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.

Equity Bottom-Up

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Despite the excitement over <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>’s New Retail strategy, we believe the likes of Freshippo are still too small to contribute in a meaningful way to Alibaba’s valuation in the near term. However, Alibaba continues to invest heavily around the New Retail theme, both in Freshippo store expansions and through several recent investments in SunArt and Dufry. This implies that Alibaba is now pretty much committed to its New Retail strategy, and so far, seems to be happy with its progress. We do not see any major downside of New Retail for now either.</p><p>In this note, we take a deep dive into Alibaba's new retail businesses, in particular, Freshippo. </p>

Despite the excitement over Alibaba Group (BABA US)’s New Retail strategy, we believe the likes of Freshippo are still too small to contribute in a meaningful way to Alibaba’s valuation in the near term. However, Alibaba continues to invest heavily around the New Retail theme, both in Freshippo store expansions and through several recent investments in SunArt and Dufry. This implies that Alibaba is now pretty much committed to its New Retail strategy, and so far, seems to be happy with its progress. We do not see any major downside of New Retail for now either.In this note, we take a deep dive into Alibaba's new retail businesses, in particular, Freshippo. 

Alibaba: New Retail Is Exciting but Too Small For Now

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.

Palantir Technologies  / Equity Bottom-Up

<p>When we took a deep dive into Palantir, we thought it would be as a long. Up 90% in the past month? Its a short.</p>
<div class="content-highlight">
<p>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.</p>
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When we took a deep dive into Palantir, we thought it would be as a long. Up 90% in the past month? Its a short.

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.


Founder/CEO of ROK Advisory, ROK Advisory LLC

Ken S. Kim

Founder/CEO of ROK Advisory

ROK Advisory LLC

ROK is an independent research advisory firm. We guide you to minimize the information gap between foreign and local investors in Northeast Asia with a focus in Korea, Taiwan and Japan.

Independent Research Advisory Firm

<div>While the details are scarce, local press is reporting that SKT and AMZN has been in talks for more than a year and would allow really an export/import biz on both of their channels (ie Korean products to be bought by US consumers and US products to be bought thru 11th St (SK's ecommerce portal) for Koreans. </div><div></div><div>This can't be good for the ecommerce players in Korea.  In the US, if you hear that AMZN is coming in whatever business, the whole sector falls.   Is Naver next? </div>

While the details are scarce, local press is reporting that SKT and AMZN has been in talks for more than a year and would allow really an export/import biz on both of their channels (ie Korean products to be bought by US consumers and US products to be bought thru 11th St (SK's ecommerce portal) for Koreans. This can't be good for the ecommerce players in Korea.  In the US, if you hear that AMZN is coming in whatever business, the whole sector falls.   Is Naver next? 

AMZN into Korea - "We Are Not Here to Take Part, We're Here to Take Over!"

ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> just released its 3Q2020 numbers and yet again hit the ball out of the park on revenue growth, with +110% growth in its digital entertainment (DE) revenues to US$944.7m and +173% growth in its e-commerce (EC) revenues to US$618.7m.</p>
<p>Digital Entertainment revenues grew by +31.9% QoQ in 3Q2020, whilst e-commerce expanded by +39.7% QoQ. Total group revenues for 3Q2020 grew by +98.7% YoY to US$1,212.2m.</p>
<p>The company also registered a positive EBITDA of US$120.4m in 3Q2020 versus (US$30.8m) loss for 3Q2019 and US$7.7m in 2Q2020 but it still booked a net loss of (US$346m) after share-based compensation and changes in the value of the 2017 convertible notes versus (US$175m) in 3Q2019.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> booked a +99% growth rate in total GAAP revenue US$1.2bn, whilst gross profits grew by +100.6% YoY in 3Q2020 to US$407.6m. Gross merchandise value (GMV) increased +103% to US$9.3bn in 3Q2020. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> has yet again demonstrated its ability to lead the pack both through Garena in gaming and Shopee for e-commerce in terms of extraordinary rates of revenue growth, with its digital entertainment effectively bankrolling its e-commerce business.</p>
<p>E-commerce is also marching in the right direction with the EBITDA loss per order continuing to decline QoQ as it winds its way towards profitability, although that will not happen until 2023.</p>
<div class="content-highlight">
<p>Looking out to FY21E, the average EV/Sales for the company's peers stands at 5.5x versus <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> on 9.45x but it is forecast to grow sales at +43.6%, twice the average growth rate of peers. Investors will pay a premium for this growth and its market leadership, with an increasing focus on profitability. </p>
</div>

