The not too long ago ended fourth quarter of 2021 (This fall’21) earnings season was certainly an honest quarter, led by a robust efficiency amongst a few of Malaysia’s largest corporations, particularly within the resource-based sector, on the again of agency commodity costs, in addition to from the banking sector.
Notable surprises had been additionally seen amongst chosen property-based corporations within the This fall interval because the Dwelling Possession Marketing campaign got here to an finish on Dec 31, 2021.
On the flip facet, some technology-based corporations fell in need of expectations, whereas glovemakers noticed sharp declines in internet earnings as the common promoting worth of their merchandise fell to the degrees final seen earlier than the pandemic.
This fall nominal GDP expanded
Economically, the Malaysian economic system rebounded within the This fall interval, because the economic system expanded by 6.6% quarter-on-quarter (qoq) and three.6% year-on-year (yoy), reversing the brief technical recession when the economic system contracted by 3.6% qoq within the previous quarter.
With the expansion within the This fall interval, the Malaysian economic system expanded by 3.1% for the yr 2021, reversing the deep dive of 5.6% in 2020.
The important thing issue that helped the economic system to get well within the This fall quarter was the impression from the fully-opened economic system as vaccine milestones had been achieved, the variety of instances was introduced down, and the healthcare system was in a position to deal with the energetic Covid-19 instances.
In nominal phrases, the economic system expanded by 12.1% yoy to achieve RM424.3bil, thus enabling the general economic system to develop by 9% yoy or RM127.6bil in nominal phrases to achieve RM1,544.2bil in 2021.
Apparently, based mostly on the 2021 actual gross home product (GDP) information, the economic system just isn’t again to the pre-pandemic stage as it’s at 97.3% of the dimensions of the economic system in 2019.
Nonetheless, the GDP information based mostly on nominal worth exhibits a special image. The economic system could be stated to be again on its’ ft, because the Malaysian economic system completed the yr 2.1% bigger than the dimensions of the economic system in 2019, which stood at RM1,513.2bil then.
With the This fall’21 GDP information coming in above market forecast, the This fall earnings momentum was a lot stronger if one had been to exclude the numerous decline in glove corporations’ earnings.
Excluding the glove corporations, on a qoq foundation, the This fall’21 earnings rose by near 7%, whereas on a yoy foundation, the earnings momentum jumped near 36%, nearly 3 times the tempo of nominal GDP progress within the quarter.
The comparatively stronger earnings momentum enabled the ratio of corporations’ earnings that stunned the market towards those who had been under expectations to enhance significantly, as some 34% of corporations reported earnings that had been above expectations towards 25% that had been under.
This was nearly an entire reversal of the previous quarter when 25% of corporations reported outcomes that had been above expectations and 33% that had been under expectations. Therefore, the earnings disappointment ratio fell to simply 0.75 occasions, which is an unlimited enchancment from the previous quarter’s print 1.29 occasions.
The qoq pattern just isn’t surprising because the This fall interval provides market analysts a greater grip on what to anticipate for the complete yr and therefore the outcomes naturally confirmed a lot stronger hits than misses.
2022 earnings upgraded
Submit-This fall report card, there have been minor changes to earnings estimates for the yr with a notable improve in earnings forecast for commodity-based corporations in addition to the banking sector, taking into account the improved enterprise sentiment which can doubtless see higher mortgage progress in addition to potential charge hike of between 25-50 foundation factors (bps) within the second half of this yr, which can see the banks having fun with higher internet curiosity margin.
For this yr, from the sooner forecast earnings contraction of 4.3% on the finish of the Q3’21 quarterly reporting interval, the revised estimate now exhibits a smaller contraction of 1.5% yoy, which is a 2.8 proportion factors (pps) enchancment.
Earnings contraction is envisaged this yr amongst corporations that will likely be reporting chargeable revenue above RM100mil because of the imposition of the one-off prosperity tax.
As earnings for 2023 too is now related to market valuations, brokers now estimate shares below their protection to see a ten.5% earnings enchancment subsequent yr from the sooner estimate of a ten.8% soar earlier than the This fall reporting season.
Index-wise, market estimates too have elevated with the present consensus a FBM KLCI truthful worth of 1,651 factors for this yr, 10 factors or simply 0.6% increased than the earlier estimate of 1,641 factors as three brokers raised their index truthful worth by between 10 and 51 factors, whereas the remainder left their estimates unchanged.
General, brokers have a good worth vary of between 1,600 and 1,710 factors.
Based mostly on Thursday’s shut of 1,618.54, the general index upside is seen restricted however there’s nothing to cease brokers from elevating their goal index values ought to the FBM KLCI surpass the 1,650-point stage, as most will likely be prepared to worth the market at an expanded price-earnings a number of or based mostly on an extra improve in earnings, particularly if the commodity super-cycle momentum is prolonged deeper into 2022.
Presently, the market is valued on common at a price-earnings a number of of simply 15.4 occasions this yr’s earnings.
A re-rating to simply 16.5 occasions price-earnings a number of may take market truthful values nearer to 1,800 factors.
Externalities dictate the market course
The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the response taken by the USA in addition to its allies exhibits that there are methods to take care of a pacesetter that decides to take issues into his personal fingers and the remainder of the world (effectively, nearly all) will come collectively to punish the nation.
The transfer by the US and its allies to cripple Russia financially by imposing sanctions and limiting the utilization of Swift companies as effectively banning US residents and firms from doing enterprise with the Financial institution of Russia, the Russian Nationwide Wealth Fund, and the Ministry of Finance are masterstroke strikes to cripple the Russians with out firing a single shot.
Even score businesses and benchmark world fairness index suppliers have additionally joined in to isolate Russia from the remainder of the world, as each Moody’s and Fitch downgraded Russia to junk standing whereas FTSE Russell and MSCI have now eliminated Russia from key benchmark indexes.
As we’re simply into the third month of the yr, amid the volatility of world markets on the again of considerations of US charge hikes in addition to the present ongoing geopolitical danger, the native bourse appears to be in a candy spot benefitting from adversities of world markets with vital worth positive factors seen amongst commodity-based corporations in addition to the banking sector.
The expertise sector, which had a comparatively good run for the previous couple of years, in the meantime, has lastly seen some profit-taking actions, mirroring the efficiency of tech shares listed within the US.
Using on internet international shopping for
A verify on the FBM KLCI’s efficiency exhibits that the native market has come out of its slumber and is up by 3.3% year-to-date, using on the constructive momentum built-up from giant international inflows, which has reached nearly RM3.62bil as shopping for curiosity amongst commodity-based corporations remained sturdy.
February’s international internet inflows had already proven that international buyers have been elevating their bets on the native bourse as some RM2.84bil internet inflows had been recorded – the very best month-to-month internet influx in additional than 4 years.
If the momentum continues, we’ll doubtless see the Malaysian market experiencing the most effective years by way of portfolio inflows and that will take the FBM KLCI to beat all estimates for 2022.
For the report, since 2014, the strongest internet international shopping for was in 2017 whereby international internet shopping for surged to RM10bil, and in that yr, the FBM KLCI superior 9.5% to shut at just below 1,800 factors. Will historical past repeat itself?
Pankaj C Kumar is a long-time funding analyst. The views expressed listed below are the author’s personal.