Malaysia Plantations – An ESG Mountain to Climb Author: kltrader | Publish date: Mon, 18 Oct 2021, 10:11 AM
Macquarie Equities Research (MQ Research) resumes coverage on Malaysian plantations with a non-consensus underweight view as it expects crude palm oil (CPO) prices to decline more than consensus, and for structural environmental, social and governance (ESG) headwinds to cap upside due to reliance on foreign labour. In its report dated 15 October, MQ Research says its top pick is Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) with an Outperform rating and lists its order of preference for Malaysian plantation stocks.
Resuming coverage of Malaysian Plantations on a negative note MQ Research resumes Malaysian Plantation coverage with a non-consensus Underweight (UW) stance. In order of preference, KLK (Outperform (OP), Target Price (TP): RM25.30) > IOI Corporation (IOI) (Neutral (N), TP: RM3.70) > Sime Darby Plantation (SDPL) (Underperform (UP), TP: RM3.00) > Genting Plantation (GenP) (UP, TP: RM5.00). MQ Research prefers planters that are proactive in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), have higher downstream exposure, and good operational metrics (KLK). MQ Research dislikes planters with high upstream exposure and poor operational metrics (GenP). As long as negative ESG issues, which have graduated from mainly ‘E’ to ‘S’ headlines, remain unresolved, MQ Research believes share prices will be capped despite rises in the CPO price. Key downside catalyst for the sector is downturn in CPO prices and the emergence of any further negative ESG headlines.
Downturn in CPO Prices While the market factors in lower CPO prices, MQ Research’s FY22E/23E CPO price assumptions are 6/10%% below the street, which MQ Research expects to result in further sell-down of the sector (CY21E-23E: RM3,800/RM3,000/RM2,600 per mt). MQ Research’s lower CPO assumptions are premised on (i) better labour supply amongst Malaysia planters; and (ii) slowing soy bean demand from China as hog prices normalise. CPO and share prices have diverged in CY21 year to date (YTD) as the industry was overshadowed by ESG concerns. With valuations of Malaysian planters still above Indonesian peers and dividends insufficient to justify them as defensive play, MQ Research believes investors will choose Indonesia peers over Malaysia.
Reliance on Foreign Labour Still Risky Any further emergence of negative labour headlines would deflate the sector even more. In the six months following SDPL’s WRO (Withhold Release Order), its share price declined 20% (vs. KLCI benchmark -8%). Planters are one of the most at-risk industries for labour abuse allegations, given (i) operations expand into rural areas, making them difficult to monitor; (ii) workers are mainly hired from other countries, increasing susceptibility to illegal hiring processes; and (iii) difficulty in automating processes. As these issues are unlikely to be solved soon, there is a likelihood more negative news emerges, which is a key derating catalyst. However, MQ Research still believes palm oil is not without its long-term redeeming qualities.
KLK Top Pick, GenP Least Preferred After CPO futures touched RM5,000/mt, MQ Research believes it is a good time to sell. Even if the CPO price remains high, MQ Research expects any rallies in share prices to be short-lived. MQ Research’s top pick is integrated player KLK due to its earnings cushion from downstream operations and being an active M&A seeker. MQ Research’s least preferred is GenP, on large upstream earnings exposure and biodiesel-focused downstream operations. Upside risks: Higher dividend payout, La Niña onset, significant brownfield acquisitions.
"The current of hype of ESG trend which is unsustainable....give a good sound contrarian opportunity for a very strong rebound & upside for plantation going fwd loh!"
PLANTATION THE BEST HEDGE AGAINST INFLATION & DEPRESSION LOH!
Amid lucrative earnings , funds are pouring back to oil & gas sector . ESG issue is put at back burners temporarily. Will foreign funds and local funds (EPF and KWAP particularly) stop selling down or even snap up plantation counters amid historic earning ?
CPO prices keep on increasing for this 3 consecutive days, already hits RM5161. As long as the CPO can maintain or above RM4500 per tonne, the profit margin is huge.
Don't get conned by the operators ! next month there will be dividend annoucement maybe at least 15 sen . The only direction for palm oil price is up !
When an opportunity presents itself u flers do not take it when you see the price shoot to 3.39 u chase the operators know when to catch you better u hetam the operators kaw2 lah instead of letting them to squeeze u
What are the positive factors favoring the oil palm industry especially the upstream oil palm companies with huge amount of oil pal estates:
1. RM to USD is > RM4.15++ (Oil palm export proceeds in USD will bring back more RM to their kitty).
2. Good CPO price > RM4.5K/ton to RM5.0K/ton ++. (Same efforts, but selling at extremely good prices. Laughing all the way to the bank).
3. Most raw materials & costs of productions are sourced locally in RM including fertilizers as Malaysia has a strong resource-based economies as Malaysia has been in oil palm industry business for more than 50-60 years and so almost everything is local.
