Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Independent, Fundamental Quantitative Research

Propitious Research

Fully independent, fundamental and quantitative equity research, focused on companies in the Telecommunication, Media, Technology, Internet and Healthcare sectors in the Global Emerging Markets. Idea generation focused on Quality stocks, trading below their intrinsic Value, with sound Corporate Governance.

Quantitative Analysis

This insight provides the output, and an overview of our, machine learning-driven, proprietary GEM screening model, which takes a three-pronged approach to find the best medium-term long ideas within the top100 largest stocks in the MSCI GEM Index. 
The model is based on 1) a typical quantitative multifactor screening model, enhanced by two Artificial Intelligence Technology-based approaches using 2) a Deep Neural Network model, and 3) a Recurrent Neural Network model. 
This model, which has been developed and tweaked over the past 3 years (and implemented in its current state for 17 months), has a solid real-world performance track record, which I set out in the detail below. 
Notable new entrants to the top decile this month include Russian internet company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yandex-nv-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:414:1" rel="noopener">Yandex (YNDX US)</a>, Indian IT Services company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hcl-technologies-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20025:1" rel="noopener">Hcl Technologies (HCLT IN)</a>, and a return to the top 10 for <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>.
<table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup> <col> <col> <col> <col> <col> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 48pt;">rank</td>
<td style="width: 169pt;">Name</td>
<td style="width: 119pt;">Sector</td>
<td style="width: 95pt;">Location</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 48pt;">prev.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-household-health-care" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6501:1" rel="noopener">LG Household &amp; Health Care (051900 KS)</a> </td>
<td>Consumer Staples</td>
<td>Korea (South)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netease" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29030:1" rel="noopener">NetEase (9999 HK)</a> </td>
<td>Communication</td>
<td>China</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc. (9618 HK)</a> </td>
<td>Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td>China</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a> </td>
<td>Information Technology</td>
<td>China</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yandex-nv-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:414:1" rel="noopener">Yandex (YNDX US)</a> </td>
<td>Communication</td>
<td>Russian Federation</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-oriental-education-technology-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32210:1" rel="noopener">New Oriental Education &amp; Technology Group (9901 HK)</a> </td>
<td>Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td>China</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td>
<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> </td>
<td>Information Technology</td>
<td>Taiwan</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/al-rajhi-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27038:1" rel="noopener">Al Rajhi Bank (RJHI AB)</a> </td>
<td>Financials</td>
<td>Saudi Arabia</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/magazine-luiza-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27676:1" rel="noopener">Magazine Luiza SA (MGLU3 BZ)</a> </td>
<td>Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td>Brazil</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hcl-technologies-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20025:1" rel="noopener">Hcl Technologies (HCLT IN)</a> </td>
<td>Information Technology</td>
<td>India</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">83</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5" style="text-align: left;">Source: FactSet financial data and analytics, my estimates and calculations, Tensorflow, Keras, Google Colaboratory, pandas</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
As usual, please feel free to reach out for the full output table, any questions, clarifications needed or suggestions.

This insight provides the output, and an overview of our, machine learning-driven, proprietary GEM screening model, which takes a three-pronged approach to find the best medium-term long ideas within the top100 largest stocks in the MSCI GEM Index. 
The model is based on 1) a typical quantitative multifactor screening model, enhanced by two Artificial Intelligence Technology-based approaches using 2) a Deep Neural Network model, and 3) a Recurrent Neural Network model. 
This model, which has been developed and tweaked over the past 3 years (and implemented in its current state for 17 months), has a solid real-world performance track record, which I set out in the detail below. 
Notable new entrants to the top decile this month include Russian internet company Yandex (YNDX US), Indian IT Services company Hcl Technologies (HCLT IN), and a return to the top 10 for TSMC (2330 TT).

      


rank
Name
Sector
Location
prev.


1

LG Household &amp; Health Care (051900 KS) 
Consumer Staples
Korea (South)
12


2

NetEase (9999 HK) 
Communication
China
2


3

JD.com Inc. (9618 HK) 
Consumer Discretionary
China
10


4

Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK) 
Information Technology
China
4


5

Yandex (YNDX US) 
Communication
Russian Federation
49


6

New Oriental Education &amp; Technology Group (9901 HK) 
Consumer Discretionary
China
1


7

TSMC (2330 TT) 
Information Technology
Taiwan
16


8

Al Rajhi Bank (RJHI AB) 
Financials
Saudi Arabia
33


9

Magazine Luiza SA (MGLU3 BZ) 
Consumer Discretionary
Brazil
15


10

Hcl Technologies (HCLT IN) 
Information Technology
India
83


Source: FactSet financial data and analytics, my estimates and calculations, Tensorflow, Keras, Google Colaboratory, pandas



As usual, please feel free to reach out for the full output table, any questions, clarifications needed or suggestions.

