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Daily Briefs

Daily Brief Health Care: Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdin, Pfizer Inc, Recce Ltd and more

By | Daily Briefs, Healthcare

In today’s briefing:

  • Japan Bumpitrage Potential: T&K Toka, IJTT, Taisho, Shidax, Benesse, Tokyo Rakutenchi
  • Pfizer Inc (PFE US) – Continue to Lose Its Way in the Post-Pandemic Era
  • Recce Pharmaceuticals – Landmark commitment helps fund R&D costs


Japan Bumpitrage Potential: T&K Toka, IJTT, Taisho, Shidax, Benesse, Tokyo Rakutenchi

By Arun George

  • Japan’s merger arb is facing an unusual situation: six merger arb situations (>US$100 million market cap) where the shares have consistently traded through terms.
  • We evaluate the bumpitrage potential of these six Japanese merger arb situations on qualitative and quantitative metrics.
  • Based on our analysis, the ranking as measured by the highest bumpitrage potential in descending order are T&K Toka, IJTT, Taisho, Shidax, Benesse and Tokyo Rakutenchi.

Pfizer Inc (PFE US) – Continue to Lose Its Way in the Post-Pandemic Era

By Xinyao (Criss) Wang

  • Pfizer seems to be the worst-performing large pharma stock of 2023 after it lowered 2024 forecast. The Company continues to grapple with plummeting demand for its COVID products
  • The acquisition of Seagen can’t turn things around. Except a few products that are still able to maintain growth, sales of vast majority products that we’re familiar with are declining. 
  • The growth engine of Pfizer in post-pandemic era is still uncertain. Even though Pfizer’s share price has fallen sharply, this may still not be the time for bottom fishing.

Recce Pharmaceuticals – Landmark commitment helps fund R&D costs

By Edison Investment Research

Recce recently reported that the Australian government has committed to providing up to A$55m in future cash rebates to reimburse upcoming R&D expenditure directed towards the company’s proprietary synthetic anti-infective programmes to June 2025. Notably, this binding agreement with the Australian government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources (AusIndustry) extends the rebate programme that customarily reimburses 43.5% of eligible R&D expenditures incurred within Australia, to cover the anti-infective R&D activities Recce undertakes anywhere in the world. We view this as key given our expectation that US and global clinical trials will be needed to maximise the commercial potential of Recce’s products, notably lead candidate RECCE® 327 (R327). While our model already assumed the Australian government would reimburse 43.5% of Recce’s overseas R&D costs, there was a minor degree of uncertainty on whether this would be the case. Hence, the signing of this binding commitment with AusIndustry helps de-risk future funding needs for Recce as it advances its anti-infective programmes, notably R327 in sepsis/urosepsis and in complicated urinary tract infection (UTIs).


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Daily Brief Consumer: Motisons Jewellers , Meituan, LIFULL, Vipshop Holdings and more

By | Consumer, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Forensic Analysis of Motisons
  • [Meituan (3690 HK, BUY, TP HK$118) Company Update]: Why ByteDance’s Purchase of Eleme Is a Bad Idea?
  • Full Report – Lifull (2120 JP)
  • [Vipshop (VIPS US, BUY, TP US$18.1) TP Change]: Discount Offerings Remain Hot Given Cold Consumption


All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Forensic Analysis of Motisons

By Nimish Maheshwari

  • Regulatory Tangles:Promoters faced cricket betting allegations, SEBI penalties, debarment from financial markets and a litany of investigations. Legal and financial risks loom due to regulatory delays and unresolved litigations.
  • Operational and Financial Hurdles:Excessive inventory, delayed payments, and opaque related-party transactions.Weaker margins, ROE, and underutilized manufacturing hint at broader governance frailty.
  • Debt Dilemmas and Transparency Concerns: Heavy reliance on high-interest promoter loans. Governance lapses are reflected in financial metrics, raising questions about transparency and conflicts of interest.

[Meituan (3690 HK, BUY, TP HK$118) Company Update]: Why ByteDance’s Purchase of Eleme Is a Bad Idea?

