It’s been a turbulent year in 2022 and investors are all too glad to bid last year farewell.
Growth investors took it on the chin last year as the bellwether NASDAQ Composite Index lost a third of its value.
For Singapore, however, the blue-chip stocks managed to keep the Straits Times Index (SGX: ^STI) in positive territory last year.
Meanwhile, a handful of stocks are also breaking their 52-week highs, buoyed by news of pent-up air travel demand and border reopenings.
We dig deeper to see if these stocks’ business performance can sustain their run into 2023.
Genting Singapore Limited (SGX: G13)
Genting Singapore is the owner and operator of Resorts World Singapore (RWS), an integrated resort (IR) in Sentosa spanning 49 hectares.
RWS features six hotels with around 1,600 hotel rooms, a casino, an adventure water park, and a Universal Studios theme park as well as numerous retail and dining outlets.
The group’s share price recently hit a 52-week high of S$0.97, up 26% year on year.
Genting Singapore reported a sparkling set of earnings for its fiscal 2022’s third quarter (3Q2022).
Revenue more than doubled year on year from S$251.5 million to S$519.7 million.
Net profit soared 123.6% year on year to S$135.8 million.
There is a wave of optimism sweeping over the tourism industry as China just reopened its borders to international travellers for the first time since March 2020.
Looking back at the fourth quarter of 2019 (before the pandemic hit), China was the top country for tourism receipts, bringing in S$900 million out of a total of S$5.5 billion.
Investors are probably hoping that the influx of Chinese tourists can further boost the IR and lead to higher revenue and profits.
Meanwhile, RWS is also proceeding with its expansion project plans titled “RWS 2.0”.
The construction of a new attraction, Minion Land, is proceeding well and the S.E.A aquarium has also been rebranded to the Singapore Oceanarium.
The remake of Festive Hotel should be completed by 1Q2023 and boost its number of rooms to 389, and the makeover will also attract more affluent customers.
Straco Corporation Limited (SGX: S85)
Straco is a developer and operator of tourism-related attractions in Singapore and China.
The group’s main assets include Shanghai Ocean Aquarium (SOA) in Pudong, Shanghai, and Underwater World Xiamen as well as a cable car service in Lintong, Shaanxi province.
In Singapore, Straco owns the iconic Singapore Flyer attraction.
The tourism attraction operator saw its shares hit a 52-week high of S$0.49 recently, up 9.1% in the past year.
Straco’s 3Q2022 business update saw the continued adverse impact of China’s strict COVID-zero policy.
Revenue fell by 14.2% year on year to S$11.7 million while net profit plunged by 96% year on year to just S$175,000.
Its flagship SOA attraction saw a significant fall in business during China’s summer holidays due to the strict pandemic measures in place.
Things may be looking up, though.
With China’s reopening and the easing of restrictions within the country, investors are looking forward to better visitor numbers at SOA and other Chinese attractions.
Visitors from Hong Kong and China should also boost Singapore Flyer’s visitor numbers in Singapore, giving Straco’s financials a further fillip.
DFI Retail Group (SGX: D01)
DFI is a pan-Asian retailer operating more than 10,300 outlets comprising supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, health and beauty stores, and restaurants.
The group employed over 220,000 people.
DFI’s share price hit a 52-week high of US$3.20 recently and is up 10.4% from a year ago.
The retailer released an interim management statement for 3Q2022, announcing that underlying profitability improved during the quarter compared with 1H2022.
Mannings’ sales in Hong Kong recorded a strong performance driven by good execution and a gain in market share.
DFI’s Home Furnishings division also benefitted from strong sales momentum in 3Q2022.
Investors can rejoice as China and Hong Kong have both reopened their borders to international tourists.
Hence, DFI could report significantly better results this year as human traffic starts flowing through its stores again.
Cathay Pacific has also increased flights between Hong Kong and China, benefitting retailers in both countries.
With the Lunar New Year coming up and people allowed to move freely, DFI should enjoy a welcome boost to its sales figures across all its different retail formats.
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Disclaimer: Royston Yang does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned.
