Forensic Analyst

Jason Yap, CFA

Forensic Accounting

Kuaishou Technology / Forensic Accounting

<p><span class="leadin"><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a> is a video creation and streaming mobile application that has a huge userbase in Mainland China.  For the 3 months ended 31 March 2021, its Monthly Active Users (MAU), Daily Active Users (DAU) and Average Daily Time Spent per User totalled 520 million, 295 million and 99.3 minutes respectively, mainly derived from Mainland China. </span></p>
<p><span class="leadin">While its valuation has retreated to more reasonable levels in recent months, there are still </span>considerable uncertainties about its revenue and profitability prospects, particularly in the wake of tightening regulations in Mainland China and execution difficulties in overseas expansion.</p>
<p>Further, Kuaishou's catchup story to Bytedance is not playing out as expected due to user growth underperformance and average user time spent peaking in Q1 2021.  <span class="leadin">We discuss some of the underlying issues in the following sections and highlight key factors to watch in its upcoming Q2 2021 results release (expected on 23 August 2021). </span></p>

Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK) is a video creation and streaming mobile application that has a huge userbase in Mainland China.  For the 3 months ended 31 March 2021, its Monthly Active Users (MAU), Daily Active Users (DAU) and Average Daily Time Spent per User totalled 520 million, 295 million and 99.3 minutes respectively, mainly derived from Mainland China. 
While its valuation has retreated to more reasonable levels in recent months, there are still considerable uncertainties about its revenue and profitability prospects, particularly in the wake of tightening regulations in Mainland China and execution difficulties in overseas expansion.
Further, Kuaishou's catchup story to Bytedance is not playing out as expected due to user growth underperformance and average user time spent peaking in Q1 2021.  We discuss some of the underlying issues in the following sections and highlight key factors to watch in its upcoming Q2 2021 results release (expected on 23 August 2021). 

Kuaishou - Q2 2021 Preview Through a Forensic Lens

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Further plunge happened on the day of lock-up expiry.</li>
<li>However, Kuaishou Express is the only app that can accumulate significant users in the competition with TikTok.</li>
<li>Kuaishou’s time on site is catching up with TikTok.</li>
<li>We believe Kuaishou has an upside of 46% for the year end of 2021.</li>
<li>Also see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/kuaishou-lock-up-expiry-getting-close-to-ipo-price-with-us-18bn-lock-up-ccass-movement-as-well" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:54874" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Lock-Up Expiry - Getting Close to IPO Price, with US$18bn+ Lock-Up. CCASS Movement as Well.</a> by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/sumeet-singh" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:4" rel="noopener">Sumeet Singh</a>. </li>
</ul>


Further plunge happened on the day of lock-up expiry.
However, Kuaishou Express is the only app that can accumulate significant users in the competition with TikTok.
Kuaishou’s time on site is catching up with TikTok.
We believe Kuaishou has an upside of 46% for the year end of 2021.
Also see Kuaishou Lock-Up Expiry - Getting Close to IPO Price, with US$18bn+ Lock-Up. CCASS Movement as Well. by Sumeet Singh. 


Kuaishou (1024 HK): Opportunity Coming After Lock-Up Expiry

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/cloud-village-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33412:1" rel="noopener">Cloud Village (CLV HK)</a> is the second-largest online music platform after <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-music-entertainment" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27255:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Music (TME US)</a> as measured by users and revenue in China. The cornerstone product is <em>NetEase Cloud Music</em> that delivers diverse music and music-inspired content and provides interactive community features. Cloud Village is braving the moribund Chinese IPO market by pre-marketing an HKEx IPO to raise around $1 billion, according to press reports. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/cloud-village-netease-music-ipo-initiation-musical-shares" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52266" rel="noopener">Cloud Village (NetEase Music) IPO Initiation: Musical Shares</a>, we stated that at first sight, Cloud Village performance seems poor as its high growth has come at the cost of negative gross margin and cash burn. However, Cloud Village is on the cusp of turning around its performance due to a fundamental change in its cost structure. We concluded that Cloud Village has the potential to shed its underdog status vs the much larger Tencent Music.  </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/cloud-village-netease-music-ipo-play-list" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:55506" rel="noopener">Cloud Village (NetEase Music) IPO: Play List</a>, we examined the 1Q21 results and the recent developments disclosed in the PHIP. We noted that while Cloud Village expects to remain unprofitable over the next three years, the 1Q21 results and the recent SAMR ruling on Tencent Music support our view that Cloud Village is on track to combine its high growth with an improving cost structure. </p>
</div><div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at Cloud Village's potential valuation range. </p></div></div></div>


