Raffles Med Shield Plan

16  July  2018  –  Singapore,  RafflesHealthinsurance  (RHI),  a  fully  owned  subsidiary  of RafflesMedicalGroup,  announced the  launch  of  Raffles  Shield,  making  it  the  seventh  player to  enter  the  industry.  Raffles  Shield  is  the  first  Integrated  Shield  Plan  (IP)  developed  in collaboration  with  RafflesMedicalGroup  and  a  Medisave-approved  IP  providing  coverage for  hospital  and  surgical  expenses.

“As  a  health  insurance  specialist  and  as  part  of  a  healthcare  group,  we  have  the  unique advantage  of  understanding  the  business  of  both  healthcare  and  insurance. 

We  have  been studying  the  Shield  market  for  a  while  now  and  appreciate  the  challenges  that  it  faces.  We are  confident  that  we  can  now  offer  a  product  that  meets  the  changing  needs  of  the  market,” shares Ms  Christine  Cheu,  General  Manager,  RafflesHealthinsurance. The  plan  comprises  MediShield  Life,  a  national  health  insurance  plan  administered  by  the Central  Provident  Fund  Board,  and  an  additional  private  insurance  coverage  administered  by RafflesHealthinsurance  which enhances  the  basic  coverage  provided by  MediShield Life.   RafflesHealthinsurance  has  observed  that  many  who  purchase  IPs  are  keen  to  have private  hospital  coverage  without  overly  expensive  premiums,  and  would  like  to  have  more flexibility  to  manage  their  premiums.  In  response  to  this,  Raffles  Shield  offers  two  attractive options  –  the  Raffles  Hospital  Option  and  the  High  Deductible  Option. On  top  of  this,  there  are  two  riders  that  policyholders  can  add  on  to  enhance  their  coverage.

The  Premier  Rider  provides  additional  benefits  such  as  immediate  family  accommodation and  Traditional  Chinese  Medicine  coverage.  The  Key  Rider  reduces  the  amount  that policyholders  co-pay.  It  is  in line  with MOH’s  co-payment  requirement  for  new  riders.   RafflesHealthinsurance  is  also  ready  to  offer  unique  coverage  to  individuals  with  certain pre-existing  conditions  and  work  with  them  through  the  Raffles  Care  Management Programme  to  improve their  overall  well-being. 



After touching the low of 98 cents, it has staged a strong rebound and rises higher to touch the high of $1.06 today, this is rather bullish.

Today the share price rises also accompany with high volume which is a healthy sign that the momentum may continue to head higher.

Short term wise, likely to move up to retest $1.10 with extension to $1.15 .

I think current price level may attract some bargain hunter interest.

Trade / invest base on your own decision.

 The potential catalysts are the two new China hospitals which will contribute to it's earnings growth going forward. Even if the initial execution meets with hiccups, I think they will be able to work things out for the longer term as I am confident they have already done their extensive due diligence and ground studies before embarking on the new hospitals. And it is not just one but two new hospitals set up in two separate cities in China. To be able to trigger such a huge expansion project, they must have worked out that on a long term basis, the market there in China have tailwinds favouring demand for private medical healthcare. And Chongqing and Shanghai are two of the largest cities in China which are strategically located with high population and considered few of the important economic centres of China apart from Beijing.

Total Revenue has been consistently increasing from $340.99m in 2013 to $477.58m in 2017.

The Total Revenue is growing at a CAGR of 8.1%. A single digits high ,of which I think is quite good already.

 Operation cash flow has been quite healthy as they are able to generate $71.19m in 2013 to $82 .69m in 2017.

 Net income Margin has been generally declining from 24.89% to 14.82% in 2017.

It might be due to higher material /operation costs. NAV of 40.01 cents. EPS of 4 cents. PE of 27.64 times

 Dividend has been generally increasing from 1.7 cents in 2013 to 2.2 cents in 2017. This is really a welcome news for shareholder .

 For RMG, I have two possible fair values depending on how well it can execute it's new expansion and growth of it's Bugis hospital extension and also it's two China hospitals to grow it's EPS.

