Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) is one of the best foreign stocks to buy right now. On February 11, Morgan Stanley analyst Divya Gangahar Kothiyal lowered the 12-month price target on Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) to $173 from $209 while maintaining an Overweight rating. Analysts Adjust Targets as Sea Limited (SE) Expands E‑Commerce and Fintech Kothiyal expects Sea to focus on operational investments aimed at expanding scale and strengthening its position as e-commerce evolves with artificial intelligence. Also, the analy ...

Group 1: Company Overview - Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) is a Singapore-based consumer internet company that operates Shopee (e-commerce), Garena (digital entertainment), and SeaMoney (digital financial services) globally [5]. Group 2: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - As of January 12, 2026, over 90% of analysts are bullish on Sea Limited, with a consensus price target of $197.00, indicating a potential upside of 51.70% [2]. - On January 2, 2025, Maybank upgraded Sea Limited from 'Hold' to 'Buy', setting a price target of $156, citing a more attractive risk-reward profile after a 36% decline in stock price since October 2025 [3]. - Wedbush lowered its price target for Sea Limited from $190 to $170 while maintaining an 'Outperform' rating, noting the internet sector's strong performance in 2025 [4]. Group 3: Market Position and Strategy - Maybank believes that most short-term headwinds are already priced in due to Sea Limited's aggressive investment in Shopee's VIP program and fulfillment network, which is expected to enhance its competitive position in Southeast Asia, accounting for approximately 75% of Shopee's gross merchandise value (GMV) [3]. - Wedbush's commentary highlights the anticipated greater dispersion in the internet sector for 2026 as investors consider factors like AI monetization and ongoing investment cycles [4].

Core Viewpoint - Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) is considered one of the best stocks to buy for high returns in 2026, with recent upgrades from analysts indicating a positive outlook despite recent price declines [1][2]. Group 1: Analyst Upgrades and Price Targets - Hussaini Saifee from Maybank upgraded Sea Limited from Hold to Buy with a price target of $156 [1]. - Scott Devitt from Wedbush reiterated a Buy rating but lowered the price target from $190 to $170 [1]. Group 2: Stock Performance and Risks - The share price of Sea Limited has fallen more than 36% from its peak in October 2025, suggesting that most near-term risks have already been priced in [2]. - Despite the stock price decline, the long-term growth drivers for Sea Limited remain intact [2]. Group 3: Investment in E-commerce - Sea Limited continues to invest in its Shopee VIP programme fulfilment network, strengthening its position in the Southeast Asian e-commerce market, which accounts for approximately 75% of Shopee's GMV [3]. - Maybank noted that Sea Limited provides an attractive risk/reward profile at current levels [3]. Group 4: Company Overview - Sea Limited operates through three segments: e-commerce, digital financial services, and digital entertainment, with key platforms including Shopee, Garena, and SeaMoney [4].

Core Viewpoint - Sea Limited, often referred to as the "Tencent + Alibaba" of Southeast Asia, has experienced significant stock price fluctuations, dropping from a peak market capitalization of over $200 billion in 2021 to around $72 billion in 2023, although it has shown recovery from its lows in 2022 and 2023 [2][3]. Business Overview - Sea Limited originated from Garena, a gaming distribution platform that successfully launched the self-developed mobile game Free Fire, which became one of the most popular mobile games globally [5][6]. - The company expanded into e-commerce with Shopee, which has become the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia, and later ventured into fintech with SeaMoney, offering payment and consumer credit services [6][16]. Leadership and Vision - The founder, Forrest Li, has a strong background in technology and management, having studied at Stanford and previously worked in HR roles before starting Sea [8][9]. - Li emphasizes the importance of long-term investment and customer satisfaction, focusing on building a sustainable business model rather than short-term gains [34][38]. Market Position and Strategy - Sea Limited has captured nearly half of the Southeast Asian e-commerce market by providing localized solutions tailored to the region's unique challenges, such as complex logistics and address systems [24][27]. - The company has invested heavily in logistics infrastructure to ensure timely delivery, which is critical for customer satisfaction in the e-commerce sector [27][28]. Financial Technology Development - SeaMoney was established to address payment issues encountered in both gaming and e-commerce, evolving into a significant player in digital consumer credit in Southeast Asia, with a loan balance exceeding $7 billion [81]. AI Integration - The company is leveraging AI to enhance customer service, with 80% of user inquiries now handled by AI chatbots, which have shown high satisfaction rates compared to human agents [46][47]. - AI is also being integrated into game development processes, improving efficiency and creativity in content creation [62][66]. Cultural Values - Sea Limited's corporate culture is built on five core values: serving customers, prioritizing execution, adapting to change, committing to excellence, and maintaining humility [111][112]. - The emphasis on humility is rooted in the founder's belief that recognizing one's limitations fosters continuous improvement and innovation [115][116]. Future Outlook - The company aims to capitalize on the next wave of technological advancement, particularly in AI, to drive future growth and potentially reach a trillion-dollar valuation [100][102]. - Sea Limited is focused on optimizing its existing business lines rather than rushing into new ventures, believing there is still significant potential within its current operations [83].

