China/Asia TMT

Shawn Yang

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>We update our China online advertising model and forecast that the industry will reach RMB 1,167 bn with 9.3% YoY in 2023, rebounding from 2.7% YoY in 2022.</li>
<li>Bytedance's slowdown, Tencent's Video Account, and some sectors' uneven faster-than-expected recoveries will be three key themes that could generate investment opportunities in 2023.</li>
<li>We recommend BUY Tencent, BABA, PDD, and Meituan within the sector.</li>
</ul>


We update our China online advertising model and forecast that the industry will reach RMB 1,167 bn with 9.3% YoY in 2023, rebounding from 2.7% YoY in 2022.
Bytedance's slowdown, Tencent's Video Account, and some sectors' uneven faster-than-expected recoveries will be three key themes that could generate investment opportunities in 2023.
We recommend BUY Tencent, BABA, PDD, and Meituan within the sector.


China Online Ads Outlook: A Year of Uneven Recovery

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>There has been debate: 1) why PDD’s take rate can be higher than BABA, 2) how to justify PDD’s long term margin, 3) will PDD be able to beat cons.</li>
<li>We suggest that the key driver of PDD’s outperformance in recent quarters has been the weak macro environment.</li>
<li>We raise our 2023 forecasts of total revenue and non-GAAP net income by 4% and 19%, more than consensus by 8% and 7% respectively.</li>
</ul>


There has been debate: 1) why PDD’s take rate can be higher than BABA, 2) how to justify PDD’s long term margin, 3) will PDD be able to beat cons.
We suggest that the key driver of PDD’s outperformance in recent quarters has been the weak macro environment.
We raise our 2023 forecasts of total revenue and non-GAAP net income by 4% and 19%, more than consensus by 8% and 7% respectively.


Raise 2023 Forecasts Due to High Take Rate

<ul>
<li>Douyin eCommerce next important step is Douyin Shopping Mall, an in-app page like Taobao/PDD. </li>
<li>We are conservative about Douyin Shopping Mall’s potential, and we suggest that it could only reach 20% of Douyin eCommerce GMV in the long term.  </li>
<li>We suggest that the slowdown growth of Douyin eCommerce will be positive to BABA mostly, and then followed by PDD and JD. Kuaishou is encountering similar issues with Douyin. </li>
</ul>


Douyin eCommerce next important step is Douyin Shopping Mall, an in-app page like Taobao/PDD. 
We are conservative about Douyin Shopping Mall’s potential, and we suggest that it could only reach 20% of Douyin eCommerce GMV in the long term.  
We suggest that the slowdown growth of Douyin eCommerce will be positive to BABA mostly, and then followed by PDD and JD. Kuaishou is encountering similar issues with Douyin. 


Douyin Shopping Mall Unlikely to Be a Game Changer

Greater China Equity Long/Short Analyst

Eric Chen

<ul>
<li>We believe it was a wise move for PDD to launch the overseas online marketplace TEMU first off the U.S., because of its massive, lucrative and integrated retail markets.</li>
<li>Still, the adventure lacks some of the recipe for successes PDD made during its early days, and the failure of Wish suggests pricing not come at the expense of quality.</li>
<li>We expect TEMU to lose US$2bn in 2024 (1/3 of PDD’s FY22 earnings) and won’t generate meaningful profit probably until 2026, reinforcing our view on PDD’s near-term earnings risk.</li>
</ul>


We believe it was a wise move for PDD to launch the overseas online marketplace TEMU first off the U.S., because of its massive, lucrative and integrated retail markets.
Still, the adventure lacks some of the recipe for successes PDD made during its early days, and the failure of Wish suggests pricing not come at the expense of quality.
We expect TEMU to lose US$2bn in 2024 (1/3 of PDD’s FY22 earnings) and won’t generate meaningful profit probably until 2026, reinforcing our view on PDD’s near-term earnings risk.


Pinduoduo (PDD US): More Thoughts on TEMU

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>After bouncing more than 60% from a near-all-time low, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>’s progress seems to have ended abruptly with the share-price holding flat for almost a month in December-2022.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, the company's cash cows, Taobao and Tmall are losing market share. Rapidly rising COVID infections create new headwinds that could affect business performance for at least two more quarters.</li>
<li>With the shares trading near the top end of the new downward trend channel, we are short Alibaba as earnings are expected to miss consensus estimates in the next two-quarters.</li>
</ul>


After bouncing more than 60% from a near-all-time low, Alibaba Group (9988 HK)’s progress seems to have ended abruptly with the share-price holding flat for almost a month in December-2022.
Meanwhile, the company's cash cows, Taobao and Tmall are losing market share. Rapidly rising COVID infections create new headwinds that could affect business performance for at least two more quarters.
With the shares trading near the top end of the new downward trend channel, we are short Alibaba as earnings are expected to miss consensus estimates in the next two-quarters.


Alibaba – Cash Cows in Trouble & Rapidly Rising COVID Creates New Headwinds

China

PDD Holdings Inc. is a multinational commerce group that owns and operates a portfolio of businesses. The Company focuses on digital economy so that local communities and small businesses can benefit from the increased productivity and new opportunities. PDD Holdings has built a network of sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment capabilities for its underlying businesses.

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PDD Holdings (PDD US)

China Online Ads Outlook: A Year of Uneven Recovery

We update our China online advertising model and conclude that Bytedance's slowdown, Tencent's Video Account, and some sectors' uneven recoveries...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Raise 2023 Forecasts Due to High Take Rate

Our replies to some of the investors' most asked questions about PDD after strong beat in the last two quarters. We reiterate BUY with TP of...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Douyin Shopping Mall Unlikely to Be a Game Changer

Douyin's eCommerce has long been seen as a game changer, but we don't think it will continue this year. The slowdown growth of Douyin eCommerce...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Pinduoduo (PDD US): More Thoughts on TEMU

We believe PDD rightly choose the U.S. (versus SE Asia) to launch TEMU, but success is far from guaranteed due to difficulties in copying PDD...

Eric Chen

Alibaba – Cash Cows in Trouble & Rapidly Rising COVID Creates New Headwinds

Alibaba's cash cows, Taobao and Tmall are losing market share. Rapidly rising COVID infections create new headwinds that could affect business...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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