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    Hengan International Group (SEHK:1044) Following Chairman's Death Is Its Low Valuation Justified

    Simply Wall St·10/09/2026 21:23:36
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    Leadership shock puts Hengan International Group in focus

    The death of founder and Chairman Mr. Sze Man Bok puts Hengan International Group (SEHK:1044) under a fresh spotlight as investors reassess leadership continuity, the depth of corporate governance, and the company’s long term direction.

    Hengan International Group’s share price closed at HK$19.55, and while the 1-day share price return of 0.72% was positive, the stock has moved sharply lower over longer horizons, with a year to date share price decline of 30.82% and a 5 year total shareholder return down 39.64%.

    Scan how investors are pricing leadership risk by comparing Hengan International Group with 222 resilient stocks with low risk scores, which have more resilient profiles when management shocks hit.

    Bulls see Hengan International Group as a beaten up cash generator after a leadership shock. Bears see a business with fading appeal. Which case do the current valuation signals support next?

    Preferred P/E of 8x for Hengan International Group: Is it justified?

    On valuation screens, Hengan International Group trades on a P/E of 8x, which is low compared to both peers and the wider Asian personal products sector. At a last close of HK$19.55, that earnings multiple suggests the market is pricing the business more cautiously than many rivals.

    The P/E ratio links the current share price to earnings per share and gives a quick read on how much investors pay for each unit of profit. For a consumer staples player that manufactures hygiene and tissue products, earnings power and consistency are often central to how investors think about value.

    Hengan International Group is described as trading at good value compared to its peers and industry, and its current P/E of 8x sits below an estimated fair P/E of 10.3x. That gap indicates the market is valuing each HK$ of earnings at a discount to where the SWS fair ratio model suggests pricing could move over time.

    Against the Asian personal products industry average P/E of 17.5x and a peer average of 15.1x, the discount is strong and points to more conservative expectations for future earnings growth and returns. The fair ratio of 10.3x is also much lower than those group averages, which underlines how far current pricing sits below both simple peer comparisons and the modelled fair multiple.

    Explore the SWS fair ratio for Hengan International Group.

    Result: Price-to-earnings of 8x (UNDERVALUED)

    Still, the recent 30.82% year to date share price decline and the ongoing leadership transition at Hengan International Group could keep some investors cautious on any value case.

    Find out about the key risks to this Hengan International Group narrative.

    Another view on Hengan International Group's value

    The SWS DCF model paints an even sharper picture. At HK$19.55, Hengan International Group is trading against an estimated DCF value of HK$29.97, which implies a wide undervaluation gap. If earnings stay anywhere near current levels, that kind of discount raises tough questions. Is the market overreacting to governance concerns, or are cash flow assumptions simply too generous?

    Look into how the SWS DCF model arrives at its fair value.

    1044 Discounted Cash Flow as at Oct 2026
    1044 Discounted Cash Flow as at Oct 2026

    Simply Wall St performs a discounted cash flow (DCF) on every stock in the world every day (check out Hengan International Group for example). We show the entire calculation in full. You can track the result in your watchlist or portfolio and be alerted when this changes, or use our stock screener to discover 172 high quality undervalued stocks. If you save a screener we even alert you when new companies match - so you never miss a potential opportunity.

    Next Steps

    There are currently mixed signals on Hengan International Group. If you want to move quickly and form your own view, start by weighing 2 key rewards and 1 important warning sign.

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    This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.