4. Upstream oil palm business is simple & no need for a Rocket Scientist to teach. Follow the basics, follow SOp & get them right.
5. For gold, steel, etc, closing stocks are based on purchasers from suppliers of them. (So, you realize when the gold, steels, etc are very high in prices, high profits are reported & when their closing stocks are high - Quantity x Closing Stock Price Valuation).
6. For oil palm estates, the closing stocks are on the trees & keep on harvesting from its own sources (oil palm estates), so no need to buy unless you are skewed more towards CPO extraction milling & trading. Keep producing, harvesting & get more values from the trees.
7. So, for the same efforts, for the same marginal increase in costs (fertilisers & labour), the operating profits generated as explained in above are 1.5 fold,2 folds, 2.5 folds, etc.
8. I sit comfortable with my simple business model analysis with oil palm industry & the oil palm companies I invest in for long term (LT) & know that I will reap from my patience & be rewarded.
The small cap and 2nd liners plantation counters are making good progress in their share price increase, But the big cap or counters where Sovereign funds holding significant stakes are having poor showing ! The sector overall lackluster performance (share price wise ) is predominantly due to the dampening effect of the fund continuous sell down despite robust earnings in this sector.
Counters where sovereign funds are not shareholders: Bplant, THplant, MHC, cepat, etc
Counters with low shareholding from Sovereign funds: Taann HSplant Sop Swkpltn For Taann and SOP, I think the funds shall complete the disposal by oct/Nov. Good chance for these counters to perform soon.
Counters where Sovereign funds hold substantially: Simepltn. IOI Genp Klk
Counters without EPF and KWAP : THplant +14.5% Bplant. +4.9% Mhc. +3.8% Cepat. +1.3%
Big cap /counters with EPF/KWAP as shareholders: Simepltn - 1.4% IOI. - 0.74% Genp. - 1.83% Klk. +0.35% Taann. - 2.74% Swkpltn. Unchanged SOP. +. 0.77%
I believe EPF and /or KWAP are still selling down today . Only local retailers and some corporates are absorbing the selling and that’s not enough to move price to reflect the robust fundamental of CPO .
Buy ! If you look at the production report on their palm oil production for July - Sept 2021 there was actually an increase in production in these period as compared to the previous one. Super profit for the next 6 months for sure. Don't worry of what others are saying. When Top gloves was trading at RM30 some IBs gave the TP of RM50 when it was trading around RM35 the IBs said it will go to RM80 only to see it fall like a deflated parachutte and now all IBs have downgraded the gloves counters hurting everyone ! The only negative about Taan is the windfall tax
The windfall tax is not new . It has been around since 2008. The IBs rating for plantation sector have been like this : When CPO $3,000 , price will fall to $2,500 , neutral rating When CPO $3,500 , price will fall to $2,700 , neutral rating When CPO $4,000 , price will fall to $2,800 , neutral rating When CPO $4,500 , price will fall to $3,000 , neutral rating When CPO $5,000, price will fall to $3,200 , neutral rating When CPO $5,300 , price will fall to $3,300 , neutral rating Listening to IBs will bring you to Holland !
No need to think too much. The records are so transparent, you can get good estimate of the sales figures which will be record high. Just buy. Go for Jtiasa, Bplant and Thplant...grossly undervalued
"When Top gloves was trading at RM30 some IBs gave the TP of RM50 when it was trading around RM35 the IBs said it will go to RM80 only to see it fall like a deflated parachutte and now all IBs have downgraded the gloves counters hurting everyone !"
Titan, that statement is accurate and yet funny at the same time. LOL. Just saw TOP GLOVE's dividend yield, 20% dividend yield. seems tempting to buy plus its at its lowest.
@Thomas Chan perhaps the price of gloves counters have fallen to a more reasonsble level. Even Kossan paid a total of 36 sen a share giving a yield of more than 14% but when you go for the 12 sen pending dividend that is no guarantee that you may not suffer capital loss later !
This book is the result of the author's many years of experience and observation throughout his 26 years in the stockbroking industry. It was written for general public to learn to invest based on facts and not on fantasies or hearsay....
stockraider
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Posted by stockraider > 2021-10-17 18:53 | Report Abuse
Whether great depression or great hyper inflation !
Always protect yourself with cheap highly profitable plantation business & its land mah!
Posted by calvintaneng > Oct 17, 2021 6:48 PM | Report Abuse
In money printing the Rich who hold cash will turn into beggars with rags
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL8d91vdR9g
Posted by stockraider > Oct 17, 2021 6:51 PM | Report Abuse X
Why cheap plantation land & farm land leh ??
Bcos limited supply as they cannot manufacture plantation mah!
So it has deep value loh!