For the conservative fair value, it is $1.14 assuming a CAGR of 10% on it's EPS for next 7 years.

 For the more aggressive fair value, it is $1.46 assuming a CAGR of 14% on it's EPS for next 7 years. Thus, any price $1.14 and below is a bargain opportunity to me.

not a call to buy or sell. Please dyodd.

Raffles Medical Group Ltd engages in the medical clinics operation and other general medical service businesses primarily in Singapore. The company operates through three segments: Healthcare Services, Hospital Services, and Investment Holdings. Its flagship hospital is Raffles Hospital, a tertiary care hospital that offers services, including emergency, cancer, children and women care, traditional Chinese medicine, counselling, dental, diabetes and endocrinology, dialysis, ear nose and throat, eye, family medicine, fertility, health screening, heart, internal medicine, international patients services, neuroscience, pain management, rehabilitation, radiology, Japanese clinic, orthopaedic, skin and aesthetics, surgery, urology, and nuclear medicine services for inpatients and outpatients. The company also operates 100 medical clinics that provide various services, such as general practice/family medicine, emergency, health check, health screening, immunization, travel health, specialty, minor surgery, X-ray, pre-marital screening, and corporate programs; provides health and related insurance; trades in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, and diagnostic equipment; and provides healthcare management and consultancy services, as well as specialized medical, medical laboratory, imaging center, dental, and clinical services. In addition, it owns properties; develops IT solutions; provides advisory and medical emergency assistance services; and sells medical kits. The company was founded in 1976 and is based in Singapore.

SATS

It seems that the boat is back for those that are eyeing for this counter.
The current price of $5.11 may go higher before ex.dividend of 12 cents .

Chart wise, looks like it may move up to re-attempt $5.27 level.

Not a call to buy or sell.

Please do your own Due diligence.


The latest FY 2017 result : Group revenue was $1.725B

• Operating profit dipped 1.8% to $226.4M

• Share of results from associates and JVs rose 9.2% to $71.2M

• PATMI grew 1.4% to $261.5M • ROE remained creditable at 16.2%

• Free cash flow generated was $146.3M

• EPS improved by 0.9% to 23.4 cents

• Proposed final dividend of 12 cents per share will increase full year dividend by 1 cent to a total of 18 cents

NAV of $1.425

PE of 22.4x

Yield of 3.4% base on current price of $5.25 per share.

Dividend has been constantly increasing from 2013 to 2017.

Net Profit margin has also been generally increasing which is quite positive .

Let us take a look at the financial results numbers for past 5 years:

Hi Sporeshare@jeremyowtaip, SATS was an investment idea that I almost wanted to get in last year when it was trading around $4.60+ region. However, wonder if I was unlucky or what, the share price shortly after I had finished my due diligence started to move higher as though it disliked me from buying it. Thus, I held back and did not chase it at higher price. I was in fact hoping to get it even lower at $4.50 back then but since the price did not go lower but instead went higher, I gave up and moved on to other stock ideas.

Back then I took an interest in SATS after hearing my father talked about how my uncle entered this stock some years back when it was still trading about $1 plus to $2 plus region. My uncle held it until now and it is now at $5+ when he at least double to triple his initial capital. Well, this is not something to scream about over the past decade as there were even stocks which performed much better than SATS in their share price growth. But, it is at least better than punting a wrong penny stock and made losses along the way over the past decade.

Thus, I think my uncle who has very limited investment knowledge also knew how to exercise his common sense to pick reasonably good stocks (though may not be one of the best performing stock) at a cheap price and keep holding it until now to reap such a return on his capital turning in a 2 to 2.5 bagger over the past decade. That equates to a similar performance to ETFs or low cost fund which track S&P500 index that also became a 2.5 bagger over the past decade. This is still a somewhat decent showing of SATS share price performance over the past decade.

The revenues of SATS have compounded over the past 9 years at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.78%. The operating income (EBIT) has compounded over the past 9 years at CAGR of 3.2%. The net income has compounded over the past 9 years at CAGR of 3.77%. The EPS has compounded over the past 9 years at CAGR of 3.6%.

