Investment Research - Asia Consumer Sector, Investory

Devi Subhakesan

Investment Research - Asia Consumer Sector

ASIA CONSUMER: INSIGHTS AND INVESTMENT IDEAS

Investory

Investory is a Singapore-based boutique independent equity research firm founded in January 2017 with a primary focus on consumption themes across Asia-Pacific.

We aim to generate investible ideas based on consumption trends and outlook. We screen our ideas on several parameters - product potential, long-term growth and management commitment being the most critical.  We follow a fundamental analysis approach in our stock selection process and are not restricted by market cap.

We aspire to grow into a leading source of unbiased research, free of conflict of interest, for investors yearning for independent and disciplined analysis. 

We also undertake bespoke research mandates to support our Institutional clients’ investment needs.

Our team comprises of professionals with extensive experience in the Asian equity markets, in areas ranging from research, servicing institutional clients and investment management.

Equity Bottom-Up

DFI Retail Group Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dfi-retail-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7427:1" rel="noopener">DFI Retail Group Holdings (DFI SP)</a>, a leading retail player in Asia, is navigating sector headwinds through strategic pivots and cost cuts to drive superior margins and returns.</li>
<li>After hitting a 10-year low in early August, DFI Retail’s stock rebounded, driven by strong 1H2024 earnings that reflected the impact of management's initiatives.</li>
<li>With an attractive dividend yield, strong cash flow, and a positive earnings growth outlook, DFI Retail offers a low-risk, high-return opportunity for investors in 2025.</li>
</ul>



DFI Retail Group Holdings (DFI SP), a leading retail player in Asia, is navigating sector headwinds through strategic pivots and cost cuts to drive superior margins and returns.
After hitting a 10-year low in early August, DFI Retail’s stock rebounded, driven by strong 1H2024 earnings that reflected the impact of management's initiatives.
With an attractive dividend yield, strong cash flow, and a positive earnings growth outlook, DFI Retail offers a low-risk, high-return opportunity for investors in 2025.


2025 High Conviction: DFI Retail - Churning Free Cash by Turning the Right Levers

<ul>
<li>Strong recovery in 1H2024 profit growth YoY was driven by margin improvements in the food and convenience segments.</li>
<li>Double-Digit sales growth in the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) foods segment boosted margins, offsetting reduced cigarette volumes from last year's tax increases in Hong Kong.</li>
<li>While weak consumer confidence in North Asia impacted sales, good growth in the expanding Southeast Asia business provided a positive offset.</li>
</ul>


Strong recovery in 1H2024 profit growth YoY was driven by margin improvements in the food and convenience segments.
Double-Digit sales growth in the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) foods segment boosted margins, offsetting reduced cigarette volumes from last year's tax increases in Hong Kong.
While weak consumer confidence in North Asia impacted sales, good growth in the expanding Southeast Asia business provided a positive offset.


DFI Retail (DFI SP): 1H2024.Pivoting to Profitable Growth with RTE Foods

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Hypermarket reshuffles as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com (9618 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dfi-retail-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7427:1" rel="noopener">DFI Retail (DFI SP)</a> exit <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yonghui-superstores-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15910:1" rel="noopener">Yonghui Superstores (601933 CH)</a>; and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group  (9988 HK)</a> potentially exits <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sun-art-retail-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:401:1" rel="noopener">Sun Art Retail (6808 HK)</a>.</li>
<li>Evidently the influence of a younger hip third-generation tycoon-scion wasn't the panacea for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-world-development" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7037:1" rel="noopener">New World Development (17 HK)</a> and its ongoing issues in the HK/China property space.</li>
<li>MBK bumps the Tender Offer prices for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-zinc-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17944:1" rel="noopener">Korea Zinc (010130 KS)</a> by 13.6% to ₩750,000 and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/young-poong-precision-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16188:1" rel="noopener">Young Poong Precision (036560 KS)</a> by 25% to ₩25,000. What with the Choi's do?</li>
</ul>


Hypermarket reshuffles as JD.com (9618 HK) and DFI Retail (DFI SP) exit Yonghui Superstores (601933 CH); and Alibaba Group  (9988 HK) potentially exits Sun Art Retail (6808 HK).
Evidently the influence of a younger hip third-generation tycoon-scion wasn't the panacea for New World Development (17 HK) and its ongoing issues in the HK/China property space.
MBK bumps the Tender Offer prices for Korea Zinc (010130 KS) by 13.6% to ₩750,000 and Young Poong Precision (036560 KS) by 25% to ₩25,000. What with the Choi's do?