Cloud Village (CLV HK) is the second-largest online music platform after Tencent Music (TME US) as measured by users and revenue in China. The cornerstone product is NetEase Cloud Music that delivers diverse music and music-inspired content and provides interactive community features. Cloud Village is braving the moribund Chinese IPO market by pre-marketing an HKEx IPO to raise around $1 billion, according to press reports. 
In Cloud Village (NetEase Music) IPO Initiation: Musical Shares, we stated that at first sight, Cloud Village performance seems poor as its high growth has come at the cost of negative gross margin and cash burn. However, Cloud Village is on the cusp of turning around its performance due to a fundamental change in its cost structure. We concluded that Cloud Village has the potential to shed its underdog status vs the much larger Tencent Music.  
In Cloud Village (NetEase Music) IPO: Play List, we examined the 1Q21 results and the recent developments disclosed in the PHIP. We noted that while Cloud Village expects to remain unprofitable over the next three years, the 1Q21 results and the recent SAMR ruling on Tencent Music support our view that Cloud Village is on track to combine its high growth with an improving cost structure. 
In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at Cloud Village's potential valuation range. 

Cloud Village (NetEase Music) IPO: Valuation First-Look

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

<p>ByteDance IPO is one of the major listings by Chinese TMT companies that we are looking forward to. The company was valued at USD 75 billion in a pre-IPO round in October 2018 and was valued at USD 100 billion in the private transactions in May 2020. Recent media report also mentioned that it is valued at USD 425 billion. </p><p>In our previous reports, we covered the company’s main products and its recent financials and user data in China. Although ByteDance records most of its revenues from China, one should not underestimate its potential from overseas expansion. ByteDance’s flagship app, TikTok, has become a global phenomenon. Competitors such as Facebook have not been successful in taking market share from TikTok. In our opinion, ByteDance is the most successful Chinese TMT company in the overseas market. Towards the end of 2020, there has been political turmoil between China and the US which put the ByteDance's listing at risk. </p><p>Recently the company has disclosed brief financial information for 2020, together with operating data obtained from third party data analytics, we would like to provide a quick comparison of how the company fared against its key competitor, Kuaishou. </p>

ByteDance IPO is one of the major listings by Chinese TMT companies that we are looking forward to. The company was valued at USD 75 billion in a pre-IPO round in October 2018 and was valued at USD 100 billion in the private transactions in May 2020. Recent media report also mentioned that it is valued at USD 425 billion. In our previous reports, we covered the company’s main products and its recent financials and user data in China. Although ByteDance records most of its revenues from China, one should not underestimate its potential from overseas expansion. ByteDance’s flagship app, TikTok, has become a global phenomenon. Competitors such as Facebook have not been successful in taking market share from TikTok. In our opinion, ByteDance is the most successful Chinese TMT company in the overseas market. Towards the end of 2020, there has been political turmoil between China and the US which put the ByteDance's listing at risk. Recently the company has disclosed brief financial information for 2020, together with operating data obtained from third party data analytics, we would like to provide a quick comparison of how the company fared against its key competitor, Kuaishou. 

ByteDance Pre-IPO: How Does It Fare Against Kuaishou as It Gets Closer to a Listing

