Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Capital Markets

SHEIN Global Holdings / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>The US Court of International Trade has lifted stay on lawsuit tied to US de minimis imports</li>
<li>The lawsuit seeks to reverse the Trump admin's order to ban low-value de minimis imports</li>
<li>A return of the US$800 de minimis exemption would be welcome news for SHEIN, Temu</li>
</ul>


The US Court of International Trade has lifted stay on lawsuit tied to US de minimis imports
The lawsuit seeks to reverse the Trump admin's order to ban low-value de minimis imports
A return of the US$800 de minimis exemption would be welcome news for SHEIN, Temu


US De Minimis Exemption Back From the Dead?! Court Revives Lawsuit, Orders Briefings in Coming Weeks

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>I’ve compiled a large set of financial data to measure the impact of the AI Capex boom on the financial health of the 4 hyperscalers.</li>
<li>We can't measure the ROI of AI, but very clear that 1) operating margins and operating cash flow are increasing 2) higher Capex puts mild pressure on Free Cash Flow.</li>
<li>The major negative is that asset turns keep declining. This isn’t AI-specific, it started 10 years ago. Hyperscalers have become asset-heavy, high fixed costs companies. </li>
</ul>


I’ve compiled a large set of financial data to measure the impact of the AI Capex boom on the financial health of the 4 hyperscalers.
We can't measure the ROI of AI, but very clear that 1) operating margins and operating cash flow are increasing 2) higher Capex puts mild pressure on Free Cash Flow.
The major negative is that asset turns keep declining. This isn’t AI-specific, it started 10 years ago. Hyperscalers have become asset-heavy, high fixed costs companies. 


Hyperscalers: Is AI Capex Too High? What’s AI Return on Investment?

Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

Zero One

Founded in 2015, Zero One produces independent investment research and provides corporate finance advisory services with a focus on both listed and private technology companies. Founder Vincent Fernando has over 20 years of experience in US and Asia capital markets.

Independent Investment Research

<ul>
<li>3nm and below now accounts for 48% of total revenue, up from near-zero two years ago, as TSMC affiliate GUC becomes the go-to partner for hyperscaler custom silicon</li>
<li>Full-Year revenue grew 36% to NT$34.1bn, outpacing the broader semiconductor industry as custom AI chip demand accelerates</li>
<li>Companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta have publicly discussed or deployed custom chips for AI inference and training, and GUC's results suggest these programs are reaching meaningful volume.</li>
</ul>


3nm and below now accounts for 48% of total revenue, up from near-zero two years ago, as TSMC affiliate GUC becomes the go-to partner for hyperscaler custom silicon
Full-Year revenue grew 36% to NT$34.1bn, outpacing the broader semiconductor industry as custom AI chip demand accelerates
Companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta have publicly discussed or deployed custom chips for AI inference and training, and GUC's results suggest these programs are reaching meaningful volume.


GUC's 3nm Breakout Quarter Reveals How Taiwan's ASIC Leaders Are Capturing AI Chip Demand

<ul>
<li>Review of the conventional arguments (Bloomberg article): the timing gap between Capex and Revenue is the real issue.</li>
<li>Review of history of Tech Bubbles (Krugman): not clear if AI is a bubble, it could keep going for years, but if it bursts it will be worse than 1999-2003.</li>
<li>Best AI comp is Cloud Computing. Both enable new data analytics, new applications. Both are platforms. US Cloud Computing revenues increased 25x in 10 years (2015 to 2024).</li>
</ul>


Review of the conventional arguments (Bloomberg article): the timing gap between Capex and Revenue is the real issue.
Review of history of Tech Bubbles (Krugman): not clear if AI is a bubble, it could keep going for years, but if it bursts it will be worse than 1999-2003.
Best AI comp is Cloud Computing. Both enable new data analytics, new applications. Both are platforms. US Cloud Computing revenues increased 25x in 10 years (2015 to 2024).


What Are the Arguments in Favor and Against an AI Bubble?

