China/Asia TMT

Shawn Yang

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>We suggest that both Tencent and NetEase will launch blockbuster new games in their pipelines during this year's summer vacation, with NetEase slightly surpassing Tencent.  </li>
<li>Although iQIYI, Kuaishou, and BILI each have new games, their contributions are relatively small, so we maintain a SELL rating for these three companies;</li>
<li>Investors can also pay attention to Nexon and Netmarble, two Korean game companies that are expected to benefit from the launch of new games;  </li>
</ul>


We suggest that both Tencent and NetEase will launch blockbuster new games in their pipelines during this year's summer vacation, with NetEase slightly surpassing Tencent.  
Although iQIYI, Kuaishou, and BILI each have new games, their contributions are relatively small, so we maintain a SELL rating for these three companies;
Investors can also pay attention to Nexon and Netmarble, two Korean game companies that are expected to benefit from the launch of new games;  


Blue Lotus Entertainment Sector Update: Tencent, NetEase and Kingsoft Have Strong Pipeline

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>Although geographical tension and macro challenges are yet over, we believe most worst-case scenarios have been priced in.</li><li>Jun would be good timing to accumulate some defensive &amp; undervalued names over a 12-month horizon, as we expect sector sentiment will be moderately boosted by: 1) 2Q23E acceleration with low base; 2) upcoming strong drama &amp; game pipeline in summer holiday; 3) solid performance for 618 promotions;; and 4) potential positive economic incentives.</li><li>We prefer SFV&amp;LFV and game subsectors, for resilience on macro uncertainty, stable competition landscape, and better margin outlook with solid growth. </li></ul>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Although geographical tension and macro challenges are yet over, we believe most worst-case scenarios have been priced in.Jun would be good timing to accumulate some defensive &amp; undervalued names over a 12-month horizon, as we expect sector sentiment will be moderately boosted by: 1) 2Q23E acceleration with low base; 2) upcoming strong drama &amp; game pipeline in summer holiday; 3) solid performance for 618 promotions;; and 4) potential positive economic incentives.We prefer SFV&amp;LFV and game subsectors, for resilience on macro uncertainty, stable competition landscape, and better margin outlook with solid growth. Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

China Entertainment – Embracing rich pipeline and sector mild re-rating

<ul><li>China’s total ad spending saw YoY recovery in 2Q23, due to both low base in 2Q22 and consumption recovery.</li><li>Total ad spend returned to positive growth of 15% YoY in April 2023, per CTR.</li><li>However, overall ad spend has yet to recover to the 2021 level, with ad spending in Apr 2023 only reached 92% of the ad spend level in Apr 2021. </li></ul>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

China’s total ad spending saw YoY recovery in 2Q23, due to both low base in 2Q22 and consumption recovery.Total ad spend returned to positive growth of 15% YoY in April 2023, per CTR.However, overall ad spend has yet to recover to the 2021 level, with ad spending in Apr 2023 only reached 92% of the ad spend level in Apr 2021. Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

China Internet – 2Q23 online advertising: recovery in cautious mode

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The June rebalance of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kraneshares-csi-china-internet-etf" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28208:1" rel="noopener">KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB US)</a> will take place at the close of trading today.</li>
<li>There are a couple of deletions and one inclusion. Plus there will be capping changes on the other stocks, but the impact of those changes is not large.</li>
<li>The stocks have already been moving in the right direction during the day and the pre-positions could be flipped to the ETF at the close.</li>
</ul>


The June rebalance of the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB US) will take place at the close of trading today.
There are a couple of deletions and one inclusion. Plus there will be capping changes on the other stocks, but the impact of those changes is not large.
The stocks have already been moving in the right direction during the day and the pre-positions could be flipped to the ETF at the close.


KWEB Index Rebalance: Few Changes at the Close Today

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>IQIYI's 1Q23 top line beat our est. by 8.5%, while its non-GAAP net income beat our est./cons by 95%/82%, largely due to its blockbuster &lt;Knockout&gt;. </li>
<li>However, we expect its content pipeline is weaker compared with other key competitors in Q2. </li>
<li>Our top and bottom lines in 2Q23 are (3.4%)/(7.4%) vs cons, due to the fierce competition. Maintain SELL and cut TP to US$ 5.0, implying 16.7X PE in 2023.</li>
</ul>


IQIYI's 1Q23 top line beat our est. by 8.5%, while its non-GAAP net income beat our est./cons by 95%/82%, largely due to its blockbuster &lt;Knockout&gt;. 
However, we expect its content pipeline is weaker compared with other key competitors in Q2. 
Our top and bottom lines in 2Q23 are (3.4%)/(7.4%) vs cons, due to the fierce competition. Maintain SELL and cut TP to US$ 5.0, implying 16.7X PE in 2023.


[iQIYI, Lnc. (IQ US, SELL, TP US$5) Target Price Change]: Content Pipeline Weakens After

China

iQIYI, Inc. offers video entertainment services. The Company provides movies, television dramas, variety shows, and other video contents. iQIYI offers services worldwide.

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iQIYI Inc (IQ US)

Blue Lotus Entertainment Sector Update: Tencent, NetEase and Kingsoft Have Strong Pipeline

We suggest that both Tencent and NetEase will launch blockbuster new games in their pipelines during this year's summer vacation, with NetEase...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

China Entertainment – Embracing rich pipeline and sector mild re-rating

Although geographical tension and macro challenges are yet over, we believe most worst-case scenarios have been priced in.

CMB International

China Internet – 2Q23 online advertising: recovery in cautious mode

China’s total ad spending saw YoY recovery in 2Q23, due to both low base in 2Q22 and consumption recovery. Total ad spend returned to positive...

CMB International

KWEB Index Rebalance: Few Changes at the Close Today

The KWEB ETF rebalances at the close today. There are 2 adds & 1 delete. There will be capping changes and funding flows across the other index...

Brian Freitas

[iQIYI, Lnc. (IQ US, SELL, TP US$5) Target Price Change]: Content Pipeline Weakens After

We expect its content pipeline is weaker compared with other key competitors in Q2. Our top and bottom lines in 2Q23 are (3.4%)/(7.4%) vs cons, due...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

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