Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Capital Markets

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/qiniu-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33236:1" rel="noopener">Qiniu (QNIU US)</a>  is a leading cloud-based Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) provider in China whose client base includes <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bilibili-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26793:1" rel="noopener">Bilibili Inc (BILI US)</a> , OPPO, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tal-education-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1124:1" rel="noopener">TAL Education (TAL US)</a> , <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 Xiaohongshu. The company’s platform offers media and data cloud services and the company has filed for an IPO to list its share in the US and has set a placeholder indication to raise about US$100m.</p>

Qiniu (QNIU US)  is a leading cloud-based Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) provider in China whose client base includes Bilibili Inc (BILI US) , OPPO, TAL Education (TAL US) , China Merchants Bank A (600036 CH) and Xiaohongshu. The company’s platform offers media and data cloud services and the company has filed for an IPO to list its share in the US and has set a placeholder indication to raise about US$100m.

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.

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ximalaya-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33232:1" rel="noopener">Ximalaya (XIMA US)</a> is the largest online audio platform in China as measured by average MAUs (monthly active users), total mobile listening time, and total revenues in 2020, according to CIC. Ximalaya also has the largest audio content library and the most audio content creators in China. <br>Ximalaya is backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> (5.4% of outstanding shares), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tal-education-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1124:1" rel="noopener">TAL Education (TAL US)</a>, Sony Music Entertainment and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-literature-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24388:1" rel="noopener">China Literature (772 HK)</a>. Ximalaya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $0.5-1.0 billion, according to press reports.   </p></div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ximalaya-ipo-initiation-out-of-tune" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51169" rel="noopener">Ximalaya IPO Initiation: Out of Tune</a>, we stated that Ximalaya is well-positioned to benefit from this sizeable China online audio market opportunity. The strong user engagement, fast-paced revenue growth and declining loss margin suggest that Ximalaya is heading in the right direction. However, a closer look reveals concerning developments on several fronts. We concluded that the negatives in the Ximalaya story warrant a pass. In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at Ximalaya's potential valuation range. </p></div></div>

Ximalaya (XIMA US) is the largest online audio platform in China as measured by average MAUs (monthly active users), total mobile listening time, and total revenues in 2020, according to CIC. Ximalaya also has the largest audio content library and the most audio content creators in China.  Ximalaya is backed by Tencent (700 HK) (5.4% of outstanding shares), TAL Education (TAL US), Sony Music Entertainment and China Literature (772 HK). Ximalaya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $0.5-1.0 billion, according to press reports.   In Ximalaya IPO Initiation: Out of Tune, we stated that Ximalaya is well-positioned to benefit from this sizeable China online audio market opportunity. The strong user engagement, fast-paced revenue growth and declining loss margin suggest that Ximalaya is heading in the right direction. However, a closer look reveals concerning developments on several fronts. We concluded that the negatives in the Ximalaya story warrant a pass. In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at Ximalaya's potential valuation range. 

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/qiniu-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33236:1" rel="noopener">Qiniu (QNIU US)</a> is China's leading cloud-based Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) provider. Qiniu primarily offers Media Platform-as-a-Service (MPaaS) for intelligent media solutions and Data Platform-as-a-Service (DPaaS) for machine data solutions. It is China's largest pure-play PaaS provider with a 4.4% market share and China's largest independent MPaaS provider with a 7.5% market share by revenue in 2020, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan.</p><p>Qiniu is backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a> (17.7% of outstanding shares), Matrix Partners (8.0%) Qiming Funds (6.8%). Qiniu has filed for a Nasdaq IPO to raise proceeds of $500 million, according to press reports. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>At first glance, Qiniu should be well-positioned to benefit from this sizeable China's PaaS market opportunity. The strong dollar-based net expansion rate and shift to profitability (based on the company’s adjusted EBITDA metric) and cash generation in 2020 suggests that Qiniu is heading in the right direction. However, a closer look reveals concerning developments on several fronts. In the current market where sentiment on Chinese US listings is weak, we think that the negatives in the Qiniu story warrant a pass.  </p></div>

Qiniu (QNIU US) is China's leading cloud-based Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) provider. Qiniu primarily offers Media Platform-as-a-Service (MPaaS) for intelligent media solutions and Data Platform-as-a-Service (DPaaS) for machine data solutions. It is China's largest pure-play PaaS provider with a 4.4% market share and China's largest independent MPaaS provider with a 7.5% market share by revenue in 2020, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan.Qiniu is backed by Alibaba Group (BABA US) (17.7% of outstanding shares), Matrix Partners (8.0%) Qiming Funds (6.8%). Qiniu has filed for a Nasdaq IPO to raise proceeds of $500 million, according to press reports. At first glance, Qiniu should be well-positioned to benefit from this sizeable China's PaaS market opportunity. The strong dollar-based net expansion rate and shift to profitability (based on the company’s adjusted EBITDA metric) and cash generation in 2020 suggests that Qiniu is heading in the right direction. However, a closer look reveals concerning developments on several fronts. In the current market where sentiment on Chinese US listings is weak, we think that the negatives in the Qiniu story warrant a pass.  