The operating cash flows has compounded over the past 9 years at CAGR of 7.97%. The capital expenditure has compounded over the past 9 years at CAGR of 21.73%. The free cash flows has compounded over the past 9 years at CAGR of 5.21%. The dividends per share has grown from 10 cents 9 years ago to now 16 cents.

The returns on assets, returns on equity and returns on invested capital have took a retreat over the past 9 years but have recovered again in the recent few years back to the same levels as 9 years ago.

If we look at the past 9 years performance of SATS in terms of it's profitability in compounded growths in revenues, operating income, net income and EPS, all the CAGRs of the respective metrics point towards one conclusion. This is a steady but slow growth company. Even though it maybe making some progress in it's topline growth, it's bottom line did not follow the same growth rate and instead only turn out a low single digit compounded growth rate.

If we look at the cash flows trend, this is definitely a cash generating machine albeit not a high growth rate in generating cash. In fact, it's compounded growth in capital expenditure is much higher than compounded growth in operating cash flows and free cash flows. It has invested increasingly a lot more money in capital expenditures in order to generate cash inflows. However, if we look at the ratio of free cash flows to capital expenditures over the past 9 years, the amount of free cash flows generated in any one single year was always about twice or more than twice the amount of capital expenditure. This company was generating hell lots of free cash flows even if it increasingly need to spend more in capital expenditure. No wonder the share price has performed reasonably well over the past 9 years even though not something super fantastic to scream about.

It's current 9M17-18 financial results seems to picture a flat results y-o-y with almost everything from revenue, operating income, net income, EPS, operating cash flows being flattish. Maybe that could be partly the concern why it's share price did not went any much higher but instead dropped from it's peak of $5.85 to now $5.00 after the recent 9M results were announced.

Let's look finally at the valuation with this updated set of 9M17-18 results. If we assume that it's EPS will continue to grow at same CAGR of 3.6% and this could be a reasonable CAGR given that SATS really is not a high growth company anymore. In it's recent financial reports, even though they mentioned some possible areas of growth they are looking at and investing in, it does not seem to really boost their growth currently by any large magnitude. Well, at current large revenue level of $1.73 billion, I guess it is not easy for SATS to grow at any meaningful high double digit growth rates anymore going forward. Maybe they could turn in any single year of superb growth. But to sustain at such high double digit growth rates over the longer term may not be an easy feat for them at their current large size and also in their competitive environment. The management also acknowledges that their operating business environment is challenging and meets with cost pressure.

Using my method of estimation, at current share price of $5, the market is according a CAGR of 6.4% over the next business cycle (7 years forward) for the EPS of SATS. If we assume SATS will follow it's historical CAGR of 3.6% for it's EPS, then a fair value for it's share price will be around $3.69.

However, there could be a twist in this. Over recent two years, the EPS has grown faster than over previous period. If SATS can indeed produce a better CAGR on it's EPS perhaps around 5%, then using my method of estimation again, it's fair share price will be $4.35.

Thus, there are two possible fair values now for your consideration.
The more conservative fair value is around $3.69. The more optimistic fair value is around $4.35. In any case, this means that the share price of SATS is currently overvalued and has possible room to fall to it's fair value. This fall in share price could be likely should the full year FY17-18 results ending in Mar 18 remains flattish or see a marginal decrease which is not impossible since the 9M17-18 results are already flattish. Let's see whether SATS FY17-18 results to be announced in another about two months time will surprise on the upside or confirm my thinking that it could be a flattish year for them in their performance.

theintelligentinvestor

Reply to @jeremyowtaip : Great analysis! I have similar view that the topline is growing faster than the bottom line, like most instances, is because the business needs higher Capex to have incremental growth. I prefer the lower capex to grow type of businesses, but they are hard to find and also not cheap.

But having said that, I think overall the earnings power is still there, they have a nice moat around their business, and generating good earnings and cash flow. A 3.6% growth will mean doubling the business every 20 years. For me I don’t have problem with low growth businesses, I have some stocks that are also in the same moderate range of 3-5%. What is left is the price, at PE 21, it is on the overvalued side. But if I have bought this like your uncle at $2, I will likely keep holding it, as fundamentally it is still the same, only thing has changed is the price.

