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Smartkarma Daily Briefs

Daily Brief Credit: Morning Views Asia: ENN Energy and more

By | Credit, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Morning Views Asia: ENN Energy, ENN Natural Gas, Indofood CBP Sukses, West China Cement


Morning Views Asia: ENN Energy, ENN Natural Gas, Indofood CBP Sukses, West China Cement

By Leonard Law, CFA

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.


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Daily Brief Event-Driven: Perpetual (PPT AU): Shareholders Divided Over Carve Out and more

By | Daily Briefs, Event-Driven

In today’s briefing:

  • Perpetual (PPT AU): Shareholders Divided Over Carve Out
  • KKR Deal for Alps Logistics (9055) Appears Imminent
  • China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK): Evaluating Deal-Break Risks
  • Nippon Yusen (9101) – Another Big Buyback Announced, But Details Matter
  • Naver: Under Pressure from the Japanese Government To Sell Its Stake in LINE
  • HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS): Nearing KOSPI200 Index Inclusion in June
  • Qantm IP (QIP AU): IPH Enters the Fray with a Competing Offer
  • QANTM (QIP AU): IPH Wades In As Adamantem Tarries
  • Local Institutional Flows Towards Overweighting Samsung SDS in Samsung Group Context


Perpetual (PPT AU): Shareholders Divided Over Carve Out

By David Blennerhassett

  • Back in December last year, Aussie-listed equities manager Perpetual Ltd (PPT AU) rejected Washington H. Soul Pattinson (SOL AU)‘s $3bn all-scrip non-binding indicative proposal. 
  • Yet Soul Patt’s proposal was in sync with Perpetual’s previously flagged intentions to explore a potential separation of its corporate trust and wealth management businesses, from its asset management business.
  • Perpetual has now entered a Scheme, to carve out the corporate trust and wealth management businesses to KKR for A$2.175bn. A lack of clarity on net proceeds saw shares rollover.

KKR Deal for Alps Logistics (9055) Appears Imminent

By Travis Lundy

  • There was a news article I missed in late February saying Alps Alpine (6770 JP), parent of Alps Logistics (9055 JP) was in the process of selling the logistics unit.
  • A deal made sense for a strategic given the upcoming “2024 Problem”. Pre-close, headlines blared, the stock popped 12%, now we’re at double the end-February price.
  • Late in the evening,Alps Logistics said it had received a bid from Logisteed but nothing had been decided. This morning we have a few more details, but nothing concrete

China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK): Evaluating Deal-Break Risks

By Arun George

  • On 21 February, China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK) announced a privatisation offer from the Sinopharm-led consortium at HK$4.60 per share, a 47.4% premium to the undisturbed price.
  • The wide gross spread (7.0%) reflects risks around the re-rating of peers, the slow pace of satisfying the pre-condition, the completion timetable and Ping An’s blocking stake. 
  • The key risk is the deal close timing due to the slow pace of regulatory approvals, which increases the chance that the vote will held after the August interim.   

Nippon Yusen (9101) – Another Big Buyback Announced, But Details Matter

By Travis Lundy

  • Last May, Nippon Yusen Kk (9101 JP) announced buybacks of ¥200bn over 2 years. In August, they changed it to say  ¥200bn in the next nine months.
  • That helped support the stock through early March. It was big, and a decent percentage of ADV. Today, they announced earnings and guidance and another ¥100bn buyback through April 2025.
  • Earnings were OK. Guidance is a little low vs the Street. The stock popped 5% from where it was trading. Lower impact vs 2023. More cross-holder overhang consideration. 

Naver: Under Pressure from the Japanese Government To Sell Its Stake in LINE

By Douglas Kim

  • On 8 May, it was mentioned in numerous local media that Naver is under pressure from the Japanese government to sell its stake in LINE.
  • One of the reasons behind Japanese government’s efforts to force Naver to sell its stake in LINE is due a major data breach incident in November 2023.
  • Based on our current understanding of this situation, the most likely scenario is for Naver to sell about 20-30% stake in A Holdings (the controlling shareholder of LINE) to SoftBank.

HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS): Nearing KOSPI200 Index Inclusion in June

By Brian Freitas


Qantm IP (QIP AU): IPH Enters the Fray with a Competing Offer

By Arun George

  • Qantm Intellectual Property (QIP AU)‘s non-binding proposal from IPH Ltd (IPH AU) is at A$0.11 cash + 0.291 IPH shares per QIP share, a 4.5% premium to Adamantem’s A$1.817 offer.
  • Since announcing the Adamantem non-binding proposal on 14 March, the IPH offer has been 4.3% higher than the Adamantem offer on average. 
  • The IPH proposal also requires approval from the ACCC and NZCC. The presence of two bidders increases the probability of a binding proposal (with a bump). 

QANTM (QIP AU): IPH Wades In As Adamantem Tarries

By David Blennerhassett

  • It always seemed like a question of when, not if, IPH (IPH AU) would make an Offer for QANTM (QIP AU). IPH previously approached QANTM in 2018, but was spurned.
  • Capitalising on ongoing extensions to Adamantem’s exclusivity, as it relates to its all-cash A$1.817/share Offer by way of a Scheme, IPH has now tabled an all-scrip, plus A$0.11/share dividend NBIO.
  • IPH’s implied Scheme value of A$1.90/share is a premium to Adamantem’s proposal. The catch: apart from terms being indicative, IPH’s Offer requires ACCC and NZCC clearance.

