Luckin Coffee: Upside Ahead, But Competition Risk Remains Elevated

VCG/Visual China Group via Getty Images Luckin Coffee (OTCPK:LKNCY) is a Chinese coffee chain founded in 2017 with a digital-first business model that had been rapidly growing to overtake Starbucks (SBUX) before accounting fraud issues led to bankruptcy. Since 2022, they have been rebuilding trust under new management. So far, things have been looking relatively good. Since 2022, the share price has nearly doubled, though performance has been rather volatile. Luckin saw a 1-year high of $34 in just October last year, before realizing a -44% decline to $20 level today. I initiate my coverage with a buy rating. My…