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Daily Briefs

Daily Brief Japan: Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable, Japan Pure Chemical and more

By | Daily Briefs, Japan

In today’s briefing:

  • Tatsuta Electric (5809 JP): Eneos Returns with a Token Bump to JPY780
  • Japan Pure Chemical (4973 JP): Q1 FY03/25 flash update


Tatsuta Electric (5809 JP): Eneos Returns with a Token Bump to JPY780

By Arun George

  • ENEOS Holdings (5020 JP) has increased the Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable (5809 JP) tender offer price by 8.3% to JPY780 and extended the offer period to 19 August.
  • Eneos tried to get the required acceptances by refusing to bump and subsequently extending the offer period. The tactics failed as minorities required a bump due to the market re-rating. 
  • While the revised offer remains light, the token bump and deal fatigue should suffice to nudge the marginal vote to accept. At the last close, the gross/annualised spread was 5.0%/85.8%.

Japan Pure Chemical (4973 JP): Q1 FY03/25 flash update

By Shared Research

  • Revenue increased to JPY3.1bn (+8.3% YoY), with operating profit at JPY149mn (+173.2% YoY) and net income at JPY271mn (+127.3% YoY).
  • Revenue from plating chemicals for PCBs and semiconductor substrates was JPY1.5bn (+75.1% YoY), with stable sales for generative AI.
  • Revenue from plating chemicals for connectors was JPY444mn (-27.7% YoY), while revenue for lead frames was JPY1.1bn (-12.7% YoY).

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Most Read: Korea Stock Exchange Kospi Index, Sprott Physical Uranium Trust, Timee Inc, Doosan Bobcat Inc, Amman Mineral Internasional, Amorepacific Corp, Zhihu, Tencent, Jeisys Medical and more

By | Daily Briefs, Most Read

In today’s briefing:

  • Overall Assessment of the Value-Up Policy-Related Aspects of the Tax Reform Plan Released Today
  • Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Index Rebalance: Two Adds & US$500m Trade
  • Timee IPO Trading – Garnered a Strong Demand, Should Pop
  • Clarifications Regarding the FSS’s Unexpected Revision Request for the Doosan Mergers
  • IDX30/​​LQ45/IDX80 Index Rebalance: Constituent, Float & Capping Changes
  • StubWorld’s: Amorepacific’s NAV Discount Plumbs New Multi-Year Low
  • Zhihu (2390 HK/ZH US)’s Cheeky Buyback
  • Tencent/Netease: Zero for Major Names; Industry Revenue Growth Flattish in First Half
  • Jeisys Medical (287410 KS): Archimed Reloads Delisting Offer
  • Doosan Bobcat Employees Involved In Major Breach of Duty + Doosan Group Pushes Ahead With Merger


Overall Assessment of the Value-Up Policy-Related Aspects of the Tax Reform Plan Released Today

By Sanghyun Park

  • The highest dividend tax rate drops from 49.5% to 25%, leading the local capital market to view the reform as more shareholder-focused than company-focused.
  • The top inheritance tax rate drops from the 60% range to 40%, a meaningful reduction for conglomerates like Hyundai and Hanwha, though below initial expectations.
  • Tax incentives in the reform are less aggressive than expected, with modest corporate and inheritance tax cuts. However, this compromise increases the likelihood of its passage, boosting short-term market expectations.

Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Index Rebalance: Two Adds & US$500m Trade

By Brian Freitas

  • Solactive has announced the constituent changes for the Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Index with implementation at the close on 31 July.
  • Oklo Inc (OKLO US) and Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp (WUC CN) will be added to the index. Estimated one-way turnover is 7.9% resulting in a round-trip trade of US$486m.
  • There are only 4 trading days to implementation of the changes and we’d watch out for big moves on stocks that have more than 2x ADV to trade.

Timee IPO Trading – Garnered a Strong Demand, Should Pop

By Clarence Chu

  • Timee Inc (215A JP) raised US$300m in its Japan IPO. The IPO had been a 100% secondary selldown by existing shareholders.
  • Timee operates an on-demand staffing platform that connects part-time jobseekers with businesses in Japan.
  • We have looked at the company’s past performance in our previous notes. In this note, we talk about the trading dynamics.

Clarifications Regarding the FSS’s Unexpected Revision Request for the Doosan Mergers

By Sanghyun Park

  • The FSS requested Doosan Robotics to revise the prospectuses for both the Share Swap with Doosan Bobcat and Merger with Doosan Enerbility.
  • Although the FSS’s wording seems aggressive, it does not request the cancellation. Authorities are displeased but lack political momentum to derail Doosan’s restructuring.
  • The FSS asks Doosan to clarify merger synergies, warn of Robotics’ overvalued stock price and potential decline, and highlight the collaborative robot market’s growth risks.