Local Institutional Flows Towards Overweighting Samsung SDS in Samsung Group Context

By Sanghyun Park

  • Local institutions, notably pension funds, are increasingly investing in Samsung SDS, coinciding with the company’s more active investor engagement. This has sparked speculation about Samsung’s strategic motives.
  • Timing-Wise, as AI infra demands rise in Samsung Group, conditions for boosting SDS’s performance improve. They monitor Samsung’s moves to drive SDS’s stock upward, considering its reliance on Samsung’s revenue.
  • Local pension funds actively adopting overweight positions in Samsung SDS underscore the importance of crafting strategies tailored to overweighting SDS within the broader Samsung Group context.

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Most Read: Fast Retailing, Perpetual Ltd, WuXi XDC Cayman , Alibaba Group Holding , Alps Logistics, China Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nippon Yusen Kk, Naver Corp, Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) – ADR, HD Hyundai Marine Solution and more

By | Daily Briefs, Most Read

In today’s briefing:

  • Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Sep 2024): Ranking, Capping, Funding & Other Changes
  • Perpetual (PPT AU): Shareholders Divided Over Carve Out
  • Wuxi XDC Lock-Up – US$300m Lockup Expiry Could See Some Selling Owing to the Regulatory Overhang
  • Alibaba (BABA US): Margin Pressure Overstated
  • KKR Deal for Alps Logistics (9055) Appears Imminent
  • China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK): Evaluating Deal-Break Risks
  • Nippon Yusen (9101) – Another Big Buyback Announced, But Details Matter
  • Naver: Under Pressure from the Japanese Government To Sell Its Stake in LINE
  • Taiwan Dual-Listings: TSMC Spread Slumps Then Fully Rebounds; Shorts Spiking Ahead of IMOS Results
  • HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS): Nearing KOSPI200 Index Inclusion in June


Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Sep 2024): Ranking, Capping, Funding & Other Changes

By Brian Freitas

  • The review period for the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) September rebalance ends in July. There could be three changes at the rebalance with sector balance in focus for the additions.
  • Depending on the changes, passive trackers will need to buy between 5-16x ADV (10.1%-24% of real float) on the inclusions and sell between 4-42x ADV on the deletions.
  • Fast Retailing (9983 JP) will be capped to 10% of the index weight while Tokyo Electron (8035 JP) is also close to the 10% cap.

Perpetual (PPT AU): Shareholders Divided Over Carve Out

By David Blennerhassett

  • Back in December last year, Aussie-listed equities manager Perpetual Ltd (PPT AU) rejected Washington H. Soul Pattinson (SOL AU)‘s $3bn all-scrip non-binding indicative proposal. 
  • Yet Soul Patt’s proposal was in sync with Perpetual’s previously flagged intentions to explore a potential separation of its corporate trust and wealth management businesses, from its asset management business.
  • Perpetual has now entered a Scheme, to carve out the corporate trust and wealth management businesses to KKR for A$2.175bn. A lack of clarity on net proceeds saw shares rollover.

Wuxi XDC Lock-Up – US$300m Lockup Expiry Could See Some Selling Owing to the Regulatory Overhang

By Clarence Chu

  • WuXi XDC Cayman (2268 HK) was listed in Hong Kong on 17th Nov 2023 after raising US$470m. Its six-month lockup will expire on 16th May 2024.
  • WuXi XDC Cayman (WXDC) is a contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO) focused on the global antibody drug conjugates (ADC) and broader bioconjugate market providing integrated and end-to-end services.
  • In this note, we will talk about the lock-up dynamics and updates since our last note.

Alibaba (BABA US): Margin Pressure Overstated

By Eric Chen

  • We feel consensus overstates margin pressure for Alibaba’s March quarter results. We expect its group adjusted EBITA to deliver single-digit growth vs. investors’ concern about earnings retreat.
  • March quarter should mark start of an earnings recovery cycle in our view, as improving China macro and well-executed business revamp plan put Alibaba back on growth track.
  • This also means an end to its multiple contraction which lasted for five quarters. We see 50% upside on double-digit earnings growth and multiple expansion over next 12 months.

KKR Deal for Alps Logistics (9055) Appears Imminent

By Travis Lundy

  • There was a news article I missed in late February saying Alps Alpine (6770 JP), parent of Alps Logistics (9055 JP) was in the process of selling the logistics unit.
  • A deal made sense for a strategic given the upcoming “2024 Problem”. Pre-close, headlines blared, the stock popped 12%, now we’re at double the end-February price.
  • Late in the evening,Alps Logistics said it had received a bid from Logisteed but nothing had been decided. This morning we have a few more details, but nothing concrete

China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK): Evaluating Deal-Break Risks

By Arun George

  • On 21 February, China Traditional Chinese Medicine (570 HK) announced a privatisation offer from the Sinopharm-led consortium at HK$4.60 per share, a 47.4% premium to the undisturbed price.
  • The wide gross spread (7.0%) reflects risks around the re-rating of peers, the slow pace of satisfying the pre-condition, the completion timetable and Ping An’s blocking stake. 
  • The key risk is the deal close timing due to the slow pace of regulatory approvals, which increases the chance that the vote will held after the August interim.   

Nippon Yusen (9101) – Another Big Buyback Announced, But Details Matter

By Travis Lundy

  • Last May, Nippon Yusen Kk (9101 JP) announced buybacks of ¥200bn over 2 years. In August, they changed it to say  ¥200bn in the next nine months.
  • That helped support the stock through early March. It was big, and a decent percentage of ADV. Today, they announced earnings and guidance and another ¥100bn buyback through April 2025.
  • Earnings were OK. Guidance is a little low vs the Street. The stock popped 5% from where it was trading. Lower impact vs 2023. More cross-holder overhang consideration. 

