Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Despite strong volume growth, Chinese express delivery firms <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ningbo-xinhai-electric-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10863:1" rel="noopener">Yunda Holding (002120 CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yto-express" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20319:1" rel="noopener">YTO Express (600233 CH)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhejiang-idc-fluid-control-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18695:1" rel="noopener">STO Express (002468 CH)</a> all reported poor earnings results in Q3.</p>
<p>On a combined basis, Gross Margin for these three companies declined by over 500 bps YoY, to just 6.8%. The three companies' combined Gross Margins have fallen by about two-thirds since Q316.</p>
<p>With Operating Cash Flow declining sharply in recent periods, these companies will soon face a tough choice: raise debt or equity capital to fund CapEx, or cut back on investments. The first choice would smother future growth; the latter would undermine long-term competitiveness.</p>
<p>In contrast to the struggles of Yunda, YTO, and STO, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/maanshan-dingtai-rare-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4128:1" rel="noopener">S.F. Holding (002352 CH)</a>'s strategy of moving down-market to increase its share of inter-city parcel volumes continues to generate positive results. We retain our BUY rating on SF Holding on the expectation it can continue to profitably gain express market share in the medium-term. </p>

Despite strong volume growth, Chinese express delivery firms Yunda Holding (002120 CH), YTO Express (600233 CH), and STO Express (002468 CH) all reported poor earnings results in Q3.
On a combined basis, Gross Margin for these three companies declined by over 500 bps YoY, to just 6.8%. The three companies' combined Gross Margins have fallen by about two-thirds since Q316.
With Operating Cash Flow declining sharply in recent periods, these companies will soon face a tough choice: raise debt or equity capital to fund CapEx, or cut back on investments. The first choice would smother future growth; the latter would undermine long-term competitiveness.
In contrast to the struggles of Yunda, YTO, and STO, S.F. Holding (002352 CH)'s strategy of moving down-market to increase its share of inter-city parcel volumes continues to generate positive results. We retain our BUY rating on SF Holding on the expectation it can continue to profitably gain express market share in the medium-term. 

Bad, Worse, & Worst | Ugly Q320 Results from Yunda, YTO Express, & STO Express

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a> almost raised US$35bn in the largest IPO in history. While the IPO may eventually proceed, we are unsure of the valuations the company could demand the next time around.</p><p>Following the suspension of listing on the STAR Market by the Shanghai Stock Exchange due to a 'major event', <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a> announced the suspension of the H-share listing too. The company also said that the refund of the application monies will be made as soon as possible to Hong Kong retail investors.</p><p>This 'major event' will have knock-on implications for a host of other trades/strategies as well. In this Insight, we take a look at some of them.</p>

Ant Group (6688 HK) almost raised US$35bn in the largest IPO in history. While the IPO may eventually proceed, we are unsure of the valuations the company could demand the next time around.Following the suspension of listing on the STAR Market by the Shanghai Stock Exchange due to a 'major event', Ant Group (6688 HK) announced the suspension of the H-share listing too. The company also said that the refund of the application monies will be made as soon as possible to Hong Kong retail investors.This 'major event' will have knock-on implications for a host of other trades/strategies as well. In this Insight, we take a look at some of them.

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

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.

Equity Capital Markets

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Financial (1051260D CH)</a> has almost raised around USD35bn via a dual listing on both Hong Kong Exchange and Shanghai STAR board. </p></div><div><p>We have covered various aspects of the deal in our earlier notes, link to which are below.</p></div><div><p>In this note, I'll talk about the latest updates coming out about the STAR market listing.</p></div><div><div><h3>Our previous coverage on Ant Group</h3></div></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-financial-ipo-early-thought-what-s-new-about-the-listing-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Financial IPO Early Thought: Understand the Fintech Empire, Growth and Risk Factors</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-financial-ipo-early-thought-understand-the-fintech-empire-growth-and-risk-factors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Financial (蚂蚁金服) IPO Early Thought: What’s New About the Listing News</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-ipo-first-take-no-1-fintech-from-all-angles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO First-Take: No. 1 Fintech from All Angles</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-ipo-numbers-suggest-it-s-more-tech-than-financials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO: Numbers Suggest It’s More Tech than Financials</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-things-to-clarify-questions-to-ask-falling-fees-margins-cash-flow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Things to Clarify/​Questions to Ask - Falling Fees, Margins, Cash Flow</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-dual-listing-makes-early-index-inclusion-tricky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Dual Listing Makes Early Index Inclusion Tricky</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/alipay-s-advantage-over-wechat-pay-in-physical-stores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AliPay’s Advantage over WeChat Pay in Physical Stores</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-running-neck-and-neck-with-tencent-in-direct-financial-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Running Neck and Neck with Tencent in Direct Financial Services</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-impact-assessment-of-the-new-rule-for-financial-holding-companies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Impact Assessment of the New Rule for Financial Holding Companies</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-peer-comparison-payments-baffling-scale-small-tweaks-for-large-profits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - Payments - Baffling Scale, Small Tweaks for Large Profits</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-peer-comparison-credittech-larger-scale-similar-growth-lower-credit-risk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - CreditTech - Larger Scale, Similar Growth, Lower Credit Risk</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-first-stab-at-valuation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: First Stab at Valuation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-quick-take-on-ftse-and-msci-s-clearer-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Quick Take on FTSE and MSCI’s Clearer Guidelines</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-deal-structure-phip-updates-short-term-trades" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Deal Structure, PHIP Updates, Short-Term Trades</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-pre-ipo-updated-valuation-it-s-going-higher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group Pre-IPO: Updated Valuation. It’s Going Higher.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-ipo-final-say-strategics-index-impact" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group IPO: Final Say. Strategics, Index Impact</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/ant-group-ipo-star-market-trading-stats-a-h-spread" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ant Group IPO:  STAR Market Trading Stats, A/​H Spread</a></li>
</ul></div>

