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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

In this Smartkarma Original Series report, we scan the Asia Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) channel space for Consumer Packaged Goods to identify the verticals that have gained wider consumer acceptance and witnessed steady growth in each of the key geographies - China, South East Asia, and India. We look into the factors that enabled notable D2C brands in the Beauty, Fashion, and Food verticals to make steady inroads and disrupt the sector within a short period. We discuss the D2C ecosystem, brand journey and key challenges. 2020 has been the year that fast-tracked online retail penetration in most parts of Asia. In this context, we profile D2C brands with either a dominant segment presence or unique business model to gain a deeper understanding of the Asia D2C landscape.
What is original about this report? Insights and takeaways for Investors in Asia D2C branded players in consumer space based on our comparative study of the segment across three key geographies - China, SE Asia, and India. China's early march in digital transformation and D2C market space offers valuable lessons to players/investors in early-stage digital markets like India which is witnessing aggressive traction in this space. Insights discussed in the report have mostly been weaned from the startup experiences shared by founders of reputed D2C brands. The report also analyses investment outlook for select digitally native D2C brands with lead segment presence and/or unique business models.

 In this Smartkarma Original Series report, we scan the Asia Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) channel space for Consumer Packaged Goods to identify the verticals that have gained wider consumer acceptance and witnessed steady growth in each of the key geographies - China, South East Asia, and India. We look into the factors that enabled notable D2C brands in the Beauty, Fashion, and Food verticals to make steady inroads and disrupt the sector within a short period. We discuss the D2C ecosystem, brand journey and key challenges. 2020 has been the year that fast-tracked online retail penetration in most parts of Asia. In this context, we profile D2C brands with either a dominant segment presence or unique business model to gain a deeper understanding of the Asia D2C landscape.
What is original about this report? Insights and takeaways for Investors in Asia D2C branded players in consumer space based on our comparative study of the segment across three key geographies - China, SE Asia, and India. China's early march in digital transformation and D2C market space offers valuable lessons to players/investors in early-stage digital markets like India which is witnessing aggressive traction in this space. Insights discussed in the report have mostly been weaned from the startup experiences shared by founders of reputed D2C brands. The report also analyses investment outlook for select digitally native D2C brands with lead segment presence and/or unique business models.

D2C Brands in Asia: Disruption Potential in Consumer Space

US-EU Index Rebalances / Quantitative Researcher

Dimitris Ioannidis

Global Financial Data and Analytics Platform

ORTEX

ORTEX is a global financial data and analytics platform providing real-time securities lending and short interest data, index rebalance data, holdings and insider transactions, trading signals, corporate actions and news,  stock machine learning and factor scores and other analytics. The majority of the data are downloadable and accessible through APIs.

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seagate-technology-holdings-pl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9129:1" rel="noopener">Seagate Technology (STX US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alnylam-pharmaceuticals-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2191:1" rel="noopener">Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/western-digital-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1094:1" rel="noopener">Western Digital (WDC US)</a> are the top forecasted additions with the highest price surge.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trade-desk-inc-the" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26467:1" rel="noopener">Trade Desk (TTD US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/on-semiconductor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2729:1" rel="noopener">On Semiconductor (ON US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lululemon-athletica-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8316:1" rel="noopener">Lululemon Athletica (LULU US)</a> are the forecasted deletions with the largest price drop.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ferrovial-se-d1237de2-ee34-4fbb-8db7-53dd686904f2" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46086:1" rel="noopener">Ferrovial (FER US)</a> can be a surprise addition depending on the treatment of its foreign listing.</li>
</ul>



Seagate Technology (STX US), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY US) and Western Digital (WDC US) are the top forecasted additions with the highest price surge.

Trade Desk (TTD US), On Semiconductor (ON US) and Lululemon Athletica (LULU US) are the forecasted deletions with the largest price drop.

Ferrovial (FER US) can be a surprise addition depending on the treatment of its foreign listing.


Nasdaq100 December 2025 Forecast (Final): 12 Changes

European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

<ul>
<li>Ferrovial sits in a strong position for Nasdaq-100 second-round inclusion, with several incumbents likely to drop below rank 125.</li>
<li>Inclusion could trigger ~$315M passive inflows and broaden U.S. investor ownership.</li>
<li>Fundamentals already reflect a U.S.-centric infra operator, supported by JFK NTO and toll-road ramp-ups through 2027.</li>
</ul>


Ferrovial sits in a strong position for Nasdaq-100 second-round inclusion, with several incumbents likely to drop below rank 125.
Inclusion could trigger ~$315M passive inflows and broaden U.S. investor ownership.
Fundamentals already reflect a U.S.-centric infra operator, supported by JFK NTO and toll-road ramp-ups through 2027.


Positioned for the Upgrade: Ferrovial’s Path Into the Nasdaq-100

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>Lululemon Athletica Inc. reported its second-quarter fiscal 2025 results, highlighting both triumphs and challenges faced amidst a dynamic retail environment.</li><li>The period saw Lululemon exceed earnings per share (EPS) projections; however, it fell short on revenue guidance, resulting in a downward revision of full-year revenue and earnings expectations.</li><li>The company's resilience in international markets, driven particularly by robust growth in China, was notable, yet the U.S. segment underperformed amid a challenging premium athletic wear market landscape.</li></ul>

Lululemon Athletica Inc. reported its second-quarter fiscal 2025 results, highlighting both triumphs and challenges faced amidst a dynamic retail environment.The period saw Lululemon exceed earnings per share (EPS) projections; however, it fell short on revenue guidance, resulting in a downward revision of full-year revenue and earnings expectations.The company's resilience in international markets, driven particularly by robust growth in China, was notable, yet the U.S. segment underperformed amid a challenging premium athletic wear market landscape.