By Ying Pan

  • Local news reported an unnamed expert suggesting ByteDance might be buying Eleme for US$7bn, leading to share of Meituan to fall;
  • While we believe (1) buying a food delivery business to complement Douyin’s in-store business makes some sense and…
  • (2) ByteDance has been aggressive in pushing the boundary of its businesses, an entry into domestic food delivery is a daunting challenge that yields very little benefits for ByteDance;

Full Report – Lifull (2120 JP)

By Sessa Investment Research

  • LIFULL runs the LIFULL Home’s real estate website. Compared to its main rival, whose strategy is focused mainly on the quantity of listings, LIFULL’s aim is to achieve greater quality, as measured by the percentage of inquiries that lead to sales for professional real estate clients.
  • While others primarily charge a fixed fee for listings, LIFULL charges a combination of fixed fees and incentive fees based on the number of inquiries received for a listing.
  • Compared to its main rival LIFULL tends to invest more heavily in software development and considerably less on advertising. 

[Vipshop (VIPS US, BUY, TP US$18.1) TP Change]: Discount Offerings Remain Hot Given Cold Consumption

By Ying Pan

  • Amid demand by consumers for cost effective items, we expect that demand for discounted apparel will sustain into 2024…
  • We expect high levels of apparel sales continued in December, as VIPS reported double-digit GMV growth for various types of winter related apparel items during 12/12…
  • China’s cost-conscious spending environment favors VIPS, in our view. We maintain BUY and raise TP to US$ 18.1, implying 7x FY24 non-GAAP P/E.

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Most Read: Allkem Ltd, Livent, Shanghai Junshi Biosciences , LG Display, Kurabo Industries, Toyo Construction, Pan Ocean, Tsuruha Holdings, United States Steel, Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdin and more

By | Daily Briefs, Most Read

In today’s briefing:

  • Allkem/Livent (AKE AU | LTHM US) Merger Of Lithium Equals Has Index Surprises
  • Allkem+Livent=Arcadium : Expected Index Flows
  • A/H Premium Tracker (To 15 Dec 23): Time To Go Long Hs Vs As.
  • Arb Trading with Stock Rights in Korea: A Basic Guide Featuring LG Display Offering
  • Kurabo (3106) – Bigly Buyback And Share Cancellation for A Valueful Value Trap With Hidden Value
  • Toyo Construction (1890) – Everyone Hits Pause
  • Pan Ocean Considering on a Rights Offering Capital Raise of Nearly 3 Trillion Won for the HMM Deal
  • Tsuruha: What Next: Go Private or Aeon?
  • Nippon Steel/United States Steel Corp: Knock-Out Offer
  • Japan Bumpitrage Potential: T&K Toka, IJTT, Taisho, Shidax, Benesse, Tokyo Rakutenchi


Allkem/Livent (AKE AU | LTHM US) Merger Of Lithium Equals Has Index Surprises

By Travis Lundy

  • Today, after the close, ASX-listed Allkem Ltd (AKE AU) (formerly known as Orocobre, which merged with Galaxy Resources in 2021) announced it would merge with Livent (LTHM US)
  • At US$10bn, this “merger-of-equals” NEWCO (pro-forma US$1.9bn revenue, US$1.2bn EBITDA), with NYSE primary listing and foreign entity listing on the ASX, would be a global lithium player. Deal closing end-2023.
  • The doc (243 pages) and presentation (42p) are worth reading. There are interesting index effects, and there may be “Lithium Risk” in this deal for arbs, but it looks good.

Allkem+Livent=Arcadium : Expected Index Flows

By Travis Lundy

  • Yesterday during the day, Allkem Ltd (AKE AU) shareholders approved the Scheme and Livent (LTHM US) shareholders approved the merger. The deal is done. Allkem last trades 21 Dec.
  • NEWCO starts trading 4 January in the US but the Arcadium Lithium CDIs start trading 22 Dec in Australia. S&P/ASX announced they will replace Allkem in the ASX200.
  • But I have been asked for a breakdown of flows and timing again, so I have put it into a handy table which I hope makes it less confusing.

