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

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Bottom-Up

<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 Holding (BABA US)</a>'s FQ4 announcement portrays a resilient comeback to growth, suggesting the past four years' challenges barely impacted its dominance in Chinese e-commerce.</li>
<li>However, a closer look beyond the surface of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)</a>'s FQ4 results announcement reveals that little has actually changed in recent months.</li>
<li>Taobao and Tmall face challenges in a tough, stagnant market; AIDC's growth largely covers for other Alibaba units' failings, while AliExpress's expansion cuts into margins.</li>
</ul>



Alibaba Group Holding (BABA US)'s FQ4 announcement portrays a resilient comeback to growth, suggesting the past four years' challenges barely impacted its dominance in Chinese e-commerce.
However, a closer look beyond the surface of Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)'s FQ4 results announcement reveals that little has actually changed in recent months.
Taobao and Tmall face challenges in a tough, stagnant market; AIDC's growth largely covers for other Alibaba units' failings, while AliExpress's expansion cuts into margins.


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.

<ul>
<li>Customer management as the largest business began to increase compared to the past two stagnant quarters.</li>
<li>We believe margin will continue to decline as the company turned its focus to growth.</li>
<li>We conclude an upside of 41% for March 2025 based on peer companies’ P/S ratios.</li>
</ul>


Customer management as the largest business began to increase compared to the past two stagnant quarters.
We believe margin will continue to decline as the company turned its focus to growth.
We conclude an upside of 41% for March 2025 based on peer companies’ P/S ratios.


Alibaba (9988 HK): 4Q24, Main Business Began to Grow

Greater China Equity Long/Short Analyst

Eric Chen

<ul>
<li>We feel consensus overstates margin pressure for Alibaba’s March quarter results. We expect its group adjusted EBITA to deliver single-digit growth vs. investors’ concern about earnings retreat.</li>
<li>March quarter should mark start of an earnings recovery cycle in our view, as improving China macro and well-executed business revamp plan put Alibaba back on growth track.</li>
<li>This also means an end to its multiple contraction which lasted for five quarters. We see 50% upside on double-digit earnings growth and multiple expansion over next 12 months.</li>
</ul>


We feel consensus overstates margin pressure for Alibaba’s March quarter results. We expect its group adjusted EBITA to deliver single-digit growth vs. investors’ concern about earnings retreat.
March quarter should mark start of an earnings recovery cycle in our view, as improving China macro and well-executed business revamp plan put Alibaba back on growth track.
This also means an end to its multiple contraction which lasted for five quarters. We see 50% upside on double-digit earnings growth and multiple expansion over next 12 months.


Alibaba (BABA US): Margin Pressure Overstated

<ul>
<li>We believe revenue will grow by 6% YoY in 4Q24, but by 11% for FY2026 (roughly 2025 calendar year).</li>
<li>We believe Alibaba has been actively raising its revenue growth, but this the effect cannot be seen in the short run.</li>
<li>We conclude the stock has an upside of 46% and a price target of US$120.</li>
</ul>


We believe revenue will grow by 6% YoY in 4Q24, but by 11% for FY2026 (roughly 2025 calendar year).
We believe Alibaba has been actively raising its revenue growth, but this the effect cannot be seen in the short run.
We conclude the stock has an upside of 46% and a price target of US$120.


Alibaba (BABA US) 4Q24 Preview: Many Moves Under One-Digit Growth, 46% Upside

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>We expect Alibaba to deliver in-line-with-consensus revenue growth for 4QFY24.</li><li>Although escalated investment in international business, cloud, and Taobao and Tmall (T&amp;T) Group, as well as strategically important new businesses is likely to put some short-term pressure on margin expansion, we remain positive on Alibaba’s long-term growth potential.</li><li>Alibaba remains committed to improving shareholder return by achieving loss reduction in non-core business, and enhancing share buyback and dividend payout, which in our view should provide support for near-term valuation. </li></ul><p><em>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.</em></p>

We expect Alibaba to deliver in-line-with-consensus revenue growth for 4QFY24.Although escalated investment in international business, cloud, and Taobao and Tmall (T&amp;T) Group, as well as strategically important new businesses is likely to put some short-term pressure on margin expansion, we remain positive on Alibaba’s long-term growth potential.Alibaba remains committed to improving shareholder return by achieving loss reduction in non-core business, and enhancing share buyback and dividend payout, which in our view should provide support for near-term valuation. Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Alibaba (BABA US) - Driving Long-Term Growth While Enhancing Shareholder Return

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 Group Holding (BABA US)

Alibaba: Our Take on 4QFY24

Taobao and Tmall face challenges in a tough, stagnant market; AIDC's growth largely covers for other Alibaba units' failings, while AliExpress's...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Alibaba (9988 HK): 4Q24, Main Business Began to Grow

Customer management as the largest business began to increase compared to the past two stagnant quarters. We believe margin will continue to...

Ming Lu

Alibaba (BABA US): Margin Pressure Overstated

We believe consensus overstates margin pressure for Alibaba March quarter results, which will usher in an mild earnings recovery cycle that lead us...

Eric Chen

Alibaba (BABA US) 4Q24 Preview: Many Moves Under One-Digit Growth, 46% Upside

We believe Alibaba has been actively raising its revenue growth, but this the effect cannot be seen in the short run. We conclude the stock has an...

Ming Lu

Alibaba (BABA US) - Driving Long-Term Growth While Enhancing Shareholder Return

Alibaba remains committed to improving shareholder return by achieving loss reduction in non-core business, and enhancing share buyback and...

CMB International

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