[ET Net News Agency, 18 February 2020] HSBC Global Research lowered its target price
for NWS Holdings (00659) to HK$13.3 from HK$13.4 and maintained its "buy" rating.
China's Ministry of Transport issued a notice to exempt toll fees for expressways on a
national level, starting 17 February, until further notice. The research house views the
policy as an extension of the earlier toll-fee period during Chinese New Year (CNY), which
had already been extended once to end on 8 February. The difference in this new extension
is that it covers all vehicles, while the previous one during CNY only applied to
passenger vehicles with less than 7 seats.
HSBC said toll road operators will inevitably be impacted in terms of toll revenue. It
believes the extended toll-free period will impact earnings for the year but will not
impose permanent damage, and EPS could rebound when the measures are lifted. (KL)