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Vipshop (VIPS US): Tantalizing Value for China's Discount Brand Retailer

Global TMT analyst with Asia ex-Japan focus.

Mitchell Kim

Equity Bottom-Up

As one of the rare comeback stories among the Asian Internet platforms, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vipshop-holdings-ltd-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1088:1" rel="noopener">Vipshop Holdings' (VIPS US)</a> share price rose 3x in the last 12 months (Figure 1). While the skeptics questioned whether the WeChat synergy would be sustainable, VIPS has answered the critics with robust results in the last three quarters, including the impressive 4Q20 results (Figure 3). There is no argument about the fundamental argument thus far for VIPS shares’ resurgence considering the strong customer acquisitions partly due to the power of the WeChat and margin improvement as the management refocused on its core strength in apparel and shed the margin dragging logistics unit. However, chasing the stock at this price level is not for the faint-hearted. We noted that the stock is now trading at the highest forward P/E multiple based on FY2021 GAAP EPS since July 2018 (Figure 2).       Having said that positive sentiment on the stock will likely persist in the near-term.  The management’s guidance of 45-50% revenue growth for 1Q21 (the guidance implies 19% YoY growth normalized) should provide the momentum and revenue growth will continue to be compared against the COVID-19 lockdown quarters.  The real growth test will come in 3Q21 when VIPS’ growth will be compared with the high customer growth which started in 3Q20. Decelerating growth could trigger a potential pullback, in our view.

As one of the rare comeback stories among the Asian Internet platforms, Vipshop Holdings' (VIPS US) share price rose 3x in the last 12 months (Figure 1). While the skeptics questioned whether the WeChat synergy would be sustainable, VIPS has answered the critics with robust results in the last three quarters, including the impressive 4Q20 results (Figure 3). There is no argument about the fundamental argument thus far for VIPS shares’ resurgence considering the strong customer acquisitions partly due to the power of the WeChat and margin improvement as the management refocused on its core strength in apparel and shed the margin dragging logistics unit. However, chasing the stock at this price level is not for the faint-hearted. We noted that the stock is now trading at the highest forward P/E multiple based on FY2021 GAAP EPS since July 2018 (Figure 2).       Having said that positive sentiment on the stock will likely persist in the near-term.  The management’s guidance of 45-50% revenue growth for 1Q21 (the guidance implies 19% YoY growth normalized) should provide the momentum and revenue growth will continue to be compared against the COVID-19 lockdown quarters.  The real growth test will come in 3Q21 when VIPS’ growth will be compared with the high customer growth which started in 3Q20. Decelerating growth could trigger a potential pullback, in our view.

VIPS US: 4Q20: Commendable Reincarnation but Fully Priced