Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Among the EM digital banks covered, we turn constructive on Inter, we remain cautious on Nubank and see Bank Jago as an over-valued growth play; we are neutral on Kakaobank</li>
<li>Client penetration is key, yet digital banks also need to achieve loan and other banking product penetration to drive revenue growth and ultimately better returns</li>
<li>We believe that neobanks’ key hurdles to enhanced profitability are “old school” banking metrics; delinquency and cost of risk charges, as well as high capital absorption from fast loan growth</li>
</ul>


Among the EM digital banks covered, we turn constructive on Inter, we remain cautious on Nubank and see Bank Jago as an over-valued growth play; we are neutral on Kakaobank
Client penetration is key, yet digital banks also need to achieve loan and other banking product penetration to drive revenue growth and ultimately better returns
We believe that neobanks’ key hurdles to enhanced profitability are “old school” banking metrics; delinquency and cost of risk charges, as well as high capital absorption from fast loan growth


EM Digital Banks Overview - Brazil, South Korea and Indonesia

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/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>'s reported sale of its <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> stake led to a selloff on Meituan and on other companies that Tencent has invested in.</li>
<li>There are 10 listed companies where <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>'s holding is over US$1bn. Some stakes are more likely to be sold than others. </li>
<li>A complete stake sale will benefit some companies more than others since they are part of a wider array of indices and that will bring in passive flow.</li>
</ul>



Tencent (700 HK)'s reported sale of its Meituan (3690 HK) stake led to a selloff on Meituan and on other companies that Tencent has invested in.
There are 10 listed companies where Tencent (700 HK)'s holding is over US$1bn. Some stakes are more likely to be sold than others. 
A complete stake sale will benefit some companies more than others since they are part of a wider array of indices and that will bring in passive flow.


Tencent's Potential Sale of Meituan Stake - Read Across to Other Stocks & Index Implications

<ul>
<li>Softbank Group’s fintech portfolio companies – and especially those in the largely Softbank-funded Vision Fund 2 - were a meaningful part of the group’s large loss in fiscal 1Q 2022</li>
<li>However, Klarna and eToro “down rounds” - concluded in early July - do not seem to have been incorporated into June-end losses; the Vision Funds are absorbing the LatAm Fund</li>
<li>Despite the public markets rebound, Softbank faces multiples challenges, and it is hard to find positives in the Alibaba derivatives contracts</li>
</ul>


Softbank Group’s fintech portfolio companies – and especially those in the largely Softbank-funded Vision Fund 2 - were a meaningful part of the group’s large loss in fiscal 1Q 2022
However, Klarna and eToro “down rounds” - concluded in early July - do not seem to have been incorporated into June-end losses; the Vision Funds are absorbing the LatAm Fund
Despite the public markets rebound, Softbank faces multiples challenges, and it is hard to find positives in the Alibaba derivatives contracts


Softbank Group (9984 JP) 1Q 22 Results – Focus on Fintech and LatAm Holdings

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Softbank has invested USD7bn in tech throughout Latin America since 3Q 2019, with 40% dedicated to fintech; we focus in on the listed fintech holdings, specifically Nubank and Banco Inter</li>
<li>In the 2Q22 market sell-off, we estimate that Softbank is holding 55+% unrealized losses in Nubank, with a similar level of losses on its more recent Banco Inter investments</li>
<li>These two neobanks have good client penetration but face profitability challenges; as a key shareholder, Softbank could push for transformative Nu-Inter M&amp;A, otherwise Softbank could seek to exit these investments</li>
</ul>


Softbank has invested USD7bn in tech throughout Latin America since 3Q 2019, with 40% dedicated to fintech; we focus in on the listed fintech holdings, specifically Nubank and Banco Inter
In the 2Q22 market sell-off, we estimate that Softbank is holding 55+% unrealized losses in Nubank, with a similar level of losses on its more recent Banco Inter investments
These two neobanks have good client penetration but face profitability challenges; as a key shareholder, Softbank could push for transformative Nu-Inter M&amp;A, otherwise Softbank could seek to exit these investments


Softbank (9984 JP) In Latin America: Focus on Fintechs and the LatAm Neobanks

<ul>
<li>Banco Central do Brasil has been raising benchmark interest rates aggressively since 1H2021 and we believe it is approaching the peak of its tightening cycle; this feeds into loan spreads</li>
<li>1Q22 Brazil bank results showed limited evidence of widening spreads, due to a time lag, but loan quality is worsening due to the hiking interest rates amid the soft economy</li>
<li>Disciplined loan origination should support bank returns, especially in the consumer and SME segments, containing credit cost charges growth as spreads expand; deep-value Banco do Brasil remains our top pick</li>
</ul>


Banco Central do Brasil has been raising benchmark interest rates aggressively since 1H2021 and we believe it is approaching the peak of its tightening cycle; this feeds into loan spreads
1Q22 Brazil bank results showed limited evidence of widening spreads, due to a time lag, but loan quality is worsening due to the hiking interest rates amid the soft economy
Disciplined loan origination should support bank returns, especially in the consumer and SME segments, containing credit cost charges growth as spreads expand; deep-value Banco do Brasil remains our top pick


Brazil Banks – Returns Tug of War Between Spreads and Credit Costs, Stick with Banco Do Brasil

Brazil

NU Holdings Ltd. of the Cayman Islands operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides loans and digital banking services, as well as issues, administrates, processes, and transfers payments to post-paid credit cards and equity investments in other entities. NU Holdings serves clients worldwide.

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NU Holdings (NU US)

EM Digital Banks Overview - Brazil, South Korea and Indonesia

We turn constructive on Inter with its best combination of trends on fintech and bank metrics; we remain cautious on Nubank and see Bank Jago as an...

Victor Galliano

Tencent's Potential Sale of Meituan Stake - Read Across to Other Stocks & Index Implications

A Reuters report that Tencent intended to sell its stake in Meituan led to a selloff across Tencent's investee companies. The impact of passive...

Brian Freitas

Softbank Group (9984 JP) 1Q 22 Results – Focus on Fintech and LatAm Holdings

Fintechs & LatAm contributed to the group’s large loss in 1QFY22; yet Klarna & eToro “down rounds” done in July are unlikely to have been accounted...

Victor Galliano

Softbank (9984 JP) In Latin America: Focus on Fintechs and the LatAm Neobanks

LatAm equity investments have added to Softbank's total equity value and rose to a 5% share in March; we expect this to go sharply into reverse at...

Victor Galliano

Brazil Banks – Returns Tug of War Between Spreads and Credit Costs, Stick with Banco Do Brasil

Higher benchmark interest rates feed into wider spreads for Brazil banks, and in the returns tug of war between higher spreads and bigger credit...

Victor Galliano

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