Company bought back share:

SATS did a series of share buy backs recently from mid-Feb to now. I noticed their prices they bought ranged from $4.99 to $5.20. The funny thing and irony is that you posted your comment just after they announced up till their latest share buy backs in this recent series of share buy backs. The management think their share price is cheap to have done share buy backs at current prices while we were discussing that the current share price is overvalued. I will still stand by my view that their share price is currently overvalued. What an irony here! Haha!

Not a call to buy or sell.

Please do your own due diligence.

AEM

Indeed AEM has managed to bounce-off from the low of 97 cents and stage a nice rebound to touch$1.10 on 13th July 2018 ,this is rather positive.

It has managed to reclaimed its 20 days moving at about $1.07, this is pretty encouraging/bullish!

Short term wise, likely to see it move up to re-attempt $1.17 level. Breaking out with ease + good volume that may propel to drive the price higher towards $1.42 with extension to $1.53.

Not a call to buy or sell.

Please do your own due diligence.


24th June 2018:
AEM has been driven into a super oversold territories. The share price after hitting all time high of $1.91, it has since corrected sharply and went down to touch the low of 97 cents .

Current share price of 98.5 cents is trading at a PE of less than 8x, looks rather undervalue.Trailing EPS of about 13 cents and cash-on-hands of about $42.8m ,Zero debts, net cash per share is about 16 cents .




Company is expected to make about $42.2m Gross profit for FY 2018.

Looks rather overly extended!
I think short term wise, we may likely see a rebound !




Not a call to buy or sell.

Please do your own due diligence.





AEM Holdings Ltd, an investment holding company, provides solutions in equipment systems; and precision components and related manufacturing services for various industries. It operates through Equipment Systems Solutions and Precision Component Solutions segments. The company provides high density modular test handlers, wafer handling systems, hot spot testers, and smartcard backend handlers for use in semiconductor, solar cell, and smartcard manufacturing facilities, as well as related tooling parts; and designs, develops, and manufactures precision engineering products, such as test sockets, device change kits, stiffeners, golden units, holding jigs, preventive maintenance kits, and precision mechanical assembly modules for use in the electronic, life science, instrumentation, and aerospace industries, as well as offers engineering services. It also engages in the research, development, and production of communications and industrial test solutions. The company offers its products through a network of sales offices, associates, and distributors in Asia, Europe, and the United States. AEM Holdings Ltd is headquartered in Singapore.

OCBC Bank

From TA point of view, it is on a Downtrend mode chart patterns , looks rather bearish.

After hitting the high of $14, it has since corrected sharply and continue to slide down further to touch $11.11 on 6th July 2018, this is rather negative.

The current price of $11.30 is staying below it's 20, 50, 100 and 200 days moving average. This is rather bearish.

Short term wise, it may continue to go down to retest $11.11. Breaking down of $11.11 would spell more trouble ahead!
It may slide down towards $10.80, $10.50 then $10.20 with extension to $9.50.

NAV of $9.205.
P/B 1.22x
EPS of $1.01.
PE of 11.5x

Dividend of $0.37.
Yield of 3.27%.

Looking through their financial numbers for the past 5 years , Total revenue has risen from $7.83b in 2014 to $9.33b in 2018. This is quite positive.

Total Net Income has also risen from $3.84m in 2014 to $4.4b in 2018. This is pretty impressive.

Not a call to buy or sell.

Please do your own due diligence.


Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited provides financial services in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Greater China, other parts of the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company's Global Consumer/Private Banking segment provides a range of products and services to individuals, including checking accounts, and savings and fixed deposits; housing and other personal loans; credit cards; wealth management products consisting of unit trusts, bancassurance products, and structured deposits; and brokerage services. This segment also offers investment advice and portfolio management, estate and trust planning, and wealth structuring services for high net worth individuals. Its Global Corporate/Investment Banking segment provides project financing, overdrafts, trade financing, and deposit accounts; fee-based services, such as cash management and custodian services; and investment banking services, including financing solutions, syndicated loans and advisory services, corporate finance services for initial public offerings, secondary fund-raising, and takeovers and mergers, as well as customized and structured equity-linked financing services. It serves corporates, public sector, and small and medium enterprises. The company's Global Treasury and Markets segment is involved in the foreign exchange activities, money market operations, and fixed income and derivatives trading, as well as provision of structured treasury products and financial solutions. Its OCBC Wing Hang segment offers commercial banking, consumer financing, share brokerage, and insurance services. The company’s Insurance segment provides fund management services, and life and general insurance products. Its Others segment is involved in property and investment holding activities. As of May 7, 2018, the company operated a network of 590 branches and representative offices in 18 countries and regions. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Best World

TA wise, looks like it is doing a Reversal chart patterns, likely to see it move up to retest the recent high of $1.43. Breaking out with ease + high volume, that may propel to drive the price higher to go higher to fill up the Gap and rises further towards 1.50 level.

Looking through thier 1Q2018 result, Net profit is down 40.3% to $5.7m .
Total revenue is also down 43.3% to $25.3m,

EPS is down 40.7% from 1.77 cents to 1.05 cents.

This could be the reason why the share price has tank from $1.56 to a low of $1.22 .

NAV of 24.74 cents.
P/B is 5.17X , seems quite expensive.

Presuming a full year EPS of 4.5 cents , PE of 22.2x seems expensive.

Cash flow seems quite healthy as they have managed to increased their Net Cash flow from Operating activities.

Overview

In line with management’s commentary in Section 10 of the Group’s last results announcement, Group Revenue for 1Q2018 was 43.3% lower compared to the same period last year, primarily due to minimal export to China as the Group commenced its conversion from the Export segment to the new China Wholesale segment.

Quarter-on-quarter, Gross Profit margin remains stable at 69.3% while Net Profit Margin improved to 22.8% in 1Q2018. This was mainly due to the following factors:

• Other Operating Income which the Group charges its China Agent for market support activities, product trainings and IT services as a function of the Agent’s sales for the 1Q2018, increased by 165.7% to $3.9 million;

• In line with revenue decrease in 1Q2018, Distribution Costs which comprises freelance commissions, annual convention expenses and other sales related costs decreased by 32.1%;

• Administrative Expenses for the Group decreased from $8.9 million in 1Q2017 to $6.6 million in 1Q2018 as a result of lower professional fees, management and staff costs as well as lower amortisation expenses;

• Net Other Losses of $0.2 million in 1Q2018 was mainly attributable to Unrealised Foreign Exchange Losses recorded during the period due to revaluation of the Group’s financial assets denominated in US Dollars from a depreciating USD as well as Unrealised Foreign Exchange losses recorded by our Indonesia Subsidiary as Indonesia Rupiah weakened against the Singapore Dollar and offsetting the reversal of unaccounted cash written off previously announced in February 2015, concerning BWL Health & Sciences Inc. of $0.7 million. The amount was in respect of tax payments for which had been finalised and paid;

• The Group’s Income Tax Expenses decreased from $2.5 million in 1Q2017 to $1.4 million in 1Q2018 due to a decrease in Profit Before Tax recorded by the Group.

As a result, Profit Attributable to Owners of the Parent Company declined 40.3% from $9.6 million in 1Q2017 to $5.7 million in 1Q2018.

Outlook:

Although the Group’s top and bottom line has been impacted in 1Q2018 due to the conversion of its business model from Export to China Wholesale and since actual demand for the Group’s brand offerings in China is still growing, barring any unforeseen circumstances, management is cautiously optimistic that the China Wholesale segment will contribute to the growth in the bottom line for the Group in 2H2018.