Naver: Under Pressure from the Japanese Government To Sell Its Stake in LINE

By Douglas Kim

  • On 8 May, it was mentioned in numerous local media that Naver is under pressure from the Japanese government to sell its stake in LINE.
  • One of the reasons behind Japanese government’s efforts to force Naver to sell its stake in LINE is due a major data breach incident in November 2023.
  • Based on our current understanding of this situation, the most likely scenario is for Naver to sell about 20-30% stake in A Holdings (the controlling shareholder of LINE) to SoftBank.

Taiwan Dual-Listings: TSMC Spread Slumps Then Fully Rebounds; Shorts Spiking Ahead of IMOS Results

By Vincent Fernando, CFA

  • TSMC: Premium Fell and Then Rebounded, Now +15.6%; Can Consider Shorting Again
  • ASE: Falls to +12.3%; Wait for Higher Level Before Considering a New Short Again
  • ChipMOS: -0.6% Discount; Massing of Short Interest Right Ahead of Earnings

HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS): Nearing KOSPI200 Index Inclusion in June

By Brian Freitas


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Daily Brief Equity Bottom-Up: Alibaba (BABA US): Margin Pressure Overstated and more

By | Daily Briefs, Equity Bottom-Up

In today’s briefing:

  • Alibaba (BABA US): Margin Pressure Overstated
  • Taiwan Dual-Listings: TSMC Spread Slumps Then Fully Rebounds; Shorts Spiking Ahead of IMOS Results
  • KLAC. Priced For Perfection In 2025 & Beyond
  • Mitsubishi Heavy (7011) | Flying High
  • Flagging a potentially interesting situation: IMAX China (HKG: 1970)
  • Ferrari Q1 FY24: Another Beat, Conservative Guidance And High-Quality Growth
  • Exxon Mobil Corporation: The Pioneer Expansion & The Expansion of ExxonMobil’s Guyana Operations! – Major Drivers
  • WuXi AppTec (2359.HK/603259.CH) – The Pain of 2024 Has Just Begun
  • Earnings Playbook | Shoppers Stop (SHOP IN) | Target of Quadrupling Network
  • China Bluechemical Ltd (3983.HK) – Fertiliser Pricing on the Up


Alibaba (BABA US): Margin Pressure Overstated

By Eric Chen

  • We feel consensus overstates margin pressure for Alibaba’s March quarter results. We expect its group adjusted EBITA to deliver single-digit growth vs. investors’ concern about earnings retreat.
  • March quarter should mark start of an earnings recovery cycle in our view, as improving China macro and well-executed business revamp plan put Alibaba back on growth track.
  • This also means an end to its multiple contraction which lasted for five quarters. We see 50% upside on double-digit earnings growth and multiple expansion over next 12 months.

Taiwan Dual-Listings: TSMC Spread Slumps Then Fully Rebounds; Shorts Spiking Ahead of IMOS Results

By Vincent Fernando, CFA

  • TSMC: Premium Fell and Then Rebounded, Now +15.6%; Can Consider Shorting Again
  • ASE: Falls to +12.3%; Wait for Higher Level Before Considering a New Short Again
  • ChipMOS: -0.6% Discount; Massing of Short Interest Right Ahead of Earnings

KLAC. Priced For Perfection In 2025 & Beyond

By William Keating

  • Q124 revenues of 2.36 billion, $60 million above the guided midpoint, down 5% QoQ and down 3% YoY.
  • Current quarter revenue guidance of $2.5 billion representing a ~6% QoQ increase and about the same YoY.
  • Share price close to record highs yet CY2024 outlook is tepid while the massive over reliance on China just keeps on going

Mitsubishi Heavy (7011) | Flying High

By Mark Chadwick

  • MHI’s stock fell 7% following the announcement of results. Guidance for FY3/25 missed analyst expectations
  • Even so, MHI remains a key beneficiary of the global shift to clean energy and national policies aimed at bolstering national security 
  • We remain bullish. The stock has performed well this year and but 13x EV/EBIT seems reasonable given the structural drivers

Flagging a potentially interesting situation: IMAX China (HKG: 1970)

By Acid Investments

  • IMAX Corp, listed on the NYSE, is a 71% shareholder of IMAX China, a HKEX listed subsidiary – in charge of the release of IMAX films in Greater China.

  • IMAX HK is rather illiquid – 7.15 HK is a mere $0.93 USD – with no investor presentations, no earnings calls – again, as is common with ideas in this blog, we are dealing with a company that is more or less “unownable” for most, flies under the radar, and therefore sports a, for a lack of a better word, shite valuation.

  • Whilst IMAX Corp, the parent company, trades at ~8x EBITDA, the “backwater” subsidiary IMAX HK, trades at a mere ~5x EBITDA, despite margins being more than 10 pts higher.

Ferrari Q1 FY24: Another Beat, Conservative Guidance And High-Quality Growth

By Sameer Taneja

  • Ferrari N.V. (RACE US) reported yet another high-quality quarter with 11%/18% YoY revenue/net profit growth on a flat YoY(%) volume quarter driven by mix improvement.
  • Although there seems to be earnings upside, and the street was literally searching for it in the concall, management stuck to their 6.5%/9% revenue/net profit growth guidance for FY24.
  • Trading at 50x FY24, the stock seems expensive, but the strong branding and order book implies very visible earnings growth into the future.  

Exxon Mobil Corporation: The Pioneer Expansion & The Expansion of ExxonMobil’s Guyana Operations! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • ExxonMobil’s latest performance paints a promising picture, powered by strategic decisions, cost-saving measures, and a focus on long-term growth avenues.
  • In Q1 2024, ExxonMobil delivered $8.2 billion in earnings and $14.7 billion in cash flow, demonstrating ongoing efforts to enhance the company’s earnings power.
  • The company made big strides in cost savings, achieving $10.1 billion in Q1 compared to 2019, on track to reach their goal of $15 billion in savings by 2027.

