Chief Economist

Diana Choyleva

Enodo Economics

Enodo Economics is an independent macroeconomic forecasting company that untangles complexity, challenges the consensus, and makes sense of the future. Our focus is on China – one of the most misunderstood economies in the world, but one of the most important to figure out.  Enodo’s chief economist, Diana Choyleva, has been analysing China for almost 20 years, while Enodo’s team boasts a combined 140 years’ experience covering China’s economy, politics and markets. 

Macroeconomics

<h2>China News That Matters</h2><ul>
<li>This party keeps on rocking</li>
<li>More stocks, and students, to make better chips</li>
<li>Abandon engagement with China?</li>
<li>A toast, Good-Neighbourliness!</li>
<li>Western water powers Eastern China</li>
</ul><div class="content-remarks">In my weekly digest China News That Matters, I will give you selected summaries, sourced from a variety of local Chinese-language and international news outlets, and highlight why I think the news is significant. These posts are meant to neither be bullish nor bearish, but help you separate the signal from the noise.</div>

China News That Matters
This party keeps on rocking
More stocks, and students, to make better chips
Abandon engagement with China?
A toast, Good-Neighbourliness!
Western water powers Eastern China
In my weekly digest China News That Matters, I will give you selected summaries, sourced from a variety of local Chinese-language and international news outlets, and highlight why I think the news is significant. These posts are meant to neither be bullish nor bearish, but help you separate the signal from the noise.

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

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/didi-chuxing-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27467:1" rel="noopener">DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US)</a> is the world's largest mobility technology platform by annual active users and by average daily transactions for the twelve months ended 31 March 2021, according to CIC. The DiDi Chuxing app in China where consumers can access mobility and other essential services. Didi is backed by Softbank Vision Fund (21.5% stake), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/uber-technologies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:430:1" rel="noopener">Uber (UBER US)</a> (12.8%), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> (6.8%), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1" rel="noopener">Toyota Motor (7203 JP)</a>. Didi has priced its IPO at $14.00 per ADS, which is at the top-end of the IPO price range of $13.00-14.00 per ADS, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/chinas-didi-raises-4-billion-us-ipo-source-2021-06-29/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Reuters</a>. Reuters also noted that Didi sold a higher 317 million ADS versus the planned 288 million ADS (10% more), resulting in a fully-diluted market cap of $73 billion ($67.5 billion on a non-diluted basis).<div>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/didi-chuxing-xiaoju-kuaizhi-initiation-in-for-a-bumpy-ride" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53014" rel="noopener">Didi Chuxing (Xiaoju Kuaizhi) Initiation: In for a Bumpy Ride?</a>, we opined that Didi’s core china mobility business is heading on the right trajectory with rising growth and improving margin. However, Didi is saddled with two other businesses (international and other initiatives) which are driven by its global ambitions and its desire to provide a broad array of service offerings to consumers and drivers. This ecosystem strategy is sensible for a company that possesses a highly profitable and cash generative core business. Unfortunately, Didi’s core china mobility business is not close to achieving this status and the international and other initiatives business look like unnecessary and costly distractions. </div><div>
In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/xiaoju-kuaizhi-didi-chuxing-ipo-growth-vs-margin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53232" rel="noopener">Xiaoju Kuaizhi (Didi Chuxing) IPO: Growth Vs Margin</a>, we examined the key financial metrics of Didi china mobility and international business to the relevant business units of its peers - Uber, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lyft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24423:1" rel="noopener">Lyft Inc (LYFT US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (0967655D SP)</a>. Our analysis showed that Didi offered a trade-off between growth and profitability in comparison to its peers. We concluded that in combination with the ongoing regulatory overhang, we are inclined to remain on the sidelines.
In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/didi-global-ipo-valuation-insights" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53626" rel="noopener">DiDi Global IPO: Valuation Insights</a>, we noted that the proposed IPO valuation is materially below the previously rumoured top-end valuation of $100 billion. In combination with our SoTP valuation, we opined that Didi is fairly valued at the IPO price range.   
<div class="content-highlight">Our relative valuation suggests that the IPO price is full. Updating for the final IPO raise and the latest peer multiples, our SoTP valuation is $13.54 per ADS, which is marginally below the IPO price of $14 per ADS. Consequently, we would take profits on any meaningful first day IPO pop.</div>
</div>

DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US) is the world's largest mobility technology platform by annual active users and by average daily transactions for the twelve months ended 31 March 2021, according to CIC. The DiDi Chuxing app in China where consumers can access mobility and other essential services. Didi is backed by Softbank Vision Fund (21.5% stake), Uber (UBER US) (12.8%), Tencent (700 HK) (6.8%), Alibaba Group (BABA US) and Toyota Motor (7203 JP). Didi has priced its IPO at $14.00 per ADS, which is at the top-end of the IPO price range of $13.00-14.00 per ADS, according to Reuters. Reuters also noted that Didi sold a higher 317 million ADS versus the planned 288 million ADS (10% more), resulting in a fully-diluted market cap of $73 billion ($67.5 billion on a non-diluted basis).In Didi Chuxing (Xiaoju Kuaizhi) Initiation: In for a Bumpy Ride?, we opined that Didi’s core china mobility business is heading on the right trajectory with rising growth and improving margin. However, Didi is saddled with two other businesses (international and other initiatives) which are driven by its global ambitions and its desire to provide a broad array of service offerings to consumers and drivers. This ecosystem strategy is sensible for a company that possesses a highly profitable and cash generative core business. Unfortunately, Didi’s core china mobility business is not close to achieving this status and the international and other initiatives business look like unnecessary and costly distractions. 
In Xiaoju Kuaizhi (Didi Chuxing) IPO: Growth Vs Margin, we examined the key financial metrics of Didi china mobility and international business to the relevant business units of its peers - Uber, Lyft Inc (LYFT US) and Grab (0967655D SP). Our analysis showed that Didi offered a trade-off between growth and profitability in comparison to its peers. We concluded that in combination with the ongoing regulatory overhang, we are inclined to remain on the sidelines.
In DiDi Global IPO: Valuation Insights, we noted that the proposed IPO valuation is materially below the previously rumoured top-end valuation of $100 billion. In combination with our SoTP valuation, we opined that Didi is fairly valued at the IPO price range.   
Our relative valuation suggests that the IPO price is full. Updating for the final IPO raise and the latest peer multiples, our SoTP valuation is $13.54 per ADS, which is marginally below the IPO price of $14 per ADS. Consequently, we would take profits on any meaningful first day IPO pop.


Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Cross Asset Strategy

Active Global managers are running record underweights in Emerging Market stocks.  The average Emerging Markets allocation among the active Global funds in our analysis stands at 9.44%, underweight -4.56% compared to the MSCI ACWI weight with 78.3% of funds underweight the benchmark.
Whilst India Financials are the largest overweight, China &amp; HK Consumer Discretionary and Health Care, Taiwan Financials and Saudi Financials have driven the underweight to all-time highs.
On a stock level, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a> is the most widely held stock, owned by 48% of the 383 active Global managers in our analysis.  The top 6 most widely held stocks, which are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aia-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14895:1" rel="noopener">AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hdfc-bank-ltd-4b6b7a92-9087-468d-9dbe-ab169e77f014" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:558:1" rel="noopener">HDFC Bank (HDFCB IN)</a> occupy the top tier.  They are held by significantly more managers and at larger average weight than those below them.
In fact, active Global managers have come to rely on these top 6 names more and more over the last decade.  Almost 40% of all EM allocations are in these 6 stocks.  Should Global managers be better diversifying their EM allocations?
Analysis taken from our Global fund research, covering 383 active Global strategies with combined AUM of $1.05tr

