Shares of Home Inns & Hotels
The reports aren't as bad as the drops in price suggest. Still, let's see where the financials strayed with these two travel-related China plays.
We'll start with Home Inns & Hotels. The fast-growing chain of economically priced hotels delivered market-thumping results. Revenue climbed 30% to $102.4 million, and earnings per share were $0.21 -- or $0.26 on an adjusted basis.
Analysts weren't even close, targeting a profit of $0.19 a share on $94.8 million in revenue. A dramatic spike in year-over-year occupancy -- from 84.1% to 92.9% -- helped offset a decline in nightly rates, driving revenue per available room 6% higher to $21.83 a night. Yes, lodging is that cheap at Home Inns. As per-capita incomes grow in the world's most populous country, one can expect rates to move higher.
Home Inns closed out 2009 with 616 hotels, 145 more than it started. It's expecting to add another 180 to 200 new hotels this year, but here's where we get to Mr. Market's disappointment. Most of the company-operated additions will take place in the second half of the year, clamping top-line growth. Home Inns is targeting 18% to 22% revenue growth this year. Analysts were projecting a 25% increase to $450.3 million, from the $359.4 million it rang up in 2009.
Are investors fickle enough to mark down a great quarter on the basis of a slightly weaker revenue outlook? Yep -- but they're missing the point. Leased and operated units may be huge top-line contributors, but let's not dismiss the high-margin beauty of franchised and managed locations, which have a bigger impact on the bottom line than the top line. With franchised openings stacked toward the second half of the year, earnings may be stronger than the revenue guidance suggests.
Meanwhile, travel portal eLong toils in the long shadow of market darling Ctrip.com
Revenue for the quarter climbed 18% to $15.7 million. It may not be growing as fast as Ctrip -- or even priceline.com
eLong closed the year with $139.6 million in cash and short-term investments. That's whopping $5.47 per ADS. In other words, a little more than half of its share price is backed by a money mattress.
Maybe that's why logic stepped in after the stock traded as much as 15% lower this morning, at $9.38. Value hunters working the balance-sheet math -- or growth investors forgiving the bottom-line miss after eyeing the increase in the top line -- came in with their buy orders.
There's growth waiting in China's travel plays. Even airport advertiser AirMedia
Is Chinese travel a sector worth buying into? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.