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

Despite several indexes recently touching new 52+ week highs, broad global indexes (MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EAFE, and EM) remain near logical resistance, and indicators continue to send mixed signals. As a result we are hesitant to get too bullish or bearish. Instead we want to focus on Sector/Group/industry themes where we bottoming price and RS, or attractive pullback opportunities within established price and RS uptrends.  In this report we highlight such opportunities, within the Technology, Consumer Staples and Services Sectors.

Despite several indexes recently touching new 52+ week highs, broad global indexes (MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EAFE, and EM) remain near logical resistance, and indicators continue to send mixed signals. As a result we are hesitant to get too bullish or bearish. Instead we want to focus on Sector/Group/industry themes where we bottoming price and RS, or attractive pullback opportunities within established price and RS uptrends.  In this report we highlight such opportunities, within the Technology, Consumer Staples and Services Sectors.

Global Equity Strategy: Not Too Bullish, Not Too Bearish

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

ja research

ja research is an independent research platform focused exclusively on Japanese equities. Leveraging data and graphic analysis provided by Japan Analytics, we provide insights on small and medium-sized companies that have been ignored by the sell-side as well as challenging conventional wisdom on larger companies. We also offer analyst and corporate access, the latter with translation if required. 

Quantitative Analysis

SPRING RESULTS &amp; REVISION SCORES - Better late than never, we Detail below lists the top and bottom-ranked companies measured by their Results &amp; Revision Scores as well as the top and bottom one-quarter changes and the Optimists (Forecasts &gt; TTM results) and Pessimists (TTM results &gt; Forecasts). For newcomers to these Insights, our Results &amp; Revision Scores, Results Scores, and Forecast/Revisions Scores provide a standardised 'scoring' of the trend and momentum in both results and initial forecasts/revisions for every listed Japanese company. The data series, which starts in 2008, covers over 160,000 quarterly results and 120,000 initial forecasts and subsequent forecast revisions. <div class="content-remarks"><ul>
<li>
Results Scores are calculated using the most recent eight quarters of data for revenues, operating income and operating margin and, for each, measure the rate, degree, and consistency of change. The score has a maximum of +30 and a minimum of -30 for each period. In cases where the data is insufficient, incomplete or non-comparable data, the score defaults to zero. Usually, 25% of Japanese company quarterly earnings show losses, and therefore scoring methodology is more revealing of trends than percentage changes.</li>
<li>The Forecast/Revision Score is based on both Annual and Interim period forecasts and compares changes from previous forecasts as well as against the trailing twelve-month (TTM) or past first-half results, with annual forecasts being double-weighted. This score also has a maximum of +30 and a minimum of -30 for each period.</li>
<li>The Results &amp; Revision Score is an average of the Results Scores and the Forecasts/Revision Score and is used to sort the universe by score and change in score in the tables below.</li>
</ul></div>

SPRING RESULTS &amp; REVISION SCORES - Better late than never, we Detail below lists the top and bottom-ranked companies measured by their Results &amp; Revision Scores as well as the top and bottom one-quarter changes and the Optimists (Forecasts &gt; TTM results) and Pessimists (TTM results &gt; Forecasts). For newcomers to these Insights, our Results &amp; Revision Scores, Results Scores, and Forecast/Revisions Scores provide a standardised 'scoring' of the trend and momentum in both results and initial forecasts/revisions for every listed Japanese company. The data series, which starts in 2008, covers over 160,000 quarterly results and 120,000 initial forecasts and subsequent forecast revisions. 

Results Scores are calculated using the most recent eight quarters of data for revenues, operating income and operating margin and, for each, measure the rate, degree, and consistency of change. The score has a maximum of +30 and a minimum of -30 for each period. In cases where the data is insufficient, incomplete or non-comparable data, the score defaults to zero. Usually, 25% of Japanese company quarterly earnings show losses, and therefore scoring methodology is more revealing of trends than percentage changes.
The Forecast/Revision Score is based on both Annual and Interim period forecasts and compares changes from previous forecasts as well as against the trailing twelve-month (TTM) or past first-half results, with annual forecasts being double-weighted. This score also has a maximum of +30 and a minimum of -30 for each period.
The Results &amp; Revision Score is an average of the Results Scores and the Forecasts/Revision Score and is used to sort the universe by score and change in score in the tables below.


🇯🇵 Japan • Spring Large Cap Results & Revision Scores

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

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

On Thursday (16th May), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujifilm-holdings-corp/overview" target="_blank">Fujifilm (4901 JP)</a> announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire medwork GmbH, headquartered in Bayern, Germany. medwork develops, manufactures and markets instruments for therapeutic and diagnostic endoscopy and following the acquisition, medwork will become a 100%-owned subsidiary of Fujifilm. The company has not provided more details regarding the deal. However, according to sources, Fujifilm will be paying close to JPY8-9bn for medwork. We expect the medwork acquisition to complement Fujifilm’s existing endoscopes business.
This comes as a part of Fujifilm’s focus on rapidly expanding its footprint in the growing healthcare sector. In March 2019, the company also announced the acquisition of Biogen Manufacturing, a manufacturing subsidiary of Biogen (Denmark) which is expected to strengthen Fujifilm’s Bio CDMO business.

