Independent Insight Provider, Japanese equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Independent Insight Provider, Japanese equities

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Irate U.S. politicians have gunned down their own tech sector, triggering declines of 7% to 20% among leading semiconductor equipment stocks outside China. </li>
<li>We expect a bounce after such large declines - and further gains for Naura and AMEC in China. </li>
<li>Investors now face difficult questions about the future of Chinese demand, the sustainability of the AI boom, and valuations. We are not optimistic.</li>
</ul>


Irate U.S. politicians have gunned down their own tech sector, triggering declines of 7% to 20% among leading semiconductor equipment stocks outside China. 
We expect a bounce after such large declines - and further gains for Naura and AMEC in China. 
Investors now face difficult questions about the future of Chinese demand, the sustainability of the AI boom, and valuations. We are not optimistic.


Semiconductor Equipment Stocks: A Bounce Before the Reckoning

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

Equity Capital Markets

Taimee, Inc. develops software products. The Company produces internet media softwares, application programs, and other products. Taimee also provides marketing, brand promotion, and other services.

<ul>
<li>Timee has set an indicative IPO price range of ¥1,350-1,450 per share and will raise US$280m (at the midpoint) where existing shareholders will sell down part of their ownership.</li>
<li>We expect Timee’s earnings to grow as the company is still in its early stages and with further growth in scale, we expect Timee’s margins to continue to expand further.</li>
<li>Our analysis shows that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/timee-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43690:1" rel="noopener">Timee Inc (215A JP)</a> IPO is valued attractively as the company has better-than-peer margin profile which suggests that there is further upside to implied valuation multiples.</li>
</ul>


Timee has set an indicative IPO price range of ¥1,350-1,450 per share and will raise US$280m (at the midpoint) where existing shareholders will sell down part of their ownership.
We expect Timee’s earnings to grow as the company is still in its early stages and with further growth in scale, we expect Timee’s margins to continue to expand further.
Our analysis shows that Timee Inc (215A JP) IPO is valued attractively as the company has better-than-peer margin profile which suggests that there is further upside to implied valuation multiples.


Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Bottom-Up

Mandarin Oriental International / Equity Bottom-Up

Mandarin Oriental International Limited is an owner and operator of luxury hotels, resorts, and residences. The Group now operates, or has under development, hotels in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and North Africa. Mandarin Oriental International also operates, or has under development, residences at Mandarin Oriental.

Mandarin Oriental International (MAND SP)

<ul>
<li>This is the final installment in our series on the APAC Luxury Industry, where we highlighted that luxury travel might offer more appealing opportunities than traditional luxury goods.</li>
<li>While travel has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, traditional luxury goods have shown very low demand in recent months.</li>
<li>Below, we analyze recent trends in luxury travel for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mandarin-oriental-international-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4773:1" rel="noopener">Mandarin Oriental International (MAND SP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/minor-international-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2154:1" rel="noopener">Minor International (MINT TB)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shiseido-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5718:1" rel="noopener">Shiseido Company (4911 JP)</a>.</li>
</ul>


This is the final installment in our series on the APAC Luxury Industry, where we highlighted that luxury travel might offer more appealing opportunities than traditional luxury goods.
While travel has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, traditional luxury goods have shown very low demand in recent months.
Below, we analyze recent trends in luxury travel for Mandarin Oriental International (MAND SP), Minor International (MINT TB), and Shiseido Company (4911 JP).


APAC Luxury Industry Series Update: Travel Rebounds While Goods Decline

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/timee-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43690:1" rel="noopener">Timee Inc (215A JP)</a>  operates an on-demand job platform in Japan and the company has filed for an IPO where existing shareholders will offer shares worth of $290m.</li>
<li>The company’s top line saw accelerated growth during last 4-5 years driven by increase in no. of clients/workers while Timee also has turned around its profitability during the last 2-years.</li>
<li>In this insight, we have discussed the company’s business model and financials in detail and we will discuss our forecasts and valuation in a follow-up insight.</li>
</ul>



Timee Inc (215A JP)  operates an on-demand job platform in Japan and the company has filed for an IPO where existing shareholders will offer shares worth of $290m.
The company’s top line saw accelerated growth during last 4-5 years driven by increase in no. of clients/workers while Timee also has turned around its profitability during the last 2-years.
In this insight, we have discussed the company’s business model and financials in detail and we will discuss our forecasts and valuation in a follow-up insight.


