J Capital Research

Independent Insight Provider

J Capital Research, a U.S. company, publishes highly diligenced research reports on publicly traded companies, relying on deep, on-the-ground primary research. J Capital has particular expertise in the Chinese market, but we look at over-valued companies throughout the world. As an activist short- and long-research shop, when we form a clear view, we publish free, public reports to inform the investing public and never disguise our identity. We believe the internet has afforded an opportunity to small, unaffiliated investors to leapfrog the big banks, with their conflicts of interest, and obtain unbiased information on traded companies. We pride ourselves on our independence and the quality of our work. We hope the work speaks for itself.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Product authentication and legitimacy are paramount for The RealReal (NASDAQ: REAL), which sells used luxury items.</li><li>But our research indicates that REAL’s authentication lets through many counterfeits, and that has enraged both buyers and sellers, undermining the sense of trust.</li><li>REAL has applied AI to the authentication problem to speed things up, but we see no evidence of effectiveness.</li></ul>

Product authentication and legitimacy are paramount for The RealReal (NASDAQ: REAL), which sells used luxury items.But our research indicates that REAL’s authentication lets through many counterfeits, and that has enraged both buyers and sellers, undermining the sense of trust.REAL has applied AI to the authentication problem to speed things up, but we see no evidence of effectiveness.

Worry About Fake Fakes Makes RealReal a Bad Bet

Independent in-depth research from Finimize, Finimize

Finimize Research

Independent in-depth research from Finimize

Finimize

Finimize is the #1 information platform for modern investors. We empower people to become smarter investors with bitesize insights from world-class analysts. 1 million+ strong community, 250 partners.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The US economy’s resilience hasn’t come from the many – it’s come from the top 10% as the “wealth effect” from rising asset prices has boosted spending.</li>
<li>But it works in reverse too.  Since the richest make up nearly half of America’s consumer spending, that could lead to a serious economic fallout.</li>
<li>It’s worth considering protecting your portfolio. I’ve pulled together one list of companies that should do well and another that could suffer from the change in climate.</li>
</ul>


The US economy’s resilience hasn’t come from the many – it’s come from the top 10% as the “wealth effect” from rising asset prices has boosted spending.
But it works in reverse too.  Since the richest make up nearly half of America’s consumer spending, that could lead to a serious economic fallout.
It’s worth considering protecting your portfolio. I’ve pulled together one list of companies that should do well and another that could suffer from the change in climate.


A Defensive Portfolio Prepared For The Wealth Effect’s Reversal

Research from Water Tower Research, Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research

Research from Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

Equity Research Firm

<ul><li>The WTR Consumer Products Index is down 17.5% YTD through June 23, 2025, on a 2.8x decline in its 12-month prospective absolute P/E ratio to 15.3x from 18.1x at the end of 2024.</li><li>Prospective earnings for the index are down 2.3% so far this year, but we note that it has outperformed the broader S&amp;P 600 Small Cap Index, which is down 6.3%.</li><li>Meanwhile, the S&amp;P SmallCap 600 Index is down 13.1% YTD, better than the WTR Consumer Products Index, despite relative earnings underperformance versus our index, as its prospective absolute P/E ratio compressed a lesser 1.2x to 15.3x from 16.5x at the end of 2024. </li></ul>

The WTR Consumer Products Index is down 17.5% YTD through June 23, 2025, on a 2.8x decline in its 12-month prospective absolute P/E ratio to 15.3x from 18.1x at the end of 2024.Prospective earnings for the index are down 2.3% so far this year, but we note that it has outperformed the broader S&amp;P 600 Small Cap Index, which is down 6.3%.Meanwhile, the S&amp;P SmallCap 600 Index is down 13.1% YTD, better than the WTR Consumer Products Index, despite relative earnings underperformance versus our index, as its prospective absolute P/E ratio compressed a lesser 1.2x to 15.3x from 16.5x at the end of 2024. 

WTR Consumer Products Index Lags S&P 600 YTD Despite Relative Earnings Outperformance

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.

