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Daily Brief Macro: Steno Signals #186 – The year of the weak USD is upon us and more

By | Daily Briefs, Macro

In today’s briefing:

  • Steno Signals #186 – The year of the weak USD is upon us
  • Over the Horizon: A Review of Thematic Trends
  • CX Daily: Is China’s Commercial Space Sector Ready to Blast Off?
  • [US Crude Oil Options Weekly 2025/08] WTI Surrendered Gains on Weak Economic Signals
  • [US Nat Gas Options Weekly 2025/08] Henry Hub Extends Gains for Third Week Amid Sustained Cold Snap
  • Macro Daily: Inflation: 1h-Feb
  • Korea: 25bp Rate Cut To 2.75% (Consensus 2.75%) in Feb-25
  • Euro Area Wage Growth Is Too Hot


Steno Signals #186 – The year of the weak USD is upon us

By Andreas Steno

  • I wanted to get the German election results before releasing my weekly editorial, and as far as I can judge, we are talking about a middle-of-the-road outcome, which should be seen as a net positive for European assets for now.
  • CDU (Conservatives) and SPD (Social Democrats) will be able to form a GroKo (Grand Coalition) with 328 mandates, which is a coalition that could likely find some common ground around spending more and removing the debt brake, at least temporarily.
  • A permanent removal of the debt brake will require the backing of an additional party.

Over the Horizon: A Review of Thematic Trends

By David Mudd

  • Our most prominent theme over the last year has been to BUY HK/China markets. We are still very bullish on these SECULAR BULL markets.
  • We have been Bullish on gold and discussed the asymmetry of its price movements given the global tightening starting in 2021/22. Gold will continues to benefit from negative real rates.
  • We have been Bearish on Japan since publishing Technically Speaking: Japan Meets Resistance and Hong Kong Finally Breaks Downtrend on April 2, 2024. We also remain bearish on India.

CX Daily: Is China’s Commercial Space Sector Ready to Blast Off?

By Caixin Global

  • Space / Cover Story: Is China’s commercial space sector ready to blast off?
  • Railways /Analysis: Twists and turns abound for Chinese-built railways in Southeast Asia
  • Charities /In Depth: Rule change leaves some Chinese charities starving for funding

[US Crude Oil Options Weekly 2025/08] WTI Surrendered Gains on Weak Economic Signals

By Suhas Reddy

  • WTI futures fell by 0.5% for the week ending 21/Feb, marking its fifth consecutive weekly drop. Prices fell due to bearish economic data and rising crude inventories.
  • WTI options Put/Call volume ratio surged to 1.62 on 21/Feb (Fri) from 0.94 on 14/Feb, as call volume rose by 15.9% WoW while put volume jumped by 100%.  
  • WTI OI PCR fell to 0.95 on 21/Feb compared to 0.96 on 14/Feb. Call OI increased by 6.5% WoW, while put OI rose by 6.1%.

[US Nat Gas Options Weekly 2025/08] Henry Hub Extends Gains for Third Week Amid Sustained Cold Snap

By Suhas Reddy

  • For the week ending 21/Feb, U.S. natural gas prices gained 13.7% on the back of colder weather forecasts, rising LNG exports, and falling inventories.
  • Henry Hub Put/Call volume ratio rose to 0.72 on 21/Feb from 0.66 on 14/Feb as call volumes increased by 81.4% WoW, while put volumes surged by 98%. 
  • Henry Hub OI PCR rose to 1.04 on 21/Feb from 0.98 on 14/Feb. Call OI rose by 7.1% WoW, while put OI increased by 13.3%.

Macro Daily: Inflation: 1h-Feb

By Actinver

  • Inflation for the first half of February came in at 0.15% bw, given the drop in prices of most agricultural goods.
  • The figure was above our forecast of 0.09% bw and slightly below the market consensus of 0.18% bw.
  • Our forecast error is explained by a higher-than-expected drop in tomato prices (-25% bw vs. -18% bw).

Korea: 25bp Rate Cut To 2.75% (Consensus 2.75%) in Feb-25

By Heteronomics AI

  • The Bank of Korea cut its base rate by 25bp to 2.75%, aligning with expectations, as downside risks to economic growth intensified amid stabilising inflation and slowing household debt.
  • Domestic demand remains weak, and US tariff policies constrain export growth. Thus, the 2025 GDP growth forecast was sharply revised downward to 1.5% from 1.9%.
  • Future rate cuts will depend on balancing inflation risks, exchange rate volatility, and financial stability, with a particular focus on the impact of global trade policies and domestic political uncertainty.
This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

Euro Area Wage Growth Is Too Hot

By Phil Rush

  • Negotiated wages grew by 4.1% in Q4, slowing sharply from Q3, but little changed on the average from 2024 and 2023. It is not yet on an obvious path of improvement.
  • Broader labour costs have also slowed and are suggesting unit labour cost growth of around 4% y-o-y, although that would mark an abrupt rise in the quarterly pace.
  • Labour costs are growing too fast to be consistent with a sustainable return to the ECB’s inflation target. We expect its easing cycle to end in H1, much earlier than priced.

