Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Trung Nguyen

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

Meituan has released FY 2023 numbers that were excellent in our view, with significantly improved profitability and solid cash generation. The financial risk profile has strengthened further, with a large and growing net cash position coupled with robust leverage and coverage ratios. Liquidity is sound. We expect FY 2024 to be a better year for the company. We revise our Credit Bias on Meituan to “Positive” from "Stable", given the material increase in profitability and strong cash-flow generation following the pandemic. That said, we do not expect ratings upgrades in the near future.

  Meituan has released FY 2023 numbers that were excellent in our view, with significantly improved profitability and solid cash generation. The financial risk profile has strengthened further, with a large and growing net cash position coupled with robust leverage and coverage ratios. Liquidity is sound. We expect FY 2024 to be a better year for the company.   We revise our Credit Bias on Meituan to “Positive” from "Stable", given the material increase in profitability and strong cash-flow generation following the pandemic. That said, we do not expect ratings upgrades in the near future. 

Meituan - Earnings Flash - FY 2023 Results - Lucror Analytics

Greater China Equity Long/Short Analyst

Eric Chen

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Recent newsflow suggests positive developments bode well for Meituan’s fundamental.</li>
<li>Yet 50% share price rebound since February low means it is largely in price and 4Q23 results will serve as a window for investors to read 2024 outlook.</li>
<li>We would take some profits from the rally and wait for better entry points.</li>
</ul>


Recent newsflow suggests positive developments bode well for Meituan’s fundamental.
Yet 50% share price rebound since February low means it is largely in price and 4Q23 results will serve as a window for investors to read 2024 outlook.
We would take some profits from the rally and wait for better entry points.


Meituan (3690 HK): Improving Fundamentals Already in Price

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.</li>
<li>On the IPO front, we took an early look at the possible summer 2024 listing of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-metro" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40930:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Metro.</a>
</li>
<li>For placements, there was another large selldown in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/renesas-electronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15933:1" rel="noopener">Renesas Electronics (6723 JP)</a>, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:327:1" rel="noopener">ITC Ltd (ITC IN)</a> could see one as well soon from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/british-american-tobacco-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21828:1" rel="noopener">British American Tobacco (BATS LN)</a>. </li>
</ul>


Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.
On the IPO front, we took an early look at the possible summer 2024 listing of Tokyo Metro.

For placements, there was another large selldown in Renesas Electronics (6723 JP), while ITC Ltd (ITC IN) could see one as well soon from British American Tobacco (BATS LN). 


ECM Weekly (4th Mar 2024) - Tokyo Metro, Mixue, Xtalpi, Bharat InvIT, Renesas, ITC/BAT, Precinct

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Ying Pan

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research

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

<ul>
<li>We expect Meituan continue under pressure in the medium term due to the intensified competition with Douyin, and Meituan’s low price defending strategy in both food delivery and IHT businesses.</li>
<li>Our non-IFRS net profit is roughly in-line with consensus in 4Q23 but 20%/25% lower than consensus in 2024/25.</li>
<li>We downgrade the stock to SELL rating and cut TP to HK$57/share.</li>
</ul>


We expect Meituan continue under pressure in the medium term due to the intensified competition with Douyin, and Meituan’s low price defending strategy in both food delivery and IHT businesses.
Our non-IFRS net profit is roughly in-line with consensus in 4Q23 but 20%/25% lower than consensus in 2024/25.
We downgrade the stock to SELL rating and cut TP to HK$57/share.


[Meituan (3690 HK, SELL, TP HK$57) Rating Change]: No Quick Skip to the Near-Term Pressures

<ul>
<li>Share price of Meituan has fallen by 25% since we flagged the name as high-conviction sell for 2024 last December, due in large to its weakening fundamental and earnings cut.</li>
<li>We believe its competitive positioning in food delivery remains rock solid and estimates Meituan will likely command over 2/3 market share in in-store business, at the expense of margin.</li>
<li>The company trades at 12x/8.6x 2024/25 consensus earnings. Current valuation already priced in rather bearish outlook amidst macro concerns and intensified competition in our view. We see value emerging.</li>
</ul>


Share price of Meituan has fallen by 25% since we flagged the name as high-conviction sell for 2024 last December, due in large to its weakening fundamental and earnings cut.
We believe its competitive positioning in food delivery remains rock solid and estimates Meituan will likely command over 2/3 market share in in-store business, at the expense of margin.
The company trades at 12x/8.6x 2024/25 consensus earnings. Current valuation already priced in rather bearish outlook amidst macro concerns and intensified competition in our view. We see value emerging.


Meituan (3690 HK): Turning Cautiously Positive

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)

Meituan - Earnings Flash - FY 2023 Results - Lucror Analytics

Meituan has released FY 2023 numbers that were excellent in our view, with significantly improved profitability and solid cash generation. The...

Lucror Analytics

Meituan (3690 HK): Improving Fundamentals Already in Price

We see signs that its fundamentals are improving, but stock rally means they are largely in price. Investors will shrug off 4Q23 results and use it...

Eric Chen

ECM Weekly (4th Mar 2024) - Tokyo Metro, Mixue, Xtalpi, Bharat InvIT, Renesas, ITC/BAT, Precinct

Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.

Sumeet Singh

Meituan (3690 HK): Turning Cautiously Positive

Meituan has lost 25% market cap since we flagged it as high conviction sell last December. We consider risks largely priced in due to earnings cut...

Eric Chen

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Meituan - Earnings Flash - FY 2023 Results - Lucror Analytics

Meituan has released FY 2023 numbers that were excellent in our view, with significantly improved profitability and solid cash generation. The...

Lucror Analytics

Meituan (3690 HK): Improving Fundamentals Already in Price

We see signs that its fundamentals are improving, but stock rally means they are largely in price. Investors will shrug off 4Q23 results and use it...

Eric Chen

ECM Weekly (4th Mar 2024) - Tokyo Metro, Mixue, Xtalpi, Bharat InvIT, Renesas, ITC/BAT, Precinct

Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.

Sumeet Singh

[Meituan (3690 HK, SELL, TP HK$57) Rating Change]: No Quick Skip to the Near-Term Pressures

​Meituan faces increased competition and challenges in the medium term with Douyin, and Meituan’s low price defending strategy in both food...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Meituan (3690 HK): Turning Cautiously Positive

Meituan has lost 25% market cap since we flagged it as high conviction sell last December. We consider risks largely priced in due to earnings cut...

Eric Chen

Meituan faces increased competition and challenges in the medium term with Douyin, and Meituan’s low price defending strategy in both food...