WuXi AppTec (2359.HK/603259.CH) – The Pain of 2024 Has Just Begun

By Xinyao (Criss) Wang

  • The growth of TIDES business slowed down, and revenue decreased QoQ despite increasing production capacity.As the main growth point of WuXi AppTec’s future performance, this is not a good signal.
  • Due to BIOSECURE Act, US companies have been negotiating with other contract manufacturers so as to reduce reliance on WuXi AppTec.Let’s see the situation of new orders in following quarters.
  • WuXi AppTec’s performance recovery is closely related to the pace of Fed’s interest rate cuts. From the perspective of growth outlook/macro environment/geopolitical conflicts, WuXi AppTec is still in “dangerous period”.

Earnings Playbook | Shoppers Stop (SHOP IN) | Target of Quadrupling Network

By Pranav Bhavsar


China Bluechemical Ltd (3983.HK) – Fertiliser Pricing on the Up

By Rikki Malik

  • A play on higher food and energy prices going forward
  • Natural Gas moving up from multi-year lows will support fertiliser prices going forward
  • A Low valuation with a solid balance sheet lowers the risk

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Daily Brief Macro: New Release: Fund Positioning Chart Pack and more

By | Daily Briefs, Macro

In today’s briefing:

  • New Release: Fund Positioning Chart Pack
  • Policy Rate Reversal Warnings
  • USD inflation preview: NO, inflation is not going away folks..
  • Sweden Policy Rate 3.75% (consensus 3.75%) in May-24


New Release: Fund Positioning Chart Pack

By Steven Holden

  • Q1 Performance Analysis for active Global EM funds.  Country/Sector/Stock Positioning relative to benchmark for Global funds
  • Spotlight on Indonesia activity among Asia Ex-Japan investors.  Sector Dispersion in USA funds
  • Extreme Stock Positioning in UK Small/Midcap funds. Ownership Trends in the Financials sector among MSCI China funds.

Policy Rate Reversal Warnings

By Phil Rush

  • Rate hikes are unlikely to resume unless forthcoming cuts prove premature. Cutting outside recessionary regimes has historically been prone to reversals to higher peaks.
  • 1998’s cuts followed a shock that failed to prove recessionary. Fed cuts in 1967 sowed the seeds of a severe inflation problem. Both cutting cycles were more than reversed.
  • Independent ECB hikes in 2008 and 2012 were rapidly proven policy mistakes. The BoE’s single 2005 cut was also wrong. Hopes that 2024 is benignly like 1989 may be misplaced.

USD inflation preview: NO, inflation is not going away folks..

By Andreas Steno

  • The monthly inflation reports have proven to be the catalysts for the repricing of USD rates in recent months and we fear another 1-2 sigma event next week.
  • Our calibrated nowcasts have settled on the hottest inflation forecast in town, which will likely prove to be a shocker now that USD duration bets are back in fashion.
  • Our nowcasts hint at 0.45% MoM headline inflation and 0.38% MoM core inflation, which is well above consensus at 0.3% MoM for both (see full details in chart 7)The uniformity in the early consensus numbers is striking with right about every analyst on earth expecting a 0.3% MoM print, which has oddly turned into the mechanical monthly forecast every single month.

Sweden Policy Rate 3.75% (consensus 3.75%) in May-24

By Heteronomics AI

  • The Riksbank reduced the policy rate to 3.75%, motivated by inflation nearing the target amid a weakening economic outlook, with indications of further rate cuts if the favourable inflation outlook persists.
  • Based on ongoing economic evaluations, future interest rate decisions will be cautiously managed, with potential additional rate reductions contingent on sustained positive inflation trends and economic stability.
  • The central bank remains cautious about inflation risks related to external economic factors and the krona’s volatility, ensuring a responsive and flexible monetary policy to navigate potential economic fluctuations effectively.
This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

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Daily Brief Utilities: ENN Energy and more

By | Daily Briefs, Utilities Sector

In today’s briefing:

  • Morning Views Asia: ENN Energy, ENN Natural Gas, Indofood CBP Sukses, West China Cement


Morning Views Asia: ENN Energy, ENN Natural Gas, Indofood CBP Sukses, West China Cement

By Leonard Law, CFA

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.


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Sign Up for Free

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  • ✓ Personalised Alerts
  • ✓ Custom Watchlists
  • ✓ Company Data and News
  • ✓ Events & Webinars



Daily Brief Industrials: Alps Logistics, Nippon Yusen Kk, HD Hyundai Marine Solution , Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Innospace, Qantm Intellectual Property, Roper Technologies, Mastech Digital , Jetblue Airways and more

By | Daily Briefs, Industrials

In today’s briefing:

  • KKR Deal for Alps Logistics (9055) Appears Imminent
  • Nippon Yusen (9101) – Another Big Buyback Announced, But Details Matter
  • HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS): Nearing KOSPI200 Index Inclusion in June
  • Mitsubishi Heavy (7011) | Flying High
  • Innospace IPO Preview
  • Qantm IP (QIP AU): IPH Enters the Fray with a Competing Offer
  • QANTM (QIP AU): IPH Wades In As Adamantem Tarries
  • Roper Technologies Inc.: Transition to Cloud and SaaS-based Offerings! – Major Drivers
  • MHH: Mastech Sees Demand Improvement as Customers Loosen Their Purse Strings
  • Jetblue Airways Corp (JBLU) – Wednesday, Feb 7, 2024


KKR Deal for Alps Logistics (9055) Appears Imminent

By Travis Lundy

  • There was a news article I missed in late February saying Alps Alpine (6770 JP), parent of Alps Logistics (9055 JP) was in the process of selling the logistics unit.
  • A deal made sense for a strategic given the upcoming “2024 Problem”. Pre-close, headlines blared, the stock popped 12%, now we’re at double the end-February price.
  • Late in the evening,Alps Logistics said it had received a bid from Logisteed but nothing had been decided. This morning we have a few more details, but nothing concrete

Nippon Yusen (9101) – Another Big Buyback Announced, But Details Matter

By Travis Lundy

  • Last May, Nippon Yusen Kk (9101 JP) announced buybacks of ¥200bn over 2 years. In August, they changed it to say  ¥200bn in the next nine months.
  • That helped support the stock through early March. It was big, and a decent percentage of ADV. Today, they announced earnings and guidance and another ¥100bn buyback through April 2025.
  • Earnings were OK. Guidance is a little low vs the Street. The stock popped 5% from where it was trading. Lower impact vs 2023. More cross-holder overhang consideration. 

HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS): Nearing KOSPI200 Index Inclusion in June

By Brian Freitas


Mitsubishi Heavy (7011) | Flying High

By Mark Chadwick

  • MHI’s stock fell 7% following the announcement of results. Guidance for FY3/25 missed analyst expectations
  • Even so, MHI remains a key beneficiary of the global shift to clean energy and national policies aimed at bolstering national security 
  • We remain bullish. The stock has performed well this year and but 13x EV/EBIT seems reasonable given the structural drivers

Innospace IPO Preview

By Douglas Kim

  • Innospace is getting ready to complete its IPO in June 2024. According to bankers’ valuation, the implied market cap of Innospace is from 347 billion won to 434 billion won.
  • Innospace engages in the satellite launch vehicle production and launch service business.
  • The company estimates its sales to increase from 0.2 billion won in 2023 to 2.0 billion won in 2024, 47.8 billion won in 2025, and 97.2 billion won in 2026.

Qantm IP (QIP AU): IPH Enters the Fray with a Competing Offer

By Arun George

  • Qantm Intellectual Property (QIP AU)‘s non-binding proposal from IPH Ltd (IPH AU) is at A$0.11 cash + 0.291 IPH shares per QIP share, a 4.5% premium to Adamantem’s A$1.817 offer.
  • Since announcing the Adamantem non-binding proposal on 14 March, the IPH offer has been 4.3% higher than the Adamantem offer on average. 
  • The IPH proposal also requires approval from the ACCC and NZCC. The presence of two bidders increases the probability of a binding proposal (with a bump). 

QANTM (QIP AU): IPH Wades In As Adamantem Tarries

By David Blennerhassett

  • It always seemed like a question of when, not if, IPH (IPH AU) would make an Offer for QANTM (QIP AU). IPH previously approached QANTM in 2018, but was spurned.
  • Capitalising on ongoing extensions to Adamantem’s exclusivity, as it relates to its all-cash A$1.817/share Offer by way of a Scheme, IPH has now tabled an all-scrip, plus A$0.11/share dividend NBIO.
  • IPH’s implied Scheme value of A$1.90/share is a premium to Adamantem’s proposal. The catch: apart from terms being indicative, IPH’s Offer requires ACCC and NZCC clearance.

Roper Technologies Inc.: Transition to Cloud and SaaS-based Offerings! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Roper Technologies had a robust start to the year, with double-digit growth in revenue, EBITDA, adjusted DEPS, and free cash flow noted for Q1, which has spurred an increased full-year outlook.
  • The Q1 report highlighted the completion of another milestone for the company – the acquisition of Procare Solutions, a provider of software and integrated payments for the early childhood education market.
  • The total revenue and organic revenue increased by 14% and 8% respectively while EBITDA saw a 16% growth, with EBITDA margin expanding by 60 basis points to 40.2%.

MHH: Mastech Sees Demand Improvement as Customers Loosen Their Purse Strings

By Zacks Small Cap Research

  • Mastech Digital, based outside Pittsburgh, PA is an IT staffing business with a data and analytics, consulting, and project management service serving blue-chip customers in the US. Both businesses have been affected by the rapid decline in the economy and IT hiring as customers pull back.
  • The company trades well below its peers and we expect stock price appreciation when it returns to growth aided by stock buybacks.
  • It also plans to grow through acquisition.

Jetblue Airways Corp (JBLU) – Wednesday, Feb 7, 2024

By Value Investors Club

  • JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU) identified as an attractive short opportunity due to unsustainable competitive and financial position
  • Struggling as sub-scale industry participant with shrinking margins, issues with GTF engines, and tough upcoming comps
  • Predicted restructuring within next 2-4 years as JBLU faces challenges in overcoming fundamental issues and high debt levels

This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only. This article was originally published 3 months ago on Value Investors Club.


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Daily Brief TMT/Internet: Naver Corp, Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) – ADR, KLA-Tencor Corp, ICTK, Samsung Sds, Games Global , Bentley Systems , Sps Commerce, AppFolio Inc A, Lattice Semiconductor and more

By | Daily Briefs, TMT/Internet

In today’s briefing:

  • Naver: Under Pressure from the Japanese Government To Sell Its Stake in LINE
  • Taiwan Dual-Listings: TSMC Spread Slumps Then Fully Rebounds; Shorts Spiking Ahead of IMOS Results
  • KLAC. Priced For Perfection In 2025 & Beyond
  • ICTK IPO Book Building Results Analysis
  • Local Institutional Flows Towards Overweighting Samsung SDS in Samsung Group Context
  • Games Global IPO: Strong Profitability and Impressive Portfolios of IGaming Content
  • Bentley Systems: The Infrastructure Software Giant Poised for a Major Buyout? What Value Can It Extract? – Major Drivers
  • SPS Commerce Inc.: Network Effects in Business Model & 3 Pivotal Growth Drivers
  • AppFolio Inc.: Is Its Revenue Growth Sustainable? – Major Drivers
  • Lattice Semiconductor Corporation: Increasing Server Share


Naver: Under Pressure from the Japanese Government To Sell Its Stake in LINE

By Douglas Kim

  • On 8 May, it was mentioned in numerous local media that Naver is under pressure from the Japanese government to sell its stake in LINE.
  • One of the reasons behind Japanese government’s efforts to force Naver to sell its stake in LINE is due a major data breach incident in November 2023.
  • Based on our current understanding of this situation, the most likely scenario is for Naver to sell about 20-30% stake in A Holdings (the controlling shareholder of LINE) to SoftBank.