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Daily Brief South Korea: Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200, Dozn, Celltrion Inc and more

By | Daily Briefs, South Korea

In today’s briefing:

  • Korea: Short Selling Is Back in March; Trade Ideas
  • Dozn IPO Preview
  • Celltrion (068270 KS): Record High Sales in 4Q; Sequentially Weaker Profit; Solid Outlook for 2025


Korea: Short Selling Is Back in March; Trade Ideas

By Brian Freitas

  • Since short selling was banned in November 2023, short interest has plunged in Korea as shorts were covered. Markets have not done much over the last 16 months though. 
  • Foreign investor holdings have dropped from 32.05% in July to 28.57%. The top 25 stocks bought by foreign investors outperformed the top 25 stocks sold by 128% in 16 months.
  • There will be trade opportunities across indices, pref/ords, index migrations and deletions, potential market upgrades and overvalued stocks being sold.

Dozn IPO Preview

By Douglas Kim

  • Dozn is getting ready to complete its IPO in Korea in March 2025. The company plans to offer 2.5 million shares in this IPO.
  • The IPO price range is from 10,250 won to 12,500 won per share and the offering amount ranges from 26.2 billion won to 31.2 billion won.
  • Founded in 2017, Dozn is emerging as a prominent business-to-business (B2B) digital solution service provider in Korea.

Celltrion (068270 KS): Record High Sales in 4Q; Sequentially Weaker Profit; Solid Outlook for 2025

By Tina Banerjee

  • Celltrion Inc (068270 KS) achieved 178% YoY and 21% QoQ revenue growth to KRW1,064B in 4Q24, driven by rapid growth of new products such as Remsima SC, Yuflyma, and Steqeyma.
  • Celltrion guided for 2025 revenue of KRW5.0T, up 43% YoY. Celltrion is targeting COGS ratio in 20%s by 4Q25. Operating profit margin is expected to recover to 30%s in 2025.  
  • New launches, COGS improvement, and cost efficiency will drive 2025 growth. This year, Celltrion received European approval for four biosimilars and three biosimilars are under regulatory review in the U.S.

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Daily Brief Australia: Pointerra Ltd, PointsBet Holdings and more

By | Australia, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Pointerra Ltd – Back in the black, H1 FY25 forecasts beat
  • PointsBet (PBH AU) Rebuffs BlueBet And Enters Offer With Mixi (2121 JP)


Pointerra Ltd – Back in the black, H1 FY25 forecasts beat

By Research as a Service (RaaS)

  • RaaS has published an update on 3D spatial data solutions group Pointerra (ASX:3DP) following the release of its H1 FY25 results in which the company returned to profitability, reporting underlying NPAT of $1.07m, a $4.76m turnaround on the previous corresponding period (pcp) and 45% ahead of our forecast for underlying NPAT of $0.74m.
  • The result was struck on better-than-forecast revenue of $6.99m, the second-best half-year revenue result reported by the company in its history and an increase of 185% on the pcp.
  • Operating cash flow for the half increased 194% to $1.8m, the company’s best-ever half-year operating cash-flow result.

PointsBet (PBH AU) Rebuffs BlueBet And Enters Offer With Mixi (2121 JP)

By David Blennerhassett

  • PointsBet Holdings (PBH AU), an Australian/Canadian online wagering platform, has entered into a Scheme Implementation Deed with Mixi Inc (2121 JP).
  • Mixi is offering A$1.06/share, a 27.7% premium to last close and an implied EV/EBITDA of 25.2x-32.1x for FY25E. Apart from PointsBet’s shareholder approval, the Offer requires FIRB signing off.
  • Separately, Pointsbet’s key rival BlueBet Holdings (BBT AU) has tabled, what appears to be, a higher non-binding cash/scrip offer by way of Scheme, which PointsBet has allegedly ignored. 

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Daily Brief India: Trent Ltd, Greaves Cotton, HDFC Bank, JSW Cement Limited, Greentown China and more

By | Daily Briefs, India

In today’s briefing:

  • Quiddity Leaderboard BSE/​​​​SENSEX Jun25: One Change to Expectations; US$500mn One-Way Collectively
  • The Beat Ideas: Greaves Cotton- Demerging The Cash Cow From Mobility Business
  • HDFC Bank (HDFCB): Robust Deposit Growth Despite Tough Environment
  • JSW Cement Pre-IPO – Leveraging Synergies of the JSW Group but Has High Debt
  • Morning Views Asia: China Vanke , Greentown China, UPL Ltd


Quiddity Leaderboard BSE/​​​​SENSEX Jun25: One Change to Expectations; US$500mn One-Way Collectively

By Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

  • In this insight, we take a look at the Potential ADDs/DELs for the BSE SENSEX, BSE 100, and BSE 200 Indices in the June 2025 index rebal event.
  • As things stand, there could be two index changes for the SENSEX index.
  • There could be two ADDs/DELs for the BSE 100 Index and four ADDs/DELs for the BSE 200 Index.

The Beat Ideas: Greaves Cotton- Demerging The Cash Cow From Mobility Business

By Sudarshan Bhandari

  • Greaves Cotton (GRV IN) is raising funds by separately listing its mobility arm, enabling better focus and execution for the segment.
  • Company is guiding for 30,000Cr topline by 2030  with 13-15% margins excluding mobility segment.
  • The company’s core business remains profitable and on a growth path. New funds will improve the mobility arm’s operations and support current business growth would be from ongoing capex investments.

