Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Wealthy Japanese staying in Japan, more people acquiring wealth, a return of inbound tourists and better merchandising and store investment. </li>
<li>All combined to help department stores rebound strongly in 2022 but there has been a sharp shift in where department stores make their money.</li>
<li>Further growth is expected but only for some, and in some product categories much more than others.</li>
</ul>


Wealthy Japanese staying in Japan, more people acquiring wealth, a return of inbound tourists and better merchandising and store investment. 
All combined to help department stores rebound strongly in 2022 but there has been a sharp shift in where department stores make their money.
Further growth is expected but only for some, and in some product categories much more than others.


Japan Department Stores: Transformation Amidst a Recovery

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Value Act's investor activism campaign picked up steam following the death of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seven-i-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1041:1" rel="noopener">Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP)</a> founder.</li>
<li>The board of Seven &amp; I may have been aggravated by Value Act's unreasonable demands and timing, leading to their first angry response in over two years.</li>
<li>The damaged relationship between Seven &amp; I and Value Act reduces the upside risk to our short thesis from disposal of underperforming businesses.</li>
</ul>


Value Act's investor activism campaign picked up steam following the death of Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) founder.
The board of Seven &amp; I may have been aggravated by Value Act's unreasonable demands and timing, leading to their first angry response in over two years.
The damaged relationship between Seven &amp; I and Value Act reduces the upside risk to our short thesis from disposal of underperforming businesses.


Seven & I: Founder's Death Fuels Value Act's Activism, Angers The Board, Reduces Short Thesis Risk

<ul>
<li>Retail media in its traditional sense is nothing new, simply referring to the use of advertising in stores, but in modern terms retail media is something far, far bigger. </li>
<li>It is not only a trend in the US, but one that is about to explode in Japan – although in a very different format.</li>
<li>With purchase rates up two-fold in early experiments, the potential for brands advertising through retail stores will be significant with some estimates suggesting a ¥20 trillion market.</li>
</ul>


Retail media in its traditional sense is nothing new, simply referring to the use of advertising in stores, but in modern terms retail media is something far, far bigger. 
It is not only a trend in the US, but one that is about to explode in Japan – although in a very different format.
With purchase rates up two-fold in early experiments, the potential for brands advertising through retail stores will be significant with some estimates suggesting a ¥20 trillion market.


Retail Ads: A New Revenue Stream for Seven & I and Rival Convenience Stores

<ul>
<li>With food inflation exceeding 8% in December, prices have become the focus for all supermarket retailing. </li>
<li>This is good news for those that are set up for price competition but it presents a serious challenge to the majority of chains.</li>
<li>The net result will be a widening gap in performance between the best and rest, with the former delivering both top line growth and rising margins.</li>
</ul>


With food inflation exceeding 8% in December, prices have become the focus for all supermarket retailing. 
This is good news for those that are set up for price competition but it presents a serious challenge to the majority of chains.
The net result will be a widening gap in performance between the best and rest, with the former delivering both top line growth and rising margins.


Japan's Supermarkets: The Coming Disruption

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seven-i-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1041:1" rel="noopener">Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP)</a> was down as much as 5% on Friday on weak FQ4 earnings as the company’s revenue and OP missed consensus by 1.9% and 2.6% respectively.</li>
<li>Earnings likely peaked in FQ3 as fuel retail margin and merchandise sales trend reversed in FQ4.</li>
<li>Given the reversal of fuel retail margin and merchandise sales trend and the negative impact of the exchange rate, the risk rewards appear favourable for a short trade.</li>
</ul>



Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) was down as much as 5% on Friday on weak FQ4 earnings as the company’s revenue and OP missed consensus by 1.9% and 2.6% respectively.
Earnings likely peaked in FQ3 as fuel retail margin and merchandise sales trend reversed in FQ4.
Given the reversal of fuel retail margin and merchandise sales trend and the negative impact of the exchange rate, the risk rewards appear favourable for a short trade.


Seven & I: Earnings Peak and Valuation Multiples Nearing Breaking Point

Japan

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. is a holding company which was established through the merger of Ito-Yokado Co., Seven Eleven Japan Co., and Denny's Japan. The Company plans, manages, and operates mainly convenience stores, supermarkets, and department stores.

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Seven & I Holdings (3382 JP)

Japan Department Stores: Transformation Amidst a Recovery

Department stores in Japan have rebounded to close to 2019 levels but the sector as a whole will return to genteel contraction once reached. Within...

Michael Causton

Seven & I: Founder's Death Fuels Value Act's Activism, Angers The Board, Reduces Short Thesis Risk

The damaged relationship between Seven & I and Value Act reduces the upside risk to our short thesis from disposal of underperforming assets.

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Retail Ads: A New Revenue Stream for Seven & I and Rival Convenience Stores

Japanese convenience stores have reached stagnation so new sources of revenue to support same-store growth are key. And they may have found it:...

Michael Causton

Japan's Supermarkets: The Coming Disruption

With Trial's IPO looming and inflation at record highs, Japan's supermarket sector is a sector ripe for disruption as pricing pressures widen the...

Michael Causton

Seven & I: Earnings Peak and Valuation Multiples Nearing Breaking Point

We see a potential short opportunity with Seven & I as retail fuel margins are expected to decrease by around 22%, merchandise sales in US gas...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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