Global TMT analyst with Asia ex-Japan focus.

Mitchell Kim

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The China National Bureau of Statistics retail sales data for June 2021 appears to show a softer YoY growth compared to an outlier growth in 1Q21, but the 2YR CAGR of 17% outpaced 1Q21's 15%. (See April and May sales tracker in the report, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-online-retail-sales-tracker-april-and-may-sales-growth-slows-on-unfavorable-comps" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53557" rel="noopener">China Online Retail Sales Tracker: April and May Sales Growth Slows on Unfavorable Comps</a>.)  This solid online spending growth suggests China's consumption remains robust and the Chinese e-commerce names could receive greater attention from global investors especially if a rotation from the developed market to emerging market ensues. The solid growth of online sales is positive for all online platforms including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US), </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">,  and  </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vipshop-holdings-ltd-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1088:1" rel="noopener">Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US).</a>I like all three names as they currently trade at attractive valuations, but VIPS stands out with its nearly single-digit forward P/E and favorable operating metrics.  I am less sanguine on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pinduoduo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27250:1" rel="noopener">Pinduoduo (PDD US)</a> because of its high marketing cost-powered business model despite its industry-leading growth.        <h3>Key takeaways from China retail sales data: </h3><ul>
<li>
Total retail sales grew 14% YoY in 2Q21, lower than the 34% growth in 1Q21, but on a 2-year CAGR accelerated in 2Q21 to 4.8% from 3.8% in 1Q21. </li>
<li>In 2Q21, apparel and cosmetics categories (total including offline and online) grew solid 19% and 16%, while household appliances sales growth was more muted at 5%.    </li>
<li>
Online sales (physical goods) grew 9% YoY in 2Q21, lower than 24% in 1Q21, but 2YR CAGR was 17% and 15%, respectively.  Because the soft YoY comparison may not do much to thaw investor sentiment on Chinese e-commerce, but I believe the current adverse optics provides opportunities.   </li>
<li>
Online sales for apparel-related categories along with general merchandise grew 13% ( by my estimate) for 2Q21 compared to 40% and 21%, respectively, for 1Q21.  However, again, on a 2YR CAGR basis, 2Q21 growth of 10.3% outpaced 1Q21's 9.3%.   Vipshop's revenue growth outpaced online apparel growth by 11% points in 1Q21.  This trend is expected to continue in 2Q21, especially when considering the 6/18 Festival promotions. </li>
</ul>

The China National Bureau of Statistics retail sales data for June 2021 appears to show a softer YoY growth compared to an outlier growth in 1Q21, but the 2YR CAGR of 17% outpaced 1Q21's 15%. (See April and May sales tracker in the report, China Online Retail Sales Tracker: April and May Sales Growth Slows on Unfavorable Comps.)  This solid online spending growth suggests China's consumption remains robust and the Chinese e-commerce names could receive greater attention from global investors especially if a rotation from the developed market to emerging market ensues. The solid growth of online sales is positive for all online platforms including Alibaba Group (BABA US), JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US),  and  Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US).I like all three names as they currently trade at attractive valuations, but VIPS stands out with its nearly single-digit forward P/E and favorable operating metrics.  I am less sanguine on Pinduoduo (PDD US) because of its high marketing cost-powered business model despite its industry-leading growth.        Key takeaways from China retail sales data: 

Total retail sales grew 14% YoY in 2Q21, lower than the 34% growth in 1Q21, but on a 2-year CAGR accelerated in 2Q21 to 4.8% from 3.8% in 1Q21. 
In 2Q21, apparel and cosmetics categories (total including offline and online) grew solid 19% and 16%, while household appliances sales growth was more muted at 5%.    

Online sales (physical goods) grew 9% YoY in 2Q21, lower than 24% in 1Q21, but 2YR CAGR was 17% and 15%, respectively.  Because the soft YoY comparison may not do much to thaw investor sentiment on Chinese e-commerce, but I believe the current adverse optics provides opportunities.   

Online sales for apparel-related categories along with general merchandise grew 13% ( by my estimate) for 2Q21 compared to 40% and 21%, respectively, for 1Q21.  However, again, on a 2YR CAGR basis, 2Q21 growth of 10.3% outpaced 1Q21's 9.3%.   Vipshop's revenue growth outpaced online apparel growth by 11% points in 1Q21.  This trend is expected to continue in 2Q21, especially when considering the 6/18 Festival promotions. 


