Here’s the thing about summer in the stock market: everyone acts like it’s supposed to be boring. Trading volumes drop, options get pricey, and everyone’s basically just waiting for earnings season to disappoint them. It’s like the market decided to take a vacation without telling anyone.
But here’s where most traders get it wrong—they’re thinking too American. While we’re grilling burgers and pretending to work, half the world is throwing massive shopping festivals that would make Black Friday jealous.
Take China. Their 618 shopping festival (basically their version of a digital Black Friday) runs from mid-May through mid-June and generates roughly $125 billion in sales. That’s *insane*. And guess what? Alibaba (BABA) sits right in the middle of that cash flow, controlling almost 50% of Chinese e-commerce. The stock’s been beaten down to $92 after peaking near $200, which means it’s trading at just 17X forward earnings—a steal for a company that’s also quietly becoming an AI powerhouse.
Alibaba’s not just sitting on its e-commerce throne anymore. They’re designing their own chips, building data centers, and developing AI models that are only a few months behind OpenAI. Think of it like this: a generalist restaurant can make anything, but if you want the best sushi, you go to the sushi specialist. Alibaba’s becoming that specialist—vertically integrated, efficient, and positioned to undercut competitors just by running things smarter.
Then there’s South Korea, where Coupang (CPNG) dominates like Amazon on steroids. These folks do roughly half their shopping online, and Coupang’s same-day delivery network covers 90% of the country. Their Wow Members Day sale in July is so massive it adds 10-15% to a normal month’s revenue. Then comes Chuseok in September—basically their version of Christmas—which historically sends Q3 revenues through the roof.
The stock jumped in June after South Korea’s $409 million fine for a data breach turned out to be way smaller than expected. That’s the kind of “bad news that’s actually good news” moment that creates opportunities.
Now, let’s be real: both companies operate in countries with governments that can be… unpredictable. Alibaba’s founder Jack Ma learned that the hard way. Coupang’s had its share of regulatory headaches. But that’s exactly *why* they’re trading at discounts. And cheap prices on high-growth companies? That’s usually where the double-digit gains hide.
The real trick isn’t just knowing *what* to buy—it’s knowing *when* to buy it. Seasonal patterns matter more than most people think, especially in markets where cultural events drive consumer behavior. Alibaba tends to pop in early July after the 618 festival boost hits earnings. Coupang typically rallies from August through mid-September as Chuseok approaches.
So while everyone else is pretending summer is boring, you could be riding seasonal waves that most Western traders completely miss. Sometimes the best opportunities aren’t hiding—they’re just on a different calendar.
