUY on UOL with a fair value estimate of S$5.57 (at 20% discount to RNAV).

ComfortDelgro (KimEng)

Event
Using the North East Line’s (NEL) average daily ridership of 417k as a benchmark may be misleadingly low. We have upped our estimate of the Downtown Line’s (DTL) revenue contribution over the 19-year lease from $3.5b to $5b, while rental income could more than double from present levels. While most of these benefits will only kick in after 2015, the higher contributions suggest a more compelling long-term case for bagging the line. Also, we doubt Comfort’s dividend paying ability will be impaired, especially if rental income is carefully matched with the gradual ramp-up in start-up costs. Maintain BUY.

Our View
Using the NEL as a benchmark may be misleadingly low as it runs through new towns Punggol and Sengkang while the Buangkok and Woodleigh stations did not open until years after the line opened in 2003. Phase 1 will provide more connections downtown, Phase 2 will run from Bukit Panjang through the congested Bukit Timah corridor while Phase 3 will provide an East West Line alternative in the east.

Hence, our long term ridership estimates for the DTL have been too conservative. Our latest model now assumes far more aggressive double-digit growth of 10-25% in 2018-2020, up from 5% p.a. previously. We are particularly optimistic on Phases 2 and 3 to drive ridership growth. Our revised assumptions suggest total revenue of $5b over 19 years (previously $3.5b).

In addition, the rental of commercial space would add another element of upside. In 2010, ComfortDelgro earned less than 3% of EBIT from commercial rental. Based on 14,000 sq m of space and assuming SMRT’s achieved rental rates, we estimate the annualised rental income could more than double existing rental income from the existing $10m or so yearly.

Action & Recommendation
Maintain BUY on ComfortDelgro.

Second Chance Properties: Stable growth expected to continue (DMG)

(BUY, S$0.40, TP S$0.53)

4QFY11 results boosted by revaluation gains. Second Chance achieved revenue growth of
6.0% YoY to S$49.1m and EBIT of S$16.7m (+14.1% YoY). The results were in line with
expectations. PATMI grew 87.8% YoY to S$30.1m, exceeding our expectations, due to higher
than expected revaluation gains. Second Chance recorded revaluation gains of S$13.5m (we
were expecting S411.0m). Going forward, we expect EBIT growth to remain stable, backed by
stable rental income from its properties segment, and continued healthy demand for its retail businesses. However, gains from property revaluation are not likely to be as high as FY11. This would result in lower PATMI in FY12. We are estimating PATMI of S$21.7m (-28% YoY), EBIT (excluding revaluation gains) of S$18.7m (+12.0% YoY) in FY12. Second Chance issued 1-for-4 bonus shares and declared dividends of 3.2 S¢/share for FY11. Maintain BUY and TP of S$0.53, based on DDM methodology, for a company that consistently distributes attractive dividends.

Lofty aspirations. Second Chance intends to focus on real estate activities to grow the
business. It aims to achieve a market capitalisation of at least S$1b by 2022. Target real estate activities could take the form of property developments (via joint ventures), developing and managing budget hotels (likely in Malaysia), acquisition of warehousing / storage space and picking up distressed properties. Nonetheless, management intends to retain its profitable retail apparel and gold businesses. With a time frame of 10-years, this goal does not seem impossible to achieve.

Maintain BUY with TP S$0.53. We believe management would be able to maintain its policy of
returning high value to shareholders. At current levels, it implies an attractive dividend yield of 7.6%, which we believe is sustainable, given Second Chance’s stable operating cash flow.