On Thursday (16th May), Fujifilm (4901 JP) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire medwork GmbH, headquartered in Bayern, Germany. medwork develops, manufactures and markets instruments for therapeutic and diagnostic endoscopy and following the acquisition, medwork will become a 100%-owned subsidiary of Fujifilm. The company has not provided more details regarding the deal. However, according to sources, Fujifilm will be paying close to JPY8-9bn for medwork. We expect the medwork acquisition to complement Fujifilm’s existing endoscopes business.
This comes as a part of Fujifilm’s focus on rapidly expanding its footprint in the growing healthcare sector. In March 2019, the company also announced the acquisition of Biogen Manufacturing, a manufacturing subsidiary of Biogen (Denmark) which is expected to strengthen Fujifilm’s Bio CDMO business.

Fujifilm Continues to Increase Its Focus on Healthcare Sector Through the Acquisition of Medwork

<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/075/363/original/2019-01-11_14-16-49.png?1547292773" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="75363"></figure>

Source: Japan Analytics</div>
CURRENCY DRIVER - The ¥/US$ cross rate has strengthened by 5.3% since the recent US$ peak of ¥114.20 on November 12th 2018, which has led some FX and technical specialists (including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/381" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:381">Thomas Schroeder </a> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/dollar-yen-big-short-phase-ii" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:27163">here</a> on Smartkarma) to call for a more sustained bout of US$ weakness. A period of Yen strength is far from a consensus forecast for most Japanese equity investors, and historically a stronger Yen has resulted in a weaker Japanese equity market. The three Yen 'peaks' highlighted by the vertical lines in the chart above all coincided with medium-term lows in TOPIX.  
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/075/287/original/2019-01-11_14-44-07.png?1547185462" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="75287"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>
¥ &lt; 100 - If we isolate only the 1,484 days in the last forty years when the USDJPY cross has traded above ¥100, the average TOPIX index is 975, which would imply 36% downside for Japanese equities were the Yen to rise above ¥90. Nevertheless, the three Yen peaks we have isolated have proved to be excellent entry points with the subsequent trough-to-peak performance being 28% in 1995~1996, 108% in 2011~2015 and 48% in 2016~2018. Long-term Japan 'bulls' should welcome the coming US dollar bear market. 
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/075/313/original/2019-01-12_10-50-14.png?1547257825" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="75313"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>
EARNINGS DRIVER - The USDJPY cross remains an important driver of earnings and earnings momentum in Japan. As measured by our Results and Revision Scores, there is a good correlation between the trends in both scores and the year-on-year change in USDJPY lagged by six months, especially around significant turning points for the cross rate (marked by the vertical lines). The Results and Revision Scores have declined since January 2018 in line with the stronger Yen. A move up to above the ¥90 level would, without doubt, take both scores into negative territory again- the only question being, are we replaying 2009/10 or 2016/17? 
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/075/319/original/2019-01-12_13-40-19.png?1547268030" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="75319"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>
CURRENCY CORRELATIONS - In the DETAIL below, we list the larger capitalisation companies whose share price performance most closely correlated with the dollar-yen cross rate. As a preview, the most correlated larger capitalisation company that has been listed since 2006 is, unsurprisingly, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/73" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1">Toyota Motor (7203 JP)</a>.
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/075/318/original/2019-01-12_13-15-40.png?1547266553" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="75318"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>
THE FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION ADJUSTMENT - We also go one step further and use the 'Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment' that forms part of Other Comprehensive Income (which has been disclosed in corporate balance sheets and income statements since 2001 and 2011, respectively) to measure the extent of each company's global business and the embedded currency risk. The correlation of the aggregate FCTA for all non-financial companies is, as would be expected, reasonably tight after adding two-month lag for the reporting cycle. As these amounts are directly deducted from Net Assets for companies adopting JGAAP and from Shareholders' Equity for those companies reporting under SEC or IFRS standards, the impact on valuations cannot be ignored.




Source: Japan Analytics
CURRENCY DRIVER - The ¥/US$ cross rate has strengthened by 5.3% since the recent US$ peak of ¥114.20 on November 12th 2018, which has led some FX and technical specialists (including Thomas Schroeder  here on Smartkarma) to call for a more sustained bout of US$ weakness. A period of Yen strength is far from a consensus forecast for most Japanese equity investors, and historically a stronger Yen has resulted in a weaker Japanese equity market. The three Yen 'peaks' highlighted by the vertical lines in the chart above all coincided with medium-term lows in TOPIX.  

Source: Japan Analytics
¥ &lt; 100 - If we isolate only the 1,484 days in the last forty years when the USDJPY cross has traded above ¥100, the average TOPIX index is 975, which would imply 36% downside for Japanese equities were the Yen to rise above ¥90. Nevertheless, the three Yen peaks we have isolated have proved to be excellent entry points with the subsequent trough-to-peak performance being 28% in 1995~1996, 108% in 2011~2015 and 48% in 2016~2018. Long-term Japan 'bulls' should welcome the coming US dollar bear market. 

