Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve announced a 25 basis point interest rate cut on October 29, marking the fifth cut since the easing cycle began in September 2024. This presents a favorable financing environment for the capital-intensive aircraft leasing industry, potentially driving a revaluation across the sector. Financial Optimization - The ongoing interest rate cut cycle is improving the financing environment for capital-intensive industries globally. China Aircraft Leasing has effectively seized this opportunity, utilizing its diverse financing channels to optimize costs and reduce leverage. [1] - Since 2025, the company has been active in financing, successfully issuing $160 million in senior unsecured notes with a 4.35 times oversubscription, marking its return to the U.S. dollar bond market since 2021. The initial pricing guidance was 6.4%, which narrowed to a final yield of 6.0%, setting a record for the narrowest spread in its dollar bond history. [1] - In March, the company increased its 2024 warehouse aircraft financing to $700 million, achieving over two times the target subscription amount from 20 top global financial institutions, making it one of the largest syndicate loans in aviation finance history. [2] - In the first half of the year, the company issued a 5-year RMB 1.5 billion corporate bond at a coupon rate of 2.38%, with a 1.73 times oversubscription, effectively lowering its overall financing costs. [2] - The company's leverage ratio improved from 9.1 times at the end of 2024 to 8.4 times in mid-2025, reflecting its successful debt structure optimization. [2] - As of mid-2025, the company had cash and cash equivalents of HKD 4.884 billion and unutilized borrowing of HKD 11.228 billion, totaling HKD 16.112 billion, indicating strong liquidity and financial resilience. [2] Credit Strengthening - China Aircraft Leasing is enhancing its financing capabilities and credit ratings, maintaining an AAA rating from two major domestic rating agencies with a stable outlook. [3] Operational Strength - In the first half of 2025, the company made significant progress in asset operations and global expansion, laying a solid foundation for long-term growth. [4] - The company operates a fleet of 181 aircraft, with 151 owned and 30 managed, achieving a balanced development model. Notably, 89% of its owned aircraft are narrow-body models, aligning with strong market demand. [5] - The core owned fleet's utilization rate reached 100%, with an average fleet age of 8.6 years and an average remaining lease term of 5.7 years, ensuring cash flow visibility and operational reliability. [5] - The company signed 21 new aircraft purchase agreements and completed the sale of 19 aircraft and 2 engines in the first half of the year, setting a new record for transactions. [6] - The company has a diverse customer base, with approximately 67% of its owned aircraft leased to Chinese airlines and over 30% to international clients, with expectations for further growth in overseas customer share. [7] Industry Outlook - The aircraft leasing industry is currently experiencing a high-growth cycle, with China Aircraft Leasing positioned well due to its dual advantages in asset and liability management. [8] - A shortage of aircraft and supply-demand imbalance are driving up asset values and leasing yields. Current reports indicate a backlog of over 15,000 aircraft, suggesting it could take over 10 years to meet this demand at a monthly delivery rate of 100 aircraft. [8] - Strong demand is evident, with the national civil aviation sector transporting 19.138 million passengers during the recent holiday period, a 3.2% increase from the previous year. [8] - The global aviation market is seeing a rise in operating lease penetration, with new aircraft rental rates exceeding pre-pandemic levels, creating significant market opportunities for leasing companies. [10] Profitability and Valuation - The interest rate cut cycle is expected to reduce interest expenses for China Aircraft Leasing, enhancing profit margins. A 100 basis point decrease in U.S. dollar interest rates could increase net profit by HKD 134 million. [11] - The company is characterized by high dividends, strong earnings elasticity, and low valuation, making it an attractive investment. [12] - The company plans to distribute an interim dividend of HKD 0.12 per share, totaling HKD 89.8 million, resulting in a dynamic dividend yield of 6.6% based on the current share price of HKD 4.53. [13] - The company's price-to-book ratio is currently 0.8, indicating potential for valuation recovery as earnings grow and leverage decreases, which could lead to improved credit ratings and financing costs. [13] - Several investment institutions have expressed optimism about the company, with target prices set at HKD 5.87 and HKD 6.00, reflecting a positive outlook on its performance. [14]
中国飞机租赁(01848.HK)：高景气周期中的沧海遗珠，多维利好叠加下的价值机遇