Factors that may affect the Group’s performance in the next reporting period and for the next 12 months are as follows:

• To set the Group’s growth path moving forward, management constantly explores M&A opportunities. In the course of assessing these opportunities, regardless of success or not, professional fees and other related expenses may be incurred; 16

• Higher Administrative expenses for FY2018 compared to FY2017 due to an increase in management and staff in certain Regional Centres (RCs), depreciation expenses related to the Group’s Tuas facility and machineries/equipment for the factory and establishment of our Changsha RC;

• As strategies implemented are not expected to gain traction immediately, management is cautiously optimistic that revenue from Taiwan will be stable when compared to FY2017, primarily led by events, campaigns and product launches in 2H2018.

• The conversion of Export to the new China Wholesale segment is expected to extend into 2Q2018 as export agent continues to deplete its inventory. Revenue from the Export Segment in 2Q2018 is also expected to be lower than that of 2Q2017. The Group’s China subsidiary BWCP may be able to register its first revenue contribution for the China Wholesale segment in 2H2018;

• Upon conversion to China Wholesale, some or all of the following items, amongst others may be affected: 1. Increase in Revenue and Gross Profit as a result of revenue recognition at a price higher than export price; 2. Increase in Administrative Expenses due to management and staff costs as well as lease expenses of our new Changsha RC; and 3. Decline in Other Operating Income due to lower service fees charged to the Group’s Export Agent, and

• Fluctuating currencies of key markets which the Group operates in against the SGD may positively or negatively impact the Group’s performance. Management will undertake measures to mitigate any potential risks the Group is exposed to. Other ongoing factors that affect the Group’s performance include, timeline required for product registration in various markets, natural disasters, local direct selling regulations, product regulations and market competition.

SingTel Update

Are you loosing sleep with your SingTel invested share price keep heading lower?
The whole telco industry sector has been overly punished with the incoming of the 4th operator that may begin its operation on Dec 2018.

I think market has overly reacted and the price has been driven into oversold territories.

I think wise income investor may view this as a golden opportunity to slowly accumulate.

Plus point:

I think SingTel has a stronger balance sheet, stronger free cash flow and it pays out a fraction of its earnings as dividends to shareholders.

If the price on a good investment goes lower, I think it is presenting a good value .

TA wise, It is on a nice reversal chart patterns, looks rather bullish.

With the series of Gap Up, likely to see it retest 3.30 level and head higher towards 3.40 then 3.50 level.

Not a call to buy or sell.

Please do your own due diligence.



18 May 2018 - long time didn't see company buying back share ! Looks positive!

Today saw the company bought back 294000+ share between $3.42 to $3.43.

http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAnnouncement_Content&B=AnnouncementToday&F=H1UR0B3BPABL4KB0&H=b2e5d5b80b08f4cc5d2922ce03a9263e1a932c75229c687d33fd403eb23c2132


Singtel posts record full-year earnings on NetLink Trust divestment and strong core business 

Financial year ended 31 March 2018







 Record net profit of S$5.45 billion, including divestment gains from NetLink Trust  Operating revenue up 5% to S$17.53 billion

 Strong core and digital businesses drive growth







 Free cash flow up 18% to S$3.61 billion on strong operating cash flow

 Q4 revenue stable and net profit down 19% on weaker associates’ earnings

 Proposed final dividend per share of 10.7 cents; total dividend per share of 17.5 cents

DIVIDENDS

The Board is recommending a final ordinary dividend per share of 10.7 cents, bringing the total ordinary dividend per share for the year to 17.5 cents, representing a payout of approximately S$2.86 billion.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Group expects to maintain its ordinary dividends of 17.5 cents per share for the next two financial years and thereafter, will revert to the payout of between 60% and 75% of underlying net profit.

“These results reflect the strong execution of our digital transformation strategy in both our core and new digital businesses. Optus gained market share in Australia underscoring its network and content strategy while our ICT and digital businesses now account for 24% of revenue, with digital marketing arm Amobee achieving growth and positive EBITDA for the year,” said Ms Chua Sock Koong, Singtel Group CEO. “We remain focused on what is important to both our consumer and enterprise customers – premium mobile networks, secure high-speed connectivity, innovative products and services, and excellent customer service. Besides strengthening our competitiveness, this allows us to deliver even greater value to customers.”







