Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>After a close to a 40% 1 year share price performance, the Bermaz<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bermaz-auto-berhad" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14850:1" rel="noopener"> Auto (BAUTO MK)</a> share price could look a little expensive. </li>
<li>Valuations are not too undemanding, and the near-term catalysts seem to be working, and are margins accretive as well. </li>
<li>For dividend, start accumulating, while for capital appreciation, let's wait for the next quarter to determine whether the recent spike is not a fluke. </li>
</ul>


After a close to a 40% 1 year share price performance, the Bermaz Auto (BAUTO MK) share price could look a little expensive. 
Valuations are not too undemanding, and the near-term catalysts seem to be working, and are margins accretive as well. 
For dividend, start accumulating, while for capital appreciation, let's wait for the next quarter to determine whether the recent spike is not a fluke. 


Bermaz Auto (BAUTO): Recovery on the Way?

Chief Executive Officer, Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Chief Executive Officer

Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Emmer Capital Partners is an Asia Pacific focused financial advisory firm engaging in strategic financial asset allocation advice, bespoke thematic research and advising early-stage companies and connecting them to investors. Emmer Capital provides macro-economic and multi-asset investment strategy inputs to institutions, family offices, private wealth managers, private equity, and corporate boards directly and through independent research platforms. Emmer Capital also advises a wide range of startup companies on fund raising and business strategy. Emmer Capital's active engagement with the print and electronic media reaches a broad spectrum of investors across the globe.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>China is again finding favour among investors but investment in Chinese equities has to be nuanced and calibrated. Even high growth and policy beneficiary sectors have underperformed lately.</li>
<li>Avoiding the victims of involution, selecting market leaders who can protect their margins and companies with overseas manufacturing bases who can protect their foreign margins seem a viable strategy.</li>
<li>Latest consumption trends indicate strength in communication equipment, gold and silver jewelry, beverages and cosmetics. Precautionary buying of precious metals indicates that high dividend yield stocks could do well too.</li>
</ul>


China is again finding favour among investors but investment in Chinese equities has to be nuanced and calibrated. Even high growth and policy beneficiary sectors have underperformed lately.
Avoiding the victims of involution, selecting market leaders who can protect their margins and companies with overseas manufacturing bases who can protect their foreign margins seem a viable strategy.
Latest consumption trends indicate strength in communication equipment, gold and silver jewelry, beverages and cosmetics. Precautionary buying of precious metals indicates that high dividend yield stocks could do well too.


Asian Equities: Investing in China Necessitates a Careful and Calibrated Approach

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>China dominates the global battery market and its manufacturers are expanding production rapidly into international markets.  Players like CATL support global automakers with the most advanced battery technology.</li>
<li>Growth of renewable energy has increased demand for Energy Storage Solutions (ESS). ESS stores energy from renewable sources, stabilizes the power grid, and provides power for industrial and commercial buildings. </li>
<li>China's battery companies are benefiting from AI data center (AIDC) storage growth, which has created intense demand for specialized energy storage solutions for this sector.</li>
</ul>


China dominates the global battery market and its manufacturers are expanding production rapidly into international markets.  Players like CATL support global automakers with the most advanced battery technology.
Growth of renewable energy has increased demand for Energy Storage Solutions (ESS). ESS stores energy from renewable sources, stabilizes the power grid, and provides power for industrial and commercial buildings. 
China's battery companies are benefiting from AI data center (AIDC) storage growth, which has created intense demand for specialized energy storage solutions for this sector.


CHINA'S BATTERY SECTOR OUTLOOK: You're Either Positive or Negative!

Articles from Caixin Global, Caixin Global

Caixin Global

Articles from Caixin Global

Caixin is a media group dedicated to providing financial and business news through periodicals, online content, mobile apps, conferences, books and TV/video programs. Caixin aims to blaze a trail that helps traditional media prosper in the new media age through integrated multimedia platforms.

