Company Report

DRC posted strong 3Q22 results, with earnings surging by 128% YoY as the company benefited from higher sticker prices and sales volume for radial tires. Nevertheless, we see weakness in the bias tire export market and possible higher competition for radial tires from Chinese tire makers once their lockdown measures are being lifted, which induces us to cut 2022-2023 net income by -6% and -26% to VND 310 bn (+7% YoY) and VND 280 bn (-10% YoY), with 4Q22 net income to decline by -4% YoY. With lower 2023 financials and target P/E (from 12x to 11x, vs 3-year average of 12.9x and 5-year average of 15.5x), we lower our target price to VND 23,300 per share. We downgrade DRC to MARKET PERFORM rating.

We reiterate our rating Market Perform with 1Y TP price for TPB shares of VND 22,800 by applying a discount target P/B to 1.x from 1.8x to reflects our concern about the high exposure to corporate bond. Coupled with the potential for NIM contraction and higher NPLs, headwinds are likely for TPB over the near-term. 3Q22 witnessed humble operating income growth of 2.5% YoY to nearly VND 3.8 tn, due primarily to the absence of trading gains as bond interest rate hiked. For 4Q22, we estimate that TPB will achieve PBT of VND 2.1 tn (+26.2% YoY), resulting in 32.5% YoY growth (VND 8 tn) for FY 2022.

Viglacera (VGC) is one of the leading enterprises in building materials (glass, tile, and sanitary ware), and a developer of 11 industrial parks with 879 ha remaining to let in northern and central Vietnam. Tenants include Samsung, Accor, amongst others. We expect that VGC, over the long-term, will be able to maintain a stable income from existing industrial parks. VGC trades at a 2022 and 2023 P/E of 11.1x and 15.3x, respectively. Our target price on the shares of VGC is VND 45,500 (6% upside), and we rate the name as MARKET PERFORM.

For November 2022, VHC posted net sales of VND 893 bn (-10% YoY and -12% MoM), continuing a decelerating revenue trend from April 2022. However, this is the first month during 2022 where the company recorded a contraction in terms of sales in YoY terms. For 2022, we expect net sales and net profit of VND 13.8 tn (+53% YoY) and VND 2.2 tn (+101% YoY), respectively. This translates to 4Q22 NPAT decline of -10% YoY. For 2023, we expect net sales and net profit to reach VND 12.6 tn (-9% YoY) and VND 1.6 tn (-26% YoY), respectively. At VND 71,000/share, VHC trades at a 2022 and 2023 P/E of 5.8x and 7.9x, respectively. We lowered our target P/E for Sa Giang and the Collagen & gelatin segments from 11x to 10x and applied to the 2023 EPS to arrive at an updated 1Y TP of VND 69,200 (-3% downside). As such, we maintain our MARKET PERFORM rating, for the shares of VHC.

In 3Q22, ANV reported net sales and NPAT of VND 1.2 tn (+89% YoY, -4% QoQ) and VND 120 bn (-50% QoQ), respectively. Due to the COVID-19, 3Q21 set a low base effect (a net loss of -VND 13 bn). Despite having recorded strong growth off the low base, ANV recorded its lowest quarterly net profit in absolute terms year to date. Weaker-than-expected earnings owing to lower pangasius prices. The average sales price for ANV dropped to USD 2.5 USD/kg (+40% YoY, -11% QoQ). Thus, the gross profit margin dropped from 35% in 2Q22 to 23% in 3Q22. Through 9M22, ANV posted net sales and PBT of VND 3.8 tn (+54% YoY) and VND 647 bn (+708% YoY), fulfilling 72% and 65% of its sales and PBT guidance for the year, respectively. In 2022, we expect ANV net sales and net profit will reach VND 5 tn (+42% YoY) and VND 694 bn (+439% YoY), respectively. We cut our 2022 earnings forecast 20% due to lower 8% pangasius prices forecast for 2022. For 2023, we expect net sales and NPAT to reach VND 5.1 tn (+3% YoY) and VND 534 bn (-23% YoY), respectively. At VND 26,000/share, ANV trades at a 2022 and 2023F P/E of 4.8x and 6.2x, respectively. Our target price for the shares of ANV arrives at VND 25,100/share (-3% upside). We remain Market Perform on the shares of ANV.

