Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The KOSPI Index has done well in recent weeks, months, but financials are hardly participating</li>
<li>There are vast differences amongst the financial in Korea, not only large Chaebol-like banks</li>
<li>Kakaobank, one of few listed internet banks in the world, is unique with ROA expansion</li>
</ul>


The KOSPI Index has done well in recent weeks, months, but financials are hardly participating
There are vast differences amongst the financial in Korea, not only large Chaebol-like banks
Kakaobank, one of few listed internet banks in the world, is unique with ROA expansion


Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We discuss the importance of Hyundai Motor generating nearly 11.5 trillion won in operating profit in 2023, which is likely to be the highest among all Korean companies. </li>
<li>Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp combined are expected to generate operating profit of 20.7 trillion won in 2023, representing 57% of total operating profit of the top 10 Korean companies.</li>
<li>In 2023, Hyundai Motor plans a full-scale world-wide roll-out of its EV Ioniq 6. Furthermore, it set a dividend payout ratio at 25% or higher.</li>
</ul>


We discuss the importance of Hyundai Motor generating nearly 11.5 trillion won in operating profit in 2023, which is likely to be the highest among all Korean companies. 
Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp combined are expected to generate operating profit of 20.7 trillion won in 2023, representing 57% of total operating profit of the top 10 Korean companies.
In 2023, Hyundai Motor plans a full-scale world-wide roll-out of its EV Ioniq 6. Furthermore, it set a dividend payout ratio at 25% or higher.


Hyundai Motor: Highest Operating Profit Among All Korean Companies in 2023

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-cns-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35945:1" rel="noopener">LG CNS (064400 KS)</a> raised around US$825m in its Korea IPO in February 2025. LG CNS is a South Korean information technology company.</li>
<li>The shares didn’t do much at listing and have only recently moved higher to trade above its IPO price.</li>
<li>In this note, we will talk about the lock-up dynamics and updates since our last note.</li>
</ul>



LG CNS (064400 KS) raised around US$825m in its Korea IPO in February 2025. LG CNS is a South Korean information technology company.
The shares didn’t do much at listing and have only recently moved higher to trade above its IPO price.
In this note, we will talk about the lock-up dynamics and updates since our last note.


LG CNS IPO Lockup Expiry - US$1.1bn Release, with PE Well in the Money

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

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in foreign holdings of KRX stocks as of Aug 1st. The aggregated holding was USD626.1bn.</li>
<li>We estimate that foreign flows to be inflows of USD2,003mln. We tabulate the league table for top changes by value for 1W/4W/1Y and top stocks held by foreign institutions.</li>
<li>We highlight changes of foreign holdings in Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Ocean, Hyundai Motor, NAVER, Samsung H.I..</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in foreign holdings of KRX stocks as of Aug 1st. The aggregated holding was USD626.1bn.
We estimate that foreign flows to be inflows of USD2,003mln. We tabulate the league table for top changes by value for 1W/4W/1Y and top stocks held by foreign institutions.
We highlight changes of foreign holdings in Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Ocean, Hyundai Motor, NAVER, Samsung H.I..


KRX Foreign Holding Weekly (Aug 1st): Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Ocean, Hyundai Motor, NAVER

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.

<ul>
<li>ETF rebalancing's key, but still too early to front-run — both use FnGuide screens based on FY1 DPS and prices from 20 days before November-end.</li>
<li>Beyond the rebalance noise, ADR-local spreads have been widening — KB hit +6%, Shinhan’s also drifting. Likely tied to the recent liquidity surge in dividend names.</li>
<li>ADR arb’s more doable with NXT tightening slippage. With proper FX hedging, it’s a clean side play riding the policy-driven liquidity wave.</li>
</ul>


ETF rebalancing's key, but still too early to front-run — both use FnGuide screens based on FY1 DPS and prices from 20 days before November-end.
Beyond the rebalance noise, ADR-local spreads have been widening — KB hit +6%, Shinhan’s also drifting. Likely tied to the recent liquidity surge in dividend names.
ADR arb’s more doable with NXT tightening slippage. With proper FX hedging, it’s a clean side play riding the policy-driven liquidity wave.


ADR Arb on Korean Divvy Names: A Side Play Riding the Policy-Driven Liquidity Wave

South Korea

Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd., a holding company, provides a full range of consumer and commercial banking-related financial services.  The company's main businesses include banking, securities brokerage, trust banking, and assets management to individuals, businesses, and other financial institutions.

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Shinhan Financial (055550 KS)

KOSPI Index - Banks Hardly Participating

KOSPI index has done well, but banks are hardly participating. Kakaobank may be most interesting given its ROA expansion and size, while Woori may...

Daniel Tabbush

Hyundai Motor: Highest Operating Profit Among All Korean Companies in 2023

In this insight, we discuss the importance of Hyundai Motor generating nearly 11.5 trillion won in operating profit in 2023, which is likely to be...

Douglas Kim

LG CNS IPO Lockup Expiry - US$1.1bn Release, with PE Well in the Money

There was a US$250m placement in LG CNS after market close, with Macquaire having sold nearly a quarter of its stake right after lockup expiry.

Sumeet Singh

KRX Foreign Holding Weekly (Aug 1st): Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Ocean, Hyundai Motor, NAVER

We analyzed KRX foreign holding data for the past week and highlighted foreign holding changes in Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Ocean, Hyundai Motor,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

ADR Arb on Korean Divvy Names: A Side Play Riding the Policy-Driven Liquidity Wave

This post dives into ADR arbitrage on Korean dividend names — a savvy side play riding the wave of policy-driven liquidity.

Sanghyun Park

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