Blue Lotus China New Economy Research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Eric Wen

Blue Lotus China New Economy Research

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>C3Q24 results from LEAP Motors seems to indicate the profit margins of low-priced EV can reach high single digits.</li>
<li>We thus revised up XPEV's 2024-25 top line by 8% and 28% on successful launch of P7+, 2024-25 gross margins by 0.6ppt and 1.7ppt</li>
<li>Despite these improvements, we opt to maintain the rating of SELL and TP of US$5 unchanged as XPEV's path to profitability is still unclear.</li>
</ul>


C3Q24 results from LEAP Motors seems to indicate the profit margins of low-priced EV can reach high single digits.
We thus revised up XPEV's 2024-25 top line by 8% and 28% on successful launch of P7+, 2024-25 gross margins by 0.6ppt and 1.7ppt
Despite these improvements, we opt to maintain the rating of SELL and TP of US$5 unchanged as XPEV's path to profitability is still unclear.


[XPeng Inc. (XPEV US, SELL, TP US$5) Company Update]: Material and Component Pricing Drove Cost Down

<ul>
<li>XPeng (XPEV) reported C2Q24 top line, non-GAAP operating loss and GAAP net income in line, 5.4% worse and 7.5% better than our estimate. </li>
<li>We raised our MONA forecast by 13% but still significantly below XPEV’s guidance. We believe management guidance is overly optimistic;</li>
<li>We maintain a SELL rating on the stock and TP unchanged.</li>
</ul>


XPeng (XPEV) reported C2Q24 top line, non-GAAP operating loss and GAAP net income in line, 5.4% worse and 7.5% better than our estimate. 
We raised our MONA forecast by 13% but still significantly below XPEV’s guidance. We believe management guidance is overly optimistic;
We maintain a SELL rating on the stock and TP unchanged.


[XPeng Inc. (XPEV US, SELL, TP US$2) Earnings Review]: Delivery Goal for MONA M03 Is Unrealistic

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>The global auto industry faces significant tariff exposure. Option implied volatility offers a forward-looking assessment of risk.</li>
<li>Chinese car makers started to increase in implied volatility more than the other markets at the beginning of February. They now show the highest risk.</li>
<li>Recent implied volatility trends, asymmetric pricing (skew), and the term structure all seem to indicate that the Indian auto sector is the least exposed to international trade relations.</li>
</ul>


The global auto industry faces significant tariff exposure. Option implied volatility offers a forward-looking assessment of risk.
Chinese car makers started to increase in implied volatility more than the other markets at the beginning of February. They now show the highest risk.
Recent implied volatility trends, asymmetric pricing (skew), and the term structure all seem to indicate that the Indian auto sector is the least exposed to international trade relations.


EQD | Volatile Roads: Unveiling Risk in the Asian Auto Industry Through the Options Market

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Event-Driven

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/contemporary-amperex-technolog" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24404:1" rel="noopener">Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) (300750 CH)</a>, one of the world’s largest battery solutions providers, aims to raise around US$5bn in its H-share listing.</li>
<li>CATL is the global leader in new energy vehicle battery solutions, in China and globally, as per SNE Research. Its A-shares have been listed since 2018.</li>
<li>In this note, we look at its past performance and other deal dynamics that might impact the listing.</li>
</ul>



Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) (300750 CH), one of the world’s largest battery solutions providers, aims to raise around US$5bn in its H-share listing.
CATL is the global leader in new energy vehicle battery solutions, in China and globally, as per SNE Research. Its A-shares have been listed since 2018.
In this note, we look at its past performance and other deal dynamics that might impact the listing.


CATL A/H Listing - Early Look - US$5bn Could Be Hong Kong’s Largest This Year

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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nio-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27399:1" rel="noopener">NIO (NIO US)</a> is a Chinese premium electric vehicle manufacturer listed across three exchanges. </li>
<li>NIO will likely struggle to reignite its growth with its three-brand strategy in a fiercely competitive market. Its promise to reach breakeven in 2026 is likely to be broken.  </li>
<li>NIO’s valuation is stretched as it trades at a material premium to median Chinese EV peers’ EV/Sales and growth-adjusted EV/Sales multiples. </li>
</ul>



NIO (NIO US) is a Chinese premium electric vehicle manufacturer listed across three exchanges. 
NIO will likely struggle to reignite its growth with its three-brand strategy in a fiercely competitive market. Its promise to reach breakeven in 2026 is likely to be broken.  
NIO’s valuation is stretched as it trades at a material premium to median Chinese EV peers’ EV/Sales and growth-adjusted EV/Sales multiples. 


2025 High Conviction: Short NIO (NIO US/9866 HK)

China

XPeng Inc. designs, produces, and distributes electric vehicles. The Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets smart smart electric vehicles, as well as finance, parts, and maintenance services. XPeng serves customers in China.

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XPeng (XPEV US)

[XPeng Inc. (XPEV US, SELL, TP US$5) Company Update]: Material and Component Pricing Drove Cost Down

LEAP Motors' C3Q24 results show potential for high profit margins on low-priced EVs, prompting a slight increase in XPEV's revenue and gross...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[XPeng Inc. (XPEV US, SELL, TP US$2) Earnings Review]: Delivery Goal for MONA M03 Is Unrealistic

XPeng reported mixed financial results for the second quarter, with revenue slightly below expectations and net income exceeding estimates. We...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

EQD | Volatile Roads: Unveiling Risk in the Asian Auto Industry Through the Options Market

Global auto industry faces tariff risk. The option market assigns the highest risk to Chinese car makers. The Indian auto sector appears least...

Gaudenz Schneider

CATL A/H Listing - Early Look - US$5bn Could Be Hong Kong’s Largest This Year

The company has now officially filed for a Hong Kong listing and is said to be looking to raise US$5-7bn. The lead banks on the deal are BofA,...

Sumeet Singh

2025 High Conviction: Short NIO (NIO US/9866 HK)

NIO will likely struggle to reignite its growth with its three-brand strategy in a fiercely competitive market. Its promise to reach breakeven in...

Arun George

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

[XPeng Inc. (XPEV US, SELL, TP US$5) Company Update]: Material and Component Pricing Drove Cost Down

​LEAP Motors' C3Q24 results show potential for high profit margins on low-priced EVs, prompting a slight increase in XPEV's revenue and gross...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[XPeng Inc. (XPEV US, SELL, TP US$2) Earnings Review]: Delivery Goal for MONA M03 Is Unrealistic

​XPeng reported mixed financial results for the second quarter, with revenue slightly below expectations and net income exceeding estimates. We...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

EQD | Volatile Roads: Unveiling Risk in the Asian Auto Industry Through the Options Market

​Global auto industry faces tariff risk. The option market assigns the highest risk to Chinese car makers. The Indian auto sector appears least...

Gaudenz Schneider

CATL A/H Listing - Early Look - US$5bn Could Be Hong Kong’s Largest This Year

The company has now officially filed for a Hong Kong listing and is said to be looking to raise US$5-7bn. The lead banks on the deal are BofA,...

Sumeet Singh

2025 High Conviction: Short NIO (NIO US/9866 HK)

NIO will likely struggle to reignite its growth with its three-brand strategy in a fiercely competitive market. Its promise to reach breakeven in...

Arun George

LEAP Motors' C3Q24 results show potential for high profit margins on low-priced EVs, prompting a slight increase in XPEV's revenue and gross...

XPeng reported mixed financial results for the second quarter, with revenue slightly below expectations and net income exceeding estimates. We...

Global auto industry faces tariff risk. The option market assigns the highest risk to Chinese car makers. The Indian auto sector appears least...