Daily Brief Equity Bottom-Up: Anycolor (5032) – Great Quarter Guys! Again. Context Issues. Still. and more

• Nine months ago I first wrote on Anycolor (5032 JP). I thought the guidance growth pattern and valuations remarkable. Results handily beat guidance. Now we’re in Year 2 of guidance.
• After the first full year listed, FY2024 guidance was for +30% in revenue to ¥33bn, and +35% growth in OP. For Q1, reported yesterday, actual results were +51% and +91%.
• The stock is popping this AM, but it is still cheap vs growth rates and margins. There are, notably, still “context issues” here. They merit some consideration (and investigation).

• XL Axiata (EXCL IJ) continues to impress with its growth in revenues and data, driven by its 4G focus and high-quality network, with improving margins at the same time.
• The XL convergence story continues to build, with convergence penetration increasing but the real kicker wILL come once the restructuring with Link Net completes but benefits are already accruing. 
• XL Axiata remains the purest data player in Indonesia, with convergence set to be the next driver. Valuations are attractive on 4.4x FY2024E EV/EBITDA with strong growth ahead. 

• Since the inclusion in the Southbound Stock Connect 7 trading days ago, ZJLD Group (6979 HK)’s stock price is up 16%, suggesting strong interest from the southbound investors.
• ZJLD has one of the best channel inventory and distributor perception among all the sauce aroma baijiu brands currently.
• Expect further share price upside mainly from southbound buy, as the baijiu sector is one of the most followed sectors in A-share.     

• In the face of mounting American political and regulatory pressure, the Chinese video app TikTok officially launched an online shopping feature in the U.S., aiming to cash in on its popularity among 150 million American users.
• TikTok Shop will give brands, merchants, and creators the tools to sell directly through content on the app, the ByteDance Ltd.-owned enterprise said in a press release.
• Users will now find a “Shop” button prominently displayed in certain videos and can buy tagged products directly from videos and livestreaming.

• Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and its auto partner Seres Group Co. Ltd. (601127.SH +10.01%) launched an upgraded version of the Aito M7 electric SUV on Tuesday, marking the latest push by the tech giant into China’s highly competitive auto market.
• With a starting price of 249,800 yuan ($34,280), deliveries of the luxury electric vehicle (EV) will begin immediately, Huawei said in a press release. The company is also offering a discount of 33,000 yuan to customers who place their orders before Oct. 7.
• The model, which comes in five variants, is also equipped with Huawei ADS 2.0, the latest generation of its automated driving software and a digital cockpit powered by its Harmony operating system, the company said.

• Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. delivered a solid result and managed an all-around beat last quarter.
• Despite increased G&A expenses, the company managed to rebound in terms of NOP, reaching a level before the introduction of negative interest rates.
• We give Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. a ‘Hold’ rating with a revised target price.

• JD.com Inc. managed to surpass the revenue and earnings expectations of Wall Street.
• Service revenues grew, of which marketing and marketplace revenues were up.
• During the quarter, JD.com noticed strong user engagement trends, including higher purchase rates and ARPU on its app.

• Pegasystems delivered disappointing results as the company could not meet Wall Street’s revenue and earnings expectations.
• Pega achieved a remarkable feat in the first half of 2023 by producing $114 million in cash flow from operations and $123 million in free cash flow.
• The free cash flow dollars produced in the first half of the year was $123 million.

The managers of Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust (USA), Gary Robinson and Kirsty Gibson, aim to invest in exceptional US businesses with the potential to grow substantially faster than the market and deliver exceptional returns over the long term. Businesses capable of such growth tend to operate at the cutting edge of technology-led change, and USA has exposure to companies focused on artificial intelligence, space travel and drone delivery. The fluctuating fortunes of growth stocks over the past couple of years, combined with some de-rating of USA’s unlisted holdings, mean that USA’s performance has undershot market returns during the first five years since inception. Cumulative returns over the five years ended August 2023 totalled 49.1% in NAV terms, lagging the market return of 73.8%. However, the managers believe the ‘phenomenal’ fundamental performance of many portfolio holdings, combined with their very good growth prospects, augur well for the company’s ability to realise its return target over the longer term.

• We retain Bank Negara as our top pick for its deep value attributes of low PE multiples and its attractive PEG ratio relative to sound returns and strong liquidity metrics
• We also stick with our positive call on Bank Mandiri, for its premium returns and undemanding PE multiples; Bank Central Asia, albeit fully valued, has impressive liquidity and return metrics
• Bank Rakyat again registered worsening pre-provision returns in 2Q23, even if there was QoQ cost of risk relief; its loan mix implies a high structural cost of risk going forward