 Across the region, all of the Group’s regional associates continued to drive growth in data. However, Airtel’s results were impacted by intense competition with very aggressive pricing led by a new player and further aggravated by mandated cuts in mobile termination rates in India. This is despite recording its highest quarterly net customer adds and strong data usage growth in India, and continued positive growth momentum in Africa. Last month, Airtel announced the merger of Indus Towers and Bharti Infratel to create the largest tower company in the world outside of China, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. Telkomsel’s earnings were impacted by the decline in legacy services and heightened price competition particularly during the SIM card registration implementation. Profit contributions from AIS grew on revenue improvement and cost management. Globe also delivered strong earnings growth due to robust data revenue growth and cost control.

Competition remains intense in India but the right regulatory policies and sector consolidation should lead to a more stable market structure in the mid term. In Indonesia, Telkomsel Singapore Telecommunications Limited 2 of 8 Company registration number: 199201624D continues to expand its network to create significant capacity and grow its digital business.

 To forge new areas of growth, we are accelerating collaborations with our regional associates to build an ecosystem of digital services by leveraging the Group’s strengths and customer base across 21 countries.” Recently announced initiatives include a cross-border payments service to connect the Group’s telco wallets in Asia, and strategic partnerships in the areas of e-payments, e-sports and sports content. The Group’s cash position remains strong.

Free cash flow for the full year rose 18% to S$3.61 billion, and for the quarter grew 5% to S$800 million.







GROUP CONSUMER

 In Australia, Optus gained market share as it successfully differentiated itself through its network and content strategy. For the full year, it added a total of 384,000 new mobile customers and 225,000 new NBN broadband customers.

Revenue grew 3% in the quarter as higher equipment sales and strong customer growth offset lower NBN migration revenues due to NBN’s temporary suspension order while EBITDA declined 5%. Excluding NBN migration revenues, revenue would have grown 6% and EBITDA increased 3%. Mobile service revenue grew 1%, impacted by higher service credits. Postpaid ARPU was affected by an increased mix of SIM-only plans, higher device repayment credits and data price competition. Mass market fixed revenues excluding NBN migration revenues increased 6%.

In Singapore, for the quarter, consumer revenue was down 4% and EBITDA declined 14%. Mobile communications revenue was impacted by voice to data substitution, declines in roaming services and a higher mix of SIM-only plans.

The launch of premium handsets presented an opportunity to increase customer recontracting numbers, strengthen customer relationships and reduce churn. Around 18% of new and recontracting postpaid customers signed up for SIM-only plans during the quarter. Home revenues declined with the cessation of Premier League sublicensing and lower fixed voice usage but was partially mitigated by continued growth in broadband services.

Singtel relaunched its flagship store at Comcentre with state-of-the-art features and integration of online-offline channels to give customers greater ease of use.







In the content space, Group Consumer scored broadcasting rights for all the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches in Singapore and Australia. Optus also secured exclusive Premier League rights for three more seasons, solidifying its position as a leading multi-media entertainment company.

GROUP ENTERPRISE

 Group Enterprise revenue was stable for the quarter as growth in ICT revenues offset the continued erosion of the carriage business. ICT services was boosted by strong contributions from cyber security and cloud services.

Cyber security revenue rose 16% on the back of strong growth in managed security services and momentum in the Asia Pacific region.

In Australia, Optus Business maintained its revenue momentum at 5% growth this quarter, driven by sustained growth in mobile revenue and major ICT contract wins.

GROUP DIGITAL LIFE 

Group Digital Life continued to scale and make progress towards profitability. Revenue grew 54%1 for the quarter with EBITDA at breakeven, lifted by one-off content cost credit and government grants.







In my opinion, SingTel has again shown it ability to grow its business and total revenue for the Full Year rises 4.9% to 17,532m.

Underlying Net profit is down 7.8% ( excluding divestment gains) was 3,544m.

Underlying Net profit if included divestment gain of 1,908m , Up 42.2% to 5,451m.

What an outstanding result.

Not a call to buy or sell.

Please do your own due diligence.