Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity indices.  Companies mentioned this week:<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>, <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>, CD Projekt (CDR PW), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naspers-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21085:1" rel="noopener">Naspers (NPN SJ)</a>

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity indices.  Companies mentioned this week:TSMC (2330 TT), Baidu (BIDU US), Alibaba Group (9988 HK), Ant Group (6688 HK), CD Projekt (CDR PW), Naspers (NPN SJ) 

Global Emerging Markets Weekly: 29 January 2021

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Bottom-Up

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>PBoC’s latest regulatory proposals point to increased anti-trust focus in non-bank payments</li>
<li>This ups the ante 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> and <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>, in particular</li>
<li>Alibaba shares have recovered some ground since our 13th January report, yet Alibaba has barely narrowed the gap with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, in market cap-to-revenue terms</li>
<li>This latest PBoC announcement, at best, adds to delay the Ant Group IPO, and adds to bearish sentiment on Alibaba and, to a lesser degree, Tencent shares</li>
<li>We believe that the recent re-emergence of Jack Ma is not, per se, sufficient cause for Alibaba share price relief; we would recommend locking in recent gains on BABA</li>
<li>Risks to our cautious view on Alibaba and Ant Group include an agreement on mutually acceptable regulatory parameters between the PBoC and Ant Group that allows for the Ant IPO to proceed in the relatively near term</li>
</ul>


PBoC’s latest regulatory proposals point to increased anti-trust focus in non-bank payments
This ups the ante on Alibaba Group (BABA US) and Ant Group (6688 HK), in particular
Alibaba shares have recovered some ground since our 13th January report, yet Alibaba has barely narrowed the gap with Tencent Holdings (700 HK), in market cap-to-revenue terms
This latest PBoC announcement, at best, adds to delay the Ant Group IPO, and adds to bearish sentiment on Alibaba and, to a lesser degree, Tencent shares
We believe that the recent re-emergence of Jack Ma is not, per se, sufficient cause for Alibaba share price relief; we would recommend locking in recent gains on BABA
Risks to our cautious view on Alibaba and Ant Group include an agreement on mutually acceptable regulatory parameters between the PBoC and Ant Group that allows for the Ant IPO to proceed in the relatively near term


Alibaba (BABA US) & Ant Group: PBoC Proposals Threaten Tighter Regulations

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.

Douyin, the Chinese version of the short-video sharing app TikTok, has launched a new mobile payment service called Douyin Pay to supplement the existing payment services (Alipay and WeChat Pay) within the Douyin app.The move puts <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bytedance-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27936:1" rel="noopener">ByteDance (1460967D CH)</a>, the parent company of Douyin and TikTok, in direct competition with <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>’s and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>’s mobile payment solutions at a time where Chinese regulators are improving oversight and regulations to prevent the monopolistic behaviour of large tech companies in the financial service space.

Douyin, the Chinese version of the short-video sharing app TikTok, has launched a new mobile payment service called Douyin Pay to supplement the existing payment services (Alipay and WeChat Pay) within the Douyin app.The move puts ByteDance (1460967D CH), the parent company of Douyin and TikTok, in direct competition with Ant Group (6688 HK)’s and Tencent Holdings (700 HK)’s mobile payment solutions at a time where Chinese regulators are improving oversight and regulations to prevent the monopolistic behaviour of large tech companies in the financial service space.

The Launch of Douyin Pay: A Double Blow for Alibaba

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

After dropping steadily for the last 3 years, HK-listed China banks are finally starting to move higher led by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd-3388a037-4214-4997-b45d-520518cfdb57" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10987:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/postal-savings-bank-of-china" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22848:1" rel="noopener">Postal Savings Bank of China (1658 HK)</a>.The suspension of <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>'s IPO and the subsequent restrictions placed on Fintech (or Techfin) players gave the banks a shot in the arm. The economic recovery in China and the recent pre-announcement of better than consensus results by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd-3388a037-4214-4997-b45d-520518cfdb57" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10987:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK)</a> have got investor attention.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/steven-holden" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1337" rel="noopener">Steven Holden</a> has highlighted the shift out of Banking stocks pre- and post COVID by active managers with holdings close to the lowest on record.With the China economy stabilizing and growing and reporting better than expected GDP numbers today, there could be a further move into Banking stocks pushing them higher.

After dropping steadily for the last 3 years, HK-listed China banks are finally starting to move higher led by China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK) and Postal Savings Bank of China (1658 HK).The suspension of Ant Group (6688 HK)'s IPO and the subsequent restrictions placed on Fintech (or Techfin) players gave the banks a shot in the arm. The economic recovery in China and the recent pre-announcement of better than consensus results by China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK) have got investor attention.Steven Holden has highlighted the shift out of Banking stocks pre- and post COVID by active managers with holdings close to the lowest on record.With the China economy stabilizing and growing and reporting better than expected GDP numbers today, there could be a further move into Banking stocks pushing them higher.

