DBS Stock Pulse: August 1 tariff deadline reinforces Singapore’s status as a trade haven
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Group Research - Equities1 Aug 2025
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Market View Update

August 1 tariff deadline reinforces Singapore’s status as a trade haven 

  • What’s new: The US maintains its 10% tariff for Singapore goods as the White House announces changes to global reciprocal tarffs with the end of the 1 August deadline
  • 10% tariff rate is a relief for Singapore markets as Trump had previous suggested the new baseline could be lifted to 15%-20%
  • Singapore keeps its safe haven status with the lowest global tariff rate
  • STI’s pullback this week is within our expectations, we had cited tariffs deadline uncertainties, August seasonality and near-term overbought technicals, even as we lifted STI’s target to 4430 with 2 support levels at 4140 and 4028 (less likely to be tested). Two observations:
  • The McClellan Oscillator, a measure of short-term market breadth, has eased from a highly overbought level of 35 on 23 July to -15 currently, with levels at/below -20 considered oversold
  • FTSE ST Mid, Small and Catalyst Indices outperformed STI week-to-date
  • How to position: Stocks in our preferred themes should outperform: 1) small-mid caps, 2) value-unlocking potential, and 3) resilient stocks
  • Small-mid caps have the potential to outperform the large-caps, ahead of EQDP deployment into stocks with value-unlocking potential, good earnings prospects, and/or high yields
  • Undervalued property stocks (P/BV <0.7X) with redevelopment / value unlocking potential – UOL (Marina Square Mall), CityDev (Delfi Orchard, Orchard Hotel, and Claymore Connect)
  • Stocks with resilience, growth and yield – DFI Retail (focus on earnings fromstreamlined operations and total shareholder returns) , Singtel (10% earnings CAGR over FY25-28F supported by improving core business)

 

Stocks to Watch

OCBC

2Q25 results in line, NIM declined 8bps q/q; dividends down y/y

  • 2Q25 revenue and net profit in line, largely due to very low credit costs
  • NIM declined by 8bps q/q, as per expectations; 2025 NIM guidance lowered to range of 1.90% to 1.95% (previous: around 2%)
  • 1H25 dividends at 41Scts (below consensus expectations of 44Scts) on lower EPS and 50% dividend payout ratio
  • We currently have a HOLD call with TP SGD14.40

 

Seatrium – TP (-), Earnings (-)

Slowly but surely

  • 1H25 core gross margin expansion to 8.2% a confidence booster
  • Expect gross margin uptrend to continue; look forward to more contract wins in 2H
  • Trimmed FY25/26 forecasts by 16%, factoring in lower assoc/JV income and other income
  • Reiterate BUY; TP adjusted down slightly to SGD2.96 following earnings revisions

 

CapitaLand China Trust – Recommendation (-), Earnings (-), TP (-)

Longer route to recovery

  • 1H25 revenue declined 6.3% y/y to RMB867.6mn; DPU dropped 17% y/y to 2.49 Scts, falling short of estimates
  • Tenant confidence wanes as reversionary outlook remains soft; we estimate -3%/-10%/-30% reversions for retail/BP/logistics
  • C-REIT participation could spell long-drawn recovery, while Yuhuating Mall expected to be DPU-dilutive; perp issuance (Oct expiry) further pressures DPU
  • Downgrade to HOLD with revised TP SGD0.75

 

Capitaland Ascott Trust

Shinjuku windfall fuels more acquisition headroom

  • Proposed divestment of Citadines Central Shinjuku Tokyo for JPY25.0bn (SGD222.7mn), achieving c.100% premium to book and 40.4% above independent valuations
  • Exit EBITDA yield of 3.2%, with SGD50.8mn net gain after tax boosting CLAS’ divestment gain reserve to c.SGD350mn and driving 1.0% pro forma DPS accretion
  • Proceeds to repay JPY and higher cost sterling debt at 4.6% blended cost with more debt capacity to pursue acquisitions, with a probable focus on living sector in developed markets in Asia, Europe
  • Maintain BUY with TP of SGD1.15

 

Sheng Siong

Costly, not expensive

  • 2Q25 revenue of SGD362mn (+7% y/y) and earnings of SGD34mn (+1% y/y) in line
  • Slower profit growth was largely seasonal, as higher gross profit growth was offset by increased staff cost and right-of-use depreciation
  • Declared interim dividend of 3.2Scts, unchanged y/y
  • Maintain BUY with TP of SGD2.30, based on premium 20.9x forward PE on unchanged FY26F earnings, supported by strong operational execution

 

Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust: 3Q25 business update

Strong positive rental reversion to support earnings resilience

  • Impressive positive rental reversions of +43.4% in 3Q25, driven by the L&I segment
  • Key positives: i) strong positive rental reversions to support earnings resilience, ii) low gearing that will improve further with divestment, iii) occupancy for L&I portfolio to improve in the coming quarter with leasing secured recently
  • What we are watching out for: i) overall borrowing costs as loans are refinanced, ii) FX rates, especially for AUD, iii) redeployment of proceeds following divestment in Melbourne
  • Maintain BUY with TP of SGD1.05

 

Legend

 

(+)

(-)

Earnings

Positive earnings revision

Negative earnings revision

Recommendation

Upgrade

Downgrade

TP

Increase

Decrease

 


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Note: All views expressed are current as at the stated date of publication.


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HONG KONG
DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd
Contact: Dennis Lam
13th Floor One Island East,
18 Westlands Road,
Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: 852 3668 4181
Fax: 852 2521 1812
e-mail: [email protected]

SINGAPORE
DBS Bank Ltd
Contact: Andy Sim
Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3
Singapore 018982
Tel: 65 6878 8888
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INDONESIA
PT DBS Vickers Sekuritas (Indonesia)
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Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav. 3-5
Jakarta 12940, Indonesia
Tel: 62 21 3003 4900
Fax: 6221 3003 4943
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Contact: Chanpen Sirithanarattanakul
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Securities and Exchange Commission, Thailand