The Straits Times Index (STI), comprising Singapore’s top 30
stocks, has posted a year-to-date return of -0.41%. While this is not the
kind of returns investors want to realize, it is representative of the mixed
year Singapore, an open and trade-focused city, has had.
This includes seeing several macroeconomic factors such as
the Brexit referendum passed, Trump winning the race to be the next U.S.
president and the on-going weakness in the oil & gas industry suppressing
business sentiments globally. Within Singapore, we are grappling with a
structural shift in our jobs market as we try to rely less on foreign labour.
While the returns of the STI is a reflection of global
uncertainties this year, if we take into account STI’s 3.2% dividend yield,
investors would have still seen a positive portfolio return. Going forward, it
seems we can expect more of the same, with many analysts and brokers taking
a dim view of 2017 as doubts in the form of Donald Trump’s unfolding policies
and a faster-paced interest rate hike in the U.S remain.
With that being said, opportunities will always exist in
stock markets. Investors not willing to do the extra legwork to research these
potential gems in the market will most likely lose out as the STI will continue
to give market returns – which will likely stay stunted in 2017 at close
to the 3,000 points mark.
As the STI, and by extension stocks with larger
capitalization, is likely to stay flat, small-cap stocks produce the bulk of
the “potential gems”. Here are four interesting stocks that have performed in
2016 and who look set to emulate this in 2017.
Health Management International (HMI)
HMI was listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) in 1999. The
Group owns and operates two specialist hospitals, Mahkota Medical Centre in
Malacca and Regency Specialist Hospital in Iskandar, in Malaysia. It is one of
only three healthcare operators approved by Singapore’s Ministry of Health for
use of Medisave by Singapore residents for overseas hospitalization or day
surgeries.
HMI has seen a steady growth in its patients and operations
over the years. In 2016, the Group achieved a 15% increase in revenue to close
to RM398 million and a 13.4% increase in EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortization) to close to RM85 million.
Its Mahkota Medical Centre was named “Malaysia Medical
Tourism Hospital of the Year” for 2015 and 2016. It also has approximately 10%
of Malaysia’s medical tourism market supported by 17 referral centres in
Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. Currently, it has 288 beds and occupancy
rate stands at 65%-67%.
It’s Regency Specialist Hospital, which is just a 15
minutes’ drive from the Woodlands Checkpoint, has 218 beds and operates at an
occupancy level of 70%-72%. It is also one of the fastest growing private
hospitals in Malaysia.
At the start of 2016, shares of HMI were trading at $0.34,
today, they are trading at close to $0.65, an increase of more than 91%. KGI
Fraser has initiated coverage on the stock with a 12-month target of $0.60 in
September 2016. With the stock trading over $0.65 already, it seems market
players have taken the view that it will continue delivering solid performance
in 2017.
Some Key Drivers For 2017
The medical industry is usually more resilient than many
other industries. With Malaysia offering more affordable healthcare options
than Singapore, it will be interesting to see if they are able to stand up to
the “Singaporean-standard” in terms of service quality. HMI will be one of the
companies that will benefit as they strive to achieve that.
HMI has announced that it will be undertaking an exercise to
bring 100% of the ownership of the hospitals into the listed company. This
should be accretive for existing shareholders. For its Mahkota Medical Centre,
it will be focused on the development of its Centres of Excellence to provide a
more holistic and comprehensive care at its hospital to ensure it remains a
choice destination for locals and medical tourists. It also has the capacity to
increase its occupancy levels which stands at around 67%.
For its Regency Specialist Hospital, it enjoys strong growth
in demand and healthy occupancy levels in 2016, and has plans to more than
double its existing capacity by constructing an extension block to be ready in
2019.
MM2 Asia
MM2 Asia was listed on SGX in December 2014 at $0.25,
becoming Singapore’s first film production to do so. Having produced over 80
movies since 2008, MM2 Asia hit the blocks running in 2015 with several
acquisitions, including a 51% stake in leading visual effects and animation
production studio, VividThree Productions, a 70% stake in mobile applications
developer and digital interactive solutions provider, Millinillion, and the
acquisition of two cinemas in Malaysia.
Not to be outdone in 2016, MM2 further ramped up its
operations by acquiring a 51% stake in UnUsUal Group of Companies, a leading
event and concert production and promotion firm, for $3.0 million, which they
subsequently announced plans for a potential separate listing. StarHub also
took notice in the stock and invested close to $18 million for almost 9% stake
in the company.
The Group also grew its cinema business by acquiring Mega
Cinemas Management, increasing its presence in Malaysia to 18 cinemas. Further,
MM2 Asia signed an MOU to establish a joint venture company with Dick Lee in
the business of music, artistes, creative direction, consultancy or related
industries.
In August 2016, it was only one of two Singapore listed
companies recognized as one of “Asia’s 200 Best Under A Billion”. During 2016,
MM2 Asia also undertook two separate exercises to split its stock. In February
2016, it split each of its shares into two, and in September 2016, it again
split each of its shares into two.
Having had a prolific year, DBS Vickers issued a “Buy” call
on them in November 2016 with a 12-month price target of $0.56 compared to its
current trading price of $0.445 (which should be multiplied by four, since it
undertook two share splits, if you’re comparing with its IPO price of $0.25).
Some of the key drivers for 2017:
Singaporeans love their movies; it is almost a national
past-time for us to go watch movies. With better quality local movies, MM2 may
be able to break mental barriers to many who still view them as inferior. In
Malaysia, movies are also a big past time, and its cinema business has the
potential boom as Malaysians grow in affluence.
Stronger and recurring growth from its cinema business which
is one of the top four operators after its acquisitions this year and the fact
that its subsidiary, UnUsUal group of companies, could also list and tap on new
funding and MM2 Asia’s presence in other regions in Asia for growth. Its core
business also has the potential to increase its presence in Asia, especially
North Asia.
Best World International
Best World International claims to be the first
direct-selling company to be listed on the SGX in 2004. Specializing in the
development, manufacture and distribution of skin care and nutritional and
wellness products, the company boasts close to 430,000 distributors in 12 countries
including
Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong,
China, Korea, Philippines, and Dubai.
Starting the year at $0.34, it now trades at $1.26. Despite
this almost three-fold increase, Maybank Kim Eng issued a “Buy” call on them in
November 2016 with a 12-month target price of $2.16. During the year, Best
World announced some interesting businesses that probably warranted this price
increase.
In May 2016, the company announced the acquisition of a new
factory for the purpose of ramping up its skincare manufacturing capabilities
in Singapore. This will also allow it to achieve better production and quality
control of its products. In July, the Group also incorporated a joint venture
company in the business of providing stem cell banking.
More importantly, the company was also awarded a direct
selling license in China to sell its products in the world second largest
economy. This was a great boost to the company as only 77 direct selling
licenses had been awarded in China since 2006, and of this, only 16 were to
foreign companies. China’s growing demand for consumer products had actually
effected a 19% growth in the market to more than RMB220 billion in 2015.
Best World also announced its third quarter results in
November. They achieved over 128.8% increase in revenue and over 258.2% in
profit for the nine months of their current financial year. This provides some
insights into the operational momentum which could snowball should their
business in China takes off.
Some of the key drivers for 2017:
Definitely the direct selling license issued by China’s
Ministry of Commerce offers the most exciting prospect. If the group is able to
leverage on its core brands to build an established presence in China, the
upside looks bright for the long-term.
Another potential upside has to do with the group’s joint
venture into stem cell banking. As more people are exposed to this potential,
they may opt for this service, which usually result in recurring revenue.
SUTL Enterprise Limited
SUTL Enterprise (formerly known as Achieva Limited) was
listed on the SGX through a reverse takeover in 2015 when the existing listed
company bought the marina business of its existing shareholder, SUTL Global Pte
Ltd, by issuing new shares, and in the process injecting fresh life into a
previously loss-making and obscure counter on SGX.
The company is now a leading developer, consultant and
operator of integrated marinas with the ONE°15 brand. It also owns the ONE°15
Marina Club at Sentosa.
As one of the few Asian marina consultancy companies
managing a U.S. marina in New York, they are a fast-growing name in the
industry. Subsequently, they have also announced a joint venture agreement at
the beginning of 2016 when they secured the development of another marina in
Iskandar Malaysia. This spurred them to win two more to-be-built contracts in
September in Jakarta, Indonesia and Zhuhai, China.
In January 2016, its share price was trading at $0.43, today;
it is trading close to $0.54.
Some of the key drivers for 2017:
As the yacht lifestyle gains interest and becomes more
mainstream, such services may also be more prevalent. This trend has already
seen growth in Singapore, and will likely show similar growth in other Asia
countries as affluence and interest levels increase.
In Europe alone, the marina business is a $4.4 billion
industry. By working to grow their market share in the U.S., Europe and Asia,
where their ONE°15 brand already have presence, it is exciting to see where it
will win its next contract. Particularly in Asia, where the group won its
latest two contracts, rising affluence is sparking the fastest growing market
in the boating industry.
What You Should Do In 2017
As discussed, 2017 is widely expected to be flat. During
times like this, investors have to be prepared to put in more work to uncover
quality stocks to achieve good returns.
As always, we don’t recommend you simply buy what we’ve
written about. Instead, we encourage you to learn more about these companies,
and other companies that may interest you. Only by doing this you will be able
to find interesting companies with good prospects.
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