tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Hong Lai Huat Group Limited (SG:CTO)
SGX:CTO
Singapore Market

Hong Lai Huat Group Limited (CTO) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
0 Followers

Top Page

SG:CTO

Hong Lai Huat Group Limited

(SGX:CTO)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Neutral 49 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:49Neutral
Price Target:
S$0.09
▲(24.29% Upside)
The score is held back primarily by weak financial performance: despite strong revenue growth, profitability is negative and operating/free cash flows are consistently negative, with negative ROE. Technicals provide partial support due to an upward trend and positive MACD, but overbought RSI/Stoch readings add near-term risk. Valuation impact is neutral because P/E and dividend yield are not available.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
A 73% TTM revenue increase indicates meaningful expansion of contract wins or project scale. Over 2-6 months this supports better fixed-cost absorption, greater bargaining power with suppliers, and the potential to convert scale into improving operational leverage if cost control follows revenue growth.
Low Leverage / Balance Sheet
Extremely low leverage gives durable financial flexibility in a cyclical construction market. It reduces interest burden and preserves capacity to fund new bids, capex, or absorb project timing swings without immediate refinancing, strengthening resilience across multiple quarters.
Integrated Business Model
Vertical integration (construction, property development, in-house precast supply) is a structural advantage: it lowers input volatility, shortens supply chains, and creates cross-selling and margin capture opportunities, supporting more predictable delivery and competitive bidding over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Profitability Deficit
Sustained negative margins and ROE indicate the firm is not converting revenue into profit, eroding equity and limiting reinvestment. Without structural margin improvement, ongoing losses can impair capital availability and long-term ability to fund growth or return value to shareholders.
Weak Cash Generation
Persistent negative operating and free cash flow undermines the firm's capacity to self-fund working capital and project execution. Over several months this raises reliance on external financing, increases execution risk on projects, and can constrain timely payments to suppliers.
Margin Sustainability Risk
Negative operating margins point to structural cost or pricing issues (underbidding, cost overruns, or inefficiencies in precast production). Unless addressed, these impair competitive positioning by forcing either higher prices or continued losses, limiting sustainable profitability over time.

Hong Lai Huat Group Limited (CTO) vs. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (EWS)

Hong Lai Huat Group Limited Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionHong Lai Huat Group Limited, an investment holding company, operates as a real estate and property developer in Singapore and Cambodia. It invests in and develops commercial and residential properties. The company was formerly known as HLH Group Limited and changed its name to Hong Lai Huat Group Limited in April 2018. Hong Lai Huat Group Limited was founded in 1988 and is based in Singapore.
How the Company Makes MoneyHong Lai Huat Group Limited generates revenue through multiple streams, primarily from its construction contracts and property development projects. The company engages in both public and private sector construction works, earning income through fixed-price contracts, cost-plus contracts, and other project-based agreements. Additionally, revenue is derived from the sale of precast concrete products, which are produced in-house and supplied to various construction projects. The company may also benefit from strategic partnerships with other construction firms, government agencies, and private developers, enhancing its project opportunities and market reach. Overall, the combination of contract-based income and product sales forms the core of Hong Lai Huat's revenue model.

Hong Lai Huat Group Limited Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong TTM revenue growth (+73.37%) is outweighed by weak fundamentals: deeply negative net margin (-15.10%), negative EBIT/EBITDA margins, and negative ROE (-9.85%). Cash flow is also concerning with negative operating and free cash flow, despite low leverage (debt-to-equity 0.021).
Income Statement
30
Negative
The income statement shows significant challenges with profitability. The company has experienced a substantial increase in revenue over the TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) period, with a growth rate of 73.37%. However, the net profit margin is deeply negative at -15.10%, indicating ongoing losses. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are also negative, reflecting operational inefficiencies. Despite the revenue growth, the company struggles with high costs and negative profitability.
Balance Sheet
45
Neutral
The balance sheet indicates a relatively low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.021, suggesting conservative leverage. However, the return on equity is negative at -9.85%, highlighting the company's inability to generate profits from its equity base. The equity ratio is strong, indicating a solid capital structure, but the negative ROE reflects poor financial performance.
Cash Flow
35
Negative
The cash flow statement reveals negative operating cash flow and free cash flow, with a slight decline in free cash flow growth. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, indicating cash flow challenges. Despite a positive free cash flow to net income ratio, the overall cash flow situation is concerning due to consistent negative cash flows.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue664.00K102.00K-184.00K1.64M16.73M7.20M
Gross Profit35.00K15.00K-103.00K677.00K10.24M2.47M
EBITDA-4.46M-4.60M-4.35M-10.93M7.31M-5.90M
Net Income-10.03M-12.93M-23.21M-12.05M3.48M-8.53M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets103.34M110.59M133.35M156.11M171.82M162.64M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments20.99M27.48M3.98M11.63M26.17M9.63M
Total Debt2.03M1.08M11.92M5.54M6.04M23.26M
Total Liabilities5.07M5.71M22.06M21.08M23.15M45.00M
Stockholders Equity98.47M105.09M111.28M135.03M148.68M117.64M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-5.23M-5.82M-6.03M1.28M7.86M-19.36M
Operating Cash Flow-4.83M-5.16M-5.64M1.86M9.09M-18.75M
Investing Cash Flow28.44M39.50M-7.05M-14.38M-1.17M-3.98M
Financing Cash Flow-7.56M-8.61M4.51M-3.31M8.42M21.25M

Hong Lai Huat Group Limited Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price0.07
Price Trends
50DMA
0.07
Positive
100DMA
0.06
Positive
200DMA
0.05
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
<0.01
Positive
RSI
50.47
Neutral
STOCH
48.12
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SG:CTO, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 0.07 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 0.08, below the 50-day MA of 0.07, and above the 200-day MA of 0.05, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of <0.01 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 50.47 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 48.12 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for SG:CTO.

Hong Lai Huat Group Limited Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
69
Neutral
S$1.62B10.764.10%1.83%-8.06%
65
Neutral
$2.17B12.193.79%4.94%3.15%1.96%
65
Neutral
S$29.71M4.503.50%89.40%239.47%
49
Neutral
S$40.80M-19.79%
* Real Estate Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SG:CTO
Hong Lai Huat Group Limited
0.08
0.02
29.03%
DE:7GP
Pollux Properties Ltd.
0.01
0.00
0.00%
SG:BCD
China Yuanbang Property Holdings Ltd.
0.15
0.00
0.00%
SG:F86
MYP Ltd.
0.07
0.02
45.65%
SG:H13
Ho Bee Land Limited
2.44
0.66
37.08%
SG:P36
Pan Hong Holdings Group Limited
0.06
-0.03
-32.56%

Hong Lai Huat Group Limited Corporate Events

Hong Lai Huat Details Poll-Based Voting and Proxy Arrangements at 2025 EGM
Dec 18, 2025

Hong Lai Huat Group Limited convened an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on 24 November 2025 at Raffles Town Club in Singapore, with a valid quorum of shareholders present and its board and key officers in attendance, including one independent director participating via Zoom. The company confirmed that the resolution at the EGM would be decided by poll voting in line with Singapore Exchange requirements, appointing B.A.C.S. Private Limited as polling agent and CACS Corporate Advisory Pte. Ltd. as scrutineer, and noted that the chairman had been designated as proxy for numerous shareholders, voting in accordance with their verified instructions, underscoring the group’s adherence to formal corporate governance and shareholder engagement processes.

The most recent analyst rating on (SG:CTO) stock is a Hold with a S$0.08 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hong Lai Huat Group Limited stock, see the SG:CTO Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 22, 2026