Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Independent, Fundamental Quantitative Research

Propitious Research

Fully independent, fundamental and quantitative equity research, focused on companies in the Telecommunication, Media, Technology, Internet and Healthcare sectors in the Global Emerging Markets. Idea generation focused on Quality stocks, trading below their intrinsic Value, with sound Corporate Governance.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Vipshop has underperformed, on a 12-month basis, due to a slowdown in active user growth, which has spilt over into slower revenue growth and contracting earnings.</li>
<li>Material equity investments, accompanied by strategic cooperation agreements, by Tencent and JD.com in December 2017 catalysed significant user growth over the subsequent 3 years.</li>
<li>The recent de-rating once again flags Vipshop as an attractive takeover target for its current strategic shareholders and broader eCommerce rivals, including nascent disruptors and live-streaming operators.</li>
</ul>


Vipshop has underperformed, on a 12-month basis, due to a slowdown in active user growth, which has spilt over into slower revenue growth and contracting earnings.
Material equity investments, accompanied by strategic cooperation agreements, by Tencent and JD.com in December 2017 catalysed significant user growth over the subsequent 3 years.
The recent de-rating once again flags Vipshop as an attractive takeover target for its current strategic shareholders and broader eCommerce rivals, including nascent disruptors and live-streaming operators.


Vipshop: With Net Cash at Nearly 50% of Market Cap, Is It a Value Trap or a Takeover Target?

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc. (9618 HK)</a> has been able to sustain its relative market share gains, in Chinese online retail sales, over the past two years, despite increased competitive pressure.</li>
<li>Recent weakness in its margin progression trajectory has cast doubts on its ability to realise its potential for long-term margin expansion.</li>
<li>With net cash at 31% of its market cap, relative valuation levels seem attractive.</li>
</ul>



JD.com Inc. (9618 HK) has been able to sustain its relative market share gains, in Chinese online retail sales, over the past two years, despite increased competitive pressure.
Recent weakness in its margin progression trajectory has cast doubts on its ability to realise its potential for long-term margin expansion.
With net cash at 31% of its market cap, relative valuation levels seem attractive.


JD.com: Can Sustained Market Share Gains Be Transferred into Sustained Margin Progression?

<ul>
<li>The major trend, witnessed over the past two years, has been the continued loss of relative market share by Alibaba, and the continued market share gains by JD.com.</li>
<li>Alibaba has been able to steadily grow its active user base, on its Chinese retail platforms, by above 10%y/y since at least 2019, off an extremely high base.</li>
<li>Short-Term growth expectations seem relatively conservative, with limited risk for a further negative surprise.</li>
</ul>


The major trend, witnessed over the past two years, has been the continued loss of relative market share by Alibaba, and the continued market share gains by JD.com.
Alibaba has been able to steadily grow its active user base, on its Chinese retail platforms, by above 10%y/y since at least 2019, off an extremely high base.
Short-Term growth expectations seem relatively conservative, with limited risk for a further negative surprise.


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.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/huitongda" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33789:1" rel="noopener">Huitongda (1566215D CH)</a> is a fast-growing commerce and service platform focused on China’s lower-tier retail market. It will launch an HKEx IPO on Monday to raise up to US$318 million.</li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/huitongda-network-ipo-initiation-clicks-to-bricks" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:63428" rel="noopener">Huitongda Network IPO Initiation: Clicks to Bricks</a>, we noted the positives (addressable market, solid growth and profitability) and key negatives (low margins which reflect a fragmented and competitive market).   </li>
<li>For investors willing to brave the gloomy IPO market, our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO price range is attractive at the low end of the price range. </li>
</ul>



Huitongda (1566215D CH) is a fast-growing commerce and service platform focused on China’s lower-tier retail market. It will launch an HKEx IPO on Monday to raise up to US$318 million.
In Huitongda Network IPO Initiation: Clicks to Bricks, we noted the positives (addressable market, solid growth and profitability) and key negatives (low margins which reflect a fragmented and competitive market).   
For investors willing to brave the gloomy IPO market, our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO price range is attractive at the low end of the price range. 


Huitongda Network IPO: Valuation Insights

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>’s decision to replace the long time CFO Maggie Wu doesn’t seem like a reason for investors to panic sell.</li>
<li>She will continue to serve the company as an executive director and continue to be involved in the business.</li>
<li>Also, the fact that she is replaced by her protégé, Toby Xu seems like an indication that the top management is still happy with how financials are handled.</li>
</ul>



Alibaba Group (9988 HK)’s decision to replace the long time CFO Maggie Wu doesn’t seem like a reason for investors to panic sell.
She will continue to serve the company as an executive director and continue to be involved in the business.
Also, the fact that she is replaced by her protégé, Toby Xu seems like an indication that the top management is still happy with how financials are handled.


Alibaba Management Shake-Up: Long-Time CFO Maggie Wu Replaced, No Panicking Necessary

China

Vipshop Holdings Ltd. retails branded products at discount over the Internet. The Company retails through flash sales, in which limited quantities of an item are sold at deep discount for a specified period of time.

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Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US)

Vipshop: With Net Cash at Nearly 50% of Market Cap, Is It a Value Trap or a Takeover Target?

In this insight, we analyse Vipshop’s user base growth, financial performance, and earnings outlook, take an updated look at current valuation...

Wium Malan, CFA

Alibaba Group: Looking Through the Noise

In this insight, we aim to cut through the short-term “noise”, analyse the operational fundamentals for Alibaba Group, and take an updated look at...

Wium Malan, CFA

Huitongda Network IPO: Valuation Insights

Huitongda will launch an HKEx IPO on Monday to raise up to US$318m. Our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO price range is attractive at the...

Arun George

Alibaba Management Shake-Up: Long-Time CFO Maggie Wu Replaced, No Panicking Necessary

Maggie Wu is replaced by her protégé, Toby Xu. This seems like an indication that the top management is still happy with how financials are...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Vipshop: With Net Cash at Nearly 50% of Market Cap, Is It a Value Trap or a Takeover Target?

In this insight, we analyse Vipshop’s user base growth, financial performance, and earnings outlook, take an updated look at current valuation...

Wium Malan, CFA

JD.com: Can Sustained Market Share Gains Be Transferred into Sustained Margin Progression?

In this insight, we analyse relative market share changes, key operational drivers, longer-term margin expansion trends, and take an updated look...

Wium Malan, CFA

Alibaba Group: Looking Through the Noise

In this insight, we aim to cut through the short-term “noise”, analyse the operational fundamentals for Alibaba Group, and take an updated look at...

Wium Malan, CFA

Huitongda Network IPO: Valuation Insights

Huitongda will launch an HKEx IPO on Monday to raise up to US$318m. Our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO price range is attractive at the...

Arun George

Alibaba Management Shake-Up: Long-Time CFO Maggie Wu Replaced, No Panicking Necessary

Maggie Wu is replaced by her protégé, Toby Xu. This seems like an indication that the top management is still happy with how financials are...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri