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.

Event-Driven

<p>Following the listing of the logistics business on the Hong Kong stock exchange, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)</a> could potentially present investors with an entirely new investment angle in terms of holdcos.</p><p>After examining JD.com’s holdco structure, we see a limited upside potential for JD.com unless <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-logistics" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31500:1" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (2618 HK)</a> pops over 100% on its trading debut.</p>

Following the listing of the logistics business on the Hong Kong stock exchange, JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US) could potentially present investors with an entirely new investment angle in terms of holdcos.After examining JD.com’s holdco structure, we see a limited upside potential for JD.com unless JD Logistics (2618 HK) pops over 100% on its trading debut.

Examining JD.com from a Holdco Angle as the Company Prepares to List Its Logistics Unit

APAC IPOs & Placements

Zhen Zhou, Toh

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.

<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-logistics" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31500:1" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (2618 HK)</a>  is looking to raise up to US$3.4bn in its Hong Kong IPO. </p>
<p>JD Logistics (JDL) was the leading supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China in terms of revenue in 2018 and 2019. The company offers a full spectrum of supply chain solutions and logistics services ranging from warehousing to distribution, spanning across manufacturing to end-customers, covering regular and specialized items</p>
<p>In this note, we will take a look at index cut-offs, potential inclusions, and updates on JD.com’s valuation.</p>
<p>We had previously covered the IPO in:</p>
</div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-pre-ipo-peer-comparison-shielded-from-price-war" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50575" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison - Shielded from Price War</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-pre-ipo-tethered-to-jd-group-and-looking-beyond" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48396" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - Tethered to JD Group and Looking Beyond</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-pre-ipo-thoughts-on-valuation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50953" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - Thoughts on Valuation</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-pre-ipo-phip-updates-and-fine-tuning-valuation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51008" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - PHIP Updates and Fine-Tuning Valuation</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-pre-ipo-index-implications-it-will-cut-close" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51054" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - Index Implications - It Will Cut Close</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-pre-ipo-quick-note-new-phip-with-1q21-results-changes-narrative" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51453" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - Quick Note - New PHIP with 1Q21 Results Changes Narrative</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-ipo-widening-its-lead" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51583" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (京东物流) IPO - Widening Its Lead</a> </li>
</ul></div>


JD Logistics (2618 HK)  is looking to raise up to US$3.4bn in its Hong Kong IPO. 
JD Logistics (JDL) was the leading supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China in terms of revenue in 2018 and 2019. The company offers a full spectrum of supply chain solutions and logistics services ranging from warehousing to distribution, spanning across manufacturing to end-customers, covering regular and specialized items
In this note, we will take a look at index cut-offs, potential inclusions, and updates on JD.com’s valuation.
We had previously covered the IPO in:


JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - Peer Comparison - Shielded from Price War 

JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - Tethered to JD Group and Looking Beyond 

JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - Thoughts on Valuation 

JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - PHIP Updates and Fine-Tuning Valuation 

JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - Index Implications - It Will Cut Close 

JD Logistics (京东物流) Pre-IPO - Quick Note - New PHIP with 1Q21 Results Changes Narrative 

JD Logistics (京东物流) IPO - Widening Its Lead 


JD Logistics (京东物流) IPO - Updated Index Implications and Impact on JD.com (京东) HoldCo Valuation

