LAST year was a black spot for global financial markets that experienced a big hit.

 

In Malaysia, the FBM KLCI was down 5.91% but does that mean that local stocks are not worth a look?

 

On the contrary, the slide in prices has made stock-picking more appealing. In some cases, for the short-term, but in most cases, for the longer-term.

 

The depressed prices are giving investors opportunities to start scouting around and maybe start nibbling at certain counters that are seeing some real value emerging.

 

In this regard, StarBizWeek has chosen 10 counters for investors to look at.

 

The stocks are picks by fund managers and journalists that track corporate companies listed on Bursa Malaysia.

 

FUND MANAGERS’ PICKS

 

FRANCIS ENG

Chief investment officer

UOB Asset Management (M) Bhd

 

PENTAMASTER CORP BHD

Market capitalisation: RM747.1mil

Fifty-two-week high: RM3.79

Fifty-two-week low: RM1.70

 

 

PENTAMASTER is an automated testing, automation manufacturing and technology solutions provider. The company’s main customers are in the telecommunications, automotive, semiconductor, consumer electronics and medical devices industry. Pentamaster employs over 350 engineers and is based in Penang.

 

We believe that Pentamaster can sustain its earnings momentum going forward, underpinned by a few key factors. Firstly, we expect demand for Pentamaster’s testing solutions to be driven by increasing volume of smart sensors and 3D sensing technology in smartphones.

 

Secondly, Pentamaster’s continuous diversification efforts and expansion into new segments, particularly the automotive and medical industries, are starting to yield results. Demand from the automotive and medical sectors tends to be relatively more stable compared with semiconductors, which can be cyclical. There are growth prospects for Pentamaster in the automotive sector, especially in electric vehicles.

 

Thirdly, Pentamaster has developed in-house automation systems which have capabilities in automating manufacturing processes. We believe that there is strong growth potential for such systems as more manufacturing companies embrace Industry 4.0.

Pentamaster is poised to capture opportunities as its capacity has almost tripled with the completion of a new plant in Batu Kawan in mid-2018.

 

Additionally, Pentamaster could be a beneficiary of the US-China trade war if multinational manufacturers who shift their production from China to Malaysia were to source their test equipment from local suppliers.

 

Valuation-wise, Pentamaster is trading at a price earnings ratio (PER) of 10 times in financial year 2019, which is at a discount to its equipment maker peers which are trading at more than 20 times the PER. The company has a strong balance sheet with net cash equivalent to 30% of its market cap.

 

VINCENT LAU

Vice-president of research

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd

 

BCM ALLIANCE BHD

 

Market capitalisation: RM73.72mil

Fifty-two-week high: 25 sen

Fifty-two-week low: 14 sen

 

 

MEDICAL devices and laundry company BCM Alliance is at its inflection point in 2019.

 

Its share price has been langushing since its initial public offering (IPO) in 2016, where it was listed at 19 sen.

 

Things are set to change from a combination of a jump in its existing healthcare business, mergers and acquisitions as well as overseas expansion that will see BCM becoming a more serious medical devices player.

 

Fundamentals-wise, BCM is trading at a historical PER of 10 times. Coupled with a net cash position of RM11.7mil, the company is primed to capitalise on opportunities that come its way.

 

It also had an order book of RM42.3mil as at Oct 31, 2018. At its current price of 18 sen, the stock is trading below its IPO price, and only has a market capitalisation of RM71.61mil.

 

BCM is in the business of selling medical equipment and devices, and providing commercial laundry services. The medical devices business is now seeing traction, thanks to healthy orders from the KPJ Group of Hospitals and Columbia Asia.

 

The company is anticipating the replacement of several medical imaging equipment by its major clients this year. Anecdotally, it has already received these orders, with delivery expected before the first-half of 2019.