APAC IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Clarence Chu

APAC 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

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/uju-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34824:1" rel="noopener">Uju Holding (1948 HK)</a> is looking to raise up to US$141m in its Hong Kong IPO.Uju Holding is a one-stop cross media online marketing solutions provider that works with media partners to market its advertiser customer’s products and/or services. Incorporated in 2018, the firm contributed approximately 1.1% of the total marketing gross billing of China’s online marketing market in 2020, as per iResearch. For FY20 and 4M21, the firm had worked with 1,028 and 651 advertiser customers and 32 and 21 media partners, respectively. During its track period, Uju Holding has recorded strong growth in its operating numbers and topline has followed closely as well. Its U-Engine platform, launched in 2020 could change the dynamics with its advertiser customers and improve efficiency. Cornerstones are also noteworthy and could aid sentiment but isn’t a large amount nonetheless. However, margins have been falling and the firm’s business model centers around a small number of participants. Combined with operating in a fragmented market, margins could be further compressed.

Uju Holding (1948 HK) is looking to raise up to US$141m in its Hong Kong IPO.Uju Holding is a one-stop cross media online marketing solutions provider that works with media partners to market its advertiser customer’s products and/or services. Incorporated in 2018, the firm contributed approximately 1.1% of the total marketing gross billing of China’s online marketing market in 2020, as per iResearch. For FY20 and 4M21, the firm had worked with 1,028 and 651 advertiser customers and 32 and 21 media partners, respectively. During its track period, Uju Holding has recorded strong growth in its operating numbers and topline has followed closely as well. Its U-Engine platform, launched in 2020 could change the dynamics with its advertiser customers and improve efficiency. Cornerstones are also noteworthy and could aid sentiment but isn’t a large amount nonetheless. However, margins have been falling and the firm’s business model centers around a small number of participants. Combined with operating in a fragmented market, margins could be further compressed. 

Uju Holding IPO - Margin Compression Looks to Persist

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

Hong Kong Exchange publishes share repurchases by listed companies on a daily basis. In our weekly note, we will provide statistics on top repurchases over one week, one month, one quarter and one year periods ended on Oct 22.In the past 7 days, the top 3 companies that repurchased the most shares from the market were Xiaomi Corporation (1810 HK) (HKD 147.5 million worth of buybacks), China Gas Holdings Limited (384 HK) (HKD 75.9 million worth of buybacks), Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd. (460 HK) (HKD 70.2 million worth of buybacks).

Hong Kong Exchange publishes share repurchases by listed companies on a daily basis. In our weekly note, we will provide statistics on top repurchases over one week, one month, one quarter and one year periods ended on Oct 22.In the past 7 days, the top 3 companies that repurchased the most shares from the market were Xiaomi Corporation (1810 HK) (HKD 147.5 million worth of buybacks), China Gas Holdings Limited (384 HK) (HKD 75.9 million worth of buybacks), Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd. (460 HK) (HKD 70.2 million worth of buybacks).

Hong Kong Buybacks: Xiaomi, China Gas, Sihuan

Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In 3Q21, the whole smartphone market was weak due to the chip shortage.</li>
<li>Apple took back the No. 2 place from Xiaomi in shipment market share.</li>
<li>Samsung is self-supporting in chip supply, but Xiaomi is not.</li>
<li>Both of Apple and Samsung's margins are higher than Xiaomi's.</li>
</ul>


In 3Q21, the whole smartphone market was weak due to the chip shortage.
Apple took back the No. 2 place from Xiaomi in shipment market share.
Samsung is self-supporting in chip supply, but Xiaomi is not.
Both of Apple and Samsung's margins are higher than Xiaomi's.


