Sector

Asia

Everything our editor has picked under this sector, best first.

137 stories

@HaydenCapital 1 click

Fred Liu on X

What a story... Zhang Junjie was orphaned at 10 and homeless, to illiterate at 17, to Billionaire by 32. I first tried Chagee in Shenzhen last year, and then again at their first US-outpost (Los Angeles). It's a great product, and their "Guochao" branding on point (modernized traditional Chinese aesthetic). From Haidilao & Tai Er, to Luckin, HeyTea, and now Chagee entering the US, pretty excited to watch US consumers finally be introduced to upscale Chinese F&B brands (please, no more Panda Express...). $CHA
@HaydenCapital

Fred Liu on X

More 3PL Datapoints. $1519.HK $SE 1) External funding raised by 3PLs 2) Lower volumes are leading to negative spiral for delivery workers (who are paid per package). Fewer deliveries per worker = less $ per day = workers leaving for growing 3PLs (Shopee Express & J&T) = more supply / competition of delivery workers = cheaper per parcel costs for SPX & J&T (widening moat). And further erosion of network density for sub-scale 3PLs. https://t.co/n35vONTb7Y
@HaydenCapital

Fred Liu on X

It has to consolidate at some point, and already is this year. It's relatively easier to build vs ice cars (esp in China with robust supplier ecosystem). But hard to scale, differentiate, and distribute your products. Requires billions in funding. Btw, you see $LI making a bigger push overseas this year, because they're about to launch BEV in China. So these hybrid models are going abroad to countries with less developed charging networks, where hybrids are more practical. It's a way to keep production lines busy, and might even make higher margins due to lower competition abroad + higher prices.
@HaydenCapital

Fred Liu on X

I doubt being an "Irish" company makes a difference. But it's actually not that difficult to list in HK, esp since most of the prep work is done. Don't know if people still remember the 2022 PBAOC de-listing events. But $PDD and others had already filed paperwork to list in HK, and pulled it when audits were approved. https://t.co/ukMsOByVgh I believe they have paperwork ready to go, and the process takes 3-6 weeks. Fully expect them to list in HK, if / when its officially confirmed. ** Worst case is they trade OTC. Volumes get hit, and would be some short-term pain from forced-sellers. But Luckin ($8BN) mkt cap) is trading near all-time highs + trades $80M / day on the pink sheets, and Didi ($17BN mkt cap) still trades $40M / day. Not bad... What matters in the end is just business execution, and higher earnings.
@HaydenCapital

Fred Liu on X

Li Auto is launching in the Philippines (and likely rest of SE Asia). Pictures from yesterday, at Manila's SM Mall of Asia. $LI. Management has talked publicly about Middle East and Central Asia as initial markets, but don't think they've mentioned SE Asia before... According to the sales associate, their first store in BGC is opening end of April, with 3 more locations in following months. Seems the $LI overseas expansion is happening much faster than investors anticipate... L7 priced at 4-4.5M PHP, and L9 at 5-5.5M PHP (+50% more expensive than in China).

CYD and H22 Results First Take:

CYD’s FY24 earnings miss reflected ¥200m of one-offs; adjusted net income reached roughly ¥430m and operating cash flow rose 40%.

Portfolio Updates

CYD was sold near $21 versus an $11 entry after exceeding a $19.50 target; proceeds moved to H22.SI, whose CYD stake implies $1.30 NAV and…