Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Independent, Fundamental Quantitative Research

Propitious Research

Fully independent, fundamental and quantitative equity research, focused on companies in the Telecommunication, Media, Technology, Internet and Healthcare sectors in the Global Emerging Markets. Idea generation focused on Quality stocks, trading below their intrinsic Value, with sound Corporate Governance.

Quantitative Analysis

This insight provides the output, and an overview of, our proprietary GEM screening model, which takes a three-pronged approached to finding the best medium-term long ideas within the top100 largest stocks in the MSCI GEM Index. The model is based on 1) a typical quantitative multifactor screening model, enhanced by two Artificial Intelligence Technology-based approaches using 2) a Deep Neural Network model, and 3) a Recurrent Neural Network model. This model, which has been developed and tweaked over the past 24 months (and implemented in its current state for 12 months), has a solid real-world performance track record, which I set out in the detail below. Notable new entrants to the top decile this month include <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gazprom-pjsc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23749:1" rel="noopener">Gazprom PJSC (GAZP RX)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mediatek-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:772:1" rel="noopener">Mediatek Inc (2454 TT)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sberbank-of-russia-pjsc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24142:1" rel="noopener">Sberbank Of Russia Pjsc (SBER LI)</a>.<table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 48pt;">rank</td>
<td style="width: 169pt;">Name</td>
<td style="width: 119pt;">Sector</td>
<td style="width: 95pt;">Location</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 48pt;">prev.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td>CNOOC LTD</td>
<td>Energy</td>
<td>China</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td>GAZPROM</td>
<td>Energy</td>
<td>Russian Federation</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">89</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td>CHINA RESOURCES LAND LTD</td>
<td>Real Estate</td>
<td>China</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td>PTT NON-VOTING DR PCL</td>
<td>Energy</td>
<td>Thailand</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td>MEDIATEK INC</td>
<td>Information Technology</td>
<td>Taiwan</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">81</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td>PAO NOVATEK GDR</td>
<td>Energy</td>
<td>Russian Federation</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">48</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td>GEELY AUTOMOBILE HOLDINGS LTD</td>
<td>Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td>China</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td>SBERBANK ROSSII</td>
<td>Financials</td>
<td>Russian Federation</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">59</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td>SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS LTD</td>
<td>Information Technology</td>
<td>Korea (South)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td>FIRSTRAND LTD</td>
<td>Financials</td>
<td>South Africa</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">30</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="5" style="text-align: left;">Source: FactSet financial data and analytics, my estimates and calculations, Tensorflow, Keras, Google Colaboratory, pandas</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>As usual, please feel free to reach out for the full output table, any questions, clarifications needed or suggestions.

This insight provides the output, and an overview of, our proprietary GEM screening model, which takes a three-pronged approached to finding the best medium-term long ideas within the top100 largest stocks in the MSCI GEM Index. The model is based on 1) a typical quantitative multifactor screening model, enhanced by two Artificial Intelligence Technology-based approaches using 2) a Deep Neural Network model, and 3) a Recurrent Neural Network model. This model, which has been developed and tweaked over the past 24 months (and implemented in its current state for 12 months), has a solid real-world performance track record, which I set out in the detail below. Notable new entrants to the top decile this month include Gazprom PJSC (GAZP RX), Mediatek Inc (2454 TT), and Sberbank Of Russia Pjsc (SBER LI).









rank
Name
Sector
Location
prev.


1
CNOOC LTD
Energy
China
25


2
GAZPROM
Energy
Russian Federation
89


3
CHINA RESOURCES LAND LTD
Real Estate
China
45


4
PTT NON-VOTING DR PCL
Energy
Thailand
39


5
MEDIATEK INC
Information Technology
Taiwan
81


6
PAO NOVATEK GDR
Energy
Russian Federation
48


7
GEELY AUTOMOBILE HOLDINGS LTD
Consumer Discretionary
China
2


8
SBERBANK ROSSII
Financials
Russian Federation
59


9
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS LTD
Information Technology
Korea (South)
41


10
FIRSTRAND LTD
Financials
South Africa
30

Source: FactSet financial data and analytics, my estimates and calculations, Tensorflow, Keras, Google Colaboratory, pandas

As usual, please feel free to reach out for the full output table, any questions, clarifications needed or suggestions.

