TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst, Obex Capital Research

Aaron Gabin

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research

Obex Capital Research

“Obex” is Latin for Barriers to Entry. Obex Capital Management’s investment philosophy is driven by an intense focus on which business model’s Barriers to Entry are able to withstand the ever increasing competitive disruption in the TMT and Consumer Sectors.

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Post 3Q20, we closed out our note saying, “We think COVID will result in more headwinds then tailwinds, which will provide a headwind to guidance, and what we think will be an entry point come February when 2021 guidance is given. By then we will be 3 months closer to vaccines and 3 months closer to last years’ Q2 which was horrendous due to the initial restrictions and gives a great setup for an explosive 2Q21 quarter.”</p><p>Match  pulled back 8% on earnings and is down 11% in two weeks. At 36x forward EV/EBITDA, we are at the same valuation Match was after 2Q and 3Q…except we are now one quarter away from entering a period of accelerating EBITDA growth. Guidance does not contemplate a full return to “normal” by the back half of 2021…which means guidance is likely too conservative. Entry points on one of the great business models in TMT are few and far between. Its time to buy Match.</p><div class="content-highlight"><p>Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</p></div>

Post 3Q20, we closed out our note saying, “We think COVID will result in more headwinds then tailwinds, which will provide a headwind to guidance, and what we think will be an entry point come February when 2021 guidance is given. By then we will be 3 months closer to vaccines and 3 months closer to last years’ Q2 which was horrendous due to the initial restrictions and gives a great setup for an explosive 2Q21 quarter.”Match  pulled back 8% on earnings and is down 11% in two weeks. At 36x forward EV/EBITDA, we are at the same valuation Match was after 2Q and 3Q…except we are now one quarter away from entering a period of accelerating EBITDA growth. Guidance does not contemplate a full return to “normal” by the back half of 2021…which means guidance is likely too conservative. Entry points on one of the great business models in TMT are few and far between. Its time to buy Match.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

<p>We wanted to follow up on Match given we advocated it from the short side early in the year, and closed the short in May before the spinout. Is now the time to re-engage?</p><div class="content-highlight"><p>Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</p></div>

We wanted to follow up on Match given we advocated it from the short side early in the year, and closed the short in May before the spinout. Is now the time to re-engage?Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

<div><p>This week, a bunch of Apple related news caught our eye, and the many companies that would be impacted by changes to the appstore, privacy controls, and a new subscription service.</p></div><div><div><div><p>Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</p></div></div></div>

This week, a bunch of Apple related news caught our eye, and the many companies that would be impacted by changes to the appstore, privacy controls, and a new subscription service.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

TMT (AAPL) Weekly:  3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 8/14/​​​​2020

<p>We have always enjoyed following IAC because we share a worldview with management about investing behind THE major secular trend in the world today…offline to online transition of massive TAMs. Even the largest TAMs in the world – groceries, entertainment, autos, commerce, finance, real estate, etc. are still incredibly early in the long term replatforming of how the global economy functions.</p><p>COVID has turbocharged these trends, which may be why we’ve seen such massive outperformance by the stocks at the forefront of these trends.</p><div><p>Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</p></div>

We have always enjoyed following IAC because we share a worldview with management about investing behind THE major secular trend in the world today…offline to online transition of massive TAMs. Even the largest TAMs in the world – groceries, entertainment, autos, commerce, finance, real estate, etc. are still incredibly early in the long term replatforming of how the global economy functions.COVID has turbocharged these trends, which may be why we’ve seen such massive outperformance by the stocks at the forefront of these trends.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

<div><p>This week we highlight the coming video game price hike, Slack's new acquisition strategy, Walmart's attempt to counter Amazon Prime, and a quick revisit on the Twitter subscription saga.</p></div><div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</p></div></div></div>

This week we highlight the coming video game price hike, Slack's new acquisition strategy, Walmart's attempt to counter Amazon Prime, and a quick revisit on the Twitter subscription saga.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 7/​10/​​​​​2020

United States

Match Group, Inc. is a dating service provider. The Company offers diverse portfolio of apps and services which enables connections across the spectrum of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and backgrounds. Match Group serves customers worldwide.

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Match Group (MTCH US)

Match 4Q20 Earnings: Hook It Up

Match has sold off on 4Q20 earnings based on overly conservative 2021 guidance. We would be buyers on this selloff as 2021 sets up for a strong...

Aaron Gabin

Match 3Q20: Love Rollercoaster

We re-evaluate Match Group as we head back into pandemic-driven lockdowns. We thought it was a short a year ago, but now think its (going to be) an...

Aaron Gabin

TMT (AAPL) Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 8/14/2020

This week, a bunch of Apple related news caught our eye, and the many companies that would be impacted by changes to the appstore, privacy...

Aaron Gabin

IAC / ANGI 2Q20: Doubling Down

We have always enjoyed following IAC because we share a worldview with management about investing behind THE major secular trend in the world...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 7/10/2020

This week we highlight the coming video game price hike, Slack's new acquisition strategy, Walmart's attempt to counter Amazon Prime, and a quick...

Aaron Gabin

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Match 4Q20 Earnings: Hook It Up

Match has sold off on 4Q20 earnings based on overly conservative 2021 guidance. We would be buyers on this selloff as 2021 sets up for a strong...

Aaron Gabin

Match 3Q20: Love Rollercoaster

We re-evaluate Match Group as we head back into pandemic-driven lockdowns. We thought it was a short a year ago, but now think its (going to be) an...

Aaron Gabin

TMT (AAPL) Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 8/14/​​​​2020

This week, a bunch of Apple related news caught our eye, and the many companies that would be impacted by changes to the appstore, privacy...

Aaron Gabin

IAC / ANGI 2Q20: Doubling Down

We have always enjoyed following IAC because we share a worldview with management about investing behind THE major secular trend in the world...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 7/​10/​​​​​2020

This week we highlight the coming video game price hike, Slack's new acquisition strategy, Walmart's attempt to counter Amazon Prime, and a quick...

Aaron Gabin

TMT (AAPL) Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 8/14/2020

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 7/10/2020