Equity Research Analyst - Long-Short

Raj S, CA, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Policy clarity and domestic GPU shift remove key overhangs; China’s AI build-out proceeding under self-reliance base case.</li>
<li>AI token usage doubling every 3–6 months makes hyperscaler capex upgrades inevitable over the coming quarters - a key catalyst driving order wins.</li>
<li>VNET’s 400 MW annual additions and REIT monetisation support 25–30% EBITDA CAGR per consensus; re-rating to 13-15x EV/ EBITDA from current 11x EV/EBITDA implies potential of 90% upside.</li>
</ul>


Policy clarity and domestic GPU shift remove key overhangs; China’s AI build-out proceeding under self-reliance base case.
AI token usage doubling every 3–6 months makes hyperscaler capex upgrades inevitable over the coming quarters - a key catalyst driving order wins.
VNET’s 400 MW annual additions and REIT monetisation support 25–30% EBITDA CAGR per consensus; re-rating to 13-15x EV/ EBITDA from current 11x EV/EBITDA implies potential of 90% upside.


VNET Group (VNET US) - Re-Rating On: Clarity on Chips, Geopolitics, and Hyperscaler Capex

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>China's cloud companies like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kingsoft-cloud-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36647:1" rel="noopener">Kingsoft Cloud Holdings (3896 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ming-yuan-cloud-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29268:1" rel="noopener">Ming Yuan Cloud Group (909 HK)</a> benefit from the democratization of AI its concurrent increased data needs.</li>
<li>China's telecom companies like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-unicom-hong-kong-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1016:1" rel="noopener">China Unicom Hong Kong (762 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-telecom-corp-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1015:1" rel="noopener">China Telecom (H) (728 HK)</a> are now major players in the country's AI ecosystem.</li>
<li>China's data center companies like GDS Holdings (9698 HK) , 21Vianet Group (VNET US) , and SUNeVision Holdings (1686 HK) are benefiting from the increased data needs of AI industry.</li>
</ul>


China's cloud companies like Kingsoft Cloud Holdings (3896 HK) and Ming Yuan Cloud Group (909 HK) benefit from the democratization of AI its concurrent increased data needs.
China's telecom companies like China Mobile (941 HK) , China Unicom Hong Kong (762 HK) and China Telecom (H) (728 HK) are now major players in the country's AI ecosystem.
China's data center companies like GDS Holdings (9698 HK) , 21Vianet Group (VNET US) , and SUNeVision Holdings (1686 HK) are benefiting from the increased data needs of AI industry.


Deepseek Rally Creates Winners in CLOUD, TELECOM and DATA CENTERS

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chindata-group-holdings-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29274:1" rel="noopener">Chindata Group (CD US)</a> disclosed a preliminary non-binding proposal from Bain Capital at US$8.00 per ADS, a 27.4% premium to the undisturbed price of US$6.28 per ADS.</li>
<li>For privatisation to succeed, shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares present and voting need to approve the deal. The offeror represents 87.39% of the total voting power. </li>
<li>While the offer is unattractive, Bain Capital’s voting rights ensure that the vote will pass. The key risks are regulatory approvals and timing. </li>
</ul>



Chindata Group (CD US) disclosed a preliminary non-binding proposal from Bain Capital at US$8.00 per ADS, a 27.4% premium to the undisturbed price of US$6.28 per ADS.
For privatisation to succeed, shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares present and voting need to approve the deal. The offeror represents 87.39% of the total voting power. 
While the offer is unattractive, Bain Capital’s voting rights ensure that the vote will pass. The key risks are regulatory approvals and timing. 


Chindata (CD US): Bain Capital’s Low-Balled Privatisation Offer

Listed Real Estate Asia, KT Capital Group

Jacob Cheng

Listed Real Estate Asia

KT Capital Group

Principal investments and advisory firm that focuses on connecting the CIS countries with East Asia.

Principal investments and advisory firm

<ul>
<li>The Fed announced a 25bps rate cut, which is largely anticipated by the market.  The SEP median estimate indicates 2 more cuts in 2025</li>
<li>Regarding HK policy address, there are no meaningful positive surprise related to the property market.  It highlights the importance of Northern Metropolis development, and improving home ownership, and talent admission</li>
<li>Investors should see-through these and focus on big picture: macro developments, monetary policy, and sector fundamentals.  Pick company with attractive valuation and catalysts: NWD, Link REIT, CICT, COLI, VNET, GDS</li>
</ul>


