Stockchase Opinions

Stockchase Insights Shopify Inc. SHOP-T BUY Aug 07, 2024

Trevor Rose’s Insights - Trevor’s most-liked answers from 5i Research

SHOP reported EPS of 26c beating estimates of 20c and growing from 14c in the year prior. Revenue was $2.05B growing 21% (or 25% adjusting for the sale of the logistics business) year-over-year and beating estimates of $2.01B. Q3 revenue growth forecast is in the low-to-mid 20% range where analysts projected $2B (approx 17% growth). Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) increased 22% to $67.2B. Merchant solutions increased 19% (to $1.5B) and subscription solutions increased 27% (to $563M) year-over-year. MRR increased 25% to $169M, driven by growth in merchants. Gross profit dollars grew 25% to $1.0B. Gross margin for the quarter was 51.1% compared to 49.3%. Free cash flow margin was 16% compared to 6% a year prior. This was a good 'get-right' quarter for SHOP following the prior weakness. Growth was driven by higher GMV, increased merchants, and increased penetration of Shopify Payments while profitability continued to expand. Guidance met expectations as well and we are happy with the results.  
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HOLD

Still a decent runway to price target of $178, so don't trim. Look to trim if it gets above $170. Because of the volatility, writing some calls would be pretty lucrative.

WATCH

Pay attention to the old highs (~$200), and stock's getting close to them. Recent peak does appear to be breaking the last one. Probably will get to the $200 area, so still a few bucks to go. From there, that's when to start chewing your nails, as it's stalled there before when those old buyers just want their money back.

RISKY

A tough one. Lots of speculation in the name. If you look at it with a purely quantitative view, you'd be a bit nervous. Still in the high growth, ramping up operations, risky "startup" phase. Improving ROC. Valuation makes him pause.

Doesn't have a problem owning it, but should not be core. If your portfolio has 20 stocks, 5% each, then this one should only be ~2%. With today's earnings pop, good to trim.

PARTIAL SELL
Popped on earnings, dropping today.

He trimmed a bit. He'd beef up the position again if it dropped 10-15%. One of the companies that will dominate  the world for the next 1-2 decades. 

BUY ON WEAKNESS

This type of company is out of his wheelhouse. He looks at cash flow; SHOP's free cash flow is too expensive. SHOP has been growing like gangbusters. He watches it, because it's significant in Canada. The changes in US taxation did not impair SHOP, surprisingly. Their business keeps going very well. Is a momentum name, but growth could slow and the street could focus on its cash flow down the road. The PE is rich.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

Has been fantastic. Really good recent quarter. Right-sizing cost structure. Integrating with large-language-model search platforms, and so all searches essentially lead to Shopify. Taking advantage of AI, rather than being overcome by it.

DON'T BUY

"The NVDA of the North". Different businesses, but in the sense that everyone is flocking to that name. Very few tech names to own in Canada, so when we do find one it tends to get run up. In top 5 by market cap of TSX, and probably 6-7% of the entire TSX. That's huge.

Question now is "Does it deserve that premium valuation?" Reaching an all-time high. Very consumer driven. Expectations for growth are way too high. For her to look at it, would have to decrease by more than half. Too risky for her firm.

SELL

Fantastic business; however, has done well partly because it's one of a very few tech names in the TSX. Worries about valuation. Technicals are doing well -- higher highs and higher lows, above 200-day MA. But PEG ratio is over 3x. PE is about 90x, and forward is the same, for 30% growth rate. Any hiccups on meeting expectations, and the stock has a bit to fall.

Better risk-adjusted names elsewhere.

TOP PICK

Are delivering on revenues; have upped that guidance in the past 2 quarters at 25% revenue growth. Have found their niche in mid/small businesses, a market that will continue to grow.  The valuation has fallen, though has never been low. Are hitting cash-flow break even, and are on the verge to  accelerate earnings growth. They have staying power.

(Analysts’ price target is $224.14)
HOLD

A solid hold. Don't buy aggressively. Multiples are high, but execution phenomenal and will continue to. Margins will continue to expand. They are innovative.