Winter 2020

Issue 38 · analyzed

16 ideas

pitch short inconclusive
PTON Peloton Interactive

The thesis is based on the belief that Peloton's business model is unsustainable due to increasing competition and declining subscriber growth, leading to a potential decrease in revenue and profitability.

pitch long inconclusive
RR Rolls-Royce Holdings

The long thesis is centered around Rolls-Royce's recovery potential as the aviation industry rebounds post-pandemic, alongside its strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency and profitability.

position long inconclusive
GGB Greek Government Bonds

Paul B. Kazarian highlighted his investment in Greek government bonds, which resulted in an 8.9 times multiple on capital invested at exit and a 35% IRR after about 5 years with no leverage.

position long
CNW CNW Corp.

Kazarian mentioned Japonica was the largest stockholder in CNW Corp. and initiated a US$1.6 billion tender offer to maximize shareholder value, achieving a 2.2 times investment multiple and 57% IRR in 1.5 years with no l…

position long inconclusive
SUN Sunbeam-Oster Company

As majority stockholder, Japonica led a US$1.5 billion turnaround of Sunbeam-Oster, resulting in a 5.9 times investment multiple and 104% IRR in 3 years, saving 10,000 jobs.

position long
BORD Borden Inc.

Kazarian's firm was the lead sponsor for a US$2.4 billion restructuring of Borden Inc., aiming to turn the company around and improve its financial management.

position long
ALLEGH Allegheny International

Japonica was the largest creditor and sole proponent of the successful bankruptcy reorganization plan for Allegheny International, achieving a 1.3 times investment multiple and 181% IRR in 7 months with no leverage.

pitch short inconclusive
PTON Peloton Interactive, Inc.
Artisan International Value Stock Pitch Challenge

PTON faces significant competition with no moat, particularly from SoulCycle, which is launching a connected bike product. The projected revenue for 2024 is $2.9 billion, significantly lower than the consensus of $5.2 bi…

pitch long worked
+1147.3%
RR Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc

Rolls-Royce is positioned for significant cash flow generation due to a recent investment period and expected growth in its Aftermarket division. The company is projected to multiply its free cash flow by 2.5 times, with…

pitch long worked
+23165.2%
RR Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc
2020 Artisan International Value Stock Pitch Challenge

The investment thesis for Rolls-Royce is based on the expectation of significant EBIT growth from £600m to over £2,000m, driven by improvements in the Civil Aftermarket division and a reduction in engine losses. The comp…

position long inconclusive
NUAN Nuance Communications, Inc.

Nuance is a leading provider of speech recognition software with a strong market position and a defensible moat. Recent changes in the company, including a transition to SaaS, a new CEO, and business rationalization, are…

pitch long worked
+42.6%
NUAN Nuance Communications, Inc.
Artisan International Value Stock Pitch Challenge

The new CEO Mark Benjamin is experienced and incentivized to improve long-term stock performance. Recent business optimizations and growth opportunities, particularly in international markets and partnerships, suggest th…

pitch long failed
+29.7%
ETSY Etsy, Inc.
Neuberger Berman ESG Investing Challenge

Etsy's unique position as a leader in handmade e-commerce is underappreciated by the market. The company's commitment to its sellers and the introduction of Etsy Ads are expected to drive significant buyer growth, leadin…

pitch short inconclusive
PTON Peloton Interactive, Inc.
null

Peloton is an expensive add-on fitness product with a smaller total addressable market (TAM) than market expectations. The company's churn is artificially low due to legacy contracts, and it faces significant competition…

position long inconclusive
NUAN Nuance Communications, Inc.

The transition from legacy transcription services to the cloud-based Dragon Medical One solution is expected to significantly enhance margins and revenue. The shift from a labor-intensive service model to a SaaS model co…

pitch long worked
+125.9%
ETSY Etsy Inc
2019 Neuberger Berman ESG Challenge

We project a higher growth in the number of buyers for Etsy, estimating a low-twenties CAGR compared to the market's mid-teens CAGR. Our valuation suggests a target price of $86 based on a forward EV/EBITDA multiple of 1…