Timee IPO: Strong Business Model with Improving Financials

Digital Arts Inc. develops Internet filtering software for business, private, and educational use.  Its product protects users and network from harmful Internet contents and prevents inappropriate usages.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/digital-arts-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2846:1" rel="noopener">Digital Arts (2326 JP)</a> , based in Japan offers internet security software and appliances  globally. The company also provides consulting services related to information security.</li>
<li>The company’s share price has moved up by more than 30% over the last 30-days driven by DA’s decision to deconsolidate its DAC business.</li>
<li>Given the high-cost nature, we welcome Digital Arts’ move to deconsolidate the DAC business as it should help improve the company’s profitability.</li>
</ul>



Digital Arts (2326 JP) , based in Japan offers internet security software and appliances  globally. The company also provides consulting services related to information security.
The company’s share price has moved up by more than 30% over the last 30-days driven by DA’s decision to deconsolidate its DAC business.
Given the high-cost nature, we welcome Digital Arts’ move to deconsolidate the DAC business as it should help improve the company’s profitability.


Digital Arts: Decision to Deconsolidate DAC Business – A Positive Move

LightStream Research
Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

Semiconductor Equipment Stocks: A Bounce Before the Reckoning

Reports of tighter US sanctions and Trump's comments about Taiwan have broken the momentum of SPE stocks. A bounce seems likely, but a scenario of...

Scott Foster

Timee IPO: Forecasts and Valuation

Timee plans to raise $280m through the sale of existing shares and our forecasts and valuation analysis suggests that Timee's IPO is attractively...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

APAC Luxury Industry Series Update: Travel Rebounds While Goods Decline

Luxury travel has exceeded pre-pandemic levels, demand for traditional luxury goods has remained very low in recent months.

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Timee IPO: Strong Business Model with Improving Financials

Timee, an on-demand job platform in Japan has filed for US$290m IPO through the issuance of secondary shares. Timee has seen accelerated growth in...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Digital Arts: Decision to Deconsolidate DAC Business – A Positive Move

DA's share price has rallied more than 30% last 30-days with the decision to deconsolidate the DAC business, which is a lower profitability biz....

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Semiconductor Equipment Stocks: A Bounce Before the Reckoning

Reports of tighter US sanctions and Trump's comments about Taiwan have broken the momentum of SPE stocks. A bounce seems likely, but a scenario of...

Scott Foster

Timee IPO: Forecasts and Valuation

​Timee plans to raise $280m through the sale of existing shares and our forecasts and valuation analysis suggests that Timee's IPO is attractively...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

APAC Luxury Industry Series Update: Travel Rebounds While Goods Decline

​Luxury travel has exceeded pre-pandemic levels, demand for traditional luxury goods has remained very low in recent months.

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Timee IPO: Strong Business Model with Improving Financials

​Timee, an on-demand job platform in Japan has filed for US$290m IPO through the issuance of secondary shares. Timee has seen accelerated growth in...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Digital Arts: Decision to Deconsolidate DAC Business – A Positive Move

DA's share price has rallied more than 30% last 30-days with the decision to deconsolidate the DAC business, which is a lower profitability biz....

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Timee plans to raise $280m through the sale of existing shares and our forecasts and valuation analysis suggests that Timee's IPO is attractively...

Luxury travel has exceeded pre-pandemic levels, demand for traditional luxury goods has remained very low in recent months.

Timee, an on-demand job platform in Japan has filed for US$290m IPO through the issuance of secondary shares. Timee has seen accelerated growth in...