Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-health-international-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29677:1" rel="noopener">JD Health (6618 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sun-hung-kai-properties-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:111:1" rel="noopener">Sun Hung Kai Properties (16 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-healthcare-and-technology-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27008:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (1833 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunny-optical-tech" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13363:1" rel="noopener">Sunny Optical (2382 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anta-sports-products-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10261:1" rel="noopener">Anta Sports Products (2020 HK)</a>. Shorts increased on Energy, while decreasing on Utilities, Health Care, Materials and Communication Services.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nexon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16032:1" rel="noopener">Nexon (3659 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/brother-industries-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6114:1" rel="noopener">Brother Industries (6448 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shiseido-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5718:1" rel="noopener">Shiseido Company (4911 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyo-tire-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15064:1" rel="noopener">Toyo Tire Corporation (5105 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/h-i-s-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19311:1" rel="noopener">H I S Co Ltd (9603 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/east-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14271:1" rel="noopener">East Japan Railway Co (9020 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gs-yuasa-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8298:1" rel="noopener">Gs Yuasa Corp (6674 JP)</a>. Shorts increased in all sectors led by Industrials, Information Technology, Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, short increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-uplus-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1113:1" rel="noopener">LG Uplus Corp (032640 KS)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-display-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7145:1" rel="noopener">LG Display (034220 KS)</a>. </p></div><div><p>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6450:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pegatron-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12852:1" rel="noopener">Pegatron Corp (4938 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/au-optronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6704:1" rel="noopener">Au Optronics (2409 TT)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fitipower-integrated-tech" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8712:1" rel="noopener">Fitipower Integrated Tech (4961 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/standard-foods-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19848:1" rel="noopener">Standard Foods (1227 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nan-ya-printed-circuit-board-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2699:1" rel="noopener">Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board (8046 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/largan-precision-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9126:1" rel="noopener">Largan Precision (3008 TT)</a>. </p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK), Alibaba Group (9988 HK), HKEX (388 HK), JD Health (6618 HK) and Sun Hung Kai Properties (16 HK) while there was short covering on Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Meituan (3690 HK), Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (1833 HK), Sunny Optical (2382 HK) and Anta Sports Products (2020 HK). Shorts increased on Energy, while decreasing on Utilities, Health Care, Materials and Communication Services.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Nexon (3659 JP), Toshiba Corp (6502 JP), Brother Industries (6448 JP) and Shiseido Company (4911 JP) while shorts decreased on Toyo Tire Corporation (5105 JP), H I S Co Ltd (9603 JP), East Japan Railway Co (9020 JP) and Gs Yuasa Corp (6674 JP). Shorts increased in all sectors led by Industrials, Information Technology, Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples.In Korea, short increased on SK Hynix (000660 KS) and LG Uplus Corp (032640 KS) while shorts decreased on Celltrion Inc (068270 KS), Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), Naver Corp (035420 KS) and LG Display (034220 KS). Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were TSMC (2330 TT), United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT), Pegatron Corp (4938 TT) and Au Optronics (2409 TT) while shorts were covered on Fitipower Integrated Tech (4961 TT), Standard Foods (1227 TT), Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board (8046 TT) and Largan Precision (3008 TT). 

Asia Short Interest: Kuaishou, HKEX, SHK, Anta, Nexon, Toshiba, Toyo Tire, HIS, Hynix, TSMC, UMC

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><a target="_blank"></a>Coupang is by far the leader in one of the most compelling markets for eCommerce globally and one of the most attractive of the Vision Fund portfolio companies. But it is expensive: the $30 max offer price implies a 5x appreciation in value from its last private funding round in 2018 and a FY21 EV/sales multiple of 2.6x almost on par with Amazon which is a global leader in both eCommerce and cloud.  We value Coupang below the range at $26 using a 9-year DCF driven by 17% revenue CAGR and an 8% terminal OP margin.    </p><p>This report includes our initial forecasts, valuation, a summary of the investment highlights and a list of questions we would ask on the roadshow.</p><h2><strong>Highlights</strong></h2><p><strong>Coupang dominates a very attractive eCommerce market. </strong> Korea scores high on two measures of eCommerce predictive success, Internet penetration and population density and Coupang is by-far the leading provider. It helps that global competition has been unable to gain traction whilst traditional retailers are smaller scale relative to other markets.</p><p><strong>eCommerce demand has accelerated as Covid-19 accelerates augments a secular shift in retail sales to online platforms. </strong> Revenue growth expanded from 71% in Q4 19 to 100% in Q4 20 but expanding growth was a feature through 2019 as well. eCommerce penetration of c. 25% may have nearly doubled in FY20 although some of that demand shift may revert as the impact of Covid-19 fades.</p><p><strong>The company is flirting with profitability. </strong>Operating margins have moved from -30% in FY16 to -4% in FY20 with corresponding improvement in EBITDA (-30% to -3%).  In our model, we assume Coupang breaks even in FY21 although higher share-based compensation and/or higher spending as it puts IPO proceeds to work could extend that.</p><p><strong>But it is still burning a lot of cash.  </strong>Coupang might be close to break-even operationally but it has largely spent the money it received from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a>  in 2018. Over the last three years, $2.7bn has gone out the door including c. $800mn in FY20 alone (our measure of operating cash flow).</p><p><strong>Comparable valuations and relative changes to valuation highlight the premium valuation. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/coupang" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28425:1" rel="noopener">Coupang (CPNG US)</a> </strong> max offer price values the company similarly to Amazon on FY21 EV/sales (2.7x v 2.8x) but the latter is a global leader and not just in eCommerce but cloud too. Similarly, Coupang’s value appreciation from its last private funding and March 2020 lows has outpaced peer group, sometimes significantly.</p>

