Dated: 13/04/2026 Source: https://youtu.be/B-w_hfigE5E
Presentation Summary
Macro Outlook and Strategy
The current market is
described as a "fork of war" due to the conflict involving
Iran, leading to a strategy focused on capital preservation. While there
is a risk of industrial shutdowns if oil supplies are disrupted, the team
identifies a global "Build Build" (building) theme
characterized by a massive CAPEX cycle. This cycle is driven by:
- AI
Infrastructure: Significant
spending by hyperscalers on data centers.
- Semiconductors: A projected 30% jump in equipment
spending to support AI needs.
- Defense &
Energy: Accelerating
global defense spending and a shift toward national energy security, such
as sustainable aviation fuel.
Sector Summaries and Stock
Picks
- Banking: The "higher for longer"
interest rate environment is viewed as beneficial for banks, as it helps offset
margin compression. Exposure to the Middle East is considered small and
well-contained.
- Stock Picks: DBS is favored for its fixed dividend per share
and capacity to increase payouts through 2027. OCBC is noted for
its resilient earnings, excess capital, and potential for special
dividends.
- REITs and
Property: The team is
selective, favoring REITs with strong balance sheets and low
leverage. Higher utility costs from oil prices are expected to impact the
hospitality sector most severely.
- Stock Picks: Cromwell European REIT is recommended for its
CPI-linked rental indexation. Prime US REIT is highlighted for its
high cash visibility from long-term committed leases. City
Developments Limited (CDL) remains a pick due to strong take-up rates
for its luxury property launches.
- Maritime: Coverage was initiated on Yangzijiang
Maritime, a maritime investment platform benefiting from a 15-year
high in vessel prices and an accelerating transition into a maritime fund
business.
- Small and
Mid-Caps: Several
companies are positioned to benefit from specific industrial trends:
- Construction & Infrastructure: Ever Glory (M&E
services), BRC Asia (steel rebar), and Pan-United
(ready-mix concrete) are expected to see volume expansion driven by major
Singapore projects like Terminal 5 and HDB developments. Wee Hur
is favored for its worker dormitory capacity.
- Energy & Resources: Geo Energy is targeting a
"trifecta" of earnings drivers including rebounded coal prices
and new transport infrastructure. CNMC Gold Mine is noted for its
cost discipline and transition to higher-grade underground mining.
- Technology & Healthcare: Frencken is expected to see a
2H revenue ramp-up in semiconductor components. Q&M Dental is
pursuing an aggressive M&A strategy, particularly in Australia. iX
Biopharma recently secured US Department of Defense funding for its
wafer-based pain management technology.
Model Portfolio Updates
The model portfolio, which was up 7.5% at the
time of the presentation, saw one major change: Singtel was removed and Sembcorp
Industries was added. Sembcorp was selected due to its gas trading
potential amidst the Iranian conflict, its large acquisition in Australia, and
the potential listing of its renewable energy portfolio.
Q&A Session
Banking and Finance
- DBS: Identified as the primary beneficiary
of a "flight to safety" due to its established position in
Singapore. Analysts believe DBS has the capacity to continue increasing
its quarterly dividend by 6 cents through the third quarter of 2027,
supported by excess capital (CET1 ratio target of 14%) and resilient
earnings.
- OCBC: Highlighted for its high capital
accrual rate (50%) and $2.3 billion in excess capital. While the
bank aims for a 14% CET1 ratio, it has yet to announce specific plans to
lower its current 15.1% ratio through dividends or buybacks.
- UOB: Mentioned as currently focusing on
buffering its provision coverage.
- Yangzijiang
Maritime: The analyst
clarified that the focus is on growing maritime funds rather than
high dividends, expecting a dividend yield below 2% based on a 40% payout
of PATMI.
REITs and Property
- Keppel DC
REIT: Anticipating 5.3%
DPU growth in FY26, driven by recent acquisitions and potential
"tax transparency" for certain assets. Rental reversions in
Singapore remain a core growth driver.
- Suntec REIT: Performing well due to its strong
Singapore portfolio and potential "portfolio recomposition"
following a change in manager ownership to an entity controlled by Mr.
Gordon Tang.
- Mapletree
Logistics Trust (MLT): Analysts suggest the stock has bottomed as China rental
reversions, which were previously double-digit negative, are starting to
stabilize.
- United
Hampshire US REIT: Retains a "buy" rating with a 9% yield due to its resilient
grocery-anchored portfolio and high tenant retention.
- Manulife US
REIT: Remains under
pressure with weak occupancy (60%+); it needs to complete one more
divestment (the Figueroa property) to exit its restructuring agreement.
- Mapletree Industrial
Trust: Facing drags
from the non-renewal of North American data center leases, which represent
about 5% of its portfolio.
- Wee Hur: Viewed positively due to the
likelihood of lease extensions for its 16,000 worker dormitory
beds, which meet new 2030 standards.
Industrial and Small/Mid-Caps
- Ever Glory vs.
King Wan: Ever Glory is
considered superior due to its larger scale (10x larger) and
ability to secure high-value infrastructure projects like airport runway
lights, whereas King Wan focuses on smaller HDB electrical systems.
- China Aviation
Oil (CAO): Despite a 60%
jump in profit, a special dividend is unlikely as the company prefers to
keep a cash buffer for oil price volatility and future M&A in
storage and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) infrastructure.
- Frencken: Recommended over AEM for direct
semiconductor exposure, as its customer base includes major players like
ASML and Applied Materials.
- Geo Energy: The completion of its new road
(80% done) is the key catalyst to watch, as it will allow the company
to double production and begin collecting barging and toll fees.
- Q&M
Dental: Preferred for
its aggressive expansion into the Asia-Pacific region (Australia)
via a "roll-up" strategy, with earnings potentially jumping from
$20 million to $40 million post-acquisition.
- Nordic Group: Approximately 20% of its revenue now
comes from the defense sector, with another 12% from shipping.
- CSE Global: remains a positive play on data
center infrastructure (switchboards), though analysts noted a risk of
project cancellations in the US.
Other Mentions
- SIA: Viewed as more resilient than other
carriers due to its fuel hedging strategy, though rising oil prices
remain a sector-wide headwind.
- Genting
Singapore: Described as
a longer-term play, with major catalysts not expected until 2029/2030
when RWS 2.0 and Sentosa redevelopment are finished.
- Sheng Siong: Currently viewed as expensive
at roughly 30x PE.
- Marco Polo Marine & Pacific
Radiance: While
impacted by geopolitical risks, they benefit from high demand for offshore
support vessels in the renewables sector, such as Taiwan wind
farms.

