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 Bottom-Up

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In this note, we explain how authorities in China measure the development of the country's express parcel delivery industry using the China Express Development Index, or CEDI. 
We believe CEDI is worth watching. Its December 2020 performance suggests sector growth is moderating, and that express companies must continue to invest aggressively to lift service levels. 
CEDI's recent trends support our investment thesis for the sector, which is that pressure to consolidate is rising here in 2021. We believe <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/best-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25494:1" rel="noopener">BEST Inc (BEST US)</a> may become an attractive acquisition target over the next 12 months; we rate its shares Buy.




In this note, we explain how authorities in China measure the development of the country's express parcel delivery industry using the China Express Development Index, or CEDI. 
We believe CEDI is worth watching. Its December 2020 performance suggests sector growth is moderating, and that express companies must continue to invest aggressively to lift service levels. 
CEDI's recent trends support our investment thesis for the sector, which is that pressure to consolidate is rising here in 2021. We believe BEST Inc (BEST US) may become an attractive acquisition target over the next 12 months; we rate its shares Buy. 

How Chinese Authorities Measure the Development of the Express Sector, & Why It Matters to Investors

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/179/678/original/BANNER-TTOtherDec20_GreyOrange.png?1608575984" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="179678"></figure></section>We launched this product about a month ago, promising to revisit our suggested pair trades every month or so. Returns on our three pair trade ideas since December 4? Not good, not good at all!If we consider only four of the six names that make up our three suggested pair trades, the portfolio returned a measly +0.2% between December 4 and January 6 (not including costs of trading). However, the two positions that moved hard against us -- which in reality we probably would have been forced to exit due to stop-loss orders -- resulted in a big loss for the portfolio. What happened? Unfortunately, we stepped in front of a surge in momentum in two small-cap names, one on the Long side and one one the Short side. We still believe longer-term trends favor these positions, but in the near-term,  price action simply overwhelmed our investment theses. Despite the substantial paper losses, we're sticking to our guns and keeping the portfolio as-is. We'll be back in a month or so with another update, hopefully with better returns to report.

We launched this product about a month ago, promising to revisit our suggested pair trades every month or so. Returns on our three pair trade ideas since December 4? Not good, not good at all!If we consider only four of the six names that make up our three suggested pair trades, the portfolio returned a measly +0.2% between December 4 and January 6 (not including costs of trading). However, the two positions that moved hard against us -- which in reality we probably would have been forced to exit due to stop-loss orders -- resulted in a big loss for the portfolio. What happened? Unfortunately, we stepped in front of a surge in momentum in two small-cap names, one on the Long side and one one the Short side. We still believe longer-term trends favor these positions, but in the near-term,  price action simply overwhelmed our investment theses. Despite the substantial paper losses, we're sticking to our guns and keeping the portfolio as-is. We'll be back in a month or so with another update, hopefully with better returns to report.

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Pair Trades Update: 'Want to See a Dead Body?' (January 7 2021)

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Event-Driven

In this edition of the Smartkarma North Asia Weekly, it summarizes some of the top insights on Smartkarma in the past week covering Japan, HK/China, and the Korean stock markets. The top topics are below:1) Alibaba: Antitrust Concerns2) Tencent Under Pressure From Antitrust Push3) POTUS Executive Order: New OFAC Clarification 4) China Logistics: Major Shareholders Seek to Exit 5) Kuaishou Technology IPO6) Yidu Tech IPO7) TOPIX Inclusion: ODK Solutions 8) New Horizon IPO9) Goldwin Bullish for Future Growth10) Yaoko: A Difficult 2021 Coming11) IQIYI Valuation12) Digital Currency: Still Remember Facebook Libra/​Diem?13) China Dental Care Industry14) ZTO Express &amp; BEST Inc15) Infrastructure Asset-Backed Securities: New Asset Class for Asia16) Japan Airport Terminal17) Will Biden Get Officially Inaugurated on 20 January?

In this edition of the Smartkarma North Asia Weekly, it summarizes some of the top insights on Smartkarma in the past week covering Japan, HK/China, and the Korean stock markets. The top topics are below:1) Alibaba: Antitrust Concerns2) Tencent Under Pressure From Antitrust Push3) POTUS Executive Order: New OFAC Clarification 4) China Logistics: Major Shareholders Seek to Exit 5) Kuaishou Technology IPO6) Yidu Tech IPO7) TOPIX Inclusion: ODK Solutions 8) New Horizon IPO9) Goldwin Bullish for Future Growth10) Yaoko: A Difficult 2021 Coming11) IQIYI Valuation12) Digital Currency: Still Remember Facebook Libra/​Diem?13) China Dental Care Industry14) ZTO Express &amp; BEST Inc15) Infrastructure Asset-Backed Securities: New Asset Class for Asia16) Japan Airport Terminal17) Will Biden Get Officially Inaugurated on 20 January? 