IDX30/​​LQ45/IDX80 Index Rebalance: Constituent, Float & Capping Changes

By Brian Freitas


StubWorld’s: Amorepacific’s NAV Discount Plumbs New Multi-Year Low

By David Blennerhassett

  • A double dose of StubWorld this week: both the implied stub for Amorepacific Group (002790 KS) and the simple ratio (Group/Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS)) are around lifetime low levels.
  • Preceding my comments on Amorepacific are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.
  • These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation >20%.

Zhihu (2390 HK/ZH US)’s Cheeky Buyback

By David Blennerhassett

  • Back on the 19th July, online Q&A play Zhihu (2390 HK/ZH US) announced the buyback of 46.92mn ordinary A shares (15.9% of shares out) at HK$9.11/share (US$3.50/ADS). 
  • Assuming the buyback is fully taken up, chairman Yuan Zhou’s stake will increase to 44.4% from 42.9% currently (held via A shares and the weighted-voting B shares). 
  • The key condition is a simple majority vote from independent shareholders. Zhihu is sitting on  net cash of US$764mn. A significantly larger buyback, or higher price, could have been initiated. 

Tencent/Netease: Zero for Major Names; Industry Revenue Growth Flattish in First Half

By Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

  • China announced game approval for the June batch. The number of games approved remained at a higher level than 2023.
  • The pace of China game approval appears to have accelerated to the same level as pre-tightening. Of companies that we are monitoring, none got any approval.
  • China’s CADPA published a semi-annual report pointing to flattish growth of gaming revenue in the first half. 

Jeisys Medical (287410 KS): Archimed Reloads Delisting Offer

By David Blennerhassett

  • Last month, aesthetic laser maker Jeisys Medical (287410 KS) announced French PE outfit Archimed SAS was seeking to delist the company.
  • Via a Tender Offer, Archimed sought to acquire 72% of Jeisys at ₩13,000. Archimed also inked agreements with founders/directors for 26.44%, taking its possible % holding to 98.44%.
  • The Tender Offer closed on the 22nd July with Archimed holding 81.39% (including the aforementioned agreements). Archimed has now reloaded, on the same terms. There is no minimum acceptance condition. 

Doosan Bobcat Employees Involved In Major Breach of Duty + Doosan Group Pushes Ahead With Merger

By Douglas Kim

  • On 26 July, it was reported in the local media that there has been a major breach of duty by nearly 40 current/former employees at Doosan Bobcat.
  • The fact that this material breach of duty was not revealed prior to the merger announcement adds to the argument that this merger/split/delisting should be either cancelled or redone. 
  • We remain negative on all major companies involved in this deal including Doosan Bobcat and Doosan Robotics. The breach of duty at Doosan Bobcat adds to the fire. 

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Daily Brief Industrials: Doosan Bobcat Inc, Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable, AST SpaceMobile Inc, United Airlines Holdings, Rexel SA, Textron Inc and more

By | Daily Briefs, Industrials

In today’s briefing:

  • Doosan Bobcat Employees Involved In Major Breach of Duty + Doosan Group Pushes Ahead With Merger
  • Tatsuta Electric (5809 JP): Eneos Returns with a Token Bump to JPY780
  • AST SpaceMobile’s 25% Jump: A Satellite Breakthrough Investors Can’t Ignore!
  • United Airlines Holdings: What Is Their Strategic Response To Market Competitiveness? – Major Drivers
  • Rexel – ESG Report – Lucror Analytics
  • Textron Inc.: Are The Strong Aviation Margins Here To Stay? – Major Drivers


Doosan Bobcat Employees Involved In Major Breach of Duty + Doosan Group Pushes Ahead With Merger

By Douglas Kim

  • On 26 July, it was reported in the local media that there has been a major breach of duty by nearly 40 current/former employees at Doosan Bobcat.
  • The fact that this material breach of duty was not revealed prior to the merger announcement adds to the argument that this merger/split/delisting should be either cancelled or redone. 
  • We remain negative on all major companies involved in this deal including Doosan Bobcat and Doosan Robotics. The breach of duty at Doosan Bobcat adds to the fire. 

Tatsuta Electric (5809 JP): Eneos Returns with a Token Bump to JPY780

By Arun George

  • ENEOS Holdings (5020 JP) has increased the Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable (5809 JP) tender offer price by 8.3% to JPY780 and extended the offer period to 19 August.
  • Eneos tried to get the required acceptances by refusing to bump and subsequently extending the offer period. The tactics failed as minorities required a bump due to the market re-rating. 
  • While the revised offer remains light, the token bump and deal fatigue should suffice to nudge the marginal vote to accept. At the last close, the gross/annualised spread was 5.0%/85.8%.

AST SpaceMobile’s 25% Jump: A Satellite Breakthrough Investors Can’t Ignore!

