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Smartkarma Daily Briefs

Daily Brief Energy/Materials: Posco M-Tech, Alumina Ltd, Bharat Wire Ropes , ADF Group , Indo Tambangraya Megah, Natural Gas, International Paper Co, Chariot Limited and more

By | Daily Briefs, Energy & Materials Sector

In today’s briefing:

  • KOSDAQ Global Rebalancing This Week: Trading Considerations
  • Alumina (AWC AU): Scheme Vote on 18 July
  • The Beat Ideas: Bharat Wire Ropes- The Turnaround and Transformation
  • DRX: Sizeable Beat on Q1 Financials & Returning Cash to Shareholders
  • Alumina (AWU AU)’s 18th July Scheme Vote. Alcoa’s Done Deal
  • Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITMG IJ): Pure Coal Play at 4.5x PE, 50% of the Market Cap in Cash
  • [ETP 23/2024] Jittery Crude And Fiery Natural Gas Markets Defined Energy Markets Last Week
  • International Paper: What Value Could They Extract From Suzano & What Makes Them So Valuable? – Financial Forecasts
  • Chariot Limited (AIM: CHAR): High impact well offshore Morocco on track to spud in August


KOSDAQ Global Rebalancing This Week: Trading Considerations

By Sanghyun Park

  • KRX announced KOSDAQ Global rebalancing. Annually in June, effective date follows June options expiry. Passive flow trading on Thursday, the 13th. 49 companies designated, with nine excluded and eleven added.
  • Predicting passive capital movement is challenging, but attention must be given to price impacts because reshuffle predictability is low, lacking preemptive trading setups.
  • We must anticipate the SSF reshuffle in August, likely including new KOSDAQ Global constituents. KRX plans to list SSFs for all remaining constituents, potentially advancing setup timing for price increases.

Alumina (AWC AU): Scheme Vote on 18 July

By Arun George

  • The Alumina Ltd (AWC AU) IE considers Alcoa (AA US)’s scheme offer (0.02854 Alcoa shares per Alumina share) fair and reasonable as the terms are within its valuation range. 
  • The offer is conditional on FIRB and Alumina/Alcoa shareholder approval. FIRB approval should be forthcoming as Alcoa already owns most of Alumina’s sole assets (AWAC).
  • The support of the substantive shareholders and the re-rating of Alcoa shares since 12 March (entry into a SID) has materially lowered the vote risk. This is a done deal.

The Beat Ideas: Bharat Wire Ropes- The Turnaround and Transformation

By Sudarshan Bhandari

  • Debt restructuring in 2021 reduced interest costs and improved profitability, with promoters increasing their stake by 4%.
  • Revenue and EBITDA have grown significantly, with a revenue CAGR of 35% and EBITDA CAGR of 72% over the past 3 years.
  • Strong export presence and increasing domestic market share indicate robust growth potential despite global economic fluctuations.

DRX: Sizeable Beat on Q1 Financials & Returning Cash to Shareholders

By Atrium Research

  • ADF Group reported Q1 financial results that largely beat our estimates, including revenue of $107.4M (+34% YoY) vs. $90.1M and EBITDA of $23.1M (+130% YoY) vs. $17.2M.
  • ADF announced a cash utilization strategy including its intention to repurchase up to 3.0M shares from insiders and the doubling of its semi-annual dividend to $0.02/share.
  • ADF Group (DRX:TSX, ADFJF:OTC) reported Q1 financial results today before market open that smashed our expectations across the board with the most notable beat being EBITDA coming in at $23.1M vs. $17.2M expected.

Alumina (AWU AU)’s 18th July Scheme Vote. Alcoa’s Done Deal

By David Blennerhassett

  • Alumina Ltd (AWC AU) and Alcoa (AA US) announced an NBIO on the 26th Feb, before entering  into a Scheme on the 12th March. 
  • Alcoa is offering  0.02854 new shares for each Alumina share, a 13% premium to undisturbed. Key shareholders Allan Gray and CITIC are supportive.
  • The Scheme Booklet is now out, with a Scheme Meeting to be held on the 18th July. Expected implementation on the 1 August. The IE says fair & reasonable.

Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITMG IJ): Pure Coal Play at 4.5x PE, 50% of the Market Cap in Cash

By Sameer Taneja

  • Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITMG IJ) reported an inline Q1 FY24, with stabilizing price. Net cash at 875 mn USD is 50% of mkt cap. 
  • If coal prices remain stable at 135 USD/ton, the company will be able to churn out 400 mn USD of profits (~24 mnt sales).  
  • With a minimum 65% dividend payout ratio, we derive a dividend yield of 15%. This number could be an upside risk as payout ratios have also been 100%.