A/H Premium Tracker (To 15 Dec 23): Time To Go Long Hs Vs As.

By Travis Lundy

  • The New and Better (5mos old) A-H Premium Tracker has tables, charts, measures galore to track A/H premium positioning, southbound and northbound positioning/volatility in pairs over time, etc.
  • SOUTHBOUND and NORTHBOUND flows were both sells, respectively, but liquid Hs with H/A pairs OUT-perform As on average by 100+bp. Liquidation by overseas investors feels finished. 
  • Time to go long Hs vs As for the new year at 52wk wide discounts. 3 Short H/A pairs now switched to long. 3 new pairs long this week. 

Arb Trading with Stock Rights in Korea: A Basic Guide Featuring LG Display Offering

By Sanghyun Park

  • Unlike typical Korean stock rights arbitrage, LG Display’s significant equity offering and active stock futures trading anticipate a spread opening, akin to the recent Hanwha Ocean scenario.
  • In contrast to Hanwha Ocean, the absence of major sellers, like KDB, sets this event apart. LG Electronics, the major shareholder with a 37.9% stake, intends to participate.
  • Despite differences from Hanwha Ocean, LG Display’s high retail shareholder presence implies a substantial likelihood of stock rights overhang, even without players like KDB.

Kurabo (3106) – Bigly Buyback And Share Cancellation for A Valueful Value Trap With Hidden Value

By Travis Lundy

  • Kurabo announced a bigly buyback on Tuesday. At last price it is equivalent to 8+% of shares out. Most likely to target buybacks from cross-holders. 
  • The company is not cash-rich, but it is financial asset and real estate-rich. And it trades at cheap multiples without even thinking about those assets (themselves worth the market cap).
  • The TSE’s “PBR1 OR BUST” movement combined with starting low valuation, high payout, excess assets, mean this value trap has room to move. 

Toyo Construction (1890) – Everyone Hits Pause

By Travis Lundy

  • In September, YFO (Yamauchi Family Office) upped its Tender Offer proposal to ¥1,255/share. YFO presented. The Toyo Special Committee met, interviewed, examined, deliberated, then last week rejected YFO’s proposal. 
  • The rejection was a three-parter. First, they rejected YFO for not bringing management/ownership experience. Second, they said the proposal didn’t add enough value. Third, the price was too low.
  • There were no metrics against which to measure anything. And now Toyo has apparently decided to withdraw its Tender Offer Proposal.

Pan Ocean Considering on a Rights Offering Capital Raise of Nearly 3 Trillion Won for the HMM Deal

By Douglas Kim

  • A consortium led by the Harim Group and JKL Partners has been chosen as the preferred bidder to acquire a 57.9% stake in HMM.
  • Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) are the main creditors of HMM, which is the largest shipping company in Korea.
  • Pan Ocean is expected to complete a rights offering of nearly 3 trillion won which is 136% of its current market cap. This is excessive and negative for Pan Ocean.

Tsuruha: What Next: Go Private or Aeon?

By Michael Causton

  • Tsuruha sees itself as another recent victim of activist fund pressure. 
  • The No. 2 drugstore chain has grown successfully over the past decade and today has the widest store coverage of any chain in its sector.
  • This summer Aeon supported activists’ demand for strategic change. Tsuruha thinks the only way it can keep its independence may be to take the company private – Aeon probably agrees.

Nippon Steel/United States Steel Corp: Knock-Out Offer

By Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

  • Nippon Steel Corporation (5401 JP) and United States Steel (X US) have agreed an all-cash $55.00/share offer, 142% premium to where X traded before Cliff’s approach, a very generous 7x EV/24e EBITDA.
  • A determined buyer seeks market share in the lucrative US market, with no meaningful synergies expected and willingness to keep all US Steel jobs and (greener) growth projects.
  • Although unions and some lawmakers are voicing concerns, CFIUS shouldn’t pose a big hurdle. Spread is 12.04%/17.93% (gross/annualised, assuming late settlement by end of Q3 2024). Long.