Core Insights - Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Sea, indicating potential significant market movements ahead [1] - The options activity for Sea shows a divided sentiment among investors, with 53% bearish and 26% bullish [2] Options Activity - A total of 15 extraordinary options activities were recorded for Sea, with puts totaling $724,206 and calls amounting to $864,295 [2] - The major market movers are focusing on a price range between $72.5 and $180.0 for Sea over the last three months [3] Volume and Open Interest - Insights into volume and open interest reveal key trends in liquidity and interest levels for Sea's options at specific strike prices [4] - A snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts indicates significant trading activity within the strike price range of $72.5 to $180.0 over the past month [4] Largest Options Trades - Notable options trades include a bearish put trade with a total price of $493.5K at a strike price of $115.00, and several call trades with varying sentiments and strike prices [8] Company Overview - Sea operates Southeast Asia's largest e-commerce platform, Shopee, and has expanded from its origins in gaming with Garena [9] - As of March 31, 2024, the founder, Forrest Xiaodong Li, holds 59.8% of voting power, while Tencent owns 18.2% of issued shares [9] Analyst Opinions - Industry analysts propose an average target price of $185.0 for Sea, with varying ratings and target prices from different firms, including a Hold rating from TD Cowen and a Buy rating from Deutsche Bank [11][12] Current Market Status - Trading volume for Sea stands at 2,204,228, with the stock price at $138.2, reflecting a 1.4% increase [14] - Earnings announcement is expected in 97 days, indicating a potential catalyst for future price movements [14]

Core Insights - Sea Ltd. announced a buyback plan of up to $1 billion for its American shares, reflecting the company's confidence in its long-term prospects [1][2] - Sea's stock rose over 3% to $145.49 in morning trades following the announcement [2] - The company operates the largest e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia, Shopee, and has expanded into Latin America, alongside other holdings like SeaMoney and Garena [3] Financial Performance - Sea reported third-quarter sales growth of 38% year-over-year, reaching $5.99 billion, which exceeded estimates [5] - Earnings per share increased by 146% to 59 cents, although this was below the expected 72 cents [5] - Year-to-date, Sea's stock is up approximately 33%, despite a more than 25% decline from its 52-week high of $199.30 reached on September 11 [6] Market Position and Competition - The stock has faced pressure due to rising competition in the e-commerce sector, particularly in Latin America and Southeast Asia [4][5] - Sea's Relative Strength score has decreased to 31 out of 99, down from 93 three months ago, indicating a weakening position in the market [7] - The overall e-commerce sector has seen a pullback after a strong performance in the first nine months of the year, with the cumulative Relative Strength rating for the Retail-Internet industry group dropping from 98 to 76 [7] Ratings and Analyst Insights - Sea holds an IBD Composite Rating of 70 out of 99, which combines five proprietary ratings [8] - Analyst Scott Devitt from Wedbush maintains an outperform rating for Sea stock despite concerns over near-term e-commerce margins due to increased competition [5]

