US IPOs and Secondary Offerings, IPO Boutique

IPO Boutique

US IPOs and Secondary Offerings

For more than 20 years, we have been providing research, analysis, commentary and ratings on US Equity Capital Markets to institutional investors (US IPOs and Secondary Offerings). Our vast network of contacts across the Equity Capital Markets and attention-to-detail sets us apart from our competitors.

Since 2012, we have achieved a successful hit rating on 89% of Buy-rated IPOs. The collective “Buy” ratings averaged a first trade of 16.3% above issue.Our Neutral Rated Deals averaged just 2% above the issue price at first trade.

Our written research includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

In addition, we provide a high-touch premium desk access which includes analyst access, as well as real time insights on US IPOs as well as secondary offerings.

IPOs and Secondary Offerings

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>The hold-up is based upon how Chime should be valued -- either like a fintech darling or just another financial services company.</li>
<li>The company’s gross profit tells a solid growth story as Chime ramps into the IPO with a healthy 33% gross profit clip based on Q1 2025 financials vs Q1 2024. </li>
<li>According to our sources, the Chime order book is considered multiple-times oversubscribed.</li>
</ul>


The hold-up is based upon how Chime should be valued -- either like a fintech darling or just another financial services company.
The company’s gross profit tells a solid growth story as Chime ramps into the IPO with a healthy 33% gross profit clip based on Q1 2025 financials vs Q1 2024. 
According to our sources, the Chime order book is considered multiple-times oversubscribed.


Chime Financial, Inc. (CHYM): Heavy Demand in IPO Order Book but Reason for Caution

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>SPACs - remember them? US offerings in 2021 topped ~US$150bn, falling to US$13bn in 2022. Singapore joined the bandwagon in January 2022  and Hong Kong two months later.</li>
<li>That Hong Kong stock is <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aquila-acquisition-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35435:1" rel="noopener">Aquila Acquisition Corporation (7836 HK)</a></strong>, and it recently announced a merger with <strong>ZG Group</strong>, a Chinese steel trading website.</li>
<li>That's positive. Less positive is how de-SPACed shares tend to trade in the US. </li>
</ul>


SPACs - remember them? US offerings in 2021 topped ~US$150bn, falling to US$13bn in 2022. Singapore joined the bandwagon in January 2022  and Hong Kong two months later.
That Hong Kong stock is Aquila Acquisition Corporation (7836 HK), and it recently announced a merger with ZG Group, a Chinese steel trading website.
That's positive. Less positive is how de-SPACed shares tend to trade in the US. 


SPAC Deep Dive, subSPAC

subSPAC

SPAC Deep Dive

Each week we’ll identify and break down for you SPACs that are capturing market share and making an impact.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>With the inception of the pandemic, borrowers have largely been wrestling with financial distress, compelling fintech companies like SoFi technologies, which banks on student loan financing, to largely reimagine their business model.</li><li>SoFi has moved away from its core business over the past three years, instead casting a wider net, extending its services to include diverse financial products, personal loans, and its banking-as-a-service business targeting enterprise customers.</li><li>In 2023, SoFi has had to grapple with mounting external pressures emanating from a slowing economy.</li></ul>

With the inception of the pandemic, borrowers have largely been wrestling with financial distress, compelling fintech companies like SoFi technologies, which banks on student loan financing, to largely reimagine their business model.SoFi has moved away from its core business over the past three years, instead casting a wider net, extending its services to include diverse financial products, personal loans, and its banking-as-a-service business targeting enterprise customers.In 2023, SoFi has had to grapple with mounting external pressures emanating from a slowing economy.