By Baptista Research

  • AST SpaceMobile has recently made headlines with a significant leap in its ambitious mission to build the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network.
  • The company has announced the successful completion and upcoming shipment of its first five commercial satellites, marking a pivotal milestone that has already caused its stock to surge by nearly 25%.
  • These satellites, known as Bluebirds, are set to provide unprecedented global connectivity directly to standard mobile devices, bridging the digital divide and offering broadband services in previously unreachable areas.

United Airlines Holdings: What Is Their Strategic Response To Market Competitiveness? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • The United Airlines Holdings second quarter 2024 earnings emphasized its strategic navigation through the industry’s capacity and demand fluctuations, where it maintained a leading position thanks to optimized operational tactics and strategic foresight.
  • Revenues increased by 5.7% year-over-year, totaling $15 billion, albeit with Total Revenue per Available Seat Mile (TRASM) decreasing by 2.4% due to a significant 8.3% increase in capacity.
  • This disparity between revenue growth and capacity magnification underscores the industry challenge of matching supply with demand efficiently.

Rexel – ESG Report – Lucror Analytics

By Leonard Law, CFA

Lucror Analytics’ ESG Scores are based on a 3-tiered scale and are adjusted for Controversies (if applicable).
We assess Rexel’s ESG as “Strong”, in line with its Social and Governance scores, while the Environmental score is “Adequate”. Controversies are “Immaterial” and Disclosure is “Strong”. 


Textron Inc.: Are The Strong Aviation Margins Here To Stay? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Textron Inc., a global aerospace and defense company, reported revenues of $3.5 billion in Q2 2024, an increase from $3.4 billion in the second quarter of last year.
  • The company also completed the acquisition of Amazilia Aerospace, a digital flight controls and flight guidance systems firm for manned and unmanned aircraft, which aligns with Textron’s strategic goals and likely to bolster its capabilities.
  • The positive performance was driven by the Aviation segment which realized higher revenues of $1.5 billion with a profit of $195 million, up $24 million from the same quarter in the previous year.

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Daily Brief Energy/Materials: BP PLC, Steel Dynamics, Kinder Morgan, Alcoa , Koninklijke Vopak Nv, Halliburton Co, Japan Pure Chemical, Ppg Industries and more

By | Daily Briefs, Energy & Materials Sector

In today’s briefing:

  • [Earnings Preview] BP’s Woes Continue: Weak Refining Margins to Squeeze Earnings
  • Steel Dynamics Inc.: A Dive Into Market Dynamics and Policy Tailwinds & Other Major Drivers
  • Kinder Morgan: How Are They Executing The Strategic Asset Optimization in the Permian Basin? – Major Drivers
  • Alcoa Corporation: What Is The Impact Of Increasing Alumina and Aluminum Prices? – Major Drivers
  • STOXX 600: First September Forecasts for Europe and Eurozone
  • Halliburton Company: Is Its International Market Growth Enough To Warrant A ‘Buy’ Rating? – Major Drivers
  • Japan Pure Chemical (4973 JP): Q1 FY03/25 flash update
  • PPG Industries: How Are Their Portfolio Changes Impacting Profitability and Growth? – Major Drivers


[Earnings Preview] BP’s Woes Continue: Weak Refining Margins to Squeeze Earnings

By Suhas Reddy

  • BP expects lower realised refining margins and weak oil trading to hurt earnings, with a refining margin contraction to reduce earnings by USD 500-700 million.
  • The company anticipates impairments ranging from USD 1-2 billion in Q2, including charges related to the ongoing review of its Gelsenkirchen refinery in Germany.
  • BP projects its upstream production to remain broadly flat sequentially, with stable oil output and a slight decrease in gas and low-carbon energy production.

Steel Dynamics Inc.: A Dive Into Market Dynamics and Policy Tailwinds & Other Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Steel Dynamics achieved notable results in the second quarter of 2024, with some mixed performances across different operational aspects.
  • The company saw total revenues of $4.6 billion, a slight decline from the previous quarter, primarily attributed to a fall in steel prices which more than offset the stable shipment volumes.
  • Correspondingly, there was a contraction in the steel metal spread which resulted in a 26% reduction in operating income, totaling $559 million, compared to the previous quarter.

Kinder Morgan: How Are They Executing The Strategic Asset Optimization in the Permian Basin? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Kinder Morgan Inc. recently discussed various insights and forecasts regarding its business and the broader market context in which it operates.
  • The company provided a detailed analysis of trends and operational activities, revealing both positive developments and challenges.
  • This summary outlines the central points that might influence investment decisions related to Kinder Morgan.