European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Deliveroo shareholders approved DoorDash’s 180p cash offer; only court sanction and procedural steps remain. Settlement could occur as early as 30 July 2025.</li>
<li>At 175.9p, the 2.33% gross spread implies a ~36.3% annualised return assuming 30-day closing.</li>
<li>Amazon counterbid now highly improbable under Rule 2.8; DoorDash bid remains dominant with 97% scenario weighting.</li>
</ul>


Deliveroo shareholders approved DoorDash’s 180p cash offer; only court sanction and procedural steps remain. Settlement could occur as early as 30 July 2025.
At 175.9p, the 2.33% gross spread implies a ~36.3% annualised return assuming 30-day closing.
Amazon counterbid now highly improbable under Rule 2.8; DoorDash bid remains dominant with 97% scenario weighting.


High-Conviction Arbitrage: 36% IRR Possible with 30 July Settlement, Court Approval Secured

United States

Amazon.com, Inc. is an online retailer that offers a wide range of products. The Company's products include books, music, videotapes, computers, electronics, home and garden, and numerous other products.  Amazon offers personalized shopping services, Web-based credit card payment, and direct shipping to customers.

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Amazon (AMZN US)

US De Minimis Exemption Back From the Dead?! Court Revives Lawsuit, Orders Briefings in Coming Weeks

A US court has quietly allowed a lawsuit against the US Department of Commerce to move forward. If the plaintiff prevails, the US "de minimis"...

Tracking Traffic

Hyperscalers: Is AI Capex Too High? What’s AI Return on Investment?

financial data shows the AI Capex boom is boosting operating margins and cash flow for hyperscalers, but increasing Capex is putting mild pressure...

Nicolas Baratte

GUC's 3nm Breakout Quarter Reveals How Taiwan's ASIC Leaders Are Capturing AI Chip Demand

TSMC affiliate GUC sees surge in revenue from hyperscaler custom silicon, driven by demand for custom AI chips from tech giants like Amazon and...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

What Are the Arguments in Favor and Against an AI Bubble?

Timing gap between Capex and Revenue is the real issue, AI could be a bubble worse than 1999-2003, Cloud Computing is the best AI comp with...

Nicolas Baratte

High-Conviction Arbitrage: 36% IRR Possible with 30 July Settlement, Court Approval Secured

Deliveroo shareholders backed DoorDash’s 180p offer. With court sanction due late July, settlement could close by 30 July, offering a ~36% IRR.

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

US De Minimis Exemption Back From the Dead?! Court Revives Lawsuit, Orders Briefings in Coming Weeks

A US court has quietly allowed a lawsuit against the US Department of Commerce to move forward. If the plaintiff prevails, the US "de minimis"...

Tracking Traffic

Hyperscalers: Is AI Capex Too High? What’s AI Return on Investment?

​financial data shows the AI Capex boom is boosting operating margins and cash flow for hyperscalers, but increasing Capex is putting mild pressure...

Nicolas Baratte

GUC's 3nm Breakout Quarter Reveals How Taiwan's ASIC Leaders Are Capturing AI Chip Demand

​TSMC affiliate GUC sees surge in revenue from hyperscaler custom silicon, driven by demand for custom AI chips from tech giants like Amazon and...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

What Are the Arguments in Favor and Against an AI Bubble?

​Timing gap between Capex and Revenue is the real issue, AI could be a bubble worse than 1999-2003, Cloud Computing is the best AI comp with...

Nicolas Baratte

High-Conviction Arbitrage: 36% IRR Possible with 30 July Settlement, Court Approval Secured

Deliveroo shareholders backed DoorDash’s 180p offer. With court sanction due late July, settlement could close by 30 July, offering a ~36% IRR.

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

financial data shows the AI Capex boom is boosting operating margins and cash flow for hyperscalers, but increasing Capex is putting mild pressure...

TSMC affiliate GUC sees surge in revenue from hyperscaler custom silicon, driven by demand for custom AI chips from tech giants like Amazon and...

Timing gap between Capex and Revenue is the real issue, AI could be a bubble worse than 1999-2003, Cloud Computing is the best AI comp with...