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)

Convenience store (CVS) retailing remains the most dynamic and innovative physical store sector. It is now 50 years since the first Seven Eleven opened and the sector wide drop in sales in 2020 was the first in its history.Whereas department stores also took a battering last year and are likely to struggle to recover, convenience stores should bounce back quickly, including implementing lessons learned in last year’s crisis.That does not mean the format faces no problems, with labour shortages, overly strict operating procedures and an ageing population of store owners (many are now reaching retirement age with no succession in place) all issues that need solutions, but its willingness and ability to adopt new technologies and adapt to the market will continue to keep CVS strong.The following is an annual in-depth review of the entire CVS sector providing context for investors in any of the big CVS retailers (and their competing formats) as well as reviews of each major firm's KPIs.

Convenience store (CVS) retailing remains the most dynamic and innovative physical store sector. It is now 50 years since the first Seven Eleven opened and the sector wide drop in sales in 2020 was the first in its history.Whereas department stores also took a battering last year and are likely to struggle to recover, convenience stores should bounce back quickly, including implementing lessons learned in last year’s crisis.That does not mean the format faces no problems, with labour shortages, overly strict operating procedures and an ageing population of store owners (many are now reaching retirement age with no succession in place) all issues that need solutions, but its willingness and ability to adopt new technologies and adapt to the market will continue to keep CVS strong.The following is an annual in-depth review of the entire CVS sector providing context for investors in any of the big CVS retailers (and their competing formats) as well as reviews of each major firm's KPIs.

Convenience Stores: First Decline in 50 Years

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

NTT (Nippon Telegraph & Telephone) / Equity Bottom-Up

NTT has had a good couple of weeks. The company followed up its mid-term EPS target upgrade last week with Q2 results ahead of consensus and announced the cancellation of treasury shares that provide indirect confirmation that share buyback volumes of c. ¥200-300bn will continue.  Operationally, the Q2 beat was driven by results for NTT Data that were announced yesterday but the company also posted a fifth straight quarter of fixed-line growth whilst the mobile business posted healthier results than peers. We remain at Buy.

NTT has had a good couple of weeks. The company followed up its mid-term EPS target upgrade last week with Q2 results ahead of consensus and announced the cancellation of treasury shares that provide indirect confirmation that share buyback volumes of c. ¥200-300bn will continue.  Operationally, the Q2 beat was driven by results for NTT Data that were announced yesterday but the company also posted a fifth straight quarter of fixed-line growth whilst the mobile business posted healthier results than peers. We remain at Buy.

NTT (Buy) - Q2 21 Results Reaction: Profit Beat with Good News in Fixed and Mobile

Softbank Corp. results were mixed with revenue in line but operating profit (-7% in Q2) below consensus. Some of that is timing related as it laps a record-high quarter even as H2 comps get easier on tailwinds from ¥50bn in one-time expenses last year. On the telecom side, enterprise revenue growth of 4% including double-digit growth for solutions revenue is encouraging. Management remains confident of meeting full-year targets but as we saw with KDDI last week, mobile price reductions are starting to make their presence felt.

Softbank Corp. results were mixed with revenue in line but operating profit (-7% in Q2) below consensus. Some of that is timing related as it laps a record-high quarter even as H2 comps get easier on tailwinds from ¥50bn in one-time expenses last year. On the telecom side, enterprise revenue growth of 4% including double-digit growth for solutions revenue is encouraging. Management remains confident of meeting full-year targets but as we saw with KDDI last week, mobile price reductions are starting to make their presence felt.

Softbank Corp (Buy) - Q2 21 Results Reaction: Consumer Mobile Weakness Accelerates

Results were for the quarter were mixed with accelerating erosion in consumer mobile outpacing offsetting growth from new services (VAS and corporate sales). The bad news is mobile service revenue declines were modestly steeper than we expected and on a run-rate basis are now higher than management targets for the full year. But business services growth remains healthy and improvements in user retention could provide some support for consumer mobile. KDDI is on track to meet full-year targets although the margin for error has narrowed. We remain at Buy.

Results were for the quarter were mixed with accelerating erosion in consumer mobile outpacing offsetting growth from new services (VAS and corporate sales). The bad news is mobile service revenue declines were modestly steeper than we expected and on a run-rate basis are now higher than management targets for the full year. But business services growth remains healthy and improvements in user retention could provide some support for consumer mobile. KDDI is on track to meet full-year targets although the margin for error has narrowed. We remain at Buy.  

KDDI (Buy) - Q2 21 Results Reaction: Mobile Declines Outpace New Growth Drivers

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst, KT Capital Group

Alec Tseung

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst

Lifenet Insurance Company / Equity Bottom-Up

We have discussed the more detailed investment thesis and financial analysis in our previous note (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/lifenet-a-rejuvenated-insurtech-story-in-japan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53842" rel="noopener">Lifenet: A Rejuvenated InsurTech Story in Japan)</a>. In this brief note, we will focus more on its recent partnership and “platformization” strategy and why this could be a future catalyst.

We have discussed the more detailed investment thesis and financial analysis in our previous note (Lifenet: A Rejuvenated InsurTech Story in Japan). In this brief note, we will focus more on its recent partnership and “platformization” strategy and why this could be a future catalyst.

Lifenet: "Platformization" To Potentially Drive the Next Phase of Growth

Japan

KDDI CORPORATION provides mobile communication services and sells mobile devices.  The Company also is a broadband provider.

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KDDI Corp (9433 JP)

Convenience Stores: First Decline in 50 Years

For any investor in Japan's consumer staples sector, the convenience store sector is a key component. The following is an in-depth analysis of the...

Michael Causton

NTT (Buy) - Q2 21 Results Reaction: Profit Beat with Good News in Fixed and Mobile

NTT followed up on its mid-term EPS guidance upgrade last week with a solid set of results driven by fixed-line growth and a return to mobile...

Kirk Boodry

Softbank Corp (Buy) - Q2 21 Results Reaction: Consumer Mobile Weakness Accelerates

Q2 results were mixed with revenue in line but operating profit weaker despite Yahoo Japan upside. Internet exposure helps but mobile pricing...

Kirk Boodry

KDDI (Buy) - Q2 21 Results Reaction: Mobile Declines Outpace New Growth Drivers

Q2 results were mixed with accelerating erosion in consumer mobile outpacing growth from VAS and corporate sales. But management appears confident...

Kirk Boodry

Lifenet: "Platformization" To Potentially Drive the Next Phase of Growth

Lifenet's "platformization" strategy could supplement its current business model and drive future growth as global Fintech development moves into a...

Alec Tseung

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