China Online Retail Sales Tracker: Steady Recovery in June Without the Optical Illusion

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

EBeauty Holdings / Equity Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ebeauty-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33505:1" rel="noopener">EBeauty Holdings (1894926D HK)</a> is the largest beauty brand e-commerce enablement service provider by GMV (gross merchandise value) facilitated or generated in China, with a market share of 13.3% in 2020, according to iResearch. eBeauty primarily executes the branding and marketing strategies that the brand partners have designed, operating their official online stores, while in some cases it provides marketing strategy advisory to brand partners to help them formulate their marketing strategies.eBeauty is pre-marketing an HKEx IPO to raise around $600 million, according to press reports. The shareholders include Genesis Capital, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bilibili-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26793:1" rel="noopener">Bilibili Inc (BILI US)</a> and Mass Ave Global.eBeauty is a play on the rising complexity of China’s beauty e-commerce industry which has resulted in more brands out-sourcing their e-commerce operations to specialized brand e-commerce enablement service providers (such as eBeauty). The beauty e-commerce industry is fast-evolving, with mounting demands for personalised marketing strategy, multi-channel operation capabilities and technology solutions. These demanding requirements force a significant proportion of beauty brands to engage service providers who offer a suite of services in the e-commerce value chain.<div class="content-highlight">eBeauty is capitalising on these industry dynamics by delivering solid organic growth, rising margins and good cash generation. Overall, we believe that eBeauty is worth a closer look.</div>

EBeauty Holdings (1894926D HK) is the largest beauty brand e-commerce enablement service provider by GMV (gross merchandise value) facilitated or generated in China, with a market share of 13.3% in 2020, according to iResearch. eBeauty primarily executes the branding and marketing strategies that the brand partners have designed, operating their official online stores, while in some cases it provides marketing strategy advisory to brand partners to help them formulate their marketing strategies.eBeauty is pre-marketing an HKEx IPO to raise around $600 million, according to press reports. The shareholders include Genesis Capital, Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Bilibili Inc (BILI US) and Mass Ave Global.eBeauty is a play on the rising complexity of China’s beauty e-commerce industry which has resulted in more brands out-sourcing their e-commerce operations to specialized brand e-commerce enablement service providers (such as eBeauty). The beauty e-commerce industry is fast-evolving, with mounting demands for personalised marketing strategy, multi-channel operation capabilities and technology solutions. These demanding requirements force a significant proportion of beauty brands to engage service providers who offer a suite of services in the e-commerce value chain.eBeauty is capitalising on these industry dynamics by delivering solid organic growth, rising margins and good cash generation. Overall, we believe that eBeauty is worth a closer look.

EBeauty Holdings IPO Initiation: Attention Pays

Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

Well, that sure escalated quickly.Early last week, in the Insight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/pre-ipo-esg-analysis-didi-s-exemplary-esg-achievements-eclipsed-by-regulatory-risks-and-uncertainty" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53687" rel="noopener">Pre-IPO ESG Analysis: DiDi's Exemplary ESG Achievements Eclipsed By Regulatory Risks and Uncertainty</a>, I juxtaposed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/didi-chuxing-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27467:1" rel="noopener">DiDi's (DIDI US)</a> relatively strong ESG results in areas under its control with serious concerns about regulatory risk outside of its direct control.Late last week, days after DiDi's successful US$4.4 billion initial public offering, Chinese regulators ordered the removal of DiDi's business-critical ride-hailing apps from online app markets, until the company rectifies "serious violations" pertaining to collection and use of customer data.DiDi is down 5.3% so far (delayed open today).Regulatory risk was central to my thesis in the first Insight. I hardly anticipated this, but I referred to regulatory risk as real, near-term, tangible investment risk; not just some fuzzy ESG risk. Given that, I felt obliged to follow up. At the same time, however, this news is covered ad nauseam.No sense in beating a dead horse with a broken record.So, I decided to do something different. That statement about regulatory risk being a real tangible investment risk is primarily based on anecdotal evidence – i.e., when regulators flex their muscle, stocks go down, not up. But "anecdotal" isn't good enough.Which is why I took this opportunity to quantify the impacts of adverse regulatory events in China. Specifically, with event studies measuring abnormal returns around major regulatory events across four broad categories. That's what most of this Insight is about. But back to DiDi for a moment.Regulatory risk and uncertainty for DiDi is much worse today than it was last week. Typically, the opposite would be true; a negative event out in the open is better than a possible event lurking in the shadows. But not this time. Barring an immediate change of heart by the PRC, this is bad.Therefore, downgrading to bearish.

Well, that sure escalated quickly.Early last week, in the Insight Pre-IPO ESG Analysis: DiDi's Exemplary ESG Achievements Eclipsed By Regulatory Risks and Uncertainty, I juxtaposed DiDi's (DIDI US) relatively strong ESG results in areas under its control with serious concerns about regulatory risk outside of its direct control.Late last week, days after DiDi's successful US$4.4 billion initial public offering, Chinese regulators ordered the removal of DiDi's business-critical ride-hailing apps from online app markets, until the company rectifies "serious violations" pertaining to collection and use of customer data.DiDi is down 5.3% so far (delayed open today).Regulatory risk was central to my thesis in the first Insight. I hardly anticipated this, but I referred to regulatory risk as real, near-term, tangible investment risk; not just some fuzzy ESG risk. Given that, I felt obliged to follow up. At the same time, however, this news is covered ad nauseam.No sense in beating a dead horse with a broken record.So, I decided to do something different. That statement about regulatory risk being a real tangible investment risk is primarily based on anecdotal evidence – i.e., when regulators flex their muscle, stocks go down, not up. But "anecdotal" isn't good enough.Which is why I took this opportunity to quantify the impacts of adverse regulatory events in China. Specifically, with event studies measuring abnormal returns around major regulatory events across four broad categories. That's what most of this Insight is about. But back to DiDi for a moment.Regulatory risk and uncertainty for DiDi is much worse today than it was last week. Typically, the opposite would be true; a negative event out in the open is better than a possible event lurking in the shadows. But not this time. Barring an immediate change of heart by the PRC, this is bad.Therefore, downgrading to bearish.

