Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

Meta Platforms (Facebook) / Equity Bottom-Up

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and almost four dozen US states and territories have filed antitrust suits against <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/facebook-inc-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:665:1" rel="noopener">Facebook Inc A (FB US)</a>, seeking to force the social giant to divest its Instagram and Whatsapp functions. For the suits against FB to succeed, the plaintiffs must establish that FB a) enjoys monopoly power that it has used to stifle smaller rivals and that b) consumers have been harmed as a result. Proving that consumers have been harmed will likely prove especially, in our opinion. For its part, FB executives have made it clear they view efforts to break up the company as an "existential threat".So how will the suits play out? The US government's case appears to have bi-partisan and popular support, and FB has made it clear they intend to fight. We expect this case to move slowly, perhaps requiring years to resolve. A clear win for the US government is unlikely; a more likely outcome would be a settlement in which FB agrees to limit its expansion in certain areas and/or its commercial use of user data. Increased scrutiny of FB's practices and a potential settlement could slow FB's growth, but is this really a growth stock? In Q320, OP increased by just 12% on 22% revenue growth, and consensus estimates for 2021e call for similar growth. In our view, the suits represent a likely headache for FB, but not much more, and are thus unlikely to have much impact beyond the company, either.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and almost four dozen US states and territories have filed antitrust suits against Facebook Inc A (FB US), seeking to force the social giant to divest its Instagram and Whatsapp functions. For the suits against FB to succeed, the plaintiffs must establish that FB a) enjoys monopoly power that it has used to stifle smaller rivals and that b) consumers have been harmed as a result. Proving that consumers have been harmed will likely prove especially, in our opinion. For its part, FB executives have made it clear they view efforts to break up the company as an "existential threat".So how will the suits play out? The US government's case appears to have bi-partisan and popular support, and FB has made it clear they intend to fight. We expect this case to move slowly, perhaps requiring years to resolve. A clear win for the US government is unlikely; a more likely outcome would be a settlement in which FB agrees to limit its expansion in certain areas and/or its commercial use of user data. Increased scrutiny of FB's practices and a potential settlement could slow FB's growth, but is this really a growth stock? In Q320, OP increased by just 12% on 22% revenue growth, and consensus estimates for 2021e call for similar growth. In our view, the suits represent a likely headache for FB, but not much more, and are thus unlikely to have much impact beyond the company, either. 

US FTC & States' Suits Against Facebook Unlikely to Result in Breakup, but Could Slow Expansion

Quality-first, Business-perspective Strategy, Urbem (HK) Limited

Steven Chen

Quality-first, Business-perspective Strategy

<ul>
<li>Founder-led Technology One has the capability to earn superior returns on capital while expanding predictably and profitably alongside a massive runaway, in our opinion.</li>
<li>Although the share seems a bit elevated at the moment, we feel that the name should be worth following among long-term, quality-focused investors who can wait patiently.</li>
</ul>


Founder-led Technology One has the capability to earn superior returns on capital while expanding predictably and profitably alongside a massive runaway, in our opinion.
Although the share seems a bit elevated at the moment, we feel that the name should be worth following among long-term, quality-focused investors who can wait patiently.


Technology One: Our Top SaaS Pick From APAC

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

Airbnb aims to raise around US$2.5bn in its US listing. Airbnb is a global short-stay offering platform. To put it simply, iIt connects hosts, who post available accommodation on Airbnb, with guests, who make bookings for the accommodation. It charges a fee for this service.As of 9M20, it had 4 million hosts in more than 220 countries and regions around the world. Since inception, its hosts have welcomed over 825m guest arrivals and have cumulatively earned over $110bn. In 2019, it had 54m active bookers worldwide, who booked 327m nights and experiences on Airbnb.Over 2017-19, the company reported steady growth in earnings led by an increase in the number of bookings. Its overall number of guests and hosts have been growing as well, with most metrics heading in the right direction. While COVID-19 did take a harsh toll on the company, its quarterly results paint a better picture as compared to its 9M20 numbers. Even during COVID, there have been certain pockets, like domestic and long stay travel which have continued to grow, thus, highlighting the company’s resilience. Having said that, Airbnb has failed to explain the reason for the downwards pressure on its 2019 margins. At the same time, the cohorts data highlights the ample other options available to its guests and the severe competition in the industry.

