IT industry – Digital transformation for sustainable growth

• Global digital transformation spending is projected to grow 17.6% in 2022, reaching USD 1,800 billion with growth at 16.6% CAGR from 2022F to 2025F.
• The trend of digital transformation is widespread across all the fields of the public and private sector in Vietnam. The target in 2022 will be 63/63 localities deploying at least one digital platform and 70,000 digital transformation enterprises.
• It is estimated that the size of Vietnam's IT market (including items on hardware equipment and software solutions) will reach VND 208 trillion, which will be the main driving force for large corporations such as Viettel, VNPT, FPT, CMG to grow double-digit in the long-term.

KDH –Sales activity slowed down in 1H2022, but expected to dynamic from Q3 2022

• In Q2 2022, KDH recorded a revenue of VND 875 billion (-55% YoY) which mainly due to a decrease in the number of handover products, particularly, the company hand-overed 40 apartments in Clarita project. However, the profit margin recorded at high level, 69%, and the decrease in payment discount expense in this quarter, which made NPAT recorded positive growth, +22,8% yoy to VND 265 billion in Q2 2022. Accumulated in the first 6 months, revenue and NPAT reached VND 875 billion (-55% yoy) and VND 624 billion (+32.2% yoy) respectively.
• In the early days of August 2022, KDH signed a distribution agent for Classia project with Smart Landand and expects most of the projects to be recognized as revenue within the year. Accordingly, we estimate the revenue and NPAT to record VND 2,492 billion (+39% yoy) and VND 862 billion in H2/2022, In which, mainly contributed from handover of rest of classia project.
• In 2022, we forecast the revenue and NPAT at VND 3,367 billion and VND 1,487 billion, respectively, equivalent to growth of -10% yoy and 23% yoy respectively, completing 84% and 106% business plan. EPS estimate at VND 2.006 per share.
• Rong Viet recommend the target price of KDH at VND 43,660/share, equivalent to 8,9% gain, compared to closed price on 18/08/2022. We recommend ACCUMULATE this stock leaned on medium – long term growth.

Banking sector – Update on the money market

• Due to SBV’s intervention to alleviate the pressure from the negative swap gap, VND interbank rate surged as the VND was withdrawn through USD spot deals and bills. Since the end of July, interbank VND liquidity has improved and the USD/VND swap gap has dropped accordingly, staying at around 0.8-1.2% for the overnight term as of August 11.
• The increase in FX swap rate gap contributed to cool down the exchange rate at the end of July. On the international market, the USD also experienced a turbulent July as it reached a 20-year high before dropping sharply and closing July at 106.

FPT – 7M-2022 Results Update

• Telecommunication sector recorded a 16% YoY growth in revenue in 7M-2022, led mainly by Pay TV, DC, leased lines services while broadband service decelerated significantly at 3% YoY in 1H-2022.

Trade growth weakened in Jul 2022

• Trade growth weakened in Jul 2022.
• Exports had a divergence in growth in both product groups and markets.
• Imports of raw materials continued to decline sharply.

LHG – Earning will go back to growth trajectory in 2H2022

• In Q2 22, LHG recorded a plunge of 58% YoY in revenue to VND 233 billion (~ USD10 million). NPAT plummeted by 81% to VND 41 billion (USD ~1.9 million). The YoY decline was due to (1) high base of 2Q2021 as LHG recorded a historical high in earnings owing to leasing contract of 10 hectares with LOGOS, and (2) deteriorating GPM of the industrial land leasing segment to 18% in the last quarter.
• In the long-term, we are confident that LHG will perform well as (1) the historical performance shows an absorption rate of above 10 hectares annually, the remaining leasable are in LH 3.1 ensuring enough inventory (~ 60 ha) for Long Hau until 2026, LH 3.2 (90 ha) and An Dinh (200 ha) will be commercialized in 2024, (3) the leasing price will keep going increase due to its prime location close to key infrastructures.
• In 2022, we estimate that the total revenue and net income will be VND 865 billion (or ~USD 37 million, +10.7%YoY) and VND 256 billion (or ~USD 11 million, -14% YoY), respectively. Correspondingly, the EPS will be VND 4,758. Based on the sum-of-the-parts valuation (SOTP), the target price is 56,300/share. Adding an annual cash dividend of VND 1,700 per share, the total expected return will be +60.2% (compared to the closing price of 08/11/2021).