Alcoa Corporation: What Is The Impact Of Increasing Alumina and Aluminum Prices? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Alcoa’s revenue increased sequentially to $2.9 billion, driven by higher alumina and aluminum prices.
  • In the Alumina segment, third-party revenue saw a 5% rise due to increased average realized prices, despite lower shipments.
  • The Aluminum segment reported a 16% increase in third-party revenue, attributed to higher prices and increased shipments.

STOXX 600: First September Forecasts for Europe and Eurozone

By Dimitris Ioannidis


Halliburton Company: Is Its International Market Growth Enough To Warrant A ‘Buy’ Rating? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Halliburton Company reported a total revenue of $5.8 billion for the second quarter, maintaining flat sequential growth.
  • The company’s operating margin stood at 18%, representing a sequential increase of 69 basis points.
  • International revenue reached $3.4 billion, marking an 8% year-over-year growth, primarily driven by a strong performance in Latin America, which saw a 10% increase.

Japan Pure Chemical (4973 JP): Q1 FY03/25 flash update

By Shared Research

  • Revenue increased to JPY3.1bn (+8.3% YoY), with operating profit at JPY149mn (+173.2% YoY) and net income at JPY271mn (+127.3% YoY).
  • Revenue from plating chemicals for PCBs and semiconductor substrates was JPY1.5bn (+75.1% YoY), with stable sales for generative AI.
  • Revenue from plating chemicals for connectors was JPY444mn (-27.7% YoY), while revenue for lead frames was JPY1.1bn (-12.7% YoY).

PPG Industries: How Are Their Portfolio Changes Impacting Profitability and Growth? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • PPG Industries, a global supplier of paints, coatings, and specialty materials, reported their second quarter 2024 financial results highlighting an all-time record earning per share (EPS) of $2.50 that signified an 11% year-over-year growth.
  • Despite increasingly challenging macroeconomic conditions, the company posted sales of $4.8 billion, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year segment margin improvement.
  • However, their aggregate volumes in the quarter remained flat year-over-year, falling below their initial expectations due to weak demand in Europe and global automobile manufacturing.

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Daily Brief TMT/Internet: Zhihu, Tencent, Xiaomi Corp, Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC), Kanzhun , LG Display, ASML Holding NV, Snap , Sap Se Sponsored Adr, Nokia Oyj and more

By | Daily Briefs, TMT/Internet

In today’s briefing:

  • Zhihu (2390 HK/ZH US)’s Cheeky Buyback
  • Tencent/Netease: Zero for Major Names; Industry Revenue Growth Flattish in First Half
  • Consumer Tales #July21-26:Apple Falls from Top 5 in China, Xiaomi Tops India Smartphones
  • Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC): How Will They Deal With The Strained Production Capacity & Geopolitical Risks & Regulatory Pressures? – Major Drivers
  • [Kanzhun (BZ US, BUY, TP US$19) TP Change]: Impacted by Poor Macro but Still on Top of Competition
  • Tech Supply Chain Tracker (27-Jul-2024): ST cuts 2024 outlook as demand slows.
  • ASML Holding N.V.: What Is The Impact Of Impact of the Chips Act and Global Expansion? – Major Drivers
  • Snap-on Incorporated: How They Are Grappling With Production Capacity and Product Availability! – Major Drivers
  • SAP SE: Strengthening Partnership with IBM for Generative AI and Cloud Solutions & Other Major Drivers
  • Nokia Corporation (NOK): The Story Of The Expansion Into The 5G Core Network Market! – Major Drivers


Zhihu (2390 HK/ZH US)’s Cheeky Buyback

By David Blennerhassett

  • Back on the 19th July, online Q&A play Zhihu (2390 HK/ZH US) announced the buyback of 46.92mn ordinary A shares (15.9% of shares out) at HK$9.11/share (US$3.50/ADS). 
  • Assuming the buyback is fully taken up, chairman Yuan Zhou’s stake will increase to 44.4% from 42.9% currently (held via A shares and the weighted-voting B shares). 
  • The key condition is a simple majority vote from independent shareholders. Zhihu is sitting on  net cash of US$764mn. A significantly larger buyback, or higher price, could have been initiated. 

Tencent/Netease: Zero for Major Names; Industry Revenue Growth Flattish in First Half

By Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

  • China announced game approval for the June batch. The number of games approved remained at a higher level than 2023.
  • The pace of China game approval appears to have accelerated to the same level as pre-tightening. Of companies that we are monitoring, none got any approval.
  • China’s CADPA published a semi-annual report pointing to flattish growth of gaming revenue in the first half. 

