Investment Advisors, JL Warren Capital

Junheng Li

Investment Advisors

JL Warren Capital

JL Warren Capital LLC is a leading independent equity research firm focused on Chinese companies and listed multinationals in China. We employ a bottom-up research approach that takes great care to avoid the acquisition of material non-public information. Through investigative due diligence including channel surveys and interviews, our research helps clients to pinpoint the dislocations in the market.

Equity Bottom-Up

Topsports International / Equity Bottom-Up

Topsports International Holdings Limited is a leading sportswear retailer primarily engaged in the trading of sports shoes and apparel, and the distribution of international brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Puma. The company also leases commercial spaces for concessionaire sales and operates in the esports sector. It was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nike-inc-cl-b" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6658:1" rel="noopener">Nike Inc Cl B (NKE US)</a>  retail partners in China have been slashing orders. </li>
<li>We estimate that in FQ2 2022, NKE was down 10-15% YoY in mainland China (90-95% Greater China sales), second down quarter in last 5 years.  </li>
<li>China retail in December appears to be further weakening from previous months.  </li>
</ul>



Nike Inc Cl B (NKE US)  retail partners in China have been slashing orders. 
We estimate that in FQ2 2022, NKE was down 10-15% YoY in mainland China (90-95% Greater China sales), second down quarter in last 5 years.  
China retail in December appears to be further weakening from previous months.  


NKE China FQ2 2022 Review: Double-Digit Decline in Retail & Wholesale: Excess Inventory, Weak Demand

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>We model GF3 production to reach 65+K, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tesla-motors-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20279:1" rel="noopener">Tesla Motors (TSLA US)</a>  to delivery 45-50K onshore in December, China is to reach ~30+% global deliveries. </li>
<li>We model <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nio-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27399:1" rel="noopener">NIO Inc (NIO US)</a>  production to reach ~11K in December, Q4 deliveries are likely miss, without "manipulation"; </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xpeng-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29217:1" rel="noopener">Xpeng (XPEV US)</a>  Zhaoqing factory production declines MoM, but Q4 deliveries are set to beat guidance due to stronger than expected G3i orders. </li>
</ul>


We model GF3 production to reach 65+K, and Tesla Motors (TSLA US)  to delivery 45-50K onshore in December, China is to reach ~30+% global deliveries. 
We model NIO Inc (NIO US)  production to reach ~11K in December, Q4 deliveries are likely miss, without "manipulation"; 

Xpeng (XPEV US)  Zhaoqing factory production declines MoM, but Q4 deliveries are set to beat guidance due to stronger than expected G3i orders. 


China NEV Week 49 2021 Update: TSLA, NIO, XPEV Production, Deliveries

Tesla Inc. operates as a multinational automotive and clean energy company. The Company designs and manufactures electric vehicles, battery energy storage from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar roof tiles, and related products and services. Tesla owns its sales and service network and sells electric power train components to other automobile manufacturers.

In 5M, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tesla-motors-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20279:1" rel="noopener">Tesla Motors (TSLA US)</a>  China received ~72K orders for MIC M3, plus 22K backlog orders exiting 2020.  GF3 made 103K M3 in 5M, among which 69K were delivered in China and 29K were exported.  The estimated order backlog exiting May was ~25K, slightly down from 26K backlog exiting April.  Excess production at the GF3 has been exported to markets around the world.  If TSLA China does not implement effective promotional programs and or policies to stimulate demand, we estimate that MIC 3 orders will stagnate around 9K per month, vs. monthly production of ~21K.  In other words, MIC 3 exports are likely to increase MoM due to the lower cost structure including BoM of MIC cars.

In 5M, Tesla Motors (TSLA US)  China received ~72K orders for MIC M3, plus 22K backlog orders exiting 2020.  GF3 made 103K M3 in 5M, among which 69K were delivered in China and 29K were exported.  The estimated order backlog exiting May was ~25K, slightly down from 26K backlog exiting April.  Excess production at the GF3 has been exported to markets around the world.  If TSLA China does not implement effective promotional programs and or policies to stimulate demand, we estimate that MIC 3 orders will stagnate around 9K per month, vs. monthly production of ~21K.  In other words, MIC 3 exports are likely to increase MoM due to the lower cost structure including BoM of MIC cars.

JOYY Inc. operates a global social media platform. The Company offers platform which enables users to interact with each other in real time through online live media by creating, sharing, and enjoying a vast range of entertainment content and activities. JOYY serves customers in China.

We believe that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/joyy-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:285:1" rel="noopener">JOYY (YY US)</a> is a special situation that warrants a close look from the long side.  Our recent checks in the live broadcasting broadcasters and agencies suggest that broadcasters see a surge in traffic/new viewers from BIDU in recent weeks.  BIDU traffic is of lower quality than YY as BIDU’s existing business model for live streaming is ecommerce.  YY, on the other hand, discusses tips for broadcasters.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a>  has opened multiple entries to YY.  For example, all viewers of Haokan Video (short video sub of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a> ) now have access to YY subsidiaries.  Haokan is said to have 30MM DAU through independent Haokan App, and 110 MM DAU through all apps in Baidu ecosystem in 2019.  Assuming YY can convert 1% DAU to paying users, that is 26% boost to YY existing paying users.

We believe that JOYY (YY US) is a special situation that warrants a close look from the long side.  Our recent checks in the live broadcasting broadcasters and agencies suggest that broadcasters see a surge in traffic/new viewers from BIDU in recent weeks.  BIDU traffic is of lower quality than YY as BIDU’s existing business model for live streaming is ecommerce.  YY, on the other hand, discusses tips for broadcasters.  Baidu (BIDU US)  has opened multiple entries to YY.  For example, all viewers of Haokan Video (short video sub of Baidu (BIDU US) ) now have access to YY subsidiaries.  Haokan is said to have 30MM DAU through independent Haokan App, and 110 MM DAU through all apps in Baidu ecosystem in 2019.  Assuming YY can convert 1% DAU to paying users, that is 26% boost to YY existing paying users.

BIDU-YY Live Streaming Integration Update: Unlocking Deep Value in YY

Gaotu Techedu inc develops educational software. The Company offers online K-12 large class after school tutoring as well as foreign language, professional and other courses. Gaotu Techedu serves students in China

We see posts by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gsx-techedu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28069:1" rel="noopener">GSX Techedu (GSX US)</a>  employees on Maimai mentioning that certain “celebrity instructors” in K11 and K12 may be leaving the platform after the spring semester as the tutors were instructed to cease recruiting new enrollments for the instructors.   We believe that “celebrity teachers” receive options with a lockup period when signing up with GSX.  The recent stock selloff could result in a significant number of departures of “celebrity instructors”.  GSX consistently claims that “celebrity teachers” are their moat, resulting in their reported unusually high profit margins that the entire K12 AST industry have hard time to comprehend.

We see posts by GSX Techedu (GSX US)  employees on Maimai mentioning that certain “celebrity instructors” in K11 and K12 may be leaving the platform after the spring semester as the tutors were instructed to cease recruiting new enrollments for the instructors.   We believe that “celebrity teachers” receive options with a lockup period when signing up with GSX.  The recent stock selloff could result in a significant number of departures of “celebrity instructors”.  GSX consistently claims that “celebrity teachers” are their moat, resulting in their reported unusually high profit margins that the entire K12 AST industry have hard time to comprehend.

GSX Post Archegos' Liquidation, Chinese K12 Parents Survey - Q2 2021