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>Varo bank published 4Q22 results that revealed lower quarterly cash burn through cost control, but revenue per client declined and the very high customer acquisition cost</li>
<li>SoFi’s cost reduction success in 4Q22 seems, in contrast to Varo, to have limited revenue loss, thereby bringing SoFi closer to breakeven; it trades at a premium to peers</li>
<li>These early 4Q22 results signals may provide some read across which we believe could be negative for Dave in particular, as well being a reality check for Inter’s US ambitions</li>
</ul>


Varo bank published 4Q22 results that revealed lower quarterly cash burn through cost control, but revenue per client declined and the very high customer acquisition cost
SoFi’s cost reduction success in 4Q22 seems, in contrast to Varo, to have limited revenue loss, thereby bringing SoFi closer to breakeven; it trades at a premium to peers
These early 4Q22 results signals may provide some read across which we believe could be negative for Dave in particular, as well being a reality check for Inter’s US ambitions


US Neobanks; Warning Signals from SoFi and Varo 4Q Results

<ul>
<li>Fintechs and neobanks suffered a valuations reality check in 2022, due to rising interest (and discount) rates, poor fundamental results coupled with - in certain cases - high cash burn</li>
<li>Most neobanks need to improve customer activity rates as well as product and revenue penetration; legacy banks are responding to disruptors and in developed markets megafintechs are encroaching on neobanks</li>
<li>We see 2023 neobank picks driven by bottom-up calls on focused execution; we turn constructive on Nubank, stay negative on Inter and Jago and neutral on Kakaobank and Banco PAN</li>
</ul>


Fintechs and neobanks suffered a valuations reality check in 2022, due to rising interest (and discount) rates, poor fundamental results coupled with - in certain cases - high cash burn
Most neobanks need to improve customer activity rates as well as product and revenue penetration; legacy banks are responding to disruptors and in developed markets megafintechs are encroaching on neobanks
We see 2023 neobank picks driven by bottom-up calls on focused execution; we turn constructive on Nubank, stay negative on Inter and Jago and neutral on Kakaobank and Banco PAN


EM and DM Neobanks in 2023; Selective Opportunity Driven by Bottom-Up Execution

United States

SoFi Technologies, Inc. is an online personal finance company and online bank. The Company provides financial products including student and auto loan refinancing, mortgages, personal loans, credit card, investing, and banking through both mobile app and desktop interfaces. SoFi Technologies serves customers in the United States.

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SoFi Technologies (SOFI US)

Chime Financial, Inc. (CHYM): Heavy Demand in IPO Order Book but Reason for Caution

Chime's valuation debate hinges on whether it should be seen as a fintech star or a traditional financial services company, with strong growth and...

IPO Boutique

Aquila Acquisition: The De-SPACed Arb

The gross spread to the redemption price is 4.8%. I'd be redeeming. Shares are beyond illiquid. Unless shares were to dip here, on some volume,...

David Blennerhassett

Beyond Student Loans

SoFi has moved away from its core business over the past three years, instead casting a wider net, extending its services to include diverse...

subSPAC

US Neobanks; Warning Signals from SoFi and Varo 4Q Results

Varo bank's 4Q results revealed lower quarterly cash burn through cost control, but revenue per client declined; SoFi seemed to have done a bit...

Victor Galliano

EM and DM Neobanks in 2023; Selective Opportunity Driven by Bottom-Up Execution

Neobank shareholder success stories are rare, but Nubank combines high customer activation and revenue conversion, with low cost to acquire; we...

Victor Galliano

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Chime Financial, Inc. (CHYM): Heavy Demand in IPO Order Book but Reason for Caution

​Chime's valuation debate hinges on whether it should be seen as a fintech star or a traditional financial services company, with strong growth and...

IPO Boutique

Aquila Acquisition: The De-SPACed Arb

The gross spread to the redemption price is 4.8%. I'd be redeeming. Shares are beyond illiquid. Unless shares were to dip here, on some volume,...

David Blennerhassett

Beyond Student Loans

SoFi has moved away from its core business over the past three years, instead casting a wider net, extending its services to include diverse...

subSPAC

US Neobanks; Warning Signals from SoFi and Varo 4Q Results

Varo bank's 4Q results revealed lower quarterly cash burn through cost control, but revenue per client declined; SoFi seemed to have done a bit...

Victor Galliano

EM and DM Neobanks in 2023; Selective Opportunity Driven by Bottom-Up Execution

Neobank shareholder success stories are rare, but Nubank combines high customer activation and revenue conversion, with low cost to acquire; we...

Victor Galliano

Chime's valuation debate hinges on whether it should be seen as a fintech star or a traditional financial services company, with strong growth and...