Taiwan Dual-Listings: TSMC Spread Slumps Then Fully Rebounds; Shorts Spiking Ahead of IMOS Results

By Vincent Fernando, CFA

  • TSMC: Premium Fell and Then Rebounded, Now +15.6%; Can Consider Shorting Again
  • ASE: Falls to +12.3%; Wait for Higher Level Before Considering a New Short Again
  • ChipMOS: -0.6% Discount; Massing of Short Interest Right Ahead of Earnings

KLAC. Priced For Perfection In 2025 & Beyond

By William Keating

  • Q124 revenues of 2.36 billion, $60 million above the guided midpoint, down 5% QoQ and down 3% YoY.
  • Current quarter revenue guidance of $2.5 billion representing a ~6% QoQ increase and about the same YoY.
  • Share price close to record highs yet CY2024 outlook is tepid while the massive over reliance on China just keeps on going

ICTK IPO Book Building Results Analysis

By Douglas Kim

  • ICTK reported excellent book building results. ICTK’s IPO price has been determined at 20,000 won, which is 25% higher than the high end of the IPO price range.
  • ICTK is a security company specializing in Internet of Things (IoT) based on physical copy prevention technology called PUF which is a cutting-edge technology during the chip manufacturing process.
  • Our base case valuation is implied market cap of 376.8 billion won or target price of 28,694 won, which is 43% higher than the IPO price (20,000 won).

Local Institutional Flows Towards Overweighting Samsung SDS in Samsung Group Context

By Sanghyun Park

  • Local institutions, notably pension funds, are increasingly investing in Samsung SDS, coinciding with the company’s more active investor engagement. This has sparked speculation about Samsung’s strategic motives.
  • Timing-Wise, as AI infra demands rise in Samsung Group, conditions for boosting SDS’s performance improve. They monitor Samsung’s moves to drive SDS’s stock upward, considering its reliance on Samsung’s revenue.
  • Local pension funds actively adopting overweight positions in Samsung SDS underscore the importance of crafting strategies tailored to overweighting SDS within the broader Samsung Group context.

Games Global IPO: Strong Profitability and Impressive Portfolios of IGaming Content

By Andrei Zakharov

  • Games Global, a promising iGaming content provider and B2B online gaming supplier, set terms for its U.S. IPO. The IPO price is expected to be between $16 and $19/share.
  • With the most recent F-1/A, the company may raise ~$114M at the high end of the range at $19/share. Zinnia Limited sells additional 8.5M shares in this offering.   
  • Games Global has created an impressive portfolios of iGaming content through a series of successful acquisitions, and I see upside potential vs. IPO price of $17.50 at the midpoint.

Bentley Systems: The Infrastructure Software Giant Poised for a Major Buyout? What Value Can It Extract? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • This is a special one-time report on Bentley Systems, an infrastructure engineering software company.
  • The company is currently exploring a sale and it presents a mixed but compelling case for potential acquisition.
  • Several factors contribute to its attractiveness, balanced by challenges that might influence a buyer’s decision.

SPS Commerce Inc.: Network Effects in Business Model & 3 Pivotal Growth Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • In the first quarter of 2024, SPS Commerce launched a strong start to the year with a 19% increase in revenue, amounting to $149.6 million, along with a corresponding growth in recurring revenue.
  • Notably, SPS Commerce capitalized on its position as a leading supplier of supply chain cloud services by intensifying investments in automation, reflecting the trend among supply chain and manufacturing leaders, 74% of whom are planning to invest in supply chain innovation and technology.
  • Baptista Research looks to evaluate the different factors that could influence the company’s price in the near future and attempts to carry out an independent valuation of the company using a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methodology.

AppFolio Inc.: Is Its Revenue Growth Sustainable? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • AppFolio, a property management software provider, showcased strong financial results for Q1 2024.
  • The company reported a significant 38% year-over-year increase in revenue, which calculated to $187 million for the quarter.
  • This substantial growth was primarily due to increases in units and customers, along with upgrades and further adoption of value-added services.

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation: Increasing Server Share

By Baptista Research

  • Lattice Semiconductor Corporation witnessed a dip in its Q1 ’24 results due to softening demand across most of its segments and end customers reducing their inventory levels.
  • Sequentially, the Industrial and Automotive segment was down by 25%, while the Communications and Computing segment declined by 7%.
  • Even Computing performance was affected by weaker demand in the Communications segment.