HDFC Bank (HDFCB): Robust Deposit Growth Despite Tough Environment

By Ankit Agrawal, CFA

  • Deposit growth has been decent and exceeded loan growth, allowing HDFCB to bring down its credit-deposit ratio. Average deposits grew 15%+ YoY, while loans grew at 7%+ YoY in Q3FY25.
  • Despite tough macro environment, HDFCB was able to gain market share in deposits. Despite headwinds from tight liquidity leading to competitive pricing, HDFCB was able to maintain its NIM.
  • HDFCB is benefitting from its productivity and technology-led enhancements with costs growing at just 7% YoY. Despite weak macro-economic environment, HDFCB’s asset quality has remained pristine, barring seasonality in Agri-loans.

JSW Cement Pre-IPO – Leveraging Synergies of the JSW Group but Has High Debt

By Akshat Shah

  • JSW Cement Limited (9858514Z IN)  is looking to raise about US$480m in its upcoming India IPO.
  • JSW Cement (JSWC) is a cement manufacturing company in India focused on manufacturing green cementitious products comprising blended cement, ordinary portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag, among other products.
  • In this note, we talk about the company’s historical performance.

Morning Views Asia: China Vanke , Greentown China, UPL Ltd

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 Singapore: Bumitama Agri, fileAI, Singtel and more

By | Daily Briefs, Singapore

In today’s briefing:

  • 10 in 10 with Bumitama Agri – Driving Productivity In The Palm Oil Sector
  • fileAI’s US$14M Series A fuels expansion of AI-driven document automation | e27
  • Market Leaders Pursuing Significant Strategic Transformations


10 in 10 with Bumitama Agri – Driving Productivity In The Palm Oil Sector

By Geoff Howie

  • Bumitama Agri’s EBITDA margin improved by seven percentage points to 30%, with free cash flow reaching IDR2.1 trillion.
  • Bumitama Agri recorded a 2% year-on-year revenue dip in 9M24, with net profit and EBITDA declining by 30% and 22%.
  • Bumitama Agri’s dividend policy includes up to a 40% payout ratio, with recent years seeing a 55% payout.

fileAI’s US$14M Series A fuels expansion of AI-driven document automation | e27

By e27

  • fileAI, a startup specialising in horizontal file processing and AI workflow automation, has announced US$14 million in Series A funding.
  • This round, led by returning investors Illuminate Financial, Antler Elevate, Insignia, and Heinemann Group, brought the total funding to over US$20 million.
  • The newly acquired funds will boost product development and deepen the company’s expertise in AI file management.

Market Leaders Pursuing Significant Strategic Transformations

By Geoff Howie

  • Seatrium reported FY24 net profit of S$200 million, revenue growth of 27%, and proposed a 1.5 cent dividend.
  • Singtel’s ST28 strategy focuses on connectivity, digital services, and infrastructure, identifying S$6 billion in monetisable assets.
  • CapitaLand Investment aims to scale FUM to S$200 billion by 2028, focusing on asset-light, fee income model.

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Daily Brief Japan: Makino Milling Machine Co, JX Advanced Metals, Mitsui & Co Ltd, Sony Corp, Honda Motor Co Ltd (Adr), TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX and more

By | Daily Briefs, Japan

In today’s briefing:

  • Nidec Says It Won’t Raise Price on Makino (6135)
  • JX Advanced Metals (5016 JP) IPO: Valuation Insights
  • Unpacking a $20b undeveloped mine deal
  • JX Advance Metals Pre-IPO – Thoughts on Valuation
  • How Is Sony Group Leveraging Synergy in Entertainment & Technology To Up The Ante!
  • Honda Motor Co.: How Is It Adapting To The Shifting Global Vehicle Mix & Regional Market Dynamics?
  • Pre-AGM Filling of Annual Securities Reports Is Plus, but May Take Long Before More Companies Do So


Nidec Says It Won’t Raise Price on Makino (6135)

By Travis Lundy

  • Nidec Corp (6594 JP) released a multi-page document regarding its bid for Makino Milling Machine Co (6135 JP) yesterday. 
  • It talked a bit about the back-and-forth with Makino, and gave Nidec’s side of the story. Makino has been making their side public too. A meeting is due early March.
  • In the document, there was a line suggesting Nidec won’t raise price even against a counteroffer. They didn’t need to say that. The question is what Makino will do.

JX Advanced Metals (5016 JP) IPO: Valuation Insights

By Arun George


Unpacking a $20b undeveloped mine deal

By Money of Mine

  • Huge deal with Mitsui purchasing a 40% stake in Roads Ridge for billions of dollars
  • Decades-long negotiation process with owners of the asset culminating in the sale
  • Roads Ridge is a massive iron ore deposit with potential for long-term production, standing out for its high quality iron content and low phosphorus levels in comparison to other mines in the region

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


JX Advance Metals Pre-IPO – Thoughts on Valuation

By Sumeet Singh

  • JX Advanced Metals (5016 JP)’s parent,  ENEOS Holdings (5020 JP), is looking to raise around US$2.6bn via selling more than half of its stake in JXAM in its Japan IPO.
  • JXAM engages in business activities primarily focused on the development, manufacture and sale of materials made from copper and rare metals, which are used in the semiconductor and ICT fields.
  • We looked at the company’s past performance and undertook a peer comparison in our previous note. In this note, we talk about valuations.

