Research from Asian Century Stocks, Asian Century Stocks

Michael Fritzell

Research from Asian Century Stocks

Providing financial journalism in the Asia-Pacific

Asian Century Stocks

Asian Century Stocks is a newsletter providing financial journalism for companies and stocks in the Asia-Pacific. 
The Asian Century Stocks logotype “百” stands for “one hundred” or a “century”. The economic centre of gravity is moving towards Asia. Yet most global investors are missing out.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>
In the past year, cocoa prices have spiked to elevated levels.
</li>
<li>
The culprit has been heavy rainfall in West Africa, leading to poor cocoa crops.
</li>
<li>
There’s nothing suggesting that the tightness in the cocoa market will end anytime soon. 
</li>
</ul>



In the past year, cocoa prices have spiked to elevated levels.


The culprit has been heavy rainfall in West Africa, leading to poor cocoa crops.


There’s nothing suggesting that the tightness in the cocoa market will end anytime soon. 



Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Despite the higher probability of the cancellation of treasury shares by Lotte Corp, we believe that its worsening balance sheet is a greater concern. </li>
<li>There does not appear to be a rapid business turnaround of its major affiliates including Lotte Chemical. As a result, we are concerned about further credit downgrades in 2026/2027.</li>
<li>Our base case NAV valuation of Lotte Corp is market cap of 2.2 trillion won or target price of 20,918 won per share, which is 29% lower than current price.</li>
</ul>


Despite the higher probability of the cancellation of treasury shares by Lotte Corp, we believe that its worsening balance sheet is a greater concern. 
There does not appear to be a rapid business turnaround of its major affiliates including Lotte Chemical. As a result, we are concerned about further credit downgrades in 2026/2027.
Our base case NAV valuation of Lotte Corp is market cap of 2.2 trillion won or target price of 20,918 won per share, which is 29% lower than current price.


Lotte Corp: Worsening Balance Sheet Offset by Its High Treasury Shares Level

Korea / Special Situations, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Situations

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The proposed bill fully closes the treasury-share loopholes, bans all exchangeable/pledge uses, blocks M&amp;A allocations, and imposes strict cancellation deadlines—1 year for new buys, 6 months for existing.</li>
<li>The amendment tightens disposal rules: no cancellation means pro-rata sales to existing shareholders only, shutting down selective deals and closing the wide-open disposal gap under current law.</li>
<li>The proposal is far tougher than expected, likely to become the final version, and should drive a near-term mandatory-cancel narrative and notable price action in governance-sensitive holding-co names.</li>
</ul>


The proposed bill fully closes the treasury-share loopholes, bans all exchangeable/pledge uses, blocks M&amp;A allocations, and imposes strict cancellation deadlines—1 year for new buys, 6 months for existing.
The amendment tightens disposal rules: no cancellation means pro-rata sales to existing shareholders only, shutting down selective deals and closing the wide-open disposal gap under current law.
The proposal is far tougher than expected, likely to become the final version, and should drive a near-term mandatory-cancel narrative and notable price action in governance-sensitive holding-co names.


Ruling Party Unveils Key Details of 3rd Commercial Act Amendment: Mandatory Treasury-Share Disposal

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

Shenton Research

Shenton Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analysed the earning revision of component stocks of KOSPI 200 in the past month.</li>
<li>We tabulated stocks with the top impact on index's EPS, stocks' EPS revision, and revenue revision.</li>
<li>We highlighted EPS revision on Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC, LG Chem, SKCHEM.</li>
</ul>


We analysed the earning revision of component stocks of KOSPI 200 in the past month.
We tabulated stocks with the top impact on index's EPS, stocks' EPS revision, and revenue revision.
We highlighted EPS revision on Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC, LG Chem, SKCHEM.


KOSPI 200 Index Earning Revision (Sep): Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC

<ul>
<li>In this insight, I highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in 4Q 2026.</li>
<li>I provide five holdco/opco pairs that have experienced noticeable divergence in the past three months and closing of their gaps could occur in the next several weeks.</li>
<li>Of the 38 pairs, six of them are near or more than 2 standard deviations (in terms of their changing share price movements in the past three months).</li>
</ul>


In this insight, I highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in 4Q 2026.
I provide five holdco/opco pairs that have experienced noticeable divergence in the past three months and closing of their gaps could occur in the next several weeks.
Of the 38 pairs, six of them are near or more than 2 standard deviations (in terms of their changing share price movements in the past three months).


Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 4Q 2026

South Korea

LOTTE Corporation is a pure holding company of Lotte Group Korea. It was established in 2017. Lotte Group Korea develops various high quality products and services in the five main business areas: food production/sales, distribution, sightseeing service, heavy chemical/construction and finance/investment.

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

LOTTE Corporation (004990 KS)

The cocoa question

In the past year, cocoa prices have spiked to elevated levels. The culprit has been heavy rainfall in West Africa, leading to poor cocoa crops.

Asian Century Stocks

Lotte Corp: Worsening Balance Sheet Offset by Its High Treasury Shares Level

Despite the higher probability of the cancellation of treasury shares by Lotte Corp, we believe that its worsening balance sheet is a greater concern.

Douglas Kim

KOSPI 200 Index Earning Revision (Sep): Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC

We analyzed KOSPI 200's consensus for Sep 2026 and highlighted changes of EPS in Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC, LG Chem,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 4Q 2026

In this insight, I highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in...

Douglas Kim

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

The cocoa question

In the past year, cocoa prices have spiked to elevated levels. The culprit has been heavy rainfall in West Africa, leading to poor cocoa crops.

Asian Century Stocks

Lotte Corp: Worsening Balance Sheet Offset by Its High Treasury Shares Level

Despite the higher probability of the cancellation of treasury shares by Lotte Corp, we believe that its worsening balance sheet is a greater concern.

Douglas Kim

Ruling Party Unveils Key Details of 3rd Commercial Act Amendment: Mandatory Treasury-Share Disposal

This post covers the full structure of the Ruling Party’s full 3rd Commercial Act amendment draft, outlining mandatory treasury-share disposal.

Sanghyun Park

KOSPI 200 Index Earning Revision (Sep): Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC

We analyzed KOSPI 200's consensus for Sep 2026 and highlighted changes of EPS in Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, KEPCO, S-Oil, KCC, LG Chem,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Korean Holdcos Vs Opcos Gap Trading Opportunities in 4Q 2026

In this insight, I highlight the recent pricing gap divergences of the major Korean holdcos and opcos which could provide trading opportunities in...

Douglas Kim