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Daily Brief Energy/Materials: Exxon Mobil, China Bluechemical Ltd H, Phillips 66, Lyondellbasell Indu Cl A, NOV , Olin Corp, Chevron Corp, TotalEnergies , Crown Holdings, Kumba Iron Ore and more

By | Daily Briefs, Energy & Materials Sector

In today’s briefing:

  • Exxon Mobil Corporation: The Pioneer Expansion & The Expansion of ExxonMobil’s Guyana Operations! – Major Drivers
  • China Bluechemical Ltd (3983.HK) – Fertiliser Pricing on the Up
  • Phillips 66: Potential For Expanded Flexibility With Trans Mountain Pipeline & Other Major Developments
  • LyondellBasell Industries: A Tale Of Improved Seasonal Demand and Customers’ Downtime!
  • NOV Inc.: Strong International Activity in Production and Midstream Business! – Major Drivers
  • Olin Corporation: A Story Of A Decent Economic Recovery and Demand Uptick! – Major Drivers
  • Chevron Corporation: Improving Productivity in the Permian Basin & 5 Pivotal Growth Drivers
  • TotalEnergies SE: Can They Capitalize On The LNG Market Opportunities in Asia & The US? – Major Drivers
  • Crown Holdings Inc.: Will The Management Focus on Value over Volume Bear Fruit? – Major Drivers
  • Kumba Iron Ore (KIO SJ): Net Cash Iron Ore Player With High ROCE


Exxon Mobil Corporation: The Pioneer Expansion & The Expansion of ExxonMobil’s Guyana Operations! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • ExxonMobil’s latest performance paints a promising picture, powered by strategic decisions, cost-saving measures, and a focus on long-term growth avenues.
  • In Q1 2024, ExxonMobil delivered $8.2 billion in earnings and $14.7 billion in cash flow, demonstrating ongoing efforts to enhance the company’s earnings power.
  • The company made big strides in cost savings, achieving $10.1 billion in Q1 compared to 2019, on track to reach their goal of $15 billion in savings by 2027.

China Bluechemical Ltd (3983.HK) – Fertiliser Pricing on the Up

By Rikki Malik

  • A play on higher food and energy prices going forward
  • Natural Gas moving up from multi-year lows will support fertiliser prices going forward
  • A Low valuation with a solid balance sheet lowers the risk

Phillips 66: Potential For Expanded Flexibility With Trans Mountain Pipeline & Other Major Developments

By Baptista Research

  • Phillips 66 reported its first-quarter earnings for fiscal 2024, emphasizing progress in strategic areas, despite some obstacles encountered during the quarter.
  • Mark Lashier, President and CEO, noted strong crude utilization rates during the quarter.
  • However, maintenance work limited the company’s ability to produce higher-value products, impacting the results.

LyondellBasell Industries: A Tale Of Improved Seasonal Demand and Customers’ Downtime!

By Baptista Research

  • The latest LyondellBasell earnings showcased several key trends and indicators that provide a comprehensive understanding of the company’s performance and future prospects.
  • On the positive side, LyondellBasell has made promising strides in improving safety metrics for its workers, leading to an impressive rate of just one injury per two million hours worked.
  • The operational excellence shown by this metric, as well as continued enhancements to LyondellBasell’s core business, has the potential to lead to consistent long-term growth.

NOV Inc.: Strong International Activity in Production and Midstream Business! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • NOV Inc.’s Q1 2024 financial results showed that revenues reached $2.16 billion, a 10% increase compared to Q1 2023, despite a decline in earnings per share from the previous year.
  • NOV reported a net income of $119 million or $0.30 per fully diluted share.
  • The reduced earnings per share were attributed to a higher effective tax rate and reduced income from the company’s joint venture.

Olin Corporation: A Story Of A Decent Economic Recovery and Demand Uptick! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Olin Corporation’s Q1 2024 earnings indicated a positive long-term outlook for the company, though there are some elements that investors should monitor.
  • The company is currently demonstrating an investment-grade balance sheet alongside strong performance across its portfolio.
  • CEO Kenneth Lane emphasized his commitment to Olin’s operating model and value-focused commercial approach.

Chevron Corporation: Improving Productivity in the Permian Basin & 5 Pivotal Growth Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Chevron Corporation recorded a strong first quarter of 2024, delivering its ninth successive quarter with adjusted earnings exceeding $5 billion and a return of capital employed (ROCE) above 12%.
  • The company also posted a more than 10% growth in production compared to the same quarter last year.
  • Chevron returned $6 billion in cash to shareholders in Q1 2024, marking its eighth consecutive quarter of returning over $5 billion.

TotalEnergies SE: Can They Capitalize On The LNG Market Opportunities in Asia & The US? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • TotalEnergies, in its Q1 2024, demonstrated firm progress in implementing its two-pillar strategy.
  • First, oil and gas production, most notably in Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), aims to responsibly address rising demand through ongoing development.
  • Second, investments in integrated power for the future hold the promise of achieving net cash positive status by 2028.

Crown Holdings Inc.: Will The Management Focus on Value over Volume Bear Fruit? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Crown Holdings, known for its metal packaging technology and serving a wide array of sectors, including beverage packaging, food, personal care and household products, provided a robust first quarter performance of 2024 that showcased several positives as well as negatives for the company.
  • As per the latest earnings call transcript, the company announced earnings per diluted share of $0.56, a decrease from the prior year quarter when it was $0.85.
  • The adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.02, lower than the $1.20 in the last year’s quarter.

Kumba Iron Ore (KIO SJ): Net Cash Iron Ore Player With High ROCE

By Sameer Taneja

  • Kumba Iron Ore (KIO SJ) is a net cash iron ore pure play on high-grade lump iron ore with a high ROCE of>30%. 
  • The stock trades at 6.4x PE/3.8x EV-EBITDA FY24e and a >9% dividend yield, assuming it meets its base dividend commitment of 15.9 bn ZAR. 
  • The key risks are the finite mine life of 15 years, which the company will look to extend with capital commitment, and country risk premia as currency depreciation eats returns.