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Equity Bottom-Up

Sberbank of Russia PJSC / Equity Bottom-Up

*New US Sanctions: The US Biden administration announced a series of sanctions today against Russia, which leaves the country on the verge of being tossed out of Western banking/finance markets related to SolarWinds and US elections meddling; and  *Nuclear Option Still Available: As bad as this is for Russia and her largest financial institutions, such as Sberbank of Russia (SBER.RU), the Biden administration did not move to the nuclear option of barring investors from holding Russian sovereign debt in the secondary market nor did it actually add tycoons to the sanctions list. The painful worst case scenario of barring ownership of Russian debt has been avoided, as foreign investors own some 20% or USD 37 bn in Russian paper - US investors account for half of foreign holdings. This situation could have triggered substantial indices-related selling.

*New US Sanctions: The US Biden administration announced a series of sanctions today against Russia, which leaves the country on the verge of being tossed out of Western banking/finance markets related to SolarWinds and US elections meddling; and  *Nuclear Option Still Available: As bad as this is for Russia and her largest financial institutions, such as Sberbank of Russia (SBER.RU), the Biden administration did not move to the nuclear option of barring investors from holding Russian sovereign debt in the secondary market nor did it actually add tycoons to the sanctions list. The painful worst case scenario of barring ownership of Russian debt has been avoided, as foreign investors own some 20% or USD 37 bn in Russian paper - US investors account for half of foreign holdings. This situation could have triggered substantial indices-related selling. 

Sberbank of Russia – Dealing With New Sanctions

*Russia Military Raises Threat Level: After years of an uneasy stalemate, Russia’s Southern Military Theater recently concluded major exercises in March. Despite their conclusion, 3-4 thousand Russian troops allegedly remain just 30 miles from Ukraine's southern border. On March 27th, Russia indicated its displeasure with the lack of progress on ceasefire negotiations while the Ukrainian Parliament announced that the July ceasefire had broken down with continued skirmishes and border incursions;  *Ukranian Bank Already Under Pressure: SberBank of Russia PJSC (SBER.RM) [Sberbank] has been operating its wholly-owned Ukraine subsidiary, AO Sberbank (AO), since 2007. AO has been operating profitably following improved cost efficiencies and lowered loss provisions despite being constrained by a high level of problem loans and exposure to COVID-19 affected sectors. Further, AO, along with most other Ukranian banks, has substantial government bond holdings whose ratings are already challenged; and   * New Sanctions Likely Coming: We would any new additional sanctions to include: the Nord Stream II Pipeline, which is close to allowing the transshipment of natural gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany (bypassing Ukraine); further sanctions on the Russian financial sector which could exacerbate problems for the already challenged AO; and a ban on Russian sovereign debt as an investment.

*Russia Military Raises Threat Level: After years of an uneasy stalemate, Russia’s Southern Military Theater recently concluded major exercises in March. Despite their conclusion, 3-4 thousand Russian troops allegedly remain just 30 miles from Ukraine's southern border. On March 27th, Russia indicated its displeasure with the lack of progress on ceasefire negotiations while the Ukrainian Parliament announced that the July ceasefire had broken down with continued skirmishes and border incursions;  *Ukranian Bank Already Under Pressure: SberBank of Russia PJSC (SBER.RM) [Sberbank] has been operating its wholly-owned Ukraine subsidiary, AO Sberbank (AO), since 2007. AO has been operating profitably following improved cost efficiencies and lowered loss provisions despite being constrained by a high level of problem loans and exposure to COVID-19 affected sectors. Further, AO, along with most other Ukranian banks, has substantial government bond holdings whose ratings are already challenged; and   * New Sanctions Likely Coming: We would any new additional sanctions to include: the Nord Stream II Pipeline, which is close to allowing the transshipment of natural gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany (bypassing Ukraine); further sanctions on the Russian financial sector which could exacerbate problems for the already challenged AO; and a ban on Russian sovereign debt as an investment.  