Consumer Tales #July21-26:Apple Falls from Top 5 in China, Xiaomi Tops India Smartphones

By Devi Subhakesan

  • Welcome to Consumer Tales & Trends, your weekly roundup of the latest corporate developments, investment reports and sector events in the consumer industry.
  • An interesting comparison between China and India smart phone markets in 2Q 2024 – highlighting differences in market size and the dominance of leading players.
  • Xiaomi Corp(1810 HK)  made a strong come back in 2Q24 in terms of sales in both the markets. In China, it saw a 17% year-on-year increase, shipping 10 million units.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC): How Will They Deal With The Strained Production Capacity & Geopolitical Risks & Regulatory Pressures? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) second quarter 2024 results reveal a mixed picture of advances and challenges.
  • The revenue for the quarter was notably strong, increasing by 13.6% sequentially in NT or 10.3% in U.S. dollars.
  • This substantial growth was fueled by robust demand for the cutting-edge 3- and 5- nanometer technologies, although somewhat offset by smartphone seasonality.

[Kanzhun (BZ US, BUY, TP US$19) TP Change]: Impacted by Poor Macro but Still on Top of Competition

By Eric Wen

  • Due to weakening hiring demand from both manufacturing and service, we expect BZ’s cash billing to decline 5% QoQ in 2Q24, 9% below consensus. 
  • We believe BZ’s user matrices still growing and leading. The weakness is mainly attributable to the employer/hiring side;
  • We cut TP by US$3 to US$19/ADS while keep the BUY rating.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (27-Jul-2024): ST cuts 2024 outlook as demand slows.

By Tech Supply Chain Tracker

  • ST reduces 2024 outlook amid industrial and automotive slowdown, impacting company’s future projections.
  • VCs discuss Taiwan startups in AI industry, highlighting challenge of staying competitive in fast-evolving sector.
  • Global regulators collaborate to address market dominance of AI giants, emphasizing need for fair competition and consumer protection.

ASML Holding N.V.: What Is The Impact Of Impact of the Chips Act and Global Expansion? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • ASML announced its second quarter 2024 financial results, revealing data that both supports and raises concerns about its short-term performance and long-term strategy.
  • The company posted total net sales of EUR 6.2 billion, slightly ahead of its guided figures, with net system sales contributing EUR 4.8 billion.
  • The net system sales were driven by 54% Logic and 46% Memory, with Installed Base Management sales slightly higher than expected at EUR 1.48 billion.

Snap-on Incorporated: How They Are Grappling With Production Capacity and Product Availability! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Snap-on Inc., known for manufacturing tools and equipment for professional use, delivered mixed results for its second quarter of 2024.
  • The Company experienced a slight decline in gross sales of 1.1% organically, going from $1,191.3 million the previous year to $1,179.4 million.
  • The operating income (OI) margin, though, rose to 23.8% from last year’s figures.

SAP SE: Strengthening Partnership with IBM for Generative AI and Cloud Solutions & Other Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • SAP SE’s Q2 2024 results show continued growth momentum despite the volatility in the software industry.
  • More customers are moving to the cloud, and the company’s portfolio is becoming increasingly attractive, owing to its Business AI capabilities.
  • Their Q2 performance was marked by substantial increases in profitability and the diligent execution of their transformation program.

Nokia Corporation (NOK): The Story Of The Expansion Into The 5G Core Network Market! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Nokia Corporation’s engagement in the second quarter of 2024 revolved around significant developments amid a transitory, challenging market environment.
  • The company announced two crucial transactions: the proposed acquisition of Infinera, a North American optical networking entity, and Nokia’s plan to divest its submarine networks business to the French State.
  • The acquisition of Infinera is expected to boost Nokia’s Optical Networks business by quickening innovation for customers and strengthening Nokia’s position in North America.

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Daily Brief Industrials: Doosan Bobcat Inc, Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable, AST SpaceMobile Inc, United Airlines Holdings, Rexel SA, Textron Inc and more

By | Daily Briefs, Industrials

In today’s briefing:

  • Doosan Bobcat Employees Involved In Major Breach of Duty + Doosan Group Pushes Ahead With Merger
  • Tatsuta Electric (5809 JP): Eneos Returns with a Token Bump to JPY780
  • AST SpaceMobile’s 25% Jump: A Satellite Breakthrough Investors Can’t Ignore!
  • United Airlines Holdings: What Is Their Strategic Response To Market Competitiveness? – Major Drivers
  • Rexel – ESG Report – Lucror Analytics
  • Textron Inc.: Are The Strong Aviation Margins Here To Stay? – Major Drivers


Doosan Bobcat Employees Involved In Major Breach of Duty + Doosan Group Pushes Ahead With Merger

By Douglas Kim

  • On 26 July, it was reported in the local media that there has been a major breach of duty by nearly 40 current/former employees at Doosan Bobcat.
  • The fact that this material breach of duty was not revealed prior to the merger announcement adds to the argument that this merger/split/delisting should be either cancelled or redone. 
  • We remain negative on all major companies involved in this deal including Doosan Bobcat and Doosan Robotics. The breach of duty at Doosan Bobcat adds to the fire. 

