China/Asia TMT

Shawn Yang

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>ZHD reported F1Q/C2Q23 top-line, non-GAAP operating profit and non-GAAP net profit in-line, in-line and (32%) vs. consensus, respectively. Earnings miss was driven by wider tax expense.  </li>
<li>ZHD’s B2C e-commerce platform GMV continued to decline, which we suspect is due to the continued impact of STAT, especially Shein.</li>
<li>We maintain SELL and raise TP to JPY 340 due to improved ads-spending, but we expect the transient ad spend increase to be offset by loss of ecommerce customers. </li>
</ul>


ZHD reported F1Q/C2Q23 top-line, non-GAAP operating profit and non-GAAP net profit in-line, in-line and (32%) vs. consensus, respectively. Earnings miss was driven by wider tax expense.  
ZHD’s B2C e-commerce platform GMV continued to decline, which we suspect is due to the continued impact of STAT, especially Shein.
We maintain SELL and raise TP to JPY 340 due to improved ads-spending, but we expect the transient ad spend increase to be offset by loss of ecommerce customers. 


[Z Holdings (4689 JP, SELL, TP JPY 340) Target Price Change]: Continued Impact of Chinese E-Commerce

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

<ul>
<li>Last year was pivotal for Yahoo Japan: despite record group performance, GTVs in e-commerce actually fell despite continued strong growth in the sector </li>
<li>In a recent survey, Amazon was the most frequently used e-commerce mall at 49.6%, followed by Rakuten (32%), but Yahoo was far, far below at just 9.8%.</li>
<li>Yahoo Shopping is now not only less popular with consumers, even merchants are dissatisfied – which is saying something when the service is essentially free.</li>
</ul>


Last year was pivotal for Yahoo Japan: despite record group performance, GTVs in e-commerce actually fell despite continued strong growth in the sector 
In a recent survey, Amazon was the most frequently used e-commerce mall at 49.6%, followed by Rakuten (32%), but Yahoo was far, far below at just 9.8%.
Yahoo Shopping is now not only less popular with consumers, even merchants are dissatisfied – which is saying something when the service is essentially free.


Z Holdings: Yahoo Shopping Falling Further Behind Amazon and Rakuten

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27445:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Corp (9434 JP)</a> shares have underperformed telco peers that benefit from a risk-off environment despite a sector-high dividend payout as 38% of value comes from Internet and fintech</li>
<li>That dividend payout looks safe across our forecast period though as the telco business provides sufficient free cash and parent <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> can always use more cash</li>
<li>At Q3, management reiterated confidence in financial guidance through FY22 and a positive <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a> Q4 report could help shares make up lost ground </li>
</ul>



Softbank Corp (9434 JP) shares have underperformed telco peers that benefit from a risk-off environment despite a sector-high dividend payout as 38% of value comes from Internet and fintech
That dividend payout looks safe across our forecast period though as the telco business provides sufficient free cash and parent Softbank Group (9984 JP) can always use more cash
At Q3, management reiterated confidence in financial guidance through FY22 and a positive Z Holdings (4689 JP) Q4 report could help shares make up lost ground 


Softbank Corp (Buy) - Growth/Value Hybrid Has Been Left Behind by Telco Peers

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a> is currently trading 20% below the bottom end of the long term trend channel.</li>
<li>With consensus FY+2 EBITDA at ¥309.8bn, Rakuten’s current EV/EBITDA is at an all-time low of 1.7x compared to the historical median and peak of 9.0x and 16.1x respectively.</li>
<li>Based on the consensus FY+2 EBITDA and EV trend, we feel the fair valuation of Rakuten could be somewhere around ¥3,000bn EV.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) is currently trading 20% below the bottom end of the long term trend channel.
With consensus FY+2 EBITDA at ¥309.8bn, Rakuten’s current EV/EBITDA is at an all-time low of 1.7x compared to the historical median and peak of 9.0x and 16.1x respectively.
Based on the consensus FY+2 EBITDA and EV trend, we feel the fair valuation of Rakuten could be somewhere around ¥3,000bn EV.


Rakuten: At a New Forward EV/EBITDA Bottom

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The following is an in-depth review of Japanese retail in the last 18 months covering all the main formats and categories, providing a quick way to see an overview of all the key trends and winners and losers in Japanese retailing now and going forward.FY2020 was an anomaly and one that businesses everywhere will want to forget and never repeat. There was more than enough pain among Japan’s top retailers last year, but equally some formats did surprisingly well given the circumstances.For most, work-from-home was the single most important factor in determining a chain’s fortunes. City-centre stores and shopping centres offering mostly discretionary shopping have been hit hard, as have convenience stores.But those chains selling essentials, healthcare, electronics and, most importantly, food, all saw their fortunes improve. The pandemic has also revealed the strong, dynamic players and exposed the weaker ones. Oh, and everyone needs to be online.

The following is an in-depth review of Japanese retail in the last 18 months covering all the main formats and categories, providing a quick way to see an overview of all the key trends and winners and losers in Japanese retailing now and going forward.FY2020 was an anomaly and one that businesses everywhere will want to forget and never repeat. There was more than enough pain among Japan’s top retailers last year, but equally some formats did surprisingly well given the circumstances.For most, work-from-home was the single most important factor in determining a chain’s fortunes. City-centre stores and shopping centres offering mostly discretionary shopping have been hit hard, as have convenience stores.But those chains selling essentials, healthcare, electronics and, most importantly, food, all saw their fortunes improve. The pandemic has also revealed the strong, dynamic players and exposed the weaker ones. Oh, and everyone needs to be online.

The Polarising Pandemic in Japanese Retail

Japan

LY Corporation operates as an internet search engine "Yahoo! JAPAN". The Company provides electronic commerce and settlement finance services for small medium enterprises and individuals. LY also operates media business including search linked advertising and display advertising services.

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LY (4689 JP)

[Z Holdings (4689 JP, SELL, TP JPY 340) Target Price Change]: Continued Impact of Chinese E-Commerce

We maintain SELL and raise TP to JPY 340 due to improved ads-spending, but we expect the transient ad spend increase to be offset by loss of...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Z Holdings: Yahoo Shopping Falling Further Behind Amazon and Rakuten

Z Holding's core e-commerce business is in trouble. Amazon and Rakuten are pulling further ahead and even merchants (who pay nothing) are unhappy....

Michael Causton

Softbank Corp (Buy) - Growth/Value Hybrid Has Been Left Behind by Telco Peers

Softbank Corp has underperformed telco peers on tech exposure as Z Holdings is down 38% from recent highs. Despite that it still offers sector-high...

Kirk Boodry

Rakuten: At a New Forward EV/EBITDA Bottom

After falling 6% following Q4 earnings and 39% since March 2021 to ¥945 per share, Rakuten seems an attractive bet on the long side in the Japanese...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

The Polarising Pandemic in Japanese Retail

A complete review of the Japanese retail sector in the last 18 months, format by format, category by category, providing key trends and winners &...

Michael Causton

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