5.3 trillion cigarettes are sold each year to 1 billion smokers. Would be unwise to exclude the industry from your universe just because of ESG / unpopularity.
While volumes have dropped globally, retail value has stayed flat. It would have increased was it not for the stronger dollar since 2014.
Volumes are weak in Japan and flattish in Asia EM
Vaping is to a large extent banned across Asia. Heated tobacco products rule, but only in South Korea / Japan where consumers can afford them. NGPs have no impact on Asian EM tobacco markets.
In Asian EMs on the other hand, what matters is tax policy. It's been a headwind in Malaysia, and to some extent also India and Sri Lanka.
Having the combo of a supportive tax policy, low risk of competition from NGP, low consumption per capita and rising incomes helps catapult earnings growth forward.
It also helps if the multiple is low. But almost the entire industry trades at low teens P/E if not lower.
Here is a map of the major listed tobacco companies in Asia.
I just wrote a post on the Asian tobacco industry on my Substack. Free trial link here:
.@Nate93658762 suggested I read the annual report of Haad Thip HTC TB. Here's what I learnt
Haad Thip is a Coca-Cola bottler in Southern Thailand across 14 provinces. The typical brands, incl Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Minute Maid. Founded in 1969, two manufacturing plants. Seems to be a steady grower. 80% market share in sugar-sweetened soft drinks in the south.
91% sparking beverages and the rest non-carbonated (presumably Minute Maid).
Michael Price: sell when earnings growth is coming to an end, for example 1) when the return on invested capital is declining 2) business recessions are coming 3) industry cycles
Philip Fisher: "If the job has been correctly done when a common stock is purchased, the time to sell it is - almost never"
Exceptions: 1) you made a mistake in your original appraisal 2) the company ceases to qualify under the same appraisal method
Loved the book Mao's America by @XVanFleet. It discusses the similarities between Marxism in the United States today and during the Cultural Revolution in China in the 1960s and 70s.
Here are the key takeaways from the book (1/x)
A core tenet of Marxism is about dividing people into groups: oppressors and victims. For example, capitalists exploiting workers, encouraging workers to engage in class struggle.
But in reality, Marxist ideas are used by power-hungry politicians to bring down their own enemies.
After the Communists took over, the party encouraged peasants to kill their landlords and take over their land. Yet just four years later, that same land was taken over by the government and turned into communes with poor incentive structures. Crops started failing.
I wrote a post about how to spot deception, based on the book Spy the Lie by Phil Houston and two other co-authors.
Here are the key take-aways from the book:
When trying to get at the truth, you'll want to ask specific questions and then 1) listen and 2) look for reactions from the other person to that question.
These reactions will include verbal such as failure to answer the question and non-verbal such as touching your face.
Questions intended to figure out the truth should be short, simple, singular and straightforward. They have to be so clear that the person has no way out except telling the truth.
A prologue statement explaining why a question is needed can increase cooperation.
Finally breaking even on my Substack after all personal expenses, after roughly 2.5 years. A huge weight lifted off my shoulders. And super grateful to be able to do what I love - turning over rocks in Asia.
I can't say that I've reached huge success, but a few lessons (1/8):
1. Write about a passion
If you manage money, you can easily take a few days off and read books or whatever.
If you're writing research, not so much. You'll feel pressure to produce. Which makes it super important that you have a passion for what you're writing.
2. Dominate your own niche
It's become crowded on Substack, and it was inevitable it was going to turn out that way. I'm no smarter than anybody, but luckily I managed to find a niche without too much competition.
You'll want to become *the guy* for your particular niche.
On Egerton Capital's John Armitage's investment style, sourced from James Morton's 1997 book "Investing With the Grand Masters" (1/x)
BACKGROUND
• Started at Morgan Greenfell, where he ran the European Growth Trust beating practically all of his peers
• Founded Egerton Capital in 1994 with William Bollinger, one of the early employees Nicolas Tangen now at Norges Bank
• Has managed money for George Soros
PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION
• Long/short strategy with varying net exposure
• Review portfolio each month as if starting from scratch
• Typically 40 stocks on the long side
• No position >8%, top 20 positions 65-85% of total value
• Top 10 positions uncorrelated