Tatsuta Electric (5809 JP): Eneos Returns with a Token Bump to JPY780

By Arun George

  • ENEOS Holdings (5020 JP) has increased the Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable (5809 JP) tender offer price by 8.3% to JPY780 and extended the offer period to 19 August.
  • Eneos tried to get the required acceptances by refusing to bump and subsequently extending the offer period. The tactics failed as minorities required a bump due to the market re-rating. 
  • While the revised offer remains light, the token bump and deal fatigue should suffice to nudge the marginal vote to accept. At the last close, the gross/annualised spread was 5.0%/85.8%.

AST SpaceMobile’s 25% Jump: A Satellite Breakthrough Investors Can’t Ignore!

By Baptista Research

  • AST SpaceMobile has recently made headlines with a significant leap in its ambitious mission to build the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network.
  • The company has announced the successful completion and upcoming shipment of its first five commercial satellites, marking a pivotal milestone that has already caused its stock to surge by nearly 25%.
  • These satellites, known as Bluebirds, are set to provide unprecedented global connectivity directly to standard mobile devices, bridging the digital divide and offering broadband services in previously unreachable areas.

United Airlines Holdings: What Is Their Strategic Response To Market Competitiveness? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • The United Airlines Holdings second quarter 2024 earnings emphasized its strategic navigation through the industry’s capacity and demand fluctuations, where it maintained a leading position thanks to optimized operational tactics and strategic foresight.
  • Revenues increased by 5.7% year-over-year, totaling $15 billion, albeit with Total Revenue per Available Seat Mile (TRASM) decreasing by 2.4% due to a significant 8.3% increase in capacity.
  • This disparity between revenue growth and capacity magnification underscores the industry challenge of matching supply with demand efficiently.

Rexel – ESG Report – Lucror Analytics

By Leonard Law, CFA

Lucror Analytics’ ESG Scores are based on a 3-tiered scale and are adjusted for Controversies (if applicable).
We assess Rexel’s ESG as “Strong”, in line with its Social and Governance scores, while the Environmental score is “Adequate”. Controversies are “Immaterial” and Disclosure is “Strong”. 


Textron Inc.: Are The Strong Aviation Margins Here To Stay? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Textron Inc., a global aerospace and defense company, reported revenues of $3.5 billion in Q2 2024, an increase from $3.4 billion in the second quarter of last year.
  • The company also completed the acquisition of Amazilia Aerospace, a digital flight controls and flight guidance systems firm for manned and unmanned aircraft, which aligns with Textron’s strategic goals and likely to bolster its capabilities.
  • The positive performance was driven by the Aviation segment which realized higher revenues of $1.5 billion with a profit of $195 million, up $24 million from the same quarter in the previous year.

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Daily Brief Consumer: Amorepacific Corp, Smoore International Holdings, Meituan, Netflix Inc, NIFTY Index, Omnicom Group, Mattel Inc, Betterware de Mexico Sab de CV, Dr Horton Inc, Domino’s Pizza and more

By | Consumer, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • StubWorld’s: Amorepacific’s NAV Discount Plumbs New Multi-Year Low
  • The Heat Is On: News Flow and Sentiment in CHINA / HONG KONG (July 26)
  • [Meituan (3690 HK, BUY, TP HK$160) TP Change]: Resilient Catering & Eased Competition Support Growth
  • Netflix Inc.: Expanding Content Library & Global Reach For Continued Global Dominance! – Major Drivers
  • EQD | WHAT IF The NIFTY Starts to Pullback This Week?
  • Omnicom Group: A Tale Of Digital Transformation and Technology Integration! – Major Drivers
  • Mattel Inc’s Possible Acquisition By LVMH Backed L Catterton – What Is The Expected Valuation & The Deal Rationale?
  • BWMX: 2Q Review: Managing Into the Positives; Reiterate Buy, $22.50 PT
  • D.R. Horton Inc.: Efficient Land Development Strategy & Other Major Drivers
  • Domino’s Pizza Inc.: Is The Efficient Store Splitting Strategy Paying Off? – Major Drivers


StubWorld’s: Amorepacific’s NAV Discount Plumbs New Multi-Year Low

By David Blennerhassett

  • A double dose of StubWorld this week: both the implied stub for Amorepacific Group (002790 KS) and the simple ratio (Group/Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS)) are around lifetime low levels.
  • Preceding my comments on Amorepacific are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.
  • These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation >20%.

