Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Capital Markets

<section class="figure">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/179/549/original/BANNER-TTOtherDec20_GreyOrange.png?1608442683" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="179549"></figure>
</section>
In the first section of this note we review key themes of the last year within our regular coverage, which includes regional Logistics, Transportation, and Travel. We also measure year to date performance of some of the individual stocks we've closely tracked in 2020. 
The second section of this note is a list of themes and ideas we expect to drive share price performance in Asian Logistics, Transportation, and Travel over the next 12 months. It concludes with some suggested 2021 Long / Short pair trade ideas in each of these three segments. 
The third and final section of this note highlights several potential high-profile IPOs in the broader Asian Logistics space. Most of these potential deals are linked to large, well-known Chinese eCommerce fulfillment and "mobility" companies.




In the first section of this note we review key themes of the last year within our regular coverage, which includes regional Logistics, Transportation, and Travel. We also measure year to date performance of some of the individual stocks we've closely tracked in 2020. 
The second section of this note is a list of themes and ideas we expect to drive share price performance in Asian Logistics, Transportation, and Travel over the next 12 months. It concludes with some suggested 2021 Long / Short pair trade ideas in each of these three segments. 
The third and final section of this note highlights several potential high-profile IPOs in the broader Asian Logistics space. Most of these potential deals are linked to large, well-known Chinese eCommerce fulfillment and "mobility" companies. 

TRACKING TRAFFIC/ 2020 Review | 2021 Preview | Potential IPOs in Logistics, Transportation & Travel

Equity Bottom-Up

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/178/841/original/BANNER-LOGISTICS.png?1608076389" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="178841"></figure></section>While still solid, YoY express parcel volume growth in China moderated somewhat in November. Slower growth came as a surprise, as November includes the big "11-11" online shopping holiday. An ongoing price war drove down ASPs in November (again). We don't believe companies can offset YoY price declines of 20-30% with unit cost reductions, so margins are likely falling (again). Our investment thesis for Chinese express is that growing financial pressures will result in consolidation in 2021. Under this scenario, struggling <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/best-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25494:1" rel="noopener">BEST Inc (BEST US)</a>, closely aligned with Alibaba's logistics efforts, becomes a potential acquisition target. We rate Best BUY.

While still solid, YoY express parcel volume growth in China moderated somewhat in November. Slower growth came as a surprise, as November includes the big "11-11" online shopping holiday. An ongoing price war drove down ASPs in November (again). We don't believe companies can offset YoY price declines of 20-30% with unit cost reductions, so margins are likely falling (again). Our investment thesis for Chinese express is that growing financial pressures will result in consolidation in 2021. Under this scenario, struggling BEST Inc (BEST US), closely aligned with Alibaba's logistics efforts, becomes a potential acquisition target. We rate Best BUY.

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Express: Volume Growth Moderates | Pricing Stays Depressed

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>China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association announced the Age Rating of Online Game.</li>
<li>Many online platforms stopped selling cash deposit products.</li>
<li>Online payment amount grew by 28% YoY on the shopping season “December 12”.</li>
</ul>


China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association announced the Age Rating of Online Game.
Many online platforms stopped selling cash deposit products.
Online payment amount grew by 28% YoY on the shopping season “December 12”.


China Internet Weekly (21Dec2020): Online Games Rated by Age, Online Platforms Banned from Deposit

Kerry Express Thailand / Equity Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kerry-express-thailand" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29253:1" rel="noopener">Kerry Express Thailand (KEX TB)</a> recently announced an IPO price range of 25-28 baht per share and plans to finally list its shares in late December. In this note we update KEX's EV/Revenue and EV/EBITDA valuations relative to those of the Chinese express delivery sector, which we believe are the most appropriate 'comps' for this issue. In this note we also highlight recent competitor actions in the Thai express market. In its Q320 earnings call, Chinese express company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/best-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25494:1" rel="noopener">BEST Inc (BEST US)</a> announced it was considering 'strategic options' for all non-core businesses, including its express operation in Thailand. In the long-run, Best's  withdrawal from the market could be an opportunity for KEX, or a threat. In the near-term, however, Best's potential actions in Thailand don't alter our thinking about KEX's IPO. We believe KEX at the IPO price range is attractively valued, particularly for a clear market leader in a fast-growing sector exposesd to several positive secular trends.

