[ET Net News Agency, 9 February 2018] Nomura lifted its target price for CIFI Holdings
Group (00884) to HK$7.2 from HK$5.06, and maintained its "buy" rating.
The research house said CIFI contracted sales grew by 75% in 2016 and 96% in 2017 to
reach CNY104bn, ranking No.15 in the industry. For 2018, Nomura expects its contracted
sales to grow by at least 50% to reach CNY155bn (veris official target of CNY140bn),
supported by abundant saleable resources of CNY220bn (versus CNY140bn in 2017).
Nomura expects strong FY2017 results: (1) revenue to grow by 35% y-y; (2) core earnings
to grow by 40% y-y; (3) gross margin to increase to 26.8% from 25.4% in FY2016; (4) net
gearing on total equity to increase to 60% from 50% at end-FY2016; (5) dividend payout
ratio to remain stable at 35% of core earnings. (KL)