China/Asia TMT

Shawn Yang

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We expect Shopee's competitive landscape deteriorated in 2Q23, due to increased pressure from TikTok/Lazada in ASEAN, Coupang in Taiwan, and Shein in Brazil. Temu is a large swing factor.</li>
<li>Shopee has been pushing live streaming and its full-management (or consignment) mode. In our view, these will drag down its profit margins and may not be effective in gaining share.</li>
<li>We estimate 2Q23 revenue and non-GAAP net income are 2.5% and (24%) vs cons. We have revised down Shopee's growth expectations for the next 3 years.</li>
</ul>


We expect Shopee's competitive landscape deteriorated in 2Q23, due to increased pressure from TikTok/Lazada in ASEAN, Coupang in Taiwan, and Shein in Brazil. Temu is a large swing factor.
Shopee has been pushing live streaming and its full-management (or consignment) mode. In our view, these will drag down its profit margins and may not be effective in gaining share.
We estimate 2Q23 revenue and non-GAAP net income are 2.5% and (24%) vs cons. We have revised down Shopee's growth expectations for the next 3 years.


[Sea (SE US, SELL, TP US$51) TP Change]: Competitive Landscape Intensifying… Cut TP to $51

<ul>
<li>We expect CPNG to report C2Q23 revenue and profit in-line and (31.6%) vs. cons., respectively. CPNG's profit miss is largely due to rapid expansion in Taiwan...</li>
<li>...which we estimate it will impact net profit by up to 40% this year.  AliExpress continues its development in South Korea, Temu, is expected to put pressure on Coupang. </li>
<li>We maintain SELL on Coupang and revise down this year's EPS estimate by 16% and cut our TP to US$ 13.7 to reflect the changes on the profit side.</li>
</ul>


We expect CPNG to report C2Q23 revenue and profit in-line and (31.6%) vs. cons., respectively. CPNG's profit miss is largely due to rapid expansion in Taiwan...
...which we estimate it will impact net profit by up to 40% this year.  AliExpress continues its development in South Korea, Temu, is expected to put pressure on Coupang. 
We maintain SELL on Coupang and revise down this year's EPS estimate by 16% and cut our TP to US$ 13.7 to reflect the changes on the profit side.


[Coupang Inc. (CPNG US, SELL, TP US$13.7) TP Change]: Taiwan Expansion Will Lower the Profit Margin

<ul>
<li>AliExpress has prioritized South Korea. We expect AliExpress’ South Korea GMV to increase 150%~ YoY to about US 1bn in 2023, or about 3% of Coupang’s. </li>
<li>We found that AliExpress has more overlap with CPNG’s key products rather than Naver. The average price of recommended items on AliExpress was 65%~ cheaper than CPNG in our sample; </li>
<li>We lower our CPNG GMV est. by 2%/3% in 2023/2024. We downgrade CPNG to SELL and lower its TP to US$ 15.1. </li>
</ul>


AliExpress has prioritized South Korea. We expect AliExpress’ South Korea GMV to increase 150%~ YoY to about US 1bn in 2023, or about 3% of Coupang’s. 
We found that AliExpress has more overlap with CPNG’s key products rather than Naver. The average price of recommended items on AliExpress was 65%~ cheaper than CPNG in our sample; 
We lower our CPNG GMV est. by 2%/3% in 2023/2024. We downgrade CPNG to SELL and lower its TP to US$ 15.1. 


Coupang(CPNG US, SELL, TP US$15.1) Rating Change: Facing More Competition from AliExpress,DG to Sell

<ul>
<li>CPNG reported C1Q23 top-line, EBITDA, and non-GAAP net income in-line, 8.1%, and (3.7%) vs. our est., and 3.1%, 8.2%, and in-line vs. cons., respectively. </li>
<li>We estimate CPNG’s penetration of its 3P marketplace fulfilment (FLC) rose 6ppts~ YoY to 20%~ in 1Q23. </li>
<li>We maintain our BUY rating and raise our TP to US$21.</li>
</ul>


CPNG reported C1Q23 top-line, EBITDA, and non-GAAP net income in-line, 8.1%, and (3.7%) vs. our est., and 3.1%, 8.2%, and in-line vs. cons., respectively. 
We estimate CPNG’s penetration of its 3P marketplace fulfilment (FLC) rose 6ppts~ YoY to 20%~ in 1Q23. 
We maintain our BUY rating and raise our TP to US$21.


