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Smartkarma Daily Briefs

Daily Brief Industrials: Varindera Constructions Ltd, EJ Holdings Inc, Shin Pro Maint, Siteone Landscape Supply, Symbotic and more

By | Daily Briefs, Industrials

In today’s briefing:

  • Varindera Constructions Pre-IPO Tearsheet
  • EJ Holdings Inc (2153 JP): Q1 FY05/25 flash update
  • Shin Pro Maint (6086 JP): 1H FY02/25 flash update
  • SiteOne Landscape Supply: Enhancing Market Position Through Acquisitions & Product Diversification! – Major Drivers
  • SYM: The Optics from 2022 News in 2024


Varindera Constructions Pre-IPO Tearsheet

By Akshat Shah

  • Varindera Constructions Ltd (1606813D IN)  is looking to raise about US$143m in its upcoming India IPO. The deal will be run by ICICI, Equirus and IIFL.
  • Varindera Constructions Limited (VCL) is an integrated engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company undertaking construction projects with a focus on building constructions.
  • According to the CRISIL Report, it was one of the fastest growing construction companies in terms of revenue from operations, compared to major listed construction companies, over FY19-24.

EJ Holdings Inc (2153 JP): Q1 FY05/25 flash update

By Shared Research

  • Revenue for Q1 FY05/25 was JPY3.1bn, a decrease of 3.9% YoY, with an operating loss of JPY1.1bn.
  • Orders received in Q1 FY05/25 totaled JPY9.0bn, an 8.4% YoY decrease, aligning with initial expectations.
  • Full-year earnings forecast remains unchanged due to stable production performance and order backlog, despite uncertain subsidiary impact.

Shin Pro Maint (6086 JP): 1H FY02/25 flash update

By Shared Research

  • Revenue increased 15.0% YoY to JPY13.2bn, driven by strong performance in Emergency and Preventive Maintenance Services.
  • Operating profit rose 22.5% YoY to JPY921mn, with an operating profit margin increase of 0.4pp to 7.0%.
  • The company expanded market share by acquiring new customers and projects, focusing on air conditioning and ventilation systems.

SiteOne Landscape Supply: Enhancing Market Position Through Acquisitions & Product Diversification! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • SiteOne Landscape Supply reported mixed results for its second quarter of 2024, showcasing a combination of slight setbacks in organic sales growth against strategic gains through acquisitions and operational enhancements.
  • The company, which is a leading wholesale distributor of landscaping products, is dealing with a softer demand landscape influenced by a tepid repair and upgrade market and noticeable commodity price deflation in specific segments such as grass seed and PVC pipe.
  • The management anticipates these trends to persist throughout the year, which they expect will impact organic sales growth and adjusted EBITDA margin negatively.

SYM: The Optics from 2022 News in 2024

By Hamed Khorsand

  • SYM) announced it would place automation system at two distribution centers being built by Walmex. Mexico would be brand new market for SYM, but the relationship with WMT is not. 
  • The distribution centers SYM is poised to initially go into were announced in 2022. The 2022 news includes timing of the distribution centers in Tlaxcala and El Bajio.
  • The rate of systems being accepted slowed in the third quarter. We continue to believe this could become the primary headwind for SYM’s quarterly report and stock price. 

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Daily Brief Consumer: Hyundai Motor India , Tesla , TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX, BellRing Brands , Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Freshpet Inc, Gibraltar Industries, Bassett Furniture Inds, Leggett & Platt, Lgi Homes Inc and more

By | Consumer, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Hyundai Motor India IPO: The Investment Case
  • Tesla: The Disney World for grown-ups
  • Reducing Cross-Shareholdings Returns Companies to Basics of Sustained Growth in Shareholder Returns
  • BRBR US: Expansion Of Product Formats & Revitalized Marketing Campaigns Catapulting Growth!
  • BFAM US: These Are The 4 Biggest Factors Impacting Its Performance In 2025 & Beyond!
  • Freshpet Inc.: Does It Have A Sustainable Competitive Advantage? – Major Drivers
  • Gibraltar Industries Inc.: Geographic Expansion & Market Penetration Catalyzing Growth?
  • Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. – 3QFY24 Adjusted EPS Of ($0.41) As Conditions Remain Tough
  • Leggett & Platt Incorporated: Dealing With Market Dependency Challenges & Economic Sensitivity! – Major Drivers
  • LGI Homes Inc.: Leveraging Land Development & Community Expansion To Drive Growth!


Hyundai Motor India IPO: The Investment Case

By Arun George


Tesla: The Disney World for grown-ups

By Fallacy Alarm

  • Elon has given up on his ambitious targets. Or he has never seriously pursued them.

  • Tesla’s investor event “We, Robot” was nothing more than a theme park for adults who were there to indulge into an illusion for a night.

  • Why would they conduct such a ridiculous event that suggests that they have nothing up their sleeves that can create tens of billions of dollars of AI revenue soon? 


