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

Warner Bros Discovery  / Equity Capital Markets

<ul><li>This is our first report on global media behemoth, Warner Bros.</li><li>The company had a dismal fourth quarter and failed to meet the revenue expectations as well as the earnings expectations of Wall Street.</li><li>We initiate coverage on the stock of Warner Bros.</li></ul>

This is our first report on global media behemoth, Warner Bros.The company had a dismal fourth quarter and failed to meet the revenue expectations as well as the earnings expectations of Wall Street.We initiate coverage on the stock of Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.: Initiation of Coverage – Enhanced Distribution of Underutilized Franchises & Other Drivers

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>Netflix is now up 50% from its lows on hope that advertising and paid sharing drive a revenue reacceleration and multiple rerating. Part B has happened.</li>
<li>Advertising uptake will be slow. But consensus has 55M incremental ad-subs (20% of the total) and $8B in revenue assumed in 2025! </li>
<li>Netflix intends on keeping content spending flat for the next few years, raising the importance of its hit rate - which has not been Netflix's forte.</li>
</ul>


Netflix is now up 50% from its lows on hope that advertising and paid sharing drive a revenue reacceleration and multiple rerating. Part B has happened.
Advertising uptake will be slow. But consensus has 55M incremental ad-subs (20% of the total) and $8B in revenue assumed in 2025! 
Netflix intends on keeping content spending flat for the next few years, raising the importance of its hit rate - which has not been Netflix's forte.


<ul>
<li>Multiple negative data points have come out reflecting limited initial uptake for Netflix's ad-based tier.</li>
<li>(We think) Netflix lack of AVOD uptake is due to it being fully saturated in its major markets wheras competing services starting from scratch have higher AVOD uptake.</li>
<li>Lack of incremental subs from AVOD points towards a weaker than expected 4Q22 and downside to guidance...not good for a stock that has ripped since 2Q22 earnings.</li>
</ul>


Multiple negative data points have come out reflecting limited initial uptake for Netflix's ad-based tier.
(We think) Netflix lack of AVOD uptake is due to it being fully saturated in its major markets wheras competing services starting from scratch have higher AVOD uptake.
Lack of incremental subs from AVOD points towards a weaker than expected 4Q22 and downside to guidance...not good for a stock that has ripped since 2Q22 earnings.


<ul>
<li>The suprise return of Bob Iger as Disney CEO can fix certain Bob Chapek specific issues: relationships with investors, politicians, and creative types.</li>
<li>But Iger faces similar intractable issues: accelerating cord cutting, a transition to a less profitable form of media distribution, and a potential recession.</li>
<li>We think Iger will refocus investors on revenues/profits at Disney+ rather than subscribers, will more efficiently spend on content through decentralizing decision making... and potentially sell Disney to Apple.</li>
</ul>


The suprise return of Bob Iger as Disney CEO can fix certain Bob Chapek specific issues: relationships with investors, politicians, and creative types.
But Iger faces similar intractable issues: accelerating cord cutting, a transition to a less profitable form of media distribution, and a potential recession.
We think Iger will refocus investors on revenues/profits at Disney+ rather than subscribers, will more efficiently spend on content through decentralizing decision making... and potentially sell Disney to Apple.


<ul>
<li>Across the board miss as DTC losses peak, park margins weaken, and linear likely to fall off a cliff. </li>
<li>Big FY2023 guide down on revenues (HSD vs. LDD previously) and OI growth (HSD vs. ~25% consensus previously). </li>
<li>Disney profitability lower for longer as macro headwinds on parks, accelerating cord cutting, and pushed out D+ profitability means OI likely down $2B in both FY23-24.</li>
</ul>


Across the board miss as DTC losses peak, park margins weaken, and linear likely to fall off a cliff. 
Big FY2023 guide down on revenues (HSD vs. LDD previously) and OI growth (HSD vs. ~25% consensus previously). 
Disney profitability lower for longer as macro headwinds on parks, accelerating cord cutting, and pushed out D+ profitability means OI likely down $2B in both FY23-24.


Disney 4Q2022: Cord Cutting Exacerbating DTC Losses

United States

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. operates as a media and entertainment company. The Company offers a complete portfolio of content, brands, and franchises across television, film, streaming, and gaming.

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Warner Bros Discovery (WBD US)

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.: Initiation of Coverage – Enhanced Distribution of Underutilized Franchises & Other Drivers

This is our first report on global media behemoth, Warner Bros. The company had a dismal fourth quarter and failed to meet the revenue...

Baptista Research

Netflix 4Q22: Priced for Perfection

Netflix is up 50% from its lows based on investors pricing in a successful ad tier and a churnless paid sharing crackdown. Bulls point to $400, we...

Aaron Gabin

Netflix AVOD Not Chill

We think Netflix's lack of AVOD uptake is due to full saturation, and unless paired with cracking down on passwords, will not generate incremental...

Aaron Gabin

Disney: Could Iger Sell to Apple?

We think Iger will refocus investors on revenues/profits at Disney+ over subscribers, will efficiently spend on content through decentralizing...

Aaron Gabin

Disney 4Q2022: Cord Cutting Exacerbating DTC Losses

Disney shockingly weak profitability outlook for FY2023 is more a reflection of the return of cord cutting to being issue #1 denting the model,...

Aaron Gabin

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