 

At the same time, BCM is also looking to expand its existing portfolio of products and brands. For example, BCM was appointed as a distributor of Siemens Healthineers’ range of cardiac angiography system and fluoroscopy system last February. Meanwhile, BCM also acquired a 51.03% stake in healthcare company Cypress Medic Sdn Bhd in January 2018 for RM1.72mil cash. This came with a profit guarantee of RM600,000 in the first year.

 

As Cypress is in its rapid stage of growth, BCM could be looking to buy the remaining portion of Cypress it does not own.

 

These have yet to take into account the total healthcare industry spending in Malaysia, which is expected to reach RM80bil by 2020 from RM52bil at end-2017.

 

For 2019, the government is allocating about RM29bil for the Health Ministry, an increase of 7.8% compared with the previous year.

 

Out of this, RM10.8bil will be allocated to restoring clinics and hospitals as well as purchasing medical equipment and medicine. This will directly benefit BCM.

 

MOHD REDZA ABDUL RAHMAN

Head of research

MIDF Research

 

AIRASIA GROUP BHD

 

Market capitalisation: RM9.76bil

Fifty-two-week high: RM3.85

Fifty-two-week low: RM2.07

 

IN spite of the unfavourable fuel price movement, AirAsia Group Bhd (AAGB) managed to rake in a nine-month financial year 2018 (9M18) core net profit of RM805.8mil.

 

While its earnings saw a 33% decline in 9M18, its short-haul business model proved to be defensive, with the earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) margin standing close to 20% during the period.

 

Tracing back to the third quarter of financial year 2015 (3Q15), the quarter experienced a net loss after tax of RM405.7mil before recording a net profit of RM554.1mil in 4Q15. The main reason for the recovery was the 12.9% decline in the average Brent crude oil price in 4Q15; from US$51.29 per barrel to US$44.59 per barrel.

 

For 4Q18, the Brent crude oil price had dropped by almost 40% to hover around US$50 per barrel to US$55 per barrel in the recent weeks, in contrast to the 7.4% rise in 3Q18.

 

We believe that jet fuel prices will follow suit and that AAGB will be able to take advantage by hedging more in the declining trend in oil prices.

 

While the company added 27 planes last year, which translated to a 13.3% increase in the ASK (available seat kilometers), its load factor remained resilient at an average of 85%.

 

As such, we expect AAGB to be able to reap the benefit in FY19. We opine that this hedging policy will provide a shield to the volatility of oil prices next year.

 

Furthermore, according to Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), passenger growth at its locally operated airport for the 11 months of 2018 saw a 2.2% growth to 89.4 million, and is on track to cross the psychological 100-million mark this year (2017: 96.5 million). On the other hand, despite the current tiff between AAGB and MAHB on passenger service charges, we believe that the government will formulate an amicable solution for both parties.

 

We maintain our “buy” call on AAGB, with a target price of RM3.48 per share.

 

WRITERS’ PICKS

 

GENTING BHD

 

Market capitalisation: RM22.83bil

Fifty-two-week high: RM9.58

Fifty-two-week low: RM5.93

 

 

GENTING Bhd was one of the first companies to track how much investors from the initial public offering had made. The message from conveying such information to investors was just how well off they would have been if they had held on to the original shares from the listing.

 

The growth of Genting has been splendid up to recently when the stock took a beating from a sequence of bad news that affected the companies it owns. From subsidiary Genting Malaysia being hit after 20th Century Fox World pulled out from the outdoor theme park to higher gaming taxes. Wynn Resorts Holdings LLC filed a lawsuit against Resorts World Las Vegas for allegedly having a similar architectural design. The stock has fallen to its lowest level since June 2010.

 

The decline in Genting’s share price has been somewhat of a surprise, but given its blue-chip status, the odds of Genting’s shares picking up from the current price of RM5.93 a share from RM9.57 is higher than it falling by the same degree.

 

The reason why Genting is a stock to look at is the diversity of its business. As a conglomerate, Genting Malaysia’s contribution to Genting’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) is about 34%, according to CGSCIMB. Genting Singapore accounts for 45% of Genting’s Ebitda and its power division 5%.

