• Of the 200+ Singapore-listed stocks that booked positive total returns in 2023, more than 80 stocks have added gains or maintained their positive total return in 1Q24 (as at 25 March). The most traded of these stocks included DBS, OCBC, Singtel, YZJ Shipbldg, Keppel, ST Engg, UMS, Frencken, Golden-Agri & NetLink NBN Trust.
   
• Stocks that maintain the highest ROE among the 80+ stocks, include Dyna-Mac, Beng Kuang, Acesian Partners, Hafary, Azeus, OKP, Aztech Gbl, Oiltek, Jubilee and Audience. Seven of these 10 stocks maintain a single digit P/E ratio with three of the seven stocks also trading below book value.
   
• Dyna-Mac Holdings reported a 114% net profit increase from FY22, and has ranked outside the 50 most traded Singapore stocks in 1Q24 through to 25 March, while ranking among the 30 stocks that booked the most net institutional inflow over the period.  
   

More than 200 Singapore-listed stocks booked positive total returns in 2023, with more than 80 of these 200+ stocks either adding gains or maintaining on those gains in the 1Q24 though to 25 March – it is important to note  that recent past performance is not indicate of future returns. The Sector with the most representation across the 80+ stocks was the Industrial Sector representing around 30% of these 80+ stocks, while around 20% of the 80+ stocks are listed on the Catalist Board.

As a group, the 80+ stocks maintain an average and median Return-on-Equity (ROE) ratio of 11%, median Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 9x and median Price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 1.0x. The majority of the ROE ratios are sourced from the SGX Screener with the table below detailing the 25 stocks of the group of 80+ stocks with the highest ROE ratios as of 25 March.

Note: ^ on SGX Watchlist, *listed on the Catalist Board. ADT refers to average daily turnover; NIF refers to net institutional flows; TR refers to total returns. Source: SGX, Refinitiv (Data as of 25 March 2024). Note Old Chang Kee, Atlantic Nav, Audience, XMH^ and Sim Leisure have averaged less than S$10,000 ADT in the 2024 year to 25 March.

Dyna-Mac Holdings maintained the highest ROE ratio in the above table. For its FY23 (ended 31 Dec), Dyna-Mac Holdings reported a 114% net profit increase from FY22, attributed to better utilisation of capacity by intensifying land use, improved productivity and tighter cost control. The Group highlighted that its orderbook of S$438.2 million (as of 31 Dec) with deliveries into FY25, showcases the buoyant demand for its Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) topside modules offerings.

Note that while the SGX Stock Screener maintains the ROE of Dyna-Mac Holdings is 50.4%, the Group noted by its own measure, the ROE increased from 30.2% in 12M2022 to 40.8% in 12M2023. The ROE ratio in the stock screener applies the income available to common shareholders for the trailing twelve months which is divided by the average common equity. The average common equity is calculated by adding the common equity for the five most recent quarters and dividing by five. Thus the 50.4% ROE in the SGX Stock Screener is derived from dividing the S$28.488 million income available to shareholders in FY23 (before other comprehensive income) by the average amount of share capital and reserves at the end of FY23 and end of FY22.

According to the SGX Stock Screener, Beng Kuang Marine maintains the next highest ROE of the 80+ stocks at 43.7%, with a P/E ratio of 4.5x as of 25 March. Note the stock is currently placed under Watch-list by SGX, as per the Watch-list rules found in Part V of Chapter 13 of the SGX-ST Listing Rules Manual. On Feb 27, the offshore and marine industries solutions provider reported a positive turnaround in its FY23 (ended Dec 31) with a net profit of S$7.4 million. Beng Kuang Marine CEO Yong Jiunn Run Yong noted that FY23 had been a transitional year as the Group’s turnaround plan gathered pace on restoring the Group’s profitability, deleveraging its balance sheet, and simplifying its operations with profitable business divisions. After the financials were released, on Feb 29, Mr Yong acquired 1.1 million shares at an average price of S$0.07 per share. With a consideration of S$80,900, this took his direct interest in the company from 4.44 per cent to 4.99 per cent.

Further Resources and Research

Recent Financial Results/Business Updates

• Acesian Partners: Acesian Partners FY2023 Results | Acesian Partners 1HFY23 Results
• Azeus Systems Holdings: Azeus Systems Holdings 1HFY23 Results
• Aztech Global: Aztech Global FY2023 Results
• Beng Kuang Marine: Beng Kuang Marine FY2023 Results
• Dyna-Mac Holdings: Dyna-Mac Holdings 2HFY23 Results
• Hafary Holdings: Hafary Holdings FY2023 Results | Hafary Holdings 1HFY23 Results
• Jubilee Industries Holdings: Jubilee Industries Holdings 1HFY23 Results
• OKP Holdings: OKP Holdings FY2023 Results
• Oiltek International: Oiltek International FY2023 Results

Related Analyst Reports

• Aztech Global: DBS - Aztech Global Update : Stable orderbook and margins | CGS-CIMB - Aztech Global Ltd Update : On track for a stronger 2H23F
• Dyna-Mac Holdings: OCBC - Dyna-Mac Holdings Update : The best is yet to be | Lim & Tan Securities - Dyna-Mac Initiation : The best is yet to be

Company interviews

• Audience Analytics: 5 in 5 with Audience Analytics – Optimising Businesses Through Digitalisation
• BRC Asia: kopi-C with BRC Asia’s CEO: "We’ve become the leader in Singapore’s reinforcing steel fabrication industry"
• Centurion: kopi-C with Centurion Corporation’s CEO: “We offer residents more than just a place to stay”
• Starhub: kopi-C with Starhub’s CEO: “There’s no other telco like ours”

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