Source: Japan Analytics
EARNINGS DRIVER - The USDJPY cross remains an important driver of earnings and earnings momentum in Japan. As measured by our Results and Revision Scores, there is a good correlation between the trends in both scores and the year-on-year change in USDJPY lagged by six months, especially around significant turning points for the cross rate (marked by the vertical lines). The Results and Revision Scores have declined since January 2018 in line with the stronger Yen. A move up to above the ¥90 level would, without doubt, take both scores into negative territory again- the only question being, are we replaying 2009/10 or 2016/17? 

Source: Japan Analytics
CURRENCY CORRELATIONS - In the DETAIL below, we list the larger capitalisation companies whose share price performance most closely correlated with the dollar-yen cross rate. As a preview, the most correlated larger capitalisation company that has been listed since 2006 is, unsurprisingly, Toyota Motor (7203 JP).

Source: Japan Analytics
THE FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION ADJUSTMENT - We also go one step further and use the 'Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment' that forms part of Other Comprehensive Income (which has been disclosed in corporate balance sheets and income statements since 2001 and 2011, respectively) to measure the extent of each company's global business and the embedded currency risk. The correlation of the aggregate FCTA for all non-financial companies is, as would be expected, reasonably tight after adding two-month lag for the reporting cycle. As these amounts are directly deducted from Net Assets for companies adopting JGAAP and from Shareholders' Equity for those companies reporting under SEC or IFRS standards, the impact on valuations cannot be ignored.

Japan: What to Buy & Sell if the ¥ Rises to 90

IPO and L/S equity, 2015 Starmine top stock picker, Global Equity Research Ltd

Rickin Thakrar

IPO and L/S equity, 2015 Starmine top stock picker

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

Happy New Year! Below is a recap of the key event-driven research produced by the Global Equity Research team. This week we dig into the potential low-ball bid for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/6296" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6296:1" rel="noopener">Healius (HLS AU)</a> , we update our view on the messy deal between <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/320" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:320:1" rel="noopener">Familymart Uny Holdings (8028 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/13475" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13475:1" rel="noopener">Don Quijote Holdings (7532 JP)</a> as the deal shifts to earnings dislocation. In addition, we question the economics of a material bump for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/726" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:726:1" rel="noopener">Healthscope Ltd (HSO AU)</a>, assess the reduced bid (and great call by Arun) on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/374" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:374:1" rel="noopener">MYOB Group Ltd (MYO AU)</a> and finally dig into the potentially risky acquisition by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/7797" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7797:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)</a> of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/22568" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22568:1" rel="noopener">ABB Ltd (ABBN VX)</a>'s power grids. 
The rest of our event-driven research can be found below
Best of luck for the new week - Rickin, Venkat and Arun

Happy New Year! Below is a recap of the key event-driven research produced by the Global Equity Research team. This week we dig into the potential low-ball bid for Healius (HLS AU) , we update our view on the messy deal between Familymart Uny Holdings (8028 JP) and Don Quijote Holdings (7532 JP) as the deal shifts to earnings dislocation. In addition, we question the economics of a material bump for Healthscope Ltd (HSO AU), assess the reduced bid (and great call by Arun) on MYOB Group Ltd (MYO AU) and finally dig into the potentially risky acquisition by Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP) of ABB Ltd (ABBN VX)'s power grids. 
The rest of our event-driven research can be found below
Best of luck for the new week - Rickin, Venkat and Arun

The GER Weekly EVENTS Wrap: Healius, FamilyMart, Healthscope, Myob and Hitachi

Japan

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation develops, sells and services Imaging, Information, and Document Solutions.  Its products include color films, digital cameras, photofinishing products and equipment.  The Group also manufactures medical and graphic art use equipment and materials, FPD materials, and optical devices, and provides services on office copy machines, printers, and related equipment.

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FUJIFILM Holdings (4901 JP)

Global Equity Strategy: Not Too Bullish, Not Too Bearish

Despite several indexes recently touching new 52+ week highs, broad global indexes (MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EAFE, and EM) remain near logical...

Vermilion Research

🇯🇵 Japan • Spring Large Cap Results & Revision Scores

SPRING RESULTS & REVISION SCORES - Better late than never, we Detail below lists the top and bottom-ranked companies measured by their Results...

Campbell Gunn

Fujifilm Continues to Increase Its Focus on Healthcare Sector Through the Acquisition of Medwork

On Thursday (16th May), Fujifilm (4901 JP) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire medwork GmbH, headquartered in Bayern,...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Japan: What to Buy & Sell if the ¥ Rises to 90

CURRENCY DRIVER - The ¥/US$ cross rate has strengthened by 5.3% since the recent US$ peak of ¥114.20 on November 12th 2018, which has led some FX...

Campbell Gunn

The GER Weekly EVENTS Wrap: Healius, FamilyMart, Healthscope, Myob and Hitachi

Happy New Year! Below is a recap of the key event-driven research produced by the Global Equity Research team. This week we dig into the potential...

Rickin Thakrar

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