Match Group (MTCH, Buy, $55 target) 1Q24 Model Update: Lower revenues ...

No change to our $55 target owing to slightly lower estimates offset by higher share buyback assumptions. We walk through detailed changes on Tinder, Hinge and share buybacks within.

LG Uplus (Buy, TP: KRW 21,000, +110%) Q1 24 Quick Take: Better top li...

LG Uplus’ numbers improved from last quarter. Faster service revenue trend was led by improvements across the board, with continued strength in Enterprise. Bottom line was however weak off higher wage, D&A and interest costs. Our brief takeaway below.

SK Telecom (Buy, TP: KRW 116,000, +126%) Q1 24 Quick Take: Decent top...

Topline came in better than expected, supported by a better mobile performance from higher roaming users well as sustained performance from SK Broadband. EBITDA was relatively in line while net profit beat on expectations this quarter (12% ahead), helped by other income from its investment assets. Our thoughts below.

Match Group (MTCH, Buy, $55 target) Tinder Trough Deepens as Buybacks ...

What’s New: In this first take following tonight’s results, we touch on: 1. 1Q24 roughly in-line, but 2Q24 and 2024 guidance lower 2. Tinder trough deepens, but still on track for 3Q24 sequential payer growth 3. Hinge growth in line with guidance: RPP better than expected, payers a little light 4. Adjusted OI margins solid, but higher GAAP items called out 5. Share buyback target moved to 75% of FCF from prior 50% target

Match Group (MTCH, Buy, $55 target) Quick Thoughts Ahead of Tuesday’s...

Ahead of Tuesday PM’s earnings report, we review key controversies for MTCH, including: 1. Tinder payers: the moment of truth approaches 2. The path to $1 billion in revenue for Hinge 3. Will MTCH outspend the 50% of FCF target for share buybacks again in 2024? We also review what to look for in the investor letter and listen for on the earnings call, our top questions for management, and potential positive and negative catalysts for MTCH.

SK Telecom (Buy, TP: KRW 116,000, +120%) New shareholder return polic...

SK Telecom has issued its new shareholder return policy for the next three years (2024-2026), at least 50% of adjusted consolidated net profit in the form of dividends and share repurchases. The headline figure is somewhat underwhelming, but is now a minimum rather than a cap and could be the first of more initiatives to come as a result of the "Value-up" programme in Korea. Our thoughts below.

Hybridan Research: Sector Review: Artificial intelligence in UK cybers...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a double-edged sword in cybersecurity. Whilst new AI models, architectures, and innovations are emerging to protect the security posture of organisations, attackers are also benefiting from deepfakes, sophisticated phishing, and automation of malicious codes. To ensure the impact of AI on cybersecurity to be a net-positive, we need to pit good AI against bad AI. Point solutions enhanced with machine learning: Global cybersecurity has been built with point soluti...

INFORME DIARIO 26 MARZO (ANÁLISIS BANCO SABADELL)

COMPAÑÍAS QUE APARECEN EN EL INFORME: ESPAÑA: CAIXABANK, OHLA, REPSOL, TELEFÓNICA. El Ibex testea los 11.000 puntos Las bolsas de Europa continuaron ganando altura en una jornada de menos a más y con bajo nivel de negociación. En el STOXX 600 lideraron las subidas Energía y Viajes&Ocio mientras que Media y Hogar fueron los peores con caídas cercanas al medio punto. Por el lado macro, en España el índice de precios de producción se contrajo hasta el -8,2% vs -3,9% ant. Desde el BCE, F. Panetta...

KT Corporation: 1 director

A director at KT Corporation maiden bought 5,300 shares at 37,300.000KRW and the significance rating of the trade was 76/100. Is that information sufficient for you to make an investment decision? This report gives details of those trades and adds context and analysis to them such that you can judge whether these trading decisions are ones worth following. Included in the report is a detailed share price chart which plots discretionary trades by all the company's directors over the last two ye...

South Korean Telcos What could the telcos do to address the “Value-up...

