Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Bottom-Up

Lithia Motors Inc Cl A / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>This is our first report on automotive retailer, Lithia Motors.</li><li>The company had a strong Q4 2023, with revenues growing by 11% from last year to reach $7.7 billion.</li><li>The company's revenue increase was primarily driven by robust new vehicle sales, with same-store units increasing by 10% and aftersales revenues growing by 3%.</li></ul>

This is our first report on automotive retailer, Lithia Motors.The company had a strong Q4 2023, with revenues growing by 11% from last year to reach $7.7 billion.The company's revenue increase was primarily driven by robust new vehicle sales, with same-store units increasing by 10% and aftersales revenues growing by 3%.

Lithia Motors: Initiation Of Coverage - A Story Of UK Market Growth Through The Pendragon Acquisition

European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>On 17 October, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/autonation-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16548:1" rel="noopener">Autonation Inc (AN US)</a> also withdrew its proposal for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pendragon-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22080:1" rel="noopener">Pendragon PLC (PDG LN)</a>. Lithia's deal is likely to obtain shareholder's approval, for lack of a better offer.</li>
<li>Holding on would mean receiving 24.5p and staying in a small cap SaaS, whose shares are implicitly valued at 6.5p, instead of the 10.9p that Pendragon claims it is worth.</li>
<li>Readacross: Hedin, AutoNation, or someone else, could take a closer look at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vertu-motors-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23247:1" rel="noopener">Vertu Motors (VTU LN)</a>.</li>
</ul>


On 17 October, Autonation Inc (AN US) also withdrew its proposal for Pendragon PLC (PDG LN). Lithia's deal is likely to obtain shareholder's approval, for lack of a better offer.
Holding on would mean receiving 24.5p and staying in a small cap SaaS, whose shares are implicitly valued at 6.5p, instead of the 10.9p that Pendragon claims it is worth.
Readacross: Hedin, AutoNation, or someone else, could take a closer look at Vertu Motors (VTU LN).


<ul>
<li>The game is on with the sweetened offer from Lithia, valued at 35.4p/share (24.5p divi + stake in Pinewood). <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pendragon-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22080:1" rel="noopener">Pendragon PLC (PDG LN)</a>'s shares are trading just below, at 35.2p.</li>
<li>It is now the turn of either Hedin or AutoNation to raise their offers. 32p/share seems a fair value for the standalone business. Synergies could be worth up to 10.54p/share.</li>
<li>Assuming a bidder distributes 60% of synergies to Pendragon shareholders, a potential offer price of 38.3p/share, in cash, 8% above Lithia's offer, could still be value enhancing.</li>
</ul>


The game is on with the sweetened offer from Lithia, valued at 35.4p/share (24.5p divi + stake in Pinewood). Pendragon PLC (PDG LN)'s shares are trading just below, at 35.2p.
It is now the turn of either Hedin or AutoNation to raise their offers. 32p/share seems a fair value for the standalone business. Synergies could be worth up to 10.54p/share.
Assuming a bidder distributes 60% of synergies to Pendragon shareholders, a potential offer price of 38.3p/share, in cash, 8% above Lithia's offer, could still be value enhancing.


<ul>
<li>My comparables derived valuation of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pendragon-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22080:1" rel="noopener">Pendragon PLC (PDG LN)</a> is 32p/share, above the value of Lithia's "package" and spot-on Hedin's unsolicited &amp; preliminary revised offer (well above its initial lowball offer).</li>
<li>The market seems skeptical about the future prospects of Pinewood. Putting it on a 13.3x multiple, the value of the business would still be c. 11p/share, hardly a game-changer.</li>
<li>The revised Hedin's offer is 17% above Lithia's, with no execution risk (Hedin backing off again seems less likely), and probably enough to win Board's recommendation. Gross spread, 5.6%. Long.</li>
</ul>


My comparables derived valuation of Pendragon PLC (PDG LN) is 32p/share, above the value of Lithia's "package" and spot-on Hedin's unsolicited &amp; preliminary revised offer (well above its initial lowball offer).
The market seems skeptical about the future prospects of Pinewood. Putting it on a 13.3x multiple, the value of the business would still be c. 11p/share, hardly a game-changer.
The revised Hedin's offer is 17% above Lithia's, with no execution risk (Hedin backing off again seems less likely), and probably enough to win Board's recommendation. Gross spread, 5.6%. Long.


Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

Advanced Micro Devices / Technical Analysis

<p>The market continues to send mixed signals and we remain cautious and selective, preferring large-caps over small-caps, growth over value, and defensives (Utilities, Staples, REITs, Health Care) over cyclical value (Energy, Materials, Manufacturing, Transportation, Financials). While market dynamics suggest a 5-15% pullback is in the cards, there continues to be an absence of breakdowns at the index and Sector level; even the weaker Sectors such as Energy and Transportation are not yet breaking down. Until we start to see breakdowns at the Sector and index level, we remain constructive overall.</p>

The market continues to send mixed signals and we remain cautious and selective, preferring large-caps over small-caps, growth over value, and defensives (Utilities, Staples, REITs, Health Care) over cyclical value (Energy, Materials, Manufacturing, Transportation, Financials). While market dynamics suggest a 5-15% pullback is in the cards, there continues to be an absence of breakdowns at the index and Sector level; even the weaker Sectors such as Energy and Transportation are not yet breaking down. Until we start to see breakdowns at the Sector and index level, we remain constructive overall.

U.S. Equity Strategy: Buying Semiconductors, Auto Dealers, and Asset Mgmt/Custody Banks

United States

Lithia Motors, Inc. retails, finances, and services new and used vehicles. The Company also provides other related services and products, such as the sale of parts and accessories, extended service contracts, aftermarket automotive products, and collision repair services. Lithia Motors operates throughout the United States.

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Lithia Motors Inc Cl A (LAD US)

Lithia Motors: Initiation Of Coverage - A Story Of UK Market Growth Through The Pendragon Acquisition

This is our first report on automotive retailer, Lithia Motors. The company had a strong Q4 2023, with revenues growing by 11% from last year to...

Baptista Research

AutoNation Drops from the Race

On 17 October, Autonation Inc (AN US) also withdrew its proposal for Pendragon PLC (PDG LN). Lithia's deal is likely to obtain shareholder's...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Proposals, Sweetened Offers & Synergies

The game is on with the sweetened offer from Lithia, valued at 35.4p/share (24.5p divi + stake in Pinewood). Pendragon's shares are trading just...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Hedin and Lithia Struggle for Pendragon

On 22 September, Hedin submitted a revised offer at 32p (4.1x EV/NTM Fwd EBITDA, in line with the median of UK comparables). If Lithia wants to...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

U.S. Equity Strategy: Buying Semiconductors, Auto Dealers, and Asset Mgmt/Custody Banks

Despite our overall cautious outlook, several areas are attractive and buyable, including: Semiconductors, Auto Dealers, and Asset Management...

Vermilion Research

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