Kian Ann Engineering: A good year (DMG)

(BUY, S$0.21, TP S$0.31)

Kian Ann Engineering’s (KA) 4QFY11 and FY11 earnings were in line with our expectations.
4QFY11 earnings jumped 27.7% YoY, reaching S$4.3m, on the back of lower costs, higher
revenue and other income. We now expect FY12 and FY13 earnings to hit S$19.1m (+13.8%
YoY) and S$21.1m (+10.7% YoY) respectively, on the back of sustained strong demand.
Trading at 4.8x FY12 earnings, we believe the stock is undervalued when compared against its
construction-related and heavy equipment peers at ~7x blended FY11/FY12 earnings. Based on
a target P/E of 7x FY12 earnings (its 5-year historical average), we value KA at a TP of S$0.31, implying a 47.6% upside. 4QFY11 earnings within expectations; decent dividend yield. KA’s 4QFY11 earnings leapt 27.7% YoY to S$4.3m, attributable to lower distribution costs, higher revenue and other income.

4QFY11 revenue registered a 4.7% YoY growth, on the back of higher sales from Malaysia
(+16.7% YoY) and Indonesia (+33.8% YoY), hitting S$43.6m due to strong demand from the
forestry, mining and infrastructure sectors. An interim and final dividend of 1.1S¢ was declared, higher than the 1S¢ paid for last year. This translates to a decent yield of 5.1%.

Gross margin still holding up. Selling prices were raised amidst greater demand for parts
during the economic recovery after the 2008 global financial crisis. Thus, gross profit margin remains higher than its historical average of ~25%, coming in at 28.1% in 4QFY11 (FY11 28.4%). This marks the fifth consecutive quarter that KA has enjoyed gross margins above its historical average. We believe this is an indication of the pent-up demand for KA’s parts and understand that margins are still holding up currently.

Focusing on emerging markets. KA would be focusing on growing its sales in emerging
markets like Indonesia, India, China and Russia. We forecast FY12 and FY13 earnings to come
in at S$19.1m and S$21.1m respectively, on the back of sustained margin of ~28% and a 10%
YoY growth in sales.

Thursday, 1 September 2011

大难不死有后福

过去三十个月本港楼价上升80%,但当89日九肚山地皮以底价成交,是否本港楼价下调讯号!?大和证券分析员指出香港第二季GDP较第一季回落0.5%,是否意味香港经济进入收缩期?20089月雷曼事件引发11月中国政府宣布4万亿元人民币刺激经济方案,目前是否开始收缩?上月恒生指数出现死亡交叉(50天线跌破250天线),在20085月那次经验,是未来六个月股市大泻;但20106 月那次经验,是未来半年股市上升。这次又如何?

美国去年11月再推QE2,但恒生指数却由去年11月的24989点回落到今年8月最低18868点,并未产生财富效应!在炒股不睇市环境下,一般小投资者亏损占多数,能做到止蚀不止赚则更难。

美国完成迷失十年

美国进入「日式衰退」,主要是私人企业自2007年起开始去杠杆化,20093月依赖政府增加借贷刺激经济复苏,情况有如1994年的日本。今年8 QE2完结后,私人企业仍没有增加借贷,情况亦有如1997年的日本。克鲁明博士认为财赤不重要,只要政府继续推QE3,美国经济仍可繁荣下去。可是日本过去十七年的经济表现,恐怕这次克鲁明博士是看错了。

今天美国问题一如1990年起的日本或1997年后的香港,是来自分配不平衡,财富过分集中在社会20%人口手中(更甚者集中在1%人口手中),QEQE2只令财富更加集中,又怎能解决当前问题?或者听听来自日本野村证券首席经济学家 Richard Koo意见,了解一下什么是「资产负债表衰退」。2000年起的美国一如1990年起的日本,所不同者是1994年前日圆继续升值,令日经平均数一沉不起。美元自2000年起贬值令道指在2007年创新高。日本至今已迷失二十年,并继续迷失下去;美国亦完成迷失十年及继续迷失下去。

7月份内地CPI上升6.5%再创近期新高,其中食物类价格上升14.8%(猪肉上升56.7%);反之居住价格只上升5.9%。会否加息?以外国经验,食物及燃料价格对利率并不敏感,猪肉价循环周期一般需69个月(即肉价上升到供应量上升需时69个月)。估计猪肉价在8月份见顶,9月起回落。内地CPI 中,食物所占比例重达三分一,是内地CPI升幅较香港高的原因。下半年起原料价开始回落,估计内地仍需加息一次及收紧银根两次,明年CPI升幅应回落到 4%左右。