The Fed announced a 25bps rate cut, which is largely anticipated by the market.  The SEP median estimate indicates 2 more cuts in 2025
Regarding HK policy address, there are no meaningful positive surprise related to the property market.  It highlights the importance of Northern Metropolis development, and improving home ownership, and talent admission
Investors should see-through these and focus on big picture: macro developments, monetary policy, and sector fundamentals.  Pick company with attractive valuation and catalysts: NWD, Link REIT, CICT, COLI, VNET, GDS


RE Stock Implications from Fed's Rate Cut and HK PA: Focus on Big Picture, Macro and Sector Drivers

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>Following a rally in the stock over the last 3 months, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gds-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32157:1" rel="noopener">GDS Holdings (9698 HK)</a> / <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gds-holdings-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23649:1" rel="noopener">GDS Holdings (ADR) (GDS US)</a> could be added to a global index in August.</li>
<li>Short interest in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gds-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32157:1" rel="noopener">GDS Holdings (9698 HK)</a> has been increasing. Add the short interest in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gds-holdings-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23649:1" rel="noopener">GDS Holdings (ADR) (GDS US)</a> and the number is pretty big.</li>
<li>Despite the recent rally, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gds-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32157:1" rel="noopener">GDS Holdings (9698 HK)</a> trades cheaper than its closest peer and there could be opportunities to enter market neutral trades.</li>
</ul>


Following a rally in the stock over the last 3 months, GDS Holdings (9698 HK) / GDS Holdings (ADR) (GDS US) could be added to a global index in August.
Short interest in GDS Holdings (9698 HK) has been increasing. Add the short interest in GDS Holdings (ADR) (GDS US) and the number is pretty big.
Despite the recent rally, GDS Holdings (9698 HK) trades cheaper than its closest peer and there could be opportunities to enter market neutral trades.


GDS Holdings (9698 HK): Global Index Inclusion as Shorts Build Up

China

GDS Holdings Limited operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, develops and operates data centers. GDS Holdings offers risk and security management, information technology planing, remote monitoring, cloud hosting, virtualization, disaster recovery, and remote data protection services.

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GDS Holdings (ADR) (GDS US)

VNET Group (VNET US) - Re-Rating On: Clarity on Chips, Geopolitics, and Hyperscaler Capex

China's AI gains momentum with policy clarity and domestic GPU shift, driving potential 90% upside for VNET with 25-30% EBITDA CAGR as hyperscaler...

Raj S, CA, CFA

Deepseek Rally Creates Winners in CLOUD, TELECOM and DATA CENTERS

Cloud, Telecom and Data Center companies are winners from the DeepSeek sparked AI revolution. Increased data storage, processing and distribution...

David Mudd

Chindata (CD US): Bain Capital’s Low-Balled Privatisation Offer

While the offer is unattractive, Bain Capital’s voting rights ensure that the vote will pass. The key risks are regulatory approvals and timing.

Arun George

RE Stock Implications from Fed's Rate Cut and HK PA: Focus on Big Picture, Macro and Sector Drivers

Investors should see through Fed's 25bps rate cut and HK's Policy Address, and focus on macro development, geopolitical risks, as well as sector...

Jacob Cheng

GDS Holdings (9698 HK): Global Index Inclusion as Shorts Build Up

GDS Holdings could be added to a global index in August. That will drive passive buying and could lead to some shorts being covered. Positioning in...

Brian Freitas

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VNET Group (VNET US) - Re-Rating On: Clarity on Chips, Geopolitics, and Hyperscaler Capex

​China's AI gains momentum with policy clarity and domestic GPU shift, driving potential 90% upside for VNET with 25-30% EBITDA CAGR as hyperscaler...

Raj S, CA, CFA

Deepseek Rally Creates Winners in CLOUD, TELECOM and DATA CENTERS

Cloud, Telecom and Data Center companies are winners from the DeepSeek sparked AI revolution. Increased data storage, processing and distribution...

David Mudd

Chindata (CD US): Bain Capital’s Low-Balled Privatisation Offer

While the offer is unattractive, Bain Capital’s voting rights ensure that the vote will pass. The key risks are regulatory approvals and timing.

Arun George

RE Stock Implications from Fed's Rate Cut and HK PA: Focus on Big Picture, Macro and Sector Drivers

Investors should see through Fed's 25bps rate cut and HK's Policy Address, and focus on macro development, geopolitical risks, as well as sector...

Jacob Cheng

GDS Holdings (9698 HK): Global Index Inclusion as Shorts Build Up

GDS Holdings could be added to a global index in August. That will drive passive buying and could lead to some shorts being covered. Positioning in...

Brian Freitas

China's AI gains momentum with policy clarity and domestic GPU shift, driving potential 90% upside for VNET with 25-30% EBITDA CAGR as hyperscaler...