Coupang is by far the leader in one of the most compelling markets for eCommerce globally and one of the most attractive of the Vision Fund portfolio companies. But it is expensive: the $30 max offer price implies a 5x appreciation in value from its last private funding round in 2018 and a FY21 EV/sales multiple of 2.6x almost on par with Amazon which is a global leader in both eCommerce and cloud.  We value Coupang below the range at $26 using a 9-year DCF driven by 17% revenue CAGR and an 8% terminal OP margin.    This report includes our initial forecasts, valuation, a summary of the investment highlights and a list of questions we would ask on the roadshow.HighlightsCoupang dominates a very attractive eCommerce market.  Korea scores high on two measures of eCommerce predictive success, Internet penetration and population density and Coupang is by-far the leading provider. It helps that global competition has been unable to gain traction whilst traditional retailers are smaller scale relative to other markets.eCommerce demand has accelerated as Covid-19 accelerates augments a secular shift in retail sales to online platforms.  Revenue growth expanded from 71% in Q4 19 to 100% in Q4 20 but expanding growth was a feature through 2019 as well. eCommerce penetration of c. 25% may have nearly doubled in FY20 although some of that demand shift may revert as the impact of Covid-19 fades.The company is flirting with profitability. Operating margins have moved from -30% in FY16 to -4% in FY20 with corresponding improvement in EBITDA (-30% to -3%).  In our model, we assume Coupang breaks even in FY21 although higher share-based compensation and/or higher spending as it puts IPO proceeds to work could extend that.But it is still burning a lot of cash.  Coupang might be close to break-even operationally but it has largely spent the money it received from Softbank Group (9984 JP)  in 2018. Over the last three years, $2.7bn has gone out the door including c. $800mn in FY20 alone (our measure of operating cash flow).Comparable valuations and relative changes to valuation highlight the premium valuation. Coupang (CPNG US)  max offer price values the company similarly to Amazon on FY21 EV/sales (2.7x v 2.8x) but the latter is a global leader and not just in eCommerce but cloud too. Similarly, Coupang’s value appreciation from its last private funding and March 2020 lows has outpaced peer group, sometimes significantly.

Coupang IPO and Softbank Group - A Vision Fund Jewel Emerges but It Is Pricey

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<p>Coupang, one of the largest product e-commerce players in Korea, aims to raise up to US$3.6bn in its US listing via a mix of selling primary and secondary shares. In this note, we’ll talk about the lock-up, index inclusion and run the deal through our framework.</p><div><p>Coupang offers its 14.8m customers a wide range of owned-inventory selection. In addition, on its marketplace it also offers millions of SKUs sourced from over 200,000 merchants. Apart from normal e-commerce operation, it also provides its customers with: grocery offering, Rocket Fresh; logistics food delivery offering, Coupang Eats; and digital financial services, Coupang Pay.</p></div><div><p>I've covered various aspects of the deal in my earlier insights: </p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/coupang-pre-ipo-the-positives-fast-growth-sticky-customers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coupang Pre-IPO - The Positives - Fast Growth, Sticky Customers</a>, </li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/coupang-pre-ipo-the-negatives-horrendous-data-disclosures-including-no-mention-of-ott-launch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coupang Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Horrendous Data Disclosures, Including No Mention of OTT Launch</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/coupang-pre-ipo-fair-bit-of-competition-but-it-s-doing-better-than-most-local-peers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coupang Pre-IPO - Fair Bit of Competition but It’s Doing Better than Most Local Peers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/coupang-pre-ipo-earnings-forecast-and-valuation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coupang Pre-IPO - Earnings Forecast and Valuation</a></li>
</ul></div>

Coupang, one of the largest product e-commerce players in Korea, aims to raise up to US$3.6bn in its US listing via a mix of selling primary and secondary shares. In this note, we’ll talk about the lock-up, index inclusion and run the deal through our framework.Coupang offers its 14.8m customers a wide range of owned-inventory selection. In addition, on its marketplace it also offers millions of SKUs sourced from over 200,000 merchants. Apart from normal e-commerce operation, it also provides its customers with: grocery offering, Rocket Fresh; logistics food delivery offering, Coupang Eats; and digital financial services, Coupang Pay.I've covered various aspects of the deal in my earlier insights: 

