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>Merck & Co.'s fourth-quarter 2024 financial performance reflects a complex landscape of strength in some areas alongside challenges in others.</li><li>The company's overall revenue increased by 7% to $15.6 billion, or 9% when accounting for foreign exchange impacts, partly driven by robust performance in its oncology and Animal Health segments.</li><li>This growth trajectory, supporting strong demand for innovative products like KEYTRUDA, contrasts with notable headwinds faced with GARDASIL, particularly in the Chinese market.</li></ul>

Merck & Co.'s fourth-quarter 2024 financial performance reflects a complex landscape of strength in some areas alongside challenges in others.The company's overall revenue increased by 7% to $15.6 billion, or 9% when accounting for foreign exchange impacts, partly driven by robust performance in its oncology and Animal Health segments.This growth trajectory, supporting strong demand for innovative products like KEYTRUDA, contrasts with notable headwinds faced with GARDASIL, particularly in the Chinese market.

Merck’s $25 Billion Lifeline Is About to Expire — Here’s the Bold Plan to Replace It!

Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/3sbio-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:459:1" rel="noopener">3SBio Inc (1530 HK)</a> signed an outlicensing deal worth more than $6B with Pfizer for its PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, SSGJ-707. Since signing the deal, 3SBio shares rallied more than 55%.</li>
<li>Considering deals signed with Chinese companies for bispecific antibody drug candidates in recent times, 3SBio seems to have secured best valuation for its asset.</li>
<li>Initiation of global trial of SSGJ-707 and data readout from its ongoing China trials for additional indications, continued strong financial performance, and new approvals are upcoming catalysts.</li>
</ul>



3SBio Inc (1530 HK) signed an outlicensing deal worth more than $6B with Pfizer for its PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, SSGJ-707. Since signing the deal, 3SBio shares rallied more than 55%.
Considering deals signed with Chinese companies for bispecific antibody drug candidates in recent times, 3SBio seems to have secured best valuation for its asset.
Initiation of global trial of SSGJ-707 and data readout from its ongoing China trials for additional indications, continued strong financial performance, and new approvals are upcoming catalysts.


3SBio Inc (1530 HK): Licensing Deal a Market Hit; Will It Continue?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Five weeks ago, JIC announced a delay in the commencement of the Tender Offer to buy <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jsr-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17620:1" rel="noopener">JSR Corp (4185 JP)</a>, originally scheduled to start by end-December 2023. </li>
<li>In the <a href="https://www.j-ic.co.jp/en/news/pdf/E_20231219_JIC_JICC_PressRelease.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a>, they said they expected the deal to start by end-February. In the press conference afterwards, JIC CEO Yokoo <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/jic-chief-says-no-issues-with-chinese-antitrust-regulator-over-jsr-buyout-2023-12-20/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> "no particular issues with the Chinese regulator." </li>
<li>He then added he expected the deal to be done by March-end. Language is vague. I expect that means to start by then, but even then, annualised is now 30%.</li>
</ul>


Five weeks ago, JIC announced a delay in the commencement of the Tender Offer to buy JSR Corp (4185 JP), originally scheduled to start by end-December 2023. 
In the announcement, they said they expected the deal to start by end-February. In the press conference afterwards, JIC CEO Yokoo said "no particular issues with the Chinese regulator." 
He then added he expected the deal to be done by March-end. Language is vague. I expect that means to start by then, but even then, annualised is now 30%.


JSR (4185) - Very Juicy Arb Return At Expected Timeline

Quantitative Equity Analyst, DMA

Charlotte van Tiddens, CFA

Quantitative Equity Analyst

Technology-First Company

DMA is a technology-first company that provides an end-to-end SaaS solution to institutional investors. DMA enables regulated entities like asset managers, wealth managers, investment managers and financial advisors to connect their front and back office, break silos and reduce headcount.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>Short duration US factor strategies outperformed in September as markets came under pressure (value and dividend yield).</li>
<li>Despite keeping rates unchanged on the 20th of September at 5.5% (upper bound), Fed Chair Powell indicated that rates would be kept higher for longer than initially anticipated.</li>
<li>In this note we explore the <em><strong>relative performance</strong></em> of US factor strategies through different interest rate cycles, to inform timing around factor/style rotation.</li>
</ul>


Short duration US factor strategies outperformed in September as markets came under pressure (value and dividend yield).
Despite keeping rates unchanged on the 20th of September at 5.5% (upper bound), Fed Chair Powell indicated that rates would be kept higher for longer than initially anticipated.
In this note we explore the relative performance of US factor strategies through different interest rate cycles, to inform timing around factor/style rotation.


