Blue Lotus Research Institute

Andy Fu, CFA

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Equity Bottom-Up

Agora, Inc. provides communication software solutions. The Company offers video, voice, and live interactive streaming platform to interact and engage with others online. Agora serves customers worldwide.

<ul>
<li>Agora share price rallied 34% on C3Q24 earning call. During the call Agora outlined plans for large scale layoffs and committed to turn profitable for full year 2025;</li>
<li>With the business rationalization, cooperation with OpenAI now becomes the only growth driver for the future. We believe with Agora's operation-oriented business model, there is a fair chance for success;</li>
<li>Considering the price cut speed of 10x in one year from Chat GPT, the audio GAI price lower from US$9/hour to US$1/hour could happen within one year.</li>
</ul>


Agora share price rallied 34% on C3Q24 earning call. During the call Agora outlined plans for large scale layoffs and committed to turn profitable for full year 2025;
With the business rationalization, cooperation with OpenAI now becomes the only growth driver for the future. We believe with Agora's operation-oriented business model, there is a fair chance for success;
Considering the price cut speed of 10x in one year from Chat GPT, the audio GAI price lower from US$9/hour to US$1/hour could happen within one year.


Agora (API US): Rationalizing All Biz and Zero in on OpenAI

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Chinese government launched a special regulation to address algorithm of major Internet platforms, outlining 21 rectification requirements, which impacted Meituan, TRIP.com, and social media companies;</li>
<li>However, The rectification measures focused mostly on user operation, algorithm registration, and compliance, with an aim to strengthen government control over public opinion, but not on monetization;</li>
<li>We maintain that Chinese government needs the Internet platforms to boost consumption and employment, as manifested by Premier Li Qiang's recent labeling  of Internet as New Quality Productivity Force.</li>
</ul>


Chinese government launched a special regulation to address algorithm of major Internet platforms, outlining 21 rectification requirements, which impacted Meituan, TRIP.com, and social media companies;
However, The rectification measures focused mostly on user operation, algorithm registration, and compliance, with an aim to strengthen government control over public opinion, but not on monetization;
We maintain that Chinese government needs the Internet platforms to boost consumption and employment, as manifested by Premier Li Qiang's recent labeling  of Internet as New Quality Productivity Force.


Algorithm Regulation on China Internet Is A Slap on the Wrist

<ul>
<li>Last week, China's RmbB12tn debt swap plan fall short of investors' expectations. The pattern of trying to control the release of stimulus and manage the expectations is obvious;</li>
<li>We notice that the government has injected more-than-required liquidity to the bank system. Such magnitude can only be explained by preparation for a long, drawn-out war; </li>
<li>MOF's injection to banks to beef up capital adequacy ratio likely indicates the amount of stimulus that is about to happen to reflate the balance sheets of the local governments.</li>
</ul>


Last week, China's RmbB12tn debt swap plan fall short of investors' expectations. The pattern of trying to control the release of stimulus and manage the expectations is obvious;
We notice that the government has injected more-than-required liquidity to the bank system. Such magnitude can only be explained by preparation for a long, drawn-out war; 
MOF's injection to banks to beef up capital adequacy ratio likely indicates the amount of stimulus that is about to happen to reflate the balance sheets of the local governments.


China Has Stockpiled Arsenals to Meet Trump's Tariff War

<ul>
<li>Minister of MOHURD (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development) said on October 16th that MOHURD planned to renovate 1mn more shanty houses via 100% cash exchange by year end;</li>
<li>We estimate this would inject Rmb0.5-1tn to the hands of shanty town residents. If all these money are putt into the property market, it can drive up transaction by 3-7%;</li>
<li>However, property transaction showed existing home sales growth slowed in September and new home sales remained in negative. The real estate market is in dire need of further stimulus.</li>
</ul>


Minister of MOHURD (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development) said on October 16th that MOHURD planned to renovate 1mn more shanty houses via 100% cash exchange by year end;
We estimate this would inject Rmb0.5-1tn to the hands of shanty town residents. If all these money are putt into the property market, it can drive up transaction by 3-7%;
However, property transaction showed existing home sales growth slowed in September and new home sales remained in negative. The real estate market is in dire need of further stimulus.


Meituan operates as a web based shopping platform for locally found consumer products and retail services. The Company offers deals of the day by selling vouchers on local services and entertainment, dining, delivery, and other services. Meituan provides its services throughout China.

<ul>
<li>On August 7th, Meituan's on-demand order volume reached a historical high of 98mn on surging orders from street drinks. Meituan has connected to the backend systems of street drink vendors;</li>
<li>Delivery order is a double-edged sword. It boosts volume at the expense of margin. Further, the ownership of the volume is questionable;</li>
<li>With Pin-hao-fan, Meituan already atomized the small restaurants. Now Meituan is playing the same trick with street drinks. The result will be more dramatic to the benefit of Meituan.</li>
</ul>


On August 7th, Meituan's on-demand order volume reached a historical high of 98mn on surging orders from street drinks. Meituan has connected to the backend systems of street drink vendors;
Delivery order is a double-edged sword. It boosts volume at the expense of margin. Further, the ownership of the volume is questionable;
With Pin-hao-fan, Meituan already atomized the small restaurants. Now Meituan is playing the same trick with street drinks. The result will be more dramatic to the benefit of Meituan.


O2O Playing a More Prominent Role in China Street Drinks

Independent Insight Provider, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Mr. Andy (Hongyao) Fu is responsible for Consumer, Travel, Social Service, SaaS coverages at Blue Lotus. Prior to joining Blue Lotus, Andy worked at Evalueserve as a research associate, covering the China Internet sector. He received his master's degree in University of New South Wales and bachelor's degree (with Honours) in Victoria University of Wellington. Andy is a CFA charterholder.