Fundamental Short Selling Research

Eric Fernandez, CFA

TwoRiversAnalytics

Forensic Accounting

Fox Factory Holding / Forensic Accounting

<ul>
<li>This model seeks short-sale candidates among companies that use aggressive accounting and/or exhibit deteriorating quality of earnings.  </li>
<li>They are typically highly idiosyncratic shorts and require thoughtful analyses of upcoming catalysts.  When the company’s issues become well-known, there is often multiple compression as well as a rerating.</li>
<li>These shorts can have high or low betas, valuations based on artificial earnings and exhibit good short responses to subsequently disappointing earnings.</li>
</ul>


This model seeks short-sale candidates among companies that use aggressive accounting and/or exhibit deteriorating quality of earnings.  
They are typically highly idiosyncratic shorts and require thoughtful analyses of upcoming catalysts.  When the company’s issues become well-known, there is often multiple compression as well as a rerating.
These shorts can have high or low betas, valuations based on artificial earnings and exhibit good short responses to subsequently disappointing earnings.


Earnings Quality Short Candidates: Fox Factory, Beyond Meat, Coupa SW, Beacon Roofing

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

Palantir Technologies  / Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Palantir’s earnings call was a master class in obfuscation.</p><p><strong>Since 4Q20 earnings on February 16, 2021, five C-Suite executives from Palantir have sold $250MM (!!) in stock, with CEO Alex Karp selling $137MM in just the past 3 months. Luckily for them, Cathie Wood and ARK has bought 20M shares for $480MM! </strong></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>

Palantir’s earnings call was a master class in obfuscation.Since 4Q20 earnings on February 16, 2021, five C-Suite executives from Palantir have sold $250MM (!!) in stock, with CEO Alex Karp selling $137MM in just the past 3 months. Luckily for them, Cathie Wood and ARK has bought 20M shares for $480MM! 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.

Palantir 1Q21 Earnings: ARK’s Buying What They’re Selling

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/linklogis" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31126:1" rel="noopener">Linklogis (9959 HK)</a> is a leading technology solution provider for supply chain finance in China. Its solutions optimise the payment cycle of supply chain transactions and digitalize the entire workflow of supply chain finance. Linklogis will commence trading on Friday, 9 April. Linklogis priced its IPO at HK$17.58 and <a href="https://inews.hket.com/article/2926566/%E3%80%90%E6%96%B0%E8%82%A1IPO%E3%80%91%E8%81%AF%E6%98%93%E8%9E%8D%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%809959%E6%9A%97%E7%9B%A4%E3%80%80%E7%8F%BE%E5%8D%876-%E3%80%81%E6%97%A9%E6%AE%B5%E6%9B%BE%E8%B7%8C%E8%BF%91%E4%B8%80%E6%88%90?mtc=40001&amp;srkw=IPO%E6%9C%80%E5%BF%AB%E6%9C%80%E9%BD%8A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">currently trading around 6% higher</a> at HK$18.70 in the Futu securities grey market. The grey market performance is a welcome surprise in light of the choppy market conditions and declining market sentiment on Chinese tech names. The most recent HKEx tech IPO, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bairong" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31486:1" rel="noopener">Bairong (1569395D CH)</a>, closed -16% below its IPO price on the first day and has not yet recovered.    </p></div><div><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/linklogis-ipo-initiation-isupply" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:47017" rel="noopener">Linklogis IPO Initiation: ISupply</a>, we stated that Linklogis is an attractive play on China’s supply chain finance market by combining a sensible monetisation model, high customer retention rate (good revenue visibility) and strong operating leverage. In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/linklogis-ipo-every-little-helps" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49480" rel="noopener">Linklogis IPO: Every Little Helps</a>, we noted that based on the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments, we continue to believe that Linklogis’ fundamentals are attractive. In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/linklogis-ipo-valuation-insights" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49693" rel="noopener">Linklogis IPO: Valuation Insights</a>, we noted that the IPO price range is reasonable.</p></div><div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>Updating for the final IPO net raise, our base-case DCF derived price target of HK$19.28 per share. Our DCF sensitivity analysis shows that the IPO price remains reasonable and the grey market factors in achievable market share and margin forecasts. We continue to think that the IPO price represents good value. </p></div></div></div>

