Core Viewpoint - Sands China Limited reported a strong financial performance for 2024, with total revenue reaching $7.08 billion, an increase of 8.4% from $6.534 billion in 2023, and net profit attributable to shareholders rising significantly from $692 million to $1.045 billion. However, the company faces liquidity challenges, as its current ratio dropped from 1.23 in 2023 to 0.76 in 2024, indicating potential risks in cash flow management [1]. Debt Structure and Financial Pressure - The debt structure of Sands China deteriorated significantly in 2024, with short-term debt skyrocketing from $16 million in 2023 to $1.639 billion, a more than 100-fold increase, primarily due to the reclassification of notes maturing in 2025. Long-term debt decreased from $8.312 billion to $6.520 billion, but total liabilities still reached $10.138 billion, maintaining a high debt-to-asset ratio of 90.77% [3]. - Current liabilities surged from $1.372 billion in 2023 to $2.993 billion, while current assets only amounted to $2.285 billion, resulting in a net current liability of $708 million. Despite cash and cash equivalents increasing from $1.361 billion to $1.970 billion, this remains insufficient against the large short-term debt [3]. - The accounts receivable conversion cycle extended from 8 days to 10 days, while the accounts payable conversion cycle remained unchanged at 2 days, exacerbating cash flow management issues. Operating cash flow per share decreased from $0.28 in 2023 to $0.26 in 2024, indicating a decline in cash generation capability from operations [3]. Capital Expenditure Impact - Sands China committed to investing approximately $4.5 billion during the gaming license period from 2023 to 2032, significantly impacting cash flow. The investment cash flow per share for 2024 was negative $0.10, worsening from negative $0.02 in 2023, reflecting increased spending on infrastructure and equipment upgrades [4]. - The completion of the Londoner Macao project is expected in the second quarter of 2025, indicating continued substantial capital expenditures in the coming quarters. Additionally, renovations at the Galaxy Macau and phased updates at the Sheraton Hotel in Macau are expected to affect revenue generation in the short term [4]. - The company has invested approximately $17 billion in the development of integrated resorts in Macau, including over 10,000 hotel rooms and significant retail and convention space. While these investments may enhance long-term competitiveness, they currently serve as a major drag on cash flow [4]. Market Recovery and Profitability Concerns - Although the number of visitors to Macau increased to approximately 35 million in 2024 from 28 million in 2023, the quality of earnings for the company remains concerning. The gross profit margin declined from 61.88% in 2023 to 60.69%, indicating that intense market competition is compressing profit margins [6]. - Administrative expenses slightly increased from $1.970 billion to $1.977 billion, suggesting a need for improved cost control despite revenue growth. Adjusted property EBITDA rose from $2.23 billion to $2.33 billion, but the growth rate of 4.7% lagged behind the revenue growth of 8.4%, reflecting a decline in operational efficiency [6]. - The return on equity reached an unusually high 201.93%, primarily due to a low net asset base of $1.031 billion compared to total assets of $11.169 billion. The total asset return improved from 6.65% to 9.75%, but this improvement is more indicative of leverage effects rather than genuine operational enhancement [6]. - The net cash flow per share improved from negative $0.04 in 2023 to $0.07 in 2024, yet it remains at a relatively low level, indicating limited cash generation capacity [6].

编者按：7月21日，小摩发布研究报告指出，对于 2025 年下半年，预计在恒生指数上半年取得 18% 的 美元回报率且相对亚太除日本指数跑赢约 5% 之后，短期内会出现盘整，原因包括不确定的关税风险、 美联储不太可能降息的前景、不及预期的刺激政策以及 8 月疲软的季节性因素。这种潜在的疲软将是一 个买入机会，因为强劲的股票市场融资、南向资金流入以及稳定币领域的创新可能会推动 EPS 修正。 指数目标：将 2025 年底恒生指数的基准 / 乐观 / 悲观目标从之前的 11,600/12,400/10,300 港元上调至 13,000/14,000/11,000 港元，对应回报率分别为 2%/10%/-14%。 中小盘股首选：美高梅中国和中国建筑国际。 | RIC Code | Security Name | CN Name | GICS Sector | Analyst | JPM rating | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Large caps | | | | | | | 1299.HK | AIA Group Ltd | 友邦保险 | Financial ...

Core Viewpoint - The Brazilian government has implemented approximately 25 tax adjustments since January 2023 under President Lula's administration, aiming to achieve fiscal balance and strengthen public finances [1][2]. Tax Policy Adjustments - The government has increased existing tax rates, eliminated certain tax exemptions, introduced new taxes, and raised taxes on specific goods and services [1]. - Notable measures include a special tax on the sports betting industry, the "shirt tax" on international shopping, and the financial transaction tax (IOF) [1]. Specific Tax Changes - The IPI tax rate on firearms has increased from 29% to 55%, and the tax on ammunition has risen from 13% to 25% [2]. - Offshore funds will be taxed on earnings at rates between 15% and 20% [2]. - The "shirt tax" imposes a 20% tariff on imported goods valued over $50 [2]. - A minimum profit tax for multinational corporations with annual revenues exceeding €750 million will be set at 15% [2]. - The gambling sector will see an increase in operational taxes from 12% to 18%, with total tax burdens potentially reaching 50% [2]. - The tax rate on capital interest dividends (JCP) is proposed to rise from 15% to 20% starting in 2026 [2]. Economic Implications - The continuous optimization of tax policies is expected to modernize Brazil's tax system, enhancing fairness and efficiency, which is crucial for long-term sustainable development [3]. - While these tax increases may initially pressure businesses and consumers, they are deemed essential for consolidating national finances and promoting economic stability [3]. - The Brazilian Central Bank and Ministry of Finance will closely monitor the effects of these policies to balance fiscal goals with economic growth [3].

Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Outperform" rating to several companies including Nike, Midea Group, JD Group, Gree Electric, Anta Sports, Haier Smart Home, and others, while Lulu Lemon is rated as "Neutral" [1]. Core Insights - The report highlights that high-expectation, high-valuation new consumption stocks are under pressure, leading to a rotation towards low-valuation, low-expectation consumption stocks [4][5]. - The performance of various sectors shows that overseas cosmetics, domestic sportswear, and luxury goods are among the top performers, while sectors like gold jewelry and gaming are experiencing declines [11][12]. Sector Performance Overview - The report indicates that most covered sectors continued to experience a pullback, particularly new consumption sectors due to previously high market expectations and valuations [5][13]. - The weekly performance of sectors shows overseas cosmetics leading with a 2.5% increase, while gold jewelry saw an average decline of 4.8% [11][12]. - Year-to-date performance highlights gold jewelry, domestic cosmetics, and overseas cosmetics as outperformers, with respective increases of 161.6%, 49.3%, and 42.4% [11][12]. Valuation Analysis - The report provides a detailed valuation analysis, indicating that most sectors are still below their average valuations over the past five years. For instance, the expected PE for the overseas sportswear sector in 2025 is 34.5 times, which is 55% of its five-year average [9][16]. - The expected PE for the domestic sportswear sector is 12.9 times, representing 74% of its historical average, while the gold jewelry sector is at 27.2 times, which is 48% of its average [9][16].

Group 1 - The "expensive earring" worn by Huang Yang was confirmed to be a glass ornament, not a luxury item as claimed [2] - Three high school students from Huanggang went missing after traveling to Xishuangbanna, with police confirming the situation is serious [3] - The local health committee is investigating the hiring of two Filipino PhD graduates by Liaocheng People's Hospital amid public concerns about their qualifications [5] Group 2 - Nvidia's CEO Huang Renxun discussed AI topics with Lei Jun, emphasizing the significance of AI for both China and the US [7] - AMD announced plans to restart exports of its AI chip MI308 to China, following a review by the US Department of Commerce, leading to a stock price increase [15][16] - OpenAI has included Google Cloud as a service provider for ChatGPT, marking a significant partnership for Google's cloud business [17][18] Group 3 - Meituan's CEO Wang Puzhong claimed that Ele.me has accumulated losses exceeding 150 billion, highlighting the intense competition in the food delivery market [19][20] - The ice cream brand Zhong Xue Gao has been filed for bankruptcy due to insolvency issues, indicating financial distress in the company [21]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the controversy surrounding actor Xiang Zuo, who was reported to owe 1.4 million HKD in gambling debts, which led to a lawsuit from MGM Macau. The actor's studio responded by denying the allegations and clarifying that the debts were related to a third-party guarantee, which has since been settled [1]. Group 1 - Xiang Zuo's studio labeled the gambling debt allegations as rumors and stated that MGM Macau has clarified the situation [1]. - MGM Macau confirmed that the issue arose from Xiang Zuo providing a credit guarantee for a third party, and all debts have been fully repaid, leading to the termination of legal proceedings [1]. - MGM Macau requested that all parties cease the spread of false reports regarding the incident, indicating that they would not provide further comments on the matter [1].