Ant Financial (1051260D CH) has almost raised around USD35bn via a dual listing on both Hong Kong Exchange and Shanghai STAR board. We have covered various aspects of the deal in our earlier notes, link to which are below.In this note, I'll talk about the latest updates coming out about the STAR market listing.Our previous coverage on Ant Group
Ant Financial IPO Early Thought: Understand the Fintech Empire, Growth and Risk Factors
Ant Financial (蚂蚁金服) IPO Early Thought: What’s New About the Listing News
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO First-Take: No. 1 Fintech from All Angles
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) IPO: Numbers Suggest It’s More Tech than Financials
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Things to Clarify/​Questions to Ask - Falling Fees, Margins, Cash Flow
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Dual Listing Makes Early Index Inclusion Tricky
AliPay’s Advantage over WeChat Pay in Physical Stores
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Running Neck and Neck with Tencent in Direct Financial Services
Ant Group (蚂蚁集团) Pre-IPO: Impact Assessment of the New Rule for Financial Holding Companies
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - Payments - Baffling Scale, Small Tweaks for Large Profits
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Peer Comparison - CreditTech - Larger Scale, Similar Growth, Lower Credit Risk
Ant Group Pre-IPO: First Stab at Valuation
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Quick Take on FTSE and MSCI’s Clearer Guidelines
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Deal Structure, PHIP Updates, Short-Term Trades
Ant Group Pre-IPO: Updated Valuation. It’s Going Higher.
Ant Group IPO: Final Say. Strategics, Index Impact
Ant Group IPO:  STAR Market Trading Stats, A/​H Spread


Ant Group IPO - Quick Note - Shanghai Suspends STAR Market Listing

Quality-first, Business-perspective Strategy, Urbem (HK) Limited

Steven Chen

Quality-first, Business-perspective Strategy

<ul>
<li>High-growth, High-return Kakaku.com Inc is a perfect example to demonstrate the case of quality growth;</li>
<li>Meanwhile, Tabelog, one of the company's core businesses, adds to the predictable near-term growth momentum.</li>
</ul>


High-growth, High-return Kakaku.com Inc is a perfect example to demonstrate the case of quality growth;
Meanwhile, Tabelog, one of the company's core businesses, adds to the predictable near-term growth momentum.


Two Things That We Like About Kakaku.com Inc

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Supun Walpola

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

<p>Chinese government data for 3Q 2020 suggests that the strong demand for online shopping that was witnessed in the last quarter has somewhat declined with offline shopping taking precedence in the post-lockdown environment. However, we do not view this as particularly negative, rather, growth seems to have only normalised to the pre-pandemic level. Moreover, a YoY improvement in online retail penetration suggests that the Chinese e-commerce landscape is still fairly attractive, despite decelerating growth.</p><p>Nevertheless, revenue growth of top e-commerce players such as <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>, <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>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pinduoduo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27250:1" rel="noopener">Pinduoduo (PDD US)</a> are expected to decline in 3Q 2020 compared to the strong last quarter. However, the market may have already accounted for this, as consensus revenue estimates are not very different to our revenue estimates based on government e-commerce data. </p>

Chinese government data for 3Q 2020 suggests that the strong demand for online shopping that was witnessed in the last quarter has somewhat declined with offline shopping taking precedence in the post-lockdown environment. However, we do not view this as particularly negative, rather, growth seems to have only normalised to the pre-pandemic level. Moreover, a YoY improvement in online retail penetration suggests that the Chinese e-commerce landscape is still fairly attractive, despite decelerating growth.Nevertheless, revenue growth of top e-commerce players such as Alibaba Group (BABA US), JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US), and Pinduoduo (PDD US) are expected to decline in 3Q 2020 compared to the strong last quarter. However, the market may have already accounted for this, as consensus revenue estimates are not very different to our revenue estimates based on government e-commerce data. 

China E-Commerce [Alt Data]: Alibaba/JD/PDD’s Strong 2Q Growth to Decline in 3Q, But Expected

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)

Bad, Worse, & Worst | Ugly Q320 Results from Yunda, YTO Express, & STO Express

Despite strong volume growth, a price war decimated earnngs for at least three of China's express delivery companies in Q3. Soon these companies...

Tracking Traffic

Ant Group: IPO Suspension Implications

With Ant Group suspending the H-share listing following SSE's suspension of the A-share listing, there will be multiple implications for trades and...

Brian Freitas

Ant Group IPO - Quick Note - Shanghai Suspends STAR Market Listing

Ant Group has almost raised around USD35bn via a dual listing in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. In this note, I'll talk about the latest updates...

Sumeet Singh

Two Things That We Like About Kakaku.com Inc

We see Kakaku.com Inc as a superior-quality grower with predictable near-term momentum regarding one of its core product lines.

Steven Chen

China E-Commerce [Alt Data]: Alibaba/JD/PDD’s Strong 2Q Growth to Decline in 3Q, But Expected

Revenue growth of top Chinese e-commerce players are expected to decline in 3Q 2020 compared to the strong last quarter based on government e...

Supun Walpola

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