Japan Bumpitrage Potential: T&K Toka, IJTT, Taisho, Shidax, Benesse, Tokyo Rakutenchi

By Arun George

  • Japan’s merger arb is facing an unusual situation: six merger arb situations (>US$100 million market cap) where the shares have consistently traded through terms.
  • We evaluate the bumpitrage potential of these six Japanese merger arb situations on qualitative and quantitative metrics.
  • Based on our analysis, the ranking as measured by the highest bumpitrage potential in descending order are T&K Toka, IJTT, Taisho, Shidax, Benesse and Tokyo Rakutenchi.

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Daily Brief Private Markets: Key Beneficiaries of a Potential Viva Republica IPO in 2024 and more

By | Daily Briefs, Private Markets

In today’s briefing:

  • Key Beneficiaries of a Potential Viva Republica IPO in 2024


Key Beneficiaries of a Potential Viva Republica IPO in 2024

By Douglas Kim

  • It was reported in numerous local media that Viva Republica has sent several RFPs to several large domestic securities companies to be underwriters of a potential IPO in 2024. 
  • Viva Republica is one of the largest Korean fintech companies. Market value of Viva Republica is estimated at more than 9 trillion won.
  • E World, Hanwha Securities, Hana Financial, and Korea Electronic Certification Co are major public companies that should benefit from the listing of Viva Republica. 

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Daily Brief Quantitative Analysis: KRX Short Interest Weekly (Dec 15th): HLB and more

By | Daily Briefs, Quantitative Analysis

In today’s briefing:

  • KRX Short Interest Weekly (Dec 15th): HLB, Lg Electronics, Samsung C&T, Samsung Electron


KRX Short Interest Weekly (Dec 15th): HLB, Lg Electronics, Samsung C&T, Samsung Electron

By Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

  • We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX Stocks as of Dec 15th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD10.4bn.
  • 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 Hlb, Lg Electronics, Samsung C&T, Samsung Electron, Posco Holdings I, Sk Hynix.

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Daily Brief Australia: Whispir Ltd, SiteMinder, Amaero International Ltd, Recce Ltd and more

By | Australia, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Whispir (WSP AU): Soprano & Pendula Jostle for Control
  • Quiddity Leaderboard ASX Mar 24: Allkem, Newmont, Costa, and Many More
  • Amaero International Ltd – Several Milestones Tracking Ahead of Schedule
  • Recce Pharmaceuticals – Landmark commitment helps fund R&D costs


Whispir (WSP AU): Soprano & Pendula Jostle for Control

By David Blennerhassett

  • On the 6 November, cloud communication outfit Whispir (WSP AU)  announced a A$0.46/share unconditional Offer, in cash, from mobile messaging software play Soprano Design.
  • The Offer price was a 92% premium to Whispir’s recent private placement, and a 60% premium to the undisturbed price. Whispir rejected the Offer.
  • Pendula subsequently emerged with a A$0.57/share NBIO. Soprano “countered” with A$0.52/share. Pendula upped its indicative Offer to A$0.60/share. An independent expert’s fair value is between A$0.486/share-A$0.565/share.

Quiddity Leaderboard ASX Mar 24: Allkem, Newmont, Costa, and Many More

By Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

  • In this insight, we take a look at the potential index changes for ASX 300, 200, 100, 50, and 20 in the run-up to the March 2024 index review.
  • I expect one change for ASX 20, one change for ASX 100, and four changes for ASX 200 during the March 2024 index rebal event.
  • Separately, there could also be one intra-review change for ASX 200 in February 2024.

Amaero International Ltd – Several Milestones Tracking Ahead of Schedule

By Research as a Service (RaaS)

  • Amaero International Ltd (ASX:3DA) is a global specialist in advanced materials manufacturing for the defence, aerospace, and other industrial sectors.
  • The company is developing a 1,000+-tonne-a-year critical metals alloy powder manufacturing facility in Tennessee, USA with its initial focus on producing refractory alloy powder, C103, a critical metal powder used in hypersonics weaponry.
  • On December 19, the company provided an update to investors on its progress to date this month with several milestones tracking ahead of schedule. 

