Blue Lotus Research Institute

Andy Fu

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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<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.


Equity Bottom-Up

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

<ul>
<li>We call the communique courageous because it pressed ahead on three fundamental, long standing issues of Chinese economy: fiscal revenue, social security and over-capacity;</li>
<li>But we question its timing as well as the wisdom of staunch refusal to print money to revive consumption. In our view, such measure doesn't run counter to the communique;</li>
<li>We believe the likelihood points to prolonged slow recovery in consumption, investment, job market and eventually manufacturing. But we see positive momentum in healthcare, infrastructure and eventually consumption.</li>
</ul>


We call the communique courageous because it pressed ahead on three fundamental, long standing issues of Chinese economy: fiscal revenue, social security and over-capacity;
But we question its timing as well as the wisdom of staunch refusal to print money to revive consumption. In our view, such measure doesn't run counter to the communique;
We believe the likelihood points to prolonged slow recovery in consumption, investment, job market and eventually manufacturing. But we see positive momentum in healthcare, infrastructure and eventually consumption.


The 3rd Plenum of CCPCC Announced An Courageous But Tough-To-Execute Communique

<ul>
<li>Consumption subsidies in China has been muted in the 2020-2024 period, compared to practices in 2009-2012. We believe it reflects different thought of Chinese government at these two times;</li>
<li>Past data has suggested that consumption subsidies are effective. We expect consumer subsidies of ~RMB 50bn to be issued in C2H24 to revive consumption;</li>
<li>An even bigger consumer stimulus of ~RMB 200bn might be issued in 2025, and we believe a consumption tax reform might be one the permanent fixes for the purpose.</li>
</ul>


Consumption subsidies in China has been muted in the 2020-2024 period, compared to practices in 2009-2012. We believe it reflects different thought of Chinese government at these two times;
Past data has suggested that consumption subsidies are effective. We expect consumer subsidies of ~RMB 50bn to be issued in C2H24 to revive consumption;
An even bigger consumer stimulus of ~RMB 200bn might be issued in 2025, and we believe a consumption tax reform might be one the permanent fixes for the purpose.


How to Stimulate China's Consumption, Part IV：Consumption Voucher Is Effective

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 Fu
Independent Insight Provider
• Blue Lotus Research Institute

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​China's government debt swap plan disappoints investors, but more stimulus is likely as we read from the more-than-adequate capital adequacy...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

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​MOHURD planned urban village renovations with monetized resettlement valued at RMB500bn-RMB1tn, could drive up property transaction value by 3%...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

O2O Playing a More Prominent Role in China Street Drinks

​Meituan benefits from surge in delivery orders for street drinks, reaching record high order volume on August 7. Street drink brands are more rely...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

The 3rd Plenum of CCPCC Announced An Courageous But Tough-To-Execute Communique

​The communique of CCP's 3rd Plenum of the 20th CC has pressed forward with tough reforms in the next five years. While timing is quite bad, it...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

How to Stimulate China's Consumption, Part IV：Consumption Voucher Is Effective

​China's consumption subsidies have been quite conservative but actually effective. We expect more subsidies in 2H24 and far more in 2025. We...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

China's government debt swap plan disappoints investors, but more stimulus is likely as we read from the more-than-adequate capital adequacy...

MOHURD planned urban village renovations with monetized resettlement valued at RMB500bn-RMB1tn, could drive up property transaction value by 3%...

Meituan benefits from surge in delivery orders for street drinks, reaching record high order volume on August 7. Street drink brands are more rely...

The communique of CCP's 3rd Plenum of the 20th CC has pressed forward with tough reforms in the next five years. While timing is quite bad, it...

China's consumption subsidies have been quite conservative but actually effective. We expect more subsidies in 2H24 and far more in 2025. We...