Lululemon Athletica: Strengthening Supply Chain Agility to Sustain Market Competitiveness & Growth!

Mostly Borrowed Ideas Deep Dives, MBI Deep Dives

MBI Deep Dives

Mostly Borrowed Ideas Deep Dives

MBI is the abbreviation for “Mostly Borrowed Ideas”. Why “Mostly Borrowed Ideas?” As a generalist, I do not have a background in any particular sector. I enjoy navigating across industries, businesses, and countries to learn, understand, and connect the dots. In any case, most ideas and innovations are incremental in nature. Very few of us are smart enough to come up with truly original or groundbreaking ideas. I am Abdullah Al-Rezwan. I was born and brought up in Bangladesh. I went to University of Dhaka for my undergrad and majored in Finance. After working three and half years in Equity Research (Sell-side) covering Financial Sector in Bangladesh, I left Bangladesh to pursue my MBA in the US. I graduated within top 10% of the class from Cornell University's two-year MBA program and worked on the buy-side following my graduation. During my time at Cornell, I won two stock pitch competitions and also became finalists in four other competitions. I thoroughly enjoyed my stint as a generalist in the US large cap team at Madison Investments and covered a wide range of companies from UnitedHealth to Amazon and Boeing before US immigration reality paused my career in investment management. As my work authorization expired, I moved to Canada in January, 2021. Then in early 2022, I was able to return to the US.

<ul><li>Lulu is again back to LSD growth in the US; what makes it more disappointing is they actually had a somewhat easier comparison since 1Q’24 growth was just 2%.</li><li>Canada, despite a low double digit growth in 1Q’24, again had higher growth than the US this quarter.</li><li>China and Rest of the World (RoW) maintained healthy growth rates but growth has materially decelerated. </li></ul>

Lulu is again back to LSD growth in the US; what makes it more disappointing is they actually had a somewhat easier comparison since 1Q’24 growth was just 2%.Canada, despite a low double digit growth in 1Q’24, again had higher growth than the US this quarter.China and Rest of the World (RoW) maintained healthy growth rates but growth has materially decelerated. 

United States

lululemon athletica Inc. designs and retails athletic clothing.  The Company produces fitness pants, shorts, tops and jackets for yoga, dance, running, and general fitness. lululemon serves customers throughout the world.

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Lululemon Athletica (LULU US)

D2C Brands in Asia: Disruption Potential in Consumer Space

Insights for investors based on comparative study of Asia D2C landscape across India, SE Asia & China.Analysis of relative segment attractiveness....

Devi Subhakesan

Nasdaq100 December 2025 Forecast (Final): 12 Changes

STX, ALNY, WDC are the top forecasted addition. TTD, ON, LULU are the top forecasted deletions. FER can be a surprise addition displacing EBAY.

Dimitris Ioannidis

Positioned for the Upgrade: Ferrovial’s Path Into the Nasdaq-100

Ferrovial is a credible Nasdaq-100 entrant with ~$315M passive inflow potential. U.S. assets, liquidity and growth drivers support ongoing re...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Lululemon Athletica: Strengthening Supply Chain Agility to Sustain Market Competitiveness & Growth!

Lululemon Athletica Inc. reported its second-quarter fiscal 2025 results, highlighting both triumphs and challenges faced amidst a dynamic retail...

Baptista Research

Lululemon 1Q'25 Update

Lulu is again back to LSD growth in the US; what makes it more disappointing is they actually had a somewhat easier comparison since 1Q’24 growth...

MBI Deep Dives

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

D2C Brands in Asia: Disruption Potential in Consumer Space

Insights for investors based on comparative study of Asia D2C landscape across India, SE Asia & China.Analysis of relative segment attractiveness....

Devi Subhakesan

Nasdaq100 December 2025 Forecast (Final): 12 Changes

​STX, ALNY, WDC are the top forecasted addition. TTD, ON, LULU are the top forecasted deletions. FER can be a surprise addition displacing EBAY.

Dimitris Ioannidis

Positioned for the Upgrade: Ferrovial’s Path Into the Nasdaq-100

Ferrovial is a credible Nasdaq-100 entrant with ~$315M passive inflow potential. U.S. assets, liquidity and growth drivers support ongoing re...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Lululemon Athletica: Strengthening Supply Chain Agility to Sustain Market Competitiveness & Growth!

Lululemon Athletica Inc. reported its second-quarter fiscal 2025 results, highlighting both triumphs and challenges faced amidst a dynamic retail...

Baptista Research

Lululemon 1Q'25 Update

Lulu is again back to LSD growth in the US; what makes it more disappointing is they actually had a somewhat easier comparison since 1Q’24 growth...

MBI Deep Dives

STX, ALNY, WDC are the top forecasted addition. TTD, ON, LULU are the top forecasted deletions. FER can be a surprise addition displacing EBAY.