[ETP 23/2024] Jittery Crude And Fiery Natural Gas Markets Defined Energy Markets Last Week

By Suhas Reddy

  • Crude oil prices crater as OPEC meeting outcome fails to support oil prices. Despite OPEC+ extending larger cuts until end-2025, prices fell on fears of excess supply.
  • Henry Hub Gas prices rose sharply last week driven by expectations of a hotter-than-expected summer in the US & Outages in Norway.
  • Energy majors fell sharply on 3/June and ended the week in the red. BP and Exxon Mobile were downgraded. Berkshire ramped up holdings in Occidental.

International Paper: What Value Could They Extract From Suzano & What Makes Them So Valuable? – Financial Forecasts

By Baptista Research

  • International Paper, a prominent player in the paper and packaging industry, recently disclosed its financial results for the first quarter of 2024.
  • These results are pivotal when assessing the company’s current operational efficiency and financial health, especially considering its potential acquisition by Suzano, a Brazilian firm also in the paper and packaging sector.
  • The reported quarter saw International Paper navigating through a mix of challenges and strategic advancements.

Chariot Limited (AIM: CHAR): High impact well offshore Morocco on track to spud in August

By Auctus Advisors

  • The FY23 financials were in line with our forecasts.
  • The high impact Anchois East well continues to be expected to spud in August.
  • A drilling success could increase the size of Anchois to over 1 tcf (300 bcf net to Chariot).

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Daily Brief Industrials: Keisei Electric Railway Co, GFL Environmental and more

By | Daily Briefs, Industrials

In today’s briefing:

  • [JAPAN ACTIVISM] Palliser Gets ISS/GL Nods for Keisei AGM Proposals – How Will The Swing Vote Swing?
  • GFL Environmental – Why Is It An Attractive M&A Target Amidst The Current Market Frenzy & At What Valuation? – Financial Forecasts


[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Palliser Gets ISS/GL Nods for Keisei AGM Proposals – How Will The Swing Vote Swing?

By Travis Lundy

  • In Oct2023, activist Palliser Capital launched a campaign on well-known “stub trade” Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP) (1.6% stake). The proposal? Monetise OLC, invest for growth, be shareholder friendly.
  • Keisei responded 3+mos ago: buyback and 1% OLC stake sale but said OLC would remain an equity affiliate. Palliser re-engaged in late April (Japanese/English and two AGM agenda items). Keisei objected.
  • Palliser made their case, Glass Lewis and ISS support Palliser. Palliser likely cannot win. The goal here isn’t to win though. It is to get enough to raise management consciousness. 

GFL Environmental – Why Is It An Attractive M&A Target Amidst The Current Market Frenzy & At What Valuation? – Financial Forecasts

By Baptista Research

  • GFL Environmental Inc., having begun the year with strong performance, has reported first quarter results that exceeded expectations, driven by robust execution and strategic growth initiatives.
  • The company showcases a balanced approach between organic growth and strategic acquisitions, which could attract potential suitors, considering the company is exploring sales options.
  • GFL Environmental’s Q1 revenue reached $1.8 billion, a 6.5% increase year-over-year, driven by better-than anticipated pricing and volume adjustments.

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Daily Brief Utilities: Naturgy Energy Group SA and more

By | Daily Briefs, Utilities Sector

In today’s briefing:

  • It’s a No Deal, But…


It’s a No Deal, But…

By Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

  • Abu Dhabi National Energy (TAQA UH) has unexpectedly withdrawn from negotiations to launch a takeover bid for Naturgy Energy Group SA (NTGY SM) with CriteriaCaixa.
  • Criteria may continue to explore other options. CriteriaCaixa and IFM may reconcile. IFM could offer a solution for the exit of CVC and GIP, could potentially increase its stake.
  • A joint offer from CriteriaCaixa and IFM could well happen. At the current price, I would be long Naturgy, plus one gets paid to wait. Dividend yield is 6.6%.

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Daily Brief TMT/Internet: Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) – ADR, Core Scientific, Salesforce.Com Inc, SmartRent, Instructure Holdings , BigCommerce Holdings, Solid State PLC, DXC Technology Co and more

By | Daily Briefs, TMT/Internet

In today’s briefing:

  • Taiwan Tech Weekly: Apple Unveils New AI Capabilities at WDC; PC Makers Feel the Love from Chip CEOs
  • Core Scientific Rejects The CoreWeave Unsolicited Offer But What Value Could They Be Expecting? What Makes Them So Attractive? – Financial Forecasts
  • Tech Supply Chain Tracker (12-Jun-2024): AI aids sustainability but poses environmental challenges.
  • SmartRent Exploring A Potential Sale! – Strategic Expansion in Community WiFi Solutions & 3 Other Factors Making It An Attractive Acquisition Target! – Financial Forecasts
  • Instructure Inc. – Special Report
  • BigCommerce Holdings – Special M&A Report – What Valuation Can It Extract In The Event Of A Potential Acquisition? – Financial Forecasts
  • Solid State: Compounding Shareholder Capital in Industries with High Regulatory Barriers to Entry
  • DXC Technology Company – Special M&A Report – What Would Be A Fair Offer From Kyndryl & Apollo? – Financial Forecasts


Taiwan Tech Weekly: Apple Unveils New AI Capabilities at WDC; PC Makers Feel the Love from Chip CEOs

By Vincent Fernando, CFA

  • Apple Announces New AI Features at WDC; Shares Surge to New All-Time Highs
  • Top Movers: Major Computex Exhibitors See Share Prices Fall Despite Strong Presence
  • Computex 2024: Chip Companies Notably Competing to Win PC Makers

Core Scientific Rejects The CoreWeave Unsolicited Offer But What Value Could They Be Expecting? What Makes Them So Attractive? – Financial Forecasts

By Baptista Research

  • Core Scientific, a leading entity in the cryptocurrency mining and data center sector, has recently positioned itself as a pivotal player in the evolving digital infrastructure landscape.
  • The firm reported robust financials for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024, showcasing significant growth and operational efficiency.
  • Notably, Core Scientific rejected an unsolicited acquisition proposal from CoreWeave, an event that merits analysis concerning its impact on shareholder value and corporate strategy.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (12-Jun-2024): AI aids sustainability but poses environmental challenges.

By Tech Supply Chain Tracker

  • AI technology is driving sustainability efforts while posing environmental risks, as discussed by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at London Tech Week 2024.
  • AI is revolutionizing computing and task optimization through advanced PCs and architectures, with AMD CEO predicting its dominance in the future and emphasizing Taiwan’s crucial role in the tech industry.
  • Google is investing $5 billion in expanding its Singapore Data Center and Cloud Region campus, Apple is introducing VisionOS for spatial computing, and the UK is seeking Taiwanese partnerships for high-tech collaborations, while also focusing on privacy with Apple Intelligence at WWDC.

SmartRent Exploring A Potential Sale! – Strategic Expansion in Community WiFi Solutions & 3 Other Factors Making It An Attractive Acquisition Target! – Financial Forecasts

By Baptista Research

  • SmartRent has provided a noteworthy set of results for the first quarter of 2024, accompanied by the company’s initiative of exploring a potential sale.
  • In the recent report, SmartRent disclosed a revenue for the quarter amounting to $50.5 million, with $12 million attributable to SaaS (Software as a Service) recurring revenue products, representing a year-over-year increase of 32%.
  • This growth is largely driven by the scaling of total deployed units and new gains from cross-selling strategies, demonstrating an effective execution of their business and product expansion strategy.

Instructure Inc. – Special Report

By Baptista Research

  • Instructure’s latest financial performance presents a nuanced picture for potential investors and acquirers, reflecting both strengths and challenges.
  • The company, anchored by its market-leading Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) in North America, reported robust first-quarter results.
  • Total revenue reached $155.5 million, marking a 20.7% year-over-year increase, with organic constant currency revenue growth at 6.8%.

BigCommerce Holdings – Special M&A Report – What Valuation Can It Extract In The Event Of A Potential Acquisition? – Financial Forecasts

By Baptista Research

  • BigCommerce has made notable strides in improving its business model and focusing on efficient revenue growth, particularly in the first quarter of 2024.
  • As expressed by the company’s CEO, Brent Bellm, and CFO, Daniel Lentz, on their latest financial results, BigCommerce reported a 12% year-over-year revenue increase to approximately $80 million.
  • This growth combined with an adjusted EBITDA of just over $4 million, indicating a trajectory towards sustainable profitability.

Solid State: Compounding Shareholder Capital in Industries with High Regulatory Barriers to Entry

By Contrarian Cashflows

  • Solid State (SOLI) is a British electronics manufacturer and distributor specializing in mission-critical components and systems for industries with high regulatory barriers.

  • The founding families still lead the company, owning over 13% of outstanding shares. Since 2010, the CEO has driven annual sales and EPS growth of 18%.

  • Despite this strong track record, the shares trade at a normalized 7.3% owner earnings yield and an 11.1 adj. EV/EBIT.


DXC Technology Company – Special M&A Report – What Would Be A Fair Offer From Kyndryl & Apollo? – Financial Forecasts

By Baptista Research

  • DXC Technology reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2024, displaying a mixed performance amidst challenging market conditions.
  • Total revenue experienced a decline of 5% on a constant currency basis, outpacing expectations slightly but reflecting broader industry and economic challenges.
  • The adjusted EBIT margin decreased by 50 basis points year over-year to 8.4%, indicating pressure on profitability despite efforts to optimize costs.

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Daily Brief Health Care: Jeisys Medical, Medical Data Vision, Sciclone Pharmaceuticals, Hugel Inc, BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics I, Scilex Holding and more

By | Daily Briefs, Healthcare

In today’s briefing:

  • Jeisys Medical (287410 KS): Archimed’s Delisting Offer
  • Medical Data Vision (3902) – SBI Upping Their Stake AGAIN In The Market
  • Sciclone Pharmaceuticals (6600.HK) Privatization Update – Some “Unstable Factors” During Voting
  • Hugel Inc (145020 KS): Favorable Court Ruling Paves US Entry; Record High 1Q Sales
  • BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI) Initiation 11062024
  • SCLX: Product Gets FDA Approval and Hits Market


Jeisys Medical (287410 KS): Archimed’s Delisting Offer

By David Blennerhassett

  • Aesthetic laser maker Jeisys Medical (287410 KS) has announced French PE outfit Archimed SAS is seeking to delist the company.
  • Archimed intends to acquire 72% of Jeisys at ₩13,000, a 20.82% premium to undisturbed. Archimed has also inked agreements with founders/directors for 26.44%, taking its possible % acquisition to 98.44%. 
  • A Korean medical device maker – not another Eoflow (294090 KS)?! Jeisys did face a patent infringement case from Syneron Medical (ELOS US) in 2018; but since resolved. 

Medical Data Vision (3902) – SBI Upping Their Stake AGAIN In The Market

By Travis Lundy

  • Today after the close, SBI Holdings (8473 JP) – which currently owns 32.4% of Medical Data Vision (3902 JP) – announced it would buy another 1.91mm shares over 7mos.
  • This market purchase would lift them to ~37.4% by year-end. Interestingly, they plan to go through the one-third level without a Tender Offer. But their buying history hasn’t been great. 
  • SBI bought 20% in 2020. It fell by half. They bought another 5%. Then it dropped 50%, so they bought another 5%. Now -25% so they are buying another 5%.

Sciclone Pharmaceuticals (6600.HK) Privatization Update – Some “Unstable Factors” During Voting

By Xinyao (Criss) Wang

  • Some shareholders have confirmed to be acting in concert at the Court Meeting, but long-term investors may vote against the privatization because they are not satisfied with the Cancellation Price.
  • The success rate of SciClone’s privatization is lower than that of China TCM and L’Occitane. If fails, there’s a high probability that the share price will fall back to HK$14/share.
  • The current share price cannot provide decent returns. Together with exchange rate risk, potential failure risks, etc., there’s no need for investors to take risks at this share price level.

Hugel Inc (145020 KS): Favorable Court Ruling Paves US Entry; Record High 1Q Sales

By Tina Banerjee

  • Hugel Inc (145020 KS) got favorable preliminary ruling in US for its litigation with Medytox. The ruling revealed that the competitor’s claim of strain theft by Hugel is baseless.  
  • In March, Hugel received FDA approval for BTX product, Letybo in US. The company plans to launch Letybo in 2H24, while final ruling for the litigation is scheduled in October.
  • As BTX and HA filler grew steadily in domestic and overseas markets, 1Q24 sales grew 15% YoY to KRW74.3B, achieving the highest ever performance in the first quarter.

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI) Initiation 11062024

By ACF Equity Research

  • BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: BCLI, Biotech) is focused on developing autologous mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) – BCLI’s primary target is the fatal amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/MND/Lou Gehrig’s).
  • Post hoc analysis of BCLI’s PIII trial data shows BCLI’s NurOwn® (debamestrocel, MSC-NTF), has statistically significant clinical effects on early-stage ALS sufferers and that placebo trialists deteriorate faster.
  • Peer reviewed research (Mar 2024) indicated that BCLI’s NurOwn® has a positive impact on NfL biomarkers for ALS.

SCLX: Product Gets FDA Approval and Hits Market

By Zacks Small Cap Research

  • SCLX is filling a much-needed area of the health care sector, that of developing non-opioid pain relief products.
  • The company already has commercialized products that are proven to improve patients’ lives.
  • The company recently added to its important line on non-opioid drugs by announcing the FDA approved the commercial manufacturing of Gloperba and that the product is being stocked in many national pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies.

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Daily Brief Industrials: Keisei Electric Railway Co, GFL Environmental and more

By | Daily Briefs, Industrials

In today’s briefing:

  • [JAPAN ACTIVISM] Palliser Gets ISS/GL Nods for Keisei AGM Proposals – How Will The Swing Vote Swing?
  • GFL Environmental – Why Is It An Attractive M&A Target Amidst The Current Market Frenzy & At What Valuation? – Financial Forecasts


[JAPAN ACTIVISM] Palliser Gets ISS/GL Nods for Keisei AGM Proposals – How Will The Swing Vote Swing?

By Travis Lundy

  • In Oct2023, activist Palliser Capital launched a campaign on well-known “stub trade” Keisei Electric Railway Co (9009 JP) (1.6% stake). The proposal? Monetise OLC, invest for growth, be shareholder friendly.
  • Keisei responded 3+mos ago: buyback and 1% OLC stake sale but said OLC would remain an equity affiliate. Palliser re-engaged in late April (Japanese/English and two AGM agenda items). Keisei objected.
  • Palliser made their case, Glass Lewis and ISS support Palliser. Palliser likely cannot win. The goal here isn’t to win though. It is to get enough to raise management consciousness. 

GFL Environmental – Why Is It An Attractive M&A Target Amidst The Current Market Frenzy & At What Valuation? – Financial Forecasts

By Baptista Research

  • GFL Environmental Inc., having begun the year with strong performance, has reported first quarter results that exceeded expectations, driven by robust execution and strategic growth initiatives.
  • The company showcases a balanced approach between organic growth and strategic acquisitions, which could attract potential suitors, considering the company is exploring sales options.
  • GFL Environmental’s Q1 revenue reached $1.8 billion, a 6.5% increase year-over-year, driven by better-than anticipated pricing and volume adjustments.

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Daily Brief Consumer: Samsonite, Bapcor Ltd, Fast Retailing, Samyang Foods, New Gonow Recreational Vehicles, Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility, SSI Group Inc, Cuckoo Holdings, S&P 500 INDEX and more

By | Consumer, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Samsonite (1910 HK):  Time To Revisit After >20% Pullback + Just Announced Share Buyback
  • Bapcor (BAP AU): Bain’s Opportunistic A$5.40 Offer
  • Fast Retailing (9983) | Positive Q3 Outlook, but Priced In
  • Korean Food Goes Global
  • Bapcor (BAP AU): Bain Kicks Some Tyres
  • New Gonow Recreational Vehicles Pre-IPO Tearsheet
  • Wardwizard Innovations: Promoter Dumped Stake Under the Billion Dollar Illusion
  • Ssi Group (SSI PM) – Tuesday, Mar 12, 2024
  • Cuckoo Holdings (192400) – Tuesday, Mar 12, 2024
  • Weekly Compass – Mixed Signals, Reasons for Caution


Samsonite (1910 HK):  Time To Revisit After >20% Pullback + Just Announced Share Buyback

By Steve Zhou, CFA

  • Samsonite is similar to another HK-listed company that I have written extensively about, L’Occitane (973 HK), in that they are both western brands selling globally but somehow listed on HKSE.  
  • The company announced a share buyback program this morning.  The company targets to repurchase up to USD200m, which is around 4.3% of the total shares outstanding.
  • With the announcement of the share buyback plan, it offers an attractive entry point for the stock, as I like the fundamentals of the company and the valuation is cheap. 

Bapcor (BAP AU): Bain’s Opportunistic A$5.40 Offer

By Arun George

  • In response to media speculation, Bapcor Ltd (BAP AU) disclosed an indicative non-binding proposal from Bain Capital at A$5.40 per share, a 23.9% premium to the last close.
  • The offer is opportunistically timed to take advantage of the share price collapse precipitating from the profit warning on 2 May. 
  • The offer is unattractive. Several substantial shareholders and a high retail base suggest Bain needs to bump. Bain’s offer could also draw other suitors. 

Fast Retailing (9983) | Positive Q3 Outlook, but Priced In

By Mark Chadwick

  • Fast Retailing is due to report Q3 results on 11 July. We update our views on the outlook for the stock heading into the announcement.
  • Uniqlo Japan has already released monthly sales data for the March to May quarter. Performance in May was again strong, slightly surpassing our estimates
  • We maintain our full year earnings estimates. The stock has declined by around 6% since Q2 results, but remains fully valued.

Korean Food Goes Global

By Douglas Kim

  • One of the key themes this year that has worked well has been Korean food & beverage stocks that have significantly outperformed KOSPI. 
  • Some of the best selling Korean foods (especially overseas) include Samyang Foods’ instant noodles, CJ Seafood’s seaweed products, and Wooyang’s frozen gimbab. 
  • We prefer a basket approach to investing in Korean F&B stocks. A basket of top 10 F&B stocks in Korea has outperformed the market YTD and this outperformance could continue.

Bapcor (BAP AU): Bain Kicks Some Tyres

By David Blennerhassett

  • Back in February 2022, automotive aftermarket parts provider Bapcor Ltd (BAP AU) was  reportedly subject to multiple buyout proposals. BGH Capital, Quadrant, and Pacific Equity Partners were touted.
  • That all came to nought. Shares drifted sideways. Then down. Shares touched a four year low late last month.
  • After the incoming CEO had a change of heart, and weaker FY24E guidance, Bain has now tabled a cheeky A$5.40/share indicative Offer. That won’t fly; but value is evidently emerging. 

New Gonow Recreational Vehicles Pre-IPO Tearsheet

By Clarence Chu

  • New Gonow Recreational Vehicles (NGRV HK) is looking to raise US$100m in its upcoming Hong Kong IPO. The bookrunner on the deal is Huatai International.
  • New Gonow Recreational Vehicles (NGRV) is a recreational vehicle (RV) platform with an extensive presence in Australasia that designs, develops, manufactures and sells bespoke towable RVs.
  • According to Frost & Sullivan (F&S), the firm held the second-largest market share in Australasia’s RV industry in terms of 2023 sales volume.

Wardwizard Innovations: Promoter Dumped Stake Under the Billion Dollar Illusion

By Nimish Maheshwari

  • The billion-dollar order that had initially seemed like a game-changer for Wardwizard Innovations turned out to be its downfall as it happens to be a Non Binding MoU. 
  • While for an INR 300 crore revenue company billion dollar order was huge, hence stock price rose on the back of rosy picture.
  • Promoter used the situation to dump the shares via stake sale as the news of order led to 20% rise in the stock price which eventually raises Corporate Governance Concerns

Ssi Group (SSI PM) – Tuesday, Mar 12, 2024

By Value Investors Club

  • SSI grew and expanded, but underwent restructuring after market downturn in 2015
  • Share price has not fully reflected improved fundamentals post-restructuring
  • Undervalued at P$3.8 per share, with fair value estimate of P$10 per share, offering 160% potential upside for investors

This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only. This article was originally published 3 months ago on Value Investors Club.


Cuckoo Holdings (192400) – Tuesday, Mar 12, 2024

By Value Investors Club

  • Cuckoo Holdings is known for its high-quality rice cookers popular among Asians, particularly Koreans
  • Stock price of the company has increased due to its success, with dividends rising from 800 to 1,100 per share
  • South Korea’s “value-up” program may further boost the company’s growth and attract more investors as the importance of rice in Korean cuisine creates a strong market for its products

This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only. This article was originally published 3 months ago on Value Investors Club.


Weekly Compass – Mixed Signals, Reasons for Caution

By Joe Jasper

  • The U.S. dollar has staged a false breakdown and is now on the cusp of a reversal.
  • False breakdown on 10-yr yield at the critical 4.35% level. Simply put, higher yields tend to pressure the equity markets.
  • IWM breaking to new RS lows, violating 7-month RS support. Quality related names continue to be leadership within the market, and Technology continues to dominate relative performance.

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Daily Brief Financials: Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200, Atour Lifestyle Holdings, Aozora Bank Ltd, Judo Capital, Rakuten Bank, China Merchants China Direct Investments, Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited, Bitcoin Pro, Bakkt and more

By | Daily Briefs, Financials

In today’s briefing:

  • Korea’s Finalized Short-Selling Rules Include Limiting 90-Day Short Position Extensions
  • Atour Lifestyle Holdings Placement – Well Flagged Deal, past Selldowns Have Done Well
  • Daiwa to Buy More Aozora (8304) Shares – Murakami-San Escapes
  • ASX200 Index Adhoc Rebalance: Judo Capital to Replace CSR; Positioning Appears Light
  • Rakuten Bank (5838 JP) – The Bank in Current Form and the Promise of FinTech Reorganization
  • CMCDI (133 HK): AGM Outcome May Provide Another Leg-Up
  • AMFI Stock Reclassification Preview (June 2024): Potential Changes as Momentum Recovers
  • ETF Flows Shine As BTC Flirts With Range Highs
  • Bakkt Holdings Weighing A Potential Sale But Can It Get Acquired? At What Value? – Financial Forecasts


Korea’s Finalized Short-Selling Rules Include Limiting 90-Day Short Position Extensions

By Sanghyun Park

  • The government will announce short selling improvements Thursday. A leaked detail includes limiting 90-day short position extensions.
  • Limiting the 90-day short position holding period may ease local investor concerns, but it could shrink the short selling market, potentially affecting overseas fund outflows.
  • Resuming short selling in early July may bring new flow patterns due to temporary distortions from mandatory repayment within 90 days and limitations on position extensions, increasing price impacts.

Atour Lifestyle Holdings Placement – Well Flagged Deal, past Selldowns Have Done Well

By Sumeet Singh

  • Legend Capital (LC), one of the principal shareholders of Atour Lifestyle Holdings (ATAT US), is looking to raise around US$168m through a secondary selldown.
  • This will be the third selldown by Legend Capital in just over a year’s time. Hence, the deal is well flagged.
  • In this note, we will talk about the placement and run the deal through our ECM framework.

Daiwa to Buy More Aozora (8304) Shares – Murakami-San Escapes

By Travis Lundy

  • In February, Aozora Bank Ltd (8304 JP) extended its writedowns and the shares fell sharply. By end-Feb, we found out Japanese activist Murakami-san had bought shares. 
  • I didn’t see the endgame. The pump worked, but he didn’t dump. Then Aozora got Daiwa to be a lead investor through a 3rd party share allotment, diluting Murakami-san.
  • Last week we got news the FSA had approved the Daiwa transaction. Yesterday, we got news the Murakami Group would sell its whole stake to Daiwa. 

ASX200 Index Adhoc Rebalance: Judo Capital to Replace CSR; Positioning Appears Light

By Brian Freitas


Rakuten Bank (5838 JP) – The Bank in Current Form and the Promise of FinTech Reorganization

By Victor Galliano

  • Rakuten Bank, in its present form, is positioned to benefit from rising interest rates in Japan, with its low LDR, high cash balances, growing loan book and healthy capital ratio
  • The proposed FinTech reorganization of the group around the bank should drive further potential shareholder benefits; higher ROE, lower customer acquisition costs, increased active account penetration and lower operating costs
  • We believe that there will be effective governance checks and balances in place to ensure fair valuations of the FinTech segments pre-reorganization; we include our base valuations in this report

CMCDI (133 HK): AGM Outcome May Provide Another Leg-Up

By David Blennerhassett

  • Activist Argyle Street’s approach to closed-end investment company China Merchants China Direct Investments (133 HK) (CMCDI) has a certain David Webb-like quality.
  • Apart from the deep value angle, the analysis of director Elizabeth Kan’s potential conflict of interest is particularly insightful. Argle will vote against Kan’s re-election at the 20th June AGM
  • Given this upcoming vote, as I’ve done with Giordano (709 HK) and L’Occitane (973 HK) previously, it’s useful to investigate the lesser-known shareholder register, a byproduct of investigative disclosure reports.

AMFI Stock Reclassification Preview (June 2024): Potential Changes as Momentum Recovers

By Brian Freitas

  • We see 7 stocks moving from MidCap to LargeCap and vice versa, 17 stocks from SmallCap to MidCap, 19 stocks from MidCap to SmallCap and 2 new additions to MidCap.
  • The expected migrations from SmallCap to MidCap have outperformed the other potential migrations with all stocks moving higher over the last six months.
  • Momentum on the upward migrations could sustain as active managers reposition their portfolios. Some stocks will have passive flows over the next few months.

ETF Flows Shine As BTC Flirts With Range Highs

By Delphi Digital

  • BTC Spot ETFs see record inflows, signaling strong market interest despite flat prices.
  • Market structure remains bullish as BTC consolidates near all-time highs, indicating potential breakout.
  • Altcoins suffer double-digit drawdowns amid BTC’s resilience, highlighting market dispersion.

Bakkt Holdings Weighing A Potential Sale But Can It Get Acquired? At What Value? – Financial Forecasts

By Baptista Research

  • Bakkt Holdings, a crypto platform company, has recently reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2024, showcasing various strengths and facing some challenges as it explores potential sale opportunities.
  • The CEO emphasized the focus on growing the client network, enhancing the product portfolio, and aligning costs with strategic priorities.
  • The CFO outlined financial details, stressing cost management and asset growth.

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Daily Brief Thematic (Sector/Industry): Ohayo Japan | S&P 500 and Nasdaq Hit New Highs and more

By | Daily Briefs, Thematic (Sector/Industry)

In today’s briefing:

  • Ohayo Japan | S&P 500 and Nasdaq Hit New Highs
  • Computex 2024 & The Drama Of The CoPilot+ PC Launch
  • Thematic Report: Capex Fueling Economic Growth and Development
  • #11 India Insight: GAIL 60000Cr Project, Paytm Layoff, Suzlon CG Issues, Axiscades Drone Order
  • NVIDIA’s $3T Valuation: Absurd Or Not?
  • #15Business Buzz: Noble Acquires Diamond Offshore, Southwest Stock Jumps, Europe Attracts Chinese EV
  • Furniture/Furnishings Weekly – June 10, 2024
  • The Highlights – Cannabis News for the Week Ending June 7, 2024


Ohayo Japan | S&P 500 and Nasdaq Hit New Highs

By Mark Chadwick

  • Nvidia’s 0.8% rise, following its 10-for-1 stock split, and Meta Platforms’ nearly 2% jump propelled the S&P 500’s tech sector up by 0.3%
  • At WWDC24, Apple unveiled major updates, including “Apple Intelligence” AI features across its devices, and integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT with Siri.
  • Hitachi Energy plans an additional $4.5 billion investment by 2027 to enhance its global manufacturing, R&D, and digital capabilities, doubling its recent three-year investments

Computex 2024 & The Drama Of The CoPilot+ PC Launch

By William Keating

  • Intel, AMD & Qualcomm all lined up in support of Microsoft’s CoPilot+ PC program during the Computex 2024 keynotes last week.  
  • While Qualcomm is all in and AMD mostly too, Intel’s support is more passive agressive in nature. We outline how & why this is the case
  • On Friday June 7, reacting to customer feedback, Microsoft announced that their CoPilot+ Recall feature will now become disabled out of the box by default. Ouch!

Thematic Report: Capex Fueling Economic Growth and Development

By Sudarshan Bhandari

  • Overall, the surge in CAPEX in India reflects a positive outlook for the economy, with investments in infrastructure and emerging sectors driving growth and innovation.  come.
  • The strong balance sheet of companies and healthy tax collections further support this trend, indicating a sustainable path towards economic development. 
  • As CAPEX continues to rise and investments in key sectors increase, India is poised for continued growth and prosperity in the years to

#11 India Insight: GAIL 60000Cr Project, Paytm Layoff, Suzlon CG Issues, Axiscades Drone Order

By Sudarshan Bhandari


NVIDIA’s $3T Valuation: Absurd Or Not?

By Value Investing

  • Much ado has been made about Nvidia’s valuation recently surpassing Apple’s, standing at a gobsmacking $3 trillion.
  • For context, it would take you nearly 100,000 years to count to 1 trillion.
  • But where there’s sky there’s limit, and NVDA is no exception. So the question begs: has NVDA’s valuation flown too close to the sun?

#15Business Buzz: Noble Acquires Diamond Offshore, Southwest Stock Jumps, Europe Attracts Chinese EV

By Nimish Maheshwari

  • Noble expands fleet and operations, acquiring Diamond Offshore in major merger
  • Southwest shares soar as Elliott Investment plans $2 billion recovery strategy
  • Europe attracts Chinese EV makers with incentives despite looming EU tariffs

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly – June 10, 2024

By Water Tower Research

  • A rough week for smaller-cap stocks without AI exposure.
  • The WTR Commercial/Contract Furniture Index (-6.9%), Residential Manufacturers & Suppliers Index (-1.4%), and Home Goods Retailers Index (-1.3%) underperformed the Dow (+1.2%), S&P 500 (+1.2%), and Mass Retailers Index (+1.9%), all of which benefited from the growing AI hype this week.
  • This performance seems to be partly due to the overall weakness of small caps, with the Russell 2000 clocking in (-1.7%).

The Highlights – Cannabis News for the Week Ending June 7, 2024

By Water Tower Research

  • It was a lackluster week for cannabis stocks, with the US cannabis MSOS ETF sliding 3.87%, while the global YOLO dropped 4.27%.
  • Green Thumb Industries (CSE: GTII, OTCQX: GTBIF) was the only major MSO in the black, as investors were modestly encouraged by the Boston Beer Company (NASDAQ: SAM) conversation.
  • Last Tuesday, we learned Green Thumb Founder, Chairman, and CEO Ben Kovler sent a letter to Boston Beer’s Founder and Chairman James Koch proposing a merger between the two companies. 

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Daily Brief Credit: Morning Views Asia: China Jinmao Holdings and more

By | Credit, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Morning Views Asia: China Jinmao Holdings


Morning Views Asia: China Jinmao Holdings

By Leonard Law, CFA

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.


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