China/Asia TMT

Shawn Yang

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>Xpeng reported soft 4Q22 results, with top line of RMB 5.14bn, missing our estimate/cons. by (5.6%)/(9.7%); GPM of 8.7%, missing our estimate/cons. by (1.6ppt)/(3.4ppt), primarily due to increased sales promotions. </li>
<li>We maintain SELL, because 1) price war and intensified competition in 2023 are still key challenges facing its existing and new models; </li>
<li>2) margin pressure ahead amid the price war, while its cost reduction initiatives starting from 2H23 take time to verify effect.</li>
</ul>


Xpeng reported soft 4Q22 results, with top line of RMB 5.14bn, missing our estimate/cons. by (5.6%)/(9.7%); GPM of 8.7%, missing our estimate/cons. by (1.6ppt)/(3.4ppt), primarily due to increased sales promotions. 
We maintain SELL, because 1) price war and intensified competition in 2023 are still key challenges facing its existing and new models; 
2) margin pressure ahead amid the price war, while its cost reduction initiatives starting from 2H23 take time to verify effect.


[XPeng (XPEV US) Earnings Review]: Facing Price War and Fiercer Competition in 2023

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Even though we are long-term optimistic on the rise of Chinese consumer brands, we believe short-term optimism is misplaced. </li>
<li>Two themes: (1) structural changes led by China’s transition to an older and more affluent society, (2) substitution and globalization that can break the ceiling for valuation;</li>
<li>Our TOP PICKS are Li Auto, Atour, Luckin, FUTU, BEKE and Miniso</li>
</ul>


Even though we are long-term optimistic on the rise of Chinese consumer brands, we believe short-term optimism is misplaced. 
Two themes: (1) structural changes led by China’s transition to an older and more affluent society, (2) substitution and globalization that can break the ceiling for valuation;
Our TOP PICKS are Li Auto, Atour, Luckin, FUTU, BEKE and Miniso


[Consumer Brands Deep Dive]:Structural and Substitution Drive Chinese Consumer

China Specialist, Auto and Industrial Specialist

Victoria Li

<ul>
<li>25% reduction on hardware cost of car production in one year would be remarkable if achieved</li>
<li>Integrating two sales systems into one is a positive move, but not good enough in our view.</li>
<li>Mr. He taking direct resposibility of styling design division is a sign that the company acknowledges that it is a key improvement area for estabilishing brand image</li>
</ul>


25% reduction on hardware cost of car production in one year would be remarkable if achieved
Integrating two sales systems into one is a positive move, but not good enough in our view.
Mr. He taking direct resposibility of styling design division is a sign that the company acknowledges that it is a key improvement area for estabilishing brand image


Xpeng - Bold Intentions on Costs and Sales System Provide Some Silver Linings

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>China’s passenger-vehicle (PV) retail sales volume rose 11% YoY in Feb 2023, 4% lower than our prior forecast.</li><li>Wholesale volume also rose 11% YoY last month, 13% higher than our prior projection, again largely due to inventory restocking and higher export volume.</li><li>PV exports surged 86% YoY to about 271,000 units in Feb 2023. Automakers in China added about 131,000 units of inventories into their dealers in Feb 2023 based on our calculations, which has led to 2.2 months of inventories based on our projected retail sales volume for Mar and Apr 2023. </li></ul><p><em>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.</em></p>

China’s passenger-vehicle (PV) retail sales volume rose 11% YoY in Feb 2023, 4% lower than our prior forecast.Wholesale volume also rose 11% YoY last month, 13% higher than our prior projection, again largely due to inventory restocking and higher export volume.PV exports surged 86% YoY to about 271,000 units in Feb 2023. Automakers in China added about 131,000 units of inventories into their dealers in Feb 2023 based on our calculations, which has led to 2.2 months of inventories based on our projected retail sales volume for Mar and Apr 2023. 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.

China Auto Sector – A trough in the short term?

<ul>
<li>9926HK：Akeso and China's 2nd largest pharmaceutical distributor signed collaborative R&amp;D agreement（+）</li>
<li>XPEV: Xpeng to officially unveils facelift of P7 on Friday (+)</li>
<li>981.HK/1347.HK/ACMR: Netherlands announces intention to ban only “state-of-the-art” ASML DUV tools (+/+/+)</li>
</ul>


9926HK：Akeso and China's 2nd largest pharmaceutical distributor signed collaborative R&amp;D agreement（+）
XPEV: Xpeng to officially unveils facelift of P7 on Friday (+)
981.HK/1347.HK/ACMR: Netherlands announces intention to ban only “state-of-the-art” ASML DUV tools (+/+/+)


China TMT Update(Mar.10): 9926hk/XPEV/981.HK/1347.HK/ACMR: Xpeng to Unveils Facelift of P7 (+)

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 (XPEV US) Earnings Review]: Facing Price War and Fiercer Competition in 2023

We maintain SELL, because 1) price war and intensified competition in 2023; 2) margin pressure ahead amid the price war.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Consumer Brands Deep Dive]:Structural and Substitution Drive Chinese Consumer

Chinese underconsumption is only half true. It only occurs in categories associated with development stages; Our TOP PICKS are Li Auto, Atour,...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Xpeng - Bold Intentions on Costs and Sales System Provide Some Silver Linings

25% reduction on hardware cost of car production in one year would be remarkable if achieved. Integrating two sales systems into one is a positive...

Victoria Li

China Auto Sector – A trough in the short term?

Wholesale volume also rose 11% YoY last month, 13% higher than our prior projection, again largely due to inventory restocking and higher export...

CMB International

China TMT Update(Mar.10): 9926hk/XPEV/981.HK/1347.HK/ACMR: Xpeng to Unveils Facelift of P7 (+)

Akeso and China's 2nd largest pharmaceutical distributor signed collaborative R&D agreement ; Xpeng to officially unveils facelift of P7:...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

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