Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>As expected, a SAMR investigation depressed top-line growth and profitability in Q226 </li>
<li>Management offered no forward guidance on earnings call, but hinted at headwinds to come</li>
<li>We believe it may take a few quarters for Trip.com to regain momentum</li>
</ul>


As expected, a SAMR investigation depressed top-line growth and profitability in Q226 
Management offered no forward guidance on earnings call, but hinted at headwinds to come
We believe it may take a few quarters for Trip.com to regain momentum


Trip.com Q226 Results | Slow Top-Line & Adj EBITDA Met Low Expectations | No Quick Fix, in Our View

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>HK Alpha Portfolio returned 13.58% in February and outperformed the benchmark by 7.68%. The portfolio has outperformed Hong Kong indexes by 5.16% to 11.48% since its inception on 10/01/24.</li>
<li>About 50% of the portfolio's excess returns have been from alpha generation. The portfolio had no exposure to Real Estate, Energy, or Utilities.</li>
<li>At month-end we sold <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aac-technologies-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6544:1" rel="noopener">AAC Technologies Holdings (2018 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd-23a341d0-4f63-4175-a8c5-ee990906cacd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36424:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com Group (9961 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/miniso-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36659:1" rel="noopener">MINISO Group Holding (9896 HK)</a> , and trimmed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a> .</li>
</ul>


HK Alpha Portfolio returned 13.58% in February and outperformed the benchmark by 7.68%. The portfolio has outperformed Hong Kong indexes by 5.16% to 11.48% since its inception on 10/01/24.
About 50% of the portfolio's excess returns have been from alpha generation. The portfolio had no exposure to Real Estate, Energy, or Utilities.
At month-end we sold AAC Technologies Holdings (2018 HK) , Trip.com Group (9961 HK) , MINISO Group Holding (9896 HK) , and trimmed Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK) .


HONG KONG ALPHA PORTFOLIO (February 2025)

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Our "Buy the Worst" strategy has outperformed the HSI by 1.7pp in the first two months. Meanwhile, the basket of best-performing constituents have underperformed 1.9pp. </li>
<li>More news on stimulating consumptions should be positive to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/budweiser-brewing-co-apac-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28077:1" rel="noopener">Budweiser Brewing APAC (1876 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chow-tai-fook-jewellery-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:549:1" rel="noopener">Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK)</a>, and even <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-lung-properties-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:49:1" rel="noopener">Hang Lung Properties (101 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd-23a341d0-4f63-4175-a8c5-ee990906cacd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36424:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com Group (9961 HK)</a> has been weighed down by weaker profitability on higher costs. Earnings risks may negatively affect <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-hongqiao-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1909:1" rel="noopener">China Hongqiao (1378 HK)</a>. </li>
</ul>


Our "Buy the Worst" strategy has outperformed the HSI by 1.7pp in the first two months. Meanwhile, the basket of best-performing constituents have underperformed 1.9pp. 
More news on stimulating consumptions should be positive to Budweiser Brewing APAC (1876 HK), Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK), and even Hang Lung Properties (101 HK). 

Trip.com Group (9961 HK) has been weighed down by weaker profitability on higher costs. Earnings risks may negatively affect Meituan (3690 HK) and China Hongqiao (1378 HK). 


"Buy the Worst" HSI Strategy: Initial Win Against HSI This Year

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Ying Pan

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

<ul>
<li>Most Western media viewed Xi's weekend handshake with Ma in the meeting with business leaders over the weekend as historical reconciliation. We believe it dangerously missed the mark; </li>
<li>Watch Jiang Fan...His next move to revitalize Taobao/Tmall could mean headwinds to Pinduoduo and JD.com. Taobao/Tmall performed well during CNY;</li>
<li>Alibaba's Apple grab shows its unique ecosystem position in the US-China macrocosm. JD's entry to O2O showed it needed a new growth driver post 2025. </li>
</ul>


Most Western media viewed Xi's weekend handshake with Ma in the meeting with business leaders over the weekend as historical reconciliation. We believe it dangerously missed the mark; 
Watch Jiang Fan...His next move to revitalize Taobao/Tmall could mean headwinds to Pinduoduo and JD.com. Taobao/Tmall performed well during CNY;
Alibaba's Apple grab shows its unique ecosystem position in the US-China macrocosm. JD's entry to O2O showed it needed a new growth driver post 2025. 


