Blue Lotus Research Institute

Andy Fu

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>On August 7th, Meituan's on-demand order volume reached a historical high of 98mn on surging orders from street drinks. Meituan has connected to the backend systems of street drink vendors;</li>
<li>Delivery order is a double-edged sword. It boosts volume at the expense of margin. Further, the ownership of the volume is questionable;</li>
<li>With Pin-hao-fan, Meituan already atomized the small restaurants. Now Meituan is playing the same trick with street drinks. The result will be more dramatic to the benefit of Meituan.</li>
</ul>


On August 7th, Meituan's on-demand order volume reached a historical high of 98mn on surging orders from street drinks. Meituan has connected to the backend systems of street drink vendors;
Delivery order is a double-edged sword. It boosts volume at the expense of margin. Further, the ownership of the volume is questionable;
With Pin-hao-fan, Meituan already atomized the small restaurants. Now Meituan is playing the same trick with street drinks. The result will be more dramatic to the benefit of Meituan.


O2O Playing a More Prominent Role in China Street Drinks

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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yum-china-holdings-inc-0533692c-6dae-4014-baa1-ed0b050638f2" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29259:1" rel="noopener">Yum China Holdings (9987 HK)</a> reported a marginal 1% year-on-year increase in 2Q2024 revenue, driven by new store additions despite a decline in same-store sales.</li>
<li>Despite a challenging business environment, it achieved 8% year-on-year profit growth in Q2 and stabilised margins through sharp cost management and operational efficiency initiatives.</li>
<li>Without a clear visibility in improvement in consumer sentiment and spending, expect the tough operating environment to limit Yum China's revenue and profit growth potential.</li>
</ul>



Yum China Holdings (9987 HK) reported a marginal 1% year-on-year increase in 2Q2024 revenue, driven by new store additions despite a decline in same-store sales.
Despite a challenging business environment, it achieved 8% year-on-year profit growth in Q2 and stabilised margins through sharp cost management and operational efficiency initiatives.
Without a clear visibility in improvement in consumer sentiment and spending, expect the tough operating environment to limit Yum China's revenue and profit growth potential.


Yum China (9987 HK): 2Q 2024 - Market Expansion Can't Mask Macro Woes

Blue Lotus China New Economy Research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Eric Wen

Blue Lotus China New Economy Research

<ul>
<li>Luckin’s SSSG declined 20.9%YoY in the peak season, indicating diseconomies of scale for Luckin and a deteriorated competitive environment. We do not expect a quick turnaround in the near term.</li>
<li>We think Luckin has limited capability to further raise its prices in 3Q24, and expect its NPM to be 11.9%/7.1% in 3Q24/4Q24 as the new norm.</li>
<li>We keep SELL rating and lower TP to US$16.5/ADS. The stock trading at 20x/16x PE in 2024/2025, and we expect the NI to increase 15%CAGR in the next 2 years.</li>
</ul>


Luckin’s SSSG declined 20.9%YoY in the peak season, indicating diseconomies of scale for Luckin and a deteriorated competitive environment. We do not expect a quick turnaround in the near term.
We think Luckin has limited capability to further raise its prices in 3Q24, and expect its NPM to be 11.9%/7.1% in 3Q24/4Q24 as the new norm.
We keep SELL rating and lower TP to US$16.5/ADS. The stock trading at 20x/16x PE in 2024/2025, and we expect the NI to increase 15%CAGR in the next 2 years.


[Luckin Coffee (LKNCY US, SELL, TP US$16.5) TP Change]: Milkteaization Diminishes Differentiation

<ul>
<li>Luckin launched lemonade drinks with raging success of 5.08 mn cups sold for the first week, ~10% of store sales. Market cheered to send the stock higher;  </li>
<li>We view it with mixed feelings. While it is margin accretive and sales enhancing,  is not conducive to improving coffee penetration and cultivating consumers' habit for drinking coffee;</li>
<li>We see Luckin as increasingly one of, instead of the, street drink company, because lemonade is actually the top selling SKU of all milk tea vendors in China. </li>
</ul>


Luckin launched lemonade drinks with raging success of 5.08 mn cups sold for the first week, ~10% of store sales. Market cheered to send the stock higher;  
We view it with mixed feelings. While it is margin accretive and sales enhancing,  is not conducive to improving coffee penetration and cultivating consumers' habit for drinking coffee;
We see Luckin as increasingly one of, instead of the, street drink company, because lemonade is actually the top selling SKU of all milk tea vendors in China. 


Luckin's Small Step into Non-Coffee Drinks Is a Big Step of Its Future Directions

<ul>
<li>Despite Cotti’s difficulties, we are seeing intensified competition with well-funded competitors like Starbucks and KFC, joining the price war, which poses challenges to Luckin’s effort at raising prices.</li>
<li>We see Luckin at losing its coffee differentiation. We revised down average store sales growth to (5%)/(10%)YoY due to weak sales caused by the narrowing scope of the RMB9.9 promotion</li>
<li>We downgrade the stock rating from BUY to SELL and lower TP to US$17/ADS.</li>
</ul>


Despite Cotti’s difficulties, we are seeing intensified competition with well-funded competitors like Starbucks and KFC, joining the price war, which poses challenges to Luckin’s effort at raising prices.
We see Luckin at losing its coffee differentiation. We revised down average store sales growth to (5%)/(10%)YoY due to weak sales caused by the narrowing scope of the RMB9.9 promotion
We downgrade the stock rating from BUY to SELL and lower TP to US$17/ADS.


[Luckin (LKNCY US, SELL, TP US$17) Rating Change]: Old Tricks Might Have Run Out of Its Use

China

Luckin Coffee Inc. provides non-alcoholic beverages. The Company offers various types of coffee. Luckin Coffee serves customers in China.

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Luckin Coffee (LKNCY US)

O2O Playing a More Prominent Role in China Street Drinks

Meituan benefits from surge in delivery orders for street drinks, reaching record high order volume on August 7. Street drink brands are more rely...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Yum China (9987 HK): 2Q 2024 - Market Expansion Can't Mask Macro Woes

Unless macro economic headwinds ease, the stock - currently trading at the low end of its historical valuation range (14X P/E and 2% dividend...

Devi Subhakesan