Sea Ltd (SE US) just released its 3Q2020 numbers and yet again hit the ball out of the park on revenue growth, with +110% growth in its digital entertainment (DE) revenues to US$944.7m and +173% growth in its e-commerce (EC) revenues to US$618.7m.
Digital Entertainment revenues grew by +31.9% QoQ in 3Q2020, whilst e-commerce expanded by +39.7% QoQ. Total group revenues for 3Q2020 grew by +98.7% YoY to US$1,212.2m.
The company also registered a positive EBITDA of US$120.4m in 3Q2020 versus (US$30.8m) loss for 3Q2019 and US$7.7m in 2Q2020 but it still booked a net loss of (US$346m) after share-based compensation and changes in the value of the 2017 convertible notes versus (US$175m) in 3Q2019.
Sea Ltd (SE US) booked a +99% growth rate in total GAAP revenue US$1.2bn, whilst gross profits grew by +100.6% YoY in 3Q2020 to US$407.6m. Gross merchandise value (GMV) increased +103% to US$9.3bn in 3Q2020. 
Sea Ltd (SE US) has yet again demonstrated its ability to lead the pack both through Garena in gaming and Shopee for e-commerce in terms of extraordinary rates of revenue growth, with its digital entertainment effectively bankrolling its e-commerce business.
E-commerce is also marching in the right direction with the EBITDA loss per order continuing to decline QoQ as it winds its way towards profitability, although that will not happen until 2023.

Looking out to FY21E, the average EV/Sales for the company's peers stands at 5.5x versus Sea Ltd (SE US) on 9.45x but it is forecast to grow sales at +43.6%, twice the average growth rate of peers. Investors will pay a premium for this growth and its market leadership, with an increasing focus on profitability. 


Sea Ltd (SE US) - Gaming the E-Commerce Epiphany

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

<p>In this insight, we provide an updated valuation of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a>. We believe now is the time to go Underweight on Naver Corp, which is up 51% YTD versus KOSPI which is up 16% in the same period.</p><p>There are three major reasons why we believe investors should Underweight Naver Corp now.</p><ul>
<li>
<strong>First,</strong> our valuation analysis suggests that Naver Corp shares are overvalued.</li>
<li>
<strong>Second</strong>, we believe there could be a major shift in capital allocations away from some of the biggest beneficiaries of COVID-19 this year.</li>
<li>
<strong>Third,</strong> we believe the new partnership between Amazon &amp; 11st could pose a greater competitive threat to the entire e-commerce industry, negatively impacting Naver's e-commerce business.</li>
</ul>

In this insight, we provide an updated valuation of Naver Corp (035420 KS). We believe now is the time to go Underweight on Naver Corp, which is up 51% YTD versus KOSPI which is up 16% in the same period.There are three major reasons why we believe investors should Underweight Naver Corp now.

First, our valuation analysis suggests that Naver Corp shares are overvalued.

Second, we believe there could be a major shift in capital allocations away from some of the biggest beneficiaries of COVID-19 this year.

Third, we believe the new partnership between Amazon &amp; 11st could pose a greater competitive threat to the entire e-commerce industry, negatively impacting Naver's e-commerce business.


Naver - Time to Go Underweight (Covid Recovery + Amazon)

United States

Amazon.com, Inc. is an online retailer that offers a wide range of products. The Company's products include books, music, videotapes, computers, electronics, home and garden, and numerous other products.  Amazon offers personalized shopping services, Web-based credit card payment, and direct shipping to customers.

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Amazon.com Inc (AMZN US)

Alibaba: New Retail Is Exciting but Too Small For Now

Despite the excitement over Alibaba’s New Retail strategy, we believe the likes of Freshippo are still too small to contribute in a meaningful way...

Supun Walpola

2021 High Conviction: Short Palantir

We take a deep dive into the Palantir business model and come away skeptical that the success of its first quarter as a public company is sustainable.

Aaron Gabin

AMZN into Korea - "We Are Not Here to Take Part, We're Here to Take Over!"

I guess the Koreans aren't scared of Amazon's entry into the ecommerce space! I'm a seller of Naver here on the news that Amazon will come into...

Ken S. Kim

Sea Ltd (SE US) - Gaming the E-Commerce Epiphany

Sea Ltd (SE US) continues to generate increasingly robust cashflows from its gaming business, which is used to bankroll the growth in its e...

Angus Mackintosh

Naver - Time to Go Underweight (Covid Recovery + Amazon)

In this insight, we provide an updated valuation of Naver Corp (035420 KS). We believe now is the time to go Underweight on Naver Corp, which is up...

Douglas Kim

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