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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>This week, Third Point's Dan Loeb wrote a letter to Disney urging it to spend more on content. We agree. Disney's stock has languished this year due to the havoc COVID has unleashed on its business model. Longer term, we think Disney's streaming service could be worth more then the stock today. </p><p></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></div>

This week, Third Point's Dan Loeb wrote a letter to Disney urging it to spend more on content. We agree. Disney's stock has languished this year due to the havoc COVID has unleashed on its business model. Longer term, we think Disney's streaming service could be worth more then the stock today. 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.

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

<ul>
<li>Performance between US Value funds and Aggressive Growth funds has diverged over the last decade, with 2020 seeing an acceleration of the trend.</li>
<li>The difference in performance is down to their vastly different portfolios, with Value funds heavily reliant on Financials and Health Care stocks and Aggressive Growth funds heavily exposed to Tech and Communication Services. </li>
<li>However, there is some overlap.  There are a number of stocks that appear to offer something for both Value and Growth investors, including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/visa-inc-class-a-shares" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8707:1" rel="noopener">Visa Inc Class A Shares (V US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lowe-s-companies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4156:1" rel="noopener">Lowe's Companies Inc (LOW US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/schwab-charles-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13610:1" rel="noopener">Schwab (Charles) (SCHW US)</a> </li>
<li>In this analysis, we explore a portfolio that combines stocks that are owned by more than 10% of both the Value funds and Aggressive Growth funds in our analysis.  </li>
</ul>


Performance between US Value funds and Aggressive Growth funds has diverged over the last decade, with 2020 seeing an acceleration of the trend.
The difference in performance is down to their vastly different portfolios, with Value funds heavily reliant on Financials and Health Care stocks and Aggressive Growth funds heavily exposed to Tech and Communication Services. 
However, there is some overlap.  There are a number of stocks that appear to offer something for both Value and Growth investors, including Visa Inc Class A Shares (V US), Lowe's Companies Inc (LOW US) and Schwab (Charles) (SCHW US) 
In this analysis, we explore a portfolio that combines stocks that are owned by more than 10% of both the Value funds and Aggressive Growth funds in our analysis.  


US Value Vs Growth:  The Goldilocks Portfolio

<p>We have been longtime fans of Netflix the product and Netflix’s management team can rightfully be described as visionary. They had the vision to have the public markets fund an experiment in business models that may eventually breakeven on FCF at some point in the future. We said last quarter was Peak Netflix, and think this quarter confirmed our medium term short case on Netflix: <strong>Deceleration in Subscriber Growth, Rising Churn, and Rising FCF burn. </strong></p><div class="content-highlight"><p><strong>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.</strong></p></div>

We have been longtime fans of Netflix the product and Netflix’s management team can rightfully be described as visionary. They had the vision to have the public markets fund an experiment in business models that may eventually breakeven on FCF at some point in the future. We said last quarter was Peak Netflix, and think this quarter confirmed our medium term short case on Netflix: Deceleration in Subscriber Growth, Rising Churn, and Rising FCF burn. 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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<div><p>This week we highlight Match Group's independence, YouTube TV's price hike, and the sheer insanity of Spotify's 80% move. </p></div><div><div><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></div></div></div>

This week we highlight Match Group's independence, YouTube TV's price hike, and the sheer insanity of Spotify's 80% move. 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.

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 7/3/​​​​2020

<p>We wrote about Disney at the outset of COVID-19, thinking that its dramatic drawdown was overdone – essentially arguing that consumer behavior ultimately won’t be impacted.</p><p>We admittedly have some egg on our face. Clearly this time is different. We think we are at maximum Disney bearishness - multiple sellside downgrades, consensus hedge fund short? Seems like a good entry point for what will become a crowded long again once some visibility emerges.</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></div>

We wrote about Disney at the outset of COVID-19, thinking that its dramatic drawdown was overdone – essentially arguing that consumer behavior ultimately won’t be impacted.We admittedly have some egg on our face. Clearly this time is different. We think we are at maximum Disney bearishness - multiple sellside downgrades, consensus hedge fund short? Seems like a good entry point for what will become a crowded long again once some visibility emerges.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.

Disney Revisited: Still a Long (Time From Now), When People Are (No Longer) Far Far Away.

United States

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. broadcasts various channels of audio from its satellites. The Company provides its services throughout the continental United States for a monthly subscription fee. Sirius delivers various streams of commercial-free music in every genre, as well as streams of  news, sports, weather, talk, comedy, and public radio.

News Corporation operates in the publishing industry. The Company provides publications consisting of newspapers, magazines, books and promotional inserts.

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. produces live concerts and sells tickets to those events over the Internet. The Company also offers ticketing services for leading arenas, stadiums, professional sports franchises and leagues, college sports teams, performing arts venues, museums and theaters.

The Walt Disney Company is an entertainment company that conducts operations in media networks, studio entertainment, theme parks and resorts, consumer products, and interactive media. The Company produces motion pictures, television programs, and musical recordings, as well as books and magazines.

Omnicom Group Inc. provides advertising, marketing and corporate communications services. The Company's agencies, which operate in major markets around the world, provide a comprehensive range of services including traditional media advertising; customer relationship management ("CRM"); public relations; and specialty communications.

Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Braves operates as a media company. The Company offers media, communications, and entertainment businesses. Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Braves conducts business in the United States.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. is a professional sports company that owns and operates sports franchises.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSGS US)

The New York Times Company operates media businesses.  The Company publishes daily newspapers and operates Internet websites.  The newspapers and websites distribute news and entertainment.

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. is an organization of advertising agencies and marketing service companies.  The Company operates globally in the sectors of advertising, independent media buying, direct marketing, healthcare communications, interactive consulting services, marketing research, promotions, experiential marketing, public relations, and sports marketing.

Liberty Global plc owns interests in broadband, distribution, and content companies operating outside the continental United States, principally in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

REA Group Limited provides online property listings, web development and internet related technology services to the real estate industry along with providing advertising services to Australian companies.  The Company also offers online real estate search services to the Australian public.

Publicis Groupe SA offers advertising services.  The Company develops advertising campaigns and sells advertising on billboards and urban furniture, in newspapers and magazines, on radio, and in movie theaters.  Publicis offers direct marketing, customer relationship marketing, sales promotion, public relations and human resources services, and operates retail drugstores.

Informa PLC provides business information on a worldwide basis.  The Company provides information in the finance and insurance, maritime transport and trade, law and tax, telecom and media, commodities and energy, and biomedical and pharmaceutical global markets.  Informa provides its information through newspapers, magazines, electronic media, books, and journals.

Pearson plc provides education products and services to institutions, governments and individual learners in over 80 countries. The Company's major revenue markets are North America, 'Core' including the UK, Italy and Australia and 'Growth' including Brazil, China and South Africa. It also owns the Financial Times, 50% of the Economist and 47% of Penguin Random House.

TOHO CO., LTD. produces and distributes motion pictures for cinema, television, and video.  The Company also sells character merchandise based on their media productions, distributes foreign films, operates musical theaters, and produces musical shows. In addition, Toho manages movie theaters in urban areas.

DENTSU INC. mainly provides comprehensive advertising services.  The Company also provides marketing and event planning & promotion services.  Dentsu has associated companies in the US, Europe, and Asia.

TOKYO BROADCASTING SYSTEM HOLDINGS, INC. is a media company that broadcasts television and radio programs nationally.  The Company offers a variety of TV programs & film production, visual & music software production, and cable television programming.  Tokyo Broadcasting System provides digital satellite broadcasting services and also operates real estate business.

Compagnie du Cambodge is an investment holding company that invests in companies active in agriculture, industry, real estate and finance.  The Company owns and operates plantations in Malaysia and forests in Cameroon.

JC Decaux SA offers advertising services.  The Company sells advertising on street furniture such as bus shelters, free standing panels, columns, and automatic toilets, billboards, and posters on buses, trains, and subways, and at railroad stations and airports.

CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA produces, sells, brokers and distributes entry tickets for concerts, theater productions, artistic, sporting and similar events. The Company operates an online booking system that allows event promoters to sell their tickets over a variety of distribution channels. CTS also sells tickets directly over the Internet and a call center and offers system support services.

Comcast Corporation provides media and television broadcasting services. The Company offers video streaming, television programming, high-speed internet, cable television, and communication services. Comcast serves customers worldwide.

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Comcast Corp Class A (CMCSA US)

Disney: Listen to Loeb

Disney's stock has languished this year due to the havoc COVID has unleashed on its business model. It should use the opportunity to spend more on...

Aaron Gabin

US Value Vs Growth: The Goldilocks Portfolio

Performance between US Value funds andtwo groups has diverged over the last decade, with 2020 seeing an acceleration of the trend.

Steven Holden

Netflix 2Q20 Caution: Deceleration Ahead

We have been longtime fans of Netflix the product and Netflix’s management team can rightfully be described as visionary. They had the vision to...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 7/3/2020

This week we highlight Match Group's independence, YouTube TV's price hike, and the sheer insanity of Spotify's 80% move. Obex’s fundamental...

Aaron Gabin

Disney Revisited: Still a Long (Time From Now), When People Are (No Longer) Far Far Away.

We wrote about Disney at the outset of COVID-19, thinking that its dramatic drawdown was overdone – essentially arguing that consumer behavior...

Aaron Gabin

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Disney: Listen to Loeb

Disney's stock has languished this year due to the havoc COVID has unleashed on its business model. It should use the opportunity to spend more on...

Aaron Gabin

US Value Vs Growth: The Goldilocks Portfolio

Performance between US Value funds andtwo groups has diverged over the last decade, with 2020 seeing an acceleration of the trend.

Steven Holden

Netflix 2Q20 Caution: Deceleration Ahead

We have been longtime fans of Netflix the product and Netflix’s management team can rightfully be described as visionary. They had the vision to...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 7/3/​​​​2020

This week we highlight Match Group's independence, YouTube TV's price hike, and the sheer insanity of Spotify's 80% move. Obex’s fundamental...

Aaron Gabin

Disney Revisited: Still a Long (Time From Now), When People Are (No Longer) Far Far Away.

We wrote about Disney at the outset of COVID-19, thinking that its dramatic drawdown was overdone – essentially arguing that consumer behavior...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 7/3/2020