Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

When you go to a live music show in Japan there is almost always an encore. In fact, that is the standard. If an artist has truly done well, there may be a second encore. And if the performance has been legendary, there might even be a third. That is how the last year with Vision Fund has felt...

When you go to a live music show in Japan there is almost always an encore. In fact, that is the standard. If an artist has truly done well, there may be a second encore. And if the performance has been legendary, there might even be a third. That is how the last year with Vision Fund has felt...

Softbank Group: Q4 20 Results – Will There Be an Encore?

Global TMT analyst with Asia ex-Japan focus.

Mitchell Kim

While AML (Anti- Monopoly Law) posed as a share overhang first on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a> starting late 2020, the regulator's recent focus shifted towards the smaller e-commerce platforms, Pin Duo Duo and Meituan. On Monday, 10 May 2021, Shanghai Consumer Council, a quasi-government consumer protection agency, called a meeting with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pinduoduo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27250:1" rel="noopener">Pinduoduo (PDD US)</a> representatives to address counterfeit goods and consumers' and laborers' complaints, according to Wall Street Journal.  PDD and Meituan shares fell 9% and 7%, respectively, on the day, although PDD shares recovered some grounds on Tuesday.    Unlike the share overhang lifting for Alibaba with the announcement of the historic fine on 10 April, I believe share overhang will continue to plague the PDD shares as the uncertainty persists.  This is one of the reasons I maintain my cautious stance on the stock.  I flagged in my Webinar on PDD, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/smartkarma-webinar-pinduoduo-pdd-us-know-when-to-fold" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49910" rel="noopener">Smartkarma Webinar | Pinduoduo (PDD US): Know When to Fold</a> on 7 April, that AML risk could be even more impactful for the leading group buying platform because of its greater reliance on promotions and marketing subsidies which is one of the target violation investigations.  Moreover, I continue to be cautious about the stock because of its expensive valuation (P/Sales) and the risk of deteriorating investors' sentiment as revenue growth decelerates. My previous reports on Pin Duo Duo: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-e-commerce-robust-consumption-data-hints-at-online-spending-spree" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50798" rel="noopener">China E-Commerce: Robust Consumption Data Hints at Online Spending Spree</a> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/pin-duo-duo-pdd-us-four-charts-to-make-you-want-to-run" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49333" rel="noopener">Pin Duo Duo (PDD US): Four Charts To Make You Want to Run</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/pinduoduo-pdd-us-know-when-to-fold-know-when-to-run" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48659" rel="noopener">Pinduoduo (PDD US): Know When to Fold, Know When to Run</a>

While AML (Anti- Monopoly Law) posed as a share overhang first on Alibaba Group (BABA US) starting late 2020, the regulator's recent focus shifted towards the smaller e-commerce platforms, Pin Duo Duo and Meituan. On Monday, 10 May 2021, Shanghai Consumer Council, a quasi-government consumer protection agency, called a meeting with Meituan (3690 HK) and Pinduoduo (PDD US) representatives to address counterfeit goods and consumers' and laborers' complaints, according to Wall Street Journal.  PDD and Meituan shares fell 9% and 7%, respectively, on the day, although PDD shares recovered some grounds on Tuesday.    Unlike the share overhang lifting for Alibaba with the announcement of the historic fine on 10 April, I believe share overhang will continue to plague the PDD shares as the uncertainty persists.  This is one of the reasons I maintain my cautious stance on the stock.  I flagged in my Webinar on PDD, Smartkarma Webinar | Pinduoduo (PDD US): Know When to Fold on 7 April, that AML risk could be even more impactful for the leading group buying platform because of its greater reliance on promotions and marketing subsidies which is one of the target violation investigations.  Moreover, I continue to be cautious about the stock because of its expensive valuation (P/Sales) and the risk of deteriorating investors' sentiment as revenue growth decelerates. My previous reports on Pin Duo Duo: China E-Commerce: Robust Consumption Data Hints at Online Spending Spree Pin Duo Duo (PDD US): Four Charts To Make You Want to RunPinduoduo (PDD US): Know When to Fold, Know When to Run        

Pin Duo Duo (PDD US): Whipping in the Wind

A 3% NASDAQ correction is a challenge for Softbank Group as it prepares to announce FY20 results later this week. The key takeaway for the quarter ended March is a $26bn gain for Vision Fund public companies led by the January IPO of Coupang which contributed $25bn of the upside as of quarter-end. But that same portfolio has given up almost half those gains QTD whilst sustained weakness would also impact the ability to get a Didi Chuxing IPO attractively placed even as the value of c. $22bn invested in public tech shares and derivatives could be at risk. The silver lining is that the chances of a new share buyback program have increased.

A 3% NASDAQ correction is a challenge for Softbank Group as it prepares to announce FY20 results later this week. The key takeaway for the quarter ended March is a $26bn gain for Vision Fund public companies led by the January IPO of Coupang which contributed $25bn of the upside as of quarter-end. But that same portfolio has given up almost half those gains QTD whilst sustained weakness would also impact the ability to get a Didi Chuxing IPO attractively placed even as the value of c. $22bn invested in public tech shares and derivatives could be at risk. The silver lining is that the chances of a new share buyback program have increased.

