Greater China Equity Long/Short Analyst

Eric Chen

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We compared similar growth stage of Alibaba to Pinduoduo, when GMV of both platforms increase from RMB1 trillion to RMB4 trillion, to facilitate better understanding of efficiency edge of Pinduoduo.</li>
<li>Contrary to consensus, Pinduoduo didn’t do better than Alibaba on OPEX (advertising expenditure in particular), but it did extract much greater value from the ecosystem via significantly higher take-rate.</li>
<li>The findings highlight how Pinduoduo aggregate user traffic at surprisingly high cost to beef up merchant competition in terms of cost optimization and user acquisition, with Pinduoduo  reaping greatest value.</li>
</ul>


We compared similar growth stage of Alibaba to Pinduoduo, when GMV of both platforms increase from RMB1 trillion to RMB4 trillion, to facilitate better understanding of efficiency edge of Pinduoduo.
Contrary to consensus, Pinduoduo didn’t do better than Alibaba on OPEX (advertising expenditure in particular), but it did extract much greater value from the ecosystem via significantly higher take-rate.
The findings highlight how Pinduoduo aggregate user traffic at surprisingly high cost to beef up merchant competition in terms of cost optimization and user acquisition, with Pinduoduo  reaping greatest value.


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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The announcement of the changes to the Hang Seng indices is on 22 November, the capping will use the close on 3 December and implemented at the close 6 December.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>'s outperformance over the last couple of months will result in capping of the stock weight in all major indices and passives will sell stock.</li>
<li>We estimate passive trackers will need to sell 35m shares (US$866m; 0.64x ADV) of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and that number will change over the next 3 weeks depending on performance.</li>
</ul>


The announcement of the changes to the Hang Seng indices is on 22 November, the capping will use the close on 3 December and implemented at the close 6 December.

Meituan (3690 HK)'s outperformance over the last couple of months will result in capping of the stock weight in all major indices and passives will sell stock.
We estimate passive trackers will need to sell 35m shares (US$866m; 0.64x ADV) of Meituan (3690 HK) and that number will change over the next 3 weeks depending on performance.


Meituan (3690 HK): Big Passive Selling in December

Index Rebal Trades & Special Situations, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Index Rebal Trades & Special Situations

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>The Hang Seng Internet &amp; IT (HSIII) index represents the top 30 stocks related to internet and information technology businesses listed in Hong Kong (HKEX).</li>
<li>The indicative weights for the December 2024 index rebal event will be announced later this week on Friday 22nd November 2024.</li>
<li>In this insight, we take a look at our updated flow estimates for December 2024. Separately, we have also presented our latest March 2025 index review predictions.</li>
</ul>


The Hang Seng Internet &amp; IT (HSIII) index represents the top 30 stocks related to internet and information technology businesses listed in Hong Kong (HKEX).
The indicative weights for the December 2024 index rebal event will be announced later this week on Friday 22nd November 2024.
In this insight, we take a look at our updated flow estimates for December 2024. Separately, we have also presented our latest March 2025 index review predictions.


Quiddity Leaderboard HSIII: ~US$160mn One-Way Flows in Dec 24; 3 ADDs/DELs in Mar 25 Likely

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Ying Pan

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

<ul>
<li>BABA reported CY3Q24 top line, adjusted EBITA and non-GAAP net profit (1.0%), (1.6%) and in-line vs. consensus. </li>
<li>CMR improved amid monetization changes that narrowed the growth gap with GMV, but also eliminated some low-single profit sellers from its GMV. </li>
<li>Cloud and overseas e-commerce revenue also saw good growth and improved profitability. All of BABA’s key businesses are sputtering to life while macro tailwinds are also favorable. </li>
</ul>


BABA reported CY3Q24 top line, adjusted EBITA and non-GAAP net profit (1.0%), (1.6%) and in-line vs. consensus. 
CMR improved amid monetization changes that narrowed the growth gap with GMV, but also eliminated some low-single profit sellers from its GMV. 
Cloud and overseas e-commerce revenue also saw good growth and improved profitability. All of BABA’s key businesses are sputtering to life while macro tailwinds are also favorable. 


[Alibaba (BABA US, BUY, TP US$120) Earnings Review]: Progress Made, Better Times Ahead

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

<ul>
<li>Going into FY24, ZTO aimed to focus on price,  cede volume share in support of margins</li>
<li>It hasn't worked: in Q324, adj EBITDA margin fell -290 bps Y/Y despite higher ASPs</li>
<li>Q324 results reveal weak earnngs growth, &amp; reduced FY24 volume target; AVOID</li>
</ul>


Going into FY24, ZTO aimed to focus on price,  cede volume share in support of margins
It hasn't worked: in Q324, adj EBITDA margin fell -290 bps Y/Y despite higher ASPs
Q324 results reveal weak earnngs growth, &amp; reduced FY24 volume target; AVOID


ZTO Express Q324 Results: Shift in Strategy Leads to Lower Core Margins & FY24 Guidance Cut | AVOID

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.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Alibaba (BABA US)

Pinduoduo: Behind Its Efficiency Edge

Comparison between Alibaba and Pinduoduo at similar growth stages reveals Pinduoduo's efficiency edge through higher take-rate despite higher...

Eric Chen

Meituan (3690 HK): Big Passive Selling in December

Meituan's recent underperformance will result in smaller passive selling than originally forecast. Passive trackers are now estimated to sell 27.4m...

Brian Freitas

Quiddity Leaderboard HSIII: ~US$160mn One-Way Flows in Dec 24; 3 ADDs/DELs in Mar 25 Likely

Easou Technology Holdings (2550 HK) has dropped 80%+ in the last few trading days and is on the verge of missing out on HSIII addition in March 2025.

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

[Alibaba (BABA US, BUY, TP US$120) Earnings Review]: Progress Made, Better Times Ahead

BABA's latest financial report shows improved performance across key businesses, with growth in cloud and overseas e-commerce revenue.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

ZTO Express Q324 Results: Shift in Strategy Leads to Lower Core Margins & FY24 Guidance Cut | AVOID

ZTO's focus on price over volume share gains simply hasn't worked so far in 2024. Until management developts a path towards a return to profitable...

Tracking Traffic

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Pinduoduo: Behind Its Efficiency Edge

​Comparison between Alibaba and Pinduoduo at similar growth stages reveals Pinduoduo's efficiency edge through higher take-rate despite higher...

Eric Chen

Meituan (3690 HK): Big Passive Selling in December

Meituan's recent underperformance will result in smaller passive selling than originally forecast. Passive trackers are now estimated to sell 27.4m...

Brian Freitas

Quiddity Leaderboard HSIII: ~US$160mn One-Way Flows in Dec 24; 3 ADDs/DELs in Mar 25 Likely

Easou Technology Holdings (2550 HK) has dropped 80%+ in the last few trading days and is on the verge of missing out on HSIII addition in March 2025.

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

[Alibaba (BABA US, BUY, TP US$120) Earnings Review]: Progress Made, Better Times Ahead

​BABA's latest financial report shows improved performance across key businesses, with growth in cloud and overseas e-commerce revenue.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

ZTO Express Q324 Results: Shift in Strategy Leads to Lower Core Margins & FY24 Guidance Cut | AVOID

ZTO's focus on price over volume share gains simply hasn't worked so far in 2024. Until management developts a path towards a return to profitable...

Tracking Traffic

Comparison between Alibaba and Pinduoduo at similar growth stages reveals Pinduoduo's efficiency edge through higher take-rate despite higher...

BABA's latest financial report shows improved performance across key businesses, with growth in cloud and overseas e-commerce revenue.