Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

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

WM Tech Corporation / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Here in Shanghai Wumart convenience stores have already been closed.</li>
<li>Wumart supermarkets do not have advantageous locations.</li>
<li>We have not seen home delivery business in one of its supermarkets.</li>
<li>Also see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/wm-tech-pre-ipo-digitalization-efforts-coming-through-but-not-well-substantiated" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52007" rel="noopener">WM Tech Pre-IPO - Digitalization Efforts Coming Through but Not Well Substantiated</a> by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/zhen-zhou-toh" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:673" rel="noopener">Zhen Zhou, Toh</a>. </li>
</ul>


Here in Shanghai Wumart convenience stores have already been closed.
Wumart supermarkets do not have advantageous locations.
We have not seen home delivery business in one of its supermarkets.
Also see WM Tech Pre-IPO - Digitalization Efforts Coming Through but Not Well Substantiated by Zhen Zhou, Toh. 


WM Tech Pre-IPO: Wumart as Main Brand, Marginalized on the Ground

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cloud-village-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33412:1" rel="noopener">Cloud Village (CLV HK)</a> is the second-largest online music platform after <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-music-entertainment" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27255:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Music (TME US)</a> as measured by users and revenue in China. The cornerstone product is <em>NetEase Cloud Music</em> that delivers diverse music and music-inspired content and provides interactive community features. Cloud Village has filed for HKEx IPO to raise $1 billion, according to press reports.</p><p>Founded by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netease-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17203:1" rel="noopener">NetEase Inc (NTES US)</a>, <em>NetEase Cloud Music</em>, has been operating as a stand-alone business since October 2016. NetEase owns 62.46% of the outstanding shares. The other shareholders include CMC Capital Partners, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a>, General Atlantic, Boyu Capital, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a> and Yunfeng Capital. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>At first sight, Cloud Village performance seems poor as its high growth has come at the cost of losses at the gross profit level and cash burn. However, Cloud Village is on the cusp of turning around its performance due to a fundamental change in its cost structure along with rising monetisation. Also, the recent exit of Alibaba’s music platform (<em>Xiami</em>) and Tencent Music’s increased regulatory scrutiny on anti-trust grounds should provide a boost. Overall, we think that Cloud Village has the potential to shed its underdog status vs the much larger Tencent Music.  </p></div>

Cloud Village (CLV HK) is the second-largest online music platform after Tencent Music (TME US) as measured by users and revenue in China. The cornerstone product is NetEase Cloud Music that delivers diverse music and music-inspired content and provides interactive community features. Cloud Village has filed for HKEx IPO to raise $1 billion, according to press reports.Founded by NetEase Inc (NTES US), NetEase Cloud Music, has been operating as a stand-alone business since October 2016. NetEase owns 62.46% of the outstanding shares. The other shareholders include CMC Capital Partners, Baidu (BIDU US), General Atlantic, Boyu Capital, Alibaba Group (BABA US) and Yunfeng Capital. At first sight, Cloud Village performance seems poor as its high growth has come at the cost of losses at the gross profit level and cash burn. However, Cloud Village is on the cusp of turning around its performance due to a fundamental change in its cost structure along with rising monetisation. Also, the recent exit of Alibaba’s music platform (Xiami) and Tencent Music’s increased regulatory scrutiny on anti-trust grounds should provide a boost. Overall, we think that Cloud Village has the potential to shed its underdog status vs the much larger Tencent Music.  