The Heat Is On: News Flow and Sentiment in CHINA / HONG KONG (July 26)

By David Mudd


[Meituan (3690 HK, BUY, TP HK$160) TP Change]: Resilient Catering & Eased Competition Support Growth

By Ying Pan

  • We expect Meituan’s C2Q24 rev. and non-IFRS NI to be 0.7% and 12.3% higher than cons, driven by resilient catering demand and eased competition.
  • We expect Meituan in-store OPM improve to 33%/35% in 2Q24/2H24 supported by increasing commission rate and cutting BD cost.
  • We maintain the stock as BUY rating and raise TP by HK$4 to HK$160/share to factor in the better profitability.

Netflix Inc.: Expanding Content Library & Global Reach For Continued Global Dominance! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Netflix reported its financial performance for the second quarter, highlighting key metrics that provide insights into its current standing and future direction.
  • The company reported earnings per share of $4.88, exceeding Wall Street’s expectation of $4.74.
  • Revenue for the quarter stood at $9.56 billion, slightly above the anticipated $9.53 billion.

EQD | WHAT IF The NIFTY Starts to Pullback This Week?

By Nico Rosti

  • The NIFTY Index defied gravity and kept rallying higher for the past 8 weeks. According to our models it’s massively OVERBOUGHT and has been so for a while.
  • While many other Asian markets have pulled back decisively, the NIFTY is just going higher and higher.
  • Assuming it has its own uncorrelated drivers, where would it be a BUY again, if it pulls back this coming week? Let’s discuss this in this WEEKLY insight.

Omnicom Group: A Tale Of Digital Transformation and Technology Integration! – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Omnicom recently presented its results for the second quarter of 2024, highlighting a mix of positive dynamics coupled with the challenges inherent in a complex operational landscape.
  • One notable strength in the results is the recorded 5.2% organic growth, spearheaded by a formidable 6.3% growth in the U.S. market.
  • This growth was primarily driven by robust performances in advertising, media, and experiential disciplines.

Mattel Inc’s Possible Acquisition By LVMH Backed L Catterton – What Is The Expected Valuation & The Deal Rationale?

By Baptista Research

  • Mattel, Inc. experienced a significant boost in its stock price after news surfaced that the private equity firm L Catterton had made a takeover bid for the toy manufacturing giant.
  • This development has attracted the attention of investors and fueled discussions about potential changes in the toy industry’s landscape, especially in relation to its long-time rival, Hasbro.
  • Let’s delve into Mattel’s business operations and explore the potential valuation it could achieve through this deal.

BWMX: 2Q Review: Managing Into the Positives; Reiterate Buy, $22.50 PT

By Small Cap Consumer Research

  • We are reiterating our Buy rating and $22.50 price target and slightly raising our projections after Betterware registered below consensus 2Q24 results, but reiterated their 2024 guidance.
  • Further, while we view the 2Q miss as driven by product shortages and shipping issues which are, in the near-term, somewhat out of management’s control, we believe there were more than enough key positives, from continued turn in orders and top line at Betterware Mexico, further double-digit gains at JAFRA Mexico, earlier than expected turn at JAFRA USA and the start of expansion into the United States, for us to remain positive on BWMX and, with a dividend yield of over 9% to reiterate or Buy rating and $22.50 price target.

D.R. Horton Inc.: Efficient Land Development Strategy & Other Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • D.R. Horton’s third-quarter 2024 earnings reflect the company’s ability to navigate a complex market landscape impacted by inflation and raised mortgage interest rates.
  • Despite headwinds, the company managed a 5% increase in earnings, with a consolidated pretax income growth of 1% to $1.8 billion that could appeal to potential investors seeking steady performance.
  • A vital positive from the results lies in D.R. Horton’s proven record of cash generation, producing $972 million from homebuilding operations within the first nine months ended June 30.

Domino’s Pizza Inc.: Is The Efficient Store Splitting Strategy Paying Off? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Domino’s Pizza presented their Q2 2024 earnings wherein several key developments were noted that provide both an encouraging and concerning insight for investors.
  • Encouragingly, the Hungry for MORE strategy adopted by Domino’s seems to be generating positive results, as evidenced by the consecutive-quarter growth in US comp performance driven by profitable order count growth, positive order counts across its delivery and carryout businesses, as well as across all income cohorts.
  • The company also reported an improvement in its international comps and consistent earnings in line with expectations.

