TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst, Obex Capital Research

Aaron Gabin

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research

Obex Capital Research

“Obex” is Latin for Barriers to Entry. Obex Capital Management’s investment philosophy is driven by an intense focus on which business model’s Barriers to Entry are able to withstand the ever increasing competitive disruption in the TMT and Consumer Sectors.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>This week, Thirdpoint's Dan Loeb wrote a letter to Disney asking it to cut costs, spin ESPN, and buy in Hulu.</li>
<li>We agreed with Loeb two years ago, but don't see the strategic rationale this time around...Disney isn't bloated, needs ESPN's FCF, and doesn't need to spend $9B on Hulu today.</li>
<li>We do agree with Loeb's points about not reinstating the dividend (better use of FCF on Disney + and other investments) and refreshing a (strangely weird) Board of Directors.</li>
</ul>


This week, Thirdpoint's Dan Loeb wrote a letter to Disney asking it to cut costs, spin ESPN, and buy in Hulu.
We agreed with Loeb two years ago, but don't see the strategic rationale this time around...Disney isn't bloated, needs ESPN's FCF, and doesn't need to spend $9B on Hulu today.
We do agree with Loeb's points about not reinstating the dividend (better use of FCF on Disney + and other investments) and refreshing a (strangely weird) Board of Directors.


<ul>
<li>Netflix's quarter was modestly better than reset bearish expectations...but not by much. 1M subscriber gains projected for 3Q below consensus 1.7M.</li>
<li>Timeline for reaccelerating subscriber growth from advertising and password sharing still seems shockingly long. </li>
<li>Netflix remains a top funding short for the forseeable future, we think $210 is the high end of the range, $170 the low end, but could justify $150.</li>
</ul>


Netflix's quarter was modestly better than reset bearish expectations...but not by much. 1M subscriber gains projected for 3Q below consensus 1.7M.
Timeline for reaccelerating subscriber growth from advertising and password sharing still seems shockingly long. 
Netflix remains a top funding short for the forseeable future, we think $210 is the high end of the range, $170 the low end, but could justify $150.


Netflix 2Q22: Low Growth, Low FCF, Low (Management) Conviction

<ul>
<li>Netflix net add bogey appears to be for 2Q losses in the -2-3M range (guide was -2M), if it hits this number is irrelevant, the 3Q/2H22 guide is more important.</li>
<li>BBG was bullish on NFLX's quarter recently, but we think misses the forest from the trees regarding ever ramping competition. </li>
<li>Ad-Based Netflix subs *might* hit by end of 2022, but won't move the needle for 18 months.</li>
</ul>


Netflix net add bogey appears to be for 2Q losses in the -2-3M range (guide was -2M), if it hits this number is irrelevant, the 3Q/2H22 guide is more important.
BBG was bullish on NFLX's quarter recently, but we think misses the forest from the trees regarding ever ramping competition. 
Ad-Based Netflix subs *might* hit by end of 2022, but won't move the needle for 18 months.


Tactical TMT 2Q Earnings Trading Idea: Short NFLX

<ul>
<li>Indian Premiere League cricket auction has brought in $6.6B thus far, up 3x from the 2018-2022 package, though the per game increase is closer to 2.3x.</li>
<li>Disney was smart to relinquish the digital rights, saving itself $3.6B in cash (~$2/share) rather than spending to drive worthless Hotstar+ subs (~$0.26/share).</li>
<li>Google may open up YouTube advertising to 3rd party platforms to settle EU antitrust...a potential boon for The Trade Desk.</li>
</ul>


Indian Premiere League cricket auction has brought in $6.6B thus far, up 3x from the 2018-2022 package, though the per game increase is closer to 2.3x.
Disney was smart to relinquish the digital rights, saving itself $3.6B in cash (~$2/share) rather than spending to drive worthless Hotstar+ subs (~$0.26/share).
Google may open up YouTube advertising to 3rd party platforms to settle EU antitrust...a potential boon for The Trade Desk.


TMT Quick Hits: DIS/Cricket Rights, GOOGL/TTD/EU

Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Capital Markets

The Walt Disney Co / Equity Capital Markets

<ul><li>Disney delivered a result higher than market expectations and the biggest relief for Wall Street after the Netflix results debacle was the jump in Disney+ subscribers.</li><li>The company saw Disney+ subscriptions rise to 137.7 million and around 205 million total subscriptions, up 9.2 million from the previous quarter.</li><li>This includes 7.9 million Disney+ subscribers, putting them on track to reach 230 million to 260 million Disney+ subscribers by the end of fiscal 2024.</li></ul>

Disney delivered a result higher than market expectations and the biggest relief for Wall Street after the Netflix results debacle was the jump in Disney+ subscribers.The company saw Disney+ subscriptions rise to 137.7 million and around 205 million total subscriptions, up 9.2 million from the previous quarter.This includes 7.9 million Disney+ subscribers, putting them on track to reach 230 million to 260 million Disney+ subscribers by the end of fiscal 2024.

The Walt Disney Company: Is The Subscriber Growth Here To Stay? Check Out The Company’s Key Drivers

United States

The Walt Disney Company is an entertainment company that conducts operations in media networks, studio entertainment, theme parks and resorts, consumer products, and interactive media. The Company produces motion pictures, television programs, and musical recordings, as well as books and magazines.

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The Walt Disney Co (DIS US)

Disney: Don’t Listen to Loeb

Dan Loeb offered five suggestions for Disney: cost cutting, no dividend, buy Hulu, Spin ESPN, & refresh the Board. We don't see viable cost cutting...

Aaron Gabin

Netflix 2Q22: Low Growth, Low FCF, Low (Management) Conviction

Netflix has become a legacy cable network - little pricing power, little volume growth, and massive competition. Oh yeah, minimal FCF a management...

Aaron Gabin

Tactical TMT 2Q Earnings Trading Idea: Short NFLX

Recent commentary that Netflix subscriber figures may be better than expected will prove irrelevant. Unrelenting competitive intensity will trigger...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Quick Hits: DIS/Cricket Rights, GOOGL/TTD/EU

Disney was smart to relinquish IPL digital rights, the $3.6B in cash is worth more than the value of low ARPU Hotstar+ subs. Google opening up...

Aaron Gabin

The Walt Disney Company: Is The Subscriber Growth Here To Stay? Check Out The Company’s Key Drivers

Disney delivered a result higher than market expectations and the biggest relief for Wall Street after the Netflix results debacle was the jump in...

Baptista Research

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