Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Trung Nguyen

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

UPL's Q2/23-24 results were very weak, with revenues and earnings declining significantly and a deterioration in working capital. Our scepticism of the company has continued to deepen with the results. We are concerned about the lack of discussion on the huge debt reduction and unusual earnings call set-up in Q4/22-23, as well as the subsequent rebound in debt in Q1/23-24. We note that the pressure to reduce net debt to USD 2 bn in Q4/22-23 was to meet management's aggressive guidance and rating agencies' expectations. Management had released the Q4 results in early May 2023, almost halfway through Q1/23-24. Yet, there were few indications of very weak Q1 or H1 numbers. In addition, we are sceptical of management's guidance, even after it has been revised downwards. The new guidance implies c. 18% y-o-y revenue growth and a c. 28-30% increase in EBITDA in H2/23-24. That said, management does not expect y-o-y improvement in Q3. Hence, for UPL to meet the guidance, all the growth would have to be registered in Q4. We do not believe that the company will be able to meet the full-year guidance.

  UPL's Q2/23-24 results were very weak, with revenues and earnings declining significantly and a deterioration in working capital. Our scepticism of the company has continued to deepen with the results. We are concerned about the lack of discussion on the huge debt reduction and unusual earnings call set-up in Q4/22-23, as well as the subsequent rebound in debt in Q1/23-24. We note that the pressure to reduce net debt to USD 2 bn in Q4/22-23 was to meet management's aggressive guidance and rating agencies' expectations. Management had released the Q4 results in early May 2023, almost halfway through Q1/23-24. Yet, there were few indications of very weak Q1 or H1 numbers.   In addition, we are sceptical of management's guidance, even after it has been revised downwards. The new guidance implies c. 18% y-o-y revenue growth and a c. 28-30% increase in EBITDA in H2/23-24. That said, management does not expect y-o-y improvement in Q3. Hence, for UPL to meet the guidance, all the growth would have to be registered in Q4. We do not believe that the company will be able to meet the full-year guidance. 

UPL Limited - Earnings Flash - Q2 FY 2023-24 Results - Lucror Analytics

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Over the last few weeks, companies in India have been disclosing their shareholding pattern as of end-June. There are a few companies with significant float changes from end-March and/or end-December.</li>
<li>The changes in free float could be reflected in domestic and global indices over the next couple of months resulting in action from passive trackers.</li>
<li>We see 6 stocks where there could be passive inflows and 2 stocks that could have passive outflows - but there are caveats.</li>
</ul>


Over the last few weeks, companies in India have been disclosing their shareholding pattern as of end-June. There are a few companies with significant float changes from end-March and/or end-December.
The changes in free float could be reflected in domestic and global indices over the next couple of months resulting in action from passive trackers.
We see 6 stocks where there could be passive inflows and 2 stocks that could have passive outflows - but there are caveats.


<ul>
<li>The last week was a very busy one. The coming week has some announcements and implementations but is a relatively quieter one.</li>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sse-science-and-technology-innovation-board-50-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29279:1" rel="noopener">SSE STAR50 (STAR50 INDEX)</a> and STAR100 Index changes for March will be implemented at the close on Friday, the 8th.</li>
<li>Another week of inflows for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-emerging-markets-223f5da3-7054-4e4f-bc55-b7f0852c2581" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31998:1" rel="noopener">iShares Emerging Markets ex-China (EMXC US)</a> ETF as creations cross US$2bn for 2024. ETF AUM has gone from US$420m in 2021 to US$11bn now!</li>
</ul>


The last week was a very busy one. The coming week has some announcements and implementations but is a relatively quieter one.
The SSE STAR50 (STAR50 INDEX) and STAR100 Index changes for March will be implemented at the close on Friday, the 8th.
Another week of inflows for the iShares Emerging Markets ex-China (EMXC US) ETF as creations cross US$2bn for 2024. ETF AUM has gone from US$420m in 2021 to US$11bn now!


Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: STAR50/100, FXI, NIFTY/NEXT50, S&P500, KOSPI, Goodman, Ecopro BM

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shriram-finance-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:253:1" rel="noopener">Shriram Finance (SHFL IN)</a> will replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/upl-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20776:1" rel="noopener">UPL Ltd (UPLL IN)</a> in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a> at the close of trading on 27 March. This was a high probability change.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trent-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8410:1" rel="noopener">Trent Ltd (TRENT IN)</a> missed out on inclusion and that results in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bharat-petroleum-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10222:1" rel="noopener">Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL IN)</a> staying in the index.</li>
<li>There is over 11 days of delivery volume to trade in the add and delete and there appears to be significant positioning in one of the stocks.</li>
</ul>



Shriram Finance (SHFL IN) will replace UPL Ltd (UPLL IN) in the NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX) at the close of trading on 27 March. This was a high probability change.

Trent Ltd (TRENT IN) missed out on inclusion and that results in Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL IN) staying in the index.
There is over 11 days of delivery volume to trade in the add and delete and there appears to be significant positioning in one of the stocks.


NIFTY50 Index Rebalance: Shriram Finance to Replace UPL

Leonard Law, CFA

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.<ul><li><a href='#lucror-entity-31'>Rakuten Group </a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-20776'>UPL Ltd</a></li></ul>

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.Rakuten Group UPL Ltd

Morning Views Asia: Rakuten Group , UPL Ltd

India

UPL Ltd. manufactures, distributes and exports off-patent agrochemicals. The Company also manufactures phosphorus & phosphorus-based compounds and its products include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, fumigants and rodenticides. United Phosphorus also manufactures industrial chemicals, specialty chemicals and chloralkaline products

UPL Ltd (UPLL IN)

UPL Limited - Earnings Flash - Q2 FY 2023-24 Results - Lucror Analytics

UPL's Q2/23-24 results were very weak, with revenues and earnings declining significantly and a deterioration in working capital. Our scepticism...

Lucror Analytics

India - Potential Float Changes & Impact

Changes to shareholding patterns could lead to changes in float for some stocks in local/global indices. Passive trackers will need to trade over 3...

Brian Freitas

Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: STAR50/100, FXI, NIFTY/NEXT50, S&P500, KOSPI, Goodman, Ecopro BM

This recap highlights Insights covering Asian index rebalances (announcements/ forecasts/ IPO Fast Entry/ M&A driven changes). We also highlight...

Brian Freitas

NIFTY50 Index Rebalance: Shriram Finance to Replace UPL

Shriram Finance replaces UPLL in the NIFTY at the close on 27 March. Trent misses out on inclusion and that saves BPCL. There is over 11 days of...

Brian Freitas

Morning Views Asia: Rakuten Group , UPL Ltd

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region,...

Lucror Analytics