Research on Tech Companies

Evelyn Zhang

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ol><li>The top 3 live streaming ecommerce platforms in China:</li></ol><ul>
<li>
<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> Alibaba’s Taobao Live</li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a></li>
<li>and ByteDance’s Douyin (aka Tiktok)</li>
</ul><ol start="2">
<li>User trust, traffic/algorithms to find right users and supply chain/ fulfillment capability are considering as the 3 most important factors to success.</li>
<li>Influencers take the largest piece of the pie (10-20%). Social media platforms are just a traffic funnel for traditional ecommerce platforms, taking in &lt;10% commission rate.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a> and Douyin are both building their own ecommerce shops to retain users and fulfill the orders within their own platform by using algorithms to change the traditional “people looking for products” model to “products looking for people” model.</li>
<li>
<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> will  give up its restrictions on trading (“one out of two”）, this allow those brands that have signed exclusive platform agreements to switch to other ecommerce and social media platform. <section class="figure"></section><p></p>
</li>
</ol>

The top 3 live streaming ecommerce platforms in China:

Alibaba Group (BABA US) Alibaba’s Taobao Live
Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)
and ByteDance’s Douyin (aka Tiktok)

User trust, traffic/algorithms to find right users and supply chain/ fulfillment capability are considering as the 3 most important factors to success.
Influencers take the largest piece of the pie (10-20%). Social media platforms are just a traffic funnel for traditional ecommerce platforms, taking in &lt;10% commission rate.

Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK) and Douyin are both building their own ecommerce shops to retain users and fulfill the orders within their own platform by using algorithms to change the traditional “people looking for products” model to “products looking for people” model.

Alibaba Group (BABA US) will  give up its restrictions on trading (“one out of two”）, this allow those brands that have signed exclusive platform agreements to switch to other ecommerce and social media platform. 



Show and Sell – China’s Live Streaming E-Commerce

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><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> has been a shining example of what can be achieved through both Operating- and Financial leverage as a business scales up. This has been a commendable performance by its management team over the past nearly a decade, balancing gains from operating and financial leverage, whilst prudently, yet aggressively, investing in growth. Over the past 8 years it has delivered expansion at the Gross margin level (through mix change to advertising revenue and scale in 1P), the Operating margin level (lower losses in 3P), and the net margin level (cash generation and lower losses from associates). </p><p>With lingering concerns around short-term margin expansion, as the group invests more aggressively in group purchasing aimed at the fresh food segment, in this insight, I analyse the potential for long-term margin expansion and what that implies for current valuation levels for China’s largest direct retailer.</p>

JD.com Inc. (9618 HK) has been a shining example of what can be achieved through both Operating- and Financial leverage as a business scales up. This has been a commendable performance by its management team over the past nearly a decade, balancing gains from operating and financial leverage, whilst prudently, yet aggressively, investing in growth. Over the past 8 years it has delivered expansion at the Gross margin level (through mix change to advertising revenue and scale in 1P), the Operating margin level (lower losses in 3P), and the net margin level (cash generation and lower losses from associates). With lingering concerns around short-term margin expansion, as the group invests more aggressively in group purchasing aimed at the fresh food segment, in this insight, I analyse the potential for long-term margin expansion and what that implies for current valuation levels for China’s largest direct retailer.

JD.com: A Detailed Look at Long-Term Margins and Valuation

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.

Event-Driven

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a> is Southeast Asia’s leading super-app and the largest online delivery platform, ride-hailing platform and digital wallet payments platform in Southeast Asia, according to Euromonitor. Grab intends to go public in the US through a SPAC merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/altimeter-growth-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33007:1" rel="noopener">Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US)</a>.</p><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/grab-spac-deal-delivering-the-goods" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50305" rel="noopener">Grab SPAC Deal: Delivering the Goods</a>, we looked at Grab's fundamentals and management forecasts. We noted that Grab is using its super-app status to deliver high-growth with declining loss margin and cash burn. While certain management forecasts seem bullish, the overall forecasts are not outlandish.  </p><p>In this note, we look at the valuation. As a reminder, the deal values Grab at a post-money market cap of $39.6 billion and post-money EV of $31.3 billion. The deal implies 9.6x 2022 EV/Sales based on Grab’s forecasted adjusted net revenue.</p><div class="content-highlight">
<p>At first glance, Grab's implied multiples are eye-watering in comparison to global peers related to its delivery and mobility businesses. However, we think that judging Grab's multiples based on such peers is missing the point. Grab's key competitive advantage and investor pitch is that it can be credibly billed as a super-app rather than just a leading app in a narrow market category.</p>
<p>Super-apps tend to be rare and investors are starved of publicly listed opportunities. With the regulatory heat turned up on the Chinese super-apps, alternative super-app plays in Asia are likely to be in demand. When judged against global super-apps, Grab's implied multiples seems more justifiable for its forecast growth.  </p>
</div>

Grab (0967655D SP) is Southeast Asia’s leading super-app and the largest online delivery platform, ride-hailing platform and digital wallet payments platform in Southeast Asia, according to Euromonitor. Grab intends to go public in the US through a SPAC merger with Altimeter Growth Corp (AGC US).In Grab SPAC Deal: Delivering the Goods, we looked at Grab's fundamentals and management forecasts. We noted that Grab is using its super-app status to deliver high-growth with declining loss margin and cash burn. While certain management forecasts seem bullish, the overall forecasts are not outlandish.  In this note, we look at the valuation. As a reminder, the deal values Grab at a post-money market cap of $39.6 billion and post-money EV of $31.3 billion. The deal implies 9.6x 2022 EV/Sales based on Grab’s forecasted adjusted net revenue.
At first glance, Grab's implied multiples are eye-watering in comparison to global peers related to its delivery and mobility businesses. However, we think that judging Grab's multiples based on such peers is missing the point. Grab's key competitive advantage and investor pitch is that it can be credibly billed as a super-app rather than just a leading app in a narrow market category.
Super-apps tend to be rare and investors are starved of publicly listed opportunities. With the regulatory heat turned up on the Chinese super-apps, alternative super-app plays in Asia are likely to be in demand. When judged against global super-apps, Grab's implied multiples seems more justifiable for its forecast growth.  