US Factor Strategies: Value and Dividend Yield Outperform in September, Higher for Longer Narrative

Research from Asian Century Stocks, Asian Century Stocks

Michael Fritzell

Research from Asian Century Stocks

Providing financial journalism in the Asia-Pacific

Asian Century Stocks

Asian Century Stocks is a newsletter providing financial journalism for companies and stocks in the Asia-Pacific. 
The Asian Century Stocks logotype “百” stands for “one hundred” or a “century”. The economic centre of gravity is moving towards Asia. Yet most global investors are missing out.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The IVF industry is booming, driven by couples having children later in life as well as infertility problems.</li>
<li>There should be plenty of opportunities for IVF clinic operators, including for Jinxin Fertility which may benefit if the Chinese government introduces subsidies for IVF procedures. But the acquisitive nature of many IVF-related companies has caused their returns on equity and earnings per share growth to be weak.</li>
<li>One stock that trades at a low multiple with fat profit margins is Organon, though be aware of its ongoing patent cliffs, which may be the reason it was spun off in the first place.</li>
</ul>


The IVF industry is booming, driven by couples having children later in life as well as infertility problems.
There should be plenty of opportunities for IVF clinic operators, including for Jinxin Fertility which may benefit if the Chinese government introduces subsidies for IVF procedures. But the acquisitive nature of many IVF-related companies has caused their returns on equity and earnings per share growth to be weak.
One stock that trades at a low multiple with fat profit margins is Organon, though be aware of its ongoing patent cliffs, which may be the reason it was spun off in the first place.


United States

Merck & Co., Inc.  is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products, which it markets directly and through its joint ventures. The Company has operations in pharmaceutical, animal health, and consumer care.

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Merck & Co (MRK US)

Merck’s $25 Billion Lifeline Is About to Expire — Here’s the Bold Plan to Replace It!

Merck & Co.'s fourth-quarter 2024 financial performance reflects a complex landscape of strength in some areas alongside challenges in...

Baptista Research

3SBio Inc (1530 HK): Licensing Deal a Market Hit; Will It Continue?

3SBio signed $6B outlicensing deal with Pfizer for SSGJ-707, resulting in spectacular rally in 3SBio shares. Global trial initiation of SSGJ-707...

Tina Banerjee

JSR (4185) - Very Juicy Arb Return At Expected Timeline

JSR was a long-dated risk arb. People got tired of FUD and Flows, and sold. Now time is shorter and it offers a 24% yield to mid-May cashout of...

Travis Lundy

US Factor Strategies: Value and Dividend Yield Outperform in September, Higher for Longer Narrative

US rates and factor strategies: higher for longer likely to drive outperformance of short duration factor strategies, long US value short US growth.

DMA

IVF: Secular Growth for Decades to Come.

The IVF industry is booming, driven by couples having children later in life as well as infertility problems. There should be plenty of...

Asian Century Stocks

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Merck’s $25 Billion Lifeline Is About to Expire — Here’s the Bold Plan to Replace It!

Merck & Co.'s fourth-quarter 2024 financial performance reflects a complex landscape of strength in some areas alongside challenges in...

Baptista Research

3SBio Inc (1530 HK): Licensing Deal a Market Hit; Will It Continue?

​3SBio signed $6B outlicensing deal with Pfizer for SSGJ-707, resulting in spectacular rally in 3SBio shares. Global trial initiation of SSGJ-707...

Tina Banerjee

JSR (4185) - Very Juicy Arb Return At Expected Timeline

JSR was a long-dated risk arb. People got tired of FUD and Flows, and sold. Now time is shorter and it offers a 24% yield to mid-May cashout of...

Travis Lundy

US Factor Strategies: Value and Dividend Yield Outperform in September, Higher for Longer Narrative

US rates and factor strategies: higher for longer likely to drive outperformance of short duration factor strategies, long US value short US growth.

DMA

IVF: Secular Growth for Decades to Come.

The IVF industry is booming, driven by couples having children later in life as well as infertility problems. There should be plenty of...

Asian Century Stocks

3SBio signed $6B outlicensing deal with Pfizer for SSGJ-707, resulting in spectacular rally in 3SBio shares. Global trial initiation of SSGJ-707...