
In today’s briefing:
- Tsuruha (3391) – Welcia (3141) Future Merger Ratio – Pounding the Table
- [JD.com, Inc (JD US, BUY, TP US$52) TP Change]: C4Q24 Preview: Still the Safe Choice into 2025
- Smithfield Foods (SFD): IPO Provides a Compelling Discount to Industry Peers
- Goodyear Tire To Divest Dunlop In Favor Of Sumitomo Rubber
- ETF Sale Won’t Be Concluded Soon, but as Long as BOJ Keeps Holding Them, the Problems Will Persist
- NOODLES & CO (NDLS) – Thursday, Oct 24, 2024

Tsuruha (3391) – Welcia (3141) Future Merger Ratio – Pounding the Table
- In late December, a Jiji article said Tsuruha & Welcia would look to integrate by end-2025, now that they no longer need SEC approval. Odd language, but we’ll take it.
- That means we look to what might happen between here and there. The companies will hire Legal and Financial Advisors, wait until both report FY, then start negotiating.
- What has been the long-term trend and the trend of the last two years is different. It’s worthwhile looking at valuations and expectations to decide how to trade. It’s good.
[JD.com, Inc (JD US, BUY, TP US$52) TP Change]: C4Q24 Preview: Still the Safe Choice into 2025
- We expect JD.com C4Q24 revenue/non-GAAP NI to be RMB337bn/9.7bn, 1.6%/6.5% above consensus, benefiting from trade-in subsidies and logistics;
- With 2025 having four quarters of trade-in subsidy vs. 2024’s one quarter and smartphone’s participation, JD.com is on solid growth footing in our universe.
- We raised JD.com’s TP from US$50 to US$ 52 TP and maintain BUY rating.
Smithfield Foods (SFD): IPO Provides a Compelling Discount to Industry Peers
- The company is seeking a market cap of $9.1b-$10.7b based on the $23-$27 range.
- A high end pricing for Smithfield values the company at roughly 13.5x this year’s earnings, a sizable discount to comps Hormel Foods (about 21x) and Tyson Foods (26x).
- It is our opinion that the business model is well-rounded, resilient and stable with multiple-organic growth levers.
Goodyear Tire To Divest Dunlop In Favor Of Sumitomo Rubber
- Transaction valued at around US$701 million in cash proceeds
- Goodyear to hold ground in Europe until the end of 2025
- Goodyear joins Dutch research body TNO for crash mitigation
ETF Sale Won’t Be Concluded Soon, but as Long as BOJ Keeps Holding Them, the Problems Will Persist
- Since dividend income and unrealized gains on ETFs have significant impact on BOJ’s finances, the sales of ETF will be discussed, considering BOJ’s overall balance sheet and income/expenses as well.
- There’re unexamined issues, whether the central bank’s purchase of stocks was really good thing, whether it distorted the secondary market, and whether management reforms were delayed by underpinning the stocks.
- BOJ can move on to the issue of ETF disposition when the impact of policy rate hikes is recognized and the market stabilizes, but until then the problems will persist.
NOODLES & CO (NDLS) – Thursday, Oct 24, 2024
- Noodles & Co is currently undervalued, presenting an opportunity for turnaround
- Despite past challenges, the restaurant chain is statistically cheap and attracting activist investors
- With potential catalysts and a focus on value, Noodles & Co may be poised for success in the current economic landscape
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.