A股有买贵冇买错

内地2007年起进入高通胀期(刺激主要来自工资上升),情况一如八十年代、九十年代的香港。由加薪速度加快引发良性通胀,一般可维持十五年。换言之,今时今日投资内地股票,只会买贵,不会买错。理由是中国人储蓄率高达35%,美国人只有2%。中国有没有问题?有,但不是大问题。

人民币已升至十七年来高位(过去十四个月兑美元升值7%),内地贫富差距带来社会不稳定。太多人买不起楼、负担不起医疗费或子女教育费,其不满情绪已接近爆炸点。人民币升值不但无法压抑消费物价上升,反令制造业经营困难,引发大量工人失业。

人民币升值亦压抑不了内地楼价上升,中国政府应进一步大力压抑内地房地产价格,平息民愤,以免走上日本或香港之路。近三十年各国政府政策皆向有钱阶级倾斜,以为创富较分配财富更重要。今天英国贫富差距问题已引发暴动,香港政府宜尽速解决此问题,不然香港社会将步英国后尘,咁就大件事。

8月份美国国债被downgrade,后果不是债券跌价而是股市,美国联储局正在重复十多年前日本银行之路,保证未来两年维持低利率,结果只令长期债券(例如十年期以上)利率一步回落,但股市却反复下跌,理由是避险心态。

200210月到200710月那次透过减息、减税、美元贬值去令美股上升了五年。这次QEQE2只支持美股上升两年,只是最近一个月全球股市失去8万亿美元市值,相信高消费零售股亦渐受压力。

利率倒挂 九死一生

美国第二季GDP只上升1.6%。过去每次美国GDP增长率低于2%,明年出现衰退机会高达70%。十年期债券利率同三个月期利率差收窄又是另一令人担心讯号,失业率无法回落是第三个令人担心的讯号。经济学家(不是投资机构)认为明年美国经济出现衰退机会超过50%2000年起的衰退,200710月股市大幅回落后,引发2008年衰退亦一样,我们皆出现九十天期利率高出长期(利率倒挂,十次有九次事后出现衰退),但这次却没有出现。

至于美股指数回落40%后出现衰退已多次不准(例如1987年),因此明年是否出现衰退(连续两季GDP负增长)?仍是五五波。许多人把凯恩斯理论与费雪效应混为一谈,其实两者差异很大。凯恩斯认为需求不足引发衰退,因此政府应制造需求去刺激经济,并透过印刷货币支付所制造出来的需求,因此令CPI上升。费雪效应并不鼓励政府制造需求,只须由联储局不断向市场购入债券去压低利率,透过低利率去刺激GDP增长。

观察日本自1994年实施货币宽松政策的结果,初期的确刺激日股上升,但到了1997年却变成流动性陷阱,日股又再回落。和日本不同的是,日本的货币宽松政策并没有刺激金价上升及全球原材料价上升,但美元持续弱势令资金流向金市及商品市场,刺激金价及原材料价上升。因为美元是计算金价、原材料货币单位,最后结果是否一如日本只产生流动性陷阱,抑或摧毁美国银行业的借贷能力,或是陷入滞胀期?无人可预知。

高频交易如「快闪党」

81日至12日,美股成交额较20111月到7月平均成交额高出80%,可见高频交易在跌市中所扮演的角色。两星期内美股失去2.2万亿美元市值,情况同20105月初相似。去年5月面对QE完成,大量高频交易令美股在一星期内失去8620亿美元市值(美国证券及期货交易所报告)。高频交易类似社会上的「快闪党」,可以在极短时间内造成很大破坏,然后又消失。美国司法部门已联同美国证监部追查高频交易及研究是否须要立法监管。在高频交易下股市已变得非常Ugly

