TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst, Obex Capital Research

Aaron Gabin

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research Analyst

TMT & Consumer Independent Equity Research

Obex Capital Research

“Obex” is Latin for Barriers to Entry. Obex Capital Management’s investment philosophy is driven by an intense focus on which business model’s Barriers to Entry are able to withstand the ever increasing competitive disruption in the TMT and Consumer Sectors.

Equity Bottom-Up

Spotify printed a modest beat on 4Q and a particularly poor guidance for 2021 – even for a company that chronically underwhelms on guidance. What strikes us is this is one of the worst business models of a large cap TMT company we’ve ever seen. The future bliss of podcasting driven profitability is clearly just that…future bliss. Management has NEVER explained how podcasting will translate into a more profitable business other than through hazy comments about “holistic nature of churn reduction and new users”…it reminds us of Reed Hastings when he promised that one day Netflix would be FCF positive years ago…but at least Netflix had an operating model with inherent operating leverage and pricing power, neither of which is present with Spotify. We can justify downside to $125, but realistically think $200 is a reasonable price target.<div class="content-highlight">Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.</div>

Spotify printed a modest beat on 4Q and a particularly poor guidance for 2021 – even for a company that chronically underwhelms on guidance. What strikes us is this is one of the worst business models of a large cap TMT company we’ve ever seen. The future bliss of podcasting driven profitability is clearly just that…future bliss. Management has NEVER explained how podcasting will translate into a more profitable business other than through hazy comments about “holistic nature of churn reduction and new users”…it reminds us of Reed Hastings when he promised that one day Netflix would be FCF positive years ago…but at least Netflix had an operating model with inherent operating leverage and pricing power, neither of which is present with Spotify. We can justify downside to $125, but realistically think $200 is a reasonable price target.Obex’s fundamental research process is focused on secular change in the TMT and Consumer sectors. We seek to differentiate between fundamental business analysis and security analysis. Before deciding if a security’s pricing and positioning merit a long or short position, we analyze the four pillars of business fundamentals (Secular Factors, TAM, Competitive Advantage, Business Model) in order to determine if this is a “good” or “not so good” opportunity.

Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul class="">
<li>The chief of the People’s Bank of China made a positive comment on Ant Group.</li>
<li>India will ban 59 Chinese apps forever.</li>
<li>Tencent Music (TME US) increased its shareholdings in Universal Music Group.</li>
<li>Xiaomi (1810 HK)'s smartphone shipment increased by 32% yoy in 4Q20. </li>
</ul>


The chief of the People’s Bank of China made a positive comment on Ant Group.
India will ban 59 Chinese apps forever.
Tencent Music (TME US) increased its shareholdings in Universal Music Group.
Xiaomi (1810 HK)'s smartphone shipment increased by 32% yoy in 4Q20. 


China Internet Weekly (1Feb2021): Central Bank's Positive Comment on Ant, Xiaomi Got Mkt Share in Q4

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.

Equity Capital Markets

As the US-listed Chinese tech firms such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bilibili-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26793:1" rel="noopener">Bilibili Inc (BILI US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-music-entertainment" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27255:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Music (TME US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vipshop-holdings-ltd-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1088:1" rel="noopener">Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/joyy-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:285:1" rel="noopener">JOYY (YY US)</a> rush for secondary listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange amidst the uncertainty surrounding the US policy framework, in this insight, we analyse the ADR/HKEX discount/premium behaviour of the 10 most recent secondary listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

As the US-listed Chinese tech firms such as Bilibili Inc (BILI US), Tencent Music (TME US), Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US), and JOYY (YY US) rush for secondary listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange amidst the uncertainty surrounding the US policy framework, in this insight, we analyse the ADR/HKEX discount/premium behaviour of the 10 most recent secondary listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

An Analysis of ADR/HKEX Discount Behavior As The US Listed Chinese Tech Rush To Hong Kong

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

Kuaishou Technology / Equity Capital Markets

Kuaishou Technology (KT) is a content community and social platform that is looking to raise around US$5bn in its Hong Kong IPO. The company is backed by Tencent, Sequoia China, Baidu, DST Global, Boyu Capital, Temasek and others.As of six months ended Jun 2020, it had 302m daily active users (DAUs), who spent 85 mins on average on the app every day. It also had 776m monthly active users (MAUs) and total e-commerce GMV of RMB109.6bn. On an average 1.1bn short videos were uploaded on its app during 1H20.As per iResearch, Kuaishou was globally the largest live streaming platform by gross billings from virtual gifting and average live streaming MPUs, the second largest short video platform by average DAUs, and the second largest live streaming e-commerce platform by GMV, over six months ended June 30, 2020.I have covered various aspects of the company’s performance in my previous notes: <ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kuaishou-technology-pre-ipo-the-positives-hot-segment-fast-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology Pre-IPO - The Positives - Hot Segment, fast growth</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kuaishou-technology-pre-ipo-the-negatives-ample-doubts-remain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Ample Doubts Remain</a></li>
</ul>In this note, I’ll undertake a peer comparison, provide earnings forecasts and talk about valuations.

