Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Independent, Fundamental Quantitative Research

Propitious Research

Fully independent, fundamental and quantitative equity research, focused on companies in the Telecommunication, Media, Technology, Internet and Healthcare sectors in the Global Emerging Markets. Idea generation focused on Quality stocks, trading below their intrinsic Value, with sound Corporate Governance.

Quantitative Analysis

This insight provides the output, and an overview of our, machine learning-driven, proprietary GEM screening model, which takes a three-pronged approach to find the best medium-term long ideas within the top100 largest stocks in the MSCI GEM Index. The model is based on 1) a typical quantitative multifactor screening model, enhanced by two Artificial Intelligence Technology-based approaches using 2) a Deep Neural Network model, and 3) a Recurrent Neural Network model. This model, which has been developed and tweaked over the past 24 months (and implemented in its current state for &gt;12 months), has a solid real-world performance track record, which I set out in the detail below. Notable new entrants to the top decile this month include Russian energy plays <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gazprom-pjsc-6a7231a9-d5e4-4da4-bf21-aa1b9d50fbf8" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27578:1" rel="noopener">Gazprom PJSC (GAZP RM)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lukoil-pjsc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24141:1" rel="noopener">Lukoil PJSC (LKOD LI)</a>, Brazilian securities exchange <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/b3-sa-brasil-bolsa-balcao" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24580:1" rel="noopener">B3 Sa - Brasil Bolsa Balcao (B3SA3 BZ)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-construction-bank-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45:1" rel="noopener">China Construction Bank H (939 HK)</a>.<table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
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<col>
<col>
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</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">rank</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">Name</td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Sector</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">Location</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">prev.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">
<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> </td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Information Technology</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">Korea (South)</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> </td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Communication</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">China</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">3</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cnooc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:175:1" rel="noopener">CNOOC Ltd (883 HK)</a> </td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Energy</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">China</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">4</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/posco" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:208:1" rel="noopener">Posco (005490 KS)</a> </td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Materials</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">Korea (South)</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">5</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kia-motors-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:156:1" rel="noopener">Kia Motors Corp (000270 KS)</a> </td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">Korea (South)</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">6</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:656:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK)</a> </td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Financials</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">China</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gazprom-pjsc-6a7231a9-d5e4-4da4-bf21-aa1b9d50fbf8" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27578:1" rel="noopener">Gazprom PJSC (GAZP RM)</a> </td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Energy</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">Russian Federation</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">8</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lukoil-pjsc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24141:1" rel="noopener">Lukoil PJSC (LKOD LI)</a> </td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Energy</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">Russian Federation</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">9</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/b3-sa-brasil-bolsa-balcao" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24580:1" rel="noopener">B3 Sa - Brasil Bolsa Balcao (B3SA3 BZ)</a> </td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Financials</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">Brazil</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.7344px;">10</td>
<td style="width: 263.203px;">
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-construction-bank-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45:1" rel="noopener">China Construction Bank H (939 HK)</a> </td>
<td style="width: 185.312px;">Financials</td>
<td style="width: 147.938px;">China</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 74.8125px;">41</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="5" style="text-align: left; width: 746px;">Source: FactSet financial data and analytics, my estimates and calculations, Tensorflow, Keras, Google Colaboratory, pandas</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>As usual, please feel free to reach out for the full output table, any questions, clarifications needed or suggestions.

This insight provides the output, and an overview of our, machine learning-driven, proprietary GEM screening model, which takes a three-pronged approach to find the best medium-term long ideas within the top100 largest stocks in the MSCI GEM Index. The model is based on 1) a typical quantitative multifactor screening model, enhanced by two Artificial Intelligence Technology-based approaches using 2) a Deep Neural Network model, and 3) a Recurrent Neural Network model. This model, which has been developed and tweaked over the past 24 months (and implemented in its current state for &gt;12 months), has a solid real-world performance track record, which I set out in the detail below. Notable new entrants to the top decile this month include Russian energy plays Gazprom PJSC (GAZP RM) and Lukoil PJSC (LKOD LI), Brazilian securities exchange B3 Sa - Brasil Bolsa Balcao (B3SA3 BZ), and China Construction Bank H (939 HK).









rank
Name
Sector
Location
prev.


