OREANDA-NEWS. August 21, 2015. The FTSE ST Small Cap Index comprises 99 constituents that are the next biggest and active stocks after those in the Straits Times Index (STI) and the FTSE ST Mid Cap Index. Updates to the FTSE ST Small Cap index can be accessed here.  

The 10 largest constituents of the FTSE ST Small Cap Index are trusts - Keppel Infrastructure Trust, Ascendas India Trust and Religare Health Trust are Business Trusts; Ascendas Hospitality Trust is a stapled trust, while Cambridge Industrial Trust, Frasers Commercial Trust, Cache Logistics Trust, First Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), Soilbuild Business Space REIT and Keppel DC REIT are all REITs.

FTSE ST Small Cap Index

With these 10 index heavyweights averaging a 7.0% dividend yield, the dividend yield of the FTSE ST Small Cap Index stands at 5.1%. This compares to the FTSE Asean Small Cap Index, which maintains a dividend yield of 3.5%.

The FTSE ST Small Cap Index trades at a price-earnings ratio of 14.0 and a price-to-book ratio of 0.8. By comparison, the FTSE Asean Small Cap Index trades a P/E ratio of 15.9, and P/B ratio of 1.2. Return on Equity for the FTSE ST Small Cap Index is currently 6.2%, compared to 7.9% for the FTSE Asean Small Cap Index.  In the year through 19 August, the FTSE ST Small Cap Index has declined 12.8%, compared to the FTSE Asean Small Cap Index, which fell 14.5%. Both those returns take into account dividends.

Over a longer three-year time frame, the FTSE ST Small Cap Index generated a marginal total return of 0.7%, while the FTSE Asean Small Cap Index generated a negative 9.8% total return over the period. In Singapore Dollar terms, the FTSE Asean Small Cap Index’s total return at 1.3% was closer to that of the FTSE ST Small Cap Index. These performances are based on the three-year period through the 19 August close. Over the period, the FTSE Asean Small Cap Index has been almost one-fifth more volatile than the FTSE ST Small Cap Index, as detailed in FTSE Asia Monthly Reports found here.

Despite similar performances over the past three years, the two indices have not been strongly correlated since November 2012. The two indices have averaged a 0.6 correlation over the period. The correlation measure is based on a rolling 120 basis, with 1.0 equalling the maximum possible correlation, and 0.8 implying strong correlation. The correlation fell to 0.4 in April 2015 and returned to 0.6 in August.

The 10 FTSE ST Small Cap Index Heavyweights

The 10 largest constituents in terms of index weight, which comprise three business trusts, a stapled trust and six REITs, have a combined market capitalisation of S\\$8.6 billion and maintain an average dividend yield of 7.0%. The relevant free-float market capitalisation of the 10 stocks means they currently account for 34.1% of the  FTSE ST Small Cap Index weighting.

The 10 trusts trade at an average P/E ratio of 15.3. In the year through 19 August, they averaged a price decline of 0.1%, with dividend-boosted returns of 4.9%. This brings their one-year and three-year total returns to 6.3% and 35.3% respectively.

The tables below detail the 10 largest stocks of the FTSE ST Small Cap Index and are sorted by index weight. Note that clicking on the stock name will take you to its page on SGX StockFacts.

Source: SGX StockFacts (Data as of 19 August 2015)

Keppel Infrastructure Trust

Keppel Infrastructure Trust invests in a large and diversified portfolio of core infrastructure assets located in jurisdictions with well-developed legal frameworks. Its portfolio consists of assets in excess of S\\$4 billion.

In July Keppel Infrastructure trust reported earnings results for their first quarter of 2015. For the first quarter, revenue was SGD\\$114.4 million against SGD\\$133.4 million a year ago. Profit attributable to unit holders of the trust was SGD\\$2.7 million compared to SGD\\$2.5 million a year ago. Basic and diluted earnings per share were 0.11 cents compared to 0.17 cents a year ago.

Cambridge Industrial Trust

Cambridge Industrial Trust invests directly or indirectly in income-producing real estate and real estate related assets used primarily for industrial and warehousing purposes. Its real estate portfolio comprises industrial properties, logistics and warehousing properties, light industrial properties, industrial and warehousing properties, self-storage and warehousing properties, and car showroom and workshop properties

In July Cambridge Industrial Trust reported earnings results for second quarter of 2015. For the second quarter, gross revenue was SGD 27.8 million against SGD 24.6 million a year ago. Distributable amount was SGD 15.8 million against SGD 15.7 million a year ago. Distribution per unit (DPU) was 1.225 cents against 1.251 cents a year ago. Annualized DPU was 4.913 cents against 5.018 cents a year ago.

Frasers Commercial Trust

Frasers Commercial Trust invests in a diverse portfolio of real estate and real estate-related assets, primarily focusing on office and retail sectors. It owns properties in Singapore, Japan, and Australia.

In July Frasers Commercial Trust reported earnings results for their third quarter of 2015. For the third quarter, gross revenue was SGD\\$34.7 million against SGD\\$29.6 million a year ago. The distribution to be paid to unit holdings amounts to an aggregated of SGD\\$16.08 million, which equals to a distribution of 2.3510 cents per unit.

Cache Logistics Trust

Cache Logistics Trust is a real estate investment trust that invests in income-producing real estate focused on logistics purposes as well as real estate-related assets within Asia-Pacific. Its portfolio consists of 17 logistic warehouse properties located in Singapore, Australia, and China.

In July Cache Logistics Trust reported earnings results for their second quarter of 2015. For the second quarter, gross revenue was SGD\\$21.5 million again SGD\\$19.6 million a year ago. Earnings per unit based of on the weighted average number of units in issue were 1.722 cents against 1.887 cents a year ago.

First REIT

First Real Estate Investment Trust is a REIT fund  that invests in the real estate markets of Asia including Indonesia, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Hong Kong. It invests in real estate related assets operating healthcare and/or healthcare-related purposes.

In July First Real Estate Investment Trust reported earnings results for their second quarter of 2015. For the second quarter, gross revenue was SGD\\$25.0 million against \\$23.0 million a year ago. Distributable amount to unitholders was SGD\\$15.4 million against SGD\\$14.4 million a year ago, distribution per unit was 2.07 cents against 2.00 cents a year ago.

Ascendas India Trust

Ascendas India Trust is involved in the ownership of real estate properties and other assets in India, which are primarily used as business space. It is also involved in the development, ownership, and management of information technology parks in Hyderbad, Bangalore, and Chennai.

In July Ascendas India Trust reported earnings results for their first quarter of 2015. For the first quarter, the trust reported total property income of SGD\\$34.2 million against SGD\\$31.9 million a year ago. Income to be distributed was SGD\\$12.7 million or 1.37 cents per share against SGD\\$10.6 million or 1.15 cents per share a year ago

Soilbuild Business Space REIT

Soilbuild is a Singapore-focused REIT with a portfolio of business parks and industrial properties used by various industries including manufacturing, engineering, logistics, oil & gas and research & development. The company’s portfolio comprises of 10 business space properties – two business parks and eight industrial properties, which is valued at S\\$1.03 billion as of December 31 2014.

In July Soilbuild Business Space REIT reported earnings for their second quarter of 2015. For the second quarter, gross revenue was SGD\\$19.6 million against SGD\\$16.7 million a year ago. Distributable income was SGD\\$14.3 million against SGD\\$12.1 million a year ago. DPU  was 1.615 cent against 1.500 cents a year ago.

Religare Health Trust

Religare Health Trust is a business trust that provides medical and clinical establishment services in India. It has a portfolio of 11 clinical establishments, 4 greenfield clinical establishments, and 2 operating hospitals.

In August Religare Health Trust reported earnings for their first quarter of 2015. For the first quarter, total revenue was SGD\\$34.3 million against SGD\\$30.1 million a year ago. Income available for distribution was SGD\\$15.4 million against SGD\\$14.3 million a year ago. DPU was 1.940 cents against 1.806 cents a year ago.

Keppel DC REIT

Keppel DC REIT is a real estate investment trust that invests in the real estate markets across Asia-Pacific and Europe. It invests directly or indirectly in a portfolio of income-producing real estate assets which are used primarily for data centre purposes.

In July Keppel DC REIT reported earnings for their second quarter of 2015. For the second quarter, gross revenue was SGD\\$26.0 million, and distributable income to the unit holders was SGD\\$14.3 million or 1.62 cents per unit.

Ascendas Hospitality Trust

Ascendas Hospitality Trust is involved in the investment of real estate predominantly used for hospitality purposes across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

In August Ascendas Hospitality Trust reported earnings for their first quarter of 2015. For the first quarter, gross revenue was SGD\\$52.8 million against SGD\\$54.3 million a year ago. Income available for distribution was SGD\\$15.0 million against SGD\\$13.7 million a year ago. Distribution per stapled security was 1.28 cents against 1.24 cents a year ago.

Recent Highs & Lows

On average, the 10 trusts were trading 11% below their 12-month highs and 8% above their 12-month lows as of 19 August. The average P/E ratio for the 10 trusts is 15.3.