Passenger traffic rose 10% in 2015Q1 with a new record of P L/F in same period of history.

Of which, due to the rebound in demand and influenced by low base factors last year, the passenger traffic recorded of the Southeast Asian routes and the Southwest Pacific / South Africa routes were substantially increased with a growth rate of 16% and 15% respectively yoy. Demand for North America and Northeast Asia routes continued strongly and the European market was gradually picking up, but the growth rate of mainland routes in China was under pressure and dropped to less than 3%.

Freight traffic grew highly with an increase of 15.4% in 1Q.

The Company's air freight business has also benefited from port congestion in the American West. RFTK in the first quarter rose 15.4 % to 2.55 billion revenue tone kilometers yoy, with the freight capacity increased by 9.8%, and freight and mail load factor was 65.8%, up 3.2 percents.

FY2014 Earn 20% more, slightly lower than expectation.

The total revenue of Cathay Pacific fore the 2014 fiscal year grew by 5.5%, i.e. up to HKD 105.99 billion yoy, and the retained earnings attributable to shareholders rose 20% to HKD 3.15 billion yoy, with earnings per share of 80.1 cents. The result was lower than our previous expectations mainly due to a loss of HKD 911 million caused by fuel hedging operation with the net cost of fuel about 3% higher than expected. The Company declared a yearly dividend of 26 cents, plus an interim dividend of 10 cents, which was 36 cents per share annual dividend, which was in line with our expectations, and the annual dividend rate increased to 45%.

Fuel hedging became a buffer.

The Company has extended fuel hedging contracts to 2018. The fuel hedging accounts for 61% in 2015 and hedging oil price is HKD 95; 60%, 50% and 37% and HKD 85, HKD 89 and HKD 82 from 2016 to 2018.We believe that fuel hedging is a buffer for the Company's result. At least in a short run there is great possibility for current oil prices to hover low, and fuel hedging makes it difficult for such companies obtain the full benefits from lower oil prices. However, on the other hand, if future oil prices rise (higher than USD$60), the Company can avoid partial negative impact brought by bigger fuel costs.

Despite fierce competition, we generally still have an optimistic outlook on the Company's future. From the updated financial forecast, we revised our target price to HK$21.3, based on 14/11xP/E and 1.5/1.4xP/B for 2015/2016, and the suggestions of “Accumulate” rating be given. (Closing price as at 13 May 2015)

Passenger traffic rose 10% in 2015Q1 with a new record of P L/F in same period of history

Cathay Pacific announced its operating data for 2015Q1 that showed a total of 29.18 billion RPK (Revenue Passenger Kilometers) of passenger traffic turnover was recorded in the first quarter of 2015, representing an increase of 10 % over the same period yoy.

Of which, due to the rebound in demand and influenced by low base factors last year, the passenger traffic recorded of the Southeast Asian routes and the Southwest Pacific / South Africa routes were substantially increased with a growth rate of 16% and 15% respectively yoy. Demand for North America and Northeast Asia routes continued strongly and the European market was gradually picking up, but the growth rate of mainland routes in China was under pressure and dropped to less than 3%.

Passenger capacity measured in available seat kilometers in the first quarter had an increase of 6.9% yoy, and passenger load factor rose 2.3% to 84.9%, hitting the record high in the first quarter of 2010.

Freight traffic grew highly with an increase of 15.4% in 1Q

Driven by strong freight demand of North American routes, and stronger freight demand of major export markets in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland than that in previous years, the Company's freight business has improved since the fourth quarter of last year, and the trend has continued to the first quarter of 2015. In addition, the Company's air freight business has also benefited from port congestion in the American West. RFTK in the first quarter rose 15.4 % to 2.55 billion revenue tone kilometers yoy, with the freight capacity increased by 9.8%, and freight and mail load factor was 65.8%, up 3.2 percents.

FY2014 Earn 20% more, slightly lower than expectation

The total revenue of Cathay Pacific fore the 2014 fiscal year grew by 5.5%, i.e. up to HKD 105.99 billion yoy, and the retained earnings attributable to shareholders rose 20% to HKD 3.15 billion yoy, with earnings per share of 80.1 cents. The result was lower than our previous expectations mainly due to a loss of HKD 911 million caused by fuel hedging operation with the net cost of fuel about 3% higher than expected. The Company declared a yearly dividend of 26 cents, plus an interim dividend of 10 cents, which was 36 cents per share annual dividend, which was in line with our expectations, and the annual dividend rate increased to 45%.

The Company's passenger traffic turnover increased 7.35% yoy and freight turnover 14.8% in 2014, and the growth was mainly in the second half year. Annual passenger capacity rose 5.9%, and load factor increased 1.1 % to 83.3%. However, due to the fierce airline competition in the region, long-haul route capacity increased its impact, and passenger yields fell 1.8 percent to HKD 67.3 cents. Air cargo market supply was still exceeding demand and freight yields fell 5.6% to HKD 2.19.

Fuel hedging became a buffer

Though because of sharp drop of international oil prices in 4Q of 2014, the profitability of the Company's main business improved and, yet the impact of low oil price was partially offset by the losses recorded previously by fuel hedging contracts of the Company. The actual fuel costs for the 2014 reached HKD 39.39 billion, up only 0.7 % yoy, and fuel costs after hedging operation increased by 5.7% to HKD 40.3 billion, with the proportion in total cost increasing from 0.3 % to 39.7%.

The Company has extended fuel hedging contracts to 2018. The fuel hedging accounts for 61% in 2015 and hedging oil price is HKD 95; 60%, 50% and 37% and HKD 85, HKD 89 and HKD 82 from 2016 to 2018.

We believe that fuel hedging is a buffer for the Company's result. At least in a short run there is great possibility for current oil prices to hover low, and fuel hedging makes it difficult for such companies obtain the full benefits from lower oil prices. However, on the other hand, if future oil prices rise (higher than USD$60), the Company can avoid partial negative impact brought by bigger fuel costs.

Valuation

Despite fierce competition, we generally still have an optimistic outlook on the Company's future. From the updated financial forecast, we revised our target price to HK$21.3, based on 14/11xP/E and 1.5/1.4xP/B for 2015/2016, and the suggestions of “Accumulate” rating be given.

Financials

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