Airbnb aims to raise around US$2.5bn in its US listing. Airbnb is a global short-stay offering platform. To put it simply, iIt connects hosts, who post available accommodation on Airbnb, with guests, who make bookings for the accommodation. It charges a fee for this service.As of 9M20, it had 4 million hosts in more than 220 countries and regions around the world. Since inception, its hosts have welcomed over 825m guest arrivals and have cumulatively earned over $110bn. In 2019, it had 54m active bookers worldwide, who booked 327m nights and experiences on Airbnb.Over 2017-19, the company reported steady growth in earnings led by an increase in the number of bookings. Its overall number of guests and hosts have been growing as well, with most metrics heading in the right direction. While COVID-19 did take a harsh toll on the company, its quarterly results paint a better picture as compared to its 9M20 numbers. Even during COVID, there have been certain pockets, like domestic and long stay travel which have continued to grow, thus, highlighting the company’s resilience. Having said that, Airbnb has failed to explain the reason for the downwards pressure on its 2019 margins. At the same time, the cohorts data highlights the ample other options available to its guests and the severe competition in the industry. 

Airbnb IPO - Time for a Good Break - Even from the Share Lock-Up

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.

Snowflake had a good quarter…it was a bit above expectations that were well telegraphed from the IPO, and their guidance was only inline (though likely conservative)….so what does one do with a stock that is the single richest multiple in the stock market (100x+ sales)? Buy a lot more? We can’t pretend to understand why this stock was up 16% today. And we can’t pretend to understand why the market values its revenues at 3x!!! the rest of high valuation software. We don’t short on valuation alone. But we certainly couldn’t justify owning Snowflake. <div class="content-highlight">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.</div>

Snowflake had a good quarter…it was a bit above expectations that were well telegraphed from the IPO, and their guidance was only inline (though likely conservative)….so what does one do with a stock that is the single richest multiple in the stock market (100x+ sales)? Buy a lot more? We can’t pretend to understand why this stock was up 16% today. And we can’t pretend to understand why the market values its revenues at 3x!!! the rest of high valuation software. We don’t short on valuation alone. But we certainly couldn’t justify owning Snowflake. 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.

Snowflake 3Q21: Our Revenues Are Worth More Than Your Revenues

Asean-focused. Ex-Head of Thai Research

Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA

Asean (Thailand) Focused Independent Research

M Corp Review

M Corp is led by Athaporn Arayasantiparb who served as Head of Research for UOB and ANZ in Thailand and was an award-winning telecoms analyst at UBS in 2010 (AsiaMoney Thailand category) and Regional Strategist for DMG in Singapore. Prior to that, he also served as Kasikornbank credit analyst and scholar. He has a total work experience of 17 years, of which 14 were in research and 4 in research management roles. He started his career as an engineer for PTT and currently manages family investments. He holds an MBA from Stern (NYU) and CFA Charter since 2006. Apart from IPO Radar, which focuses on future listings, MCorp Review also provides six on-going thematic series ranked by frequency in descending order, namely: 1) Silicon Stories (technology) 2) Sathorn Series (financial services) 3) Thai-Coons (billionaire origin stories) 4) Reality Check (data-driven, investigative) 5) Thai Media Spotlight; and 6) Thai Macro Watch (global market drivers).

