Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

An equity research analyst with over 7 years of experience in multiple sectors. Previously worked for one of the world's largest asset managers with about USD2.5trn in AUM, covering small and micro-cap companies in the consumer sphere across Europe and developed Asia. Also experienced in covering multiple industries including banking, insurance and asset management, retail, tech, telco and REIT.

Equity Analyst

International Commerce Retail: Lazada & AliExpress Are Losing Their Battles with Shopee

Alibaba: The Commerce Segment Weakens Amidst Government Scrutiny

Few Points to Consider Before Bottom Fishing Chinese Tech

Core-Commerce Grows at The Expense of Margins, Cloud Profitability Goes Down the Drain

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Bottom-Up

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Bottom-Up

Reuters reported last week that the Chinese city of Tianjin has asked government firms to migrate their data from private sector operators like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> to a state-backed cloud system called “guoziyun” by next year. The decision to exclude private cloud platforms was made under direct instructions by China's cabinet, the State Council and it prohibits government firms from entering or renewing contracts with third-party cloud platforms for the use of cloud services.It seems like the intention of the Chinese government is to follow through with all the proposed policy changes regardless of the devastating impact on the Chinese tech sector valuations.Even though the valuations have dropped drastically from the peak, valuation multiples have plenty of room to the downside. Meanwhile, we think regulatory clampdowns are yet to reach the home stretch, making the risk-reward balance still heavily skewed to the risk side. Thus, we think it is prudent to avoid investing in the Chinese tech sector for the time being.

Reuters reported last week that the Chinese city of Tianjin has asked government firms to migrate their data from private sector operators like Alibaba Group (9988 HK) and Tencent (700 HK) to a state-backed cloud system called “guoziyun” by next year. The decision to exclude private cloud platforms was made under direct instructions by China's cabinet, the State Council and it prohibits government firms from entering or renewing contracts with third-party cloud platforms for the use of cloud services.It seems like the intention of the Chinese government is to follow through with all the proposed policy changes regardless of the devastating impact on the Chinese tech sector valuations.Even though the valuations have dropped drastically from the peak, valuation multiples have plenty of room to the downside. Meanwhile, we think regulatory clampdowns are yet to reach the home stretch, making the risk-reward balance still heavily skewed to the risk side. Thus, we think it is prudent to avoid investing in the Chinese tech sector for the time being.

Alibaba Cloud: Near-Zero Dollars Valuation Is Not Entirely Impossible