'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

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)

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/153/689/original/2020-08-20_08-32-43.png?1597879991" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="153689"></figure><div class="content-caption">All charts sourced from Japan Analytics.</div><p><strong>BRUTAL</strong> - The summer earnings 'season' reflected the broadening impact of COVID-19 on the Japanese and world economies, however, in terms of profit decline, the pace is more moderate than in the previous quarter. Japanese corporates are starting to engage in aggressive cost controls. As a result, an with no signs of virus abating or a vaccine being readily available, earnings will continue to decline in the current quarter. We have yet to reach a low point in this earnings cycle. Many companies delayed making initial forecasts for the current year. As that deficiency is gradually remedied, earnings forecasts are leading trailing results to the downside. The 'gap' for operating profits is ¥5.7 trillion, or 13%. A similar percentage fall applies to net income. Operating income is forecast to be 41% below the peak level of 2019; for net income, the decline is 57%. The aggregate forecast operating margin of 4.8%% is 294 bps lower than the peak, while the forecast net margin is 318 bps lower at 2.67%. If achieved, this outcome will exceed that of the 2008/9 financial crisis when the aggregate was negative. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/153/694/original/2020-08-20_09-02-34.png?1597881766" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="153694"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/153/695/original/2020-08-20_09-03-07.png?1597881801" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="153695"></figure><p><strong>TTM RESULTS &amp; FORECASTS</strong> - Using trailing-twelve-month data to smooth out the seasonality in earnings, TTM operating income is 29% lower year-on-year on a 6% decline in sales. Running the same comparison using published forecasts, operating profit expectations are 40% lower than a year ago and revenues 10% lower.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/153/727/original/2020-08-20_10-57-21.png?1597888653" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="153727"></figure><p><strong>DAMN THE TORPEDOES</strong> - Our scoring methodology tracks all quarterly results since 2003 and every annual and interim forecast made since 2013. The lines above represent the cap-weighted aggregates of those scores overlayed with the daily series for TOPIX. Other than the three years before the advent of 'Abenomics' and the last six months, the directional correlation is clear.  Mr Market, supported by the BoJ and Federal Reserve, is 'banking' on a sharp and sustained recovery over the next two quarters. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>In the<strong> DETAIL</strong> section below, we shall review the actual results and initial and revised forecasts by Sector and highlight the best and worst-performing companies by one-quarter revenue and margin changes. We shall also review our Results and Revision Scoring for the market, Sectors and Companies.</p></div>

All charts sourced from Japan Analytics.BRUTAL - The summer earnings 'season' reflected the broadening impact of COVID-19 on the Japanese and world economies, however, in terms of profit decline, the pace is more moderate than in the previous quarter. Japanese corporates are starting to engage in aggressive cost controls. As a result, an with no signs of virus abating or a vaccine being readily available, earnings will continue to decline in the current quarter. We have yet to reach a low point in this earnings cycle. Many companies delayed making initial forecasts for the current year. As that deficiency is gradually remedied, earnings forecasts are leading trailing results to the downside. The 'gap' for operating profits is ¥5.7 trillion, or 13%. A similar percentage fall applies to net income. Operating income is forecast to be 41% below the peak level of 2019; for net income, the decline is 57%. The aggregate forecast operating margin of 4.8%% is 294 bps lower than the peak, while the forecast net margin is 318 bps lower at 2.67%. If achieved, this outcome will exceed that of the 2008/9 financial crisis when the aggregate was negative. TTM RESULTS &amp; FORECASTS - Using trailing-twelve-month data to smooth out the seasonality in earnings, TTM operating income is 29% lower year-on-year on a 6% decline in sales. Running the same comparison using published forecasts, operating profit expectations are 40% lower than a year ago and revenues 10% lower.DAMN THE TORPEDOES - Our scoring methodology tracks all quarterly results since 2003 and every annual and interim forecast made since 2013. The lines above represent the cap-weighted aggregates of those scores overlayed with the daily series for TOPIX. Other than the three years before the advent of 'Abenomics' and the last six months, the directional correlation is clear.  Mr Market, supported by the BoJ and Federal Reserve, is 'banking' on a sharp and sustained recovery over the next two quarters. In the DETAIL section below, we shall review the actual results and initial and revised forecasts by Sector and highlight the best and worst-performing companies by one-quarter revenue and margin changes. We shall also review our Results and Revision Scoring for the market, Sectors and Companies.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • IT’S A WRAP - Summer 2020 Results & Revisions Review

