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

Equity Bottom-Up

<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

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/atrenew-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33426:1" rel="noopener">ATRenew (RERE US)</a> operates the largest pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform in China. It is listed in June 2021 at US$14 per ADS. </li>
<li>The shares are down 63% YTD largely due to the tech market sell-off. Unlike most tech companies, ATRenew is starting to deliver growth with profits, cash generation and share buybacks.</li>
<li>The valuation is undemanding compared to a peer group of pre-owned marketplaces and global online retail marketplaces. It will also appeal to investors with an ESG mandate.</li>
</ul>



ATRenew (RERE US) operates the largest pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform in China. It is listed in June 2021 at US$14 per ADS. 
The shares are down 63% YTD largely due to the tech market sell-off. Unlike most tech companies, ATRenew is starting to deliver growth with profits, cash generation and share buybacks.
The valuation is undemanding compared to a peer group of pre-owned marketplaces and global online retail marketplaces. It will also appeal to investors with an ESG mandate.


ATRenew (RERE US): Pre-Owned Satisfaction

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aihuishou" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33426:1" rel="noopener">Aihuishou (RERE US)</a> operates the largest pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform in China under the brand “ATRenew”, which stands for “all things renew.” The platform consists of <em>AHS Recycle</em> (an omnichannel business for the collection of pre-owned consumer electronics), <em>PJT Marketplace</em> (B2B channel) and <em>Paipai Marketplace</em> (B2C channel). </p></div><div>
<p>At the mid-point of the proposed IPO price range of $13.00-15.00 per ADS, AiHuiShou will have a market cap of $3.1 billion. At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are $205.7 million. The raise is materially below the rumoured target raise of $500 million to $1 billion, according to press reports.</p>
<p>Existing shareholders have indicated a total of $100 million of the IPO (44.0% of the ADSs at the mid-point of the IPO price range). The indications of interest from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc. (9618 HK)</a> and Tiger Global.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/aihuishou-ipo-initiation-turning-the-vicious-cycle-into-a-virtuous-one" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52617" rel="noopener">AiHuiShou IPO Initiation: Turning the Vicious Cycle into a Virtuous One</a>, we stated that AiHuiShou as the largest player as measured by GMV and transacted devices, is well-positioned to capture its fair share of China's pre-owned consumer electronic devices market opportunity. AiHuiShou is delivering on this market opportunity through strong revenue growth, declining loss margin and improving cash burn. AiHuiShou’s business model will also appeal to investors with an ESG mandate. We concluded that AiHuiShou's story warrants a closer look.</p>
</div><div><div class="content-highlight">
<p>On a relative valuation basis and at the IPO price range, AiHuiShou is attractively valued on both an EV/Sales and growth adjusted EV/Sales multiples (an EV/Sales/Growth basis). Notably, the last funding round in May 2021 valued AiHuiShou at $19.43 per ordinary share, implying $12.96 per ADS which is broadly in line with the low-end of the IPO price range.</p>
<p>While the lower than expected raise suggest that AiHuiShou received lukewarm investor interest, yesterday's blistering first-day pop of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kanzhun-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33368:1" rel="noopener">Kanzhun (BZ US)</a> suggests that the market may be warming up again to high-growth Chinese ADRs. Overall, we are inclined to participate. </p>
</div></div>

Aihuishou (RERE US) operates the largest pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform in China under the brand “ATRenew”, which stands for “all things renew.” The platform consists of AHS Recycle (an omnichannel business for the collection of pre-owned consumer electronics), PJT Marketplace (B2B channel) and Paipai Marketplace (B2C channel). 
At the mid-point of the proposed IPO price range of $13.00-15.00 per ADS, AiHuiShou will have a market cap of $3.1 billion. At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are $205.7 million. The raise is materially below the rumoured target raise of $500 million to $1 billion, according to press reports.
Existing shareholders have indicated a total of $100 million of the IPO (44.0% of the ADSs at the mid-point of the IPO price range). The indications of interest from JD.com Inc. (9618 HK) and Tiger Global.
In AiHuiShou IPO Initiation: Turning the Vicious Cycle into a Virtuous One, we stated that AiHuiShou as the largest player as measured by GMV and transacted devices, is well-positioned to capture its fair share of China's pre-owned consumer electronic devices market opportunity. AiHuiShou is delivering on this market opportunity through strong revenue growth, declining loss margin and improving cash burn. AiHuiShou’s business model will also appeal to investors with an ESG mandate. We concluded that AiHuiShou's story warrants a closer look.

