Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/180/980/original/BANNER-BoxDec20.png?1609781008" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="180980"></figure></section><p>Within container shipping space, recent share price performance suggests investors believe the benefits of the cyclical upturn will mainly accrue to carriers like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evergreen-marine-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15428:1" rel="noopener">Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT)</a>.</p><p>To maintain a positive view on container carriers in the near- and medium-term, investors must embrace several key assumptions regarding demand, supply, and fuel prices. We lay out five of these key assumptions and the risks associated with them. </p><p>We conclude that investors may not fully appreciate all the risks facing the sector in early 2021. </p>

Within container shipping space, recent share price performance suggests investors believe the benefits of the cyclical upturn will mainly accrue to carriers like Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT).To maintain a positive view on container carriers in the near- and medium-term, investors must embrace several key assumptions regarding demand, supply, and fuel prices. We lay out five of these key assumptions and the risks associated with them. We conclude that investors may not fully appreciate all the risks facing the sector in early 2021. 

The Shaky Assumptions Behind Recent Strong Performance of Asian Container Carriers

Equity Capital Markets

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<p>In the first section of this note we review key themes of the last year within our regular coverage, which includes regional Logistics, Transportation, and Travel. We also measure year to date performance of some of the individual stocks we've closely tracked in 2020. </p>
<p>The second section of this note is a list of themes and ideas we expect to drive share price performance in Asian Logistics, Transportation, and Travel over the next 12 months. It concludes with some suggested 2021 Long / Short pair trade ideas in each of these three segments. </p>
<p>The third and final section of this note highlights several potential high-profile IPOs in the broader Asian Logistics space. Most of these potential deals are linked to large, well-known Chinese eCommerce fulfillment and "mobility" companies. </p>




In the first section of this note we review key themes of the last year within our regular coverage, which includes regional Logistics, Transportation, and Travel. We also measure year to date performance of some of the individual stocks we've closely tracked in 2020. 
The second section of this note is a list of themes and ideas we expect to drive share price performance in Asian Logistics, Transportation, and Travel over the next 12 months. It concludes with some suggested 2021 Long / Short pair trade ideas in each of these three segments. 
The third and final section of this note highlights several potential high-profile IPOs in the broader Asian Logistics space. Most of these potential deals are linked to large, well-known Chinese eCommerce fulfillment and "mobility" companies. 

TRACKING TRAFFIC/ 2020 Review | 2021 Preview | Potential IPOs in Logistics, Transportation & Travel

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/178/836/original/BANNER-CARGO.png?1608075975" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="178836"></figure></section><p>Strong North American imports continued in November, and it appears the usual peak season may be stretching into mid-December and even January. Average freight rates in November -- spot and contract combined --  rose by about 13% YoY for a second consecutive month. </p><p>But bunker (fuel) prices are also up compared to earlier in 2020. A spike in fuel prices in Q420 will likely eat into the nice gains in profitability shown by many carriers in Q220 and Q320. </p><p>Shares of carriers have performed very well after bottoming in the first half of the year, but in our view valuations now look stretched. Betting on further gains after these stocks have doubled and tripled over the course of a few months is very risky, in our view. </p>

Strong North American imports continued in November, and it appears the usual peak season may be stretching into mid-December and even January. Average freight rates in November -- spot and contract combined --  rose by about 13% YoY for a second consecutive month. But bunker (fuel) prices are also up compared to earlier in 2020. A spike in fuel prices in Q420 will likely eat into the nice gains in profitability shown by many carriers in Q220 and Q320. Shares of carriers have performed very well after bottoming in the first half of the year, but in our view valuations now look stretched. Betting on further gains after these stocks have doubled and tripled over the course of a few months is very risky, in our view. 

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Containers & Air Cargo: Volumes, Rates & Bunker All Firmer | Valuations Get Weird

