Blue Lotus Non US Internet research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Ying Pan

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research

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

Equity Bottom-Up

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>BABA reported CY1Q24 top line, GAAP operating profit and non-GAAP net income 0.9%, (4.6%) and (6.7%) vs. consensus, and in-line, in-line, (6.9%) vs. our estimate;</li>
<li>Results reaffirmed our positive view as increased investment is leading to significant improvement in key businesses: (1) Taobao/Tmall stabilized, (2) overseas e-commerce accelerated along with overseas AntFin and Cainiao</li>
<li>We expect pay-off from its strategy shift in 2H of the year. Spin-off, dividends,and share buy-backs provide valuation support until then.We maintain BUY and US$85 TP, implying 9.5x CY25 P/E.</li>
</ul>


BABA reported CY1Q24 top line, GAAP operating profit and non-GAAP net income 0.9%, (4.6%) and (6.7%) vs. consensus, and in-line, in-line, (6.9%) vs. our estimate;
Results reaffirmed our positive view as increased investment is leading to significant improvement in key businesses: (1) Taobao/Tmall stabilized, (2) overseas e-commerce accelerated along with overseas AntFin and Cainiao
We expect pay-off from its strategy shift in 2H of the year. Spin-off, dividends,and share buy-backs provide valuation support until then.We maintain BUY and US$85 TP, implying 9.5x CY25 P/E.


[Alibaba (BABA US, BUY, TP US$85) Review]: Positive Transformation Still Underway…BUY on Dip

Analyst

Steve Zhou, CFA

<ul>
<li>On first look, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)</a> missed on margins in 4QFY24 as adjusted EBITA declined by 5% yoy.</li>
<li>We can give the company the benefit of the doubt given that the important segments of the company are heading into the right direction.  </li>
<li>Alibaba returned USD13.4bn and USD16.5bn to shareholders in FY23 and FY24, compared to the current market cap of USD197bn</li>
</ul>


On first look, Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK) missed on margins in 4QFY24 as adjusted EBITA declined by 5% yoy.
We can give the company the benefit of the doubt given that the important segments of the company are heading into the right direction.  
Alibaba returned USD13.4bn and USD16.5bn to shareholders in FY23 and FY24, compared to the current market cap of USD197bn


Alibaba (9988 HK):  Core Segments Moving Into The Right Direction

Greater China Equity Long/Short Analyst

Eric Chen

<ul>
<li>Alibaba reported in-line revenue but disappointed adjusted net income for 4QFY24.</li>
<li>Yet a closer look shows strong core Taobao/Tmall performance was offset by higher-than-expected losses incurred by peripheral businesses.</li>
<li>We remain convinced BABA is on track to turn around and an earnings upgrade cycle is one or two quarters away. We are buyer at this price.</li>
</ul>


Alibaba reported in-line revenue but disappointed adjusted net income for 4QFY24.
Yet a closer look shows strong core Taobao/Tmall performance was offset by higher-than-expected losses incurred by peripheral businesses.
We remain convinced BABA is on track to turn around and an earnings upgrade cycle is one or two quarters away. We are buyer at this price.


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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (BABA US)</a>'s FQ4 announcement portrays a resilient comeback to growth, suggesting the past four years' challenges barely impacted its dominance in Chinese e-commerce.</li>
<li>However, a closer look beyond the surface of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)</a>'s FQ4 results announcement reveals that little has actually changed in recent months.</li>
<li>Taobao and Tmall face challenges in a tough, stagnant market; AIDC's growth largely covers for other Alibaba units' failings, while AliExpress's expansion cuts into margins.</li>
</ul>



Alibaba Group Holding (BABA US)'s FQ4 announcement portrays a resilient comeback to growth, suggesting the past four years' challenges barely impacted its dominance in Chinese e-commerce.
However, a closer look beyond the surface of Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)'s FQ4 results announcement reveals that little has actually changed in recent months.
Taobao and Tmall face challenges in a tough, stagnant market; AIDC's growth largely covers for other Alibaba units' failings, while AliExpress's expansion cuts into margins.


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.

<ul>
<li>Customer management as the largest business began to increase compared to the past two stagnant quarters.</li>
<li>We believe margin will continue to decline as the company turned its focus to growth.</li>
<li>We conclude an upside of 41% for March 2025 based on peer companies’ P/S ratios.</li>
</ul>


Customer management as the largest business began to increase compared to the past two stagnant quarters.
We believe margin will continue to decline as the company turned its focus to growth.
We conclude an upside of 41% for March 2025 based on peer companies’ P/S ratios.


Alibaba (9988 HK): 4Q24, Main Business Began to Grow

China

Alibaba Group Holding Limited provides online sales services. The Company provides internet infrastructure, electronic commerce, online financial, and internet content services through its subsidiaries. Alibaba Group Holding offers its products and services worldwide.

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Alibaba Group Holding (BABA US)

[Alibaba (BABA US, BUY, TP US$85) Review]: Positive Transformation Still Underway…BUY on Dip

BABA reports mixed Q1 results but positive outlook with increased investment leading to improvement in key businesses, expecting payoff in 2H of...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Alibaba (9988 HK): Core Segments Moving Into The Right Direction

On first look, Alibaba Group (9988 HK) missed on margins in 4QFY24 as adjusted EBITA declined by 5% yoy, though I believe important segments of the...

Steve Zhou, CFA

Alibaba (BABA US): Taobao/Tmall Is Back

Alibaba's 4QFY24 results show in-line revenue but lower adjusted net income due to losses in peripheral businesses, but strong core performance...

Eric Chen

Alibaba: Our Take on 4QFY24

Taobao and Tmall face challenges in a tough, stagnant market; AIDC's growth largely covers for other Alibaba units' failings, while AliExpress's...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Alibaba (9988 HK): 4Q24, Main Business Began to Grow

Customer management as the largest business began to increase compared to the past two stagnant quarters. We believe margin will continue to...

Ming Lu

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[Alibaba (BABA US, BUY, TP US$85) Review]: Positive Transformation Still Underway…BUY on Dip

​BABA reports mixed Q1 results but positive outlook with increased investment leading to improvement in key businesses, expecting payoff in 2H of...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Alibaba (9988 HK): Core Segments Moving Into The Right Direction

On first look, Alibaba Group (9988 HK) missed on margins in 4QFY24 as adjusted EBITA declined by 5% yoy, though I believe important segments of the...

Steve Zhou, CFA

Alibaba (BABA US): Taobao/Tmall Is Back

​Alibaba's 4QFY24 results show in-line revenue but lower adjusted net income due to losses in peripheral businesses, but strong core performance...

Eric Chen

Alibaba: Our Take on 4QFY24

Taobao and Tmall face challenges in a tough, stagnant market; AIDC's growth largely covers for other Alibaba units' failings, while AliExpress's...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Alibaba (9988 HK): 4Q24, Main Business Began to Grow

Customer management as the largest business began to increase compared to the past two stagnant quarters. We believe margin will continue to...

Ming Lu

BABA reports mixed Q1 results but positive outlook with increased investment leading to improvement in key businesses, expecting payoff in 2H of...

Alibaba's 4QFY24 results show in-line revenue but lower adjusted net income due to losses in peripheral businesses, but strong core performance...