Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we discuss a pair trade between SM Entertainment Co (041510 KS) (long) vs HYBE (352820 KS) (short).</li>
<li><em><strong>There is an increasing probability that HYBE's founder Bang Si-hyuk could face some jail time in which case there could be some vacuum of management leadership at HYBE.</strong></em></li>
<li>Despite its recent outperformance, SM Entertainment's valuation is much more attractive than HYBE (SM is trading at 9.6x EV/EBITDA vs 18.5x for HYBE in 2026).</li>
</ul>


In this insight, we discuss a pair trade between SM Entertainment Co (041510 KS) (long) vs HYBE (352820 KS) (short).
There is an increasing probability that HYBE's founder Bang Si-hyuk could face some jail time in which case there could be some vacuum of management leadership at HYBE.
Despite its recent outperformance, SM Entertainment's valuation is much more attractive than HYBE (SM is trading at 9.6x EV/EBITDA vs 18.5x for HYBE in 2026).


A Pair Trade Between SM Entertainment (Long) Vs HYBE (Short)

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

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.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Nov 28th. The aggregated short interest was USD11.5bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in Hanwha Ocean, SK Hynix, kakaopay, NAVER, HD HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Nov 28th. The aggregated short interest was USD11.5bn.
We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in Hanwha Ocean, SK Hynix, kakaopay, NAVER, HD HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES.


KRX Short Interest Weekly (Nov 28th): Hanwha Ocean, SK Hynix, Kakaopay, NAVER

<ul>
<li>We analysed the earning revision of component stocks of MSCI South Korea in the past month.</li>
<li>We tabulated stocks with the top impact on index's EPS, stocks' EPS revision, and revenue revision.</li>
<li>We highlighted EPS revision on ORION, KEPCO, LG Energy Solution, ECOPROBM, NAVER, Samsung Elec (PREF), KIA, LG Chem, Naver, Korea Electric Power, Samsung Electronics Non Voting Pre, Kia, Orion.</li>
</ul>


We analysed the earning revision of component stocks of MSCI South Korea in the past month.
We tabulated stocks with the top impact on index's EPS, stocks' EPS revision, and revenue revision.
We highlighted EPS revision on ORION, KEPCO, LG Energy Solution, ECOPROBM, NAVER, Samsung Elec (PREF), KIA, LG Chem, Naver, Korea Electric Power, Samsung Electronics Non Voting Pre, Kia, Orion.


MSCI South Korea Index Earning Revision (Nov): ORION, KEPCO, LG Energy Solution, ECOPROBM, NAVER

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Now that Lee Jae-Myung has become new South Korean President, the uncertainty revolving who will lead South Korea in the next five years is now over.</li>
<li>In this insight, we discuss four investment themes (related to Lee Jae-Myung becoming the new South Korean President) that could outperform the market for the remainder of 2025.</li>
<li>The four investment themes include Korean Holdcos/Quasi Holdcos, Korean Cultural Contents, Securities, and SK Group Companies.</li>
</ul>


Now that Lee Jae-Myung has become new South Korean President, the uncertainty revolving who will lead South Korea in the next five years is now over.
In this insight, we discuss four investment themes (related to Lee Jae-Myung becoming the new South Korean President) that could outperform the market for the remainder of 2025.
The four investment themes include Korean Holdcos/Quasi Holdcos, Korean Cultural Contents, Securities, and SK Group Companies.


Lee Jae-Myung Becomes the New South Korean President - Four Investment Themes That Could Outperform

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>Following the short sell ban announced on the weekend, the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150</a> opened higher on Monday and rallied through the day.</li>
<li>A lot of the intraday gains on Monday have been given up over the next two trading days. Surprisingly, KRX data indicates that not a lot of shorts have covered.</li>
<li>Foreigners have been net cash buyers since Monday (could indicate covering of offshore borrow) while retail were big sellers on Monday.</li>
</ul>


Following the short sell ban announced on the weekend, the KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 opened higher on Monday and rallied through the day.
A lot of the intraday gains on Monday have been given up over the next two trading days. Surprisingly, KRX data indicates that not a lot of shorts have covered.
Foreigners have been net cash buyers since Monday (could indicate covering of offshore borrow) while retail were big sellers on Monday.


Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

South Korea

HYBE Co., Ltd. operates as an entertainment company. The Company provides music production, album distribution, entertainers management, publicity, planning, training, and other services. HYBE also makes television shows.

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HYBE (352820 KS)

A Pair Trade Between SM Entertainment (Long) Vs HYBE (Short)

In this insight, we discuss a pair trade between SM Entertainment (long) vs HYBE (short). There is an increasing probability that HYBE's founder...

Douglas Kim

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Nov 28th): Hanwha Ocean, SK Hynix, Kakaopay, NAVER

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in Hanwha Ocean, SK Hynix, kakaopay, NAVER, HD...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

MSCI South Korea Index Earning Revision (Nov): ORION, KEPCO, LG Energy Solution, ECOPROBM, NAVER

We analyzed MSCI South Korea's consensus for Nov 2025 and highlighted changes of EPS in ORION (271560 KS), KEPCO (015760 KS), LG Energy Solution...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Lee Jae-Myung Becomes the New South Korean President - Four Investment Themes That Could Outperform

In this insight, we discuss four investment themes (related to Lee Jae-Myung becoming the new South Korean President) that could outperform the...

Douglas Kim

Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

Not a lot of shorts were covered on Monday. There could be more covering in the near term as the market drifts lower. KOSPI200 underperformed...

Brian Freitas

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