How Is Sony Group Leveraging Synergy in Entertainment & Technology To Up The Ante!

By Baptista Research

  • Sony Group Corporation’s recent earnings highlighted its financial performance for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 and provided insights into future strategic direction amid a transitional leadership period.
  • The company’s revenue and profit saw substantial growth, yet certain challenges remain, reflecting the complexities within its diverse business segments.
  • Positive aspects of Sony’s financial performance include a 7% year-on-year increase in consolidated sales, excluding its Financial Services segment, reaching JPY 3,695.7 billion for the quarter.

Honda Motor Co.: How Is It Adapting To The Shifting Global Vehicle Mix & Regional Market Dynamics?

By Baptista Research

  • Honda Motor Co., Ltd.’s financial performance in the first quarter of FY 2025 presented a complex picture with both strengths and challenges noted.
  • On the positive side, Honda achieved its highest ever quarterly operating profit of JPY 484.7 billion, up JPY 90.2 billion year-over-year, translating into a robust operating profit margin of 9%.
  • The growth was largely driven by an increase in unit sales in the Motorcycle Business, particularly in India and Brazil, and a strong performance in the Automobile Business, especially with hybrid models in Japan and the U.S. Baptista Research looks to evaluate the different factors that could influence the company’s price in the near future and attempts to carry out an independent valuation of the company using a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methodology.

Pre-AGM Filling of Annual Securities Reports Is Plus, but May Take Long Before More Companies Do So

By Aki Matsumoto

  • 42 companies submitted their annual securities reports by the business day before AGM date, and most of them submitted their reports immediately before AGM, such as the day before AGM.
  • If the record date is moved forward from fiscal year-end, the problem of administrative burden will be solved. English-disclosure in annual securities reports will increase, and engagement will be positive.
  • For companies with a record date in their articles of incorporation, changing the record date would require general shareholders’ meeting, but only a few shareholders would oppose the change.

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Daily Brief China: Trip.com, ZTO Express Cayman , Softbank Group, Xiaomi Corp, Greentown China, China Dongxiang, NetEase Inc, Butong Group, Manycore Tech and more

By | China, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Trip.com (TCOM, 9961HK): 4Q24, Even Better Results, But Plunged as Expected
  • Trip.com Q424 Results | Higher Costs Finally Arrive, And With a Vengeance
  • ZTO Express (2057 HK): Not Delivering Despite Double Index Inclusion
  • Asia Real Estate Tracker (25-Feb-2025): Global capital flows boost Australian logistics market.
  • Xiaomi: 3 Option Hedges for Extreme Price & Volatility Environment
  • Morning Views Asia: China Vanke , Greentown China, UPL Ltd
  • China Dongxiang (3818 HK): More than Just BABA
  • [NetEase (NTES US, BUY, TP US$122) TP Change]: C4Q24 Review: Getting Ready for Accelerated Growth
  • Pre-IPO Butong Group – The Current High Growth May Not Be Sustainable
  • Manycore Tech Pre-IPO Tearsheet


Trip.com (TCOM, 9961HK): 4Q24, Even Better Results, But Plunged as Expected

By Ming Lu

  • Total revenue grew by 24% in 4Q24, higher than 19% we expected.
  • The stock price plunged in Hong Kong as we expect in our preview note.
  • However, we believe, any stock decline over 11% means overreacted.

Trip.com Q424 Results | Higher Costs Finally Arrive, And With a Vengeance

By Daniel Hellberg

  • Net Revenue growth accelerated to +23% Y/Y in Q424, far stronger than in Q224 and Q324
  • But costs and expenses grew even faster, leading to surprisingly sharp margin contraction
  • We no longer view Trip.com as an attractive play on Chinese travel; airlines may outperform

ZTO Express (2057 HK): Not Delivering Despite Double Index Inclusion

By Brian Freitas

  • ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK) will be added to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) next week and to a global index couple of weeks after that.
  • Despite passives needing to buy more than 5% of float inside a month, the stock has barely budged in a rallying China market.
  • The increase in cumulative excess volume has been very gradual, indicative of low positioning in the stock. With a lot to buy over the next few weeks, that could change.

Asia Real Estate Tracker (25-Feb-2025): Global capital flows boost Australian logistics market.

By Asia Real Estate Tracker

  • Global capital flowing into Australian logistics market as it reaches turning point, attracting investments.
  • Japan REIT makes deals in Tokyo, buying Tokyo Tower for $120M and selling office block for $62M.
  • CapitaLand India Trust acquires Bengaluru offices for $170M after project funding, expanding its portfolio.

Xiaomi: 3 Option Hedges for Extreme Price & Volatility Environment

By John Ley

  • Xiaomi has had a remarkable rally, ranking at the 99th percentile for all previous 1-month price changes.
  • Implied vols have surged along with price with 1M, 2M and 3M implied vols all ranking above the 95th over the past 4 years.  
  • We recommend how to manage risk and positioning given the extreme price and implied vol dynamics.

Morning Views Asia: China Vanke , Greentown China, UPL Ltd

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.