[Blue Lotus Non-US Internet Weekly, 7/52]: Xi's Meeting with Ma Went Way Beyond Just Reconciliation

<ul>
<li>New smartphone trade-in subsidy received raving response from Chinese consumers;</li>
<li>Tencent and NetEase gained key game title approvals. Entertainment is a good choice in uncertain environment of 2025;</li>
<li>From a slight moderating C4Q24, we expect strong showing in domestic travel demand heading into CNY.</li>
</ul>


New smartphone trade-in subsidy received raving response from Chinese consumers;
Tencent and NetEase gained key game title approvals. Entertainment is a good choice in uncertain environment of 2025;
From a slight moderating C4Q24, we expect strong showing in domestic travel demand heading into CNY.


[Blue Lotus Non-US Internet Weekly, 4/52]: Deepseek's Asked the Right Question on GAI Capex

Singapore

Trip.com Group is a leading global one-stop travel platform offering accommodation reservations, transportation ticketing, packaged tours, and corporate travel management services. It operates a portfolio of brands including Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. The company was founded in June 1999 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

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Trip.com Group (9961 HK)

Trip.com Q226 Results | Slow Top-Line & Adj EBITDA Met Low Expectations | No Quick Fix, in Our View

Trip.com reported Q226 results that mostly met lowered expectations after SAMR's investigation into the platform's anti-competitive practices. We...

Tracking Traffic

HONG KONG ALPHA PORTFOLIO (February 2025)

HK Alpha portfolio returned 13.6% in February outperforming its benchmark and all HK indexes. Since inception HK Alpha has returned 13.1% with...

David Mudd

"Buy the Worst" HSI Strategy: Initial Win Against HSI This Year

"Buy the worst" strategy outperforms HSI by 1.7pp, while best-performing stocks lag by 1.9pp. Stimulating consumption news could benefit...

Osbert Tang, CFA

[Blue Lotus Non-US Internet Weekly, 7/52]: Xi's Meeting with Ma Went Way Beyond Just Reconciliation

Western media praised Xi's handshake with Ma as historic, but missed the mark. Alibaba's moves could impact Pinduoduo and JD.com, highlighting its...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Blue Lotus Non-US Internet Weekly, 4/52]: Deepseek's Asked the Right Question on GAI Capex

Chinese consumers are excited about new smartphone trade-in subsidy, Tencent and NetEase secure game title approvals, and strong domestic travel...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Trip.com Q226 Results | Slow Top-Line & Adj EBITDA Met Low Expectations | No Quick Fix, in Our View

Trip.com reported Q226 results that mostly met lowered expectations after SAMR's investigation into the platform's anti-competitive practices. We...

Tracking Traffic

HONG KONG ALPHA PORTFOLIO (February 2025)

HK Alpha portfolio returned 13.6% in February outperforming its benchmark and all HK indexes. Since inception HK Alpha has returned 13.1% with...

David Mudd

"Buy the Worst" HSI Strategy: Initial Win Against HSI This Year

​"Buy the worst" strategy outperforms HSI by 1.7pp, while best-performing stocks lag by 1.9pp. Stimulating consumption news could benefit...

Osbert Tang, CFA

[Blue Lotus Non-US Internet Weekly, 7/52]: Xi's Meeting with Ma Went Way Beyond Just Reconciliation

​Western media praised Xi's handshake with Ma as historic, but missed the mark. Alibaba's moves could impact Pinduoduo and JD.com, highlighting its...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Blue Lotus Non-US Internet Weekly, 4/52]: Deepseek's Asked the Right Question on GAI Capex

​Chinese consumers are excited about new smartphone trade-in subsidy, Tencent and NetEase secure game title approvals, and strong domestic travel...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

"Buy the worst" strategy outperforms HSI by 1.7pp, while best-performing stocks lag by 1.9pp. Stimulating consumption news could benefit...

Western media praised Xi's handshake with Ma as historic, but missed the mark. Alibaba's moves could impact Pinduoduo and JD.com, highlighting its...

Chinese consumers are excited about new smartphone trade-in subsidy, Tencent and NetEase secure game title approvals, and strong domestic travel...