Core Insights - Financial giants have shown a bullish sentiment towards Sea, with 47% of traders being bullish and 23% bearish, indicating a positive outlook on the stock [1] - The predicted price range for Sea over the last three months has been targeted between $120.0 and $200.0 by large investors [2] - Analysts have set an average price target of $188.0 for Sea, with various firms providing differing ratings and targets [10][11] Options Analysis - A total of 17 unusual trades were identified for Sea, with 11 puts valued at $550,337 and 6 calls valued at $334,090 [1] - The analysis of volume and open interest reveals significant liquidity and interest in Sea's options, particularly within the strike price range of $120.0 to $200.0 [3] - The snapshot of options trading indicates a mix of bullish and bearish sentiments, with notable trades including a bearish call and several puts with varying sentiments [8] Company Overview - Sea operates Southeast Asia's largest e-commerce platform, Shopee, and has expanded from its origins in gaming with Garena [9] - The company also provides financial services through SeaMoney, which includes lending, payment, digital banking, and insurance [9] - As of March 31, 2024, the founder, Forrest Xiaodong Li, holds 59.8% of voting power, while Tencent owns 18.2% of issued shares without voting power [9] Current Market Position - Sea's current trading volume stands at 3,519,593, with the stock price at $139.69, reflecting a slight decrease of -0.25% [13] - The stock is approaching oversold conditions according to RSI indicators, suggesting potential for price movement [13] - An earnings announcement is expected in 109 days, which could impact future trading and investor sentiment [13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue reached $6 billion, representing a 38% year-on-year growth, while adjusted EBITDA grew by 68% to $874 million [4][34] - Shopee's GMV increased by over 28% year-on-year, with gross orders rising by 28% to 3.6 billion [4][34] - Digital financial services revenue grew by 61% year-on-year to $990 million, with adjusted EBITDA up by 37% to $258 million [20][34] - Digital entertainment bookings increased by 51% year-on-year to $841 million, with adjusted EBITDA growing by 48% [26][34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - E-commerce: Shopee achieved record highs in GMV, gross order volume, and revenue, with a GAAP marketplace revenue of $3.8 billion, up 37% year-on-year [5][34] - Digital Financial Services: The loan book expanded to $7.9 billion, up 70% year-on-year, with a stable 90-day NPL ratio of 1.1% [21][36] - Digital Entertainment: Garena's bookings were up 51% year-on-year, driven by successful campaigns for Free Fire [27][34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Brazil, Shopee's GMV growth outpaced the market, with significant improvements in delivery speed and reliability [19][20] - In Taiwan, GMV showed double-digit growth year-on-year, with a strong logistics network supporting growth [11][18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to continue delivering high and profitable growth across all three business lines, focusing on enhancing logistics capabilities and buyer engagement [4][5] - Investments in logistics and fulfillment are seen as critical for long-term competitiveness and profitability [7][12] - The company is leveraging AI to improve consumer retail experiences, enhancing product discovery and seller engagement [16][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining growth momentum, with expectations for Shopee's full-year 2025 GMV growth to exceed 25% [20][34] - The competitive landscape is viewed as stable, with no significant changes noted in market dynamics [54] - The company is optimistic about the future, particularly in expanding its digital financial services and enhancing user engagement through programs like Shopee VIP [15][19] Other Important Information - The Shopee VIP membership program has seen a 75% increase in members, indicating strong user engagement [15][71] - The company is focused on a capital-efficient approach to logistics, primarily leasing rather than purchasing land and warehouses [14][42] Q&A Session Summary Question: Growth guidance for 2025 and margin trends - Management indicated that the growth guidance reflects current market momentum and competitive landscape, with expectations for a 2-3% EBITDA margin improvement [40][41] Question: Investment areas affecting margins - Management noted that investments in logistics and fulfillment are contributing to margin fluctuations, but overall improvements are expected [40][42] Question: New market entry strategy and Argentina - The rationale for entering Argentina is to leverage existing capabilities from Brazil, with a focus on operational synergies [46][47] Question: Market shares in ASEAN and Taiwan - Management believes they are gaining market share in South Asia and are confident in their position in Taiwan despite competition [49][50] Question: Competitive landscape in Southeast Asia - The competitive landscape is stable, with no significant changes noted, and management does not foresee a major impact from live streaming peers [52][54] Question: Logistics fulfillment percentage and cost outlook - More than half of orders are fulfilled by SPX, with continuous improvements in cost per order and delivery speed [59][60] Question: Outlook for Free Fire in 2026 - Management remains optimistic about Free Fire's growth, with plans for new IP collaborations and game launches [63][64] Question: VIP