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

<ul><li>This is our first report on EV major, Lucid Group.</li><li>The company's Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings recognized Lucid’s leaps in gaining industry credibility and numerous accolades over the past few years.</li><li>The company has also made significant strides in proving its technological competency, through the launch of Lucid Air Sapphire and the Lucid Air Pure, underscoring Lucid's extension into new total addressable market segments.</li></ul>

This is our first report on EV major, Lucid Group.The company's Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings recognized Lucid’s leaps in gaining industry credibility and numerous accolades over the past few years.The company has also made significant strides in proving its technological competency, through the launch of Lucid Air Sapphire and the Lucid Air Pure, underscoring Lucid's extension into new total addressable market segments.

Lucid Group: Initiation of Coverage - These Are The 3 Biggest Challenges On The Road Ahead For This EV Maker! - Major Drivers

President, Vision Research

Robert C Prather Jr

President

Vision Research

Vision Research was formed in 2004 with the vision of generating the best possible fundamental analysis and investment research for smid cap US equities. In 2008, we broadened our coverage to include mid/large cap US stocks.  After researching a  few ideas outside the US each year for a number of years, we launched a dedicated non-US equity product at the end of 2015.  This was followed by the introduction of a product focused on IPOs in mid-2017.

Fundamental Insight

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Big valuation and multiples despite on delivering its first care in 4Q21 (no revenues and burning free cash flow)</li>
<li>Lofty delivery goals provided for 2022 and 2023....already disappointing investors</li>
<li>Optimistic market share and ASP assumptions have been made by management</li>
</ul>


Big valuation and multiples despite on delivering its first care in 4Q21 (no revenues and burning free cash flow)
Lofty delivery goals provided for 2022 and 2023....already disappointing investors
Optimistic market share and ASP assumptions have been made by management


Lucid (LCID) - Is This a Lucid Investment Opportunity?

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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vinfast-auto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36550:1" rel="noopener">Vinfast (VFS US)</a>, a Vietnamese EV manufacturer and a majority-owned affiliate of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vingroup-jsc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13213:1" rel="noopener">Vingroup Jsc (VIC VN)</a>, completed its merger with Black Spade on 14 August. </li>
<li>Due to the low float, the shares have been on a wild ride, with the last close of US$6.56 materially below the high of US$82.35 per share.</li>
<li>VinFast remains an avoid due to related party-driven EV sales, declining customer traction, operating losses, cash burn, equity raise overhang and frothy valuation.  </li>
</ul>



Vinfast (VFS US), a Vietnamese EV manufacturer and a majority-owned affiliate of Vingroup Jsc (VIC VN), completed its merger with Black Spade on 14 August. 
Due to the low float, the shares have been on a wild ride, with the last close of US$6.56 materially below the high of US$82.35 per share.
VinFast remains an avoid due to related party-driven EV sales, declining customer traction, operating losses, cash burn, equity raise overhang and frothy valuation.  


2024 High Conviction: VinFast (VFS US) – Heading for Trouble

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vinfast" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36550:1" rel="noopener">VinFast (1905332D VN)</a>, a Vietnamese EV (electric vehicle) manufacturer and a majority-owned affiliate of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vingroup-jsc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13213:1" rel="noopener">Vingroup Jsc (VIC VN)</a>, completed its merger with Black Spade. </li>
<li>The shares closed 3.7x up on the first day with a market cap of US$86bn. The pop is partly due to low float resulting from the controlling shareholder's 99.0% stake. </li>
<li>VinFast faces headwinds of poor reviews, declining customer traction, ongoing losses and cash burn. VinFast is trading at a material premium to peers on growth-adjusted multiples.  </li>
</ul>



VinFast (1905332D VN), a Vietnamese EV (electric vehicle) manufacturer and a majority-owned affiliate of Vingroup Jsc (VIC VN), completed its merger with Black Spade. 
The shares closed 3.7x up on the first day with a market cap of US$86bn. The pop is partly due to low float resulting from the controlling shareholder's 99.0% stake. 
VinFast faces headwinds of poor reviews, declining customer traction, ongoing losses and cash burn. VinFast is trading at a material premium to peers on growth-adjusted multiples.  


Equity, Bottom-up Analyst, Investics Research

Sameer Taneja

Equity, Bottom-up Analyst

Investics Research

It is important to note that the information provided by Investics Research is based on publicly available data and own knowledge, which has been gathered and analyzed from a variety of sources. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information provided, it is not guaranteed to be free from errors or omissions. All forecasts and estimates are based on information that has been obtained from public sources that are considered to be reliable. The sources include but are not limited to, company announcements, exchange filings, presentations, etc. Investics does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the forecasts, estimates, and/or other information.

Equity Bottom-up Research

Eva Precision Industrial Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/eva-precision-industrial-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17511:1" rel="noopener">Eva Precision Industrial Holdings (838 HK)</a> is a beneficiary of EV penetration globally and in China, trading at 9.4x /5.6x FY22/23e and 3.2%/5.3% dividend yield (30% payout ratio).</li>
<li>H1 2022 was groundbreaking for the company as it commenced strategic cooperation with  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/byd-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20962:1" rel="noopener">BYD (1211 HK)</a> on products and bagged orders from Huwaei and Tesla, with more coming in H2.</li>
<li>There is additional room for buybacks as the stock price is &lt; 2HKD and the company only completed 3-4% of its 200 mn HKD buyback.</li>
</ul>



Eva Precision Industrial Holdings (838 HK) is a beneficiary of EV penetration globally and in China, trading at 9.4x /5.6x FY22/23e and 3.2%/5.3% dividend yield (30% payout ratio).
H1 2022 was groundbreaking for the company as it commenced strategic cooperation with  BYD (1211 HK) on products and bagged orders from Huwaei and Tesla, with more coming in H2.
There is additional room for buybacks as the stock price is &lt; 2HKD and the company only completed 3-4% of its 200 mn HKD buyback.


EVA Precision: Poor Mans Tesla/ EV Play/ Onwards and Upwards from H1 2022

United States

Lucid Group Inc. operates as an automotive company. The Company manufactures luxury electric cars, as well as provides energy storage and original equipment solutions. Lucid Group serves customers in the United States and Canada.

Lucid Group (LCID US)

Lucid Group: Initiation of Coverage - These Are The 3 Biggest Challenges On The Road Ahead For This EV Maker! - Major Drivers

This is our first report on EV major, Lucid Group. The company's Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings recognized Lucid’s leaps in gaining industry...

Baptista Research

Lucid (LCID) - Is This a Lucid Investment Opportunity?

Aggressive original assumptions must be recalibrated after guiding deliveries down ~35% from original 2022 guidance and pushing out the timing of...

Robert C Prather Jr

2024 High Conviction: VinFast (VFS US) – Heading for Trouble

VinFast remains an avoid due to related party-driven EV sales, declining customer traction, operating losses, cash burn, equity raise overhang and...

Arun George

VinFast: Inexplicable Valuation

VinFast faces headwinds of poor reviews, declining customer traction, ongoing losses and cash burn. VinFast is trading at a material premium to...

Arun George

EVA Precision: Poor Mans Tesla/ EV Play/ Onwards and Upwards from H1 2022

Eva Precision Industrial Holdings (838 HK) is a beneficiary of EV penetration globally and in China, trading at 9.4x /5.6x FY22/23e and 3.2%/5.3%...

Sameer Taneja