Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

COVID-19 vaccines figure into Biden's recently-announced COVID-19 response plan, though with a clear emphasis on distribution versus development (as was Trump's focus). Biden's prioritisation of vaccine distribution – and the US$25 billion earmarked for it – is a gift for "cold chain" stocks."Cold chain" refers to a complex temperature-controlled supply chain that is mission-critical to the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Critical, because vaccines require consistent ultra-cold storage from manufacture to needle-stick, otherwise those expensive vaccines become medical waste.This Insight looks at cold chain stocks as an investment theme inherent in Biden's COVID-19 plan (see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/biden-covid-19-response-plan-overview-of-its-inherent-investment-themes" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45631" rel="noopener">Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Overview of Its Inherent Investment Themes</a>). Although the cold chain is fragmented and largely privately-held, but there are opportunities in three areas:<ol>
<li>
Freight and Logistics: Most listed companies fall into this category, including both integrated cold chain freight and logistics stocks, as well as niche players in either of freight or logistics.</li>
<li>
Freezer Manufacturers: Ultra-cold freezer boxes and related industrial components of various shapes and sizes are needed for the cold chain to function. Several stocks serve this segment.</li>
<li>
Specialty Chemicals: Dry ice gets all the headlines, as massive amounts are needed but supply is short, but other specialty chemicals and industrial gases are also needed in the cold chain.</li>
</ol>

COVID-19 vaccines figure into Biden's recently-announced COVID-19 response plan, though with a clear emphasis on distribution versus development (as was Trump's focus). Biden's prioritisation of vaccine distribution – and the US$25 billion earmarked for it – is a gift for "cold chain" stocks."Cold chain" refers to a complex temperature-controlled supply chain that is mission-critical to the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Critical, because vaccines require consistent ultra-cold storage from manufacture to needle-stick, otherwise those expensive vaccines become medical waste.This Insight looks at cold chain stocks as an investment theme inherent in Biden's COVID-19 plan (see Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Overview of Its Inherent Investment Themes). Although the cold chain is fragmented and largely privately-held, but there are opportunities in three areas:

Freight and Logistics: Most listed companies fall into this category, including both integrated cold chain freight and logistics stocks, as well as niche players in either of freight or logistics.

Freezer Manufacturers: Ultra-cold freezer boxes and related industrial components of various shapes and sizes are needed for the cold chain to function. Several stocks serve this segment.

Specialty Chemicals: Dry ice gets all the headlines, as massive amounts are needed but supply is short, but other specialty chemicals and industrial gases are also needed in the cold chain.


Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Cold Chain Transportation and Logistics Stocks Benefit

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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rigaku-holdings-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43950:1" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP)</a> priced its IPO at JPY1,260 per share to raise gross proceeds of US$856 million. The shares will start trading on 25 October.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161041" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bull Case</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-the-bear-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161232" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bear Case</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-valuation-insights" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161523" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights</a>.</li>
<li>The peers have modestly derated since the prospectus was released on 20 September. The IPO price remains attractive.</li>
</ul>



Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) priced its IPO at JPY1,260 per share to raise gross proceeds of US$856 million. The shares will start trading on 25 October.
We previously discussed the IPO in Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bull Case, Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bear Case, Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights.
The peers have modestly derated since the prospectus was released on 20 September. The IPO price remains attractive.


Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Trading Debut

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rigaku-holdings-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43950:1" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP)</a> is Japan’s leading manufacturer of X-ray analysis, measurement, and testing instruments. It is seeking to raise up to US$737 million.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161041" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bull Case</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-the-bear-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161232" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bear Case</a>.</li>
<li>In this note, we discuss valuation. Our analysis suggests that Rigaku is attractively valued at the IPO price compared to peer multiples.</li>
</ul>



Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) is Japan’s leading manufacturer of X-ray analysis, measurement, and testing instruments. It is seeking to raise up to US$737 million.
We previously discussed the IPO in Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bull Case and Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bear Case.
In this note, we discuss valuation. Our analysis suggests that Rigaku is attractively valued at the IPO price compared to peer multiples.


Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights

Equity Long-Short Analyst

Pyari Menon

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>With its <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/danaher-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8243:1" rel="noopener">Danaher Corp (DHR US)</a> heritage, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/veralto-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40472:1" rel="noopener">Veralto (VLTO US)</a> has built a foundation based on durable and recurring sales growth, high profitability, and strong cash generation.</li>
<li>Veralto's products and services are mission-critical yet account for less than 1% of client costs, leading to high switching costs and ensuring customer retention and financial resilience through economic cycles.</li>
<li>Veralto holds market leadership in both its Water Quality (WQ) and Product Quality &amp; Innovation (PQI) segments, which positions it well for the increasing regulatory and environmental demands. .</li>
</ul>


With its Danaher Corp (DHR US) heritage, Veralto (VLTO US) has built a foundation based on durable and recurring sales growth, high profitability, and strong cash generation.
Veralto's products and services are mission-critical yet account for less than 1% of client costs, leading to high switching costs and ensuring customer retention and financial resilience through economic cycles.
Veralto holds market leadership in both its Water Quality (WQ) and Product Quality &amp; Innovation (PQI) segments, which positions it well for the increasing regulatory and environmental demands. .


Veralto: The Power of Customer Dependency and Recurring Revenue

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rigaku-holdings-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43950:1" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP)</a> is Japan’s leading manufacturer of X-ray analysis, measurement and testing instruments. It is seeking to raise up to US$760 million.</li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161041" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bull Case</a>, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.</li>
<li>The bear case rests on weakening forward growth indicators, China revenue risk, rising cash conversion cycles, mid-tier FCF margin and large post-IPO share overhang. </li>
</ul>



Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) is Japan’s leading manufacturer of X-ray analysis, measurement and testing instruments. It is seeking to raise up to US$760 million.
In Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bull Case, we highlighted the key elements of the bull case. In this note, we outline the bear case.
The bear case rests on weakening forward growth indicators, China revenue risk, rising cash conversion cycles, mid-tier FCF margin and large post-IPO share overhang. 


Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bear Case

United States

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. manufactures scientific instruments, consumables, and chemicals.  The Company offers analytical instruments, laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables, reagents, chemicals, and supplies to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions, and government agencies.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (TMO US)

Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Cold Chain Transportation and Logistics Stocks Benefit

Biden's COVID-19 response plan earmarks US$25 billion to vaccines, but with a twist. His emphasis is vaccine distribution, not development. That...

Kyle Rudden

Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Trading Debut

The shares will start trading on 25 October. The peers have modestly derated since the prospectus was released on 20 September. The IPO price...

Arun George

Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights

Rigaku aims to raise US$0.7 billion in a purely secondary raise. Our analysis suggests that Rigaku is attractively valued at the IPO price compared...

Arun George

Veralto: The Power of Customer Dependency and Recurring Revenue

Veralto's products and services are typically low cost but critical leading to high recurring sales, solid profitability and a leadership position...

Pyari Menon

Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bear Case

The bear case rests on weakening forward growth indicators, China revenue risk, rising cash conversion cycles, mid-tier FCF margin and large post...

Arun George

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