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/146/859/original/2020-07-20_05-45-19.png?1595191529" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="146859"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona (2168 JP)</a></strong>- Pasona was the largest capitalisation company to report on Friday. At the end of June, the company warned on impairment losses at the full-year ended in May 2020. The outcome was a write-off of ¥2.7 billion, resulting in a 63% decline in Comprehensive Income to Common (CITC) to ¥676 million. In the<strong> DETAIL </strong>below, we review the operating performance and valuation of this 'activist trap'.</p><hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>4 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Results Score:</strong> 2 Positive / 0 Neutral / 2 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong> +2.3</li>
<li>
<strong>Average % Change in Revenue</strong>: -20% Quarter YoY / -12.9% Rolling TTM YoY</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -0.1ppt</li>
<li>
<strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 50%</li>
</ul></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong>5 Annual • 4 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 1 Positive / 0 Neutral / 4 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 1 Positive / 0 Neutral / 3 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -10.0</li>
</ul></div>

Source • Japan AnalyticsPasona (2168 JP)- Pasona was the largest capitalisation company to report on Friday. At the end of June, the company warned on impairment losses at the full-year ended in May 2020. The outcome was a write-off of ¥2.7 billion, resulting in a 63% decline in Comprehensive Income to Common (CITC) to ¥676 million. In the DETAIL below, we review the operating performance and valuation of this 'activist trap'.DAILY STATS4 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 2 Positive / 0 Neutral / 2 Negative

Average Results Score Change: +2.3

Average % Change in Revenue: -20% Quarter YoY / -12.9% Rolling TTM YoY

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -0.1ppt

Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 50%
 5 Annual • 4 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 1 Positive / 0 Neutral / 4 Negative

Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 1 Positive / 0 Neutral / 3 Negative

Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -10.0


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 17th July -

<div>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/143/669/original/2020-07-01_05-28-36.png?1593548938" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="143669"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/143/673/original/2020-07-01_06-01-59.png?1593550949" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="143673"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong>WASTE NOT.</strong>.- Waste treatment company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daiseki-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2330:1" rel="noopener">Daiseki (9793 JP)</a>'s first-quarter results saw Net Income decline by 17% on a 1% decline in sales. However, the 19% and 24% cuts to both Operating and Net Income for the first half and full-year highlight the current decline in industrial activity in Japan is likely to be prolonged and, possibly, similar to that seen in 2009. The outlook for Daiseki's listed subsidiary <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daiseki-eco-solution-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13776:1" rel="noopener">Daiseki Eco. Solution (1712 JP)</a> is equally subdued.  Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-display-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8280:1" rel="noopener">Japan Display (6740 JP)</a> annual losses 'improved' to only ¥101 billion at the net level on ¥504 billion in sales, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona (2168 JP)</a> revised down the soon-to-be-declared FY2020 Net Income by 66% relative to TTM on further Anime theme park write-offs. LCD/SPE specialist <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/marumae-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16671:1" rel="noopener">Marumae (6264 JP)</a> produced the best results of the day driven by a 38% year-on-year increase in quarterly sales.</p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p>
<hr>
</div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>21 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Results Score:</strong> 6 Positive / 3 Neutral / 12 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong>-3.2</li>
<li>
<strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> +0.2% Quarter YoY / -5.9% Rolling TTM YoY</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change</strong>: 0.0ppt</li>
</ul></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong>13 Annual • 8 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 4 Positive / 2 Neutral / 7 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 2 Positive / 1 Neutral / 5 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -5.6</li>
</ul></div>


Source • Japan Analytics
WASTE NOT..- Waste treatment company Daiseki (9793 JP)'s first-quarter results saw Net Income decline by 17% on a 1% decline in sales. However, the 19% and 24% cuts to both Operating and Net Income for the first half and full-year highlight the current decline in industrial activity in Japan is likely to be prolonged and, possibly, similar to that seen in 2009. The outlook for Daiseki's listed subsidiary Daiseki Eco. Solution (1712 JP) is equally subdued.  Meanwhile, Japan Display (6740 JP) annual losses 'improved' to only ¥101 billion at the net level on ¥504 billion in sales, while Pasona (2168 JP) revised down the soon-to-be-declared FY2020 Net Income by 66% relative to TTM on further Anime theme park write-offs. LCD/SPE specialist Marumae (6264 JP) produced the best results of the day driven by a 38% year-on-year increase in quarterly sales.

