Dated: 6/04/2026 Source: https://youtu.be/GcvtAHjSdBw
Presentation Summary
US Software Quarterly Update
The software industry's fundamentals
remain intact, with revenue growth reaching 16% year-over-year in the
fourth quarter of 2025. While the market has priced in slower growth, analysts
believe this has been done indiscriminately, as large-cap companies (market cap
>$10B) are significantly outperforming smaller caps due to their ability to
adapt to AI disruptions. These large caps are currently trading at a valuation
of minus one standard deviation, presenting a potential opportunity. Key
strategies for these firms include prioritizing AI usage over aggressive
upselling and integrating newer AI models quickly to remain resilient against
startups.
Singapore Banking Monthly
The banking sector maintains
a Neutral rating despite the 3-month SORA reaching its lowest point in
45 months. Loans growth remains healthy at over 6%, and the current account and
savings accounts (CASA) ratio is rising as high-interest fixed deposits mature.
While the Middle East conflict has heightened market volatility, its direct
credit risk to Singapore banks is considered immaterial, representing only
about 7% of aggregate loans. The higher-for-longer interest rate environment
continues to support bank margins and interest income.
Yangzijiang Financial Holding
(YZJ Financial) Initiation
PhillipCapital initiated coverage on
Yangzijiang Financial Holding with a Buy recommendation and a target
price of $0.69. The company operates as a unique one-stop platform for
maritime financial solutions, connecting shipyards, owners, and charterers
rather than being a traditional ship owner or bank. Key investment merits
include:
- Full Life
Cycle Capture: Earning from
vessels at every stage, from new building to exit.
- Business
Transition: Shifting from
a cash management focus to a maritime-driven model, which now contributes
49% of total income.
- Strong Balance Sheet: Net cash represents 27% of its market
cap with zero borrowings, providing significant upside optionality through
potential future leverage.
First REIT Divestment Plan
First REIT plans to divest
all of its Indonesian assets in two tranches to maximize value and provide
DPU stability. The first tranche involves selling 11 assets for approximately
$470 million, while the second tranche includes a put option to sell the
remaining six hospitals. This strategic shift aims to redeploy capital into developed
markets (such as Japan and Singapore) to improve portfolio quality and
reduce emerging market currency exposure.
Air Transport Monthly
China Aviation Oil (CAO) and
Singapore Airlines (SIA) were top performers in the air transport sector. A
major focus remains on managing rising fuel costs; SIA is particularly
well-insulated because it hedges directly on jet fuel, whereas competitors
hedging only on crude oil remain exposed to the widening "crack
spread" (the price difference between crude and jet fuel). Analysts
maintain a Buy on SATS and CAO, while SIA and SIA Engineering are rated
Neutral and Accumulate, respectively.
Technical Analysis and Singapore Strategy
- Technical
Outlook: The S&P
500 is expected to see sideways consolidation, though historical data
suggests potential weakness in the second quarter following a negative
first quarter in midterm election years. Oil is expected to continue
outperforming, while Bitcoin remains in a downtrend.
- Singapore Strategy: Singapore has outperformed both the
US and broader Asia-Pacific markets year-to-date. The current strategy,
titled "What to do in a fog," focuses on capital
preservation and investing in the global CAPEX cycle, specifically
in data centers, semiconductors, and defense spending. Sembcorp
Industries was added to the model portfolio as a play on higher energy
prices, while Singtel was removed due to its exposure to emerging
market consumer discretionary spending.
Q&A Session
Electric Vehicles and
Transportation
- Tesla &
BYD: Analysts were
skeptical that rising petrol prices would significantly boost Tesla's
sales, noting that the company is currently losing market share to
competitors like Kia and Ford despite the overall growth of the EV market.
PhillipCapital maintains a "Sell" call on Tesla.
- Singapore
Airlines (SIA): Despite
canceling flights to Dubai, SIA is expected to see a net gain by
capturing stopover demand for Europe and increasing the frequency of
direct flights to London, which should drive higher yields.
- SATS & SIA
Engineering: SATS is
recommended as a buy for long-term investors due to its improved
valuation post-acquisition. SIA Engineering is viewed positively for its
strong joint ventures in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO)
space.
Banking and Financial
Services
- Singapore
Banks (DBS, OCBC, UOB): DBS remains the top pick due to its massive
deposit base and high dividend payout ratio. OCBC has recently
outperformed due to a rotation out of REITs and its strong excess
capital, which may lead to special dividends of approximately 10 cents
per share.
- Pawn Shops
(ValueMax & MoneyMax): A prolonged drop in gold prices could compress interest
income for these firms; however, they maintain a 20-25% buffer in
loan-to-value ratios to mitigate the risk of borrowers walking away from
pledged items.
Technology and Semiconductors
- Nvidia &
Marvell: Nvidia’s $2
billion investment in Marvell is seen as a strategic move to gain exposure
to the custom AI chip market, while Marvell benefits from access to Nvidia’s
CUDA software ecosystem.
- Frencken: Frencken is identified as a top
pick in the semiconductor space because it is trading at a more
attractive valuation (20x forward PE) compared to peers like AEM and UMS.
It is also expected to benefit from ASML’s ramp-up of high-NA EUV machines
in the second half of the year.
- Telechoice: The company recently announced a bid
for a large-scale regional data center project in Malaysia, with
analysts suggesting they have a strong chance of winning the contract.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
(REITs)
- CapitaLand
Ascendas REIT: Shareholders
are encouraged to subscribe to the rights issue ($2.35) to avoid
dilution, as the funds will be used for accretive acquisitions.
- United
Hampshire US REIT: Analysts maintain a buy call with a 69-cent target price,
citing its resilient 97% occupancy and high distribution yield of nearly
9%.
- MapleTree
Industrial Trust: This REIT has faced recent weakness due to a dated data center
portfolio and non-renewal notices for 5% of its North American leases.
Other Notable Mentions
- Centurion: Analysts remain positive with a target
price of $1.81, supported by strong property management fees and an
upcoming dividend in specie from its student fund spinoff.
- Wee Hur: Despite a recent share price decline
due to a major dormitory lease expiring in late 2025, the stock is viewed
as a value play, trading at a significant discount to its book value.
- Sheng Siong: This stock is considered a safe
haven due to the non-discretionary nature of consumer staples during
periods of high inflation or conflict.
- Bumitama & First Resources: These plantation stocks are viewed as
resilient options because they are closely linked to rising energy
prices and increasing biodiesel mandates in Indonesia.