Linklogis (9959 HK) is a leading technology solution provider for supply chain finance in China. Its solutions optimise the payment cycle of supply chain transactions and digitalize the entire workflow of supply chain finance. Linklogis will commence trading on Friday, 9 April. Linklogis priced its IPO at HK$17.58 and currently trading around 6% higher at HK$18.70 in the Futu securities grey market. The grey market performance is a welcome surprise in light of the choppy market conditions and declining market sentiment on Chinese tech names. The most recent HKEx tech IPO, Bairong (1569395D CH), closed -16% below its IPO price on the first day and has not yet recovered.    In Linklogis IPO Initiation: ISupply, we stated that Linklogis is an attractive play on China’s supply chain finance market by combining a sensible monetisation model, high customer retention rate (good revenue visibility) and strong operating leverage. In Linklogis IPO: Every Little Helps, we noted that based on the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments, we continue to believe that Linklogis’ fundamentals are attractive. In Linklogis IPO: Valuation Insights, we noted that the IPO price range is reasonable.Updating for the final IPO net raise, our base-case DCF derived price target of HK$19.28 per share. Our DCF sensitivity analysis shows that the IPO price remains reasonable and the grey market factors in achievable market share and margin forecasts. We continue to think that the IPO price represents good value. 

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/linklogis" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31126:1" rel="noopener">Linklogis (LINK HK)</a> is a leading technology solution provider for supply chain finance in China. Its solutions optimise the payment cycle of supply chain transactions and digitalize the entire workflow of supply chain finance. Linklogis is backed by <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>, CITIC Capital, GIC and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/standard-chartered-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:193:1" rel="noopener">Standard Chartered (STAN LN)</a>. </p></div><div><p>At the proposed IPO price range of HK$16.28-18.28 per share, Linklogis will have a market cap of HK$36,864-41,393 million ($4.7-5.3 billion). At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are HK$7,581.3 million ($976 million). Six cornerstone investors will purchase $365 million worth of the offer shares (36.22% of the offer shares at the mid-point of the IPO price range). The cornerstone investors are BlackRock, Fidelity International, Janus Henderson, Ontario Teachers’, Sequoia Funds and EDB Investments. </p></div><div><div>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/linklogis-ipo-initiation-isupply" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:47017" rel="noopener">Linklogis IPO Initiation: ISupply</a>, we stated that Linklogis is an attractive play on China’s supply chain finance market by combining a sensible monetisation model, high customer retention rate (good revenue visibility) and strong operating leverage. In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/linklogis-ipo-every-little-helps" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49480" rel="noopener">Linklogis IPO: Every Little Helps</a>, we noted that based on the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments, we continue to believe that Linklogis’ fundamentals are attractive.</p>
<div class="content-highlight"><p>Notwithstanding the recent de-rating of Chinese tech names, our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO price range is attractive. Overall, we would participate in the IPO. </p></div>
</div></div>

Linklogis (LINK HK) is a leading technology solution provider for supply chain finance in China. Its solutions optimise the payment cycle of supply chain transactions and digitalize the entire workflow of supply chain finance. Linklogis is backed by Tencent Holdings (700 HK), CITIC Capital, GIC and Standard Chartered (STAN LN). At the proposed IPO price range of HK$16.28-18.28 per share, Linklogis will have a market cap of HK$36,864-41,393 million ($4.7-5.3 billion). At the mid-point of the IPO price range, the net proceeds are HK$7,581.3 million ($976 million). Six cornerstone investors will purchase $365 million worth of the offer shares (36.22% of the offer shares at the mid-point of the IPO price range). The cornerstone investors are BlackRock, Fidelity International, Janus Henderson, Ontario Teachers’, Sequoia Funds and EDB Investments. 
In Linklogis IPO Initiation: ISupply, we stated that Linklogis is an attractive play on China’s supply chain finance market by combining a sensible monetisation model, high customer retention rate (good revenue visibility) and strong operating leverage. In Linklogis IPO: Every Little Helps, we noted that based on the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments, we continue to believe that Linklogis’ fundamentals are attractive.
Notwithstanding the recent de-rating of Chinese tech names, our valuation analysis suggests that the IPO price range is attractive. Overall, we would participate in the IPO. 


