Is China’s Crackdown on Covid-19 a Concern for ContextLogic?

Advertisement

WISH stock - Is China’s Crackdown on Covid-19 a Concern for ContextLogic?

Source: sdx15 / Shutterstock.com

No matter what your opinion is on e-commerce marketplace ContextLogic (NASDAQ:WISH) — whether a fundamentally flawed business or a company on the cusp of a remarkable bounce back — no argument exists about its dependency on China. Even if there’s no specific news moving WISH stock, sharp rumblings in the world’s second-biggest economy should be of major concern for stakeholders and prospective buyers.

You don’t need to take my word for it — you can go straight to the source. According to ContextLogic’s Form 10-K for full year 2021, management cites as one of its risk factors economic tensions between the U.S. and China. Specifically, the concern is that most of the company’s merchant base is located in China. Though efforts are underway to diversify this product sourcing profile, it’s tough to beat the country’s lucrative net cost structures.

However, these days, the flashpoint for WISH stock doesn’t center on geopolitical tensions as much as it does on the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike other nations dealing with Covid-19, China has adopted a binary all-or-nothing approach. According to a CNN report on April 8, “Shanghai — home to China’s leading financial center and some of its largest sea and airports — has been under lockdown for 12 days, and there’s no sign of it ending.”

The latest reports from this vital port city still reveals no apparent plans for a reopening, a matter which will almost surely hurt China’s economic stability. And that could have negative downwind impacts on WISH stock through disrupted supply chains and higher product procurement costs.

As well, it’s particularly interesting — and worrisome if we’re being honest — that the Chinese government has adopted such a draconian stance on its Covid-19 protocol. Several other countries including the U.S. have integrated a soft mitigation approach since harsh lockdowns have damaged economic output.

That China remains the outlier in its pandemic response suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is worse than many nations may realize or care to admit. Either way, what is clear is that affected investments like WISH stock will require additional due diligence before comfortably stepping forward.

On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2022/04/wish-stock-is-china-covid-crackdown-wish-stock-headwind/.

©2024 InvestorPlace Media, LLC