Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In Q424, there were dramatic shifts in share among the six listed Chinese express companies</li>
<li>STO and J&amp;T gained the most volume share, while volume leader ZTO gave up the most</li>
<li>STO won share without ceding much price; ZTO still has not settled on a new strategy</li>
</ul>


In Q424, there were dramatic shifts in share among the six listed Chinese express companies
STO and J&amp;T gained the most volume share, while volume leader ZTO gave up the most
STO won share without ceding much price; ZTO still has not settled on a new strategy


Monthly Chinese Express Tracker: Fight For Parcel Volume Share Heated Up in Q424 (January 2025)

China New Economy Equity Analyst, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Robert McKay

China New Economy Equity Analyst

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

<ul>
<li>ZTO's market share losses may accelerate as peers continue to cut prices. Worse yet, margins of its competitors are improving, which will sustain the war for a longer time;</li>
<li>ZTO has maintained profitability growth despite the price war, but we think this situation is unsustainable. Management will eventually need to sacrifice profitability or suffer accelerated share loss. </li>
<li>We now take a more bearish view on ZTO as we see no quick solution to the profit and market share balancing act. </li>
</ul>


ZTO's market share losses may accelerate as peers continue to cut prices. Worse yet, margins of its competitors are improving, which will sustain the war for a longer time;
ZTO has maintained profitability growth despite the price war, but we think this situation is unsustainable. Management will eventually need to sacrifice profitability or suffer accelerated share loss. 
We now take a more bearish view on ZTO as we see no quick solution to the profit and market share balancing act. 


China Logistics (Part 1): ZTO Has a Unit Economics Problem

<ul>
<li>With the exception of SF Holding, all listed express firms reported lower H1 OP%</li>
<li>SF's independence and unique product mix protected profits as volume surged</li>
<li>We suggest going Long SF Hldg against Short positions in ZTO &amp; J&amp;T</li>
</ul>


With the exception of SF Holding, all listed express firms reported lower H1 OP%
SF's independence and unique product mix protected profits as volume surged
We suggest going Long SF Hldg against Short positions in ZTO &amp; J&amp;T


Chinese Express Firms All Saw H1 OPM% Fall -- Except SF Hldg | Pair Trade: LONG SF Vs SHORT ZTO, J&T

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>China consumption shows rebounding demand following appreciation in asset values and home appliance subsidies. A record number of parcels were delivered last week, while home appliance sales grew rapidly;</li>
<li>We’ve raised 4Q estimates for online shopping growth given the recent demand trends which we expect to sustain through the quarter, so long as stimulus remains forthcoming;</li>
<li>JD and BABA remain our top ecommerce picks given their exposure to recent home appliance subsidies, as well as benefiting from a longer-term improvement in consumer sentiment.</li>
</ul>


China consumption shows rebounding demand following appreciation in asset values and home appliance subsidies. A record number of parcels were delivered last week, while home appliance sales grew rapidly;
We’ve raised 4Q estimates for online shopping growth given the recent demand trends which we expect to sustain through the quarter, so long as stimulus remains forthcoming;
JD and BABA remain our top ecommerce picks given their exposure to recent home appliance subsidies, as well as benefiting from a longer-term improvement in consumer sentiment.


Old E-Commerce Names Are The Biggest Winners of New Stimulus

<ul>
<li>Last week J&amp;T Global Express reported Q324 express parcel volume by segment</li>
<li>Volume growth in all segments slowed dramatically compared to Q224</li>
<li>Without needed context, we believe the numbers undermine J&amp;T growth story</li>
</ul>


Last week J&amp;T Global Express reported Q324 express parcel volume by segment
Volume growth in all segments slowed dramatically compared to Q224
Without needed context, we believe the numbers undermine J&amp;T growth story


Quick Take on J&T Global Express Q324: Volume Growth in All Segments Slowed Dramatically

China

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. operates as an express delivery company. The Company provides express delivery service through their nationwide network, as well as other value-added logistics services. ZTO Express serves customers globally.

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ZTO Express Cayman (ZTO US)

China Logistics (Part 1): ZTO Has a Unit Economics Problem

ZTO faces increasing market share losses and margin pressure as competitors cut prices, leading to a more bearish outlook on the company's future...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Chinese Express Firms All Saw H1 OPM% Fall -- Except SF Hldg | Pair Trade: LONG SF Vs SHORT ZTO, J&T

SF Holding's unique position within China's eComm fulfillment space allowed it to successfully defend against the margin pressures that afflicted...

Tracking Traffic

Old E-Commerce Names Are The Biggest Winners of New Stimulus

China's consumption seeing increased demand for home appliances and online shopping, leading to record parcel deliveries. JD and BABA are top...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Quick Take on J&T Global Express Q324: Volume Growth in All Segments Slowed Dramatically

Last week J&T Global Express reported a sharp slowdown in average daily parcel volume in all of its operating segments. We think the numbers...

Tracking Traffic

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Monthly Chinese Express Tracker: Fight For Parcel Volume Share Heated Up in Q424 (January 2025)

Although Chinese domestic express pricing has moderated in recent months, the main players in this sector continue to battle one another for...

Tracking Traffic

China Logistics (Part 1): ZTO Has a Unit Economics Problem

​ZTO faces increasing market share losses and margin pressure as competitors cut prices, leading to a more bearish outlook on the company's future...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Chinese Express Firms All Saw H1 OPM% Fall -- Except SF Hldg | Pair Trade: LONG SF Vs SHORT ZTO, J&T

SF Holding's unique position within China's eComm fulfillment space allowed it to successfully defend against the margin pressures that afflicted...

Tracking Traffic

Old E-Commerce Names Are The Biggest Winners of New Stimulus

​China's consumption seeing increased demand for home appliances and online shopping, leading to record parcel deliveries. JD and BABA are top...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Quick Take on J&T Global Express Q324: Volume Growth in All Segments Slowed Dramatically

Last week J&T Global Express reported a sharp slowdown in average daily parcel volume in all of its operating segments. We think the numbers...

Tracking Traffic

ZTO faces increasing market share losses and margin pressure as competitors cut prices, leading to a more bearish outlook on the company's future...

China's consumption seeing increased demand for home appliances and online shopping, leading to record parcel deliveries. JD and BABA are top...