<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/linklogis" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31126:1" rel="noopener">Linklogis (LINK HK)</a> is a leading technology solution provider for supply chain finance in China. Its solutions optimise the payment cycle of supply chain transactions and digitalize the entire workflow of supply chain finance. Linklogis is backed by <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>, CITIC Capital, GIC and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/standard-chartered-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:193:1" rel="noopener">Standard Chartered (STAN LN)</a>. Linklogis will launch an HKEx IPO to raise as much as $1 billion on Friday, according to press reports.</p></div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/linklogis-ipo-initiation-isupply" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:47017" rel="noopener">Linklogis IPO Initiation: ISupply</a>, we stated that Linklogis is an attractive play on China’s supply chain finance market by combining a sensible monetisation model, high customer retention rate (good revenue visibility) and strong operating leverage. In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/linklogis-ipo-every-little-helps" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49480" rel="noopener">Linklogis IPO: Every Little Helps</a>, we noted that based on the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments, we continue to believe that Linklogis’ fundamentals are attractive. In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at Linklogis' potential valuation. </p></div></div>

Linklogis (LINK HK) is a leading technology solution provider for supply chain finance in China. Its solutions optimise the payment cycle of supply chain transactions and digitalize the entire workflow of supply chain finance. Linklogis is backed by Tencent Holdings (700 HK), CITIC Capital, GIC and Standard Chartered (STAN LN). Linklogis will launch an HKEx IPO to raise as much as $1 billion on Friday, according to press reports.In Linklogis IPO Initiation: ISupply, we stated that Linklogis is an attractive play on China’s supply chain finance market by combining a sensible monetisation model, high customer retention rate (good revenue visibility) and strong operating leverage. In Linklogis IPO: Every Little Helps, we noted that based on the PHIP which discloses the 2020 results and recent developments, we continue to believe that Linklogis’ fundamentals are attractive. In this note, we present our forecasts and take the first look at Linklogis' potential valuation. 

United States

Coupa Software Incorporated designs and develops software solutions. The Company offers procurement and expense management software to engineering, government, education, health care, retail, and staffing industries. Coupa Software serves customers around the world.

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Coupa Software (COUP US)

Earnings Quality Short Candidates: Fox Factory, Beyond Meat, Coupa SW, Beacon Roofing

Earnings Quality shorts lead to idiosyncratic alpha. Today, we show our model rankings and highlight Fox Factory, Beyond Meat, Coupa SW, Beacon...

Eric Fernandez, CFA

Palantir 1Q21 Earnings: ARK’s Buying What They’re Selling

Since 4Q20 C-Suite executives from Palantir have sold $250MM (!!) in stock, with CEO Alex Karp selling $137MM in just the past 3 months. Luckily...

Aaron Gabin

Linklogis IPO: Trading Debut

Linklogis priced its IPO at HK$17.58 and trading around 6% higher at HK$18.70 in the Futu securities grey market. We continue to think that the IPO...

Arun George

Linklogis IPO: Valuation Insights

Linklogis has launched its IPO to raise net proceeds of $976m at the mid-point. Notwithstanding the recent de-rating of Chinese tech, we think that...

Arun George

Linklogis IPO: Valuation First Look

Linklogis will launch an HKEx IPO to raise as much as $1 billion on Friday, according to press reports. In this note, we present our forecasts and...

Arun George

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