Covering IPOs, Healthcare and Technology Stocks

Andrei Zakharov

Algosun Global

Equity Capital Markets

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/duolingo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33531:1" rel="noopener">Duolingo (DUOL US)</a> , high-profile, mobile-first EdTech unicorn, has successfully completed IPO in July. Company has raised ~$350 million implying valuation of ~$4.5 billion on a fully diluted basis. Selling stockholders offered ~1.4 million shares of Class A common stock at IPO price of $102 per share. Our bull case valuation is $185, what implies 30%+ upside potential, and we think Duolingo is well positioned to gain market share in a growing $10B+ online language learning market and ~$5B English Certification market.  </p>

Duolingo (DUOL US) , high-profile, mobile-first EdTech unicorn, has successfully completed IPO in July. Company has raised ~$350 million implying valuation of ~$4.5 billion on a fully diluted basis. Selling stockholders offered ~1.4 million shares of Class A common stock at IPO price of $102 per share. Our bull case valuation is $185, what implies 30%+ upside potential, and we think Duolingo is well positioned to gain market share in a growing $10B+ online language learning market and ~$5B English Certification market.  

Duolingo: Category Leader of Online Language Learning; 30%+ Upside

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Granite Bay Capital

An innovation focussed investment company

Granite Bay Capital is an innovation focussed investment company with a deep focus on the companies at the leading edge of innovation across major themes such as AI, ubiquitous computing, sustainability, automation and longevity.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>Headline Developments China has likened online computer games to opium, causing shares in Tencent (700.HK) and NetEase (9999.HK) to drop 10% and 15% respectively.  The article, which appeared in state-run Economic Information Daily (before being removed), said more than half of China’s children were nearsighted and online games affects their education; adding that gaming addiction is widespread and could negatively impact their growth.</p>

Headline Developments China has likened online computer games to opium, causing shares in Tencent (700.HK) and NetEase (9999.HK) to drop 10% and 15% respectively.  The article, which appeared in state-run Economic Information Daily (before being removed), said more than half of China’s children were nearsighted and online games affects their education; adding that gaming addiction is widespread and could negatively impact their growth.

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst, Obex Capital Research

Aaron Gabin

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research

Obex Capital Research

“Obex” is Latin for Barriers to Entry. Obex Capital Management’s investment philosophy is driven by an intense focus on which business model’s Barriers to Entry are able to withstand the ever increasing competitive disruption in the TMT and Consumer Sectors.

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Intel has more product delays, Coursera's chief competitor is acquired. IBM's email doesn't work and Redhat chief departs. Amazon tries to form a rebel alliance.</p><div class="content-highlight"><p>Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.  </p></div>

Intel has more product delays, Coursera's chief competitor is acquired. IBM's email doesn't work and Redhat chief departs. Amazon tries to form a rebel alliance.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.  

TMT Weekly: 4 Things That Stood Out the Week of 7/2/​2021

<p>Coursera’s first quarterly earnings was confirmatory of our short thesis. The company guided to decelerating revenue growth as it begins to lap the surge in students from the pandemic, with little to no operating leverage, hardly the stuff of a stock trading 15x sales. A point that should’ve been obvious to us, but we didn’t really hit on enough in our recent initiation is how inversely correlated Coursera is to employment trends. As the pandemic recedes, the secular acceleration of online education will recede…AND the number of unemployed who had the time (and motivation) to take online courses at home will also diminish.  This will result in a sharper deceleration in Coursera’s top of funnel consumer learners, which will have a trickle down effect on the higher margin enterprise and degree tiers. We stay short, reiterate base case $33 and $20 bear case.</p><div class="content-highlight"><p>Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</p></div>

Coursera’s first quarterly earnings was confirmatory of our short thesis. The company guided to decelerating revenue growth as it begins to lap the surge in students from the pandemic, with little to no operating leverage, hardly the stuff of a stock trading 15x sales. A point that should’ve been obvious to us, but we didn’t really hit on enough in our recent initiation is how inversely correlated Coursera is to employment trends. As the pandemic recedes, the secular acceleration of online education will recede…AND the number of unemployed who had the time (and motivation) to take online courses at home will also diminish.  This will result in a sharper deceleration in Coursera’s top of funnel consumer learners, which will have a trickle down effect on the higher margin enterprise and degree tiers. We stay short, reiterate base case $33 and $20 bear case.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

