City Developments Limited - Lifted by hospitality and divestment gains

24 Aug 2022
  • 1H22 revenue of S$1.47bn (+23.5% YoY) in line at 46% of our forecast. PATMI exceeded at 107% due to divestment gains from Millennium Hilton Seoul of $526.2mn and $94mn gains from deconsolidation of CDLHT, excluding which, performance would have been in line.
  • All three core segments improved. Strong residential sales (712 units sold, in line) and recovery in the hospitality segment (RevPAR +110% YoY), which has turned EBITDA positive. Investment properties portfolio recovered with office and retail above expectations.
  • 639-unit JV EC project, Copen Grand set to be launched in 4Q22; demand for project expected to be robust. Hotel operations to also benefit from reduction of Covid-19 restrictions, M&A and divestment opportunities.
  • Downgrade to ACCUMULATE and lower RNAV-derived TP of $8.86 (prev. $9.19). We view CDL as a proxy for the Singapore residential market and hospitality recovery. CDL is trading at an attractive 40% discount to our RNAV/share of S$13.64. Asset monetisation, unlocking value through AEIs and redevelopments, and faster-than-expected recovery in hospitality portfolio are potential catalyst for CDL, which could help narrow the discount between CDL’s share price and RNAV. However, TP is reduced to $8.86 as we incorporate higher borrowing costs for FY22e/FY23e along with slower profit recognition for its residential properties.

 

 

 

The Positives

  • All three core segments improved. Residential sales remained robust in 1H22 despite cooling measures imposed at the end of the year. CDL sold 712 units with total sales value of $1.6bn vs. $1.7bn in 1H21. Sales value is comparable with 1H21 despite 27% less units sold as the Group’s existing inventory has been substantially sold. Its hotel operations globally improved with the easing of travel restrictions and the divestment of Millennium Hilton Seoul. Investment properties remained resilient with its office and retail portfolio recording strong occupancy in 1H22.

 

  • Hotel segment 1H22 PATMI ahead, at 60% FY22e. RevPAR surged 110% YoY, driven by a 53% increase in the average room rate and 16% points (58.5% from 42.6%) increase in occupancy. Hotels in US and Europe continued to recover faster than those in Asia, though average room rates increased across all regions, signalling a strong recovery momentum.

 

  • On-track for AUM target of US$5bn in 2023. Fund management remains an integral part of the Group’s transformational strategy and the Group will drive AUM growth via investment opportunities in both listed (IREIT and CDLHT) and unlisted platforms. It has an AUM of US$2.9bn, and management remains confident of hitting the Group’s US$5bn target by 2023. We believe one way it could boost its AUM is to pivot the proposed listing of its UK commercial REIT into a private fund.
  • 12 cents special dividend a surprise, share buyback under consideration. A special dividend of 12 cents was declared vs. 3 cents in the same period last year and 6 cents pre-Covid. We revise our FY22e dividend payout to 24 cents on the back of management’s optimistic outlook for rest of 2022. Management is considering adopting share buybacks due to the current significant discount to its RNAV.

 

The Negative

  • Replenishment of landbank to slow as land costs have surged. The management will be selective with the replenishment of its landbank. Management remains confident of replenishing its landbank as it believes that property prices will continue to trend up on the back of higher costs, though it expects volumes to slow.

 

Outlook

Healthy inventory levels allow for more conservative bidding

Cumulative launch pipeline of 1,931 units with the next launch Copen Grand (Tengah Garden Walk EC, 639 units) targeted for 4Q22. CDL also picked up three more sites which will add ~1,458 units to the pipeline. CDL’s inventory levels are healthy, allowing it to be more selective and conservative when bidding for new sites. The site at Upper Bukit Timah Road was purchased in an off-market deal from Tan Chong Realty for S$126.3mn or S$603 psf, and could yield 603 units. On 26 Jan 2022, CDL won the tender for the Jalan Tembusu GLS with a bid of S$589.9mn or S$1,302 psf, adding 640 units to the pipeline. Given the higher land prices and cost of construction, CDL is aiming for margins of at least 10% for new projects.

