Can This Asian E-Commerce Stock Make You a Millionaire?

Most traders have the exact same overarching purpose: To expand their wealth. Some make bets on high-advancement shares like Amazon (AMZN 1.21%), which is up shut to 10x in the very last 10 decades and above 100x because its initial community giving (IPO) in 1997. Many buyers turned millionaires by getting substantial-development stocks like Amazon and holding for the extended phrase. 

So, what stock is the following Amazon? I imagine I could have an reply in the South Korean e-commerce system Coupang (CPNG 2.61%). Here is why buying this current IPO and holding the inventory very long-term may just support you retire a millionaire. 

Coupang Q1 earnings: a cash circulation inflection

Coupang operates an e-commerce market similar to Amazon in South Korea. Like its North American counterpart, it created its individual warehouses and delivery community to offer a vertically integrated giving. Mainly because of this dense logistics community, Coupang can give buyers with identical-day and up coming-working day supply on just about all orders, which improves its worth proposition as opposed to rivals. The e-commerce expert also added even a lot more selections via the Coupang market like grocery and meal delivery, which expands its earnings prospective from its South Korean buyer base.

In 2023’s 1st quarter, Coupang’s development ongoing to outpace general South Korean retail paying, growing 20% yr in excess of yr on a currency-neutral foundation to $5.8 billion, which is spectacular looking at it grew 32% 12 months in excess of year in the exact same period of time in 2022.

This advancement was driven by 14% 12 months-about-12 months expansion in income per energetic consumer, which strike $323 on a continuous-forex basis in the 1st quarter, displaying the accomplishment Coupang had in increasing its item range to its present customers.

Though growth was reliable, the most outstanding aspect of Coupang’s 1st quarter was its cash move. Much better profit margins and lessen money expenses assisted push cost-free cash flow to $406 million in the quarter, compared to a decline of $294 million a yr before.

Part of this was also owing to an maximize in accounts payable to $162 million. Like Amazon, Coupang has a everlasting doing work-cash advantage since it collects dollars from buyers at the time of invest in but does not shell out the merchants who offered the items right until later (possible in just 90 days). This isn’t really money it can maintain forever or return to shareholders, but it offers its harmony sheet much extra overall flexibility, in contrast to other firms, when generating new investments.

Coupang saw progress in Taiwan, a pullback in Japan

With over $20 billion in yearly profits, Coupang continue to has loads of area to develop as it tackles the $500 billion South Korean commerce sector. But with only a small inhabitants in its dwelling nation, management has presently looked to broaden to other Asian nations around the world.

It invested in Japan but recently resolved to exit that market as it was not seeing considerably traction with individuals. Incumbents like Amazon, which has a massive presence in the region, and Rakuten were being possible challenging to make any inroads against.

But a single nation where Coupang is observing sturdy returns is Taiwan. The island nation with just underneath 24 million people today and large population density could be a great place to replicate Coupang’s vertically integrated e-commerce network in South Korea, which also has a superior population density.

Right now, its worldwide income is considerably smaller sized than its domestic revenue. But good results in Taiwan — and other Asian nations — could continue to keep Coupang’s revenue growing at a higher degree for quite a few a long time.

CPNG Net Revenue (TTM) info by YCharts. TTM = trailing 12 months.

Don’t get caught up in Coupang’s valuation

Just on the lookout at net profits, Coupang does not seem to be pretty successful. Over the last 12 months, the enterprise generated net profits of just $208 million on $21 billion in product sales, for a trailing value-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 134. But clever investors know that a inventory is not worth what it has gained in the past, but what it will generate in the future.

As Coupang scales up, administration expects its earnings margins to hit around 10% or higher as it gains running leverage and grows higher-margin options like promotion. A 10% margin on $20 billion in revenue equates to $2 billion in earnings and $4 billion on $40 billion in sales. If the organization can get anywhere close to that variety inside of the up coming several several years (and possibly $10 billion internet income on $100 billion in sales further into the upcoming), it is just about certain that the stock will trade at a marketplace cap considerably increased than its present benefit of $28 billion. 

Of study course, no financial investment arrives with a warranty, but it looks like Coupang has all the components of a millionaire-maker stock for traders who prepare to keep for the prolonged term. 

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Meals Industry, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Brett Schafer has positions in Amazon.com and Coupang. The Motley Idiot has positions in and endorses Amazon.com and Coupang. The Motley Idiot has a disclosure plan.