Reducing Cross-Shareholdings Returns Companies to Basics of Sustained Growth in Shareholder Returns

By Aki Matsumoto

  • Business portfolio reforms are lagging and improving profitability, the driver of ROE, will take more time. Further Reducing policy shareholdings and cash on hand are needed to improve capital profitability.
  • In days of cross-shareholdings, management tended to be less conscious of the goal of sustainable growth in shareholder interests because they need not listen to opinions of other minority shareholders.
  • Cross-Shareholdings have decreased, and management is now required to be more conscious of capital profitability. ”TSE’s request” will hopefully prevent this change from going backwards.

BRBR US: Expansion Of Product Formats & Revitalized Marketing Campaigns Catapulting Growth!

By Baptista Research

  • BellRing Brands recently reported its earnings for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2024.
  • The company, which is known for its Premier Protein and Dymatize brands, showcased a mixture of strengths and areas poised for improvement.
  • BellRing Brands has demonstrated robust growth, showing a notable increase in net sales and adjusted EBITDA, indicative of effective operational management and solid demand for its products.

BFAM US: These Are The 4 Biggest Factors Impacting Its Performance In 2025 & Beyond!

By Baptista Research

  • Bright Horizons Family Solutions, a renowned provider of child care, early education, and work-life servcies, recently reported a robust performance for the second quarter of 2024 in their latest earnings call.
  • CEO, Stephen Kramer, highlighted substantial revenue growth in full service and back-up care segments and a nearly 40% increase in adjusted EPS, surpassing the company’s expectations due to improved operational efficiency across all three segments.
  • In light of these results, the company has raised its full-year guidance for both revenue and EPS.

Freshpet Inc.: Does It Have A Sustainable Competitive Advantage? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Freshpet’s Q2 2024 results reflect a structured approach to growth, emphasizing disciplined execution to drive both revenue increase and profitability enhancements.
  • The company posted a robust 28% year-over-year increase in net sales to $235.3 million, underpinned largely by volume expansion without reliance on price or mix adjustments.
  • This performance marks Freshpet’s 24th consecutive quarter of net sales growth exceeding 25%, aligning well with its operational thresholds.

Gibraltar Industries Inc.: Geographic Expansion & Market Penetration Catalyzing Growth?

By Baptista Research

  • Gibraltar Industries, a notable player in the industrial products sector, recently conducted its Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call, presenting a mixed financial picture characterized by challenges and strategic responses across its varied segments.
  • The corporation reported a slight decrease in adjusted net sales by 2%, primarily influenced by a slowdown in the residential and renewable energy sectors, partially offset by gains from strategic market participation.
  • In the residential segment, Gibraltar experienced a 6.1% drop in sales due to slower market demand and unexpected channel destocking occurring late in the quarter.

Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. – 3QFY24 Adjusted EPS Of ($0.41) As Conditions Remain Tough

By Water Tower Research

  • BSET posted an adjusted EPS loss of ($0.41) for 3QFY24, down $0.11 from the prior year and $0.08 below our estimate of ($0.33).
  • While the quarter was affected by continued challenging industry conditions, including the weak housing market (housing is a traditional driver of residential furniture sales) and wary consumers (many of whom updated their homes during COVID), the earnings miss was also, in part, a consequence of a July hack of Bassett’s IT systems that forced the firm to sideline production for a week, costing the firm $1-2 million on the bottom line from lost sales and associated manufacturing inefficiencies.
  • We estimate that this production shutdown cost Bassett $0.085 to $0.17 in EPS.

Leggett & Platt Incorporated: Dealing With Market Dependency Challenges & Economic Sensitivity! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Leggett & Platt’s Second Quarter 2024 earnings highlighted several key areas of performance and strategic initiatives, reflecting an environment of both challenges and transformation for the company under revised leadership with CEO Karl Glassman.
  • The company is focusing heavily on restructuring, with significant emphasis on operational efficiencies and reduction of general and administrative costs.
  • Key initiatives include consolidation of facilities and optimization of manufacturing processes particularly in their Bedding Products and Furniture, Flooring & Textile Products segments.

LGI Homes Inc.: Leveraging Land Development & Community Expansion To Drive Growth!

By Baptista Research

  • LGI Homes, a player in the residential construction sector, delivered a robust performance in the second quarter of 2024, navigating challenges such as rising costs and affordability issues with strategic pricing and community development efforts, underscoring a delicate balancing act between growth and profitability pressures.
  • The company sold 1,655 homes, marking a significant revenue of over $602 million with an improved average sales price of $364,000.
  • This resulted in a substantial improvement in gross margins—up 300 basis points year-over year to 25%, reaching pre-pandemic levels, indicative of effective cost management and pricing strategies.

