PublicInvest Research upgrades Yong Tai, target price 23 sen

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): PublicInvest Research has upgraded Yong Tai Bhd to “Trading Buy” at 13.5 sen with a target price of 23 sen after Yong Tai announced overnight the planned development of an international cruise terminal at its Impression City development in Melaka Tengah, as well as the entering into of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singapore Cruise Centre Pte Ltd (SCC) for the latter to act as terminal operations and management consultant.

In a note today, the research house said it was excited over this development, and sees this playing a significant part in the turning around of Encore Melaka’s prospects which has been plagued by lower-than-expected ticket sales.

It said while still very much early days, it nonetheless believes the worst is likely behind Yong Tai and sees this as marking the Group’s long but certain trek back in terms of regaining investor confidence.

“Our earnings estimates are left unchanged, with target price of 23 sen (70% discount to 76 sen sum-of-parts valuation) also retained.

“We raise our call to Trading Buy in light of this positive development.

“We continue to see value in its long-term proposition, with near term confidence depending largely on the speed in which it manages to turn around its Encore Melaka theatre,” it said.