Last Week in Event SPACE: DFI/JD.com/Yonghui, Alibaba/Sun Art, New World Development, Austal

<ul>
<li>Low-Cost retailer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/miniso-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36659:1" rel="noopener">MINISO (9896 HK)</a> has <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0923/2024092301478.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered into SPAs to acquire a 29.4% stake</a> in supermarket chain <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yonghui-superstores-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15910:1" rel="noopener">Yonghui (601933 CH)</a> from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dfi-retail-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7427:1" rel="noopener">DFI (DFI SP)</a> and two units of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com (9618 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>Upon the completion of this US$890mn transaction, which is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, MINISO would become Yonghui's largest shareholder. And DFI would exit its entire stake.</li>
<li>Ye Guofu, MINISO's founder/chairman, views the transaction “<a href="https://thelowdown.momentum.asia/miniso-spends-us890-million-to-challenge-sams-club-in-china/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">With a brave heart, start a new world!</a>”. Yonghui has been spilling red ink since FY21. Perhaps "brave soul" is more apt.</li>
</ul>


Low-Cost retailer MINISO (9896 HK) has entered into SPAs to acquire a 29.4% stake in supermarket chain Yonghui (601933 CH) from DFI (DFI SP) and two units of JD.com (9618 HK). 
Upon the completion of this US$890mn transaction, which is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, MINISO would become Yonghui's largest shareholder. And DFI would exit its entire stake.
Ye Guofu, MINISO's founder/chairman, views the transaction “With a brave heart, start a new world!”. Yonghui has been spilling red ink since FY21. Perhaps "brave soul" is more apt.


DFI Exits Yonghui, MINISO Enters: Who Got The Short End Of The Stick?

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-cycle-carriage-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:347:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Cycle &amp; Carriage (JCNC SP)</a>'s implied stub value is around its highest-ever level, dating back to 2004. </li>
<li>The simple ratio of JCNC/ <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra International (ASII IJ)</a> is also the highest level outside the brief spikes post-Covid and during the 2008 GFC.</li>
<li>There is no apparent justification for the current valuation. And a takeover from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-matheson-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19718:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP)</a> at these levels appears unrealistic. </li>
</ul>



Jardine Cycle &amp; Carriage (JCNC SP)'s implied stub value is around its highest-ever level, dating back to 2004. 
The simple ratio of JCNC/ Astra International (ASII IJ) is also the highest level outside the brief spikes post-Covid and during the 2008 GFC.
There is no apparent justification for the current valuation. And a takeover from Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP) at these levels appears unrealistic. 


Singapore

DFI Retail Group Holdings Ltd operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, focuses on retail stores such as supermarkets, drugstores, and convenience stores. DFI Retail Group Holdings serves customers in Asia.

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DFI Retail Group Holdings (DFI SP)

2025 High Conviction: DFI Retail - Churning Free Cash by Turning the Right Levers

DFI Retail is overcoming challenges with strategic shifts and cost reductions. With an attractive dividend yield, strong cash flow, and earnings...

Devi Subhakesan

DFI Retail (DFI SP): 1H2024.Pivoting to Profitable Growth with RTE Foods

Green shoots of improving margins vs weak consumer sentiment impacting sales. Improving profit margins makes the stock attractive, given limited...

Devi Subhakesan

Last Week in Event SPACE: DFI/JD.com/Yonghui, Alibaba/Sun Art, New World Development, Austal

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett

DFI Exits Yonghui, MINISO Enters: Who Got The Short End Of The Stick?

DFI doesn't appear too demanding here; but has already run up ~9% on the news. I 'd get involved on any weakness. JMH does look attractive here....

David Blennerhassett

JCNC's Logic-Defying Valuation

There is no apparent justification for the current level. Expect Matheson to chip away at minorities. But a full-blown Offer appears unrealistic....

David Blennerhassett

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

2025 High Conviction: DFI Retail - Churning Free Cash by Turning the Right Levers

​DFI Retail is overcoming challenges with strategic shifts and cost reductions. With an attractive dividend yield, strong cash flow, and earnings...

Devi Subhakesan

DFI Retail (DFI SP): 1H2024.Pivoting to Profitable Growth with RTE Foods

Green shoots of improving margins vs weak consumer sentiment impacting sales. Improving profit margins makes the stock attractive, given limited...

Devi Subhakesan

Last Week in Event SPACE: DFI/JD.com/Yonghui, Alibaba/Sun Art, New World Development, Austal

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett

DFI Exits Yonghui, MINISO Enters: Who Got The Short End Of The Stick?

DFI doesn't appear too demanding here; but has already run up ~9% on the news. I 'd get involved on any weakness. JMH does look attractive here....

David Blennerhassett

JCNC's Logic-Defying Valuation

There is no apparent justification for the current level. Expect Matheson to chip away at minorities. But a full-blown Offer appears unrealistic....

David Blennerhassett

DFI Retail is overcoming challenges with strategic shifts and cost reductions. With an attractive dividend yield, strong cash flow, and earnings...