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

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-logistics" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31500:1" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (2618 HK)</a> is the largest player in China’s integrated supply chain logistics services market, with a 2.2% revenue market share in 2019, according to CIC. JD Logistics was founded with the formation of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)</a>’s in-house logistics department in 2007.</p></div><div><p>At the proposed IPO price range of HK$39.36-43.36 per share, JD Logistics will have a market cap of HK$239,766-264,132 million ($30.9-34.0 billion). At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are HK$24,713 million ($3.2 billion). Seven cornerstone investors will purchase $1.5 billion worth of the offer shares (47.16% of the offer shares at the mid-point of the IPO price range). The cornerstone investors are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a>, Temasek, Tiger Global, China Structural Reform Fund, Blackstone,  Matthews Funds and Oaktree. </p></div><div><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-ipo-initiation-the-flow-of-things" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48279" rel="noopener">JD Logistics IPO Initiation: The Flow of Things</a>, we stated that JD Logistics is an indirect play on the shift of some customer behaviour permanently to online shopping, particularly in fast-moving consumer goods. We concluded that JD Logistics fundamentals are attractive and it remains well-placed to address consumers demand faster and more flexible supply chain logistics services.</p></div><div><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/jd-logistics-ipo-prioritizing-market-share-gains-over-margins" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:50976" rel="noopener">JD Logistics IPO: Prioritizing Market Share Gains over Margins</a>,  we noted that the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments underscore the positives which are strong growth, rising margin and cash generation. However, the outlook is mixed as JD Logistics cautions that it will pursue market share gains at the cost of profitability over the medium term. We opined that JD Logistics has the right ingredients to ride out the industry’s current price-competitive dynamics and deliver good shareholder returns over the medium term. </p></div><div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>Overall, based on valuation analysis, we think that the IPO price range is attractive, particularly in the context of JD Logistics' positioning and higher than peers forecasted growth. </p></div></div></div>

JD Logistics (2618 HK) is the largest player in China’s integrated supply chain logistics services market, with a 2.2% revenue market share in 2019, according to CIC. JD Logistics was founded with the formation of JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)’s in-house logistics department in 2007.At the proposed IPO price range of HK$39.36-43.36 per share, JD Logistics will have a market cap of HK$239,766-264,132 million ($30.9-34.0 billion). At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are HK$24,713 million ($3.2 billion). Seven cornerstone investors will purchase $1.5 billion worth of the offer shares (47.16% of the offer shares at the mid-point of the IPO price range). The cornerstone investors are Softbank Group (9984 JP), Temasek, Tiger Global, China Structural Reform Fund, Blackstone,  Matthews Funds and Oaktree. In JD Logistics IPO Initiation: The Flow of Things, we stated that JD Logistics is an indirect play on the shift of some customer behaviour permanently to online shopping, particularly in fast-moving consumer goods. We concluded that JD Logistics fundamentals are attractive and it remains well-placed to address consumers demand faster and more flexible supply chain logistics services.In JD Logistics IPO: Prioritizing Market Share Gains over Margins,  we noted that the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments underscore the positives which are strong growth, rising margin and cash generation. However, the outlook is mixed as JD Logistics cautions that it will pursue market share gains at the cost of profitability over the medium term. We opined that JD Logistics has the right ingredients to ride out the industry’s current price-competitive dynamics and deliver good shareholder returns over the medium term. Overall, based on valuation analysis, we think that the IPO price range is attractive, particularly in the context of JD Logistics' positioning and higher than peers forecasted growth. 

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<p>We think the 72.7% YoY plunge in gross profit at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-logistics" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31500:1" rel="noopener">JD Logistics (JDL HK)</a> in 1Q21 reflects that it lacks pricing power, even though it is the largest player in the integrated supply chain logistics services industry. Meanwhile, the express industry witnessed an overall YoY contraction in unit revenue and profitability in 1Q21, continuing a structural declining trend. With a market share of 2.7%, JDL is not expected to see material change in its profitability even if this is doubled as the industry stays fragmented and it will still be susceptible to industry price competition, in our view.</p><p>Instead, we see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc. (9618 HK)</a> the beneficiary of JDL's significant capital investment in logistics infrastructure over the near-to-medium term. In fact, there are other more attractive pure logistics options like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sinotrans-limited-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1321:1" rel="noopener">Sinotrans (598 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kerry-logistics-network-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:367:1" rel="noopener">Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK)</a> which have longer track record, better profitability and higher dividend yield. Fundamentally, we are not a big fan of JDL at its proposed valuations.</p>

We think the 72.7% YoY plunge in gross profit at JD Logistics (JDL HK) in 1Q21 reflects that it lacks pricing power, even though it is the largest player in the integrated supply chain logistics services industry. Meanwhile, the express industry witnessed an overall YoY contraction in unit revenue and profitability in 1Q21, continuing a structural declining trend. With a market share of 2.7%, JDL is not expected to see material change in its profitability even if this is doubled as the industry stays fragmented and it will still be susceptible to industry price competition, in our view.Instead, we see JD.com Inc. (9618 HK) the beneficiary of JDL's significant capital investment in logistics infrastructure over the near-to-medium term. In fact, there are other more attractive pure logistics options like Sinotrans (598 HK) and Kerry Logistics Network (636 HK) which have longer track record, better profitability and higher dividend yield. Fundamentally, we are not a big fan of JDL at its proposed valuations.

