Independent Investment Research, The IDEA!

The IDEA!

Independent Investment Research

The Idea-Driven Equities Analyses company (the IDEA!) is an employee-owned boutique providing independent investment research and financial consultancy services with a clear focus on the Benelux countries. The company was founded in the summer of 2007 by Henk Slotboom and Maarten Verbeek, both with more than 35 years of professional experience in the financial sector. The IDEA! differentiates itself by focusing on adding value through self-initiated in-depth, idea-driven investment research, as well as by bespoke research assignments for institutional investors, hedge funds and private equity. In addition, we provide market intelligence, strategic research and – together with our business partners – consultancy services to businesses. In case you are interested in receiving more information, a sample of our products or an introductory meeting, please send a message to info@theidea.nl.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Ahold Delhaize | Carrefour firmly denies possible exit from Belgium Carrefour has firmly denied any intention to exit Belgium after media reports suggested its local operations were under review.</li>
<li>With roughly 700 stores, the company maintains one of the largest retail networks in the country.</li>
<li>However, its Belgian revenues - estimated at EUR 4.0–4.5bn - lag far behind peers that operate far fewer outlets. </li>
</ul>


Ahold Delhaize | Carrefour firmly denies possible exit from Belgium Carrefour has firmly denied any intention to exit Belgium after media reports suggested its local operations were under review.
With roughly 700 stores, the company maintains one of the largest retail networks in the country.
However, its Belgian revenues - estimated at EUR 4.0–4.5bn - lag far behind peers that operate far fewer outlets. 


Articles from Caixin Global, Caixin Global

Caixin Global

Articles from Caixin Global

Caixin is a media group dedicated to providing financial and business news through periodicals, online content, mobile apps, conferences, books and TV/video programs. Caixin aims to blaze a trail that helps traditional media prosper in the new media age through integrated multimedia platforms.

News from Caixin

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Days before the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference is to begin in Shanghai, Amazon’s Shanghai-based AI research institute — once a centerpiece of the event’s inaugural launch — is facing its imminent closure, marking the end of Amazon Web Services Inc.’s last overseas AI lab.</li><li>Wang Minjie, an applied scientist at AWS AI Shanghai Lablet, shared on Chinese social media platform WeChat on Tuesday that the lab will be dissolved due to “strategic adjustments between China and the United States.”</li><li>Amazon did not deny the closure. In a statement to Caixin, the company said, “Following a comprehensive evaluation of our organizational structure, growth priorities and future strategic direction, we have made the difficult decision to streamline certain teams within AWS China. We are committed to supporting affected employees through this transition.”</li></ul>

Days before the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference is to begin in Shanghai, Amazon’s Shanghai-based AI research institute — once a centerpiece of the event’s inaugural launch — is facing its imminent closure, marking the end of Amazon Web Services Inc.’s last overseas AI lab.Wang Minjie, an applied scientist at AWS AI Shanghai Lablet, shared on Chinese social media platform WeChat on Tuesday that the lab will be dissolved due to “strategic adjustments between China and the United States.”Amazon did not deny the closure. In a statement to Caixin, the company said, “Following a comprehensive evaluation of our organizational structure, growth priorities and future strategic direction, we have made the difficult decision to streamline certain teams within AWS China. We are committed to supporting affected employees through this transition.”