Coupang Pre-IPO - The Positives - Fast Growth, Sticky Customers, 
Coupang Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Horrendous Data Disclosures, Including No Mention of OTT Launch
Coupang Pre-IPO - Fair Bit of Competition but It’s Doing Better than Most Local Peers
Coupang Pre-IPO - Earnings Forecast and Valuation


Coupang IPO - Momentum Play, Unequal Lock-Up, Index Inclusion

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/coupang" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28425:1" rel="noopener">Coupang (CPNG US)</a> is the largest e-commerce platform in South Korea, according to Euromonitor. Coupang is best known for Rocket Delivery, which provides free, next-day delivery for orders placed any time of the day.</p>
<p>At the proposed IPO price range of $27-30 per share, Coupang will have a market cap of $46-51 billion. The IPO which comprises of a primary and secondary offering will raise total gross proceeds up to $3.6 billion.  At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds from the primary raise are $2.8 million. </p>
</div><div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/coupang-ipo-initiation-delivering-the-goods" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48125" rel="noopener">Coupang IPO Initiation: Delivering the Goods</a>, we opined that Coupang's fundamentals tick all the right boxes and worth a look, in our view. Coupang is a new-economy growth story and at the IPO price range, is attractively priced for its growth potential vs global e-commerce peers. Consequently, we would participate in the IPO. </p></div></div></div>


Coupang (CPNG US) is the largest e-commerce platform in South Korea, according to Euromonitor. Coupang is best known for Rocket Delivery, which provides free, next-day delivery for orders placed any time of the day.
At the proposed IPO price range of $27-30 per share, Coupang will have a market cap of $46-51 billion. The IPO which comprises of a primary and secondary offering will raise total gross proceeds up to $3.6 billion.  At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds from the primary raise are $2.8 million. 
In Coupang IPO Initiation: Delivering the Goods, we opined that Coupang's fundamentals tick all the right boxes and worth a look, in our view. Coupang is a new-economy growth story and at the IPO price range, is attractively priced for its growth potential vs global e-commerce peers. Consequently, we would participate in the IPO. 

<p>Z Holdings has closed its long-awaited merger with LINE and will now step up to battle global Internet challengers. The new company will invest c. $5bn over five years to boost its AI heft to expand its market share in Japan as well as leverage LINE’s overseas footprint. Investors hoping for an upgrade to profitability targets may be disappointed as the FY23 operating income target is unchanged but the top-line targets are aggressive enough and an accelerated investment program is a compelling story.  That is good for Z Holdings and parent Softbank Corp but less so for its main domestic challenger Rakuten as the cost of business in Japan keeps going up.  </p>

Z Holdings has closed its long-awaited merger with LINE and will now step up to battle global Internet challengers. The new company will invest c. $5bn over five years to boost its AI heft to expand its market share in Japan as well as leverage LINE’s overseas footprint. Investors hoping for an upgrade to profitability targets may be disappointed as the FY23 operating income target is unchanged but the top-line targets are aggressive enough and an accelerated investment program is a compelling story.  That is good for Z Holdings and parent Softbank Corp but less so for its main domestic challenger Rakuten as the cost of business in Japan keeps going up.  

Z Holdings -  With Merger Close, Investment Will Accelerate

South Korea

Naver Corp. provides Internet site with web portal services, such as search engine, online game and content development.  The Company also offers marketing service through text and banner advertisement.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Naver Corp (035420 KS)

Asia Short Interest: Kuaishou, HKEX, SHK, Anta, Nexon, Toshiba, Toyo Tire, HIS, Hynix, TSMC, UMC

The Insight looks at large short interest movements across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan stocks and highlights large increases/decreases in shorts to...

Brian Freitas

Coupang IPO and Softbank Group - A Vision Fund Jewel Emerges but It Is Pricey

Coupang's IPO is a win for the company and its largest holder Softbank but the max offer price of $30 is too pricey - we think it is worth closer...

Kirk Boodry

Coupang IPO - Momentum Play, Unequal Lock-Up, Index Inclusion

Coupang aims to raise up to US$3.6bn in its US listing via selling primary and secondary shares. In this note, we’ll talk about the lock-up, index...

Sumeet Singh

Coupang IPO: Valuation Insights

The $27-30 price range implies gross proceeds up to $3.6 billion and values Coupang at $46-51 billion. At the price range, Coupang is attractively...

Arun George

Z Holdings - With Merger Close, Investment Will Accelerate

The biggest takeaway from the merger close is the ¥500bn investment program. If it fuels stronger revenue growth then profits should follow over...

Kirk Boodry

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)