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Daily Brief Industrials: Alps Logistics, Nippon Yusen Kk, HD Hyundai Marine Solution , Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Innospace, Qantm Intellectual Property, Roper Technologies, Mastech Digital , Jetblue Airways and more

By | Daily Briefs, Industrials

In today’s briefing:

  • KKR Deal for Alps Logistics (9055) Appears Imminent
  • Nippon Yusen (9101) – Another Big Buyback Announced, But Details Matter
  • HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS): Nearing KOSPI200 Index Inclusion in June
  • Mitsubishi Heavy (7011) | Flying High
  • Innospace IPO Preview
  • Qantm IP (QIP AU): IPH Enters the Fray with a Competing Offer
  • QANTM (QIP AU): IPH Wades In As Adamantem Tarries
  • Roper Technologies Inc.: Transition to Cloud and SaaS-based Offerings! – Major Drivers
  • MHH: Mastech Sees Demand Improvement as Customers Loosen Their Purse Strings
  • Jetblue Airways Corp (JBLU) – Wednesday, Feb 7, 2024


KKR Deal for Alps Logistics (9055) Appears Imminent

By Travis Lundy

  • There was a news article I missed in late February saying Alps Alpine (6770 JP), parent of Alps Logistics (9055 JP) was in the process of selling the logistics unit.
  • A deal made sense for a strategic given the upcoming “2024 Problem”. Pre-close, headlines blared, the stock popped 12%, now we’re at double the end-February price.
  • Late in the evening,Alps Logistics said it had received a bid from Logisteed but nothing had been decided. This morning we have a few more details, but nothing concrete

Nippon Yusen (9101) – Another Big Buyback Announced, But Details Matter

By Travis Lundy

  • Last May, Nippon Yusen Kk (9101 JP) announced buybacks of ¥200bn over 2 years. In August, they changed it to say  ¥200bn in the next nine months.
  • That helped support the stock through early March. It was big, and a decent percentage of ADV. Today, they announced earnings and guidance and another ¥100bn buyback through April 2025.
  • Earnings were OK. Guidance is a little low vs the Street. The stock popped 5% from where it was trading. Lower impact vs 2023. More cross-holder overhang consideration. 

HD Hyundai Marine Solution (443060 KS): Nearing KOSPI200 Index Inclusion in June

By Brian Freitas


Mitsubishi Heavy (7011) | Flying High

By Mark Chadwick

  • MHI’s stock fell 7% following the announcement of results. Guidance for FY3/25 missed analyst expectations
  • Even so, MHI remains a key beneficiary of the global shift to clean energy and national policies aimed at bolstering national security 
  • We remain bullish. The stock has performed well this year and but 13x EV/EBIT seems reasonable given the structural drivers

Innospace IPO Preview

By Douglas Kim

  • Innospace is getting ready to complete its IPO in June 2024. According to bankers’ valuation, the implied market cap of Innospace is from 347 billion won to 434 billion won.
  • Innospace engages in the satellite launch vehicle production and launch service business.
  • The company estimates its sales to increase from 0.2 billion won in 2023 to 2.0 billion won in 2024, 47.8 billion won in 2025, and 97.2 billion won in 2026.

Qantm IP (QIP AU): IPH Enters the Fray with a Competing Offer

By Arun George

  • Qantm Intellectual Property (QIP AU)‘s non-binding proposal from IPH Ltd (IPH AU) is at A$0.11 cash + 0.291 IPH shares per QIP share, a 4.5% premium to Adamantem’s A$1.817 offer.
  • Since announcing the Adamantem non-binding proposal on 14 March, the IPH offer has been 4.3% higher than the Adamantem offer on average. 
  • The IPH proposal also requires approval from the ACCC and NZCC. The presence of two bidders increases the probability of a binding proposal (with a bump). 

QANTM (QIP AU): IPH Wades In As Adamantem Tarries

By David Blennerhassett

  • It always seemed like a question of when, not if, IPH (IPH AU) would make an Offer for QANTM (QIP AU). IPH previously approached QANTM in 2018, but was spurned.
  • Capitalising on ongoing extensions to Adamantem’s exclusivity, as it relates to its all-cash A$1.817/share Offer by way of a Scheme, IPH has now tabled an all-scrip, plus A$0.11/share dividend NBIO.
  • IPH’s implied Scheme value of A$1.90/share is a premium to Adamantem’s proposal. The catch: apart from terms being indicative, IPH’s Offer requires ACCC and NZCC clearance.

Roper Technologies Inc.: Transition to Cloud and SaaS-based Offerings! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Roper Technologies had a robust start to the year, with double-digit growth in revenue, EBITDA, adjusted DEPS, and free cash flow noted for Q1, which has spurred an increased full-year outlook.
  • The Q1 report highlighted the completion of another milestone for the company – the acquisition of Procare Solutions, a provider of software and integrated payments for the early childhood education market.
  • The total revenue and organic revenue increased by 14% and 8% respectively while EBITDA saw a 16% growth, with EBITDA margin expanding by 60 basis points to 40.2%.

MHH: Mastech Sees Demand Improvement as Customers Loosen Their Purse Strings

By Zacks Small Cap Research

  • Mastech Digital, based outside Pittsburgh, PA is an IT staffing business with a data and analytics, consulting, and project management service serving blue-chip customers in the US. Both businesses have been affected by the rapid decline in the economy and IT hiring as customers pull back.
  • The company trades well below its peers and we expect stock price appreciation when it returns to growth aided by stock buybacks.
  • It also plans to grow through acquisition.

Jetblue Airways Corp (JBLU) – Wednesday, Feb 7, 2024

By Value Investors Club

  • JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU) identified as an attractive short opportunity due to unsustainable competitive and financial position
  • Struggling as sub-scale industry participant with shrinking margins, issues with GTF engines, and tough upcoming comps
  • Predicted restructuring within next 2-4 years as JBLU faces challenges in overcoming fundamental issues and high debt levels

This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only. This article was originally published 3 months ago on Value Investors Club.


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The Smartkarma Preview Pass is your entry to the Independent Investment Research Network

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