Active Global managers are running record underweights in Emerging Market stocks.  The average Emerging Markets allocation among the active Global funds in our analysis stands at 9.44%, underweight -4.56% compared to the MSCI ACWI weight with 78.3% of funds underweight the benchmark.
Whilst India Financials are the largest overweight, China &amp; HK Consumer Discretionary and Health Care, Taiwan Financials and Saudi Financials have driven the underweight to all-time highs.
On a stock level, TSMC (2330 TT) is the most widely held stock, owned by 48% of the 383 active Global managers in our analysis.  The top 6 most widely held stocks, which are TSMC (2330 TT) , AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK) , Alibaba Group (BABA US) , Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) , Tencent (700 HK) and HDFC Bank (HDFCB IN) occupy the top tier.  They are held by significantly more managers and at larger average weight than those below them.
In fact, active Global managers have come to rely on these top 6 names more and more over the last decade.  Almost 40% of all EM allocations are in these 6 stocks.  Should Global managers be better diversifying their EM allocations?
Analysis taken from our Global fund research, covering 383 active Global strategies with combined AUM of $1.05tr

EM Underweight Hits Record High Among Global Managers

Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

This is a pre-IPO ESG assessment of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/didi-chuxing-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27467:1" rel="noopener">DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US)</a>, China's leading ride-hailing platform. DiDi is set to finalise its US$4 billion IPO at an implied valuation of US$65 billion – the largest IPO of a Chinese issuer on a U.S. exchange since Alibaba's (BABA US) US$25 billion IPO in 2014.Impressive, except for one minor nuance. That US$65 billion is less than DiDi's earlier expectations of US$100 million, despite strong interest. Economic factors (e.g., growth rates, profitability) had a lot to do with the lower valuation. Regulatory risk and uncertainty probably factored in as well.Therein lies the quandary of this ESG analysis. Regulatory risk and uncertainty.DiDi is committed to corporate social responsibility, and its ESG performance is strong (though not perfect) in critical areas under its control. DiDi is reducing emissions, improving safety, rooting out corruption, and is lightyears ahead of its peers on gender equality and empowerment of women.DiDi is doing all the right things, where it has some semblance of direct control.But then, there's that quandary. DiDi's ESG achievements are overshadowed by regulatory risks and uncertainty, all beyond DiDi's control. Nearly concerning enough to justify a bearish imperative but the "control" issue – proactive ESG positives, versus passive ESG negatives – ultimately won out.

This is a pre-IPO ESG assessment of DiDi Chuxing (DIDI US), China's leading ride-hailing platform. DiDi is set to finalise its US$4 billion IPO at an implied valuation of US$65 billion – the largest IPO of a Chinese issuer on a U.S. exchange since Alibaba's (BABA US) US$25 billion IPO in 2014.Impressive, except for one minor nuance. That US$65 billion is less than DiDi's earlier expectations of US$100 million, despite strong interest. Economic factors (e.g., growth rates, profitability) had a lot to do with the lower valuation. Regulatory risk and uncertainty probably factored in as well.Therein lies the quandary of this ESG analysis. Regulatory risk and uncertainty.DiDi is committed to corporate social responsibility, and its ESG performance is strong (though not perfect) in critical areas under its control. DiDi is reducing emissions, improving safety, rooting out corruption, and is lightyears ahead of its peers on gender equality and empowerment of women.DiDi is doing all the right things, where it has some semblance of direct control.But then, there's that quandary. DiDi's ESG achievements are overshadowed by regulatory risks and uncertainty, all beyond DiDi's control. Nearly concerning enough to justify a bearish imperative but the "control" issue – proactive ESG positives, versus passive ESG negatives – ultimately won out.

Pre-IPO ESG Analysis: DiDi's Exemplary ESG Achievements Eclipsed By Regulatory Risks and Uncertainty

Global TMT analyst with Asia ex-Japan focus.