In 9M 2022, PVS posted consolidated revenue of VND 11 tn, +14.8% YoY and NPATMI of VND 415 bn, -19.8% YoY. The key culprit for the fall in gross margin is from lower margin of EPC/EPCI segment, as its margin contracted signifcantly from 3.7% in 9M 2021 to 0.4% this year. The O&M segment also saw a significant margin cut, to nearly the breakeven point. Significantly higher material and input costs (65%) is the main reason so far. Recently, Vietnam National Assembly has passed the Revised Oil & Gas Law, which is supposed to create a clearer legal framework for oil & gas activities, including new investments in E&P projects. As the outlook for Vietnam oil & gas E&P sector can be improved marginally in 2023 and more positively from 2024, we expect PVS to continue to rely on the international market for large EPC contracts in 2023.

3Q22 PBT arrived at VND 313 bn, an increase of 179%. However, through 9M22, PBT dropped 79% to VND 614 bn due to heavy losses within the petroleum segment amid supply chain disruption and volatile oil prices. Accordingly, PLX lowered its PBT target -90%, from VND 3.1 tn to VND 300 bn at the most recent EGM. PLX targets its PBT to recover strongly to VND 3.2 tn in 2023, and increase gradually to VND 3.5 tn by 2025 due to market stabilization. The government expects to maintain its 75.87% stake in PLX through 2025. PLX, however, expects to divest its 40% stake in PGB during the first half of 2023, and fully divest from Petrolimex Construction & Trading Corporation.

The container shipping market (including the spot market, charter market, and second-hand market) had considerably shrunk during 2022. Though the downcycle might continue into 2023 and even 2024 due to increasing supply, we think that further downside risks are limited in scope, especially in the case of the charter market. The potential reopening of the Chinese economy could act as a key supporting factor for shipping demand in 2H 2023 and could reinflate the sector, a time when inventory destocking might reach completion by 1H 2023, of which we could see a promising reflation in output as well. In our view, the HAH stock price has reflected the worst case scenario, as 2022 P/E is only at a shockingly low 2.8x at current price. We thus expect a re-rating for the stock in 2023, when shipping demand starts to recover. Given our expectation that 2024 will be the worst year for HAH earnings, we use our fine-tuned estimated 2024 EPS of VND 8,558 and a P/E ratio of 5x (historical average P/E in the last cycle under normal conditions) to derive a new target price of VND 42,800/share, implying a 30% upside. We upgrade our rating to BUY.

Operationally for 3Q2022, the service price increase since August enabled 5% revenue growth YoY.  On the other hand, net margin was significantly reduced to 33% compared to 48% of 3Q2021 (an unusually high net margin level), but is in line with past net margin in the range of 30-38%.  Lower margin is also due to higher material and staff cost, which kicked in since late August, according to the management.  We expect that gross margin will pick up in 4Q to reflect higher service prices.  

FRT net income surged by 81% YoY in 3Q22 from last year’s low base, a time when the company had to temporarily close down stores due to lockdown orders. Nevertheless, given headwind variables of (i) sluggish demand on macroeconomic weakness, (ii) delay in the delivery of iPhone 14, (iii) high base nature of 4Q21 when the company benefited from a surge in laptop sales and pent up demand, and (iv) deteriorating net financial income due to interest rate hikes and high leveraged position, we estimate 4Q22 net income of FRT to be slashed by -72% YoY. As such, 2022-2023 net income is projected at VND 396 bn (-11% YoY) and VND 429 bn (+8% YoY). Despite dismal demand for ICT products in the coming year, 2023 net income may still increase by 8% YoY thanks to (1) higher profit from the Long Chau pharmacy chain (net income of VND 62-96 bn in 2022-2023) and (2) the delay of recognition of income from iPhone 14 from 2022 to 2023. With lower 2023 financials and target multiples, we derive a new target price for FRT at VND 60,000. We downgrade our rating to UNDERPERFORM (a -10% downside from the current share price).