Sberbank of Russia – Ukraine Risks Rising

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

<ul>
<li>Our 2Q20 screens reveal the wide range in cost of risk amongst EM banks</li>
<li>We screen for banks that are well capitalised and have ”kitchen sinked” loan provision charges, even though this potentially sacrifices near term returns</li>
<li>We also take into account valuation versus returns metrics</li>
<li>Our analysis picks are skewed towards LatAm, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grupo-financiero-banorte-o" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24780:1" rel="noopener">Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF)</a> at the top of the attractive pile, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-do-brasil-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24564:1" rel="noopener">Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ)</a> also screening well on value, albeit to a lesser degree</li>
<li>Outside of LatAm, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commercial-international-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27625:1" rel="noopener">Commercial International Bank (COMI EY)</a>  screens well, along with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:714:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank A (600036 CH)</a> and – one newcomer since our July report – <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bdo-unibank-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:329:1" rel="noopener">BDO Unibank Inc (BDO PM)</a> </li>
<li>Names to watch include <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sberbank-of-russia-pjsc-cde59529-fb78-4659-85d0-127942b44ba7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27581:1" rel="noopener">Sberbank of Russia PJSC (SBER RM)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-bradesco-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24569:1" rel="noopener">Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ)</a> and – even though outside the value spectrum – <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a> </li>
<li>Risks to our view include a protracted downturn that warrants further large loan loss provisioning charges going forward, which suppress profitability</li>
</ul>


Our 2Q20 screens reveal the wide range in cost of risk amongst EM banks
We screen for banks that are well capitalised and have ”kitchen sinked” loan provision charges, even though this potentially sacrifices near term returns
We also take into account valuation versus returns metrics
Our analysis picks are skewed towards LatAm, with Credicorp Ltd (BAP US) and Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF) at the top of the attractive pile, and Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ) also screening well on value, albeit to a lesser degree
Outside of LatAm, Commercial International Bank (COMI EY)  screens well, along with China Merchants Bank A (600036 CH) and – one newcomer since our July report – BDO Unibank Inc (BDO PM) 
Names to watch include Sberbank of Russia PJSC (SBER RM), Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ) and – even though outside the value spectrum – Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ) 
Risks to our view include a protracted downturn that warrants further large loan loss provisioning charges going forward, which suppress profitability


EM Banks Through the Credit Quality and Value Lens

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

<ul>
<li>Ownership levels in Yandex hit all-time highs in EM active portfolios</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yandex-nv-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:414:1" rel="noopener">Yandex (YNDX US)</a> overtakes <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sberbank-of-russia-pjsc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24142:1" rel="noopener">Sberbank Of Russia Pjsc (SBER LI)</a> as top overweight</li>
<li>Positioning and momentum levels are among the highest compared to Russian and Communication Services peers.</li>
<li>However, we still the potential for ownership levels to move higher still.</li>
</ul>Taken from our Global Emerging Markets analysis, comprising 248 active GEM funds, combined AUM $360bn.


Ownership levels in Yandex hit all-time highs in EM active portfolios

Yandex (YNDX US) overtakes Sberbank Of Russia Pjsc (SBER LI) as top overweight
Positioning and momentum levels are among the highest compared to Russian and Communication Services peers.
However, we still the potential for ownership levels to move higher still.
Taken from our Global Emerging Markets analysis, comprising 248 active GEM funds, combined AUM $360bn.

Russia

Sberbank of Russia PJSC attracts deposits and offers commercial banking services. The Bank offers time deposits, corporate banking, securities brokerage, credit, foreign exchange services, and sponsors credit cards.

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Sberbank of Russia PJSC (SBER LI)

Screening for GEMs: May 2021

This insight provides an overview of our proprietary GEM screening model which is based on a multifactor screening model, a Deep Neural Network...

Wium Malan, CFA

Sberbank of Russia – Dealing With New Sanctions

SBERBANK: The Biden administration announced a series of sanctions against Russia, which leaves the country on the verge of being tossed out of...

Thomas J. Monaco

Sberbank of Russia – Ukraine Risks Rising

SBERBANK: After an uneasy stalemate, Russia recently concluded major exercises. Ceasefire negotiations have broken down. SberBank's Ukraine...

Thomas J. Monaco

EM Banks Through the Credit Quality and Value Lens

Our 2Q20 screens reveal the wide range in cost of risk amongst EM banks We screen for banks that are well capitalised and have ”kitchen sinked”...

Victor Galliano

Yandex: Moves to Top Russia Overweight

Ownership levels in Yandex hit all-time highs in EM active portfolios Yandex (YNDX US) overtakes Sberbank Of Russia Pjsc (SBER LI) as top...

Steven Holden

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