The current construction upcycle in Singapore has seen many construction-related stocks gain handsomely and attract analyst coverage like never in many years.

With their PE multiples skyrocketing to double-digits, are there "good" construction stocks which still go for low single digits?

Yes, HPC Holdings (1742.HK).

Based in Singapore, it trades at about 5X PE (stock price: 15.8 HK cents, market cap: S$41 million, or HK$250 million).

Listed in Hong Kong since 2018, it is punished by a HK discount (ie HK investors are overlooking it while chasing certain macro themes) and being away from the radar screen of Singapore analysts who have been lavishing attention on many SGX-listed peers.

HPC's just-released FY25 results : S$7.7 million in core net profit and S$35 million in bottomline including one-off gain from a bargain purchase of an asset.

They represent a dramatic "V-turn" in earnings recovery.

And there's more to come: The company’s orderbook has reached a record S$1.37 billion that is unmatched by most of its Singapore peers.

Fiscal Year End

Order Book Value

Key Points 

FY2022

S$434.43 million

Bolstered by the major Silicon Box Fab project.

FY2023

S$261.50 million

Fast execution of existing projects led to a temporary lower balance.

FY2024

S$671.00 million

Recovery phase with major late-year contract awards.

FY2025

S$1.370 billion

Record High. Driven by S$734.33 million in new project awards during the year.



HPC Building1.26HPC Building at 7, Kung Chong Road in the Redhill area serves as HPC's HQ.

The FY2025 Turnaround

HPC Holdings' revenue surged 66.8% year-on-year to S$283.17 million as several high-value industrial projects moved into their most active construction phases.

After a S$8.48 million loss in FY24, the group reported net profit of S$35.3 million which was
 bolstered by a S$27.6 million one-off accounting gain from the opportunistic "bargain purchase" of a high-tech fish farm (Apollo Aquarium).

Its core construction business also saw gross margins pivot from negative territory to a healthy 7.27%

Three Key Takeaways

1. Massive Revenue Moat: Strikingly, as of 31 October 2025, HPC’s work backlog reached a record S$1.37 billion.

That is nearly five times their FY25 revenue, providing clear visibility through 2027.

Management has successfully pivoted toward high-spec, higher-margin niches like pharmaceutical buildings and specialized industrial hubs.

2. Trading Below Net Cash: HPC’s market capitalization sits at S$41 million (HK$252 million) based on a recent stock price of 15.8 HK cents. 

However, the group holds S$
79.13 million in cash.

Subtracting all borrowings (S$13 million) and S$17.29 million in client advances (contract liabilities), the adjusted net cash is an impressive S$49 million (ie, more than its market cap).

So, the market is valuing its entire construction business, the group's headquarters (HPC Building), and the newly acquired Apollo Aquarium assets at less than zero.

3. Strategic Asset Transformation HPC is no longer just a contractor.

By acquiring the eight-storey Apollo Aquarium facility (now Fishbox Pte. Ltd.) at a 90% discount to its construction cost, HPC has entered the industrial asset ownership space.

Once this facility returns to full production capacity, it will generate recurring income, diversifying the group’s revenue away from project-based work. 

Peer Comparison: The Valuation Gap


While the sector has rallied, HPC remains one of the cheapest construction plays on the market as the table shows:


Company 

Price-to-Book (P/B)

Price-to-Earnings (P/E)

HPC Holdings

0.36x

5.2x*

Soilbuild Construction

6.0x

14.4x

OKP Holdings

2.1x

10.0x

Huationg Global

1.2x

9.4x

Hock Lian Seng

0.8x

10.9x

Ley Choon Group

2.6x

12.4x


* Normalized P/E is estimated at ~5.2x, and excludes a large one-off gain in FY25.

HPC trades at a Price-to-Book (P/B) of 0.36x, a significant discount compared to, say, OKP (2.1x) and Huationg (1.1x).

Despite having the largest order book in this peer group, its market cap remains the lowest relative to its backlog and cash position.

The following table captures 7 new projects secured by HPC in 2025, with a total value of S$734.33 million:

No.

Project Description

Location

Client/Owner

Project Type / Scope

1

New mega depot warehouse

Tuas South Avenue 10

New construction

2

Additions & alterations to 4-storey cleanroom industrial building, plus new 3-storey central utility building

— (for Jurong Town Corporation)

Jurong Town Corporation (JTC)

Design and build (A&A + new build)

3

Pharmaceutical buildings, including civil, structural, architectural and site management works

Tuas

Design and build (pharmaceutical facilities)

4

Industrial development with Bio-Safety Level 2 & 3 facilities, including A&A works

Tuas Avenue 6

New build + A&A (biotech/industrial)

5

Industrial development with workshops, offices & workers’ dormitory

— (for Hirose Singapore Pte Ltd.)

Hirose (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

New development (industrial + dormitory)

6

5-storey 230KV substation building

Singapore Power (SP) Group

New substation construction

7

Maintenance base with fire stations, workshops, warehouse, admin building & intake substations

PSA Corporation

New integrated facility construction

Source: HPC FY25 results announcement



Risks to Watch

Aside from a stock that has been illiquid and devoid of dividend payouts, operational risks include higher labor and material costs.

Furthermore, the aquaculture venture is a new business for HPC; a successful restart of the fish farm will be a key test for management in the coming quarters.

The working capital requirements of this venture and the large order book likely explain why no dividend has been declared.

A Promising Recovery and Attractively Priced Play


HPC Holdings entered 2026 with its strongest balance sheet and largest contracted pipeline in its history.

The "margin of safety" provided by its net cash position is notable.

What to watch out for:  Can HPC successfully convert its S$1.37 billion backlog into profit with a reasonable profit margin? Can it generate cashflow from its new aquaculture assets?

If yes, a significant re-rating of the stock awaits. 





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