Mitchell Kim

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The latest sales data from the 6.18 (running from June 1st to June 18th) Festival by Syntun suggests potential revenue upside for online shopping platforms but particularly more for the larger market shareholders, Alibaba and JD, and Vipshop as apparel and shoes categories showed the highest sales growth.    I am positive on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vipshop-holdings-ltd-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1088:1" rel="noopener">Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US)</a> as they provide an attractive balance of growth and value.  I have recently turned more bullish on Vipshop because of its cheap value and the continued improving operating metrics.  I remain cautious on PDD US because of the risk associated with the company’s profit model. Three takeaways from my analysis of the 6.18.21 sales data (some 2020 data):<ol>
<li>Alibaba remains the king of promotions.  The company maintained its top-selling platform position.  Alibaba is particularly strong in personal and beauty care and snack foods.   </li>
<li>Apparel and shoes were the top two growth categories during the 6.18 Festival.  This bodes well for Vipshop and Alibaba. </li>
<li>JD maintains its strong position in appliances and electronics as well as dairy products (based on 2020 detail data for select categories).  JD also leads in New Retail – grocery delivery and supermarkets. </li>
<li>PDD appears to be a distant third on 6.18 sales (based on 2020 detail data breakdown – 2021 is unavailable).         </li>
</ol>

The latest sales data from the 6.18 (running from June 1st to June 18th) Festival by Syntun suggests potential revenue upside for online shopping platforms but particularly more for the larger market shareholders, Alibaba and JD, and Vipshop as apparel and shoes categories showed the highest sales growth.    I am positive on Alibaba Group (BABA US), JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US), and Vipshop Holdings (VIPS US) as they provide an attractive balance of growth and value.  I have recently turned more bullish on Vipshop because of its cheap value and the continued improving operating metrics.  I remain cautious on PDD US because of the risk associated with the company’s profit model. Three takeaways from my analysis of the 6.18.21 sales data (some 2020 data):
Alibaba remains the king of promotions.  The company maintained its top-selling platform position.  Alibaba is particularly strong in personal and beauty care and snack foods.   
Apparel and shoes were the top two growth categories during the 6.18 Festival.  This bodes well for Vipshop and Alibaba. 
JD maintains its strong position in appliances and electronics as well as dairy products (based on 2020 detail data for select categories).  JD also leads in New Retail – grocery delivery and supermarkets. 
PDD appears to be a distant third on 6.18 sales (based on 2020 detail data breakdown – 2021 is unavailable).         


China E-Commerce: 6.18 Festival Getting Bigger - Good for Alibaba, JD, Vipshop

China

Meituan operates as a web based shopping platform for locally found consumer products and retail services. The Company offers deals of the day by selling vouchers on local services and entertainment, dining, delivery, and other services. Meituan provides its services throughout China.

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Meituan (3690 HK)

CCP/ Chips/ US-China/ Russia/ Hydro

In my weekly digest, I will give you selected summaries, sourced from a variety of local Chinese-language and international news outlets, and...

Diana Choyleva

DiDi Global IPO: Trading Debut

Didi has priced its IPO at $14 per ADS and sold 10% more ADSs than planned. Our relative valuation and SoTP valuation suggests a full price. We...

Arun George

EM Underweight Hits Record High Among Global Managers

Active Global managers are running record underweights in Emerging Market stocks. The average Emerging Markets allocation sits underweight -4.56%...

Steven Holden

Pre-IPO ESG Analysis: DiDi's Exemplary ESG Achievements Eclipsed By Regulatory Risks and Uncertainty

DiDi boasts positive ESG achievements in areas under its control, but there's a big ESG issue beyond its control – regulatory risk. But, proactive...

Kyle Rudden

China E-Commerce: 6.18 Festival Getting Bigger - Good for Alibaba, JD, Vipshop

The latest data from the 6.18 Festival suggests potential revenue upside for online shopping platforms. Find out who is strong by category and why...

Mitchell Kim

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