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Daily Brief Financials: SAMTY HOLDINGS Co Ltd, Hang Seng Index, Shui On Land, Hokuhoku Financial Group, Ethereum and more

By | Daily Briefs, Financials

In today’s briefing:

  • Hillhouse To Buy Out Minorities In Samty Holdings (187A) – Small Premium, High Leverage, Hmmm
  • EQD | The HSI Rally: Go LONG Now or Wait?
  • Weekly Wrap – 11 Oct 2024
  • Japanese Midcap Banks – Three Key Picks
  • Crypto Moves #47 – Maker, or now, Sky, Sacrifices Profit for Growth
  • Morning Views Asia: China Oil And Gas, Continuum Green Energy, China International Marine Containers A


Hillhouse To Buy Out Minorities In Samty Holdings (187A) – Small Premium, High Leverage, Hmmm

By Travis Lundy

  • Today, Hillhouse announced it would buy the 63% of SAMTY HOLDINGS Co Ltd (187A JP) not owned by Daiwa Securities Group (8601 JP) at an 18% premium. 
  • It’s a highly-levered real estate company. Huge inventory. Decent margins on sale so embedded profit sitting in inventory. Not a very big premium, but an all-time high. 
  • Retail including some large former insiders and passive own the vast bulk of the float here. The former get this done. Or not. 

EQD | The HSI Rally: Go LONG Now or Wait?

By Nico Rosti

  • In our previous insight about the Hang Seng Index‘s we theorized a probable continuation of the rally in October, after some resistance, but the index just shoot up straight.
  • Resistance appeared last week, from an area considered a tail by our SHORT model, so it was not possible to make a forecast from there.
  • The question now is: can the index re-start to rally from here? Or will it pull back more this coming week?

Weekly Wrap – 11 Oct 2024

By Felix Fischer

Lucror Analytics Weekly Wraps provide an overview of all Morning Views comments and reports published by our analyst team in the past week, and also showcase a list of the most-read reports.

In this Insight:

  1. China Oil And Gas
  2. ICTSI
  3. Pt Cikarang Listrindo Tbk
  4. Tata Motors Ltd
  5. Adani Green Energy

and more…


Japanese Midcap Banks – Three Key Picks

By Victor Galliano

  • We analyse ten Japanese midcap banks to target beneficiaries of the realization of strategic shareholdings, as well as beneficiaries of the improving interest rate outlook
  • We add Hachijuni Bank and Hokuhoku Financial to the buy list, based on the potential for realization of strategic holdings; these share-holdings are large relative to their respective market capitalizations
  • We maintain Gunma Bank on the buy list, primarily for its very strong gearing into the rising interest cycle and its attractive PE multiples

Crypto Moves #47 – Maker, or now, Sky, Sacrifices Profit for Growth

By Mads Eberhardt

  • On August 27, the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) Maker, known for managing the world’s largest partially decentralized stablecoin, Dai, announced that it would rebrand to Sky on September 18.
  • Starting on that date, Dai stablecoin holders gained the ability to convert their Dai 1-to-1 into Sky Dollar (USDS), the new stablecoin of the Sky ecosystem.
  • This shift is part of Maker’s “Endgame” roadmap—a vision that co-founder Rune Christensen has been developing for years.

Morning Views Asia: China Oil And Gas, Continuum Green Energy, China International Marine Containers A

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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Daily Brief Health Care: Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co, Cybin , Dentsply International, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Medical Care & , Medpace Holdings Inc, Elanco Animal Health and more

By | Daily Briefs, Healthcare

In today’s briefing:

  • Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical (4530 JP): H1FY25 Witness Strong Growth; FY25 Guidance Reiterated
  • Cybin, Inc. – Potential of a Significant Paradigm Shift
  • DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.: An Insight Into Dental Industry Trends & Transformation Initiatives! – Major Drivers
  • Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Market Leadership & Differentiation of SYFOVRE Driving Our Bullishness! – Major Drivers
  • Fresenius Medical Care: A Deep Dive Of Its Business Strategy
  • Medpace Holdings Inc.: An Analysis Of Its Business Strategy
  • Elanco Animal Health: Leveraging Portfolio Synergy & Market Access To Catalyze Growth! – Major Drivers


Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical (4530 JP): H1FY25 Witness Strong Growth; FY25 Guidance Reiterated

By Tina Banerjee

  • Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co (4530 JP) has reported double-digit revenue growth in H1FY25, mainly driven by 17% YoY growth in OTC pharmaceutical product, Salonpas. Net profit grew 8%.
  • Rx business revenues grew 5% as Zicthoru, Apohide etc clocked healthy numbers, while Mohrus product line continues to decline. Since Q1FY24, Zicthoru’s quarterly revenue run-rate has been surpassing ¥1B.
  • Hisamitsu has reiterated its FY25 guidance of ¥152B revenue, operating profit of ¥14.5B, and net profit of ¥15.8B. With H1FY25 progress rate, the company is expected to beat the guidance.

Cybin, Inc. – Potential of a Significant Paradigm Shift

By Water Tower Research

  • Impressive CYB003. Drysdale believes that what has been seen in its Phase 2 work on the development of this modified version of psilocin, the active agent in psilocybin, may have yielded the most impressive data in depression yet from a clinical study.
  • Thus, Cybin is approaching with excitement the more rigorous Phase 3 trial, which will involve a total pool of 550 patients with moderate to severe major depression disorder.
  • The trial is expected to start in the next few weeks.

DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.: An Insight Into Dental Industry Trends & Transformation Initiatives! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc., a major player in the dental solutions and technologies market, reported a mixed second quarter performance for the fiscal year 2024.
  • The company faced notable challenges, including a decline in revenue to $984 million, primarily impacted by lower sales in its Connected Technology Solutions (CTS) segment.
  • This was attributed to ongoing pressures in the capital equipment market, partially influenced by macroeconomic conditions, pricing degradation, and suboptimal performance in key markets.

Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Market Leadership & Differentiation of SYFOVRE Driving Our Bullishness! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Apellis Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, recently reported its earnings for the second quarter of 2024, presenting the progress and results for the period.
  • The management, specifically Chief Executive Officer Dr. Cedric Francois discussed the company’s position with its products SYFOVRE and EMPAVELI, emphasizing SYFOVRE’s leading market position in the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA), despite facing competitive pressures.
  • The company expressed optimism about SYFOVRE’s robust performance in the market.

Fresenius Medical Care: A Deep Dive Of Its Business Strategy

By Baptista Research

  • Fresenius Medical Care, a global leader in dialysis care, presented its second quarter 2024 earnings with a mix of continued strategic progress and facing external challenges.
  • During the earnings call, CEO, Helen Giza, outlined the efforts and achievements in line with the company’s transformation and long-term strategic plans.
  • The focus was notably on driving better financial performance and moving toward the 2025 group margin targets.

Medpace Holdings Inc.: An Analysis Of Its Business Strategy

By Baptista Research

  • Medpace, in their second quarter 2024 earnings call, provided a detailed overview of their financial and operational performance.
  • The company faced challenges in the quarter, notably with net new business awards entering backlog decreasing by 4.1% year over year to $551 million, influenced by higher cancellations.
  • Despite this setback in the backlog, Medpace reported a revenue increase of 14.6% year-over-year, totaling $528.1 million for the quarter.

Elanco Animal Health: Leveraging Portfolio Synergy & Market Access To Catalyze Growth! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Elanco Animal Health Incorporated showed promising performance in its second quarter of 2024, demonstrating consistent operational results and strategic progress in various key areas.
  • With a fourth consecutive quarter of underlying revenue growth, the company has displayed resilience and growth in its core segments.
  • The adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS metrics surpassed the estimates by achieving higher figures than projected in previous guidance, indicating efficient operational and cost management.

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Daily Brief TMT/Internet: Shift Inc, Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) – ADR, Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC), Mouri Tech Limited, Lenovo, Nanya Technology, Usen-Next Holdings Co Ltd, 111 Inc and more

By | Daily Briefs, TMT/Internet

In today’s briefing:

  • Shift Inc (3697 JP): Full-year FY08/24 flash update
  • Taiwan Tech Weekly: TSMC Taking More Samsung Customers; Hon Hai Unveils Major AI Projects
  • Tech News This Week. TSMC and Samsung
  • Mouri Tech Pre-IPO Tearsheet
  • 3Q24 PC Shipments Are Flat YoY. Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Compal, Quanta, Wistron.
  • Tech Supply Chain Tracker (12-Oct-2024): Azure leads in Nvidia’s GB200 AI chips, fueling cloud innovation.
  • Usen-Next Holdings Co Ltd (9418 JP): Full-year FY08/24 flash update
  • 111, Inc. – Continuing to Build Up a Robust and Nimble Warehousing & Distribution Network


Shift Inc (3697 JP): Full-year FY08/24 flash update

By Shared Research

  • In FY08/24, the company reported sales of JPY110.6bn (+25.7% YoY) and operating profit of JPY10.5bn (-8.9% YoY).
  • Software Testing Related Services segment sales reached JPY71.3bn (+22.4% YoY), with operating profit of JPY16.2bn (+11.4% YoY).
  • For FY08/25, the company forecasts sales of JPY130.0bn (+17.5% YoY) and operating profit of JPY13.5bn (+28.1% YoY).

Taiwan Tech Weekly: TSMC Taking More Samsung Customers; Hon Hai Unveils Major AI Projects

By Vincent Fernando, CFA

  • Samsung’s foundry business is losing more customers to TSMC, who is perceived as lower risk.
  • TSMC, UMC Monthly Sales: TSMC up strong but plateauing, UMC lackluster, confirming 2 big trends.
  • Memory Monitor: Nanya results miss; highlights weakness in non-AI demand.

Tech News This Week. TSMC and Samsung

By Nicolas Baratte

  • Is Intel giving up on AI Accelerator (Gaudi)? Cutting orders first, refocusing on x86. 
  • TSMC CoWoS capacity, sharp wafer price increase, agreement with Amkor.
  • DRAM price outlook is not that bad, after a 2H24 slowdown. Samsung 2nm and 1.4nm, planning ahead despite poor yield rates.

