Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>E Mart Inc (139480 KS) has been a strong outperformer this year (up 5.6% YTD) versus KOSPI which is down 5.8% in the same period. </li>
<li>We expect E Mart to outperform the market in the rest of 2024 driven by two major factors including "open on Sundays" policy and focus on low P/B stocks. </li>
<li>E Mart is trading at P/B of 0.2x versus Coupang which is trading at P/B of 8.3x. E Mart is more attractive than Coupang, especially considering the recent catalysts. </li>
</ul>


E Mart Inc (139480 KS) has been a strong outperformer this year (up 5.6% YTD) versus KOSPI which is down 5.8% in the same period. 
We expect E Mart to outperform the market in the rest of 2024 driven by two major factors including "open on Sundays" policy and focus on low P/B stocks. 
E Mart is trading at P/B of 0.2x versus Coupang which is trading at P/B of 8.3x. E Mart is more attractive than Coupang, especially considering the recent catalysts. 


Emart: Double Catalysts Of "Open on Sundays" + Focus on Low P/B Stocks

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

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

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The Korean government has introduced policies ahead of April's elections, with a recent notable announcement addressing the "Korea Discount" by enhancing low PBR stock valuations.</li>
<li>A leading proposal involves creating an index of low PBR companies. There are hints of listing ETFs tracking this index, with potential directives compelling pension funds to invest.</li>
<li>Identifying early inclusions is vital. High-likelihood candidates are low PBR large caps with maintained earnings, dividends/share buyback potential, including Hyundai Dept, E-Mart, Hyundai Steel, IBK, Korean Re, &amp; DL E&amp;C.</li>
</ul>


The Korean government has introduced policies ahead of April's elections, with a recent notable announcement addressing the "Korea Discount" by enhancing low PBR stock valuations.
A leading proposal involves creating an index of low PBR companies. There are hints of listing ETFs tracking this index, with potential directives compelling pension funds to invest.
Identifying early inclusions is vital. High-likelihood candidates are low PBR large caps with maintained earnings, dividends/share buyback potential, including Hyundai Dept, E-Mart, Hyundai Steel, IBK, Korean Re, &amp; DL E&amp;C.


Identifying Specific Implementation Plans for Korea's Low-PBR Improvement Policy

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun mentioned that too many companies in Korea are trading below book value and the FSC plans to implement changes to improve upon this issue. </li>
<li>According to Korea Exchange, 1,111 companies out of total listed in KOSPI and KOSDAQ in Korea (2,538) are trading at below 1x book value (PBR) (liquidation value). </li>
<li>According to the Capital Group, about 39% of companies in the TOPIX trade below book value, compared to just 5% for companies in the S&amp;P 500 Index. </li>
</ul>


FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun mentioned that too many companies in Korea are trading below book value and the FSC plans to implement changes to improve upon this issue. 
According to Korea Exchange, 1,111 companies out of total listed in KOSPI and KOSDAQ in Korea (2,538) are trading at below 1x book value (PBR) (liquidation value). 
According to the Capital Group, about 39% of companies in the TOPIX trade below book value, compared to just 5% for companies in the S&amp;P 500 Index. 


44% of Korean Stocks Are Trading Below Book Value - FSC Wants to Improve This (Following Japan)

Quantitative Researcher, MRM Research

Nico Rosti

Quantitative Researcher

MRM Research

Quantitative Research

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>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 INDEX</a> has reached a tipping point: the previous Bull run trend is cracking, there is a high chance the index will drop.</li>
<li>The current MRM WEEKLY pattern is bearish: if the index falls for more than 1 week it may tailspin into a 4-6 weeks correction in September.</li>
<li>Cover your LONG holdings, support can be found at 325 (Q2), 315 (Q3) and 297 (Inner Fence).</li>
</ul>


The KOSPI 200 INDEX has reached a tipping point: the previous Bull run trend is cracking, there is a high chance the index will drop.
The current MRM WEEKLY pattern is bearish: if the index falls for more than 1 week it may tailspin into a 4-6 weeks correction in September.
Cover your LONG holdings, support can be found at 325 (Q2), 315 (Q3) and 297 (Inner Fence).


EQD | KOSPI 200 Index's Decisive Week: New WEEKLY LONG Supports

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

<ul>
<li>The JPX Nikkei 400 index rebalance will take place on Wednesday, MSIC on Thursday and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">HSI</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">HSCEI</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-tech-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31367:1" rel="noopener">HSTECH</a> and HSCI on Friday.</li>
<li>There are review cutoffs for the MVIS family of indices, and multiple announcements of changes to various indices during the week.</li>
<li>There were inflows to mainland China ETFs, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-india-etf" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:282:1" rel="noopener">iShares India ETF (INDA)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-india-small-cap" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32064:1" rel="noopener">Ishares India Small-Cap (SMIN)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-emerging-markets-223f5da3-7054-4e4f-bc55-b7f0852c2581" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31998:1" rel="noopener">iShares EmergingMarkets ex China (EMXC)</a> while there were outflows for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-emerging-markets" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:438:1" rel="noopener">iShares Emerging Markets (EEM)</a>.</li>
</ul>


The JPX Nikkei 400 index rebalance will take place on Wednesday, MSIC on Thursday and HSI, HSCEI, HSTECH and HSCI on Friday.
There are review cutoffs for the MVIS family of indices, and multiple announcements of changes to various indices during the week.
There were inflows to mainland China ETFs, iShares India ETF (INDA), Ishares India Small-Cap (SMIN) and iShares EmergingMarkets ex China (EMXC) while there were outflows for iShares Emerging Markets (EEM).


Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: HSCEI, HSI, HSTECH, Yuanta ETFs, China ETFs, REMX, KOSPI

South Korea

E-MART Inc. operates E-Mart discount stores. The Company retails food, clothing, household goods, electronics, and other items through several branch stores.

E Mart Inc (139480 KS)

Emart: Double Catalysts Of "Open on Sundays" + Focus on Low P/B Stocks

We expect E Mart to outperform the market in the rest of 2024 driven by two major factors including "open on Sundays" policy and focus on low P/B...

Douglas Kim

Identifying Specific Implementation Plans for Korea's Low-PBR Improvement Policy

You'll find the Excel file with targeted names related to low PBR attached below in the DISCUSSION Section. I screened based on estimated consensus...

Sanghyun Park

44% of Korean Stocks Are Trading Below Book Value - FSC Wants to Improve This (Following Japan)

A 44% of Korean stocks are trading below book value. FSC wants to improve this, following Japan's "name and shame" policy.

Douglas Kim

EQD | KOSPI 200 Index's Decisive Week: New WEEKLY LONG Supports

The KOSPI 200 Index may have reached the end of its 2023 rally: a correction is probable in September, read the MRM LONG support prices to know...

Nico Rosti

Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: HSCEI, HSI, HSTECH, Yuanta ETFs, China ETFs, REMX, KOSPI

This recap highlights Insights covering Asian index rebalances (announcements/ forecasts/ IPO Fast Entry/ M&A driven changes). We also highlight...

Brian Freitas