 

The other reason is the cash that the group holds. At the end of September last year, Genting had RM31.3bil in cash. Its long-term borrowings stand at RM26.7bil, but this is a company that generated close to RM5bil in operating cashflow for the three quarters of last year, giving it significant heft in using its financial strength in the future.

 

Furthermore, and notwithstanding its legal problems, it is going to open its casino in Las Vegas next year and whatever current problems it has do not detract from the current operations of the group that still remains solid. These problems will be fixed in time and the solidity of its operations have not been impaired significantly. — By JAGDEV SINGH SIDHU

 

HSS ENGINEERS BHD

 

Market capitalisation: RM446.28mil

Fifty-two-week high: RM1.91

Fifty-two-week low: 44.5 sen

 

 

ENGINEERING and project management consultant HSS Engineers has been one of the more outstanding engineering companies in Malaysia. It has been delivering growth consistently and has been steadily increasing its order book. Its share price has also stayed resilient despite the bearish market over the last three months.

 

As it is also involved in design, net margins have been in double digits.

 

Its share price’s ability to weather the stormy season could be due to its diversification into the water sector, thus making it not just reliant on the construction sector, which is currently lacklustre.

 

At 93 sen, the share price is hovering between its 52-week low of 44.5 sen and 52-week high of RM1.91. At this price, it has a PER of some 20 times, with an indicated dividend yield of 2.5%.

 

Its acquisition of SMHB Engineering Sdn Bhd last year, an engineering consultancy firm with expertise in the water industry, was an initiative to expand its business in water infrastructure projects locally and abroad.

 

Over and above that, the company is anchored by its order book of RM588.6mil that will provide earnings visibility for the next two to three years,

 

Meanwhile, Budget 2019 has allocated RM690mil for the implementation of new water-supply projects and reducing non-revenue water (NRW). AffinHwang Research says the government has allocated RM590mil in 2019 to build more municipal sewerage treatment plants and network systems to connect households that are still using septic tanks and traditional systems.

 

“This is positive for HSS following its acquisition of SMHB Engineering, which is the largest local engineering consulting firm in the water and sewerage sectors. The group has also submitted tenders for water projects in Sabah and Sarawak, as water shortage in these states remains a concern for the government,” it says.

 

For its third quarter ended Sept 30, 2018, HSS Engineers saw its net profit jump more than three-fold to RM9.1mil compared with RM2.8mil a year ago, with equal contributions from the HSS Group as well as SMHB Engineering. Its revenue rose 44% to RM53.8mil in the third quarter, versus RM37.4 million previously.

 

With 495.9 million shares in issue, the stock has a market capitalisation of RM277.3mil.

 

HSS executive vice-chairman Tan Sri Kuna Sittampalam is the single largest shareholder with a 23.3% stake in the company. — By TEE LIN SAY

 

INARI AMERTRON BHD

 

Market capitalisation : RM3.9bil

Fifty-two-week high: RM2.48

Fifty-two-week low: RM1.23

 

THINGS may not be looking too good for the technology sector at the moment, but opportunities could arise from some companies in the heavily-battered sector this year.

 

With its value having fallen by about 50% from its peak, Inari’s shares are not only offering value, but also look attractive from a dividend-yield standpoint.

 

The counter is currently trading at 15.3 times its estimated earnings for the financial year ending June 30, 2019 (FY19), and 12.7 times the forecast earnings for FY20. This follows the recent correction of its share price from the peak of RM2.56 on Aug 9 last year to close at a 20-month low of RM1.27 on Thursday.

 

The current weakness in Inari’s share price, which is the result of the recent rout in global technology stocks, appears to give investors an opportunity to buy on weakness.

 

Fundamentally, the stock offers a decent dividend yield of about 5.1% at current levels, and the company boasts a relatively strong balance sheet that is backed by a net cash position of RM525mil.

 

A Bloomberg poll of 16 analysts puts the 12-month median target price for Inari at RM2, based on an average valuation of 23 times the group’s forward earnings.