membership unit economics - The VIP program is still in early stages, with a focus on improving retention and ensuring benefits for both users and partners [71][72] Question: AI investments and applications - Management is excited about AI's potential to enhance user experience and operational efficiency, focusing on practical applications rather than large-scale infrastructure investments [74][76]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue reached $6 billion, representing a 38% year-on-year growth, while adjusted EBITDA grew by 68% to $874 million [4][33] - Shopee's GMV increased by over 28% year-on-year, with gross orders rising by 28% to $3.6 billion [4][33] - Digital financial services revenue grew by 61% year-on-year to $990 million, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by 37% to $258 million [20][34] - Digital entertainment bookings rose by 51% year-on-year to $841 million, with adjusted EBITDA up 48% to $466 million [27][37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - E-commerce: Shopee achieved record highs in GMV, gross order volume, and revenue, with a significant increase in ad revenue by over 70% [5][34] - Digital Financial Services: The loan book expanded by 70% year-on-year to $7.9 billion, with a stable 90-day NPL ratio at 1.1% [21][36] - Digital Entertainment: Garena's performance was bolstered by successful campaigns, leading to a 51% increase in bookings [27][37] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Brazil, Shopee's GMV growth outpaced the market, with delivery speed improving significantly, allowing for expansion into higher-value product categories [19][20] - In Taiwan, Shopee's GMV showed double-digit growth year-on-year, with a strong logistics network enhancing delivery capabilities [10][17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to enhance logistics and fulfillment capabilities as core pillars of its strategy, focusing on improving service quality and price competitiveness [6][11] - Continued investment in AI to enhance consumer retail experiences and improve monetization through smarter search and personalized content [15][16] - The Shopee VIP membership program has gained traction, with a 75% increase in members, indicating strong user engagement [13][14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining profitable growth across all business lines, with expectations for Shopee's full-year GMV growth to exceed 25% [20][32] - The competitive landscape remains stable, with the company gaining market share in Southeast Asia and Taiwan [53][54] - Future investments will focus on logistics and fulfillment to strengthen competitive advantages without significant capital expenditure [62][64] Other Important Information - The company is exploring opportunities in Argentina while winding down operations in Chile and Colombia to focus resources on key priorities [52] - The standalone ShopeePay app is gaining traction, with over 20% of monthly transacting users utilizing it [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Growth guidance for 2025 and margin trends - Management indicated that the growth guidance reflects current market momentum and competitive landscape, with expectations for a 2-3% EBITDA margin improvement over time [41][42] Question: New market entry strategy and market shares - The rationale for closing cross-border operations in some regions was to focus on key business priorities, with confidence in gaining market share in ASEAN and Taiwan [46][53] Question: Competitive landscape in Southeast Asia - Management noted a stable competitive landscape, with no significant changes in market dynamics impacting growth [56][60] Question: Logistics fulfillment and Garena's outlook - More than half of orders are fulfilled by SPX, with continuous improvements in delivery speed and cost contributing to growth [67][68] - Garena remains optimistic about Free Fire's growth, with plans for new IP collaborations and game launches [71][76] Question: VIP membership unit economics and AI investments - The VIP program is in early stages, with strong growth in user sign-ups and retention rates being closely monitored [80][81] - AI investments will focus on practical applications to enhance user experience and operational efficiency, avoiding large capital expenditures [89][90]

Core Insights - Sea Limited is a significant player in the digital economy, operating through three main segments: Shopee, SeaMoney, and Garena [1] - The company is preparing to release its third-quarter earnings on November 11, 2025, with analysts expecting an EPS of $1.03, a 90.7% increase from the previous year, and projected revenue of $5.97 billion, reflecting a 39.9% year-over-year growth [2][6] Shopee Segment - Shopee has achieved a 25% increase in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and maintains market leadership in Brazil, contributing significantly to the company's growth [2][6] SeaMoney Segment - SeaMoney's loan book has expanded by 90%, with stable credit quality, which is expected to drive a 60% year-over-year revenue increase for this segment [3][6] Garena Segment - Garena continues to contribute to revenue momentum with over 100 million daily users, although it faces margin pressure and risks related to user stability, particularly due to reliance on the game Free Fire [4] Historical Performance - Sea Limited has missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters, with an average negative surprise of 12.14%, and the consensus EPS estimate has been revised downwards by 1.4% over the past 30 days [5]