News from Caixin

<ul><li>Cover Story: U.S.-Israel War With Iran Drifts Toward Attrition</li><li>China’s State Financial Managers Face Deep Pay Cuts as Reform Bites</li><li>Analysis: Could Global Oil Shock Trigger Imported Stagflation in China?</li></ul>

Cover Story: U.S.-Israel War With Iran Drifts Toward AttritionChina’s State Financial Managers Face Deep Pay Cuts as Reform BitesAnalysis: Could Global Oil Shock Trigger Imported Stagflation in China?

CX Daily: U.S.-Israel War With Iran Drifts Toward Attrition 

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>We summarize the Feb 2026 price discounts at dealers for major automakers in this report.</li><li>Note that Feb discounts for each automaker are calculated based on the weighted average of Jan 2026 retail sales volume for each model, as Feb 2026 retail sales volume data have not been released yet.</li><li>On the surface, China’s industrywide average discounts remained flat in Feb 2026 vs. Jan 2026 and Dec 2025 based on our calculations, as narrower discounts for German brands offset wider discounts for other brands. </li></ul>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

We summarize the Feb 2026 price discounts at dealers for major automakers in this report.Note that Feb discounts for each automaker are calculated based on the weighted average of Jan 2026 retail sales volume for each model, as Feb 2026 retail sales volume data have not been released yet.On the surface, China’s industrywide average discounts remained flat in Feb 2026 vs. Jan 2026 and Dec 2025 based on our calculations, as narrower discounts for German brands offset wider discounts for other brands. Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Auto - 1Q26 carmakers’ margins under pressure amid rising discounts

China

XPeng designs, develops, manufactures, and markets smart electric vehicles, integrating advanced technologies like autonomous driving and intelligent operating systems. Its product lineup includes a range of smart electric sedans, SUVs, and MPVs. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, China.

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XPeng (9868 HK)

Bermaz Auto (BAUTO): Recovery on the Way?

Bermaz Auto recovery this year has been fantastic - especially when FY 2025 result was very poor. For dividend - start accumulating while for...

Henry Soediarko

Asian Equities: Investing in China Necessitates a Careful and Calibrated Approach

Investing in CN equity needs a nuanced approach, focusing on market leaders who can protect margins during "involution" & companies with foreign...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

CHINA'S BATTERY SECTOR OUTLOOK: You're Either Positive or Negative!

CATL is considering an equity offering of up to $5B to accelerate its overseas capacity build-out and battery project deals, especially in energy...

David Mudd

CX Daily: U.S.-Israel War With Iran Drifts Toward Attrition

Cover Story: U.S.-Israel War With Iran Drifts Toward Attrition China’s State Financial Managers Face Deep Pay Cuts as Reform Bites Analysis: Could...

Caixin Global

Auto - 1Q26 carmakers’ margins under pressure amid rising discounts

Note that Feb discounts for each automaker are calculated based on the weighted average of Jan 2026 retail sales volume for each model, as Feb 2026...

CMB International

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Bermaz Auto (BAUTO): Recovery on the Way?

Bermaz Auto recovery this year has been fantastic - especially when FY 2025 result was very poor. For dividend - start accumulating while for...

Henry Soediarko

Asian Equities: Investing in China Necessitates a Careful and Calibrated Approach

​Investing in CN equity needs a nuanced approach, focusing on market leaders who can protect margins during "involution" & companies with foreign...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

CHINA'S BATTERY SECTOR OUTLOOK: You're Either Positive or Negative!

CATL is considering an equity offering of up to $5B to accelerate its overseas capacity build-out and battery project deals, especially in energy...

David Mudd

CX Daily: U.S.-Israel War With Iran Drifts Toward Attrition

Cover Story: U.S.-Israel War With Iran Drifts Toward Attrition China’s State Financial Managers Face Deep Pay Cuts as Reform Bites Analysis: Could...

Caixin Global

Auto - 1Q26 carmakers’ margins under pressure amid rising discounts

Note that Feb discounts for each automaker are calculated based on the weighted average of Jan 2026 retail sales volume for each model, as Feb 2026...

CMB International

Investing in CN equity needs a nuanced approach, focusing on market leaders who can protect margins during "involution" & companies with foreign...