Given all of the recent volatility in the property and corporate bond markets, we believe that investors should focus on those banks which have limited exposure to these markets. Those banks tend to have strong deposits and conservative credit buffers. VCB satisfies these conditions, given its prudent lending practices and strong risk management. VCB should also be the beneficiary of being a ‘flight to quality’ by retail depositors, which should mitigate near-term NIM compression. We are, however, concerned with the bank’s current capital position, as CAR (Basel II) is 9.35% - intimating a capital raise is needed. Under our model, we assume that a 6.5% new share issuance will be completed by the end of 2023, which would be additive to CAR by between 200-250bps.

We maintain our positive outlook on KBC’s industrial park business given potential FDI inflows following the relocation trend of production from China to Vietnam, as noted by the recent expansion of Goertek or Foxconn (key Apple’s vendors) to KBC’s industrial parks. In addition, KBC has obtained approval from the Prime Minister for two new projects in Long An with a total land area of 1,120 ha. We expect that the new land bank will help KBC maintain growth after key operational IPs (Quang Chau, Tan Phu Trung & NSHL) are fully let.  According to management, KBC has signed principal contracts/MoUs with several clients to let 126 ha in the Nam Son Hap Linh IP and Quang Chau IP. Total contracted value could be as much as VND 4.3 tn, of which KBC received an approx. ~5% deposit with the remainder to be collected on a routine basis following the progress of land delivery. It is in the interest of KBC to facilitate this process to support the firm’s near-term liquidity given the fact that over half of its debt is short-term in nature and that VND 2.9 tn bonds (74% of outstanding bonds) will mature in 1H23 – intimating significant balance sheet liquidity pressure.

During its recent analyst meeting, MWG’s management laid out that 4Q22 financial performance will be hit by poor discretionary spending, interest rate hikes and FX losses. For October 2022, total revenue may reach VND 10.9 tn (-11% YoY), of which ICT & CE revenue declined by -18% YoY to VND 8.3 tn, while the grocery revenue rose by 22% YoY to VND 2.37 tn. The management expects 2022 net income to decline by -10% YoY, equivalent to 4Q22 net income growth of -40% YoY. For 2023, the company expects earnings of the ICT & CE business to improve only from 2H. Meanwhile, the profitability of the grocery business is improving, and the segment posted positive EBITDA at the company level in October. Capital raising for BHX is still on track, and expected to be completed in 1Q23. We cut 2022-2023 net income of MWG by 15% and 19% to VND 4.37 tn (-11% YoY) and VND 4.74 tn (+8.4% YoY) respectively. Even though earnings of the ICT & CE segment may decline in 2023, the improvement in profitability of the grocery segment and the absence of one-off restructuring expenses should help MWG to post positive net income growth in 2023. 

ACB posted a pretax profit of VND 4.5 tn (+71.1% YoY) in 3Q22, fueled by solid credit growth (+11.1%), strong interest income growth (+33.4% YoY), robust fee income (+36.4% YoY), and the reduction in loss provisions (-89% YoY). Notably, the NIM kept heading upward without interruption. Despite modestly weaker asset quality having in 3Q22, ACB has maintained a very robust credit buffer which eased pressure for credit provision expenses and facilitated stellar earnings growth momentum. Restructured loans declined -13.9% QoQ (approx. VND 11.2 tn), and a total lack of corporate bond balance enabled ACB to be less impacted by current market condition. Despite major headwinds being included our assumption and a reduction in our 1Y TP to VND 26,300 per share (from VND 34,400), we reiterate our BUY rating on the shares of ACB given the upside of 29.2%.