Mouri Tech Pre-IPO Tearsheet

By Rosita Fernandes

  • Mouri Tech Limited (MT IN) is planning to raise about US$179m through its upcoming IPO in India. The bookrunners for the deal are Nuvama Wealth, ICICI Securities, and JM Financial.
  • Mouri Tech Limited (MTL) is a global IT solutions provider focused on intelligent enterprise resource planning (iERP) and digital transformation services.
  • The company operates across four key areas: iERP, digital transformation, infrastructure services, and program management. MTL leverages advanced technologies.

3Q24 PC Shipments Are Flat YoY. Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Compal, Quanta, Wistron.

By Nicolas Baratte

  • IDC reported 3Q24 PC shipments declining -2% YoY, Canalys an increase of +1%. Let’s call this flat. If 4Q24 is “average seasonal”, 2024 will reach ~265m, or the pre-Covid range. 
  • No AI fever, no accelerated replacement cycle, for now. If it happens, it will take time, ie compelling AI apps that only run locally and need a new PC.
  • In Asia, PC vendors: Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Taiwan ODM: Compal, Quanta, Wistron. Semi with high exposure: Novatek, Realtek. 

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (12-Oct-2024): Azure leads in Nvidia’s GB200 AI chips, fueling cloud innovation.

By Tech Supply Chain Tracker

  • Microsoft Azure partners with Nvidia to use GB200 AI server chips, staying ahead in cloud innovation.
  • Hong Kong’s October tech fairs will showcase electronics and lighting innovations from 6,000+ global exhibitors.
  • Middle East pager explosions heighten concerns about Western V2X security, while China’s advances in silicon photonics may boost AI development.

Usen-Next Holdings Co Ltd (9418 JP): Full-year FY08/24 flash update

By Shared Research

  • FY08/24 revenue was JPY326.7bn (+18.2% YoY), with operating profit at JPY29.1bn (+35.0% YoY), exceeding forecasts.
  • Subscriber growth and merger boosted FY08/24 revenue to JPY109.1bn (+31.1% YoY), operating profit rose 39.2% YoY.
  • FY08/25 forecast: revenue JPY360.0bn (+10.2% YoY), operating profit JPY31.0bn (+6.5% YoY), EBITDA JPY42.5bn (+7.5% YoY).

111, Inc. – Continuing to Build Up a Robust and Nimble Warehousing & Distribution Network

By Water Tower Research

  • Two fulfillment centers added. In line with its goal to establish a national pharmaceutical logistics network (Kunpeng), 111 announced that it has added two new fulfillment centers.
  • This brings its network up from 11 to 13 centers across China. One of the new additions is in Guangzhou, Guangdong province in the South, with the other in Wuhan, in the central province of Hubei.
  • The two new centers expand the scale and capabilities of the company’s existing fulfillment operations in each of those populous regions.

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Daily Brief Quantitative Analysis: Quantamental LLM Primer: Crowdsource Expert Outlooks to Design a Trading Strategy with LLMs (Part 1) and more

By | Daily Briefs, Quantitative Analysis

In today’s briefing:

  • Quantamental LLM Primer: Crowdsource Expert Outlooks to Design a Trading Strategy with LLMs (Part 1)
  • ASX Short Interest Weekly (Oct 4th): Ampol, Domino’S Pizza Enterprises, BHP, Fortescue


Quantamental LLM Primer: Crowdsource Expert Outlooks to Design a Trading Strategy with LLMs (Part 1)

By William Mann

  • Ingest/Summarize Reports: Upload 30+ reports in batches. For each report, catalog key information (title, source, date) and summarize the outlook on equities, risk factors, sector performance, and regional forecasts.
  • Synthesize and Analyze Data: After summarizing all reports, identify common themes, such as equities trends, sector performance, quantitative risk factors, and regional forecasts. Highlight both consensus views and contrarian perspectives.
  • Compose Outlook: Use synthesized research to compose Q4 2024 stock market outlook, with sections on consensus market sentiment, key risks, contrarian views, and regional outlooks, attributing insights to respective sources.

ASX Short Interest Weekly (Oct 4th): Ampol, Domino’S Pizza Enterprises, BHP, Fortescue

By Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

  • We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Oct 4th (reported today) which has an aggregated short interest worth USD27.1bn.
  • We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases & decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
  • We highlight short interest changes in Ampol, Domino’S Pizza Enterprises, BHP, Fortescue.

