Singapore supermarkets' returns leapt 12.3% YTD

They performed defensively amidst global market jitters, SGX noted.

Singapore-listed supermarkets have performed comparatively defensively since the end of April, amidst the regional concerns of a higher US dollar and US-China tariff tensions, SGX Research revealed.

According to a report, Dairy Farm International (DFI) and Sheng Siong Group have averaged 2.9% gains since the end of April. This has taken their average 2018 YTD total return to 12.3%.

DFI was the recipient of overall institutional net inflows totalling $26.4m whilst Sheng Siong Group was the recipient of net institution inflows of $62.4m.

Previous studies said that Singapore’s supermarket businesses remains dominant despite the attempts of online grocery retailers to disrupt the market. Heavyweights like NTUC, DFI, and Sheng Siong ate up 65.4% of the market in 2017.

Amongst other F&B companies, SGX Research noted that the five largest capitalised Restaurant stocks - BreadTalk, Kimly, Jumbo Group, Old Chang Kee, and Japan Food Holdings have averaged 1.7% gains between 30 April and 18 June, bringing their average YTD total return to 6.6%.