1

SK Hynix (000660 KS) 
Information Technology
Korea (South)
3


2

China Mobile (941 HK) 
Communication
China
9


3

CNOOC Ltd (883 HK) 
Energy
China
1


4

Posco (005490 KS) 
Materials
Korea (South)
21


5

Kia Motors Corp (000270 KS) 
Consumer Discretionary
Korea (South)
4


6

Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK) 
Financials
China
5


7

Gazprom PJSC (GAZP RM) 
Energy
Russian Federation
14


8

Lukoil PJSC (LKOD LI) 
Energy
Russian Federation
32


9

B3 Sa - Brasil Bolsa Balcao (B3SA3 BZ) 
Financials
Brazil
70


10

China Construction Bank H (939 HK) 
Financials
China
41

Source: FactSet financial data and analytics, my estimates and calculations, Tensorflow, Keras, Google Colaboratory, pandas

As usual, please feel free to reach out for the full output table, any questions, clarifications needed or suggestions.

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Cross Asset Strategy

Active Global managers are running record underweights in Emerging Market stocks.  The average Emerging Markets allocation among the active Global funds in our analysis stands at 9.44%, underweight -4.56% compared to the MSCI ACWI weight with 78.3% of funds underweight the benchmark.
Whilst India Financials are the largest overweight, China &amp; HK Consumer Discretionary and Health Care, Taiwan Financials and Saudi Financials have driven the underweight to all-time highs.
On a stock level, <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> is the most widely held stock, owned by 48% of the 383 active Global managers in our analysis.  The top 6 most widely held stocks, which are <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/aia-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14895:1" rel="noopener">AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK)</a> , <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/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/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hdfc-bank-ltd-4b6b7a92-9087-468d-9dbe-ab169e77f014" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:558:1" rel="noopener">HDFC Bank (HDFCB IN)</a> occupy the top tier.  They are held by significantly more managers and at larger average weight than those below them.
In fact, active Global managers have come to rely on these top 6 names more and more over the last decade.  Almost 40% of all EM allocations are in these 6 stocks.  Should Global managers be better diversifying their EM allocations?
Analysis taken from our Global fund research, covering 383 active Global strategies with combined AUM of $1.05tr

Active Global managers are running record underweights in Emerging Market stocks.  The average Emerging Markets allocation among the active Global funds in our analysis stands at 9.44%, underweight -4.56% compared to the MSCI ACWI weight with 78.3% of funds underweight the benchmark.
Whilst India Financials are the largest overweight, China &amp; HK Consumer Discretionary and Health Care, Taiwan Financials and Saudi Financials have driven the underweight to all-time highs.
On a stock level, TSMC (2330 TT) is the most widely held stock, owned by 48% of the 383 active Global managers in our analysis.  The top 6 most widely held stocks, which are TSMC (2330 TT) , AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK) , Alibaba Group (BABA US) , Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) , Tencent (700 HK) and HDFC Bank (HDFCB IN) occupy the top tier.  They are held by significantly more managers and at larger average weight than those below them.
In fact, active Global managers have come to rely on these top 6 names more and more over the last decade.  Almost 40% of all EM allocations are in these 6 stocks.  Should Global managers be better diversifying their EM allocations?
Analysis taken from our Global fund research, covering 383 active Global strategies with combined AUM of $1.05tr

EM Underweight Hits Record High Among Global Managers

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Last Week in Event SPACE: Sembcorp, Milton, Toshiba, Dah Sing Bank, WH Group, 51job, Port Congestion

With Value funds making gains on Growth funds this year, where are EM Value managers positioned?Country: U/W China &amp; HK and India, O/W South Korea and Mexico.  Note also the overweight in Turkey, with 71% of the Value funds in our analysis positioned overweight versus the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF.Sector:U/W Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services and Health Care.  O/W  Materials, Industrials and Financials.Read on for further data and analysis on Industry and Stock positioning.Analysis taken from our Emerging Markets Research, covering 242 active GEM funds with combined AUM of $500bn

With Value funds making gains on Growth funds this year, where are EM Value managers positioned?Country: U/W China &amp; HK and India, O/W South Korea and Mexico.  Note also the overweight in Turkey, with 71% of the Value funds in our analysis positioned overweight versus the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF.Sector:U/W Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services and Health Care.  O/W  Materials, Industrials and Financials.Read on for further data and analysis on Industry and Stock positioning.Analysis taken from our Emerging Markets Research, covering 242 active GEM funds with combined AUM of $500bn