Cloud Village (NetEase Music) IPO Initiation: Musical Shares

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <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/ind-comm-bk-of-china-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">ICBC (H) (1398 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunny-optical-tech" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13363:1" rel="noopener">Sunny Optical (2382 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhou-intl-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10415:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhou Intl Group Holdings (2313 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aia-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14895:1" rel="noopener">AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-health-information-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:453:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Health Information Technology (241 HK)</a>, <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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-international-capital-corporation-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1071:1" rel="noopener">China International Capital Corporation (3908 HK)</a>. Shorts increased in the Communication Services, Information Technology and Financials sectors, while decreasing in Health Care, Real Estate and Consumer Discretionary.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oriental-land-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13517:1" rel="noopener">Oriental Land (4661 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nagoya-railroad-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8652:1" rel="noopener">Nagoya Railroad (9048 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/renesas-electronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15933:1" rel="noopener">Renesas Electronics (6723 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kyushu-railway-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23609:1" rel="noopener">Kyushu Railway Company (9142 JP)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/monex-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14211:1" rel="noopener">Monex Group Inc (8698 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-electric-power-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15457:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Electric Power Co (9501 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sharp-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:391:1" rel="noopener">Sharp Corp (6753 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/thk-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19572:1" rel="noopener">Thk Co Ltd (6481 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sbi-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10928:1" rel="noopener">SBI Holdings (8473 JP)</a>. Shorts increased in almost all sectors led by Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Industrials.</p></div><div>
<p>In Korea, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-motor-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:155:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-biologics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22932:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-display-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7145:1" rel="noopener">LG Display (034220 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-innovation-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1268:1" rel="noopener">SK Innovation (096770 KS)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hmm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13494:1" rel="noopener">HMM Co., Ltd. (011200 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-electric-power-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16:1" rel="noopener">Korea Electric Power (015760 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/posco" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:208:1" rel="noopener">Posco (005490 KS)</a>.</p>
<p>In Taiwan, shorts increased on <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innolux-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4509:1" rel="noopener">Innolux Corp (3481 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wan-hai-lines-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14262:1" rel="noopener">Wan Hai Lines (2615 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6450:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-cement" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19736:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Cement (1101 TT)</a> while shorts covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pegatron-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12852:1" rel="noopener">Pegatron Corp (4938 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/walsin-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11084:1" rel="noopener">Walsin Technology (2492 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/foxconn-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11950:1" rel="noopener">Foxconn Technology (2354 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/global-unichip-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10305:1" rel="noopener">Global Unichip (3443 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhen-ding-technology-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16830:1" rel="noopener">Zhen Ding Technology Holding (4958 TT)</a>. Short notional in Taiwan is rising fast and outpacing the rise in the market.</p>
</div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Tencent (700 HK), ICBC (H) (1398 HK), Sunny Optical (2382 HK), Shenzhou Intl Group Holdings (2313 HK) and AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK) while there was short covering on Alibaba Group (9988 HK), Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Alibaba Health Information Technology (241 HK), JD.com Inc. (9618 HK) and China International Capital Corporation (3908 HK). Shorts increased in the Communication Services, Information Technology and Financials sectors, while decreasing in Health Care, Real Estate and Consumer Discretionary.In Japan, stocks increased on Oriental Land (4661 JP), Canon Inc (7751 JP), Nagoya Railroad (9048 JP), Renesas Electronics (6723 JP) and Kyushu Railway Company (9142 JP) while there was short covering on Monex Group Inc (8698 JP), Tokyo Electric Power Co (9501 JP), Sharp Corp (6753 JP), Thk Co Ltd (6481 JP) and SBI Holdings (8473 JP). Shorts increased in almost all sectors led by Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Industrials.
In Korea, shorts increased on Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS), Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS), LG Display (034220 KS) and SK Innovation (096770 KS) while shorts were covered on HMM Co., Ltd. (011200 KS), Korea Electric Power (015760 KS), Celltrion Inc (068270 KS) and Posco (005490 KS).
In Taiwan, shorts increased on TSMC (2330 TT), Innolux Corp (3481 TT), Wan Hai Lines (2615 TT), United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT), Taiwan Cement (1101 TT) while shorts covered on Pegatron Corp (4938 TT), Walsin Technology (2492 TT), Foxconn Technology (2354 TT), Global Unichip (3443 TT) and Zhen Ding Technology Holding (4958 TT). Short notional in Taiwan is rising fast and outpacing the rise in the market.


Asia Shorts: Tencent, AIA, JD, CICC, Canon, Renesas, Monex, HMC, LGD, HMM, KEPCO, Innolux, Wan Hai

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pinduoduo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27250:1" rel="noopener">Pinduoduo (PDD US)</a>’s Q1 was not all that bad. Revenue was up 239% YoY to RMB 22.2bn compared to the consensus estimate of RMB 20.6bn. Non-GAAP operating income reached RMB -3.2bn (an OPM of -14.3% compared to OPMs of -54.9%, -5.9%, -2.4% and -4.2% in 1Q20, 2Q20, 3Q20 and 4Q20 respectively) in 1Q21 compared to the consensus estimate of RMB -3.6bn. Yet investors were cautious as shares plunged a 9.9% from the day’s open price of US$ 137.2, to close the day at US$ 123.6 per share. This wasn’t surprising as most tech companies had weak share price performance despite stellar Q1 earnings.</p>

Pinduoduo (PDD US)’s Q1 was not all that bad. Revenue was up 239% YoY to RMB 22.2bn compared to the consensus estimate of RMB 20.6bn. Non-GAAP operating income reached RMB -3.2bn (an OPM of -14.3% compared to OPMs of -54.9%, -5.9%, -2.4% and -4.2% in 1Q20, 2Q20, 3Q20 and 4Q20 respectively) in 1Q21 compared to the consensus estimate of RMB -3.6bn. Yet investors were cautious as shares plunged a 9.9% from the day’s open price of US$ 137.2, to close the day at US$ 123.6 per share. This wasn’t surprising as most tech companies had weak share price performance despite stellar Q1 earnings.