JD Logistics IPO: We Play Devil's Advocate

Global TMT analyst with Asia ex-Japan focus.

Mitchell Kim

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Coupang reported its quarterly earnings for the first time since its IPO on 11 March 2021.  The stock lost USD5 billion in market value in the subsequent trading session.  I offer three reasons why the stock fell even though the revenue growth of 74% met the consensus forecast (my estimate was much higher): </p><ol>
<li>Management's admission that strong revenue growth was against the COVID-19 stimulated demand in 1Q20 (again helped by the stronger won).  Comparing 2Q21 to 4Q21 against the even stronger revenue growth quarters -- 2Q20 to 4Q20 -- will be more challenging.  (Please refer back to my initiation report, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/coupang-cpng-us-going-mano-e-mano-with-jd-com" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49065" rel="noopener">Coupang (CPNG US): Going Mano E Mano with JD.com</a>.) </li>
<li>Active customer growth slowed in 1Q21.  While the revenue per customer increased by 44%, it is decelerated from 59% YoY growth in 4Q20 by my estimate.   </li>
<li>Operating losses expanded nearly 4x (3x excluding the IPO-related costs), weakening the management's argument that operating leverage was improving.  I argue in my previous report that when revenue growth decelerates to 50-60%, the company has to demonstrate that profit is near.     </li>
</ol><p>With the stock trading at 2.7x EV/Revenue compared to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)</a>'s 0.6x FY21, there is further downside risk, in my view.  </p>

Coupang reported its quarterly earnings for the first time since its IPO on 11 March 2021.  The stock lost USD5 billion in market value in the subsequent trading session.  I offer three reasons why the stock fell even though the revenue growth of 74% met the consensus forecast (my estimate was much higher): 
Management's admission that strong revenue growth was against the COVID-19 stimulated demand in 1Q20 (again helped by the stronger won).  Comparing 2Q21 to 4Q21 against the even stronger revenue growth quarters -- 2Q20 to 4Q20 -- will be more challenging.  (Please refer back to my initiation report, Coupang (CPNG US): Going Mano E Mano with JD.com.) 
Active customer growth slowed in 1Q21.  While the revenue per customer increased by 44%, it is decelerated from 59% YoY growth in 4Q20 by my estimate.   
Operating losses expanded nearly 4x (3x excluding the IPO-related costs), weakening the management's argument that operating leverage was improving.  I argue in my previous report that when revenue growth decelerates to 50-60%, the company has to demonstrate that profit is near.     
With the stock trading at 2.7x EV/Revenue compared to JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)'s 0.6x FY21, there is further downside risk, in my view.  

China

JD.com Inc is an online direct sales company in China.  The Company offers a wide selection of products through its website and mobile applications.  JD.com sells appliances, computers, digital products, communication products, garments, books, and household items to consumers and vendors.

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JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)

Examining JD.com from a Holdco Angle as the Company Prepares to List Its Logistics Unit

Following the listing of the logistics business on the Hong Kong stock exchange, JD.com could potentially present investors with an entirely new...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

JD Logistics (京东物流) IPO - Updated Index Implications and Impact on JD.com (京东) HoldCo Valuation

JD Logistics (2618 HK) is looking to raise up to US$3.4bn in its Hong Kong IPO. The IPO will likely be included in FTSE and HSCI but may not go...

Zhen Zhou, Toh

JD Logistics IPO: Valuation Insights

The net proceeds are $3.2 billion at the mid-point of the IPO price range. We think that the IPO price range is attractive due to JD Logistics'...

Arun George

JD Logistics IPO: We Play Devil's Advocate

We think the weak 1Q21 gross profit and margin at JDL reflect its lack of pricing power in the industry despite its largest market share position....

Osbert Tang, CFA

Coupang (CPNG US): Crack in the Armor

Coupang's first earnings report after the IPO was disappointing. Operating leverage is nowhere in sight. Expect revenue growth deceleration to a...

Mitchell Kim

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