DAILY STATS

21 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 6 Positive / 3 Neutral / 12 Negative

Average Results Score Change:-3.2

Average % Change in Revenue: +0.2% Quarter YoY / -5.9% Rolling TTM YoY

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: 0.0ppt
 13 Annual • 8 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 4 Positive / 2 Neutral / 7 Negative

Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 2 Positive / 1 Neutral / 5 Negative

Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -5.6


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 30th June - Waste Not..

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<p>Upside momentum continues to wane for global equities. Price action this week has indeed confirmed lower highs for now in the MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EAFE, and EM indexes. These lower highs increase the probability for breakdowns and a deeper pullback, but we do not want to get ahead of ourselves. Until we see breakdowns we still view global equities as being in a period of consolidation. We outline important technical levels across markets and highlight actionable set ups within Technology, Health care and Staples.</p>

Upside momentum continues to wane for global equities. Price action this week has indeed confirmed lower highs for now in the MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EAFE, and EM indexes. These lower highs increase the probability for breakdowns and a deeper pullback, but we do not want to get ahead of ourselves. Until we see breakdowns we still view global equities as being in a period of consolidation. We outline important technical levels across markets and highlight actionable set ups within Technology, Health care and Staples.

Global Equity Strategy: Stay Defensive With Technology, Health Care, Staples

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Henderson Land Development / Event-Driven

<p>My second dose of StubWorld for the week is essentially an exercise in illustrating (as is evident) the <em>truly</em> <em>extraordinary</em> moves over the past week or so, leading to rarely-to-never-seen bifurcations in generally highly correlated pairs. </p>
<p>There are very few Holdco relationships that are behaving.</p>
<p>Incredibly, a pair such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-matheson-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19718:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP)</a> / <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-strategic-hldgs-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15081:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Strategic Hldgs (JS SP)</a>, recently discussed in <em><a href="https://skr.ma/Wi2oo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jardines: Holy Bargain Basements!</a></em> (and showing signs of reversing today), fails to make the top 10 of "Set-up" trades in my monitor. </p>
<p>Below I touch on some of the more commonly traded Holdcos and where and how the current position compares to their long-term trading pattern. </p>

My second dose of StubWorld for the week is essentially an exercise in illustrating (as is evident) the truly extraordinary moves over the past week or so, leading to rarely-to-never-seen bifurcations in generally highly correlated pairs. 
There are very few Holdco relationships that are behaving.
Incredibly, a pair such as Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP) / Jardine Strategic Hldgs (JS SP), recently discussed in Jardines: Holy Bargain Basements! (and showing signs of reversing today), fails to make the top 10 of "Set-up" trades in my monitor. 
Below I touch on some of the more commonly traded Holdcos and where and how the current position compares to their long-term trading pattern. 

Japan

Benefit One Inc. provides outsourcing services to major corporations in Japan. The Company provides a variety of benefit programs such as leisure, education, child care, nursing care and meal services for employees of the client companies.

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Benefit One Inc (2412 JP)

🇯🇵 JAPAN • IT’S A WRAP - Summer 2020 Results & Revisions Review

BRUTAL - The summer earnings 'season' reflected the broadening impact of COVID-19 on the Japanese and world economies, however, in terms of profit...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 17th July -

Pasona (2168 JP)- Pasona was the largest capitalisation company to report on Friday. At the end of June, the company warned on impairment losses at...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 30th June - Waste Not..

WASTE NOT..- Waste treatment company Daiseki (9793 JP)'s first-quarter results saw Net Income decline by 17% on a 1% decline in sales. However,...

Campbell Gunn

Global Equity Strategy: Stay Defensive With Technology, Health Care, Staples

Upside momentum continues to wane for global equities. Price action this week has indeed confirmed lower highs for now in the MSCI ACWI, ACWI...

Vermilion Research

StubWorld: Holdcos Behaving Badly

My second dose of StubWorld for the week is essentially an exercise in illustrating (as is evident) the truly extraordinary moves over the past...

David Blennerhassett

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52-week Range

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