Global TMT analyst with Asia ex-Japan focus.

Mitchell Kim

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pinduoduo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27250:1" rel="noopener">Pinduoduo (PDD US)'s</a> share price fell 5.5% in the US market after the company reported a 239% revenue growth YoY.   I believe there are three reasons why the market punished the stock (indeed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK), and </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vipshop-holdings-ltd-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1088:1" rel="noopener">Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener"> fell too, but </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener"> and </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)</a>):</p><ul>
<li>The company decided against disclosing the TTM GMV.  Why? </li>
<li>The explosive revenue growth was partly due to the direct sales revenue which was recorded in only the last two quarters and the grocery delivery business, which started in August 2020.</li>
<li>The gross profit margin dropped sequentially while the operating loss ratio expanded. As I have noted in my last note and Webinar, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/pin-duo-duo-pdd-us-four-charts-to-make-you-want-to-run" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49333" rel="noopener">Pin Duo Duo (PDD US): Four Charts To Make You Want to Run</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/smartkarma-webinar-pinduoduo-pdd-us-know-when-to-fold" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49910" rel="noopener">Smartkarma Webinar | Pinduoduo (PDD US): Know When to Fold</a> when revenue growth starts to slow the path to profit much be shown clearly.  </li>
</ul><p>I favor <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a> and then <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)</a> as they offer much more attractive value and less exposed to the domestic counterfeit claims risk and the potential fine for aggressive use of subsidies to acquire customers.  </p>

Pinduoduo (PDD US)'s share price fell 5.5% in the US market after the company reported a 239% revenue growth YoY.   I believe there are three reasons why the market punished the stock (indeed Meituan (3690 HK), Tencent (700 HK), and Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US) fell too, but Alibaba Group (BABA US) and JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)):
The company decided against disclosing the TTM GMV.  Why? 
The explosive revenue growth was partly due to the direct sales revenue which was recorded in only the last two quarters and the grocery delivery business, which started in August 2020.
The gross profit margin dropped sequentially while the operating loss ratio expanded. As I have noted in my last note and Webinar, Pin Duo Duo (PDD US): Four Charts To Make You Want to Run and Smartkarma Webinar | Pinduoduo (PDD US): Know When to Fold when revenue growth starts to slow the path to profit much be shown clearly.  
I favor Alibaba Group (BABA US) and then JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US) as they offer much more attractive value and less exposed to the domestic counterfeit claims risk and the potential fine for aggressive use of subsidies to acquire customers.  

Pinduoduo (PDD US): Three Reasons Why PDD Fell 5.5% After a 239% Growth

China

Alibaba Group Holding Limited provides online sales services. The Company provides internet infrastructure, electronic commerce, online financial, and internet content services through its subsidiaries. Alibaba Group Holding offers its products and services worldwide.

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Alibaba (BABA US)

WM Tech Pre-IPO: Wumart as Main Brand, Marginalized on the Ground

Here in Shanghai Wumart convenience stores have already been closed.Wumart supermarkets do not have advantageous locations.We have not seen home...

Ming Lu

Cloud Village (NetEase Music) IPO Initiation: Musical Shares

Cloud Village has filed for HKEx IPO to raise $1 billion, according to press reports. We think that Cloud Village has the potential to shed its...

Arun George

Asia Shorts: Tencent, AIA, JD, CICC, Canon, Renesas, Monex, HMC, LGD, HMM, KEPCO, Innolux, Wan Hai

The Insight looks at large short interest movements across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan stocks and highlights large increases/decreases in shorts to...

Brian Freitas

Pinduoduo: Downside Not Fully Priced In

Downward trajectory still seems rather steep for Pinduoduo while other EC names like Alibaba, Vipshop & JD.com offers more downside protection....

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Pinduoduo (PDD US): Three Reasons Why PDD Fell 5.5% After a 239% Growth

Pinduoduo reported 239% revenue growth in 1Q21, but the stock fell 5.5%. I offer three reasons why the stock fell: GMV, revenue, and loss margins.

Mitchell Kim

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