Korea / Special Situations, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Situations

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>NPS is concerned that aggressive value-up measures by bank holding companies and ongoing cancellations might quickly use up their room up to the 10% ownership limit.</li>
<li>With their stake already at mid-8%, they may not buy as much as the index suggests, creating new trading opportunities in the four major bank holding companies.</li>
<li>Woori Financial has more room for buying, so as the year ends, NPS's skewed-buying could give it a better price impact than other bank holding companies.</li>
</ul>


NPS is concerned that aggressive value-up measures by bank holding companies and ongoing cancellations might quickly use up their room up to the 10% ownership limit.
With their stake already at mid-8%, they may not buy as much as the index suggests, creating new trading opportunities in the four major bank holding companies.
Woori Financial has more room for buying, so as the year ends, NPS's skewed-buying could give it a better price impact than other bank holding companies.


Value-Up Flow Trading Opportunities Arising from NPS's 10% Ownership Ceiling on Banks

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Delinquency ratios continued to worsen into 2Q24, with a couple of the South Korean banks seeing accelerating growth in NPL ratios; despite this, there are buy opportunities</li>
<li>Our bigger cap pick is Hana Financial for its very attractive valuations, PEG and equity risk premia, as well as its solid core capital ratio and strong credit quality credentials</li>
<li>Among the smaller caps, Woori stands out in terms of valuation, PEG ratio, credit quality and it has registered improving post-provision returns</li>
</ul>


Delinquency ratios continued to worsen into 2Q24, with a couple of the South Korean banks seeing accelerating growth in NPL ratios; despite this, there are buy opportunities
Our bigger cap pick is Hana Financial for its very attractive valuations, PEG and equity risk premia, as well as its solid core capital ratio and strong credit quality credentials
Among the smaller caps, Woori stands out in terms of valuation, PEG ratio, credit quality and it has registered improving post-provision returns


South Korean Banks; Hana Financial (086790 KS) And Woori (316140 KS) Are Our Positive Picks

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

DZT Research

DZT Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Jul 26th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD5.5bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league table 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 Shinhan Financia, Amorepacific, Kb Financial, Hana Financial, Skc, Posco.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Jul 26th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD5.5bn.
We tabulate league table 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 Shinhan Financia, Amorepacific, Kb Financial, Hana Financial, Skc, Posco.


KRX Short Interest Weekly (Jul 26th): Shinhan Financia, Amorepacific, Kb Financial, Skc, Posco

<ul>
<li>We can check this on KIND, KRX's disclosure site. As an example, SK Inc. disclosed this information on July 26, two weeks before the dividend record date, August 10.</li>
<li>We can capture this information in English without the need for Korean. The disclosure title we must hunt is "Decision on Closure of Shareholder's Registry (including Record Date) for Dividends."</li>
<li>The critical aspect here is that we need to identify disclosures from companies that still use the year's last trading day as the dividend base date.</li>
</ul>


We can check this on KIND, KRX's disclosure site. As an example, SK Inc. disclosed this information on July 26, two weeks before the dividend record date, August 10.
We can capture this information in English without the need for Korean. The disclosure title we must hunt is "Decision on Closure of Shareholder's Registry (including Record Date) for Dividends."
The critical aspect here is that we need to identify disclosures from companies that still use the year's last trading day as the dividend base date.


Step-By-Step Guide to Spot Companies Postponing Dividend Base Date to April in Korea

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

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>As expected, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dgb-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6138:1" rel="noopener">DGB Financial Group (139130 KS)</a> replaces <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meritz-securities-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19692:1" rel="noopener">Meritz Securities (008560 KS)</a> in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">Korea Stock Exchange Kospi 200 Index (KOSPI2 INDEX)</a> at the close on 31 March.</li>
<li>We estimate passive trackers will need to buy 5.15m shares (KRW 35.5bn; 12.1 days of ADV) of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dgb-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6138:1" rel="noopener">DGB Financial Group (139130 KS)</a> at the close of trading on 31 March.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dgb-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6138:1" rel="noopener">DGB Financial Group (139130 KS)</a> trades cheaper than its peers on forward PE and Price to Book. There could be relative outperformance over the next week.</li>
</ul>


As expected, DGB Financial Group (139130 KS) replaces Meritz Securities (008560 KS) in the Korea Stock Exchange Kospi 200 Index (KOSPI2 INDEX) at the close on 31 March.
We estimate passive trackers will need to buy 5.15m shares (KRW 35.5bn; 12.1 days of ADV) of DGB Financial Group (139130 KS) at the close of trading on 31 March.

DGB Financial Group (139130 KS) trades cheaper than its peers on forward PE and Price to Book. There could be relative outperformance over the next week.


KOSPI200 Ad Hoc Index Rebalance: DGB Financial (139130 KS) To Replace Meritz Sec (008560 KS)

South Korea

BNK Financial Group Inc. a holding company, provides a full range of consumer and commercial banking-related financial services. The Company's main businesses include banking, trust banking, and assets management to individuals, businesses, and other financial institutions.

Price Gauge
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Bnk Financial Group (138930 KS)

Value-Up Flow Trading Opportunities Arising from NPS's 10% Ownership Ceiling on Banks

This post explores the flow trading opportunities likely to emerge from NPS's 10% stake ceiling on local banks, which are key targets in the value...

Sanghyun Park

South Korean Banks; Hana Financial (086790 KS) And Woori (316140 KS) Are Our Positive Picks

South Korean banks' NPL ratios worsened in 2Q24, but there are buy opportunities. Hana and Woori are our picks for attractive valuations,...

Victor Galliano

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Jul 26th): Shinhan Financia, Amorepacific, Kb Financial, Skc, Posco

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in Shinhan Financia, Amorepacific, Kb Financial,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Step-By-Step Guide to Spot Companies Postponing Dividend Base Date to April in Korea

This post provides a step-by-step guide to spot which companies will effectively postpone the dividend base date to next April in Korea.

Sanghyun Park

KOSPI200 Ad Hoc Index Rebalance: DGB Financial (139130 KS) To Replace Meritz Sec (008560 KS)

DGB Financial will be added to the KOSPI200 Index on 31 March. The stock trades cheaper than its peers but becomes short sell eligible from the...

Brian Freitas

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Value-Up Flow Trading Opportunities Arising from NPS's 10% Ownership Ceiling on Banks

This post explores the flow trading opportunities likely to emerge from NPS's 10% stake ceiling on local banks, which are key targets in the value...

Sanghyun Park

South Korean Banks; Hana Financial (086790 KS) And Woori (316140 KS) Are Our Positive Picks

​South Korean banks' NPL ratios worsened in 2Q24, but there are buy opportunities. Hana and Woori are our picks for attractive valuations,...

Victor Galliano

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Jul 26th): Shinhan Financia, Amorepacific, Kb Financial, Skc, Posco

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in Shinhan Financia, Amorepacific, Kb Financial,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Step-By-Step Guide to Spot Companies Postponing Dividend Base Date to April in Korea

This post provides a step-by-step guide to spot which companies will effectively postpone the dividend base date to next April in Korea.

Sanghyun Park

KOSPI200 Ad Hoc Index Rebalance: DGB Financial (139130 KS) To Replace Meritz Sec (008560 KS)

DGB Financial will be added to the KOSPI200 Index on 31 March. The stock trades cheaper than its peers but becomes short sell eligible from the...

Brian Freitas

South Korean banks' NPL ratios worsened in 2Q24, but there are buy opportunities. Hana and Woori are our picks for attractive valuations,...