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>PDD Holdings, Inc. presented its financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year of 2024, showcasing a strategy focused on high-quality development and ecosystem advancement.</li><li>The company reported stable financial performance in the last quarter, closing with a revenue increase to RMB 110.6 billion, a 24% year-over year gain.</li><li>For the entire year, revenues climbed 59% to a total of RMB 393.8 billion, marking a moderation from previous growth rates.</li></ul>

PDD Holdings, Inc. presented its financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year of 2024, showcasing a strategy focused on high-quality development and ecosystem advancement.The company reported stable financial performance in the last quarter, closing with a revenue increase to RMB 110.6 billion, a 24% year-over year gain.For the entire year, revenues climbed 59% to a total of RMB 393.8 billion, marking a moderation from previous growth rates.

Is PDD the Silent Giant That Could Crush Alibaba? Here’s What the Data Says!

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Ying Pan

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

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

<ul>
<li>PDD reported C4Q24 top line 1.1%/(6.1%) vs. our est./cons. and non-GAAP operating income (5.4%)/(5.6%) vs. est./cons., </li>
<li>PDD rose to prominence by optimizing the value chain built/inherited by Alibaba/eBay in China and Amazon/eBay in US. </li>
<li>As these two “bonuses” coming to an end, PDD must build its own. While growth shall normalize, China low tier cities and global developing markets shall sustain its growth. </li>
</ul>


PDD reported C4Q24 top line 1.1%/(6.1%) vs. our est./cons. and non-GAAP operating income (5.4%)/(5.6%) vs. est./cons., 
PDD rose to prominence by optimizing the value chain built/inherited by Alibaba/eBay in China and Amazon/eBay in US. 
As these two “bonuses” coming to an end, PDD must build its own. While growth shall normalize, China low tier cities and global developing markets shall sustain its growth. 


[PDD Holdings Inc. (PDD US, BUY, TP US$146) Review]: A New PDD Focusing on Low Tier and Non-US

Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

<ul>
<li>PDD’s total revenue grew by 24% YoY in 4Q24, with advertising up by 17% YoY and commission up by 33% YoY.</li>
<li>The gross margin declined YoY, but we still believe PDD has advantage in the low price market.</li>
<li>We conclude an upside of 71% and a price target of US$215 for the next twelve months.</li>
</ul>


PDD’s total revenue grew by 24% YoY in 4Q24, with advertising up by 17% YoY and commission up by 33% YoY.
The gross margin declined YoY, but we still believe PDD has advantage in the low price market.
We conclude an upside of 71% and a price target of US$215 for the next twelve months.


Pinduoduo (PDD): 4Q24, Not Slowdown, Still Advantage in Low Price Market, 70% Upside

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>China exposure among GEM funds has rebounded to 26%, up from the 2024 low, but still far below the 37.5% peak. India has eased while Taiwan allocations hit new highs.</li>
<li>China remains a major EM underweight at -3.09% vs. benchmark, despite rising allocations. High Active funds stay the most underweight</li>
<li>Industrials see the strongest buying, while Utilities and Consumer sectors decline. Tencent and Alibaba dominate ownership, but many new names are entering the picture.</li>
</ul>


China exposure among GEM funds has rebounded to 26%, up from the 2024 low, but still far below the 37.5% peak. India has eased while Taiwan allocations hit new highs.
China remains a major EM underweight at -3.09% vs. benchmark, despite rising allocations. High Active funds stay the most underweight
Industrials see the strongest buying, while Utilities and Consumer sectors decline. Tencent and Alibaba dominate ownership, but many new names are entering the picture.


China & HK: Rebuild Slows Amid Heavy Sector and Stock Rotation

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jingdong-jd-industrials-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36875:1" rel="noopener">JD Industrials (7618 HK)</a> is now looking to raise up to US$421m, in its Hong Kong IPO.</li>
<li>JDI is a leading industrial supply chain technology and service provider in China in terms of GMV in each year during the Track Record Period, according to CIC.</li>
<li>We looked at the company’s past performance in our earlier notes. In this note, we talk about valuations.</li>
</ul>



JD Industrials (7618 HK) is now looking to raise up to US$421m, in its Hong Kong IPO.
JDI is a leading industrial supply chain technology and service provider in China in terms of GMV in each year during the Track Record Period, according to CIC.
We looked at the company’s past performance in our earlier notes. In this note, we talk about valuations.


JD Industrials IPO - Valuation Cut Means Its Priced to Go

China

PDD Holdings Inc. is a multinational commerce group that owns and operates a portfolio of businesses. The Company focuses on digital economy so that local communities and small businesses can benefit from the increased productivity and new opportunities. PDD Holdings has built a network of sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment capabilities for its underlying businesses.

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PDD Holdings (PDD US)

Is PDD the Silent Giant That Could Crush Alibaba? Here’s What the Data Says!

PDD Holdings, Inc. presented its financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year of 2024, showcasing a strategy focused on...

Baptista Research

[PDD Holdings Inc. (PDD US, BUY, TP US$146) Review]: A New PDD Focusing on Low Tier and Non-US

PDD's top line and operating income fall short of expectations as it transitions from optimizing existing value chains to building

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Pinduoduo (PDD): 4Q24, Not Slowdown, Still Advantage in Low Price Market, 70% Upside

PDD’s total revenue grew by 24% YoY in 4Q24. The gross margin declined YoY, but we still believe PDD has advantage in the low price market. We...

Ming Lu

China & HK: Rebuild Slows Amid Heavy Sector and Stock Rotation

China & HK allocations are recovering, yet remain a major EM underweight. Rotation is active but cautious—Industrial inflows rise, while high...

Steven Holden

JD Industrials IPO - Valuation Cut Means Its Priced to Go

JD Industrials (7618 HK) is now looking to raise up to US$421m, in its Hong Kong IPO. In this note, we talk about valuations.

Sumeet Singh

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52-week Range

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Is PDD the Silent Giant That Could Crush Alibaba? Here’s What the Data Says!

PDD Holdings, Inc. presented its financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year of 2024, showcasing a strategy focused on...

Baptista Research

[PDD Holdings Inc. (PDD US, BUY, TP US$146) Review]: A New PDD Focusing on Low Tier and Non-US

​PDD's top line and operating income fall short of expectations as it transitions from optimizing existing value chains to building

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Pinduoduo (PDD): 4Q24, Not Slowdown, Still Advantage in Low Price Market, 70% Upside

PDD’s total revenue grew by 24% YoY in 4Q24. The gross margin declined YoY, but we still believe PDD has advantage in the low price market. We...

Ming Lu

China & HK: Rebuild Slows Amid Heavy Sector and Stock Rotation

China & HK allocations are recovering, yet remain a major EM underweight. Rotation is active but cautious—Industrial inflows rise, while high...

Steven Holden

JD Industrials IPO - Valuation Cut Means Its Priced to Go

JD Industrials (7618 HK) is now looking to raise up to US$421m, in its Hong Kong IPO. In this note, we talk about valuations.

Sumeet Singh

PDD's top line and operating income fall short of expectations as it transitions from optimizing existing value chains to building