Coursera 1Q21: Rising Employment Will Decelerate Growth

<p><strong>Summary: </strong>Coursera, an online education platform will see its business model decelerate faster than expected. While the TAM trajectory of online education has clearly inflected higher due to the pandemic, we think  the Coursera’s growth trajectory is being mismodeled based on 2020’s surge in signups. Coursera’s profitability is dependent on scaling its enterprise and degree customer bases. While the demand for upskilling employees is real, intense competition from LinkedIn, Pluralsight, and others may crimp growth and gross margins segment, while a lack of leverage with its content suppliers (university partners), plus edX’s open source alternative  weaken revenue sharing over time. A lack of tangible evidence of Coursera’s skills-based credentialing translating to jobs will result in underwhelming consumer growth and lack of pricing power. Downside risks around regulation and competitive incursion by tech platforms paired with an obscene valuation make a compelling short case.</p><p> <strong>Base Case Valuation: $33                                  Bull Case: $57                                 Bear Case: $20</strong></p><p></p><div class="content-highlight"><p>Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</p></div>

Summary: Coursera, an online education platform will see its business model decelerate faster than expected. While the TAM trajectory of online education has clearly inflected higher due to the pandemic, we think  the Coursera’s growth trajectory is being mismodeled based on 2020’s surge in signups. Coursera’s profitability is dependent on scaling its enterprise and degree customer bases. While the demand for upskilling employees is real, intense competition from LinkedIn, Pluralsight, and others may crimp growth and gross margins segment, while a lack of leverage with its content suppliers (university partners), plus edX’s open source alternative  weaken revenue sharing over time. A lack of tangible evidence of Coursera’s skills-based credentialing translating to jobs will result in underwhelming consumer growth and lack of pricing power. Downside risks around regulation and competitive incursion by tech platforms paired with an obscene valuation make a compelling short case. Base Case Valuation: $33                                  Bull Case: $57                                 Bear Case: $20Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

United States

Coursera, Inc. operates as an online educational company. The Company partners with universities and organizations to offer classes on their platform. Coursera serves clients worldwide.

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Coursera (COUR US)

Duolingo: Category Leader of Online Language Learning; 30%+ Upside

Duolingo is a category leader of online language learning and we believe Duolingo shares still have 30%+ upside potential in our bull case scenario

Andrei Zakharov

Weekly Innovation Review (WIRE) #43

Headline Developments: China has likened online computer games to opium, causing shares in Tencent (700.HK) and NetEase (9999.HK) to drop 10% and...

Granite Bay Capital

TMT Weekly: 4 Things That Stood Out the Week of 7/2/2021

Intel has more product delays, Coursera's chief competitor is acquired. IBM's email doesn't work and Redhat chief departs. Amazon tries to form a...

Aaron Gabin

Coursera 1Q21: Rising Employment Will Decelerate Growth

Coursera’s first quarterly earnings was confirmatory of our short thesis. The company guided to decelerating revenue growth with little to no...

Aaron Gabin

Coursera: Back to School

Coursera, an online education platform will see its business model decelerate faster than expected. Downside risks around regulation and...

Aaron Gabin

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Duolingo: Category Leader of Online Language Learning; 30%+ Upside

Duolingo is a category leader of online language learning and we believe Duolingo shares still have 30%+ upside potential in our bull case scenario

Andrei Zakharov

Weekly Innovation Review (WIRE) #43

Headline Developments: China has likened online computer games to opium, causing shares in Tencent (700.HK) and NetEase (9999.HK) to drop 10% and...

Granite Bay Capital

TMT Weekly: 4 Things That Stood Out the Week of 7/2/​2021

Intel has more product delays, Coursera's chief competitor is acquired. IBM's email doesn't work and Redhat chief departs. Amazon tries to form a...

Aaron Gabin

Coursera 1Q21: Rising Employment Will Decelerate Growth

Coursera’s first quarterly earnings was confirmatory of our short thesis. The company guided to decelerating revenue growth with little to no...

Aaron Gabin

Coursera: Back to School

Coursera, an online education platform will see its business model decelerate faster than expected. Downside risks around regulation and...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 4 Things That Stood Out the Week of 7/2/2021