China Dongxiang (3818 HK): More than Just BABA

By Osbert Tang, CFA

  • China Dongxiang (3818 HK)‘s share price change has not sufficiently reflected Alibaba Group (9988 HK)‘s movement. Their share price ratio is now at a historical low. 
  • Its SOTP value increased by HK$927m with the surge in its PE, unlisted and fixed-income investment value, but its market capitalisation has gone up by just HK$258m.
  • Holdings in unlisted assets like Ant Financial and JD Technology (JD Digital) will benefit from the AI bonanza and the better sentiment in the HK IPO market.

[NetEase (NTES US, BUY, TP US$122) TP Change]: C4Q24 Review: Getting Ready for Accelerated Growth

By Ying Pan

  • NetEase reported C4Q24 rev., GAAP op. profit and GAAP net inc. in line/3.9%/27% vs. our est., and in line/9.3%/27% vs. cons. 
  • We see NetEase entering a new phase of product-driven revenue growth, driven by rebounding mobile and accelerating PC game growth;
  • We raise TP to US$122 and keep NTES as our TOP PICK in gaming sector.

Pre-IPO Butong Group – The Current High Growth May Not Be Sustainable

By Xinyao (Criss) Wang

  • BUTONG’s growth momentum remained high, but customers are more focused on cost-effectiveness rather than premium products. We are unsure whether BUTONG’s  current high growth is sustainable in this low-growth industry. 
  • The more revenue proportion from baby care products, the lower overall gross margin would be.BUTONG’s strategy of emphasizing sales over R&D isn’t conducive to establishing core competitiveness in fierce competition.
  • After Series B financing, the post-investment valuation reached about RMB2 billion. However, the market value of peers is not high. BUTONG’s post-IPO valuation performance may be lower than expected.

Manycore Tech Pre-IPO Tearsheet

By Akshat Shah

  • Manycore Tech (KOOL US) is looking to raise about US$300m in its upcoming Hong Kong IPO. The deal will be run by JPM and CCBI.
  • Manycore Tech is an AI powered design and visualization platform with graphics processing unit clusters. Designs crafted can be translated into production-ready drawings, enabling an automated and accurate manufacturing process.
  • According to F&S, it was world’s largest spatial design platform and largest software provider in China’s spatial design industry, based on average monthly active users and revenue, respectively, in 2023.

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Daily Brief United States: Sandisk Corp, S&P 500 INDEX, Smithfield Foods, Twilio , Nasdaq-100 Stock Index, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Davita Healthcare Partners, Moderna , Bio-Rad Laboratories A and more

By | Daily Briefs, United States

In today’s briefing:

  • [Alert] Sell Sandisk Spin-off
  • Near-Term Downside Likely Following False Breakouts; Targeting 5770-5850; Long-Term Still Bullish
  • Potential Buyout of Nathan’s Famous by Smithfield Foods Could Unlock 45% Upside Amid Strategic Synergies
  • Twilio Inc.: How Is The Management Capitalizing On AI Integration & Product Cross-Selling Opportunities?
  • Where Is the Nasdaq 100 Headed Next?
  • [US Crude Oil Options Weekly 2025/08] WTI Surrendered Gains on Weak Economic Signals
  • [US Nat Gas Options Weekly 2025/08] Henry Hub Extends Gains for Third Week Amid Sustained Cold Snap
  • DaVita Inc.: Is Their Expectation Regarding Revenue Per Treatment Growth Reasonable?
  • Moderna Inc.: Is Its mRNA Platform Fueling A Multi-Billion-Dollar Pipeline Beyond COVID?
  • Bio-Rad Laboratories: Expanding In Digital PCR To Strengthen Presence & Advance Molecular Diagnostics!


[Alert] Sell Sandisk Spin-off

By Richard Howe

  • Today, investors received shares in the new SanDisk spin-off.

  • Shares are currently slightly up due to buying pressure ahead of the stock being added to the S&P 600 index effective tomorrow.

  • SanDisk is trading at 1.1x revenue which is a reasonable valuation (Xioxia, Sandisk’s JV partner, trades at 1.3x LTM revenue).


Near-Term Downside Likely Following False Breakouts; Targeting 5770-5850; Long-Term Still Bullish

By Joe Jasper

  • Our long-term outlook remains bullish as long as the S&P 500 remains above 5770-5850 and 5600-5670 (worst case), and we are buyers at these levels.
  • With that said, we see potential for near-term downside based on several developments discussed below.  It likely means at least another 2-4 weeks of consolidation
  • If SPX remains below 6100 and 6150 resistances, do not be surprised if there is a test of the bottom of the range at either 5770-5850 or 5600-5670

Potential Buyout of Nathan’s Famous by Smithfield Foods Could Unlock 45% Upside Amid Strategic Synergies

By Special Situation Investments

  • Nathan’s Famous is in potential sale talks, with major food manufacturers and PE firms as potential buyers.
  • Smithfield Foods, Nathan’s key partner, is well-positioned for acquisition, potentially eliminating royalties and achieving cost synergies.
  • Sum of the parts valuation estimates Nathan’s equity value at $604m or $148/share, a 45% upside potential.

Twilio Inc.: How Is The Management Capitalizing On AI Integration & Product Cross-Selling Opportunities?

