COSCO SHIP HOLD(SH:601919) Hu Xiu·2025-07-07 22:47Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the strong cash returns and valuation of China COSCO Shipping Holdings (中远海控), emphasizing its resilience in the shipping industry despite concerns over trade wars and capacity expansion [1][3][4]. Group 1: Dividend and Returns - China COSCO Shipping Holdings implemented a dividend of 10.3 yuan per 10 shares for the annual report and 5.2 yuan for the interim report, resulting in a cash return of 10.29% for shareholders within a year [1]. - In contrast, Kweichow Moutai (贵州茅台) offered a lower dividend yield of 3.63% during the same period [2]. Group 2: Valuation and Market Concerns - The dividend yield of China COSCO Shipping Holdings is 2.8 times that of Kweichow Moutai, with a low dynamic price-to-earnings ratio of 5.1 times [3]. - Investor concerns stem from three main issues: trade wars leading to reduced cargo, capacity expansion causing freight rate collapse, and profit shrinkage when freight rates drop without a corresponding decrease in costs [3]. Group 3: Performance Analysis - Over the past six years, China COSCO Shipping Holdings has experienced fluctuations in performance due to the pandemic and trade wars, yet maintained an average annual net profit of 48.13 billion yuan, which is 80% of Kweichow Moutai's net profit over the same period [4]. - The shipping volume has shown stability, with only a 0.78% difference between 2019 and 2024, indicating that concerns about cargo availability may be overstated [5]. Group 4: Shipping Routes and Trends - The article discusses changes in major shipping routes, noting that the trans-Pacific route saw an increase in volume during the pandemic, while the Eurasian route has declined due to reduced purchasing power in Europe [6][9]. - The Asia-Pacific routes have shown significant growth, with a volume increase of 11.2% from 2019 to 2024, indicating a shift in trade dynamics [7][10]. Group 5: Revenue and Pricing Dynamics - Revenue from the trans-Pacific route has increased significantly despite fluctuations in shipping volume, with a revenue index of 210 in 2021 compared to 2019 [12]. - The Eurasian route has also seen a rise in revenue despite a decrease in shipping volume, with a revenue increase of 60% compared to 2019 [13]. Group 6: Cost and Profitability - The relationship between costs and prices is crucial, with shipping costs rising at a slower rate than freight rates, allowing shipping companies to maintain profitability [20][24]. - In 2024, the total cost as a percentage of revenue decreased to 65%, indicating improved profitability for China COSCO Shipping Holdings [27]. Group 7: Future Prospects - China COSCO Shipping Holdings is in discussions to acquire a stake in ports owned by Li Ka-shing, which could significantly enhance its revenue and operational capacity [32][40]. - The potential acquisition of a 25% stake in Li Ka-shing's ports could double the revenue and overseas throughput of China COSCO Shipping Holdings [40].