[Coupang Inc. (CPNG US) Target Price Change]: Fulfilment of 3P Orders Is Next Revenue Driver

<ul>
<li>We expect CPNG to report C1Q23 top-line and non-GAAP net income 2.0% and 4.8% vs. consensus, respectively. </li>
<li>AliExpress became S. Korea’s most downloaded app after increasing spending, but product overlap with Coupang is limited, while other S. Korean competitors recorded declining MAU, in our understanding.</li>
<li>South Korean economic indicators, including CPI and retail data, point towards a recovery. We maintain our BUY rating and US$19 TP.</li>
</ul>


We expect CPNG to report C1Q23 top-line and non-GAAP net income 2.0% and 4.8% vs. consensus, respectively. 
AliExpress became S. Korea’s most downloaded app after increasing spending, but product overlap with Coupang is limited, while other S. Korean competitors recorded declining MAU, in our understanding.
South Korean economic indicators, including CPI and retail data, point towards a recovery. We maintain our BUY rating and US$19 TP.


[Coupang Inc. (CPNG US) Earnings Preview]: Market Share Solid Given Limited Competitive Threat

South Korea

Coupang, Inc. operates as an e-commerce company. The Company offers dynamic end-to-end e-commerce and logistic solutions. Coupang serves customers worldwide.

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Coupang (CPNG US)

[Sea (SE US, SELL, TP US$51) TP Change]: Competitive Landscape Intensifying… Cut TP to $51

We expect Shopee's competitive landscape further deteriorated in 2Q23, due to increased pressure from TikTok and Lazada in ASEAN, Coupang in...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Coupang Inc. (CPNG US, SELL, TP US$13.7) TP Change]: Taiwan Expansion Will Lower the Profit Margin

We expect CPNG to report C2Q23 revenue and profit in-line and (31.6%) vs. cons., respectively. CPNG's profit miss is largely due to rapid expansion...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Coupang(CPNG US, SELL, TP US$15.1) Rating Change: Facing More Competition from AliExpress,DG to Sell

AliExpress has prioritized South Korea. We expect AliExpress’ South Korea GMV to increase 150%~ YoY to about US 1bn in 2023, or about 3% of Coupang’s.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Coupang Inc. (CPNG US) Target Price Change]: Fulfilment of 3P Orders Is Next Revenue Driver

CPNG reported C1Q23 top-line, EBITDA, and non-GAAP net income in-line, 8.1%, and (3.7%) vs. our est., and 3.1%, 8.2%, and in-line vs. cons.,...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

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[Sea (SE US, SELL, TP US$51) TP Change]: Competitive Landscape Intensifying… Cut TP to $51

We expect Shopee's competitive landscape further deteriorated in 2Q23, due to increased pressure from TikTok and Lazada in ASEAN, Coupang in...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Coupang Inc. (CPNG US, SELL, TP US$13.7) TP Change]: Taiwan Expansion Will Lower the Profit Margin

We expect CPNG to report C2Q23 revenue and profit in-line and (31.6%) vs. cons., respectively. CPNG's profit miss is largely due to rapid expansion...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Coupang(CPNG US, SELL, TP US$15.1) Rating Change: Facing More Competition from AliExpress,DG to Sell

AliExpress has prioritized South Korea. We expect AliExpress’ South Korea GMV to increase 150%~ YoY to about US 1bn in 2023, or about 3% of Coupang’s.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Coupang Inc. (CPNG US) Target Price Change]: Fulfilment of 3P Orders Is Next Revenue Driver

CPNG reported C1Q23 top-line, EBITDA, and non-GAAP net income in-line, 8.1%, and (3.7%) vs. our est., and 3.1%, 8.2%, and in-line vs. cons.,...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Coupang Inc. (CPNG US) Earnings Preview]: Market Share Solid Given Limited Competitive Threat

AliExpress became S. Korea’s most downloaded app after increasing spending, but product overlap with Coupang is limited, while other S. Korean...

Blue Lotus Research Institute