Industrials lead institutional inflows year-to-date

[SINGAPORE] Ahead of the final trading session of April, seven Singapore sectors had booked net institutional inflows for the first four months of 2026, led by industrials at S$494 million, followed by technology at S$326 million and consumer non-cyclicals at S$206 million. 

Singapore lists more than 130 stocks within the industrials sector. For the year to Apr 29, 2026 (4M 2026), the sector’s average daily turnover (ADT) rose to S$407 million, from S$294 million in 4M 2025, reflecting a clear step-up in trading activity. Over the same period, median sector valuation increased from 10-times earnings as at end-April 2025 to 14-times, while net institutional inflows rose from S$184 million in 4M 2025 to S$494 million in 4M 2026.

Aggregate market capitalisation expanded from S$114 billion to S$164 billion. Market quality also improved, with median bid-offer spreads narrowing from 487 basis points to 285 basis points, based on comparative five-day snapshots. Reported returns improved modestly, with sector return on equity rising from 4.4 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

Collectively, these 130-plus businesses span infrastructure, engineering, construction, marine, transport, industrial activity, and associated operational systems, with earnings typically linked to delivery volumes, execution capacity, and balance-sheet discipline. Together, they underpin essential infrastructure, transport networks, industrial capability, and service platforms across the Singapore economy, including operating companies and diversified holding structures.

Core infrastructure, engineering and construction examples include Seatrium (offshore and marine engineering and fabrication), Ley Choon Group (underground utilities and road infrastructure works), OKP Holdings (civil engineering and infrastructure construction), and Koh Brothers Eco Engineering (water and environmental infrastructure).

Transport, mobility and logistics systems examples include ComfortDelGro and SBS Transit (public transport operations), China Aviation Oil (aviation fuel supply and logistics), and Sats (aviation services including ground handling and catering).

Industrial production and specialist services examples include Tiong Woon Corporation (heavy lift and haulage services), BRC Asia (steel reinforcement fabrication and supply), GRC (construction and civil infrastructure support services), and XMH Holdings (marine and industrial power systems distribution and engineering support).

Enabling systems, platforms and operational support examples include Credit Bureau Asia (data and risk infrastructure), HRnetGroup (workforce and employment services) and Winking Studios (digital content and interactive media services). This segment also includes diversified operational systems such as holding companies, including Jardine Matheson , where earnings exposure is derived from a portfolio of operating businesses spanning multiple platforms.

As at Apr 29, the two largest segments – core infrastructure, engineering and construction, and transport, mobility and logistics systems – together represented 80 per cent of total market capitalisation and 89 per cent of ADT over 4M 2026 across the four segments. Individually, core infrastructure accounted for 55 per cent of market capitalisation and 62 per cent of ADT, while transport, mobility and logistics systems contributed 25 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively.

Hong Lai Huat: Insider buying following earnings turn in FY2025

Hong Lai Huat executive deputy chairman and group CEO Ong Bee Huat on Apr 28 acquired 244,400 shares at an average price of S$0.097 per share. The transaction increased his total interest in the company to approximately 47.34 per cent of issued share capital, including deemed interests. Dr Ong is the founder of the group and is responsible for its overall strategic direction, planning and business development.

Hong Lai Huat operates a property development and real estate business alongside a growing marble mining division, with assets primarily located in Cambodia. The group’s earnings profile is shaped by asset monetisation, rental income from completed developments and industrial production from its quarry operations.

For its FY2025 (ended Dec 31), the group returned to profit attributable to equity holders, supported by a S$16.9 million gain from the reclassification of completed development properties to investment properties, alongside higher gross profit contributions.

Revenue was driven by marble block sales, property sales at D’Seaview and rental income from investment properties, reflecting a more diversified income base. The marble mining division ramped up operations during the year and became a meaningful contributor to group revenue.

During FY2025, the group progressed operational and strategic initiatives focused on asset utilisation and earnings resilience across divisions.

Within property, development assets were repositioned into investment properties to support recurring income, alongside steady sales activity and rental portfolio stability in a challenging Cambodian market. The marble mining division delivered improved operating results on higher stone yield and efficiency, reinforcing revenue diversification and providing a platform for further production scaling.

QAF: Insider buying following earnings resilience in FY2025

QAF independent non-executive director Basil Chan on Apr 27 acquired 20,000 shares for an aggregate consideration of S$21,000. The transaction increased his direct interest in the company to approximately 0.004 per cent of issued share capital. Chan was appointed to the board in July 2025 and serves on the audit and risk committee.

QAF operates a regional food business spanning bakery manufacturing and distribution and warehousing, with operations across Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Australia. The group’s earnings profile is driven by branded consumer staple products, route density and operating scale, alongside a material contribution from its Malaysian joint venture, Gardenia Bakeries (KL).