Group 1 - Sam's Club has introduced a new low-sugar product in collaboration with Haoliyou, which has led to member dissatisfaction regarding product selection [1] - The product features an 80% reduction in sugar and a 30% increase in cocoa content, but members feel that Sam's Club is becoming more homogenized compared to regular supermarkets [1] - Popular products like egg yolk pastry and caramel layered cakes have been removed from shelves, raising concerns about Sam's Club's product selection strategy [1] Group 2 - Actor Xiang Zuo is being sued by MGM Macau for failing to repay a gambling debt of 1.4 million HKD (approximately 1.28 million RMB) [2] - The debt originated from a loan of 2 million HKD taken on December 1, 2024, with an agreement to repay on the same day [2] Group 3 - Nvidia has received approval from the U.S. government to sell its H20 chip in China and will launch a new GPU named RTX Pro [3][4] - The H20 chip is designed specifically for the Chinese market and is an AI accelerator based on Nvidia's Hopper architecture [3] - AMD has also confirmed the resumption of MI308 chip exports to China following Nvidia's announcement [3][4] Group 4 - China's GDP grew by 5.3% year-on-year in the first half of the year, with a total GDP of 66,053.6 billion RMB [5] - Hubei province has extended marriage leave to 15 days, joining 28 other provinces in this initiative [5] Group 5 - Sony has halted sales of the Xperia 1 VII smartphone in multiple markets due to issues such as random reboots and inability to power on [7] - The company has removed the Xperia 1 VII from its official channels in Finland and other European regions [7] Group 6 - Geely Auto has signed a merger agreement with Zeekr, with Geely acquiring all outstanding shares of Zeekr [8] - Shareholders of Zeekr can choose between cash or shares of Geely Auto as compensation [8] Group 7 - Amazon has launched a preview version of its AI programming tool Kiro, which collaborates with developers to define requirements before coding [13] - Kiro aims to compete with existing tools like GitHub's Copilot and Google's Gemini Code Assist [13] Group 8 - Bubble Mart expects a revenue increase of no less than 200% and a profit increase of no less than 350% for the six months ending June 30, 2025 [14] - Yonghui Supermarket anticipates a net loss of 240 million RMB for the first half of 2025 [14] Group 9 - Apple has decided to adopt Samsung's solution for its first foldable iPhone instead of pursuing its own development [15] - This decision will enhance collaboration between Apple and Samsung in the supply chain [15] Group 10 - Google plans to invest $25 billion in the U.S. over the next two years for data centers and AI infrastructure [17] - Xiaopeng Huitian has completed a $250 million Series B financing round to support the development and commercialization of flying cars [18]

Core Insights - DraftKings is in negotiations to acquire Railbird, a regulated prediction market platform based in New York [1] - Railbird was founded in 2021 by former Point72 analyst Myers Safran and Edward Tian, and received approval from the CFTC in June 2025 to operate as a designated contract market [1] - Railbird's platform allows users to trade event contracts, enabling betting on real-world event outcomes across various sectors, including economic indicators, public policy decisions, weather patterns, entertainment trends, and sports results [1] Company Developments - DraftKings has previously applied for federal approval to operate a prediction market but withdrew the application months later [1] - In the sports betting sector, Flutter Entertainment's FanDuel has reportedly engaged in discussions with Kalshi, a well-known regulated exchange focused on trading future event outcomes [1] Investment Landscape - Railbird's investors include the CEO of SeatGeek and several venture capital firms, indicating strong backing and interest in the prediction market space [1] - The platform aims to cover all 50 states in the U.S., highlighting its ambition to expand its reach and user base [1]

Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Outperform" rating to multiple companies including Nike, Midea Group, JD Group, Gree Electric, Anta Sports, Haier Smart Home, and others, while Lulu Lemon is rated as "Neutral" [1]. Core Insights - The report highlights that as the earnings season approaches, stock price volatility is expected to increase due to expectation gaps [4][21]. - The gambling sector has shown strong performance, driven by higher-than-expected visitor numbers in Macau, leading to upward revisions in market expectations for monthly GGR and EBITDA [5][12]. - The report notes that most sectors are currently valued below their historical averages over the past five years, indicating potential investment opportunities [8][16]. Sector Performance Review - Weekly performance rankings show Gambling > Luxury Goods > U.S. Hotel > Domestic Sportswear > Domestic Cosmetics > Daily Necessities > Overseas Sportswear > Overseas Cosmetics > Credit Card > Snacks > Gold Jewelry > Pet, with the Gambling sector outperforming the MSCI China index [10][21]. - Monthly performance also favors the Gambling sector, followed by U.S. Hotel and Luxury Goods, while Domestic Cosmetics and Pet sectors experienced negative growth [22]. - Year-to-date performance indicates Gold Jewelry leading, followed by Domestic Cosmetics and Overseas Cosmetics, with the Overseas Sportswear sector showing negative growth [23]. Valuation Analysis - The report provides a detailed valuation analysis, indicating that many sectors, including Overseas Sportswear and Domestic Sportswear, are trading below their historical PE averages, suggesting potential upside [8][16]. - Specific expected PE ratios for 2025 are provided, with Overseas Sportswear at 34.4x (55% of its 5-year average), Domestic Sportswear at 12.6x (72%), and Gambling at 17.6x (26%) [16].

Transaction Overview - GLPI is acquiring real property assets from Bally's for $1585 billion[5] - The initial cash rent is $1321 million, representing an 83% blended cap rate[5] - The lease term is 15 years with CPI-based rent escalations (10% floor, 20% ceiling)[5] - GLPI has a call option for Bally's Lincoln for $7350 million, with initial cash rent of $588 million[5] Bally's Chicago Investment - GLPI's total investment in Bally's Chicago is $1190 billion, with an 84% blended cap rate[15] - This includes $9400 million in construction financing and $2500 million for land acquisition[15] - The ground lease has a 15-year initial term with an 80% initial cash yield[15] Bally's Kansas City & Shreveport - GLPI is purchasing the real property assets of Bally's Kansas City and Shreveport for $3950 million[31] - The initial cash rent is $322 million, representing an 82% initial capitalization rate[31] - Pro forma rent coverage is projected to be 22x[31] Bally's Lincoln Option - GLPI has an option/call right to acquire Bally's Lincoln for $7350 million, based on an 80% cap rate[37] - The initial annual rent is $588 million, over 20x covered[37]