Cross Asset Strategy

Initially, the worst part of the pandemic appeared to be behind us in April, but the situation changed in September when waves of infected Burmese workers crossed into Thailand without proper health checks. We address this and other developments in this review, namely:<ul>
<li>
Thailand Focus. At least, four companies provided good perspective to the risk and opportunities created by COVID-19, such as: 1) Entry of Big Tech; 2) high unemployment amongst the young; and 3) market share consolidation.</li>
<li>
Government aid. Prior to his resignation, Finance Minister Preedee Daochai focused on cutting costs for consumers and avoiding more debt, even as his successor focuses on job creation.</li>
<li>
Needle opportunities. The asymmetric global recovery means that demand for medical products such a surgical gloves, needles, and syringes remain very strong. TM and STGT  remains the spotlight. </li>
<li>
Domestic travel has become increasingly important to the sector, accounting for 60-70% in the near term, with rising concentration at top tier hotels who discount.</li>
<li>
Playing the Global Themes. As Europe is hit by a second wave and China re-opens for business, we look at a few Thai stocks that tend to benefit or lose out from global themes in the short to medium term. (Winners: TVO, Asia Soft, TNR. Losers: CRC, MINT)</li>
</ul>

Initially, the worst part of the pandemic appeared to be behind us in April, but the situation changed in September when waves of infected Burmese workers crossed into Thailand without proper health checks. We address this and other developments in this review, namely:

Thailand Focus. At least, four companies provided good perspective to the risk and opportunities created by COVID-19, such as: 1) Entry of Big Tech; 2) high unemployment amongst the young; and 3) market share consolidation.

Government aid. Prior to his resignation, Finance Minister Preedee Daochai focused on cutting costs for consumers and avoiding more debt, even as his successor focuses on job creation.

Needle opportunities. The asymmetric global recovery means that demand for medical products such a surgical gloves, needles, and syringes remain very strong. TM and STGT  remains the spotlight. 

Domestic travel has become increasingly important to the sector, accounting for 60-70% in the near term, with rising concentration at top tier hotels who discount.

Playing the Global Themes. As Europe is hit by a second wave and China re-opens for business, we look at a few Thai stocks that tend to benefit or lose out from global themes in the short to medium term. (Winners: TVO, Asia Soft, TNR. Losers: CRC, MINT)


Thai Corona Crisis (December): The Looming Shadow of Myanmar

United States

Microsoft Corporation operates as a software company. The Company offers applications, extra cloud storage, and advanced security solutions. Microsoft serves customers worldwide.

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Microsoft Corp (MSFT US)

US FTC & States' Suits Against Facebook Unlikely to Result in Breakup, but Could Slow Expansion

We believe the US government is unlikely to get a clear win against FB. A drawn-out trial may end in a settlement, but this could take two+ years....

Tracking Traffic

Technology One: Our Top SaaS Pick From APAC

Although the share seems a bit elevated at the moment, we feel that Technology One should be worth following among long-term, quality-focused...

Steven Chen

Snowflake 3Q21: Our Revenues Are Worth More Than Your Revenues

Snowflake's first public quarter was a raging success according to the stock market, who boosted a 100x P/S company by 16% just for meeting...

Aaron Gabin

Thai Corona Crisis (December): The Looming Shadow of Myanmar

Just when Thailand is ready to leave the COVID-19 scene, Myanmar pulls them back in with a new outbreak. The Thai government comes up with new...

Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA

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US FTC & States' Suits Against Facebook Unlikely to Result in Breakup, but Could Slow Expansion

We believe the US government is unlikely to get a clear win against FB. A drawn-out trial may end in a settlement, but this could take two+ years....

Tracking Traffic

Technology One: Our Top SaaS Pick From APAC

Although the share seems a bit elevated at the moment, we feel that Technology One should be worth following among long-term, quality-focused...

Steven Chen

Airbnb IPO - Time for a Good Break - Even from the Share Lock-Up

Airbnb aims to raise around US$2.5bn in its US listing. There is lots to like about the company, apart from it lack of lock-up on some shareholders.

Sumeet Singh

Snowflake 3Q21: Our Revenues Are Worth More Than Your Revenues

Snowflake's first public quarter was a raging success according to the stock market, who boosted a 100x P/S company by 16% just for meeting...

Aaron Gabin

Thai Corona Crisis (December): The Looming Shadow of Myanmar

Just when Thailand is ready to leave the COVID-19 scene, Myanmar pulls them back in with a new outbreak. The Thai government comes up with new...

Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA