Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>The DAX and Hang Seng are reversing their downtrends while MSCI China (MCHI-US) and China Internet (KWEB-US) are currently testing their respective multi-month downtrends.</li>
<li>Reversals of these downtrends would signal a bear market rally in progress.</li>
<li>We will need to see more basing, followed by base breakouts, in order to get bullish -- a process that would likely take weeks or months.</li>
</ul>


The DAX and Hang Seng are reversing their downtrends while MSCI China (MCHI-US) and China Internet (KWEB-US) are currently testing their respective multi-month downtrends.
Reversals of these downtrends would signal a bear market rally in progress.
We will need to see more basing, followed by base breakouts, in order to get bullish -- a process that would likely take weeks or months.


Still Bearish, But On Watch for Bear Market Rally; Buying Toshiba 6502-JP, Defensive Sectors

<ul>
<li>Since March we have consistently said we believe any bottoming process would likely take weeks or months and could come with more tests of the lows, or even an undercut.</li>
<li>We are testing the March lows now in several global indexes, including the MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US), ACWI ex-US (ACWX-US), and EM (EEM-US).</li>
<li>While this is a logical spot for a bounce, we see rallies as selling opportunities at the index level</li>
</ul>


Since March we have consistently said we believe any bottoming process would likely take weeks or months and could come with more tests of the lows, or even an undercut.
We are testing the March lows now in several global indexes, including the MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US), ACWI ex-US (ACWX-US), and EM (EEM-US).
While this is a logical spot for a bounce, we see rallies as selling opportunities at the index level


MSCI ACWI, ACWI Ex-US, EM Testing Logical Support; Actionable Themes: Defensives & Reopening Stocks

European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>KKR is looking at alternatives ranging from raising its stake in Telecom Italia’s grid operations to pursuing a full takeover of the unit, as an alternative to the merger of FiberCop (the crown jewel) with Open Fiber, by which Telecom Italia would own a minority stake in the merged entity.</li>
<li>The merger seems designed to facilitate the generation of cash (by partial disposal and/or enhancing the share price by focusing analysts’ attention on its SOTP). Ongoing restructuring has created uncertainty in Telecom Italia’s intentions and potential actions, which in turn will introduce increased volatility into the pricing of Telecom Italia equity and debt. Vivendi, sitting on a 67% paper loss, is (rightly in my view) concerned.</li>
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<p>I would look to put on any the following strategies: short credit/buy protection, short TIT IM (my SOTP valuation is €0.29/ordinary share), and long savings/short ords.</p>
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</ul>


KKR is looking at alternatives ranging from raising its stake in Telecom Italia’s grid operations to pursuing a full takeover of the unit, as an alternative to the merger of FiberCop (the crown jewel) with Open Fiber, by which Telecom Italia would own a minority stake in the merged entity.
The merger seems designed to facilitate the generation of cash (by partial disposal and/or enhancing the share price by focusing analysts’ attention on its SOTP). Ongoing restructuring has created uncertainty in Telecom Italia’s intentions and potential actions, which in turn will introduce increased volatility into the pricing of Telecom Italia equity and debt. Vivendi, sitting on a 67% paper loss, is (rightly in my view) concerned.






I would look to put on any the following strategies: short credit/buy protection, short TIT IM (my SOTP valuation is €0.29/ordinary share), and long savings/short ords.











KKR/Telecom Italia: Open Fiber Deal, Ongoing Restructuring, Strategies

<p>The recent reforms incorporate "loyalty shares" as an option, which in practice come to transform the 'one share one vote' rule that prevailed in listed companies to protect equal voting rights of shareholders. The instrument equates the Spanish rules with those of other European Union countries, such as Germany, Italy, France or the Netherlands, among others, and aims to reward long-term investors, also protecting companies against short-term investors (opportunistic funds).</p>
<p>The Government toughens the takeover law before the arrival of 'loyal investors' on fear that hard core shareholders will take control of Spanish companies with the new double voting system.</p>
<p>According to the change in the regulation, an investor who exceeds 30% of the vote of a company listed due to the double voting rights of the loyalty shares, will have three months to decide whether to launch a takeover bid, reduce participation or waive its new political rights.</p>
<p>The Ministry of Finance discreetly introduces the change in the new Securities Market Law.</p>
<p>In Spain, the companies that establish the double voting system will be less prone to receiving a takeover offer. If it is already difficult to carry out an offer now without the support of the hard core nucleus on shareholders (for instance, MásMóvil has had to agree with those of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/euskaltel-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21263:1" rel="noopener">Euskaltel SA (EKT SM)</a> ), it will be next to impossible under the new framework.</p>

The recent reforms incorporate "loyalty shares" as an option, which in practice come to transform the 'one share one vote' rule that prevailed in listed companies to protect equal voting rights of shareholders. The instrument equates the Spanish rules with those of other European Union countries, such as Germany, Italy, France or the Netherlands, among others, and aims to reward long-term investors, also protecting companies against short-term investors (opportunistic funds).
The Government toughens the takeover law before the arrival of 'loyal investors' on fear that hard core shareholders will take control of Spanish companies with the new double voting system.
According to the change in the regulation, an investor who exceeds 30% of the vote of a company listed due to the double voting rights of the loyalty shares, will have three months to decide whether to launch a takeover bid, reduce participation or waive its new political rights.
The Ministry of Finance discreetly introduces the change in the new Securities Market Law.
In Spain, the companies that establish the double voting system will be less prone to receiving a takeover offer. If it is already difficult to carry out an offer now without the support of the hard core nucleus on shareholders (for instance, MásMóvil has had to agree with those of Euskaltel SA (EKT SM) ), it will be next to impossible under the new framework.

Loyalty Shares in Spain: Double-Voting Rights Could Hinder Takeovers

<p>Telxius, a subsidiary of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/telefonica-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21299:1" rel="noopener">Telefonica SA (TEF SM)</a> (50% Telefonica, 40% KKR, 10% Pontegadea) reached an agreement with Boston-based <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/american-tower-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6365:1" rel="noopener">American Tower (AMT US)</a> to sell its entire tower unit (30,722 sites across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Peru and Spain).</p>
<ul>
<li>The EV is €7.7 bn including the remaining payments to be done by Telxius to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/telefonica-deutschland-holding" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21687:1" rel="noopener">Telefonica Deutschland Holding (O2D GR)</a> to complete the German transaction.</li>
<li>The price is 30.x EBITDA, above the usual 23x.</li>
<li>Telefónica will reduce its debt by €4.6 bn, 12.5% of the total.</li>
<li><span data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="es" data-phrase-index="1">Debt reduction and pending corporate operations provide the group with sufficient liquidity to maintain its commitment to shareholders for the time being.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="es" data-phrase-index="1">In the current context, Telefonica focuses on the management of FCF to preserve the payment of the dividend, by reducing investments. The dividend remains at €0.4 per share and debt, one of the group's main drawbacks, fell c.15% LTM. In the long term, the potential for structural growth is low, competition high, and room to maneuver limited. The current environment makes it difficult to sell non-strategic assets at adequate prices and questions the sustainability of the dividend.</span></p>
<h3><span data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="es" data-phrase-index="1">Recommendation</span></h3>
<p><span data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="es" data-phrase-index="1"><strong>Telefonica</strong>: DCF valuation is <strong>€4.2</strong> (Capital IQ consensus, WACC 6.4%, g 0.3%).</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="es" data-phrase-index="1">The sale of Telxius may support market expectations for a potential acceleration in the execution of the strategic reshuffle announced by management, thus leading to a re-rating of the company.</span></li>
<li>But there are risks: slower deleverage, lower economic growth in Spain (24% of EBITDA), macro deterioration and currency depreciations in Central and South America (c. 15% of EBITDA). Positive surprises may come from further disposals at high multiples thus leading to faster deleverage, better than expected economic growth in Central and South America and a reduction of the (so far unsustainable) dividend.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cellnex</strong>, reiterate <strong>TP</strong> of <strong>€64.36</strong>. Cellnex could become the object of a take-over.</p>

Telxius, a subsidiary of Telefonica SA (TEF SM) (50% Telefonica, 40% KKR, 10% Pontegadea) reached an agreement with Boston-based American Tower (AMT US) to sell its entire tower unit (30,722 sites across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Peru and Spain).

The EV is €7.7 bn including the remaining payments to be done by Telxius to Telefonica Deutschland Holding (O2D GR) to complete the German transaction.
The price is 30.x EBITDA, above the usual 23x.
Telefónica will reduce its debt by €4.6 bn, 12.5% of the total.
Debt reduction and pending corporate operations provide the group with sufficient liquidity to maintain its commitment to shareholders for the time being.

In the current context, Telefonica focuses on the management of FCF to preserve the payment of the dividend, by reducing investments. The dividend remains at €0.4 per share and debt, one of the group's main drawbacks, fell c.15% LTM. In the long term, the potential for structural growth is low, competition high, and room to maneuver limited. The current environment makes it difficult to sell non-strategic assets at adequate prices and questions the sustainability of the dividend.
Recommendation
Telefonica: DCF valuation is €4.2 (Capital IQ consensus, WACC 6.4%, g 0.3%).

The sale of Telxius may support market expectations for a potential acceleration in the execution of the strategic reshuffle announced by management, thus leading to a re-rating of the company.
But there are risks: slower deleverage, lower economic growth in Spain (24% of EBITDA), macro deterioration and currency depreciations in Central and South America (c. 15% of EBITDA). Positive surprises may come from further disposals at high multiples thus leading to faster deleverage, better than expected economic growth in Central and South America and a reduction of the (so far unsustainable) dividend.

Cellnex, reiterate TP of €64.36. Cellnex could become the object of a take-over.

Spain

Telefonica S.A. provides telecommunications services mainly to countries in Europe and Latin America.  The Company offers fixed-line and mobile telephone, Internet, and data transmission services to residential and corporate customers.

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Telefonica SA (TEF SM)

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The $DAX and Hang Seng are reversing their downtrends while China $MCHI and China Internet $KWEB are currently testing their respective multi-month...

Vermilion Research

MSCI ACWI, ACWI Ex-US, EM Testing Logical Support; Actionable Themes: Defensives & Reopening Stocks

We are testing the March lows in several global indexes, including the MSCI $ACWI, ACWI ex-US $ACWX, and EM $EEM. While this is a logical spot for...

Vermilion Research

KKR/Telecom Italia: Open Fiber Deal, Ongoing Restructuring, Strategies

I would look to put on any the following strategies: short credit/buy protection, short TIT IM (my SOTP valuation is €0.29/ordinary share), and...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Loyalty Shares in Spain: Double-Voting Rights Could Hinder Takeovers

In Spain, the companies that establish the double voting system will be less prone to takeover, such as Repsol SA (REP SM) and Telefonica SA (TEF...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Telefonica's Disposal of Telxius

Telefonica manages FCF to preserve the divi, by reducing investments. Debt fell c.15% LTM. Structural growth potential is low, competition high,...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

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