For its FY2025 (ended Dec 31), the group reported higher profitability with profit attributable to equity holders of S$39.8 million, despite broadly flat revenue. Earnings resilience was supported by cost discipline, improved dividend cover and a net cash position of about S$191 million.

Reported results benefited from favourable foreign-exchange movements and a non-cash impairment reversal at the joint-venture level, while operating performance across the core bakery and distribution segments remained mixed.

During FY2025, management focused on operational efficiency, capital discipline and preserving earnings stability in a softer consumer environment. Impact Capital Asset Management noted in April that the balance sheet provided meaningful downside protection and supported dividend sustainability, while highlighting that profit performance during the year was influenced by joint-venture contributions and accounting items.

PSC: Insider buying after board affirms no material impact from geopolitical disruption

PSC non-executive and independent director Paul Tan on Apr 27 acquired 100,000 shares at an average price of S$0.48 per share. The transaction increased his direct interest in the company to approximately 0.018 per cent of issued share capital. Tan was appointed to the board in April 2024 and serves as chairman of the audit and risk committee.

PSC operates a regional consumer essentials business spanning food distribution, branded consumer products and manufacturing, alongside a strategic packaging division. Its core consumer activities cover rice, cooking oils, tofu, noodles, coffee, tissue and household products across Singapore, Malaysia and selected international markets, supported by an established distribution platform and portfolio of long-standing brands.

The group also holds a majority interest in Tat Seng Packaging Group, providing exposure to packaging operations in Singapore and China.

For its FY2025 (ended Dec 31), the group reported profit attributable to equity holders of S$21.6 million on revenue of S$477.2 million. Earnings moderated year on year amid weaker packaging conditions in China and currency effects, while the consumer business in Singapore and Malaysia remained profitable.

The balance sheet remained liquid, with cash and cash equivalents of about S$205 million. A total dividend of S$0.02 per share has been proposed for the year.

During FY2025, management focused on maintaining operating stability and managing higher input, logistics and energy-related costs in a volatile external environment. Strategic priorities outlined in the annual report centred on reinforcing core brands, expanding distribution channels, enhancing supply-chain resilience and improving operational efficiency.

In response to shareholder queries ahead of the annual general meeting, the board stated that the group’s operations remained stable, with identified cost pressures assessed as manageable at this stage.

Hong Leong Asia: Platform-based industrials reinforcing capital flexibility

Hong Leong Asia reflects a platform-based Industrials earnings profile, with operating outcomes framed around delivery volumes, asset utilisation and product execution across two established business lines.

On Apr 29, Hong Leong Asia announced a placement of 50 million new shares at S$2.90, raising approximately S$145 million in gross proceeds, with CGS International Securities Singapore appointed as sole placement agent.

Net proceeds of about S$142.3 million are intended primarily for general corporate purposes, including investments, business expansion and repayment of borrowings, with the balance allocated to working capital. The placement represents about 6.7 per cent of issued shares prior to issuance and does not result in a change of control.

The transaction sits against an operating base anchored by two industrials platforms. In Powertrain Solutions, China Yuchai operates at scale across transport, industrial, marine and power-generation applications, serving mobility, infrastructure and industrial end markets across Asia. In building materials, the group runs an integrated cement, ready-mix concrete and precast portfolio in Singapore and Malaysia, supplying public infrastructure, housing and commercial construction programmes, where order visibility is linked to medium-term project pipelines.

Across both platforms, operating outcomes are framed around delivery volumes, asset utilisation and product execution, supported by long-standing brands, applied innovation and incremental capacity deployment. FY2025 revenue reached about S$5.2 billion. The placement reinforces capital flexibility and funding resilience, consistent with Hong Leong Asia’s long-cycle industrials earnings profile and stated focus on sustaining shareholder returns over time.

Green Build Technology: Proposed placement to Helyon

Green Build Technology proposed a placement on Apr 29 for the issuance of 600 million new shares at S$0.016 per share, raising gross proceeds of S$9.6 million, alongside 360 million free, non-transferable warrants exercisable at S$0.02 per share, to Helyon, a newly incorporated Singapore entity in the data centre and information services space.

The issue price represents a 20 per cent discount to the volume-weighted average price of S$0.02 based on trades on Apr 13, the last trading day prior to the signing of the subscription agreement. Upon completion, Helyon will hold 63.68 per cent of the enlarged share capital, rising to 73.72 per cent on full warrant exercise, triggering both shareholder approval requirements and a mandatory general offer under the Take-over Code.

Net proceeds of about S$9.1 million are intended mainly for working capital and future business expansion, while full warrant exercise could provide an additional S$7.2 million, significantly strengthening the group’s balance sheet from a net tangible liabilities position as at FY2025.

The writer is the market strategist at SGX. To read SGX’s market research reports, visit sgx.com/research.