Recce Pharmaceuticals – Landmark commitment helps fund R&D costs

By Edison Investment Research

Recce recently reported that the Australian government has committed to providing up to A$55m in future cash rebates to reimburse upcoming R&D expenditure directed towards the company’s proprietary synthetic anti-infective programmes to June 2025. Notably, this binding agreement with the Australian government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources (AusIndustry) extends the rebate programme that customarily reimburses 43.5% of eligible R&D expenditures incurred within Australia, to cover the anti-infective R&D activities Recce undertakes anywhere in the world. We view this as key given our expectation that US and global clinical trials will be needed to maximise the commercial potential of Recce’s products, notably lead candidate RECCE® 327 (R327). While our model already assumed the Australian government would reimburse 43.5% of Recce’s overseas R&D costs, there was a minor degree of uncertainty on whether this would be the case. Hence, the signing of this binding commitment with AusIndustry helps de-risk future funding needs for Recce as it advances its anti-infective programmes, notably R327 in sepsis/urosepsis and in complicated urinary tract infection (UTIs).


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Daily Brief South Korea: LG Display, Viva Republica and more

By | Daily Briefs, South Korea

In today’s briefing:

  • Arb Trading with Stock Rights in Korea: A Basic Guide Featuring LG Display Offering
  • Key Beneficiaries of a Potential Viva Republica IPO in 2024


Arb Trading with Stock Rights in Korea: A Basic Guide Featuring LG Display Offering

By Sanghyun Park

  • Unlike typical Korean stock rights arbitrage, LG Display’s significant equity offering and active stock futures trading anticipate a spread opening, akin to the recent Hanwha Ocean scenario.
  • In contrast to Hanwha Ocean, the absence of major sellers, like KDB, sets this event apart. LG Electronics, the major shareholder with a 37.9% stake, intends to participate.
  • Despite differences from Hanwha Ocean, LG Display’s high retail shareholder presence implies a substantial likelihood of stock rights overhang, even without players like KDB.

Key Beneficiaries of a Potential Viva Republica IPO in 2024

By Douglas Kim

  • It was reported in numerous local media that Viva Republica has sent several RFPs to several large domestic securities companies to be underwriters of a potential IPO in 2024. 
  • Viva Republica is one of the largest Korean fintech companies. Market value of Viva Republica is estimated at more than 9 trillion won.
  • E World, Hanwha Securities, Hana Financial, and Korea Electronic Certification Co are major public companies that should benefit from the listing of Viva Republica. 

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Daily Brief ECM: Embassy Office Parks REIT Block – Likely Well Flagged and Overhang Will Be Removed and more

By | Daily Briefs, ECM

In today’s briefing:

  • Embassy Office Parks REIT Block – Likely Well Flagged and Overhang Will Be Removed
  • Inox India IPO Trading – Hot Demand for Cryogenics


Embassy Office Parks REIT Block – Likely Well Flagged and Overhang Will Be Removed

By Ethan Aw

  • Blackstone (BX US) is looking to raise around US$834m through a secondary block deal. This will be a clean-up as Blackstone fully exits from Embassy Office Parks REIT (EMBASSY IN).  
  • The deal is a large one to digest, at approximately 397.2 days of three month ADV and 20.7% of current mcap.  
  • In this note, we will talk about the selldown and run the deal through our ECM framework.

Inox India IPO Trading – Hot Demand for Cryogenics

By Ethan Aw

  • INOX India Limited (INOX IN) raised around US$175m in its Indian IPO, after pricing the deal at INR660/share. It will begin trading tomorrow on 21st Dec 2023.
  • Inox India is a manufacturer of cryogenic equipment. As per CRISIL, the firm was the largest Indian exporter of cryogenic tanks in terms of FY23 sales.
  • We have looked at various aspects of the deal in our previous notes. In this note, we talk about demand and trading dynamics.