 

Strategic review of global hospitality portfolio

CDL has launched a strategic review of its global hospitality portfolio that should help narrow the discount to its RNAV. Its restructuring plans for its hotel business, Millennium & Copthorne, in the next few years should help the Group crystalise value for its assets. These restructuring plans may include asset divestments, portfolio optimisation as well as a rebranding of its hotels to improve earnings and drive upside to NAV.

About the author

Terence Chua
Senior Research Analyst
Phillip Securities Research

Terence specialises in the consumer, conglomerate and industrials sector. He has over five years of experience as an analyst in the buy- and sell-side. As an institutional fund management analyst, he sat on the China-Hong Kong desk. Terence was ranked top 3 for Best Analyst under the small caps and energy category in the Asia Money poll 2018.

He graduated from the Singapore Management University with a major in Finance (Honours), and is the honoured recipient of the CFA scholarship.

Latest Reports

Contact us to Open an Account

Need Assistance? Share your Details and we’ll get back to you

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This material is provided by Phillip Capital Management (S) Ltd (“PCM”) for general information only and does not constitute a recommendation, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to invest in any of the exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) or the unit trust (“Products”) mentioned herein. It does not have any regard to your specific investment objectives, financial situation and any of your particular needs. You should read the Prospectus and the accompanying Product Highlights Sheet (“PHS”) for key features, key risks and other important information of the Products and obtain advice from a financial adviser (“FA“) pursuant to a separate engagement before making a commitment to invest in the Products. In the event that you choose not to obtain advice from a FA, you should assess whether the Products are suitable for you before proceeding to invest. A copy of the Prospectus and PHS are available from PCM, any of its Participating Dealers (“PDs“) for the ETF, or any of its authorised distributors for the unit trust managed by PCM.  

An ETF is not like a typical unit trust as the units of the ETF (the “Units“) are to be listed and traded like any share on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”). Listing on the SGX-ST does not guarantee a liquid market for the Units which may be traded at prices above or below its NAV or may be suspended or delisted. Investors may buy or sell the Units on SGX-ST when it is listed. Investors cannot create or redeem Units directly with PCM and have no rights to request PCM to redeem or purchase their Units. Creation and redemption of Units are through PDs if investors are clients of the PDs, who have no obligation to agree to create or redeem Units on behalf of any investor and may impose terms and conditions in connection with such creation or redemption orders. Please refer to the Prospectus of the ETF for more details.  

Investments are subject to investment risks including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. The purchase of a unit in a fund is not the same as placing your money on deposit with a bank or deposit-taking company. There is no guarantee as to the amount of capital invested or return received. The value of the units and the income accruing to the units may fall or rise. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of the Products. There can be no assurance that investment objectives will be achieved.  

Where applicable, fund(s) may invest in financial derivatives and/or participate in securities lending and repurchase transactions for the purpose of hedging and/or efficient portfolio management, subject to the relevant regulatory requirements. PCM reserves the discretion to determine if currency exposure should be hedged actively, passively or not at all, in the best interest of the Products.  

The regular dividend distributions, out of either income and/or capital, are not guaranteed and subject to PCM’s discretion. Past payout yields and payments do not represent future payout yields and payments. Such dividend distributions will reduce the available capital for reinvestment and may result in an immediate decrease in the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Products. Please refer to <www.phillipfunds.com> for more information in relation to the dividend distributions.  

The information provided herein may be obtained or compiled from public and/or third party sources that PCM has no reason to believe are unreliable. Any opinion or view herein is an expression of belief of the individual author or the indicated source (as applicable) only. PCM makes no representation or warranty that such information is accurate, complete, verified or should be relied upon as such. The information does not constitute, and should not be used as a substitute for tax, legal or investment advice.  

The information herein are not for any person in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or availability for use would contravene any applicable law or regulation or would subject PCM to any registration or licensing requirement in such jurisdiction or country. The Products is not offered to U.S. Persons. PhillipCapital Group of Companies, including PCM, their affiliates and/or their officers, directors and/or employees may own or have positions in the Products. Any member of the PhillipCapital Group of Companies may have acted upon or used the information, analyses and opinions herein before they have been published. 

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.  

 

Phillip Capital Management (S) Ltd (Co. Reg. No. 199905233W)  
250 North Bridge Road #06-00, Raffles City Tower ,Singapore 179101 
Tel: (65) 6230 8133 Fax: (65) 65383066 www.phillipfunds.com