Softbank Group - Tech Weakness Hits on Multiple Levels but Boosts Chances of New Buybacks

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Equity Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hello-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33031:1" rel="noopener">Hello Inc (1883864D US)</a>, which is backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Financial Services Group (6688 HK)</a>, is China's third-largest local services platform by transaction volume, according to iResearch. Hello offers bike-sharing and e-bike sharing services known as Hello Bike and Hello e-Bike. It also has a carpooling marketplace known as Hello Carpooling. Hello is seeking to raise $1 billion through a Nasdaq listing, according to press reports.   In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/hello-ipo-initiation-goodbye" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50795" rel="noopener">Hello IPO Initiation: Goodbye</a> we stated that Hello’s investor pitch is that its various businesses create a flywheel that drives user spending growth with limited user acquisition costs. However, Hello remains saddled with a core business (shared two-wheeler services) that has challenging prospects due to declining growth, low profitability and high cash burn. <div class="content-highlight">Hello has released an updated F-1 filing disclosing its 1Q21 performance and other developments. At first glance, the 1Q21 update looks stunning due to accelerating growth and margin progression. However, a closer look, suggests that business continues to face daunting challenges. Overall, we stick to our view to give the Hello IPO a pass.    </div>

Hello Inc (1883864D US), which is backed by Ant Financial Services Group (6688 HK), is China's third-largest local services platform by transaction volume, according to iResearch. Hello offers bike-sharing and e-bike sharing services known as Hello Bike and Hello e-Bike. It also has a carpooling marketplace known as Hello Carpooling. Hello is seeking to raise $1 billion through a Nasdaq listing, according to press reports.   In Hello IPO Initiation: Goodbye we stated that Hello’s investor pitch is that its various businesses create a flywheel that drives user spending growth with limited user acquisition costs. However, Hello remains saddled with a core business (shared two-wheeler services) that has challenging prospects due to declining growth, low profitability and high cash burn. Hello has released an updated F-1 filing disclosing its 1Q21 performance and other developments. At first glance, the 1Q21 update looks stunning due to accelerating growth and margin progression. However, a closer look, suggests that business continues to face daunting challenges. Overall, we stick to our view to give the Hello IPO a pass.    

Hello IPO: 1Q21 Update Does Not Change the Avoid Tag

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hello-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33031:1" rel="noopener">Hello Inc (1883864D US)</a> is China's third-largest local services platform by transaction volume, according to iResearch. Hello offers bike-sharing and e-bike sharing services known as Hello Bike and Hello e-Bike. It also has a carpooling marketplace known as Hello Carpooling. Hello is seeking to raise $1 billion through a Nasdaq listing, according to press reports. Hello is backed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Financial Services Group (6688 HK)</a> which owns 36.3% of the outstanding shares. The bike-sharing industry has proved to be a challenging market to generate investment returns as evidenced by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>’s restructuring and impairments related to Mobike. Hello’s investor pitch is that its various businesses create a flywheel effect (a popular term abused by many tech IPO hopefuls) that drives user spending growth with limited user acquisition costs. Hello is suggesting that its core business (shared two-wheeler services) brings a large captive user base to feed its more capital-light and profitable businesses such as carpooling. <div class="content-highlight">However, the issue with this rose-tinted view is that Hello remains saddled with a core business that has challenging prospects due to declining growth, low profitability and high cash burn. Also, investors seeking a pure-play on the carpooling market may be better off participating in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dida-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29701:1" rel="noopener">Dida (DIDA HK)</a> IPO. Overall, we are inclined to give the Hello IPO a pass.    </div>

Hello Inc (1883864D US) is China's third-largest local services platform by transaction volume, according to iResearch. Hello offers bike-sharing and e-bike sharing services known as Hello Bike and Hello e-Bike. It also has a carpooling marketplace known as Hello Carpooling. Hello is seeking to raise $1 billion through a Nasdaq listing, according to press reports. Hello is backed by Ant Financial Services Group (6688 HK) which owns 36.3% of the outstanding shares. The bike-sharing industry has proved to be a challenging market to generate investment returns as evidenced by Meituan (3690 HK)’s restructuring and impairments related to Mobike. Hello’s investor pitch is that its various businesses create a flywheel effect (a popular term abused by many tech IPO hopefuls) that drives user spending growth with limited user acquisition costs. Hello is suggesting that its core business (shared two-wheeler services) brings a large captive user base to feed its more capital-light and profitable businesses such as carpooling. However, the issue with this rose-tinted view is that Hello remains saddled with a core business that has challenging prospects due to declining growth, low profitability and high cash burn. Also, investors seeking a pure-play on the carpooling market may be better off participating in the Dida (DIDA HK) IPO. Overall, we are inclined to give the Hello IPO a pass.    

China

DiDi Chuxing Incorporated operates passenger transportation platforms. The Company provides mobility solutions, cloud computing and other application based services. DiDi Chuxing serves customers worldwide.

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DiDi Global (DIDI US)

Softbank Group: Q4 20 Results – Will There Be an Encore?

Softbank reported record earnings but this was anticipated and what happens moving forward is more relevant. It has high exposure to a tech sell...

Kirk Boodry

Pin Duo Duo (PDD US): Whipping in the Wind

Pin Duo Duo shares were rocked on Monday by the news that regulators called PDD to warn about counterfeit goods. Find out why regulatory risk and...

Mitchell Kim

Softbank Group - Tech Weakness Hits on Multiple Levels but Boosts Chances of New Buybacks

Softbank's is highly exposed to tech volatility which impacts current values in Vision Fund/Northstar and future values in the form of IPOs/SPACs....

Kirk Boodry

Hello IPO: 1Q21 Update Does Not Change the Avoid Tag

Hello has released an updated F-1 filing disclosing its 1Q21 performance and other developments. The 1Q21 results suggest that business continues...

Arun George

Hello IPO Initiation: Goodbye

Hello is seeking to raise $1 billion through a Nasdaq listing, according to press reports. Overall, we are inclined to give the Hello IPO a pass.

Arun George

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