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>It was reported by several news media outlets today that the China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has imposed fines of RMB2.5m each (US$389,000) on online tutoring apps Yuanfudao and Zuoyebang for making misleading claims about their businesses. These claims include falsifying the qualifications of teaching staff to faking user reviews. The two online education start-ups have accepted the penalties and have agreed to rectify the relevant problems.</p><p>Last month, the market regulator of Beijing fined four online education companies including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gsx-techedu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28069:1" rel="noopener">GSX Techedu (GSX US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tal-education-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1124:1" rel="noopener">TAL Education (TAL US)</a>  for violating pricing laws. The SAMR has vowed to intensify regulatory supervision of after-school education companies and crackdown on their illegal activities.</p>

It was reported by several news media outlets today that the China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has imposed fines of RMB2.5m each (US$389,000) on online tutoring apps Yuanfudao and Zuoyebang for making misleading claims about their businesses. These claims include falsifying the qualifications of teaching staff to faking user reviews. The two online education start-ups have accepted the penalties and have agreed to rectify the relevant problems.Last month, the market regulator of Beijing fined four online education companies including GSX Techedu (GSX US) and TAL Education (TAL US)  for violating pricing laws. The SAMR has vowed to intensify regulatory supervision of after-school education companies and crackdown on their illegal activities.

GSX TechEdu: China Fines Online Tutoring Apps for Making Misleading Claims; Is GSX Next?

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ximalaya-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33232:1" rel="noopener">Ximalaya (XIMA US)</a> is the largest online audio platform in China as measured by average MAUs (monthly active users), total mobile listening time, and total revenues in 2020, according to CIC. Ximalaya also has the largest audio content library and the most audio content creators in China. <br>Ximalaya is backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> (5.4% of outstanding shares), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tal-education-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1124:1" rel="noopener">TAL Education (TAL US)</a> and Sony Music Entertainment. Ximalaya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $0.5-1.0 billion, according to press reports. </p><p>China is the world’s largest online audio market in terms of the number of online audio users. However, the number of mobile online audio MAUs (monthly active users) in China accounted for only 16.1% of total mobile Internet MAUs in 2020, according to CIC. China’s online audio market in terms of revenue is forecasted to grow from RMB13.1 billion in 2020 to RMB120.1 billion by 2025, representing a CAGR of 55.8%, according to CIC.</p><div class="content-highlight">
<p>At first glance, Ximalaya is well-positioned to benefit from this sizeable market opportunity. The strong user engagement, fast-paced revenue growth and declining loss margin suggest that Ximalaya is heading in the right direction. However, a closer look reveals concerning developments on several fronts.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lizhi-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28396:1" rel="noopener">Lizhi Inc (LIZI US)</a>, a peer, is trading around 50% below its IPO price which suggests that investors are not overly enthused by plays on the China online audio market. With sentiment on Chinese US listings weakening, we think that the negatives in the Ximalaya story warrant a pass.  </p>
</div>

Ximalaya (XIMA US) is the largest online audio platform in China as measured by average MAUs (monthly active users), total mobile listening time, and total revenues in 2020, according to CIC. Ximalaya also has the largest audio content library and the most audio content creators in China.  Ximalaya is backed by Tencent (700 HK) (5.4% of outstanding shares), TAL Education (TAL US) and Sony Music Entertainment. Ximalaya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $0.5-1.0 billion, according to press reports. China is the world’s largest online audio market in terms of the number of online audio users. However, the number of mobile online audio MAUs (monthly active users) in China accounted for only 16.1% of total mobile Internet MAUs in 2020, according to CIC. China’s online audio market in terms of revenue is forecasted to grow from RMB13.1 billion in 2020 to RMB120.1 billion by 2025, representing a CAGR of 55.8%, according to CIC.
At first glance, Ximalaya is well-positioned to benefit from this sizeable market opportunity. The strong user engagement, fast-paced revenue growth and declining loss margin suggest that Ximalaya is heading in the right direction. However, a closer look reveals concerning developments on several fronts.
Lizhi Inc (LIZI US), a peer, is trading around 50% below its IPO price which suggests that investors are not overly enthused by plays on the China online audio market. With sentiment on Chinese US listings weakening, we think that the negatives in the Ximalaya story warrant a pass.  


China

TAL Education Group provides educational services. The Company offers comprehensive tutoring services to students covering core academic subjects such as mathematics, English, Chinese, physics, chemistry, political science, history, and biology. TAL Education Group serves students in China.

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TAL Education (TAL US)

Qiniu IPO: Losing Strength

Qiniu’s revenue growth has been driven by its premium MPaaS customers and the drop in GPM in 1Q21 suggests that the number of premium MPaaS users...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Ximalaya IPO: Valuation First-Look

Ximalaya has filed for an NYSE IPO to raise proceeds of $0.5-1.0 billion. In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at...

Arun George

Qiniu IPO Initiation: A PasS

Qiniu has filed for a Nasdaq IPO to raise proceeds of $500 million, according to press reports. We think that the several negatives in the Qiniu...

Arun George

GSX TechEdu: China Fines Online Tutoring Apps for Making Misleading Claims; Is GSX Next?

GSX Techedu is currently investigated by the US SEC for multiple misleading claims and fraudulent business practices, if proven, GSX will be...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Ximalaya IPO Initiation: Out of Tune

At first glance, Ximalaya is well-positioned to benefit from the sizeable China online audio market opportunity. However, a closer look reveals...

Arun George

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