Xiaomi (1810 HK): Weak Market in 3Q21 and Not Competitive Internationally

Forensic Analyst

Jason Yap, CFA

Forensic Accounting

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/futu-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27858:1" rel="noopener">Futu Holdings Ltd (FUTU US)</a>  is China’s largest online brokerage, both by revenue and market cap, and backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/up-fintech-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27957:1" rel="noopener">UP Fintech (TIGR US)</a>, also known as Tiger Brokers, is backed by veteran American investor Jim Rogers, smartphone giant <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a>, and U.S. brokerage giant Interactive Brokers Group Inc. Both had looked to cash in on the growing amount of Chinese retail investor money pouring into U.S. stocks following a banner year in 2020.
On 14 October 2021, the People's Daily <a href="http://sh.people.com.cn/n2/2021/1014/c139965-34956684.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> that online brokerages, naming Futu and Up Fintech specifically, that operate across borders run the risk of violating data privacy rules and personal information protection laws, the latter taking effect from 1 November 2021. 
On the same day, Futu’s shares plummeted more than 13% to USD73.11, down 62% from the peak in February. UP Fintech fell more than 20% to USD8.19, down 78% from its February high. 
The additional regulatory scrutiny compounds the woes of China's online brokerages following a torrid 2 quarters, where investor appetite and trading volumes slumped, particularly for US ADRs and HK tech stocks, amidst a weak market environment.
In statements issued last Friday (15 Oct), both firms affirmed that they have pro-actively complied with relevant regulations and addressed issues raised by the Special Task Force on the Regulation of Apps since July 2019, seeking to quell investor concerns following the People's Daily Report. 
In this Insight, we discuss the following: 
<ol>
<li>What are the Relevant Data Laws?</li>
<li>What was new in the People's Daily report? </li>
<li>How have the Online Brokerages sought to mitigate Data Regulations?</li>
<li>Can Online Brokerages Allow Mainland Investors to Trade Offshore Assets in the First Place? </li>
</ol>
More details below the fold.

Futu Holdings Ltd (FUTU US)  is China’s largest online brokerage, both by revenue and market cap, and backed by Tencent (700 HK). UP Fintech (TIGR US), also known as Tiger Brokers, is backed by veteran American investor Jim Rogers, smartphone giant Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK), and U.S. brokerage giant Interactive Brokers Group Inc. Both had looked to cash in on the growing amount of Chinese retail investor money pouring into U.S. stocks following a banner year in 2020.
On 14 October 2021, the People's Daily stated that online brokerages, naming Futu and Up Fintech specifically, that operate across borders run the risk of violating data privacy rules and personal information protection laws, the latter taking effect from 1 November 2021. 
On the same day, Futu’s shares plummeted more than 13% to USD73.11, down 62% from the peak in February. UP Fintech fell more than 20% to USD8.19, down 78% from its February high. 
The additional regulatory scrutiny compounds the woes of China's online brokerages following a torrid 2 quarters, where investor appetite and trading volumes slumped, particularly for US ADRs and HK tech stocks, amidst a weak market environment.
In statements issued last Friday (15 Oct), both firms affirmed that they have pro-actively complied with relevant regulations and addressed issues raised by the Special Task Force on the Regulation of Apps since July 2019, seeking to quell investor concerns following the People's Daily Report. 
In this Insight, we discuss the following: 

What are the Relevant Data Laws?
What was new in the People's Daily report? 
How have the Online Brokerages sought to mitigate Data Regulations?
Can Online Brokerages Allow Mainland Investors to Trade Offshore Assets in the First Place? 

More details below the fold.

China Online Brokerages - "No Critical and Sensitive Personal Data to See Here!"

China

Xiaomi Corporation manufactures communication equipment and parts. The Company produces and sells mobile phones, smart phone software,  set-top boxes, and related accessories. Xiaomi markets its products worldwide.

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Xiaomi (1810 HK)

Screening for GEMs: November 2021

This insight provides an overview of our, machine learning-driven, proprietary GEM screening model, based on a Multifactor model, a Deep Neural...

Wium Malan, CFA

Uju Holding IPO - Margin Compression Looks to Persist

Uju Holding (1948 HK) is looking to raise up to US$141m in its Hong Kong IPO. The firm is a one-stop cross media online marketing solutions...

Clarence Chu

Hong Kong Buybacks: Xiaomi, China Gas, Sihuan

We highlight the top 3 companies that repurchased the most shares from the market were Xiaomi (1810 HK), China Gas Holdings Limited (384 HK),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Xiaomi (1810 HK): Weak Market in 3Q21 and Not Competitive Internationally

In 3Q21, the smartphone market was weak due to the chip shortage. Apple took back the No. 2 place from Xiaomi in market share. Xiaomi has tech and...

Ming Lu

China Online Brokerages - "No Critical and Sensitive Personal Data to See Here!"

China's online brokerages risk running afoul of new data privacy rules and personal information protection laws. This is compounded by poor trading...

Jason Yap, CFA

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