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-oriental-education-technology-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32210:1" rel="noopener">New Oriental Education &amp; Technology Group (9901 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-health-information-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:453:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Health Information Technology (241 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-healthcare-and-technology-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27008:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (1833 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuyao-glass-industry-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:330:1" rel="noopener">Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <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/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wuxi-apptec" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23679:1" rel="noopener">Wuxi Biologics (2269 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/galaxy-entertainment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:806:1" rel="noopener">Galaxy Entertainment Group (27 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-wall-motor-co-ltd-cb302af9-398c-4d2d-ba39-023e43287eef" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:128:1" rel="noopener">Great Wall Motor (2333 HK)</a>. Shorts decreased in the Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, Real Estate, Materials, Indsutrials and Financials sectors.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/takeda-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11747:1" rel="noopener">Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mizuho-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:219:1" rel="noopener">Mizuho Financial Group (8411 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kirin-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16977:1" rel="noopener">Kirin Holdings (2503 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kddi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:639:1" rel="noopener">KDDI Corp (9433 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-steel-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:961:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Steel Corporation (5401 JP)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sharp-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:391:1" rel="noopener">Sharp Corp (6753 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pigeon-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3294:1" rel="noopener">Pigeon Corp (7956 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/matsumotokiyoshi-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2259:1" rel="noopener">Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co., Ltd. (3088 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shionogi-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19535:1" rel="noopener">Shionogi &amp; Co (4507 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kawasaki-heavy-industries" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8790:1" rel="noopener">Kawasaki Heavy Industries (7012 JP)</a>. Shorts increased in the Health Care, Financials, Materials and Communication Services sectors while decreasing in the Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate sectors.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-household-health-care" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6501:1" rel="noopener">LG Household &amp; Health Care (051900 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-motor-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:155:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hmm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13494:1" rel="noopener">HMM Co., Ltd. (011200 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-heavy-industries" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10155:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Heavy Industries (009540 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-telecom-co-ltd-bbccd86c-474d-4a4d-946d-10e911a225a2" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:395:1" rel="noopener">SK Telecom (017670 KS)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-electronics-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8814:1" rel="noopener">LG Electronics (066570 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oci-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1904:1" rel="noopener">Oci Co Ltd (010060 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 KS)</a>. </p></div><div><p>In Taiwan, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/novatek-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10904:1" rel="noopener">Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mediatek-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:772:1" rel="noopener">Mediatek Inc (2454 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asustek-computer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13002:1" rel="noopener">Asustek Computer (2357 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/quanta-computer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2754:1" rel="noopener">Quanta Computer (2382 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fitipower-integrated-technology-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8712:1" rel="noopener">Fitipower Integrated Technology (4961 TT)</a> while shorts covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asia-cement-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15350:1" rel="noopener">Asia Cement (1102 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elite-semiconductor-memory-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9373:1" rel="noopener">Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology (3006 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yang-ming-marine-transport" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8502:1" rel="noopener">Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ta-chen-stainless-pipe-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2519:1" rel="noopener">TA Chen Stainless Pipe (2027 TT)</a>.</p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK), New Oriental Education &amp; Technology Group (9901 HK), Alibaba Health Information Technology (241 HK), Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (1833 HK) and Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK) while there was short covering on Alibaba Group (9988 HK), Tencent (700 HK), Wuxi Biologics (2269 HK), Galaxy Entertainment Group (27 HK) and Great Wall Motor (2333 HK). Shorts decreased in the Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, Real Estate, Materials, Indsutrials and Financials sectors.In Japan, stocks increased on Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP), Mizuho Financial Group (8411 JP), Kirin Holdings (2503 JP), KDDI Corp (9433 JP) and Nippon Steel Corporation (5401 JP) while there was short covering on Sharp Corp (6753 JP), Pigeon Corp (7956 JP), Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co., Ltd. (3088 JP), Shionogi &amp; Co (4507 JP) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (7012 JP). Shorts increased in the Health Care, Financials, Materials and Communication Services sectors while decreasing in the Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate sectors.In Korea, shorts increased on LG Household &amp; Health Care (051900 KS), Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS), HMM Co., Ltd. (011200 KS), Hyundai Heavy Industries (009540 KS) and SK Telecom (017670 KS) while shorts were covered on Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), LG Electronics (066570 KS), Oci Co Ltd (010060 KS), Naver Corp (035420 KS) and SK Hynix (000660 KS). In Taiwan, shorts increased on Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT), Mediatek Inc (2454 TT), Asustek Computer (2357 TT), Quanta Computer (2382 TT) and Fitipower Integrated Technology (4961 TT) while shorts covered on Yageo Corporation (2327 TT), Asia Cement (1102 TT), Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology (3006 TT), Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609 TT) and TA Chen Stainless Pipe (2027 TT).

Asia Shorts: Kuaishou, EDU, Fuyao, Galaxy, KDDI, Sharp, HMC, HMM, SK Tel, Naver, Novatek, Yageo

China

Kuaishou Technology operates as a content community and social platform. The Company helps users create, upload and watch short videos on mobile devices. Kuaishou Technology offers services worldwide.

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Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)

Kuaishou - Q2 2021 Preview Through a Forensic Lens

Kuaishou's revenue and profitability prospects remain uncertain, particularly in the wake of stricter regulations and overseas expansion hurdles....

Jason Yap, CFA

Kuaishou (1024 HK): Opportunity Coming After Lock-Up Expiry

Further plunge happened on the day of lock-up expiry.However, Kuaishou's operating data is not as bad as the market believe. We believe Kuaishou...

Ming Lu

Cloud Village (NetEase Music) IPO: Valuation First-Look

Cloud Village is braving the moribund Chinese IPO market by pre-marketing an HKEx IPO to raise around $1 bn. In this note, we present our forecasts...

Arun George

ByteDance Pre-IPO: How Does It Fare Against Kuaishou as It Gets Closer to a Listing

We provide an update on ByteDance financials and operating data comparison with Kuaishou. With the US TikTok ban lifted, we think it is closer to a...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Shorts: Kuaishou, EDU, Fuyao, Galaxy, KDDI, Sharp, HMC, HMM, SK Tel, Naver, Novatek, Yageo

The Insight looks at large short interest movements across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan stocks and highlights large increases/decreases in shorts to...

Brian Freitas

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