CapitaLand Retail China Trust - Phillip Securities 2016-10-26: Weaker RMB and higher property tax provisions for Beijing properties dented earnings amidst stable mall operations

CAPITALAND RETAIL CHINA TRUST AU8U.SI

CapitaLand Retail China Trust - Weaker RMB and higher property tax provisions for Beijing properties dented earnings amidst stable mall operations

3Q 2016 NPI in RMB terms grew 0.6% y-o-y. RMB weakened against SGD by c.8.1% from 3Q15 to 3Q16.
New Value-Added Tax (VAT) and property tax provisions also impacted earnings.
New acquisition Galleria to boost portfolio earnings from 1 Oct 2016.
We remain positive on China’s retail sales and CRCT’s portfolio of shopping malls.

Weaker growth from Beijing malls due to higher property tax provisions to cater to a change in Beijing property tax policies, VAT expenses and a weaker RMB against the SGD contributed to a 10.6% y-o-y fall in 3Q DPU.
Portfolio occupancy remained stable at 95.2% from 95.1% in FY15, and YTD rental reversions came in at 5.6% (vs 8.1% in FY15).

On top of slower YTD tenant sales growth of 1.8% (vs 11.6% in FY15), CRCT had to contend with higher property tax provisions, VAT, and a weaker RMB. Excluding the impact of the additional property taxes, 3Q16 NPI in RMB terms would have been 7.4% higher y-o-y.

The road closure of Zhongshan Avenue for the construction of the new Subway Line 6 station impacted the operations of CapitaMall Minzhongleyuan. The road and new Subway station is now slated to reopen on 28 December 2016.
Occupancy for the mall improved to 80.1% from 70.5% in 2Q16 with leasing momentum increasing.
With the impending light at the end of the tunnel approaching, we expect Minzhongleyuan to start registering strong yo-y growth in tenant sales and NPI from 4Q16.

Despite slowing portfolio tenant sales growth, we note that tenant sales growth y-o-y has been stabilizing at low single digit for the past three quarters. (Q1: 1%, Q2: 1.2%, Q3: 1.8%).
We also note China’s improving sentiment and retail sales data in recent months since hitting a bottom of 10% y-o-y growth in May 2016. We remain confident of management’s ability and strong relationships with retailers to continue to attract quality retailers to boost tenant sales and mall rental revenue.

We maintain our ACCUMULATE rating with an unchanged DDM-derived target price of S$1.62.
With most of its main malls in Beijing largely stable operationally, CRCT continues to provide investors with exposure to the growing Chinese consumer spending power stemming from rapid urbanization in China.

Dehong Tan Phillip Securities | http://www.poems.com.sg/ 2016-10-26

Phillip Securities SGX Stock Analyst Report ACCUMULATE Maintain ACCUMULATE 1.620 Up 1.620