Equity Analyst - Asia Consumer Sector, Investory

Devi Subhakesan

Equity Analyst - Asia Consumer Sector

ASIA CONSUMER: INSIGHTS AND INVESTMENT IDEAS

Investory

Investory is a Singapore-based boutique independent equity research firm founded in January 2017 with a primary focus on consumption themes across Asia-Pacific.

We aim to generate investible ideas based on consumption trends and outlook. We screen our ideas on several parameters - product potential, long-term growth and management commitment being the most critical.  We follow a fundamental analysis approach in our stock selection process and are not restricted by market cap.

We aspire to grow into a leading source of unbiased research, free of conflict of interest, for investors yearning for independent and disciplined analysis. 

We also undertake bespoke research mandates to support our Institutional clients’ investment needs.

Our team comprises of professionals with extensive experience in the Asian equity markets, in areas ranging from research, servicing institutional clients and investment management.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The comparison between <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mixue-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40623:1" rel="noopener">Mixue Group (2097 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guming-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40622:1" rel="noopener">Guming (1364 HK)'s</a> 2024 annual results highlight how their financial and operational performance diverged sharply.</li>
<li>Mixue's vertically integrated operations provide it a strong competitive edge and superior margins while Guming, operating in the mid-priced segment faced fierce competition</li>
<li>Mixue's high-quality earnings growth underscores a robust business model that attracts premium valuation multiples.</li>
</ul>


The comparison between Mixue Group (2097 HK) and Guming (1364 HK)'s 2024 annual results highlight how their financial and operational performance diverged sharply.
Mixue's vertically integrated operations provide it a strong competitive edge and superior margins while Guming, operating in the mid-priced segment faced fierce competition
Mixue's high-quality earnings growth underscores a robust business model that attracts premium valuation multiples.


Mixue Vs Guming: Valuation Premium. Comparing Earnings Growth in 2024

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>There have been 14 new listings on the Main Board of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX</a> in Q1. One listing is a transfer from the GEM Board and one is a De-SPAC.</li>
<li>Of the 14 stocks, we see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mixue-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40623:1" rel="noopener">Mixue Group (2097 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guming-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40622:1" rel="noopener">Guming Holdings (1364 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bloks-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43648:1" rel="noopener">Bloks Group (1850960D CH)</a> as potential HSCI inclusions in June.</li>
<li>There are no lock-up expiries in the stocks ahead of inclusion in Southbound Stock Connect and the low float could take the stocks higher ahead of the index inclusion announcement.</li>
</ul>


There have been 14 new listings on the Main Board of the HKEX in Q1. One listing is a transfer from the GEM Board and one is a De-SPAC.
Of the 14 stocks, we see Mixue Group (2097 HK), Guming Holdings (1364 HK) and Bloks Group (1850960D CH) as potential HSCI inclusions in June.
There are no lock-up expiries in the stocks ahead of inclusion in Southbound Stock Connect and the low float could take the stocks higher ahead of the index inclusion announcement.


HSCI Index Rebalance Preview: Three Hot Inclusions to Stock Connect in June

HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>MIXUE's IPO debut was stellar. the IPO pricing of HK$202.5/share was indeed conservative. MIXUE is able to obtain more valuation premium space after IPO from a relatively low IPO pricing.</li>
<li>However, concerns on future performance growth remains. Investors need to pay attention to the performance verification. Market sentiment is becoming “overheated”, and the pressure for short-term stock price corrections increases.</li>
<li>We updated our forecast for 2025-2027. If based on P/E of 20-25x, market value is HK$109.4-136.8 billion, HK$122.5-153.2 billion, HK$134.8-168.5 billion based on 2025, 2026 and 2027 net profit, respectively.  </li>
</ul>


MIXUE's IPO debut was stellar. the IPO pricing of HK$202.5/share was indeed conservative. MIXUE is able to obtain more valuation premium space after IPO from a relatively low IPO pricing.
However, concerns on future performance growth remains. Investors need to pay attention to the performance verification. Market sentiment is becoming “overheated”, and the pressure for short-term stock price corrections increases.
We updated our forecast for 2025-2027. If based on P/E of 20-25x, market value is HK$109.4-136.8 billion, HK$122.5-153.2 billion, HK$134.8-168.5 billion based on 2025, 2026 and 2027 net profit, respectively.  


