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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Netflix management came off as unprepared for its current circumstances. Ramping competition and TAM saturation have been known for 2 years.</li>
<li>Competitive responses sounded half baked: increasing price to deter password sharing and launching advertising tiers...in 2 years?</li>
<li>The viability of the longterm growth algorithm and 10 year DCFs that Netflix investors have leaned on for years has been rightfully vaporized. </li>
</ul>


Netflix management came off as unprepared for its current circumstances. Ramping competition and TAM saturation have been known for 2 years.
Competitive responses sounded half baked: increasing price to deter password sharing and launching advertising tiers...in 2 years?
The viability of the longterm growth algorithm and 10 year DCFs that Netflix investors have leaned on for years has been rightfully vaporized. 


Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>New data from Deloitte shows US streaming subscription churn is 35% and over 50% for younger demographics. Whoa!</li>
<li>Competition for attention and competition for the wallet are causes, a combination of the volume of streaming services combined with social media, gaming, and UGC....many of which are free. </li>
<li>The LT takeaway is streaming services likely have to rely on free-ad supported tiers to retain customers. Higher customer acquisition costs and lower multiple ad revenues not good for streamers.</li>
</ul>


New data from Deloitte shows US streaming subscription churn is 35% and over 50% for younger demographics. Whoa!
Competition for attention and competition for the wallet are causes, a combination of the volume of streaming services combined with social media, gaming, and UGC....many of which are free. 
The LT takeaway is streaming services likely have to rely on free-ad supported tiers to retain customers. Higher customer acquisition costs and lower multiple ad revenues not good for streamers.


<ul>
<li>Incredible quarter for Parks, with sustainably higher levels of profitability in the cards due to Disney's pricing power.</li>
<li>Streaming is still worrisome, growth driven by bundling and Hotstar+ subs which we don't value as worth much to Disney.</li>
<li>SoTP gets us to ~$155 at best, which is where the stock trades post earnings. Not great risk reward here.</li>
</ul>


Incredible quarter for Parks, with sustainably higher levels of profitability in the cards due to Disney's pricing power.
Streaming is still worrisome, growth driven by bundling and Hotstar+ subs which we don't value as worth much to Disney.
SoTP gets us to ~$155 at best, which is where the stock trades post earnings. Not great risk reward here.


Disney 1Q2022: Knockin It Out of the Park

<p>After breaking out Disney+Hotstar's business and Hulu's advertising contribution, we come away with a valuation~20-25% lower than we used to ascribe to Disney's streaming portfolio. As a result, we think Disney is more than fully valued at $180 / share post 3Q21 earnings. </p><p></p><div class="content-highlight"><p>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.  </p></div>

After breaking out Disney+Hotstar's business and Hulu's advertising contribution, we come away with a valuation~20-25% lower than we used to ascribe to Disney's streaming portfolio. As a result, we think Disney is more than fully valued at $180 / share post 3Q21 earnings. 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.  

Disney 3Q21: We’re Cautious on Streaming

<p>We have been longtime fans of Netflix the product and Netflix’s management team can rightfully be described as visionary. They had the vision to have the public markets fund an experiment in business models that appears now set to breakeven on FCF in 2021. We have said since last year that Netflix is a good relative short given the extreme pull-in of demand from COVID, but have turned bullish for the simple fact that Netflix’s stock performance tracks the pace of sub growth, and we see growth reaccelerating in the back half of 2021. The kicker for us is the potential for gaming to be leveraged as an ARPU lever…and an upward estimate revision cycle. We may be early….but the stock’s flattish AH reaction on a pretty mediocre quarter and weak guide reads bullish to us.  </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>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.  </p></div>

We have been longtime fans of Netflix the product and Netflix’s management team can rightfully be described as visionary. They had the vision to have the public markets fund an experiment in business models that appears now set to breakeven on FCF in 2021. We have said since last year that Netflix is a good relative short given the extreme pull-in of demand from COVID, but have turned bullish for the simple fact that Netflix’s stock performance tracks the pace of sub growth, and we see growth reaccelerating in the back half of 2021. The kicker for us is the potential for gaming to be leveraged as an ARPU lever…and an upward estimate revision cycle. We may be early….but the stock’s flattish AH reaction on a pretty mediocre quarter and weak guide reads bullish to us.  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.  

United States

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. is a professional sports company that owns and operates sports franchises.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSGS US)

The New York Times Company operates media businesses.  The Company publishes daily newspapers and operates Internet websites.  The newspapers and websites distribute news and entertainment.

Liberty Global plc owns interests in broadband, distribution, and content companies operating outside the continental United States, principally in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Liberty Broadband Corporation invests in communication companies. The Company has principal assets in TruePosition and Time Warner Cable.

