Sea Limited (SE): The Rebound Mirage - Why I Remain Bearish

Sea Limited (SE) $Sea Ltd(SE)$ has been a notable player in the tech and e-commerce industry, particularly in Southeast Asia. While the stock experienced a meteoric rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, I hold the view that the recent rebound in SE’s share price is a deceptive rally. In this article, we will delve into the reasons behind my bearish stance on Sea Limited.

1. Understanding Sea Limited’s Business:

Sea Limited is a multi-faceted technology company with three main business segments:

• Garena: SE’s gaming arm, which includes popular titles like Free Fire, catering to the booming esports and gaming market.

• Shopee: SE’s e-commerce platform, positioned as a competitor to giants like Amazon and Alibaba in Southeast Asia.

• SeaMoney: The digital financial services segment offering mobile wallet and payment solutions.

2. The Hype and the $300 High:

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sea Limited enjoyed a significant surge in its share price, reaching a staggering $300. This surge was driven by increased demand for online gaming and e-commerce as people stayed indoors. However, the sustainability of this growth was always in question.

3. The Interest Rate Hike Effect:

My primary concern with Sea Limited lies in its growth-dependent business model. As central banks worldwide embark on a path of interest rate hikes, growth companies like SE face a unique set of challenges:

• Cost of Capital: Higher interest rates result in increased borrowing costs, potentially hampering SE’s ability to finance its operations and expansion.

• Valuation Pressures: Growth stocks like SE often trade at high valuations based on future earnings potential. Rising interest rates can erode investor sentiment, leading to valuation compression.

• Reduced Risk Appetite: As interest rates rise, investors tend to favor safer, income-generating assets over high-risk, high-reward growth stocks, further impacting SE’s stock price.

4. A Bearish Outlook:

Given the aforementioned factors, I maintain a bearish outlook on Sea Limited. While the recent rebound might seem enticing, I view it as a short-lived phenomenon. SE’s business model heavily relies on sustained growth, and an environment of rising interest rates is unforgiving for such companies.

5. My Price Target: Below $40 by End of 2023:

I believe that by the end of 2023, Sea Limited’s share price will dip below $40. This projection is a result of my skepticism about SE’s ability to navigate the challenges posed by rising interest rates effectively.

Conclusion:

Sea Limited’s recent rebound should not distract investors from the broader economic realities it faces. As an investor, I prioritize preserving capital and seek investments that can weather varying market conditions. Sea Limited, with its growth-centric model and sensitivity to interest rate hikes, doesn’t align with my investment objectives.

While I acknowledge the appeal of a rebound story, I urge fellow investors to exercise caution when considering Sea Limited as an investment option. The market is unpredictable, and chasing false dawns can lead to significant losses.

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# Will Sea continue to go up as TikTok shuts shop?

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

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  • Nase
    ·2023-09-27
    TOP
    Interesting ! But why below 40 ? It is already 34$ area


    If what you are saying is correct you should be confident to give a price target like 28$ - i am long term SE Investor but i do see around 28$ as my downside target
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    • JinHan
      Cant plug an exact figure to it so a range is good! If you believe in its fundamentals, just have to hold on!
      2023-09-27
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  • JohnnyYoung
    ·2023-09-26
    TOP

    Now they’ll pump it as they sell it off with the news why it went up lol

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    • JinHan
      Stay clear of it! I personally prefer quality companies like Apple and Microsoft!
      2023-09-27
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  • hphoa
    ·2023-09-26
    TOP
    I bought at 108... [Smug]
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    • hphoaReplying toJinHan
      i will hold... [Tongue]
      2023-09-27
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    • JinHan
      Have to bag hold for awhile unless you dont mind realising the loss!
      2023-09-27
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    • hphoaReplying toJohnnyYoung
      ya.... [Tongue]
      2023-09-27
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  • GrassWoodAll
    ·2023-09-26
    TOP
    Do you dare to short since you bearish? [Cool]
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    • JinHan
      Im bearish but i wouldnt short! Its not within my risk appetite [Happy]
      2023-09-27
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  • Kerrisdale
    ·2023-09-26
    interesting analysis thought. SE may be a little strong in e-commerce, but weak in the gaming sector. Unsure  on e-wallet business growth.
    My hunch is that they have to release its poor performancing business.
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    • JinHan
      Until the day the ecommerce starts making money…
      2023-09-27
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  • delusion梦碎
    ·2023-09-26

    Investors' concerns have centered around SE decision to pivot from profitability to growth, and the market has ruthlessly punished the stock. But we argue that SE remains the market leader in Southeast Asia.

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  • BorgPetty
    ·2023-09-26

    Personally I think this stock goes to $10-$20 before a reversal but I started buying around $60

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  • AprilBridges
    ·2023-09-26

    How does the new rule help the SE stock? Or there is something else idiosyncratic to the SE stock? Does anyone know?

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