MIXUE Group (2097.HK) - Updates on Performance Forecast and Valuation Outlook

<ul>
<li>MIXUE’s valuation should be higher than peers such as Guming and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sichuan-baicha-baidao-industrial-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40029:1" rel="noopener">Baicha Baidao Industrial</a>. A comfortable valuation range is 18-20 P/E, higher than peers. So, the IPO pricing is attractive.</li>
<li>2024 full-year net profit is HK$4.8 billion.Net profit could reach HK$5.7 billion (up 19% YoY), HK$6.6 billion (up 16% YoY), HK$7.6 billion (up 15% YoY) in 2025, 2026, 2027, respectively. </li>
<li>Since Nongfu Spring’s revenue scale/net profit margin is higher than MIXUE, MIXUE’s valuation should be lower than Nongfu Spring. Investors need to be alert to the post-IPO performance growth pressure.</li>
</ul>


MIXUE’s valuation should be higher than peers such as Guming and Baicha Baidao Industrial. A comfortable valuation range is 18-20 P/E, higher than peers. So, the IPO pricing is attractive.
2024 full-year net profit is HK$4.8 billion.Net profit could reach HK$5.7 billion (up 19% YoY), HK$6.6 billion (up 16% YoY), HK$7.6 billion (up 15% YoY) in 2025, 2026, 2027, respectively. 
Since Nongfu Spring’s revenue scale/net profit margin is higher than MIXUE, MIXUE’s valuation should be lower than Nongfu Spring. Investors need to be alert to the post-IPO performance growth pressure.


Pre-IPO MIXUE Group (2097.HK) - The IPO Is Attractively Priced

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mixue-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40623:1" rel="noopener">Mixue Group (2097 HK)</a> has a successful IPO in Hong Kong, with share price surged 43.2%. We will trim from here and will not buy at the current level.  </li>
<li>Our forecasts call for a decent 20.8% and 17.6% earnings growth for FY25 and FY26, putting it on RICH PERs of 19.1x for FY25 and 16.3x for FY26.</li>
<li>The Chinese tea sector has average PERs of 12.4x and 10.5x, suggesting MIXUE's leadership is well reflected in the over 50% premium, and the safety margin has significantly narrowed. </li>
</ul>



Mixue Group (2097 HK) has a successful IPO in Hong Kong, with share price surged 43.2%. We will trim from here and will not buy at the current level.  
Our forecasts call for a decent 20.8% and 17.6% earnings growth for FY25 and FY26, putting it on RICH PERs of 19.1x for FY25 and 16.3x for FY26.
The Chinese tea sector has average PERs of 12.4x and 10.5x, suggesting MIXUE's leadership is well reflected in the over 50% premium, and the safety margin has significantly narrowed. 


China

Guming Holdings Ltd operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, sells bubble tea.

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Guming Holdings (1364 HK)

Mixue Vs Guming: Valuation Premium. Comparing Earnings Growth in 2024

Annual results comparison reveals significant differences not only in growth pace but also in earnings quality and competitive pressure for both...

Devi Subhakesan

HSCI Index Rebalance Preview: Three Hot Inclusions to Stock Connect in June

There could be 3 adds to the HSCI and Southbound Stock Connect in June. There are no lock-up expiries in the stocks prior to June and the low float...

Brian Freitas

MIXUE Group (2097.HK) - Updates on Performance Forecast and Valuation Outlook

Stock price correction came shortly after MIXUE's valuation surpassed Nongfu Spring.Valuation by Mar.23 (31 P/E) was higher than industry average...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Pre-IPO MIXUE Group (2097.HK) - The IPO Is Attractively Priced

MIXUE's IPO debut was stellar.By March 3, market value was over HK$100 billion, higher than HK$86.4-96 billion range as analyzed in insight. P/E...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

MIXUE Group (2097 HK): What to Do Now?

MIXUE has a successful Hong Kong IPO with a 43.2% share price surge on the first day of trading, but caution is needed due to the high PER premium...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Mixue Vs Guming: Valuation Premium. Comparing Earnings Growth in 2024

Annual results comparison reveals significant differences not only in growth pace but also in earnings quality and competitive pressure for both...

Devi Subhakesan

HSCI Index Rebalance Preview: Three Hot Inclusions to Stock Connect in June

There could be 3 adds to the HSCI and Southbound Stock Connect in June. There are no lock-up expiries in the stocks prior to June and the low float...

Brian Freitas

MIXUE Group (2097.HK) - Updates on Performance Forecast and Valuation Outlook

Stock price correction came shortly after MIXUE's valuation surpassed Nongfu Spring.Valuation by Mar.23 (31 P/E) was higher than industry average...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Pre-IPO MIXUE Group (2097.HK) - The IPO Is Attractively Priced

MIXUE's IPO debut was stellar.By March 3, market value was over HK$100 billion, higher than HK$86.4-96 billion range as analyzed in insight. P/E...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

MIXUE Group (2097 HK): What to Do Now?

​MIXUE has a successful Hong Kong IPO with a 43.2% share price surge on the first day of trading, but caution is needed due to the high PER premium...

Osbert Tang, CFA

MIXUE has a successful Hong Kong IPO with a 43.2% share price surge on the first day of trading, but caution is needed due to the high PER premium...