税制改革可能引发资金回流支持美元汇价,摩根大通估计美国519间跨国大企业海外资金高达1.375万亿美元,例如苹果有760亿美元、微软420亿美元、思科288亿美元,谷歌已动用百多亿美元收购摩托罗拉,其他大企业又如何?小心随时出现美元回流美国潮,9月起是否Time to Bargain Hunt?恐惧是投资上最大的敌人。

20088月开始黄金同股市De-couple(金升、股跌),近期甚至向其他商品De-coupling(商品价回落、黄金一样升),黄金变成一枝独秀。上述情况极之危险,黄金不再用作对抗通胀,而是代表投资者对货币不信任,最后如果不是金价回落便是货币制度崩溃。

社会学家曾做一个实验:将十个中学生在纽约不同地区放下,要求在天黑前大家聚在一起!

根据数学理论:在一个超过1000万人口的大城市,来自十处不同地区的人是不可能在一天内聚在一起的。但结果刚相反,很快他们便聚在一起,理由是中学生皆喜欢纽约时代广场,他们不约而同地去了时代广场。

金融市场情况亦一样,人人认为黄金是避难所,上述想法令金价一度升至1913美元一盎斯。当道指/黄金比率出现1:6(一股道指六盎斯黄金),黄金是否仍有投资价值,或只有投机价值?200710月金价只是740美元,当时道指/黄金比率接近1:18,更加不要说2000年时道指黄金比率接近1:40…… 任何投资项目一旦疯狂起来,非理性可解释,例如19801月曾见过两者比率是1:1

欧、美经济在2000年起进入「慢动作式崩溃期」。一如1990年起的日本,政府的干预只能带来短暂反弹。问题是欧、美加起来GDP30万亿美元(欧洲16.3万亿美元、美国10.1万亿美元;两者相加较日本大8倍),他们的慢动作崩溃不似日本可以不影响其他国家,因欧、美加起来GDP是中国GDP6倍。中国可独善其身多久?

2009 3月至今美国政府增加了2.3万亿美元负债去推行QEQE2,亦只能将失业率推低至9%或以下。推出QE3的效果又如何?美国政府债券失去AAA评级后,法国AAA评级亦岌岌可危,如法国亦失守,欧洲只剩下德国仍然拥有AAA地位。89日恒指跌至18868点获支持,证明基本因素较技术分析更重要,资金流向较市场情绪更重要,趋势分析较价值投资法更重要。

Fibonacci计算,牛市二期可调整前升幅38.2%、50% 61.8%。恒指从200810月的10676点上升到去年1124989点,共上升14313点,调整前升幅38.2%,可见19522点,已失守;如调整前升幅50%,可见17833点;如调整前升幅61.8%,可见16144点。最后在哪一点才是真正支持点?事后才知晓。

1933 年希特拉被德国总统兴登保(Paul Von Hindenburg)委任为总理,130日希特拉出任总理后要求总统解散国会再选,总统答应在35日举行大选。纳粹党在大选中获44%选票上台,在 323日通过授权法案(Enabling Act),让希特拉拥有独裁者权力。41日他发动抵制犹太人生意行动,并在19351月通过Nuremberg Laws on Citizenship and Race:取消犹太人市民资格,当年只有十万犹太人离开德国。193811月发生「水晶之夜」(Crystal Night)事件,大量犹太人经营的商店橱窗被打烂。由1933年希特拉上台到19391月亦只有一半犹太人离开德国,仍有超过一半人选择留下……人总是心存希望。

价值投资法只是测量工具而非Timing仪器,例如PE8倍到12倍是抵买;PE12倍到16倍是合理;PE16倍到 22倍是偏高;PE22倍以上是不合理。8月份恒指PE 12倍代表股市开始进入「抵买区」。资金流向例如美国政府推出QEQE2,短期可推动美股上升。当香港面对资金流入(例如港元升至7.7兑一美元)股市便上升,面对资金流出(例如港元跌至7.8兑一美元)股市便回落。

VIX跌至28点宜沽货

其他因素例如基金只持有3%现金时,投资者便应沽出股票;基金增持现金到6%以上,投资者便应买入股票。因为基金经理亦是人,他们常常睇错市。至于市场情绪方面,美国的 VIX指数十分有用,如在28点时便应沽出,见50点便可买入。利用基本分析,找出那些纯利能保持每年上升25%35%的企业股票才买,纯利不前或回落的企业股票便沽出。上述工具有助分析大市,但无助寻顶或寻低。

198710月股灾、1998817日俄罗斯政府债务危机、2008918日雷曼事件等,事后皆证明「大难不死、必有后福」。20118月欧债危机后又如何?