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc, is a television broadcasting company focused on the acquisition, development, and operation of television stations in medium using traditional media, e-MEDIA, digital and mobile media platforms. Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc offers its services in the central east part of United States.

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc (NXST US)

DISH Network Corp. provides a direct broadcast satellite subscription television, audio programming and interactive television services to commercial and residential subscribers in the United States.

Cinemark Holdings, Inc. operates movie theaters.  The Company operates in the United States and Latin America.

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. is an organization of advertising agencies and marketing service companies.  The Company operates globally in the sectors of advertising, independent media buying, direct marketing, healthcare communications, interactive consulting services, marketing research, promotions, experiential marketing, public relations, and sports marketing.

TEGNA Inc. is an international broadcasting and digital media company. The Company owns and operates television and radio stations, delivering news and informative content. TEGNA also provides digital marketing solutions in the automotive, human capital and digital marketing industries for individuals and businesses.

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. broadcasts various channels of audio from its satellites. The Company provides its services throughout the continental United States for a monthly subscription fee. Sirius delivers various streams of commercial-free music in every genre, as well as streams of  news, sports, weather, talk, comedy, and public radio.

Pearson plc provides education products and services to institutions, governments and individual learners in over 80 countries. The Company's major revenue markets are North America, 'Core' including the UK, Italy and Australia and 'Growth' including Brazil, China and South Africa. It also owns the Financial Times, 50% of the Economist and 47% of Penguin Random House.

TOHO CO., LTD. produces and distributes motion pictures for cinema, television, and video.  The Company also sells character merchandise based on their media productions, distributes foreign films, operates musical theaters, and produces musical shows. In addition, Toho manages movie theaters in urban areas.

DENTSU INC. mainly provides comprehensive advertising services.  The Company also provides marketing and event planning & promotion services.  Dentsu has associated companies in the US, Europe, and Asia.

TOKYO BROADCASTING SYSTEM HOLDINGS, INC. is a media company that broadcasts television and radio programs nationally.  The Company offers a variety of TV programs & film production, visual & music software production, and cable television programming.  Tokyo Broadcasting System provides digital satellite broadcasting services and also operates real estate business.

Compagnie du Cambodge is an investment holding company that invests in companies active in agriculture, industry, real estate and finance.  The Company owns and operates plantations in Malaysia and forests in Cameroon.

JC Decaux SA offers advertising services.  The Company sells advertising on street furniture such as bus shelters, free standing panels, columns, and automatic toilets, billboards, and posters on buses, trains, and subways, and at railroad stations and airports.

CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA produces, sells, brokers and distributes entry tickets for concerts, theater productions, artistic, sporting and similar events. The Company operates an online booking system that allows event promoters to sell their tickets over a variety of distribution channels. CTS also sells tickets directly over the Internet and a call center and offers system support services.

ITV plc is a United Kingdom media company covering broadcasting, news, and production.  The Company owns all of the regional Channel 3 licenses in England and Wales.  ITV owns ITV1, a commercial television channel, as well as ITV2, a partial interest in GMTV, and other interests.

WPP plc operates a communications services group.  The Company's operations encompass advertising, media investment management, information and consultancy, public relations and public affairs, healthcare and specialist communications, and branding and identity services.

Schibsted ASA, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates online classifieds services. The Company also owns and operates media houses with print and online positions. Schibsted operates in parts Europe and other international markets.

Paramount Global operates as a media company. The Company produces and distributes entertainment content through studios, networks, streaming services, live events, and merchandise. Paramount Global serves customers worldwide.

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Paramount Global (PARA US)

Netflix 1Q22: Willfull Ignorance

Netflix management seemed unprepared for its current circumstances. Ramping competition and TAM saturation have been known for 2 years. Competitive...

Aaron Gabin

Streaming's New Hamster Wheel

New data shows US streaming subscription churn is 35% and over 50% for younger demographics. To compete, streamers will have to rely more on free...

Aaron Gabin

Disney 1Q2022: Knockin It Out of the Park

Despite a fantastic Parks quarter, which we think offers sustainably higher profits, the higher competitive intensity in streaming means the SoTP...

Aaron Gabin

Disney 3Q21: We’re Cautious on Streaming

After breaking out Disney+Hotstar's business and Hulu's advertising contribution, we have a valuation~20-25% lower than we used to ascribe to...

Aaron Gabin

Netflix 2Q21: Game On

We have turned bullish on Netflix recently because we see the pace of sub growth reaccelerating in the back half of 2021. The flattish AH reaction...

Aaron Gabin

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