Kuaishou Technology (KT) is a content community and social platform that is looking to raise around US$5bn in its Hong Kong IPO. The company is backed by Tencent, Sequoia China, Baidu, DST Global, Boyu Capital, Temasek and others.As of six months ended Jun 2020, it had 302m daily active users (DAUs), who spent 85 mins on average on the app every day. It also had 776m monthly active users (MAUs) and total e-commerce GMV of RMB109.6bn. On an average 1.1bn short videos were uploaded on its app during 1H20.As per iResearch, Kuaishou was globally the largest live streaming platform by gross billings from virtual gifting and average live streaming MPUs, the second largest short video platform by average DAUs, and the second largest live streaming e-commerce platform by GMV, over six months ended June 30, 2020.I have covered various aspects of the company’s performance in my previous notes: 
 Kuaishou Technology Pre-IPO - The Positives - Hot Segment, fast growth

Kuaishou Technology Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Ample Doubts Remain
In this note, I’ll undertake a peer comparison, provide earnings forecasts and talk about valuations. 

Kuaishou Technology Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison and Thoughts on Valuation

<ul class="">
<li>China housing Sales data has recovered strongly since May. Housing sales area grew by 2 digits yoy in October and November.</li>
<li>KE’s revenue increased by 71% yoy in 3Q20. We are not concerned about the pre-IPO margin decline.</li>
<li>We believe the stock has an upside of 14%~22 for the end of 2021.</li>
</ul>


China housing Sales data has recovered strongly since May. Housing sales area grew by 2 digits yoy in October and November.
KE’s revenue increased by 71% yoy in 3Q20. We are not concerned about the pre-IPO margin decline.
We believe the stock has an upside of 14%~22 for the end of 2021.


KE (BEKE): Riding on Housing Surge in China

China

Tencent Music Entertainment operates an online music entertainment platform in China. The Company offers platform that comprises of online music, recording, music-centric live streaming enabling users to discover, listen, sing, watch, perform, and socialize music.

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Tencent Music (TME US)

Spotify 4Q20: Just Trust Us

Spotify printed an OK quarter paired with awful guidance for 2021, especially given that its excuses for missing guidance were they reasons they...

Aaron Gabin

An Analysis of ADR/HKEX Discount Behavior As The US Listed Chinese Tech Rush To Hong Kong

As the US-listed Chinese tech firms rush for secondary listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, we analyse the ADR/HKEX discount behaviour of the...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Kuaishou Technology Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison and Thoughts on Valuation

Kuaishou is a content community and social platform that is looking to raise around US$5bn in its Hong Kong IPO. The company is backed by Tencent,...

Sumeet Singh

KE (BEKE): Riding on Housing Surge in China

China housing Sales data has recovered strongly since May. We are not concerned about KE's pre-IPO margin decline. We believe the stock has an...

Ming Lu

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Spotify 4Q20: Just Trust Us

Spotify printed an OK quarter paired with awful guidance for 2021, especially given that its excuses for missing guidance were they reasons they...

Aaron Gabin

China Internet Weekly (1Feb2021): Central Bank's Positive Comment on Ant, Xiaomi Got Mkt Share in Q4

The chief of Chinese central bank positively commented Ant Group.India will ban 59 Chinese apps forever. Tencent Music increased its shareholdings...

Ming Lu

An Analysis of ADR/HKEX Discount Behavior As The US Listed Chinese Tech Rush To Hong Kong

As the US-listed Chinese tech firms rush for secondary listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, we analyse the ADR/HKEX discount behaviour of the...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Kuaishou Technology Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison and Thoughts on Valuation

Kuaishou is a content community and social platform that is looking to raise around US$5bn in its Hong Kong IPO. The company is backed by Tencent,...

Sumeet Singh

KE (BEKE): Riding on Housing Surge in China

China housing Sales data has recovered strongly since May. We are not concerned about KE's pre-IPO margin decline. We believe the stock has an...

Ming Lu