PRC Shows DiDi Who's Boss: An Analysis of Adverse Regulatory Events on Stock Prices

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.

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dingdong-maicai" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33461:1" rel="noopener">Dingdong Maicai (DDL US)</a>, an on-demand fresh produce and grocery delivery platform in China with RMB 11.3bn in annual revenue and 6.9m in monthly active customers, raised about $96.0m in its US IPO on Tuesday after slashing the size of the IPO <a target="_blank">to almost a fourth of its earlier target.</a> The shares were priced at $23.50 per ADS, at the lower end of the proposed IPO price range. If exercised, the overallotment option could increase the gross proceeds to the company by another $14.0m.

Dingdong Maicai (DDL US), an on-demand fresh produce and grocery delivery platform in China with RMB 11.3bn in annual revenue and 6.9m in monthly active customers, raised about $96.0m in its US IPO on Tuesday after slashing the size of the IPO to almost a fourth of its earlier target. The shares were priced at $23.50 per ADS, at the lower end of the proposed IPO price range. If exercised, the overallotment option could increase the gross proceeds to the company by another $14.0m.

The latest sales data from the 6.18 (running from June 1st to June 18th) Festival by Syntun suggests potential revenue upside for online shopping platforms but particularly more for the larger market shareholders, Alibaba and JD, and Vipshop as apparel and shoes categories showed the highest sales growth.    I am positive on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vipshop-holdings-ltd-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1088:1" rel="noopener">Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US)</a> as they provide an attractive balance of growth and value.  I have recently turned more bullish on Vipshop because of its cheap value and the continued improving operating metrics.  I remain cautious on PDD US because of the risk associated with the company’s profit model. Three takeaways from my analysis of the 6.18.21 sales data (some 2020 data):<ol>
<li>Alibaba remains the king of promotions.  The company maintained its top-selling platform position.  Alibaba is particularly strong in personal and beauty care and snack foods.   </li>
<li>Apparel and shoes were the top two growth categories during the 6.18 Festival.  This bodes well for Vipshop and Alibaba. </li>
<li>JD maintains its strong position in appliances and electronics as well as dairy products (based on 2020 detail data for select categories).  JD also leads in New Retail – grocery delivery and supermarkets. </li>
<li>PDD appears to be a distant third on 6.18 sales (based on 2020 detail data breakdown – 2021 is unavailable).         </li>
</ol>

The latest sales data from the 6.18 (running from June 1st to June 18th) Festival by Syntun suggests potential revenue upside for online shopping platforms but particularly more for the larger market shareholders, Alibaba and JD, and Vipshop as apparel and shoes categories showed the highest sales growth.    I am positive on Alibaba Group (BABA US), JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US), and Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US) as they provide an attractive balance of growth and value.  I have recently turned more bullish on Vipshop because of its cheap value and the continued improving operating metrics.  I remain cautious on PDD US because of the risk associated with the company’s profit model. Three takeaways from my analysis of the 6.18.21 sales data (some 2020 data):
Alibaba remains the king of promotions.  The company maintained its top-selling platform position.  Alibaba is particularly strong in personal and beauty care and snack foods.   
Apparel and shoes were the top two growth categories during the 6.18 Festival.  This bodes well for Vipshop and Alibaba. 
JD maintains its strong position in appliances and electronics as well as dairy products (based on 2020 detail data for select categories).  JD also leads in New Retail – grocery delivery and supermarkets. 
PDD appears to be a distant third on 6.18 sales (based on 2020 detail data breakdown – 2021 is unavailable).         


China E-Commerce: 6.18 Festival Getting Bigger - Good for Alibaba, JD, Vipshop

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)

China Online Retail Sales Tracker: Steady Recovery in June Without the Optical Illusion

Consensus revenue estimates for Chinese e-commerce platforms could be too conservative based on comparison to the NBS data. 2Q21 revenue and...

Mitchell Kim

EBeauty Holdings IPO Initiation: Attention Pays

eBeauty is pre-marketing an HKEx IPO to raise around $600 m. eBeauty is capitalising on favourable industry dynamics by delivering solid organic...

Arun George

PRC Shows DiDi Who's Boss: An Analysis of Adverse Regulatory Events on Stock Prices

Last week, I wrote about DiDi's regulatory risk. This week, it's worse. Hence the downgrade. But this is mostly an analysis of how regulatory...

Kyle Rudden

Dingdong Maicai IPO Trading Update

It is somewhat strange that Dingdong Maicai’s share price closed marginally above IPO price, especially considering that the company downsized the...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

China E-Commerce: 6.18 Festival Getting Bigger - Good for Alibaba, JD, Vipshop

The latest data from the 6.18 Festival suggests potential revenue upside for online shopping platforms. Find out who is strong by category and why...

Mitchell Kim

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