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Daily Brief ECM: Hyundai Motor India IPO – RHP Updates and more

By | Daily Briefs, ECM

In today’s briefing:

  • Hyundai Motor India IPO – RHP Updates, Valuation Getting Tricky
  • Akeso Placement – Opportunistic Raise, past Deal Record Has Been Mixed but Relative Size Is Small
  • Swiggy Pre-IPO – The Negtives – Neither Food nor Quick Commerce Was the Largest Revenue Driver
  • Zhou Liu Fu Pre-IPO – Capturing the Gold Rush
  • Jiangsu Guofu Pre-IPO Tearsheet
  • Sung Woo IPO Valuation Analysis
  • Aditya Infotech Pre-IPO Tearsheet
  • Ouch! nets US$1.2M to expand market share, drive insurance innovation | e27
  • Wavemaker infuses US$1.6M into NZ’s pre-employment screening startup Checkmate | e27


Hyundai Motor India IPO – RHP Updates, Valuation Getting Tricky

By Sumeet Singh

  • Hyundai Motor (005387 KS) is looking to raise around US$3.3bn via listing its India unit, Hyundai Motor India. HMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group.
  • HMI primarily manufactures and sells four-wheeler passenger vehicles and parts. Currently its vehicle portfolio includes 13 passenger vehicle models across sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs and battery EVs.
  • In our previous notes, we looked at the company’s past performance. In this note, we will talk about its RHP updates and valuations.

Akeso Placement – Opportunistic Raise, past Deal Record Has Been Mixed but Relative Size Is Small

By Sumeet Singh

  • Akeso Biopharma Inc (9926 HK) is looking to raise around US$200m from its primary placement. Proceeds from the placement will be used for R&D.
  • Past deals in the name haven’t done well recently but the shares have been doing well and the deal size remains small.
  • In this note, we talk about the deal dynamics and run the deal through our ECM framework.

Swiggy Pre-IPO – The Negtives – Neither Food nor Quick Commerce Was the Largest Revenue Driver

By Sumeet Singh

  • Swiggy is planning to raise around US$1.25bn through its upcoming India IPO.
  • Swiggy Limited (Swiggy) is a business to commerce (B2C) marketplace company offering users a platform for ordering grocery and household items (Instamart) and food delivery, through its on-demand delivery network.
  • In this note, we talk about the not-so-positive aspects of the deal.

Zhou Liu Fu Pre-IPO – Capturing the Gold Rush

By Nicholas Tan

  • Zhou Liu Fu Jewellery Co., Ltd. (1716396D CH)  is looking to raise $US200m in its upcoming Hong Kong IPO. 
  • It is a leading and fast growing jewellery franchise in China offering a diverse range of products through offline and online sales channels.
  • In this note, we look at the firm’s past performance.

Jiangsu Guofu Pre-IPO Tearsheet

By Nicholas Tan

  • Jiangsu Guofu (1628452D CH) is looking to raise about US$500m in its upcoming Hong Kong IPO. The deal will be run by Haitong International, CLSA, CCB International and China Securities.
  • Jiangsu Guofu is a leading hydrogen energy storage and transport equipment manufacturer in China.
  • It develops and manufactures hydrogen energy core equipment used in the entire industrial value chain of hydrogen energy, consisting of production, storage, transportation, refueling and use.

Sung Woo IPO Valuation Analysis

By Douglas Kim

  • Our base case valuation of Sung Woo is target price of 27,981 won per share, which is within the IPO price range of 25,000 won to 29,000 won per share.
  • Given the lack of upside relative to the IPO price range, we have a Negative view of this IPO. 
  • Our base case valuation of 27,981 won per share is based on a P/E of 16.9x based on net profit of 24.9 billion won in FY23.

Aditya Infotech Pre-IPO Tearsheet

By Akshat Shah

  • Aditya Infotech Ltd (6596564Z IN) is looking to raise about US$155m in its upcoming India IPO. The deal will be run by ICICI and IIFL.
  • It is a CCTV/video surveillance provider company offering a range of advanced video security and surveillance products, technologies and solutions for enterprise and consumer segments under its CP PLUS brand.
  • According to the F&S report, it was the largest Indian-owned company offering video security and surveillance products, solutions and services, in terms of revenues in FY24.

Ouch! nets US$1.2M to expand market share, drive insurance innovation | e27

By e27

  • Ouch!, a Malaysia-based next-gen, tech-enabled insurance platform, has raised RM5 million (US$1.2 million) in strategic funding from PPB Ventures.
  • The startup will invest the money to expand its market share, enhance technology infrastructure, and drive product innovation.
  • Separately, Ouch! has received an additional one-year extension to operate under Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) Regulatory Sandbox. It is now working to secure a DITO licence from BNM, which would enable it to close critical protection gaps for Malaysians, especially young families.

Wavemaker infuses US$1.6M into NZ’s pre-employment screening startup Checkmate | e27

By e27

  • Checkmate, a provider of pre-employment screening solutions in New Zealand, has completed its US$1.6 million seed funding round from Wavemaker Partners.
  • The capital will fuel Checkmate’s expansion into existing and new markets, including Australia, the US, and Southeast Asia, specifically the Philippines.
  • The funds will also support improvements in the company’s technological capabilities and user experience as more organisations seek reliable and efficient pre-employment screening.

