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>Profitability ratio trends were mixed in 3Q24, with most of the South Korean banks seeing improved post-provision returns to September-end, helped by generally lower cost of risk trends</li>
<li>Hana Financial remains our big-cap pick for its attractive valuations, PEG and equity risk premia; there is potential for its inclusion in a planned Value-Up index rebalancing scheduled for December</li>
<li>Among the smaller caps, Woori stands out in terms of valuation, PEG ratio, credit quality and it has registered improving pre- provision profitability and efficiency ratio</li>
</ul>


Profitability ratio trends were mixed in 3Q24, with most of the South Korean banks seeing improved post-provision returns to September-end, helped by generally lower cost of risk trends
Hana Financial remains our big-cap pick for its attractive valuations, PEG and equity risk premia; there is potential for its inclusion in a planned Value-Up index rebalancing scheduled for December
Among the smaller caps, Woori stands out in terms of valuation, PEG ratio, credit quality and it has registered improving pre- provision profitability and efficiency ratio


South Korean Banks; Hana Financial (086790 KS) And Woori (316140 KS) Remain Our Key Positive Picks

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>12 ETFs (9 passive and 3 active) and 1 ETN tracking the Korea Value-Up Index will start trading on the KRX on 4 November.</li>
<li>At listing, the combined AUM across the 13 products is KRW 511bn (US$370m). So not a lot of impact on the stocks in the index.</li>
<li>The expectation is that there will be a lot of money that starts to track the index after the ETF listing. Looking at Japan, that is not a success story.</li>
</ul>


12 ETFs (9 passive and 3 active) and 1 ETN tracking the Korea Value-Up Index will start trading on the KRX on 4 November.
At listing, the combined AUM across the 13 products is KRW 511bn (US$370m). So not a lot of impact on the stocks in the index.
The expectation is that there will be a lot of money that starts to track the index after the ETF listing. Looking at Japan, that is not a success story.


Korea Value-Up ETFs: Listing on 4 Nov with US$370m AUM

<ul>
<li>The KRX announced the 100 constituents of the much-awaited Korea Value-Up Index on 24 September. There were hits and misses but broad consensus was that the index is a miss.</li>
<li>Following market feedback, the KRX could conduct a special rebalance of the index in December. But this could be after the launch of ETFs tracking the index.</li>
<li>With a big overlap and similar characteristics as the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200 Index</a>, there could be limited assets benchmarked to the Korea Value-Up Index in the short-term.</li>
</ul>


The KRX announced the 100 constituents of the much-awaited Korea Value-Up Index on 24 September. There were hits and misses but broad consensus was that the index is a miss.
Following market feedback, the KRX could conduct a special rebalance of the index in December. But this could be after the launch of ETFs tracking the index.
With a big overlap and similar characteristics as the KOSPI 200 Index, there could be limited assets benchmarked to the Korea Value-Up Index in the short-term.


Korea Value-Up Index: Estimated Passive Flows as ETF Launches Coming

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

<ul>
<li>KRX faces challenges balancing the Value-Up Index as a benchmark while ensuring real disclosures, but passive inflows remain steady with local pension funds still interested.</li>
<li>KRX's potential December mini rebalancing increases uncertainty but may just lead to minor tweaks, adding KB and Hana while removing a few stocks from Communication Services.</li>
<li>The Value-Up Index resembles the KOSPI 200, using 30-40% GICS stocks and KOSDAQ 150, which may spark trading strategies focused on performance gaps within sectors.</li>
</ul>


KRX faces challenges balancing the Value-Up Index as a benchmark while ensuring real disclosures, but passive inflows remain steady with local pension funds still interested.
KRX's potential December mini rebalancing increases uncertainty but may just lead to minor tweaks, adding KB and Hana while removing a few stocks from Communication Services.
The Value-Up Index resembles the KOSPI 200, using 30-40% GICS stocks and KOSDAQ 150, which may spark trading strategies focused on performance gaps within sectors.


Lowdown from KRX's Emergency Presser on the Value-Up Index Today

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>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/k-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36073:1" rel="noopener">K Bank (279570 KS)</a> plans to raise up to US$740m in its upcoming South Korean IPO.</li>
<li>K Bank is one of three Internet-only banks in Korea. It provides a full range of commercial banking products and services.</li>
<li>In our previous note, we have looked at the company’s past performance. In this note, we will undertake a peer comparison.</li>
</ul>



K Bank (279570 KS) plans to raise up to US$740m in its upcoming South Korean IPO.
K Bank is one of three Internet-only banks in Korea. It provides a full range of commercial banking products and services.
In our previous note, we have looked at the company’s past performance. In this note, we will undertake a peer comparison.


K Bank IPO - Peer Comparison - Lags Its Main Peer on Most Fronts

South Korea

Woori Financial Group Inc. provides commercial banking services. The Company offers deposit services, loan services, bill services, settlement services, credit card, international, online banking, and other related services. Woori Financial Group also operates banking and retail banking businesses.

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Woori Financial Group (316140 KS)

South Korean Banks; Hana Financial (086790 KS) And Woori (316140 KS) Remain Our Key Positive Picks

Among South Korean banks, Hana and Woori stand out; attractively valued Hana has potential for inclusion in a planned Value-Up index rebalancing,...

Victor Galliano

Korea Value-Up ETFs: Listing on 4 Nov with US$370m AUM

12 ETFs (9 passive and 3 active) and 1 ETN tracking the Korea Value-Up Index will start trading on the KRX on 4 November. Total assets at launch...

Brian Freitas

Korea Value-Up Index: Estimated Passive Flows as ETF Launches Coming

The Korea Value-Up Index is very similar to the KOSPI200 Index. That could mean not a lot of passive assets tracking the index. Stocks with the...

Brian Freitas

Lowdown from KRX's Emergency Presser on the Value-Up Index Today

This post provides the essential details and key takeaways from KRX's emergency press event on the Value-Up Index today, highlighting...

Sanghyun Park

K Bank IPO - Peer Comparison - Lags Its Main Peer on Most Fronts

K Bank (279570 KS) plans to raise up to US$740m in its upcoming South Korean IPO. We have looked at the past performance in our earlier notes, in...

Sumeet Singh

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

South Korean Banks; Hana Financial (086790 KS) And Woori (316140 KS) Remain Our Key Positive Picks

​Among South Korean banks, Hana and Woori stand out; attractively valued Hana has potential for inclusion in a planned Value-Up index rebalancing,...

Victor Galliano

Korea Value-Up ETFs: Listing on 4 Nov with US$370m AUM

12 ETFs (9 passive and 3 active) and 1 ETN tracking the Korea Value-Up Index will start trading on the KRX on 4 November. Total assets at launch...

Brian Freitas

Korea Value-Up Index: Estimated Passive Flows as ETF Launches Coming

The Korea Value-Up Index is very similar to the KOSPI200 Index. That could mean not a lot of passive assets tracking the index. Stocks with the...

Brian Freitas

Lowdown from KRX's Emergency Presser on the Value-Up Index Today

This post provides the essential details and key takeaways from KRX's emergency press event on the Value-Up Index today, highlighting...

Sanghyun Park

K Bank IPO - Peer Comparison - Lags Its Main Peer on Most Fronts

K Bank (279570 KS) plans to raise up to US$740m in its upcoming South Korean IPO. We have looked at the past performance in our earlier notes, in...

Sumeet Singh

Among South Korean banks, Hana and Woori stand out; attractively valued Hana has potential for inclusion in a planned Value-Up index rebalancing,...