Job ads are rebounding from depressed level. Job ads started sliding from August last year (a total of 408 job ad pages) to hit a depressed level in December (172 pages, -41% yoy), according to our page-counts of The Straits Times. The latest May page-count is a clear sign that confidence is returning with recruitment drive stepping up. Job ads in The Straits Times totalled 230 (-48% yoy), 224 (-46% yoy) and 258 (-38% yoy) pages in March, April and May respectively. Apart from rising advertising spending, this trend also points to broader positive macroeconomic implications.
Worst in 3QFY09, but monthly data suggest a gradual recovery. Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) will be releasing its 3QFY09 results in early-July. 3QFY09 is likely to show the worst performance in the current economic crisis. Our page-counts point to an 18% yoy contraction in SPH’s advertising revenue (AR) in 3QFY09 (2QFY09 page-counts: -13% yoy). Our monthly page-counts, however, are showing a gradual recovery with a contraction of 23% yoy, 16% yoy and 14% yoy in March, April and May AR respectively.
Newsprint price continues on a downtrend. The price of 30-lb newsprint currently stands at US$550/tonne and has yet to bottom. Newsprint price peaked at US$760/tonne in December and has been on a decline since then.
Defensives to play catch-up with cyclicals, which have rallied strongly in the current market rebound from March lows. With advertising spending showing signs of a gradual recovery, we see a re-rating of SPH. While the stock is usually a late-cycle recovery play, we believe it will stage an early comeback this time round, aided by the opening of Singapore’s two mega integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands and ResortsWorld@Sentosa. We maintain our BUY call and target price of S$3.90.
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