Smartkarma North Asia Weekly: Alibaba Antitrust, OFAC Clarification, China Logistics, & Kuaishou IPO

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/180/014/original/BANNER-TTOtherDec20_GreyOrange.png?1608832116" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="180014"></figure></section>In November, anti-monopoly regulators announced drafts of new rules that will apply to eCommerce 'platform' businesses. And last week authorities announced an anti-monopoly probe into some of <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>'s anti-competitive practices. We believe the probe could eventually extend to a range of logistics companies linked to Alibaba. The ongoing regulator action against Alibaba's "choose one from two" policy and potential future actions against logistics firms linked to the eCommerce giant will have the same effect: to slow down growth. In the case of the Chinese express companies closely linked to Alibaba, regulators' actions merely add to existing pressures to pursue sector consolidation in 2021.We recommend investors check out <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/best-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25494:1" rel="noopener">BEST Inc (BEST US)</a> as a potential acquisition target.

In November, anti-monopoly regulators announced drafts of new rules that will apply to eCommerce 'platform' businesses. And last week authorities announced an anti-monopoly probe into some of Alibaba Group (BABA US)'s anti-competitive practices. We believe the probe could eventually extend to a range of logistics companies linked to Alibaba. The ongoing regulator action against Alibaba's "choose one from two" policy and potential future actions against logistics firms linked to the eCommerce giant will have the same effect: to slow down growth. In the case of the Chinese express companies closely linked to Alibaba, regulators' actions merely add to existing pressures to pursue sector consolidation in 2021.We recommend investors check out BEST Inc (BEST US) as a potential acquisition target.

Alibaba Anti-Trust Probe Could Slow Growth of Chinese Express Companies, Add to M&A Pressures

Equity Capital Markets

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/179/974/original/BANNER-TTOtherDec20_GreyOrange.png?1608781028" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="179974"></figure></section>In a previous note we argued <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kerry-express-thailand" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29253:1" rel="noopener">Kerry Express Thailand (KEX TB)</a>, at its IPO price of 28 baht per share, was attractively priced relative to comps in the Chinese express sector.However, after shares jumped 83% to 51.25 baht in their trading debut on December 24, KEX's EV/Revenue and EV/EBITDA multiples increased substantially (even as its Chinese comps faded).A day after its public debut, KEX is still a unique Thai play on eCommerce and the company enjoys strong market position in a growing segment. However, at 50+ baht per share it is no longer cheap.By the way, Merry Christmas!

In a previous note we argued Kerry Express Thailand (KEX TB), at its IPO price of 28 baht per share, was attractively priced relative to comps in the Chinese express sector.However, after shares jumped 83% to 51.25 baht in their trading debut on December 24, KEX's EV/Revenue and EV/EBITDA multiples increased substantially (even as its Chinese comps faded).A day after its public debut, KEX is still a unique Thai play on eCommerce and the company enjoys strong market position in a growing segment. However, at 50+ baht per share it is no longer cheap.By the way, Merry Christmas!

Kerry Express Thailand: Just One Day Into Public Life, KEX Suddenly Looks Expensive

China

BEST Inc. offers logistics and supply chain management solutions. The Company provides express and freight delivery, inventory management, warehousing, financing, cross-border supply chain, merchandise sourcing, and value-added services. BEST serves customers worldwide.

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BEST (BEST US)

How Chinese Authorities Measure the Development of the Express Sector, & Why It Matters to Investors

Understanding how Chinese authorities measure the development of China's express industry can help investors better evaluate the segment and the...

Tracking Traffic

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Pair Trades Update: 'Want to See a Dead Body?' (January 7 2021)

One month in, our three suggested pair trades have generated returns ranging from "meh" to "You're fired!" In this note we take a look at what went...

Tracking Traffic

Smartkarma North Asia Weekly: Alibaba Antitrust, OFAC Clarification, China Logistics, & Kuaishou IPO

In this edition of the Smartkarma North Asia Weekly, it summarizes some of the top insights on Smartkarma in the past week covering Japan, HK...

Douglas Kim

Alibaba Anti-Trust Probe Could Slow Growth of Chinese Express Companies, Add to M&A Pressures

New scrutiny from regulators on Alibaba could result in increased financial pressures on the logistics firms linked to the eCommerce giant.

Tracking Traffic

Kerry Express Thailand: Just One Day Into Public Life, KEX Suddenly Looks Expensive

After it jumped by 83% to 51.25 baht per share in its trading debut, it's suddenly much tougher to argue that KEX is attractively priced versus peers.

Tracking Traffic

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