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Daily Brief Financials: Hana Financial, Marsh & Mclennan, Bitcoin Pro and more

By | Daily Briefs, Financials

In today’s briefing:

  • GEM Banks; Focus on Value Attributes and Returns Recovery Potential
  • Marsh & McLennan Companies: Can They Develop A Competitive Edge Through Analytics? – Major Drivers
  • Dog Days of Summer


GEM Banks; Focus on Value Attributes and Returns Recovery Potential

By Victor Galliano

  • Among bigger cap GEM banks, we pick five longs and two shorts as our conviction calls; we add country-based equity risk premia to our screening process
  • Our core buys are Bank Mandiri from Indonesia, Hana Financial from South Korea, CIMB Group from Malaysia, Bradesco from Brazil and CCB from China; four of these are value picks
  • Our sells are Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank from India, both richly valued larger cap banks that have benefited from past economic and political tailwinds with headwinds now emerging

Marsh & McLennan Companies: Can They Develop A Competitive Edge Through Analytics? – Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Marsh McLennan, a global professional services firm reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2024.
  • The results demonstrated the company’s ability to deliver growth in the short term while simultaneously investing for long-term sustainability.
  • Marsh McLennan posted a 6% increase in underlying revenue growth on top of 11% in the same period last year, reflecting strong execution across Risk and Insurance Services (RIS) and Consulting.

Dog Days of Summer

By Delphi Digital

  • Market consolidation signals opportunity, not the end: we’re just in the 2nd or 3rd inning of the crypto cycle.
  • Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs bring unprecedented demand, setting the stage for significant market movements.
  • Solana’s on-chain activity and retail adoption make it the standout trade of this cycle.

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Daily Brief Health Care: Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Intuitive Surgical, Novartis and more

By | Daily Briefs, Healthcare

In today’s briefing:

  • Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals IPO – RHP Updates & Quick Thoughts on Peer Comp and Valuation
  • Pullback Underway; Getting Defensive; Long-Term RS Bottoms for Defensives Is a Reason for Caution
  • Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals IPO: Subscribe on Favorable Industry Tailwind and Reasonable Pricing
  • Intuitive Surgical Inc.: Expansion of da Vinci 5 (dV5) Products & Services & Other Major Drivers
  • Novartis AG (NVS): Acquisition of Mariana Oncology for Expansion of Oncology Portfolio


Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals IPO – RHP Updates & Quick Thoughts on Peer Comp and Valuation

By Ethan Aw

  • Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (0200361D IN) is looking to raise up to US$222m in its upcoming India IPO.
  • Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (ADP) is a pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) offering a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical products and services in India and overseas.
  • In our previous note, we talked about the company’s historical performance. In this note, we talk about its RHP updates and share our quick thoughts on peer comparison and valuation.

Pullback Underway; Getting Defensive; Long-Term RS Bottoms for Defensives Is a Reason for Caution

By Joe Jasper

  • Our long-term bullish outlook (since early-November 2023) remains intact. With that said, we believe a 1-3-month pullback has likely begun.
  • Supports to watch are at $110 on MSCI ACWI (ACWI-US) and $41-42 on MSCI EM (EEM-US), and whether these levels hold or not will determine the severity of the pullback.
  • The S&P 500 is violating its 20-day MA, Europe’s EURO STOXX 50 is breaking below 4884, and Japan’s TOPIX appears to be staging a false breakout at the 2800-2815 level

Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals IPO: Subscribe on Favorable Industry Tailwind and Reasonable Pricing

By Tina Banerjee

  • Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, the largest India-focused CDMO, has set price band of Rs 646–679/share for its upcoming IPO. The company has blue chip and sticky clientele.
  • The Indian domestic CDMO market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 14.3% during FY24–28, nearly doubling its historical growth rate.
  • Akums seeks a P/E valuation of 28.7–30.2x, which seems to be reasonable compared with listed peers.

Intuitive Surgical Inc.: Expansion of da Vinci 5 (dV5) Products & Services & Other Major Drivers

By Baptista Research

  • Intuitive Surgical experienced healthy performance in the second quarter of 2024, with strong capital placements and solid procedure growth.
  • Several advancements were made, with the rollout of da Vinci 5, stability of Ion supply, and expanding da Vinci SP installs in Europe among the highlights.
  • The company also faced some headwinds related to multiport procedures.

Novartis AG (NVS): Acquisition of Mariana Oncology for Expansion of Oncology Portfolio

By Baptista Research

  • Novartis’s second quarter 2024 earnings were decent and revealed a company strongly positioned and confident of its continued growth trajectory.
  • From a financial standpoint, the Swiss multinational pharmaceutical firm posted a solid performance with 11% quarter-on-quarter growth in sales, profits expanding 19%, and a core margin of 39.6%.
  • The robustness in financials was driven by commendable productivity as well as sustained sales growth.

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Daily Brief Quantitative Analysis: ASX Short Interest Weekly (Jul 19th): Fortescue and more

By | Daily Briefs, Quantitative Analysis

In today’s briefing:

  • ASX Short Interest Weekly (Jul 19th): Fortescue, Bluescope Steel, Brambles


ASX Short Interest Weekly (Jul 19th): Fortescue, Bluescope Steel, Brambles

By Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

  • We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Jul 19th (reported today) which has an aggregated short interest worth USD20.2bn.
  • We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases & decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
  • We highlight short interest changes in Fortescue, Bluescope Steel, Brambles.

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