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>It was reported yesterday that Uniqlo plans to continue doing business in Russia despite the Ukraine war situation.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a>’s decision to continue doing business in Russia has not gone too well with some of its customers.</li>
<li>If this leads to a fully blown boycott, the price impact could be significant as the company’s valuation remains towards the expensive side even after a 45% drop in valuation.</li>
</ul>


It was reported yesterday that Uniqlo plans to continue doing business in Russia despite the Ukraine war situation.

Fast Retailing (9983 JP)’s decision to continue doing business in Russia has not gone too well with some of its customers.
If this leads to a fully blown boycott, the price impact could be significant as the company’s valuation remains towards the expensive side even after a 45% drop in valuation.


Fast Retailing: Siding with Russia Could Be a Recipe for a Boycott

<ul>
<li>It is going to be challenging for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a> to meet the 1QFY22 consensus revenue and OP, when it releases the first quarter results next week.</li>
<li>Comps were quite strong in the last year, driven by pent-up demand and consensus is expecting 1QFY22 to be marginally higher than the same period of the previous year.</li>
<li>We think there could be a substantial miss in 1QFY22, driven by lower than expected performance in Uniqlo’s Japan and Chinese businesses.</li>
</ul>


It is going to be challenging for Fast Retailing (9983 JP) to meet the 1QFY22 consensus revenue and OP, when it releases the first quarter results next week.
Comps were quite strong in the last year, driven by pent-up demand and consensus is expecting 1QFY22 to be marginally higher than the same period of the previous year.
We think there could be a substantial miss in 1QFY22, driven by lower than expected performance in Uniqlo’s Japan and Chinese businesses.


Fast Retailing: An Earnings Miss Could Be Around the Corner

Japan’s largest apparel retailer, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a> delivered 4QFY21 results on 14th October 2021 with revenue falling behind the consensus estimate by ¥32.2bn (7%). Operating profit came ¥4.3bn above the consensus estimate of ¥16.9bn. The company’s FY22 revenue and operating profit guidance of ¥2,200bn (3.1% YoY) and ¥270bn (8.4% YoY) are not particularly impressive considering Fast Retailing’s business operations are yet to get back to the pre-COVID level.

Japan’s largest apparel retailer, Fast Retailing (9983 JP) delivered 4QFY21 results on 14th October 2021 with revenue falling behind the consensus estimate by ¥32.2bn (7%). Operating profit came ¥4.3bn above the consensus estimate of ¥16.9bn. The company’s FY22 revenue and operating profit guidance of ¥2,200bn (3.1% YoY) and ¥270bn (8.4% YoY) are not particularly impressive considering Fast Retailing’s business operations are yet to get back to the pre-COVID level.

Fast Retailing: Additional 20% Downside Is Possible As Growth Breaks Down in Uniqlo International

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. 

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ryohin-keikaku-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2765:1" rel="noopener">Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP)</a> fired a broadside at Uniqlo last month when it confirmed not only that its new president would be a former lieutenant to Tadashi Yanai, but also that it plans to reduce prices to compete with Uniqlo in apparel and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nitori-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20386:1" rel="noopener">Nitori Holdings (9843 JP)</a> in home.While Muji is today a quarter of the size of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a>, it has big plans to become a ¥3 trillion behemoth in just 10 years with more stores in Japan than even discount apparel chain, Shimamura.Is this a real plan or just a rallying of the troops, Uniqlo-style?

Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP) fired a broadside at Uniqlo last month when it confirmed not only that its new president would be a former lieutenant to Tadashi Yanai, but also that it plans to reduce prices to compete with Uniqlo in apparel and Nitori Holdings (9843 JP) in home.While Muji is today a quarter of the size of Fast Retailing (9983 JP), it has big plans to become a ¥3 trillion behemoth in just 10 years with more stores in Japan than even discount apparel chain, Shimamura.Is this a real plan or just a rallying of the troops, Uniqlo-style?

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

<ul>
<li>Global equites (MSCI ACWI) have pulled back some following the FOMC's hawkish-leaning announcement. Short-term support is at $102 on ACWI-US--last week's breakout level-- while longer-term support remains at $98-$99.</li>
<li>A break below $102 would indicate more consolidation is likely but, if ACWI-US remains above $98, we remain bullish on global equities, and we view pullbacks as buying opportunities.</li>
<li>Europe remains bullish, and we remain overweight Japan and India. Actionable Themes: many stocks highlighted within Consumer Discretionary, Energy, Industrials, Services, and Technology</li>
</ul>


Global equites (MSCI ACWI) have pulled back some following the FOMC's hawkish-leaning announcement. Short-term support is at $102 on ACWI-US--last week's breakout level-- while longer-term support remains at $98-$99.
A break below $102 would indicate more consolidation is likely but, if ACWI-US remains above $98, we remain bullish on global equities, and we view pullbacks as buying opportunities.
Europe remains bullish, and we remain overweight Japan and India. Actionable Themes: many stocks highlighted within Consumer Discretionary, Energy, Industrials, Services, and Technology


MSCI ACWI, EURO STOXX 50, TOPIX Remain Bullish; Buys in Cons Disc, Industrials, Services, Technology

Japan

FAST RETAILING CO., LTD. operates a chain of clothing stores, UNIQLO, throughout Japan and in other markets overseas including UK, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, US, France, Singapore and Russia.  The Company designs, manufactures, and retails its own line of casual clothing.

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Fast Retailing (9983 JP)

Fast Retailing: Siding with Russia Could Be a Recipe for a Boycott

Fast Retailing's decision to continue doing business in Russia could backfire badly, especially if the international community decides to boycott...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Fast Retailing: An Earnings Miss Could Be Around the Corner

It is going to be challenging for Fast Retailing (9983 JP) to meet the 1QFY22 consensus revenue and OP, when it releases the first quarter results...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Fast Retailing: Additional 20% Downside Is Possible As Growth Breaks Down in Uniqlo International

With Uniqlo International’s growth struggling to get going after the South Korea boycott, Hong Kong protests and COVID-19, we were expecting a...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Muji: A ¥3 Trillion Brand by 2030?

Muji has confounded critics in the last decade by finding new growth domestically despite perceived saturation. Now it wants to increase sales 6...

Michael Causton

MSCI ACWI, EURO STOXX 50, TOPIX Remain Bullish; Buys in Cons Disc, Industrials, Services, Technology

MSCI ACWI, EURO $STOXX 50, $TOPIX Remain Bullish. $ACWI holding above short-term support at $102 (last week's breakout level), though we remain...

Vermilion Research

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