Grab SPAC Deal: A Sensible Super-App Valuation?

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Financial Services Group (6688 HK)</a> is restructuring its business holdings, with at its core the setting up of a financial holding company</li>
<li>In addition, Ant will return to its roots in the payments division, it will set up a personal credit reporting company as well as establishing a consumer finance company</li>
<li>The official press release does not mention the investmentech arm that includes Ant’s in-house asset manager, but there is financial press speculation that it may be required to shrink its asset base</li>
<li>In essence, the new structure and more intrusive regulation will limit Ant’s ability to extract synergies from its – previously – tight knit financial eco-system, which can only hurt its potential develop further economies of scale and deliver premium revenue and earnings growth</li>
<li>It is also likely that in its consumer credit business it will need to retain a higher proportion of loans originated, thereby necessitating higher capital levels; the personal credit reporting company will also provide PBoC with access to Ant’s “big data” on payments, credit and other financial products</li>
<li>Despite the need for further clarity on the regulatory structure going forward, as well as the lack of any updated Ant financials to December 2020, we have arrived at a revised valuation range for Ant, based on our pre-money SOTP, of USD122-144bn</li>
<li>The regulator’s focus on big FinTech in China and especially Ant is constructive for the prospects of other less dominant non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) in China, such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lexinfintech-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26036:1" rel="noopener">Lexinfintech Holdings (LX US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lufax-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29690:1" rel="noopener">Lufax Holdings (LU US)</a>, as well as retail focused banks like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/postal-savings-bank-of-china" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22848:1" rel="noopener">Postal Savings Bank of China (1658 HK)</a> </li>
<li>Risks to our cautious view on Ant include an ability for management to navigate the climate of tighter regulatory constraints and to deliver better than expected premium growth and returns from its digital financial platform</li>
</ul>



Ant Financial Services Group (6688 HK) is restructuring its business holdings, with at its core the setting up of a financial holding company
In addition, Ant will return to its roots in the payments division, it will set up a personal credit reporting company as well as establishing a consumer finance company
The official press release does not mention the investmentech arm that includes Ant’s in-house asset manager, but there is financial press speculation that it may be required to shrink its asset base
In essence, the new structure and more intrusive regulation will limit Ant’s ability to extract synergies from its – previously – tight knit financial eco-system, which can only hurt its potential develop further economies of scale and deliver premium revenue and earnings growth
It is also likely that in its consumer credit business it will need to retain a higher proportion of loans originated, thereby necessitating higher capital levels; the personal credit reporting company will also provide PBoC with access to Ant’s “big data” on payments, credit and other financial products
Despite the need for further clarity on the regulatory structure going forward, as well as the lack of any updated Ant financials to December 2020, we have arrived at a revised valuation range for Ant, based on our pre-money SOTP, of USD122-144bn
The regulator’s focus on big FinTech in China and especially Ant is constructive for the prospects of other less dominant non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) in China, such as Lexinfintech Holdings (LX US) and Lufax Holdings (LU US), as well as retail focused banks like Postal Savings Bank of China (1658 HK) 
Risks to our cautious view on Ant include an ability for management to navigate the climate of tighter regulatory constraints and to deliver better than expected premium growth and returns from its digital financial platform


Equity Research in HK and Mainland China

Li Tang

<p>The PBOC, CBIRC, CSRC, and SAFE summoned Ant Group for a second joint meeting, ordering the fintech giant to rectify its business operations so that it is compliant with regulations and law. This also includes serving the real economy and supporting national development strategies.</p>

The PBOC, CBIRC, CSRC, and SAFE summoned Ant Group for a second joint meeting, ordering the fintech giant to rectify its business operations so that it is compliant with regulations and law. This also includes serving the real economy and supporting national development strategies.

PBOC Summon Ant Group On Restructuring Once More

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)

Show and Sell – China’s Live Streaming E-Commerce

Livestreaming is quietly revolutionizing e-commerce in China. Who are the winners? How does the industry work? How is it different from the plain...

Evelyn Zhang

JD.com: A Detailed Look at Long-Term Margins and Valuation

In this insight, I analyse the potential for long-term margin expansion and what that implies for current valuation levels for China’s largest...

Wium Malan, CFA

Grab SPAC Deal: A Sensible Super-App Valuation?

Grab's implied multiples are eye-watering in comparison to global peers related to its businesses. When judged against other global super-apps,...

Arun George

Ant Group: Nearing Regulatory Closure

Ant Group is restructuring its operations, under PBoC pressure which will limit Ant’s ability to extract synergies from its entire financial...

Victor Galliano

PBOC Summon Ant Group On Restructuring Once More

The regulators' tone suggests they have been unhappy with progress made since their first joint meeting in January.This time the regulators were...

Li Tang

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