In this note, we address the “Value-up Programme” in Korea. All three telcos have said they want to engage with and support the programme. So, what could they do? And how significant could it be?

Asia Telco Tour Feedback, Improving growth, ROCE and shareholder remun...

We ran our Asia Telco tour last week. This time we met 12 companies in 3 countries (Korea, Japan, Thailand). Telco share prices in all 3 of these countries have been pretty strong recently as telcos continue to benefit from generally positive themes: growth, return on capital and shareholder remuneration are all typically improving.

South Korean Telcos Takeaways from Meetings with the Korean Telcos in...

We met with all 3 of the Korean Telcos in Seoul over the last couple of days. All 3 are committed to engaging with and following the government “Value-up” programme, with the industry having started to become more shareholder friendly 2-3 years ago. We see the potential for higher industry returns (lower capex, opex) as well as better shareholder remuneration. Change will take time, but patient investors are set to do well from Korea as the market finally finds its place in the sun we think. Top...

South Korean Telcos Q4 23 review: EBITDA improved despite softer serv...

South Korean operators were slower across the board at service revenue on softer Fixed growth, although mobile and Enterprise kept pace. Both LG and SKT saw an acceleration in Enterprise this quarter as the former opened a new DC in Q4. Both SKT and KT saw improvements in EBITDA while LG was pressured by higher labour costs.

China Consumer: Tourism, catering and movie consumption: Strong perfor...

During the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday, tourism, both domestic and outbound, catering and movie consumption put up strong performances. For the consumer sector, we prefer discretionary to staple, and Macau gaming in the discretionary space, given the strong recovery momentum of Macau tourism and moderate hike in opex. Galaxy is our top pick in Macau gaming sector, given its net cash position amid the higher interests. Maintain OVERWEIGHT.

Uber 4Q23: Strong growth and margin expansion; Our thesis is playing o...

SK Telecom (Buy, TP: KRW 116,000, +130%) Q4 23 Quick Take: Better top...

SKT delivered better results today as topline growth accelerated off Enterprise and margins improved again. Shareholder remuneration continues to improve as the company also announced its final quarterly dividend at KRW 3,540 taking full year’s dividends to KRW 766bn, an increase of 5.8% from last year.

Power Nickel Inc. (TSXV: PNPN / OTCQB: PNPNF) – Doubles High-Grade Nic...

Fundamental Research Corp has issued a report entitled “Doubles High-Grade Nickel Resources/Anticipating a Feasibility Study in Q3” and dated Jan 25, 2024. The full report is now at

China Automobile Weekly: 2024 As A Year Of Pullback, As Evidenced By Y...

The development of China’s auto market ytd came in as expected with sales weakening, inventories piling up and car prices falling. We maintain our forecasts on China’s 2024 PV and PEV sales growth at -6%/11% respectively, down from 10%/37% in 2023, based on a higher comparison base in 2023, the rollback of stimulus and destocking. Maintain UNDERWEIGHT. Top SELLs: BYD, XPeng and Ganfeng Lithium. Downgrade Li Auto from BUY to SELL, and downgrade Great Wall Motor from BUY to HOLD.

China Automobile Weekly: PEV market share fell to 31% in the first wee...

PEV insurance registrations in China grew 76% yoy and fell 20.3% mom/46% wow in the first week of 2024. However, PEV market share fell from 40% in early-Dec 23 to 31% during the week. Except for Aito, all EV brands saw a drop in insurance registrations, including BYD, Tesla, Li Auto and XPeng, as the year-end promotions had exhausted buying power. We keep our 2024 China PEV sales forecast at 9.9m units (+11% yoy). Maintain UNDERWEIGHT. Top SELLs: BYD, XPeng and Ganfeng Lithium.

South Korean Telcos Outlook 2024; Government interference overshadowi...

2023 saw Govt interference in industry pricing, competition and management offsetting good fundamentals. With elections in April this may continue near term. However, despite this the industry continues to grow cash flow, which should also continue, and taking a slightly longer perspective shows that KT and SKT (although not LG U-Plus) are still trending higher.