Description
Summary
Bright Smart Securities ("Bright Smart") is a well run, low-cost, local Hong-Kong based brokerage firm that has grown steadily since its 2010 IPO (revenue 14% CAGR, net income 16% CAGR), trades at 5.5x PE, and pays out all earnings in dividends. Mow Lum Yip, age ~72, founded the company in 1995 and took it public in 2010. He is currently Chairman and owns 54% of the company. The CEO has been in the role since 2016. Dividends over the last 5 years ($2.59/share cumulative) have been 132% of net earnings and 144% of current stock price, with a regular dividend supplmented by periodic special dividends. The stock trades ~$9m HKD daily.
Details
Bright Smart is the one of the largest local Hong-Kong retail brokerage firms, with 567k clients and $53b client assets, or $94k assets per client. The Hong Kong stock market, the Hang Seng index, has been in a brutal bear market for many years, with the index roughly at the same level as 2000, with a 44% drawdown from its peak in 2018. Daily trading volumes were down 19% in 2023 and 36% in 2024.
Against this backdrop, Bright Smart has shown strong growth over the long-term and stable results over the last 5 years. Revenue was $130m in 2008, $314m in 2013, $955m in 2018, and $1,087m in 2023. Net income was $60m in 2008, $92m in 2013, $516m in 2018, and $621m in 2023, before dipping to $559m in 2024 (though up 8% in 2025 Q1). Bright Smart has done an excellent job of picking up share as smaller firms have gone out of business (26 securities firms have shut down YTD).
Most Hong Kong brokerages still operate offline, with newer competitors like Futu and Tiger and Interactive Brokers taking share. Bright Star occupies a niche inbetween those two sets, with a low-price online offering but also 14 local branches, open 7 days a week. My understanding is that they cater to wealthier older customers who still want the ability to visit a branch. It's worth noting that revenue as a percent of assets is 1.9% at Bright Smart compared to 3.7% for IBKR globally.
Net margins are 57%, equity is 20% of total assets, and ROE is ~40%. The company talks about maximizing shareholder value in its reports. It is a classic founder-led well run company, offers good service at low prices, and has invested over the years in providing a wide range of products/services for its client base. Financial reports are published in English/Chinese on the company website and provide a quite thorough level of detail and commentary on the business and local market.
https://enweb.bsgroup.com.hk/investor/financereports/
Conclusion
Why is this stock interesting? The Hong Kong market is cheap in general, as investors have soured on the region as well as political and economic cross-currents in recent years. I like that this is a demonstrably cheap stock in a straightforward business,with a long track record of growth in a difficult market, has excellent returns on capital, and is run by an owner/operator who pays out all earnings in dividends and both by word and action appears to care about shareholders. If things bump along as is, investors should do well, collecting a 15-20% dividend, and if either business or sentiment improve even modestly, investors could do very well. I own shares, but would not define it as a material position (>5%).
In addition, the founder is age 72 and there is the possibility the company gets sold in the coming years, though I have no special insight as to those dynamics.
I do not hold a position with the issuer such as employment, directorship, or consultancy.
I and/or others I advise do not hold a material investment in the issuer's securities.
Catalyst
Capital return via dividends, possible sale someday.