2008 年底内地工业企业单位共190.3万间,从业员1.17383亿人,相信已是高潮,2009年起进入贵精不贵多时代。大型工业企业、高技术水平工人渐成主流,中小型工业企业面对淘汰压力。上述情况过去在西方曾经出现,2008年开始亦在内地出现,汰弱留强是资本主义制度一部分,虽然十分残酷但无法避免。

2008 年中国第一、二、三产业所占GDP比重是10.7%47.4%41.8%。按世界银行数据进入中产收入国家的比重是6%34%60%,中国正朝向改变。2008年中国就业人口比重,在第一、二、三产业各占40%27%33%,国际劳工组织中等收入国家数据应是27%26%47%。上述数字证明中国第三产业发展不足,理由是国家对国民经济仍有很大控制力,形成第三产业发展速度很慢。

2008年中国城市化达45.7%,仍然偏低(OECD水平是80%),太多人口停留在农村及经济增长仍是粗放型,以高消耗、高污染、低效益状况去追求GDP高增长,尤其是国家支持的重化工业大量消耗能源和基础性资源。中国工业企业占全国能源总消费量70%以上,尤其是钢铁、有色金属、化工、建材等,已占去工业企业能源总消费70%以上。

落后产业结构不但导致中国高染污,同时令全球资源价格高企。2008年中国消耗能源21.16亿吨油当量,仅次于美国,占全球总消耗量17.3%,但GDP 只占全球6.4%,代表中国单位GDP所消耗能源是美国4.3倍、日本8.1倍,只要中国有效地利用能源及基础性资源,不但迅速解决中国严重污染问题,同时可令全球资源价格大幅回落。上述情况既是商机又是危机。

机会是创造出来的。例如2003年的自由行为香港创造另一次投资大好机会;20093月美国的QE200811月中国的4万亿元人民币刺激经济方案,亦为投资者创造另一次机会。智者往往能及时把握机会而壮大;愚者则因错失机会而抱怨。经过200910月至今,不少二线股股价大幅调整后,对智者而言下半年是另一次择肥而食的大好机会,对愚者而言则是另一个抱怨日子。

下半年科技股寻宝?

例如去年中国政府宣布保障房建设,对内地建筑股及建材股是机会,对内房股是压力;又如2009年开始的美元贬值潮,对智者而言可透过投资资源股及能源股而获利,愚者却在抱怨联汇制度下令香港物价大升而受损。既然我们改变不了大气候,为何不利用小气候去获利?在过去,通胀率一旦上升,利率亦会上升,以便把通胀压制,例如1980年至2000年,但2001年「九一一事件」后美国虽然面对通胀上升,但利率却跟不上,造成过去十年资源价、楼价大升的负利率时代。

2011 年下半年如美国CPI升幅下降,是否出现另一大趋势?1980年美国货币政策出现改变,结束过去经济的盛衰循环周期,取而代之是一个又一个泡沫,理由是资金充斥市场,总要找寻出路,投资策略变成如何捕捉一个又一个泡沫。2011年下半年,长达12年的原材料价上升期是否又已完成,是否需要找寻另一个在形成中的泡沫作为资金出路?

中国发展内需经济的消息,已刺激本港消费股股价狂升到PE30倍或以上。今年「十二五」规划,政府已表态支持高科技行业,但高科技股至今仍然受投资者忽略,下半年是否应在高科技股身上寻宝?

多谢上海德润投资公司董事长陈钢捐助农家女8万元人民币。