<div><p>Some datapoints that caught our eye last week in TMT.</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>

Some datapoints that caught our eye last week in TMT.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.

Beyond the Virus: 3 Things from TMT Land that Stood Out Week of 5/1/​​​​​​​​2020

<ul><li>Trading at a discount to REAL. ThredUp (TDUP) and The RealReal (REAL) are largely in the same business and have similar business models.</li><li>Based on FactSet consensus, TDUP is currently trading at less than 1x NTM revenue, while REAL is trading at ~2.5x. TDUP has very modest debt and its US business has been adjusted EBITDA profitable for the past five consecutive quarters, which gives it a leg up versus where REAL was a year ago.</li><li>Now, post the European divestiture, when management can devote both time and capital to the US business alone, the focus should be on top-line growth. </li></ul>

Trading at a discount to REAL. ThredUp (TDUP) and The RealReal (REAL) are largely in the same business and have similar business models.Based on FactSet consensus, TDUP is currently trading at less than 1x NTM revenue, while REAL is trading at ~2.5x. TDUP has very modest debt and its US business has been adjusted EBITDA profitable for the past five consecutive quarters, which gives it a leg up versus where REAL was a year ago.Now, post the European divestiture, when management can devote both time and capital to the US business alone, the focus should be on top-line growth. 

ThredUp, Inc. - Time to Look at ThredUp Once Again; Initiating Coverage

United States

The RealReal, Inc. owns and operates a members-only consignment marketplace for luxury goods. The Company specializes in curating and authenticating a full range of previously owned luxury products such as clothing, shoes, accessories, and jewelry that are sold on consignment. The RealReal markets its products and services throughout the United States.

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RealReal Inc (REAL US)

Worry About Fake Fakes Makes RealReal a Bad Bet

Product authentication and legitimacy are paramount for The RealReal (NASDAQ: REAL), which sells used luxury items. But our research indicates that...

J Capital Research

A Defensive Portfolio Prepared For The Wealth Effect’s Reversal

The top 10% account for around 50% of consumer spending in the US. This insight looks at the sectors and companies that could win and lose from the...

Finimize Research

WTR Consumer Products Index Lags S&P 600 YTD Despite Relative Earnings Outperformance

The WTR Consumer Products Index is down 17.5% YTD through June 23, 2025, on a 2.8x decline in its 12-month prospective absolute P/E ratio to 15.3x...

Water Tower Research

Beyond the Virus: 3 Things from TMT Land that Stood Out Week of 5/1/2020

Some datapoints that caught our eye last week in TMT.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer...

Aaron Gabin

ThredUp, Inc. - Time to Look at ThredUp Once Again; Initiating Coverage

Trading at a discount to REAL. ThredUp (TDUP) and The RealReal (REAL) are largely in the same business and have similar business models.

Water Tower Research

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Worry About Fake Fakes Makes RealReal a Bad Bet

Product authentication and legitimacy are paramount for The RealReal (NASDAQ: REAL), which sells used luxury items. But our research indicates that...

J Capital Research

A Defensive Portfolio Prepared For The Wealth Effect’s Reversal

The top 10% account for around 50% of consumer spending in the US. This insight looks at the sectors and companies that could win and lose from the...

Finimize Research

WTR Consumer Products Index Lags S&P 600 YTD Despite Relative Earnings Outperformance

The WTR Consumer Products Index is down 17.5% YTD through June 23, 2025, on a 2.8x decline in its 12-month prospective absolute P/E ratio to 15.3x...

Water Tower Research

Beyond the Virus: 3 Things from TMT Land that Stood Out Week of 5/1/​​​​​​​​2020

Some datapoints that caught our eye last week in TMT.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer...

Aaron Gabin

ThredUp, Inc. - Time to Look at ThredUp Once Again; Initiating Coverage

Trading at a discount to REAL. ThredUp (TDUP) and The RealReal (REAL) are largely in the same business and have similar business models.

Water Tower Research

Beyond the Virus: 3 Things from TMT Land that Stood Out Week of 5/1/2020