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

<ul>
<li>Match is down 52% over the past 6 months and at $71, Match trades at a 5% FCF yield, ~17x Fwd EBITDA, for ~20% growth / ~35% EBITDA margin</li>
<li>Covid restrictions lifted in Japan (2nd biggest market) should be tailwind for 2H22</li>
<li>New CEO from Zynga brings unique mobile monetization skillset ideally suited for coming Tinder Coins summer launch.</li>
</ul>


Match is down 52% over the past 6 months and at $71, Match trades at a 5% FCF yield, ~17x Fwd EBITDA, for ~20% growth / ~35% EBITDA margin
Covid restrictions lifted in Japan (2nd biggest market) should be tailwind for 2H22
New CEO from Zynga brings unique mobile monetization skillset ideally suited for coming Tinder Coins summer launch.


<p>This week we take a look at IAC’s proposed acquisition of Meredith, Facebook’s weird week, and the insane valuation disconnect between Uber and DoorDash.</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 we take a look at IAC’s proposed acquisition of Meredith, Facebook’s weird week, and the insane valuation disconnect between Uber and DoorDash.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 September 24, 2021

<div><p>Roblox got sued...thats great news...to us. Says the platform's power is growing. Gamestop intriguing and IAC being IAC. </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>

Roblox got sued...thats great news...to us. Says the platform's power is growing. Gamestop intriguing and IAC being IAC. 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 6/11/​​​​​​2021

We aggregate key quotes from earnings, The Transcript

The Transcript

We aggregate key quotes from earnings

Aggregate Key Quotes from Earnings

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>The economy is booming and everyone should enjoy it. The American economy is benefitting from tremendous amounts of pent-up demand and in some of the hardest-hit industries' activity is beginning to tick back up above 2019 levels. Along with that boom, there are clear signs of inflation and concerns about overheating. Even Janet Yellen seemed concerned for a few hours last week.</p>

The economy is booming and everyone should enjoy it. The American economy is benefitting from tremendous amounts of pent-up demand and in some of the hardest-hit industries' activity is beginning to tick back up above 2019 levels. Along with that boom, there are clear signs of inflation and concerns about overheating. Even Janet Yellen seemed concerned for a few hours last week.

<p>The 2Q21 guidance is overly conservative…growth inline with 1Q21 despite a far easier comp (500bps revenue growth decel…17% comp in Q1 vs. 12% in Q2) and an EBITDA guidance calling for a 300bps EBITDA margin contraction…which seems massively unlikely given all the ARPU supportive commentary. Management is being cautious to set a low bar given the huge disruptions currently in India, Latin America , and Japan, its key global growth markets. Keep the eye on the ball… Match is still driven by the biggest US urban centers…and these markets are reopening fastest. We’ve said the past two quarters that Match is rarity in midcap internet properties – a wildly profitable platform quasi-monopolist which trades for a rightfully high EBITDA multiple and offers few entry points – much like Adobe in software. The fact that the company’s EV/EBITDA multiple is lower today (36x) then it was 6 months ago (42x) and we are 6 months closer to not just a normalization, but likely massive acceleration in the business means Match is really much cheaper than it appears and investors have a great entry point.</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>

The 2Q21 guidance is overly conservative…growth inline with 1Q21 despite a far easier comp (500bps revenue growth decel…17% comp in Q1 vs. 12% in Q2) and an EBITDA guidance calling for a 300bps EBITDA margin contraction…which seems massively unlikely given all the ARPU supportive commentary. Management is being cautious to set a low bar given the huge disruptions currently in India, Latin America , and Japan, its key global growth markets. Keep the eye on the ball… Match is still driven by the biggest US urban centers…and these markets are reopening fastest. We’ve said the past two quarters that Match is rarity in midcap internet properties – a wildly profitable platform quasi-monopolist which trades for a rightfully high EBITDA multiple and offers few entry points – much like Adobe in software. The fact that the company’s EV/EBITDA multiple is lower today (36x) then it was 6 months ago (42x) and we are 6 months closer to not just a normalization, but likely massive acceleration in the business means Match is really much cheaper than it appears and investors have a great entry point.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.

Match 1Q21 Earnings: Looking for an Opening

United States

IAC Inc operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides media and Internet services. IAC serves customers worldwide.

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IAC (IAC US)

Revisiting Long Ideas: Match Group

We think Match Group offers an attractive entry point. Always highly valued, but it’s a highly profitable (35% EBITDA margins) platform with a...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out the Week of September 24, 2021

This week we take a look at IAC’s proposed acquisition of Meredith, Facebook’s weird week, and the insane valuation disconnect between Uber and...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 6/11/2021

Three items that stood out last week to us in TMT...the most interesting was a lawsuit by music publishers against Roblox, signaling the importance...

Aaron Gabin

The Transcript 05.10.21: Pent-up Demand

The economy is booming and everyone should enjoy it. The American economy is benefitting from tremendous amounts of pent-up demand and in some of...

The Transcript

Match 1Q21 Earnings: Looking for an Opening

Match's EV/EBITDA is lower today (36x) then it was 6 months ago (42x) and we are 6 months closer to not just a normalization, but likely massive...

Aaron Gabin

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Revisiting Long Ideas: Match Group

We think Match Group offers an attractive entry point. Always highly valued, but it’s a highly profitable (35% EBITDA margins) platform with a...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out the Week of September 24, 2021

This week we take a look at IAC’s proposed acquisition of Meredith, Facebook’s weird week, and the insane valuation disconnect between Uber and...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 6/11/​​​​​​2021

Three items that stood out last week to us in TMT...the most interesting was a lawsuit by music publishers against Roblox, signaling the importance...

Aaron Gabin

The Transcript 05.10.21: Pent-up Demand

The economy is booming and everyone should enjoy it. The American economy is benefitting from tremendous amounts of pent-up demand and in some of...

The Transcript

Match 1Q21 Earnings: Looking for an Opening

Match's EV/EBITDA is lower today (36x) then it was 6 months ago (42x) and we are 6 months closer to not just a normalization, but likely massive...

Aaron Gabin

TMT Weekly: 3 Things that Stood Out The Week of 6/11/2021