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Daily Brief Thematic (Sector/Industry): Japan Morning Connection: 7&I Continues Restructuring Plan and more

By | Daily Briefs, Thematic (Sector/Industry)

In today’s briefing:

  • Japan Morning Connection: 7&I Continues Restructuring Plan
  • The Dark Side of the SME IPO Boom!
  • [Blue Lotus Daily]:NIO US/XPEV US/1810 HK/LI US/000333 CH/600690 CH/000651 CH/1585 HK/NIUUS/603529CH
  • Episode 88: AI Accellerators, Startup graveyard? With Special Guest Austin Lyons
  • Asian Banks – Wide Variance in Credit Growth, and in Delta of Growth Rates in Recent Months
  • All Aboard! JR East and the Monetisation of Its Property Assets
  • [Blue Lotus Daily-TMT Update]:3690 HK/PDD US/BABA US/JD US/700 HK/TCOM US/ATAT US


Japan Morning Connection: 7&I Continues Restructuring Plan

By Andrew Jackson

  • Tech largely down in the US after AMD’s AI event failed to impress with somewhat conflicting CPI and jobless data.
  • A strong print for Fast Retailing will add to short-seller woes although some brokers have started cutting estimates after the outsized move.
  • 7&I announced a flurry of restructuring initiatives aimed at raising corporate value and fending off Couche-Tard before its too late.

The Dark Side of the SME IPO Boom!

By Nimish Maheshwari

  • Resourceful Auto’s IPO saw a staggering subscription of 400 times, but its current market price is half its IPO value, revealing a troubling trend in SME IPOs.
  • Many SME IPOs exhibit a “subscription mirage,” creating misleading impressions of value, while underlying businesses often lack sustainable operations and liquidity.
  • Investors must prioritize fundamental analysis and awareness of liquidity risks over hype, especially in a market increasingly resembling Ponzi-like characteristics.

[Blue Lotus Daily]:NIO US/XPEV US/1810 HK/LI US/000333 CH/600690 CH/000651 CH/1585 HK/NIUUS/603529CH

By Eric Wen

  • NIO US/XPEV US/1810 HK/LI US: Electric vehicle sales were strong during the two weeks of the National Day holiday, with NIO, Leap, Zeekr, Xiaomi and Tesla performing better(///////)
  • Consumer sector: Steady Growth in Catering and Retail Consumption During the National Day Holiday(+)
  • Consumer sector: WeChat reports 20% YoY increase in transaction volume during National Day Holiday (+)

Episode 88: AI Accellerators, Startup graveyard? With Special Guest Austin Lyons

By The Circuit

  • Transition from the Internet era of servers to the AI era of backend
  • Software advancements are outpacing silicon capabilities
  • Question raised about who will benefit from advances in AI technology, particularly in terms of hardware market competitiveness

This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.


Asian Banks – Wide Variance in Credit Growth, and in Delta of Growth Rates in Recent Months

By Daniel Tabbush

  • We must recognize the wide variance in credit growth rates across Asian countries
  • There are critical implications for differences in net interest income growth and profit
  • Credit metrics also tend to move in tandem with loan growth rates, as does GDP growth

All Aboard! JR East and the Monetisation of Its Property Assets

By Rikki Malik

  • One of the sectors we like for the next phase of the Japanese stock market
  • The market is not giving the benefit of the doubt to monetisation of its property portfolio
  • The core  railway business is back to pre-Covid 19  levels

[Blue Lotus Daily-TMT Update]:3690 HK/PDD US/BABA US/JD US/700 HK/TCOM US/ATAT US

By Ying Pan

  • 3690 HK: Meituan’s Overseas Version, Keeta, Launches in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia(/)
  • PDD US/BABA US/JD US: PDD to provide double compensation for overpriced product (//-/-)
  • 700 HK/BABA US: Taobao now accessible through webpages in WeChat (+/+)

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Daily Brief Event-Driven: Guotai Junan (2611 HK)/Haitong (6837 HK)’s Merger: A Win For H-Shareholders and more

By | Daily Briefs, Event-Driven

In today’s briefing:

  • Guotai Junan (2611 HK)/Haitong (6837 HK)’s Merger: A Win For H-Shareholders
  • 7&I Results and Plans – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, The Respectable, Unfortunate, and Encouraging
  • 7-Eleven Corporation: A Clear Strategy for Long-Term Value, Founding Family Return to Super-Stores
  • Digging into Today’s Potential T’way Air Tender Offer Saga
  • Rigaku Holdings (268A JP): Low, Slow and Steady in Global Indices
  • Quiddity Leaderboard BSE/​​​​SENSEX Dec 24: Some Changes to Expectations + Zomato Question Mark
  • Rio Tinto/Arcadium: More Brine To Compliment Rocks
  • T’Way Air: Increasing Possibility of an M&A Fight Between Yearimdang and Daemyung Sono Group
  • Shiyue Daotian US$480m Lockup Expiry – Would Need Some Selling to Improve Its Liquidity


Guotai Junan (2611 HK)/Haitong (6837 HK)’s Merger: A Win For H-Shareholders

By David Blennerhassett

  • A month after China’s leading state-backed brokerages, Guotai Junan Securities (2611 HK) and Haitong Securities (H) (6837 HK), announced an intention to merge, we have a firm deal
  • Via a share swap, each Haitong H share may be exchanged for 0.62 H shares of GJS. A similar ratio is in place for the As. Cash options are afforded
  • Conditions include GJS and Haitong shareholder approval; plus the usual suspects on the regulatory front. The key risk, as with TCM (570 HK)s Offer, is one of timing.