Kerry Express Thailand (KEX TB) recently announced an IPO price range of 25-28 baht per share and plans to finally list its shares in late December. In this note we update KEX's EV/Revenue and EV/EBITDA valuations relative to those of the Chinese express delivery sector, which we believe are the most appropriate 'comps' for this issue. In this note we also highlight recent competitor actions in the Thai express market. In its Q320 earnings call, Chinese express company BEST Inc (BEST US) announced it was considering 'strategic options' for all non-core businesses, including its express operation in Thailand. In the long-run, Best's  withdrawal from the market could be an opportunity for KEX, or a threat. In the near-term, however, Best's potential actions in Thailand don't alter our thinking about KEX's IPO. We believe KEX at the IPO price range is attractively valued, particularly for a clear market leader in a fast-growing sector exposesd to several positive secular trends. 

Kerry Express Thailand (KEX) IPO: Update on Valuation Range & Competitor Actions

In this new monthly research product we introduce three Long / Short pair trade ideas in Chinese travel, Chinese express and logistics, and global container shipping. 
These pair trade ideas are based mainly on expected fundamental change in each segment over the next 6-12 months. We'll focus on Asia, but occasionally we may place non-Asian names on either side of our pair ideas. Besides examining key secular and cyclical trends in each segment, we will consider relative valuations, and we'll strive to identify key catalysts and risks for each stock. 
Broadly, the idea behind this new product is to identify and own companies we expect to profitably gain share or to reap outsized benefits from important secular and cyclical trends, then short names in the same segment that stand to lose the most to the 'winners' we select. 
We'll be back in about a month with our first updates on these three proposed pairs!

In this new monthly research product we introduce three Long / Short pair trade ideas in Chinese travel, Chinese express and logistics, and global container shipping. 
These pair trade ideas are based mainly on expected fundamental change in each segment over the next 6-12 months. We'll focus on Asia, but occasionally we may place non-Asian names on either side of our pair ideas. Besides examining key secular and cyclical trends in each segment, we will consider relative valuations, and we'll strive to identify key catalysts and risks for each stock. 
Broadly, the idea behind this new product is to identify and own companies we expect to profitably gain share or to reap outsized benefits from important secular and cyclical trends, then short names in the same segment that stand to lose the most to the 'winners' we select. 
We'll be back in about a month with our first updates on these three proposed pairs!

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Three Suggested Pair Trades in Travel, Express & Shipping

Hong Kong

S. F. Holding Co., Ltd. offers express courier services. The Company provides logistics, order tracking, supply chain management, warehousing, and other services. S. F. Holding offers services worldwide.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

S.F. Holding (6936 HK)

TRACKING TRAFFIC/ 2020 Review | 2021 Preview | Potential IPOs in Logistics, Transportation & Travel

In this year-end piece we review key themes of 2020, look forward to emerging trends of 2021, and highlight some exciting companies that could...

Tracking Traffic

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Express: Volume Growth Moderates | Pricing Stays Depressed

Recent strong volume growth moderated in November, and express industry revenue growth lagged the performance of leading eComm platforms....

Tracking Traffic

China Internet Weekly (21Dec2020): Online Games Rated by Age, Online Platforms Banned from Deposit

Authorities announced the Age Rating of Online Game. Many online platforms stopped selling cash deposit products. Online payment amount grew by 28%...

Ming Lu

Kerry Express Thailand (KEX) IPO: Update on Valuation Range & Competitor Actions

We update our views of KEX's IPO valuation ahead of its late December listing. We also highlight the potential sale of a domestic competitor. We...

Tracking Traffic

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Three Suggested Pair Trades in Travel, Express & Shipping

We're introducing a monthly pair trade idea product to go along with our monthly products covering Chinese travel and tourism, Chinese express, and...

Tracking Traffic

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)