<ul>
<li>Regulatory pressure is driving Ant Group to place its financial operations into a holding company which would be subject to bank-like regulation, as Chinese regulators seek increasing oversight of the fast growth in consumer and SMB debt</li>
<li>Furthermore, and more importantly, press reports indicate that regulators are pushing for Chinese FinTech giants to share their consumer credit data with state entities, to enhance the centralized “big data” repository at the PBoC</li>
<li>The planned launch of the PBoC’s digital currency - the e-yuan – is intended to try to level the playing field between electronic payments leaders Alipay (Ant) and WeChat pay (Tencent) and the bank system, as well as giving the state a powerful tool for digital financial surveillance</li>
<li>For Ant, more bank-like regulation of credit would imply higher capital requirement for its credit operations as well as slower loan growth, with the sharing of Ant Group’s many terabytes of data with the authorities also potentially detracting from Ant Group’s “big data” edge and, by extension, valuation</li>
<li>We take a preliminary stab at a revised SOTP valuation range – despite the lack of clear regulatory parameters so far – of USD130-160bn for Ant Group, a far cry from the market’s estimated USD250bn+ valuation in 4Q20</li>
<li>We see further upside potential in the near term for Chinese SOE banks, as regulators begin to level the regulatory playing filed with FinTech; it is also time, in our view, to look again at <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>, 33% shareholder in Ant Group</li>
<li>Risks to our negative view on Ant Group include a less aggressive implementation of regulatory rules on Chinese FinTech, and only limited disclosure on its “big data” lake</li>
</ul>


Regulatory pressure is driving Ant Group to place its financial operations into a holding company which would be subject to bank-like regulation, as Chinese regulators seek increasing oversight of the fast growth in consumer and SMB debt
Furthermore, and more importantly, press reports indicate that regulators are pushing for Chinese FinTech giants to share their consumer credit data with state entities, to enhance the centralized “big data” repository at the PBoC
The planned launch of the PBoC’s digital currency - the e-yuan – is intended to try to level the playing field between electronic payments leaders Alipay (Ant) and WeChat pay (Tencent) and the bank system, as well as giving the state a powerful tool for digital financial surveillance
For Ant, more bank-like regulation of credit would imply higher capital requirement for its credit operations as well as slower loan growth, with the sharing of Ant Group’s many terabytes of data with the authorities also potentially detracting from Ant Group’s “big data” edge and, by extension, valuation
We take a preliminary stab at a revised SOTP valuation range – despite the lack of clear regulatory parameters so far – of USD130-160bn for Ant Group, a far cry from the market’s estimated USD250bn+ valuation in 4Q20
We see further upside potential in the near term for Chinese SOE banks, as regulators begin to level the regulatory playing filed with FinTech; it is also time, in our view, to look again at Alibaba Group (BABA US), 33% shareholder in Ant Group
Risks to our negative view on Ant Group include a less aggressive implementation of regulatory rules on Chinese FinTech, and only limited disclosure on its “big data” lake


Ant Group: Regulatory Pressures Drive the State’s “big Data” Grab, and a Revised SOTP Valuation

China

Ant Group Co., Ltd. develops online payment platforms. The Company produces credit system and financial services platforms which provide consumers and small businesses with safe and convenient inclusive financial services globally. Ant Group provides its services worldwide.

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Ant Group (6688 HK)

Global Emerging Markets Weekly: 29 January 2021

This insight provides a summary of the key news developments impacting the largest countries and constituents of the Global Emerging Markets equity...

Wium Malan, CFA

Alibaba (BABA US) & Ant Group: PBoC Proposals Threaten Tighter Regulations

Alibaba's share price, post its recent rally, is under threat again, as is the Ant IPO, from the latest regulatory proposals by PBoC; time to take...

Victor Galliano

The Launch of Douyin Pay: A Double Blow for Alibaba

Douyin, the Chinese version of the short-video sharing app TikTok, has launched a new mobile payment service called Douyin Pay to supplement the...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

China Banks: Moving On Up

The recovery in the Chinese economy, the changes to fintech rules, the better than expected results, the low valuations and the extreme positioning...

Brian Freitas

Ant Group: Regulatory Pressures Drive the State’s “big Data” Grab, and a Revised SOTP Valuation

Ant Group is under great state focus and under pressure to share its many terabytes of "big data" with PBoC, hurting its SOTP valuation; yet,...

Victor Galliano

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