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anta-sports-products-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10261:1" rel="noopener">Anta Sports Products (2020 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-construction-bank-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45:1" rel="noopener">China Construction Bank H (939 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunac-china-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:240:1" rel="noopener">Sunac China Holdings (1918 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:516:1" rel="noopener">HSBC Holdings (5 HK)</a>. Shorts decreased in most sectors led by Communication Services, Financials, Industrials, Real Estate, Energy and Utilities.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ana-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5308:1" rel="noopener">Ana Holdings (9202 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/suzuki-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:732:1" rel="noopener">Suzuki Motor (7269 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shionogi-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19535:1" rel="noopener">Shionogi &amp; Co (4507 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-electron-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:280:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Electron (8035 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tdk-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18847:1" rel="noopener">TDK Corp (6762 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased on Industrials, Health Care, Financials and Consumer Discretionary names.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, there was large short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-biologics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22932:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 KS)</a>. </p></div><div><p>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evergreen-marine-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15428:1" rel="noopener">Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/largan-precision-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9126:1" rel="noopener">Largan Precision (3008 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6450:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/compeq-manufacturing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9306:1" rel="noopener">Compeq Manufacturing (2313 TT)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/winbond-electronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9177:1" rel="noopener">Winbond Electronics (2344 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unimicron-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18778:1" rel="noopener">Unimicron Technology (3037 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nanya-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3269:1" rel="noopener">Nanya Technology (2408 TT)</a>. </p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Meituan (3690 HK), Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK) and Anta Sports Products (2020 HK) while there was short covering on Tencent Holdings (700 HK), China Construction Bank H (939 HK), Sunac China Holdings (1918 HK) and HSBC Holdings (5 HK). Shorts decreased in most sectors led by Communication Services, Financials, Industrials, Real Estate, Energy and Utilities.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Ana Holdings (9202 JP), Suzuki Motor (7269 JP), Shionogi &amp; Co (4507 JP) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) while shorts decreased on Fast Retailing (9983 JP), Tokyo Electron (8035 JP), Canon Inc (7751 JP) and TDK Corp (6762 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased on Industrials, Health Care, Financials and Consumer Discretionary names.In Korea, there was large short covering on Celltrion Inc (068270 KS), Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS), Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) and SK Hynix (000660 KS). Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT), Largan Precision (3008 TT), United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT) and Compeq Manufacturing (2313 TT) while shorts were covered on TSMC (2330 TT), Winbond Electronics (2344 TT), Unimicron Technology (3037 TT) and Nanya Technology (2408 TT). 

Asia Short Interest: BIG Covering in HK & Korea

<p>In this new monthly research product we introduce three Long / Short pair trade ideas in Chinese travel, Chinese express and logistics, and global container shipping. </p>
<p>These pair trade ideas are based mainly on expected fundamental change in each segment over the next 6-12 months. We'll focus on Asia, but occasionally we may place non-Asian names on either side of our pair ideas. Besides examining key secular and cyclical trends in each segment, we will consider relative valuations, and we'll strive to identify key catalysts and risks for each stock. </p>
<p>Broadly, the idea behind this new product is to identify and <em>own</em> companies we expect to profitably gain share or to reap outsized benefits from important secular and cyclical trends, then <em>short</em> names in the same segment that stand to lose the most to the 'winners' we select. </p>
<p>We'll be back in about a month with our first updates on these three proposed pairs!</p>

In this new monthly research product we introduce three Long / Short pair trade ideas in Chinese travel, Chinese express and logistics, and global container shipping. 
These pair trade ideas are based mainly on expected fundamental change in each segment over the next 6-12 months. We'll focus on Asia, but occasionally we may place non-Asian names on either side of our pair ideas. Besides examining key secular and cyclical trends in each segment, we will consider relative valuations, and we'll strive to identify key catalysts and risks for each stock. 
Broadly, the idea behind this new product is to identify and own companies we expect to profitably gain share or to reap outsized benefits from important secular and cyclical trends, then short names in the same segment that stand to lose the most to the 'winners' we select. 
We'll be back in about a month with our first updates on these three proposed pairs!

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Three Suggested Pair Trades in Travel, Express & Shipping

Taiwan

Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan) Ltd. transports freight by ships. The Company operates container ships to move freight throughout the world. Evergreen Marine has interests in terminals, airline operations and motor freight transportation, as well as container manufacturing.

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Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT)

The Shaky Assumptions Behind Recent Strong Performance of Asian Container Carriers

Container carriers have performed very well since mid-2020, and we concede we underestimated the strength of spot rates in recent weeks. But...

Tracking Traffic

TRACKING TRAFFIC/ 2020 Review | 2021 Preview | Potential IPOs in Logistics, Transportation & Travel

In this year-end piece we review key themes of 2020, look forward to emerging trends of 2021, and highlight some exciting companies that could...

Tracking Traffic

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Containers & Air Cargo: Volumes, Rates & Bunker All Firmer | Valuations Get Weird

Volumes and average freight rates firmed again in November, but so did fuel prices. Many shares of container carriers also jumped (again) this...

Tracking Traffic

Asia Short Interest: BIG Covering in HK & Korea

There was a big drop in short interest in Hong Kong and Korea while shorts rose in Japan mainly led by ANA on the back of the offering. Shorts in...

Brian Freitas

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Three Suggested Pair Trades in Travel, Express & Shipping

We're introducing a monthly pair trade idea product to go along with our monthly products covering Chinese travel and tourism, Chinese express, and...

Tracking Traffic

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