Canada-China rift hurts Canada Goose shares

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This article was published 12/12/2018 (2734 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Escalating tensions between China and Canada triggered by the arrest of Huawei Technologies Co.’s finance chief are having a dramatic effect on two of the world’s hottest apparel stocks.

Canada Goose Holdings Inc., the trendy maker of premium parkas, has tumbled almost 20 per cent or US$16.75 over the past five days. At the same time, Bosideng International Holdings Ltd., a Hong Kong-based downy apparel maker, has jumped nearly 13 per cent to a five-year high.

The detention of Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou last week has affected Canadian companies, causing Canada Goose’s share price to slump, the official Weibo account of a website backed by state-run Global Times said Tuesday. Calls have gone out on the Weibo social-media platform to boycott Canadian brands, including Canada Goose.

“Canada detained Huawei’s CFO, while Canada Goose is from there,” said Linus Yip, Hong Kong-based strategist at First Shanghai Securities Ltd. “It is possible that some consumers would change their feelings over the brand and choose to buy other brands. Some may opt to buy domestic brands like Bosideng.”

Canada Goose is a high-profile target in part because its name so clearly announces its roots. Other Canadian brands with a strong presence in China, such as IMAX Corp. and Tim Hortons Inc., haven’t seen significant share moves or been singled out for boycotts.

As the world’s largest luxury market, China is playing an important role for brands including Canada Goose. The company, which is the second-best performer in Canada’s benchmark stock index this year, has set big goals for expansion in China.

The brand took off there partly after celebrities including billionaire Jack Ma were photographed wearing the pricey coats.

Bosideng, meanwhile, has seen its own success, rallying 138 per cent this year to become one of the best performing stocks on the Hang Seng Composite Index. The company has successfully reshaped its brand in the past year through collaborating with top-tier designers, launching high-profile fashion shows and targeting younger customers, said Liou Huei-Chen, analyst at KGI Hong Kong Ltd. Solid first-half results announced last month and recent cold weather are helping the shares, she said.

— Bloomberg News