On a relative valuation basis and at the IPO price range, AiHuiShou is attractively valued on both an EV/Sales and growth adjusted EV/Sales multiples (an EV/Sales/Growth basis). Notably, the last funding round in May 2021 valued AiHuiShou at $19.43 per ordinary share, implying $12.96 per ADS which is broadly in line with the low-end of the IPO price range.
While the lower than expected raise suggest that AiHuiShou received lukewarm investor interest, yesterday's blistering first-day pop of Kanzhun (BZ US) suggests that the market may be warming up again to high-growth Chinese ADRs. Overall, we are inclined to participate. 


<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aihuishou" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33426:1" rel="noopener">Aihuishou (RERE US)</a> operates the largest pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform in China under the brand “ATRenew”, which stands for “all things renew.” The platform consists of AHS Recycle (an omnichannel business for the collection of pre-owned consumer electronics), PJT Marketplace (B2B channel) and Paipai Marketplace (B2C channel).  AiHuiShou is seeking to raise $500 million to $1 billion through an NYSE listing, according to press reports.   </p></div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/aihuishou-ipo-initiation-turning-the-vicious-cycle-into-a-virtuous-one" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52617" rel="noopener">AiHuiShou IPO Initiation: Turning the Vicious Cycle into a Virtuous One</a>, we stated that AiHuiShou as the largest player as measured by GMV and transacted devices, is well-positioned to capture its fair share of China's pre-owned consumer electronic devices market opportunity. AiHuiShou is delivering on this market opportunity through strong revenue growth, declining loss margin and improving cash burn. AiHuiShou’s business model will also appeal to investors with an ESG mandate. We concluded that AiHuiShou's story warrants a closer look. In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at AiHuiShou's potential valuation range. </p></div></div>

Aihuishou (RERE US) operates the largest pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform in China under the brand “ATRenew”, which stands for “all things renew.” The platform consists of AHS Recycle (an omnichannel business for the collection of pre-owned consumer electronics), PJT Marketplace (B2B channel) and Paipai Marketplace (B2C channel).  AiHuiShou is seeking to raise $500 million to $1 billion through an NYSE listing, according to press reports.   In AiHuiShou IPO Initiation: Turning the Vicious Cycle into a Virtuous One, we stated that AiHuiShou as the largest player as measured by GMV and transacted devices, is well-positioned to capture its fair share of China's pre-owned consumer electronic devices market opportunity. AiHuiShou is delivering on this market opportunity through strong revenue growth, declining loss margin and improving cash burn. AiHuiShou’s business model will also appeal to investors with an ESG mandate. We concluded that AiHuiShou's story warrants a closer look. In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at AiHuiShou's potential valuation range. 

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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<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

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)

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

ATRenew (RERE US): Pre-Owned Satisfaction

Unlike most tech companies, ATRenew is starting to deliver growth with profits, cash generation and share buybacks. The valuation remains undemanding.

Arun George

AiHuiShou IPO: Valuation Insights

While the lower than expected raise suggest lukewarm investor interest, yesterday's blistering first-day pop of Kanzhun points to improving market...

Arun George

AiHuiShou IPO: Valuation First-Look

AiHuiShou is seeking to raise $0.5-1.0 billion through an NYSE listing. In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at...

Arun George

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

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

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

ATRenew (RERE US): Pre-Owned Satisfaction

Unlike most tech companies, ATRenew is starting to deliver growth with profits, cash generation and share buybacks. The valuation remains undemanding.

Arun George

AiHuiShou IPO: Valuation Insights

While the lower than expected raise suggest lukewarm investor interest, yesterday's blistering first-day pop of Kanzhun points to improving market...

Arun George

AiHuiShou IPO: Valuation First-Look

AiHuiShou is seeking to raise $0.5-1.0 billion through an NYSE listing. In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at...

Arun George

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

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