By Baptista Research

  • Twilio Inc. presented a compelling performance in the fourth quarter of 2024, showcasing its evolution and strategic progress.
  • The company reported $1.195 billion in revenue, marking an 11% increase year-over-year, achieving consecutive quarters of double-digit growth.
  • This quarter was particularly notable as it was Twilio’s first to achieve GAAP operating profitability, ahead of its initial target, underscoring the firm’s focus on balanced growth and profitability.

Where Is the Nasdaq 100 Headed Next?

By Nico Rosti

  • The Nasdaq-100 INDEX started to pull back last week, this is the second week down in a row and the index is very oversold according to our tactical model.
  • The DAILY model signals extreme oversold conditions, a reversal is imminent. The WEEKLY model is also oversold but still leaves room for further downside…
  • A possible scenario is a DAILY bounce (1 or 2 days up) followed by more WEEKLY downside (another 1-2 weeks down). This insight wil analyze only the WEEKLY model.

[US Crude Oil Options Weekly 2025/08] WTI Surrendered Gains on Weak Economic Signals

By Suhas Reddy

  • WTI futures fell by 0.5% for the week ending 21/Feb, marking its fifth consecutive weekly drop. Prices fell due to bearish economic data and rising crude inventories.
  • WTI options Put/Call volume ratio surged to 1.62 on 21/Feb (Fri) from 0.94 on 14/Feb, as call volume rose by 15.9% WoW while put volume jumped by 100%.  
  • WTI OI PCR fell to 0.95 on 21/Feb compared to 0.96 on 14/Feb. Call OI increased by 6.5% WoW, while put OI rose by 6.1%.

[US Nat Gas Options Weekly 2025/08] Henry Hub Extends Gains for Third Week Amid Sustained Cold Snap

By Suhas Reddy

  • For the week ending 21/Feb, U.S. natural gas prices gained 13.7% on the back of colder weather forecasts, rising LNG exports, and falling inventories.
  • Henry Hub Put/Call volume ratio rose to 0.72 on 21/Feb from 0.66 on 14/Feb as call volumes increased by 81.4% WoW, while put volumes surged by 98%. 
  • Henry Hub OI PCR rose to 1.04 on 21/Feb from 0.98 on 14/Feb. Call OI rose by 7.1% WoW, while put OI increased by 13.3%.

DaVita Inc.: Is Their Expectation Regarding Revenue Per Treatment Growth Reasonable?

By Baptista Research

  • DaVita ended 2024 strongly, with adjusted operating income of $1.98 billion and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) growing by 26% year-over-year, reaching $9.68.
  • However, challenges such as the Change Healthcare outage and supply chain disruptions due to Hurricane Helene impacted performance.
  • These issues contributed to a $6 million negative impact on operating income in the fourth quarter.

Moderna Inc.: Is Its mRNA Platform Fueling A Multi-Billion-Dollar Pipeline Beyond COVID?

By Baptista Research

  • Moderna reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2024, revealing both opportunities and challenges.
  • The company recorded total revenue of $3.2 billion for the year, a 53% decrease from 2023, attributed largely to declining product sales.
  • The net loss for 2024 was $3.6 billion, a slight improvement from a $4.7 billion net loss in 2023.

Bio-Rad Laboratories: Expanding In Digital PCR To Strengthen Presence & Advance Molecular Diagnostics!

By Baptista Research

  • Bio-Rad Laboratories recently announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and the full fiscal year 2024, revealing both achievements and challenges.
  • The company reported net sales of approximately $668 million in the fourth quarter, representing a decline of 2% on a reported basis compared to the same period last year.
  • This decrease was largely attributed to a shorter turnaround in the Life Science segment and fluctuations in the biopharma market, notably in China, which still reflected a market downturn.

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Daily Brief Industrials: Makino Milling Machine Co, ZTO Express Cayman , Greaves Cotton, Mitsui & Co Ltd, JSW Cement Limited, Deutsche Post, Herc Holdings , Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifi, Singtel, Grupo Aeroportuario Cen-Adr and more

By | Daily Briefs, Industrials

In today’s briefing:

  • Nidec Says It Won’t Raise Price on Makino (6135)
  • ZTO Express (2057 HK): Not Delivering Despite Double Index Inclusion
  • The Beat Ideas: Greaves Cotton- Demerging The Cash Cow From Mobility Business
  • Unpacking a $20b undeveloped mine deal
  • JSW Cement Pre-IPO – Leveraging Synergies of the JSW Group but Has High Debt
  • What’s New(s) in Amsterdam – 24 February (InPost | JET / Prosus | PostNL | DHL | Corporate agenda)
  • Herc Holdings Inc.: Fleet Optimization & Efficiency Driving Our Optimism!
  • GAPB MM – Actinver Research – GAP 4Q24: Positive Results, Above Conesus Estimate (Quick View)
  • Market Leaders Pursuing Significant Strategic Transformations
  • OMAB US – Actinver Research – OMA: Reported better-than-expected 4Q24 results (Quick View)


Nidec Says It Won’t Raise Price on Makino (6135)

By Travis Lundy

  • Nidec Corp (6594 JP) released a multi-page document regarding its bid for Makino Milling Machine Co (6135 JP) yesterday. 
  • It talked a bit about the back-and-forth with Makino, and gave Nidec’s side of the story. Makino has been making their side public too. A meeting is due early March.
  • In the document, there was a line suggesting Nidec won’t raise price even against a counteroffer. They didn’t need to say that. The question is what Makino will do.

ZTO Express (2057 HK): Not Delivering Despite Double Index Inclusion

By Brian Freitas

  • ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK) will be added to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) next week and to a global index couple of weeks after that.
  • Despite passives needing to buy more than 5% of float inside a month, the stock has barely budged in a rallying China market.
  • The increase in cumulative excess volume has been very gradual, indicative of low positioning in the stock. With a lot to buy over the next few weeks, that could change.

The Beat Ideas: Greaves Cotton- Demerging The Cash Cow From Mobility Business

By Sudarshan Bhandari

  • Greaves Cotton (GRV IN) is raising funds by separately listing its mobility arm, enabling better focus and execution for the segment.
  • Company is guiding for 30,000Cr topline by 2030  with 13-15% margins excluding mobility segment.
  • The company’s core business remains profitable and on a growth path. New funds will improve the mobility arm’s operations and support current business growth would be from ongoing capex investments.

Unpacking a $20b undeveloped mine deal

By Money of Mine

  • Huge deal with Mitsui purchasing a 40% stake in Roads Ridge for billions of dollars
  • Decades-long negotiation process with owners of the asset culminating in the sale
  • Roads Ridge is a massive iron ore deposit with potential for long-term production, standing out for its high quality iron content and low phosphorus levels in comparison to other mines in the region

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


JSW Cement Pre-IPO – Leveraging Synergies of the JSW Group but Has High Debt

By Akshat Shah

  • JSW Cement Limited (9858514Z IN)  is looking to raise about US$480m in its upcoming India IPO.
  • JSW Cement (JSWC) is a cement manufacturing company in India focused on manufacturing green cementitious products comprising blended cement, ordinary portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag, among other products.
  • In this note, we talk about the company’s historical performance.

What’s New(s) in Amsterdam – 24 February (InPost | JET / Prosus | PostNL | DHL | Corporate agenda)

By The IDEA!

  • In today’s edition: • InPost | launches end-to-end C2X parcels service in the UK • Just Eat Takeaway.com | agrees on EUR 20.30 per share offer by Prosus • PostNL | expects FY25 normalised EBIT to be in line with FY24 • PostNL | DHL Netherlands to double APM locations and expands into mail • Corporate agenda | week 9 – 12

Herc Holdings Inc.: Fleet Optimization & Efficiency Driving Our Optimism!

By Baptista Research

  • Herc Holdings, operating through its principal brand Herc Rentals, reported its fourth quarter and full year 2024 results showcasing a diversified growth strategy and addressing dynamic market conditions.
  • A significant factor in the company’s performance was its expansionary strategy, which saw the opening of 23 greenfield branches and the acquisition of 28 locations, emphasizing its urban market growth strategy.
  • These strategic moves have amplified Herc Holdings’ market presence, especially in key metropolitan areas, driving improvements in revenue efficiencies.

GAPB MM – Actinver Research – GAP 4Q24: Positive Results, Above Conesus Estimate (Quick View)

By Actinver

  • Operating Revenues of P$7.1bn were driven by solid non-aeronautical growth.
  • Total operating sales growth of 16% YoY was driven by a solid 32% YoY gain in non-aeronautical revenues, mainly explained by consolidating the cargo and free trade zone business at the Guadalajara airport (GWTC).
  • On the other hand, aeronautical revenues (70% of total) increased by 11% YoY because of a 1.4% increase in total PAX and a 14% gain in the aero-weighted average rate.

Market Leaders Pursuing Significant Strategic Transformations

By Geoff Howie

  • Seatrium reported FY24 net profit of S$200 million, revenue growth of 27%, and proposed a 1.5 cent dividend.
  • Singtel’s ST28 strategy focuses on connectivity, digital services, and infrastructure, identifying S$6 billion in monetisable assets.
  • CapitaLand Investment aims to scale FUM to S$200 billion by 2028, focusing on asset-light, fee income model.

OMAB US – Actinver Research – OMA: Reported better-than-expected 4Q24 results (Quick View)

By Actinver

  • OMA posted results that were better than expected by the consensus and were in line with our estimates.
  • Total EBITDA came in at P$2.4 Bn (+1% above our estimate and +3% above the consensus expectation) with an 8% YoY gain.
  • The EBITDA margin was 73.8%, 3.9 pp.

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars



Daily Brief Industrials: Makino Milling Machine Co, ZTO Express Cayman , Greaves Cotton, Mitsui & Co Ltd, JSW Cement Limited, Deutsche Post, Herc Holdings , Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifi, Singtel, Grupo Aeroportuario Cen-Adr and more

By | Daily Briefs, Industrials

In today’s briefing:

  • Nidec Says It Won’t Raise Price on Makino (6135)
  • ZTO Express (2057 HK): Not Delivering Despite Double Index Inclusion
  • The Beat Ideas: Greaves Cotton- Demerging The Cash Cow From Mobility Business
  • Unpacking a $20b undeveloped mine deal
  • JSW Cement Pre-IPO – Leveraging Synergies of the JSW Group but Has High Debt
  • What’s New(s) in Amsterdam – 24 February (InPost | JET / Prosus | PostNL | DHL | Corporate agenda)
  • Herc Holdings Inc.: Fleet Optimization & Efficiency Driving Our Optimism!
  • GAPB MM – Actinver Research – GAP 4Q24: Positive Results, Above Conesus Estimate (Quick View)
  • Market Leaders Pursuing Significant Strategic Transformations
  • OMAB US – Actinver Research – OMA: Reported better-than-expected 4Q24 results (Quick View)


