Equity Research Analyst - Long-Short

Raj S, CA, CFA

Artoval Advisors

Art’o’val stands for Art of Valuation. Artoval Advisors LLP is a professionally run advisory firm catering to various financial advisory services including Valuation, Investment Research, Training, Accounting, CFO Services and other ancillary services.

We are passionate about what we do and strongly believe in working with our clients as their extended teams. With Artoval Advisors as their trusted partner, our clients find it easy to achieve efficiency in service delivery without compromising on quality.

True Art of Valuation

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>IRDAI has released an exposure draft proposing a substantial  reduction in surrender charges on Non-Par Guaranteed Life Insurance Products</li>
<li>The move aims to the remove penalizing surrender charges prevalent on Traditional Savings products with guaranteed RoI; this is the latest of moves aimed to improve policyholder protection</li>
<li>All life insurers are negatively impacted  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sbi-life-insurance-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25899:1" rel="noopener">SBI Life Insurance Co Ltd (SBILIFE IN)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hdfc-standard-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26004:1" rel="noopener">HDFC Life Insurance (HDFCLIFE IN)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/icici-prudential-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23608:1" rel="noopener">ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (IPRU IN)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/life-insurance-corp-of-india" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28829:1" rel="noopener">Life Insurance of India (LICI IN)</a> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/icici-prudential-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23608:1" rel="noopener"></a>
</li>
</ul>


IRDAI has released an exposure draft proposing a substantial  reduction in surrender charges on Non-Par Guaranteed Life Insurance Products
The move aims to the remove penalizing surrender charges prevalent on Traditional Savings products with guaranteed RoI; this is the latest of moves aimed to improve policyholder protection
All life insurers are negatively impacted  SBI Life Insurance Co Ltd (SBILIFE IN)HDFC Life Insurance (HDFCLIFE IN)ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (IPRU IN)Life Insurance of India (LICI IN) 



India Life Insurers: IRDAI Proposes Higher Surrender Values (SBILIFE IN/ HDFCLIFE IN/ IPRU IN/ LICI)

Equity Bottom-Up

Life Insurance  of India / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/life-insurance-corp-of-india" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28829:1" rel="noopener">Life Insurance of India (LICI IN)</a> reported its 1H24 earnings which are a continuation of the poor performance of the largest life insurer in India.</li>
<li>Total sales were down -10% (individual sales – flat y-o-y); VNB margins falling; outlook not positive. Not positive shifts in product mix or distribution trends.</li>
<li>We value LIC at 0.5x FY25e P/EV, implying a -15% downside from the current price, reflecting poor sales growth, loss of market-share and its failure to turn-around the business model.</li>
</ul>



Life Insurance of India (LICI IN) reported its 1H24 earnings which are a continuation of the poor performance of the largest life insurer in India.
Total sales were down -10% (individual sales – flat y-o-y); VNB margins falling; outlook not positive. Not positive shifts in product mix or distribution trends.
We value LIC at 0.5x FY25e P/EV, implying a -15% downside from the current price, reflecting poor sales growth, loss of market-share and its failure to turn-around the business model.


Life Insurance of India (LICI IN) 2Q24 Review: Poor Performance; No Signs of Turnaround. Sell.

SBI Life Insurance Co Ltd / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We make two arguments in this note (A) Why you should invest in the Indian Life Insurance Sector right now; (B) Why you should start with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sbi-life-insurance-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25899:1" rel="noopener">SBILIFE</a>  over<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hdfc-standard-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26004:1" rel="noopener"> HDFCLIFE</a>
</li>
<li>Answers (A) The train has left-the-station on the long runway of double-digit growth in the sector; (B) The sector valuations are very reasonable due to short-term pressures, SBIL especially so.</li>
<li>We compare SBILIFE and HDFCL's valuations, and narrow the focus on to One Crucial Factor showcasing the fundamental strength of these businesses.</li>
</ul>


We make two arguments in this note (A) Why you should invest in the Indian Life Insurance Sector right now; (B) Why you should start with SBILIFE  over HDFCLIFE

Answers (A) The train has left-the-station on the long runway of double-digit growth in the sector; (B) The sector valuations are very reasonable due to short-term pressures, SBIL especially so.
We compare SBILIFE and HDFCL's valuations, and narrow the focus on to One Crucial Factor showcasing the fundamental strength of these businesses.


HDFCL Vs SBIL: The Low Down on the Best Life Insurance Stocks In India Right Now (+SBIL 2Q24 Review)

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

<ul>
<li>Loan mix is improving, away from non-INR loans, asset mix is improving with less RIDF bonds, and bank is seeing an expanding LDR.  </li>
<li>Loss loans and doubtful loans are in major decline, they are less important to total NPLs, and still credit costs were high in 1Q24, likely overly conservative.</li>
<li>Credit growth is now at 22.6% YoY from 14.9% YoY one year ago, with consistent acceleration. With just 6% loan share, growth can remain high. </li>
</ul>


Loan mix is improving, away from non-INR loans, asset mix is improving with less RIDF bonds, and bank is seeing an expanding LDR.  
Loss loans and doubtful loans are in major decline, they are less important to total NPLs, and still credit costs were high in 1Q24, likely overly conservative.
Credit growth is now at 22.6% YoY from 14.9% YoY one year ago, with consistent acceleration. With just 6% loan share, growth can remain high. 


Axis Bank - Loan Mix Improving Dramatically | Strong ALM | Credit Costs Likely to Narrow Sharply

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>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/light-wonder-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36929:1" rel="noopener">Light &amp; Wonder (LNW US)</a>/ <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/light-wonder-inc-7e7d040f-e811-4fb9-9710-796a39af299e" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40171:1" rel="noopener">Light &amp; Wonder (LNW AU)</a> replaced <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-malt-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29116:1" rel="noopener">United Malt Group Ltd (UMG AU)</a> in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-asx-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22901:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)</a> last week.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/newcrest-mining-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:691:1" rel="noopener">Newcrest Mining (NCM AU)</a> stops trading this week and should be replaced by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/newmont-mining-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14503:1" rel="noopener">Newmont Mining (NEM US)</a> CDIs in the ASX indices.</li>
<li>Another week of ETF outflows for China with the largest outflows from trackers benchmarked to the CSI 1000 Index.</li>
</ul>



Light &amp; Wonder (LNW US)/ Light &amp; Wonder (LNW AU) replaced United Malt Group Ltd (UMG AU) in the S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX) last week.

Newcrest Mining (NCM AU) stops trading this week and should be replaced by Newmont Mining (NEM US) CDIs in the ASX indices.
Another week of ETF outflows for China with the largest outflows from trackers benchmarked to the CSI 1000 Index.


Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: NKY, ASX, Liontown, J&T Express, JP/IN Positioning, IndusInd Bank

India

Life Insurance Corporation of India operates as an insurance company. The Company provides life, pension, health, and micro insurance products and services. Life Insurance serves customers in India.

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Life Insurance of India (LICI IN)

India Life Insurers: IRDAI Proposes Higher Surrender Values (SBILIFE IN/ HDFCLIFE IN/ IPRU IN/ LICI)

Indian Life Insurance Regulatory update: Proposed removal of penal surrender charges on traditional guaranteed-return savings products; negatively...

Raj S, CA, CFA