7&I Results and Plans – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, The Respectable, Unfortunate, and Encouraging

By Travis Lundy

  • H1 sales were GOOD. H1 earnings were BAD. New forecasts are UGLY. The CVS initiatives are RESPECTABLE, but US CVS market environment UNFORTUNATE. The creation of the new Holdco ENCOURAGING.
  • The Couche-Tard Bid? That’s SEPARATE. Confidential. But three weeks after receiving the new proposal, it hasn’t been publicly rejected. So that’s a thing. 
  • 7&i is progressing with its Standalone Plan, as it should, because ACT’s bid is more a show of faith for discussions. The York Holdings structure is INTERESTING.

7-Eleven Corporation: A Clear Strategy for Long-Term Value, Founding Family Return to Super-Stores

By Michael Causton

  • Seven & I released 1H24 earnings today as well as details on planned restructuring of its business. Results included some one-off items hitting operating profit as well as lower footfall.
  • The bigger news was the plan to hive off the non-CVS retail operations into a new company, York Holdings, leaving a newly named 7-Eleven Corporation running CVS globally.
  • Unusually, Seven also mentioned the possibility of new strategic partners investing in York, including even the “original founding families”, suggesting one way of holding on to control.

Digging into Today’s Potential T’way Air Tender Offer Saga

By Sanghyun Park

  • It’s unclear if this will turn into a tender offer battle like Korea Zinc, and we need to assess both sides’ financial strength carefully.
  • Today’s reports suggest Sono has more financial flexibility than T’way Holdings, but we should be cautious. T’way Air might also consider buying back shares with borrowed funds.
  • T’way Air has fewer institutional investors and more available float than Korea Zinc, suggesting significant price swings and an attractive trading setup, as seen in today’s volume spike.

Rigaku Holdings (268A JP): Low, Slow and Steady in Global Indices

By Dimitris Ioannidis

  • Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) is scheduled to be listed at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on 25 October 2024 at a valuation of ~$1.9bn.
  • The company’s modest market capitalization fails fast-entry but easily surpasses the quarterly small cap thresholds of both main global indices.
  • Rigaku Holdings (268A JP)  is expected to be added at the May and June 2025 quarterly reviews with the potential greenshoe exercise increasing the passive fund demand upon inclusion.

Quiddity Leaderboard BSE/​​​​SENSEX Dec 24: Some Changes to Expectations + Zomato Question Mark

By Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

  • In this insight, we take a look at the Potential ADDs/DELs for the BSE SENSEX, 100, and 200 indices in the December 2024 index rebal event.
  • We expect six ADDs/DELs for BSE 100 and six ADDs/DELs for BSE 200.
  • Zomato is one of the six BSE 100 expected DELs but its fate will depend on when its expected F&O list inclusion takes place and the index provider’s discretionary choices.

Rio Tinto/Arcadium: More Brine To Compliment Rocks

By David Blennerhassett

  • Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU) has reached an agreement to buy Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU)/(ALTM US) for US$5.85/share (~A$8.70/share), a ~90% premium to the October 4th closing price of $US3.08/share.
  • Terms remain below where Arcadium was trading back in January of this year. But it is perhaps disingenuous to call the Offer Price opportunistic. More a counter-cyclical move.
  • The Scheme Offer is subject to a 75% shareholder vote and minimal regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2025. The long stop is the 9th October 2025.

T’Way Air: Increasing Possibility of an M&A Fight Between Yearimdang and Daemyung Sono Group

By Douglas Kim

  • In the past several days, there have been an increased speculation in the local media about a potential M&A fight for T’Way Air between Yearimdang Publishing and Daemyung Sono Group. 
  • The difference in ownership of T’Way Air by Daemyung Sono Group and Yearimdang Group is only 3.2%, which could lead to an intensified management rights dispute. 
  • According to local sources, Daemyung Sono Group has recently contacted several law firms to review plans to potentially conduct a tender offer on T’Way Air. 

Shiyue Daotian US$480m Lockup Expiry – Would Need Some Selling to Improve Its Liquidity

By Clarence Chu

  • Shiyue Daotian (1892269D CH) was listed in Hong Kong on 12th Oct 2023 after raising US$105m close to the top end of its indicative IPO price range. 
  • Shiyue Daotian is a pantry staple food company in China, providing consumers with pre-packaged premium rice, whole grain, bean, and dried food products.  
  • The firm’s one-year lockup will expire on 12th Oct 2024.  In this note, we will talk about the lock-up dynamics and updates since our last note.

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Daily Brief Credit: Morning Views Asia: Greenko Energy Holdings and more

By | Credit, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Morning Views Asia: Greenko Energy Holdings


Morning Views Asia: Greenko Energy 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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