PPC – Turning a loss from profit in 3Q2022

• PPC’s 2Q 2022 performance is well aligned with our expectations emphasizing the company's predictability of weak results. PPC's sales volume in 2Q 2022 was 827 mn kWh (-11% YoY). Nevertheless, 2Q net revenue slightly increased 6% YoY to VND1290 bn thanks to higher CGM prices. NPAT slumped 38% YoY, to VND75bn, mainly due to a lack of financial income coming from cash dividends of QTP and HND.
• In 2022, we forecast that PPC will provide around 3.7 bn kWh of sales volume, with net revenue and NPAT of VND 5,640 bn (+45.8% YoY) and VND 407 bn (+88.0 % YoY), respectively. Dividend income from associate companies HND (VND 800/share) and QTP (VND 800/share) paid in Q3 2022 will save PPC’s 2H2022 bottom line.

Steel industry – Weak demand is pulling down selling price and output

• Steel prices and raw material prices increased sharply when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out but prices quickly cooled down in June and July. Steel price decline trend is weakening and showing signs of reversal. However, the regain momentum during in the second half of the year could be not strong due to high inflation globally.
• Vietnam's steel industry struggled due to weak demand in 1H2022. Cash flows into the real estate market have slowed down and the disbursement of public investment was slow. High inventory pressures forced factories to both cut capacity and compete fiercely on selling prices, pulling the price level down further.
• The changes in trade policies of major markets such as the US and the EU to be more challenged to Vietnam.
• Construction steel could recover faster than flat steel. Infrastructure investment in the ASEAN region will underpin steel demand growth in 2022 and 2023 with the highest growth rates compared to other regions globally. Flat steel demand is expected to remain weak over the next few quarters due to high inflation.

FMC – 2022 earnings to continue to see double-digit YoY growth

• In 1H2022, FMC recorded revenue and NPAT-MI of VND 2,744 bn (+29% YoY, USD 119 mn) and VND 155 bn (+47% YoY, USD 6.7 mn), respectively. Shrimp export volume and export prices grew by 13% YoY and 15% YoY, respectively. Gross margin improved by 200 bps to 10.3%.
• For FY2022, we forecast FMC’s revenue and NPAT-MI to reach VND 6,105 Bn (or USD 265 Mn, +17% YoY) and VND 340 Bn (or USD 15 Mn, +27% YoY), exceeding 3% and 15% the 2022 revenue and NPAT guidance, respectively. The new factory which will start operating in September 2022 and the new 200 ha farming area that will start farming in 2023 are the main growth drivers for FY2023 onwards.
• Our new one-year target price for FMC is VND60,500/share, 13% lower than the most recent valuation due to: (1) We revise down FY2022/2023 NPAT-MI by 6% and 12%, respectively, to reflect the slowdown in the US market and the new factory put into operation one quarter later than expected; (2) We reduce our 2022 target P/E from 12x to 11x to reflect the uncertainties of the seafood industry in 2H2022. Our target price implies an expected return of 18% as of August 08^th, 2022.

Massive rollout of new Mercedes models boost 2022 sales growth of Mercedes distributors

• According to Mercedes-Benz, 2022 is the year marking the start of their new generation cars. Mercedes-Benz is famous for luxury cars, thus we believe that their customer types will be less affected by inflation, and they will be able to buy new Mercedes cars even at a high price. Therefore, Mercedes cars sales are expected to show an upward trend.  
• 2H2022 ASP of Mercedes cars in Vietnam will be higher than 1H2022 thanks to the contribution of high-priced products. Although there is a risk that 2H2022 sales volume will be lower than that of 1H2022 because the policy of 50 percent reduction in registration fees expired, we expect that higher ASP will totally compensate expected lower sale volume.
• In Vietnam, Hang Xanh Motors (Haxaco, HSX: HAX), is the largest Mercedes-Benz distributor with a market share of ~40%. As a result, we believe that HAX will capture the growing Mercedes ‘sales value.

The ECB finally acted

• A European rate hike has been expected for months.
• The current rally in European stock prices is most likely over. Same for the S&P 500.

The Euro did not reacted much to the ECB rate hike decision with the EUR/USD staying at around 1.02. This seems strange.

PVD – Expect better results in 2H2022

• PVD announced 2Q2022 results with VND1,505 bn in revenue (+36.3% YoY) and loss VND60bn in NPATMI, compared to the VND6bn profit in 2Q2021.
• The drilling segment grew strongly thanks to the operation of PVD V but gross profit still recorded a loss in Q2/2022.
• Financial expenses rose because of FX loss. Joint venture profits decreased. Notably, PVD booked 20% provision of Kris Energy's receivables.
• We think PVD's business will improve in 2H2022 thanks to a full drilling schedule and no more.