Travis Lundy

Equity Bottom-Up

As fallout from the Trump Executive Order on Chinese military companies, the NYSE decided to delist the ADRs of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-telecom-corp-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1015:1" rel="noopener">China Telecom Corp Ltd (H) (728 HK)</a> and US Persons were obliged to cease investment into the stocks wherever they were listed. The H-Shares of both fell, then rose sharply one what was seen as "National Team buying." Southbound investment in the two names increased, and almost immediately the two companies set to work to "find alternative capital markets opportunities."The idea that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-telecom-corp-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1015:1" rel="noopener">China Telecom Corp Ltd (H) (728 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> would eventually list their shares in the mainland was deemed an almost foregone conclusion when China introduced the idea of China Depositary Receipts with a <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/pilot-program-on-china-depositary-receipts-launched-expect-the-big-5-to-prep-quickly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pilot Programme announced in April 2018</a>.In mid-March, China Telecom announced its <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0317/2021031700304.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal</a>, and in late April announced that it had applied and the CSRC had accepted its application for an A-Share listing. In late May, China Mobile announced its intention to apply shortly, as discussed in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-mobile-941-hk-it-could-have-been-done-better-but-it-ain-t-bad-for-hs" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52018" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK) - It Could Have Been Done Better, But It Ain't Bad for Hs</a>.In that piece, I noted my objection to the way the planned capital raise was presented, but also noted that the details were bullish for H-share investors for both stocks. The market hasn't reacted that well to the proposals (the blue lines in the charts below). <section class="figure"><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/214/186/original/Screenshot+2021-06-21+at+9.48.55+AM.png?1624240150" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="214186"></figure></section></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/214/175/original/Screenshot+2021-06-21+at+9.45.38+AM.png?1624239961" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="214175"></figure></section>One of the reasons was hidden in the back of the <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0524/2021052400195.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Circular</a> for China Mobile, which was almost word-for-word the same as the <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0317/2021031700304.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Announcement</a> for China Telecom.It was a combination of Shareholder Return and Price Stabilization Obligation. <div class="content-highlight">This morning, China Telecom has <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0621/2021062100289.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that it will adjust the Dividend Policy to a 60% payout ratio, lifting it later to 70%. </div>

As fallout from the Trump Executive Order on Chinese military companies, the NYSE decided to delist the ADRs of China Mobile (941 HK) and China Telecom Corp Ltd (H) (728 HK) and US Persons were obliged to cease investment into the stocks wherever they were listed. The H-Shares of both fell, then rose sharply one what was seen as "National Team buying." Southbound investment in the two names increased, and almost immediately the two companies set to work to "find alternative capital markets opportunities."The idea that China Telecom Corp Ltd (H) (728 HK) and China Mobile (941 HK) would eventually list their shares in the mainland was deemed an almost foregone conclusion when China introduced the idea of China Depositary Receipts with a Pilot Programme announced in April 2018.In mid-March, China Telecom announced its proposal, and in late April announced that it had applied and the CSRC had accepted its application for an A-Share listing. In late May, China Mobile announced its intention to apply shortly, as discussed in China Mobile (941 HK) - It Could Have Been Done Better, But It Ain't Bad for Hs.In that piece, I noted my objection to the way the planned capital raise was presented, but also noted that the details were bullish for H-share investors for both stocks. The market hasn't reacted that well to the proposals (the blue lines in the charts below). One of the reasons was hidden in the back of the Circular for China Mobile, which was almost word-for-word the same as the Announcement for China Telecom.It was a combination of Shareholder Return and Price Stabilization Obligation. This morning, China Telecom has announced that it will adjust the Dividend Policy to a 60% payout ratio, lifting it later to 70%. 

China Telecom (728 HK) Ups Div Payout Policy - There's a Plan Here. Expect China Mobile to Follow

Hong Kong

China Mobile Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides cellular telecommunications and related services in the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong SAR.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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China Mobile Ltd Spon Adr (CHL US)

Screening for GEMs: July 2021

This insight provides an overview of our, machine learning-driven, proprietary GEM screening model, based on a Multifactor model, a Deep Neural...

Wium Malan, CFA

EM Underweight Hits Record High Among Global Managers

Active Global managers are running record underweights in Emerging Market stocks. The average Emerging Markets allocation sits underweight -4.56%...

Steven Holden

Last Week in Event SPACE: Sembcorp, Milton, Toshiba, Dah Sing Bank, WH Group, 51job, Port Congestion

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

EM Value Fund Positioning

With Value funds making gains on Growth funds this year, where are active Emerging Market Value managers positioned across countries, sectors,...

Steven Holden

China Telecom (728 HK) Ups Div Payout Policy - There's a Plan Here. Expect China Mobile to Follow

China Telecom ups its dividend payout policy ahead of A-Share listing in order to support higher A-share valuation. The goal is to boost A-share...

Travis Lundy

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52-week Range

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