 

This implies an upside of about 57% from Inari’s closing price on Thursday.

 

Given its expertise in the radio-frequency and optoelectronics segments, Inari is seen to be in a strong position to gain from the adoption of 5G connectivity.

 

In addition, Inari’s recent diversification into laser devices is expected to bring in new businesses that could further boost the company’s bottom line.

 

Inari posted a lower net profit of RM60.2mil for the first quarter ended Sept 30, 2018, down 12% from RM68.4mil in the corresponding quarter a year earlier, and its earnings per share fell to 1.91 sen from 2.25 sen previously.

 

During the period under review, the group’s revenue decreased 12.7% to RM325.7mil from RM373.1mil in the previous corresponding period.  - By CECILA KOK

 

AEON CO (M) BHD

 

Market capitalisation: RM1.97bil

Fifty-two-week high: RM2.65

Fifty-two-week low: RM1.39

 

 

 

 

SUPERCOMNET TECHNOLOGIES BHD

 

Market capitalisation: RM353.7mil

Fifty-two-week high: 73 sen

Fifty-two-week low: 29 sen

 

IT is the little-known ones that hold the biggest surprises. In the Malaysian equity universe, Supercomnet Technologies (Scomnet) is one such example.

 

The Ace Market-listed company makes polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compound as well as high-tech wires and cables for the information technology, telecommunications and automotive sectors locally and globally.

 

Post-14th general election to Nov 30, 2018, Scomnet was Bursa Malaysia’s second-biggest gainer, rising by over 104% even as the broader stock market was down.

 

The stock’s uptrend last year was well supported by its strong earnings delivery, led primarily by its subsidiary, Supercomal Medical Products Sdn Bhd (SMP), which was acquired in April 2018. SMP sells medical cables – approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States – and disposal pressure transducers, a device used in the medical devices sector.

 

Scomnet’s net profit in the first nine months of financial year 2018 surged 4.5 times to RM10.15mil, given the stronger revenue contribution from SMP. As at Sept 30, 2018, its gross profit margin was 24.87%, substantially higher than 4.55% a year earlier.

 

Scomnet is likely to maintain its earnings momentum this year, supported by SMP’s sustained bottom line performance.

 

SMP has a number of product offerings in the pipeline and expects to see strong orders this year. Stronger sales by SMP in 2019 will reflect positively in Scomnet’s earnings.

 

The continued growth in the technology sector this year, albeit an expected moderation due to the economic slowdown, will be a key upside factor for Scomnet.

 

The company will likely benefit from the sustained demand for high-tech wires and cables from the information technology, telecommunications and automotive sectors.

 

With the management eyeing more export markets, Scomnet could also capture a bigger demand for its products from abroad.

Scomnet was sitting comfortably on a cash pile of RM36.37mil as at Sept 30, 2018, with zero debt on its balance sheet. On a year-onyear comparison, the company’s net cash position has grown by almost 200%.

 

In absolute terms, Scomnet’s net cash ranks among the top-100 companies on Bursa Malaysia, at 87th position.

 

The company’s cash position provides it with ample room to undertake capital expenditure to build additional production capacity and seek greater market expansion, without being heavily reliant on borrowings. – By GANESWARAN KANA

 

N2N CONNECT BHD

 

Market capitalisation: RM582.8mil

Fifty-two-week high: RM1.37

Fifty-two-week low: 67 sen

 

 

IF the recent interest shown in its stock is anything to go by, N2N Connect is a growth story in the making.

 

N2N is one of Asia’s largest online trading platform providers with ambitions to develop an Asian Trading Hub, comprising of key South-East Asian markets, Hong Kong and Macau.

 

The hub, upon completion, could be a game-changer for the group, as it would allow brokers and other investors to trade in multiple asset classes across various exchanges via a single financial network.

 

This would serve as a complementary business for the ACE Market-listed company, which has its core business in its back office system (BOS) offerings for brokerages.