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Daily Brief Singapore: Singapore Airlines and more

By | Daily Briefs, Singapore

In today’s briefing:

  • Singapore Airlines (SIA SP | BUY | SGD: 8.07): Nov’ 2023 Op Stats, More Reason to Be Bullish


Singapore Airlines (SIA SP | BUY | SGD: 8.07): Nov’ 2023 Op Stats, More Reason to Be Bullish

By Mohshin Aziz

  • Singapore Airlines (SIA SP) (SIA) November operating statistics were good, passenger load factor rose by 1.9ppt YoY to 87.8%, and cargo load factor rose by a similar quantum  
  • Market observations suggest yields should remain at high levels and cost items such as fuel and USD-denominated items on a favorable downtrend 
  • If this performance continues, SIA will beat consensus easily. We recommend BUY with a TP of SGD8.07 – pegged to 10x FY24 PE. (+26% UPSIDE)  

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Daily Brief Thematic (Sector/Industry): Ohayo Japan | Market Retreat Intensifies; Panasonic Plays the States and more

By | Daily Briefs, Thematic (Sector/Industry)

In today’s briefing:

  • Ohayo Japan | Market Retreat Intensifies; Panasonic Plays the States
  • 2024 High Conviction: Low Semiconductor Growth
  • 2023 in Rear Mirror View: Top Performers From My Global Healthcare Coverage Universe
  • 112: More Thoughts On Banks’ HTM Portfolio; Boston Fed Paper
  • GEM Banks; 2024 Conviction Calls
  • Why Subsystems Now


Ohayo Japan | Market Retreat Intensifies; Panasonic Plays the States

By Mark Chadwick

  • Overseas: SPX -1.5%; Stocks tumbled as investors locked in profits, ending the Dow and Nasdaq’s nine-day gains. FedEx’s disappointing outlook contributed to the index’s worst day since September.
  • Today: NKY Futs -1.9% v cash. JPY143; Yamaha Motors faces slowdown in US; Toyota recall; Chugoku to sell excess Uranium
  • Japan: Panasonic walked away from Oklahoma’s $698M battery offer, sparking concerns over megaproject subsidies and corporate gamesmanship.

2024 High Conviction: Low Semiconductor Growth

By Jim Handy

  • Objective Analysis has released its 2024 semiconductor forecast, calling for growth of below 5%
  • Other forecasters currently call for 11% to 17% growth, which would require another super cycle to accomplish
  • We do not see any event that will drive a 2024 super cycle, even with the current rapid adoption of AI in the data center

2023 in Rear Mirror View: Top Performers From My Global Healthcare Coverage Universe

By Tina Banerjee

  • Despite ongoing recovery and fading effect of the COVID-19, 2023 was not a smooth sailing for the healthcare companies. All the countries and sub-sectors did not perform equally.
  • As we are heading into 2024, let us look back on the performance of some of our global healthcare stocks recommended throughout 2023.
  • LianBio (LIAN US) remained the best performer with 93% return in nearly eight months. Global Health (Medanta) (MEDANTA IN), top pick for March 2023, generated 79% return in nine months.     

112: More Thoughts On Banks’ HTM Portfolio; Boston Fed Paper

By Watchlist Investing

  • The Boston Federal Reserve put out a short white paper on the Silicon Valley Bank crash and the accounting for debt securities known as held-to-maturity or HTM.
  • It’s a nice short read and got me thinking about this issue again, which I examined back in May in Issue #100 (link below).
  • The question, which has not definitively resolved itself in academia or policy circles, centers around bank accounting and whether banks should be allowed to value bonds they’re not planning on selling (hence the term held-to-maturity) based on amortized cost.

GEM Banks; 2024 Conviction Calls

By Victor Galliano

  • Among bigger cap GEM banks, we pick four longs and one short as our conviction calls for 2024
  • Our core buys are Bank Mandiri from Indonesia, KB Financial from South Korea, China Merchants Bank and Banco do Brasil
  • Our key sell is Kotak Mahindra Bank from India which is richly valued, exposed to low prospective earnings growth and has low credit quality coverage

Why Subsystems Now

By Douglas O’Laughlin


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