Amazon to Shut Down Shanghai AI Lab Amid Strategic Shift 

Mostly Borrowed Ideas Deep Dives, MBI Deep Dives

MBI Deep Dives

Mostly Borrowed Ideas Deep Dives

MBI is the abbreviation for “Mostly Borrowed Ideas”. Why “Mostly Borrowed Ideas?” As a generalist, I do not have a background in any particular sector. I enjoy navigating across industries, businesses, and countries to learn, understand, and connect the dots. In any case, most ideas and innovations are incremental in nature. Very few of us are smart enough to come up with truly original or groundbreaking ideas. I am Abdullah Al-Rezwan. I was born and brought up in Bangladesh. I went to University of Dhaka for my undergrad and majored in Finance. After working three and half years in Equity Research (Sell-side) covering Financial Sector in Bangladesh, I left Bangladesh to pursue my MBA in the US. I graduated within top 10% of the class from Cornell University's two-year MBA program and worked on the buy-side following my graduation. During my time at Cornell, I won two stock pitch competitions and also became finalists in four other competitions. I thoroughly enjoyed my stint as a generalist in the US large cap team at Madison Investments and covered a wide range of companies from UnitedHealth to Amazon and Boeing before US immigration reality paused my career in investment management. As my work authorization expired, I moved to Canada in January, 2021. Then in early 2022, I was able to return to the US.

<ul><li>3P, subscription, and AWS grew by mid to high teen while ad segment increased by 20%+</li><li>The mix-shift from product to services in Amazon continues as services mix increased from ~40% in 2018 to ~60% in 2023.</li><li>Let’s start more segment level discussion with AWS.</li></ul>

3P, subscription, and AWS grew by mid to high teen while ad segment increased by 20%+The mix-shift from product to services in Amazon continues as services mix increased from ~40% in 2018 to ~60% in 2023.Let’s start more segment level discussion with AWS.

<ul><li>While Amazon’s 3P business usually grows faster than 1P, both 1P and 3P retail business grew at similar rate in 1Q’25.</li><li>Ads revenue continued its momentum at 19% growth YoY which was higher than both Google and Meta.</li><li>After growing at ~19% YoY for the last three consecutive quarters, AWS growth decelerated this quarter to 17%.</li></ul>

While Amazon’s 3P business usually grows faster than 1P, both 1P and 3P retail business grew at similar rate in 1Q’25.Ads revenue continued its momentum at 19% growth YoY which was higher than both Google and Meta.After growing at ~19% YoY for the last three consecutive quarters, AWS growth decelerated this quarter to 17%.

<ul><li>Amazon faced ~900 Mn FX headwind in 4Q’24 which was ~700 mn higher than assumed.</li><li>For the third consecutive quarters, AWS grew 19% YoY. Ads grew by +18% YoY, and revenues in other segments increased by mostly High Single Digit (HSD) rate.</li><li>I’ll discuss more about AWS later, but let’s talk more about Amazon ex-AWS first.</li></ul>

Amazon faced ~900 Mn FX headwind in 4Q’24 which was ~700 mn higher than assumed.For the third consecutive quarters, AWS grew 19% YoY. Ads grew by +18% YoY, and revenues in other segments increased by mostly High Single Digit (HSD) rate.I’ll discuss more about AWS later, but let’s talk more about Amazon ex-AWS first.

United States

Amazon.com, Inc. is an online retailer that offers a wide range of products. The Company's products include books, music, videotapes, computers, electronics, home and garden, and numerous other products.  Amazon offers personalized shopping services, Web-based credit card payment, and direct shipping to customers.

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Amazon (AMZN US)

What's New(s) in Amsterdam

Ahold Delhaize | Carrefour firmly denies possible exit from Belgium Carrefour has firmly denied any intention to exit Belgium after media reports...

The IDEA!

Amazon to Shut Down Shanghai AI Lab Amid Strategic Shift

Days before the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference is to begin in Shanghai, Amazon’s Shanghai-based AI research institute — once a...

Caixin Global

Amazon 2Q'23 Earnings Update

3P, subscription, and AWS grew by mid to high teen while ad segment increased by 20%+ The mix-shift from product to services in Amazon continues

MBI Deep Dives

Amazon 1Q'25 Update

While Amazon’s 3P business usually grows faster than 1P, both 1P and 3P retail business grew at similar rate in 1Q’25. Ads revenue continued its...

MBI Deep Dives

Amazon 4Q'24 Update

Amazon faced ~900 Mn FX headwind in 4Q’24 which was ~700 mn higher than assumed.For the third consecutive quarters, AWS grew 19% YoY.

MBI Deep Dives

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