 

In line with these ambitions, some new investors were seen entering the group. Over the past six months, SBI Holdings and a subsidiary acquired stakes in the company, creating new opportunities for N2N to expedite its plans.

 

SBI Holdings Inc and SBI Japannext Co Ltd now own 19.9% and 11.65% direct stakes in N2N, respectively.

 

According to Japannext’s website, SBI Holdings has a 48.8% equity interest in the subsidiary, giving SBI an indirect interest in N2N.

 

One of the linchpins of the strategic tie-up is the leveraging of SBI’s blockchain technology to digitise the trading of financial instruments. According to a June 28 report by AmInvestment, N2N’s management has indicated that deployment of the blockchain-enabled platform could begin as early as 2019.

 

In the same report, the research house believes a Main Market transfer is “in the cards” for N2N given its profit track record, which should enhance the stock’s visibility.

 

The group’s US$20.6mil purchase of Hong Kong trading solutions provider AFE has boosted its bottom line.

 

The consolidation of AFE’s earnings saw N2N’s net profit jump to RM25.13mil in FY17 from RM11.75mil in the previous financial year. Revenue more than doubled to RM97.29mil from RM41.82mil in FY16.

 

As at Sept 30, 2018, N2N was sitting in a strong cash position of RM123.76mil.

 

For the nine months ended Sept 30, 2018, however, the company saw disappointing earnings, as it recorded a net profit of RM10.29mil compared with RM18.66mil in the previous corresponding period due to tax-related matters.

 

Despite the setback, the stock value has grown about 13.5% over 12 months as of Jan 3, 2019. — By FONG MIN YUAN

 

TUNE PROTECT GROUP BHD

 

Market capitalisation: RM421mil

Fifty-two-week high: RM1.08

Fifty-two-week low: 53 sen

 

 

TRADING near its five-year low, this insurance stock appears poised to ride on AirAsia group’s continued growth prospects.

Tune Protect is majority owned by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ Tune Group, which is also the controlling shareholder of AirAsia Group Bhd and AirAsia X Bhd (AAX).

 

It was recently reported that AirAsia targets to fly 100 million passengers in 2019.

 

This week, in a series of posts on Twitter, Fernandes said this year would be its long-haul, low-cost carrier AAX’s most successful year.

 

He also described the next decade as “super exciting.”

 

Tune Protect has strong support from Tune Group, which also owns Tune Hotels, and strategic alliances with AirAsia.

 

AirAsia passengers remain the main driver of the insurer’s top-line earnings, but at the same time, it is making good progress in growing its non-AirAsia segment.

 

In the first nine months of 2018, the airline group carried 61.4 million passengers across its network. The target set for 2018 was 90 million passengers,

 

Generally, long-haul passengers flown by AAX have a higher tendency of purchasing travel insurance plans.

 

In the past year, Tune Protect’s shares have fallen by close to half to 56 sen, giving it a market capitalisation of RM421mil as at press time.

 

At this level, the stock is trading at an attractive forward price earnings multiple of 6.8 times based on consensus earnings for FY19. It is also trading below its book value of 69 sen.

 

CGSCIMB projects a strong earnings growth for Tune Protect of 15%-16% in FY19-FY20, underpinned by the gradual recovery of its travel insurance business and expected strong growth in general insurance. The research house has upgraded the stock to a “buy” and pointed out that its dividend yield is enticing at a projected 6.7% based on FY19 forecast earnings.

 

To be sure, Tune Protect posted earnings and cash flows below analyst expectations for its third quarter ended Sept 30, 2018.

It also recently undertook a voluntary separation scheme.

 

Going forward, its key strategic thrusts are on growing revenue and improving its digital business.

 

MIDF notes that the stock has been oversold and reckons the insurance outfit is currently fine-tuning its model to fit future demand.

 

The stock slipped to a one-year low of 53 sen about two weeks ago. — By GURMEET KAUR

 

https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2019/01/05/stock-picks-for-2019/

 

 

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