Nidec Says It Won’t Raise Price on Makino (6135)

By Travis Lundy

  • Nidec Corp (6594 JP) released a multi-page document regarding its bid for Makino Milling Machine Co (6135 JP) yesterday. 
  • It talked a bit about the back-and-forth with Makino, and gave Nidec’s side of the story. Makino has been making their side public too. A meeting is due early March.
  • In the document, there was a line suggesting Nidec won’t raise price even against a counteroffer. They didn’t need to say that. The question is what Makino will do.

ZTO Express (2057 HK): Not Delivering Despite Double Index Inclusion

By Brian Freitas

  • ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK) will be added to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) next week and to a global index couple of weeks after that.
  • Despite passives needing to buy more than 5% of float inside a month, the stock has barely budged in a rallying China market.
  • The increase in cumulative excess volume has been very gradual, indicative of low positioning in the stock. With a lot to buy over the next few weeks, that could change.

The Beat Ideas: Greaves Cotton- Demerging The Cash Cow From Mobility Business

By Sudarshan Bhandari

  • Greaves Cotton (GRV IN) is raising funds by separately listing its mobility arm, enabling better focus and execution for the segment.
  • Company is guiding for 30,000Cr topline by 2030  with 13-15% margins excluding mobility segment.
  • The company’s core business remains profitable and on a growth path. New funds will improve the mobility arm’s operations and support current business growth would be from ongoing capex investments.

Unpacking a $20b undeveloped mine deal

By Money of Mine

  • Huge deal with Mitsui purchasing a 40% stake in Roads Ridge for billions of dollars
  • Decades-long negotiation process with owners of the asset culminating in the sale
  • Roads Ridge is a massive iron ore deposit with potential for long-term production, standing out for its high quality iron content and low phosphorus levels in comparison to other mines in the region

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


JSW Cement Pre-IPO – Leveraging Synergies of the JSW Group but Has High Debt

By Akshat Shah

  • JSW Cement Limited (9858514Z IN)  is looking to raise about US$480m in its upcoming India IPO.
  • JSW Cement (JSWC) is a cement manufacturing company in India focused on manufacturing green cementitious products comprising blended cement, ordinary portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag, among other products.
  • In this note, we talk about the company’s historical performance.

What’s New(s) in Amsterdam – 24 February (InPost | JET / Prosus | PostNL | DHL | Corporate agenda)

By The IDEA!

  • In today’s edition: • InPost | launches end-to-end C2X parcels service in the UK • Just Eat Takeaway.com | agrees on EUR 20.30 per share offer by Prosus • PostNL | expects FY25 normalised EBIT to be in line with FY24 • PostNL | DHL Netherlands to double APM locations and expands into mail • Corporate agenda | week 9 – 12

Herc Holdings Inc.: Fleet Optimization & Efficiency Driving Our Optimism!

By Baptista Research

  • Herc Holdings, operating through its principal brand Herc Rentals, reported its fourth quarter and full year 2024 results showcasing a diversified growth strategy and addressing dynamic market conditions.
  • A significant factor in the company’s performance was its expansionary strategy, which saw the opening of 23 greenfield branches and the acquisition of 28 locations, emphasizing its urban market growth strategy.
  • These strategic moves have amplified Herc Holdings’ market presence, especially in key metropolitan areas, driving improvements in revenue efficiencies.

GAPB MM – Actinver Research – GAP 4Q24: Positive Results, Above Conesus Estimate (Quick View)

By Actinver

  • Operating Revenues of P$7.1bn were driven by solid non-aeronautical growth.
  • Total operating sales growth of 16% YoY was driven by a solid 32% YoY gain in non-aeronautical revenues, mainly explained by consolidating the cargo and free trade zone business at the Guadalajara airport (GWTC).
  • On the other hand, aeronautical revenues (70% of total) increased by 11% YoY because of a 1.4% increase in total PAX and a 14% gain in the aero-weighted average rate.

Market Leaders Pursuing Significant Strategic Transformations

By Geoff Howie

  • Seatrium reported FY24 net profit of S$200 million, revenue growth of 27%, and proposed a 1.5 cent dividend.
  • Singtel’s ST28 strategy focuses on connectivity, digital services, and infrastructure, identifying S$6 billion in monetisable assets.
  • CapitaLand Investment aims to scale FUM to S$200 billion by 2028, focusing on asset-light, fee income model.

OMAB US – Actinver Research – OMA: Reported better-than-expected 4Q24 results (Quick View)

By Actinver

  • OMA posted results that were better than expected by the consensus and were in line with our estimates.
  • Total EBITDA came in at P$2.4 Bn (+1% above our estimate and +3% above the consensus expectation) with an 8% YoY gain.
  • The EBITDA margin was 73.8%, 3.9 pp.

💡 Before it’s here, it’s on Smartkarma

Sign Up for Free

The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

  • ✓ Unlimited Research Summaries
  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars