Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities

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>Advantest is highly geared to changes in sales, with average contribution margins of 36% and 51% at the gross and operating profit levels, respectively.</li>
<li>This works on the downside as well as the upside, something that has perhaps not received sufficient attention as optimists imagine a repeat of the recent extraordinary up-cycle.</li>
<li>The share price is down 19% from its July 18 high, but at the top of its 5-year P/E range even vs historical peak EPS.</li>
</ul>


Advantest is highly geared to changes in sales, with average contribution margins of 36% and 51% at the gross and operating profit levels, respectively.
This works on the downside as well as the upside, something that has perhaps not received sufficient attention as optimists imagine a repeat of the recent extraordinary up-cycle.
The share price is down 19% from its July 18 high, but at the top of its 5-year P/E range even vs historical peak EPS.


Advantest (6857 JP): High Gearing on the Downside

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS.  US Equities rebound led by Tech as NVIDIA +7% gets boost from MS report; China troubles persist: Country Garden suspends bond trading; Foreign Investors losing interest in China</li>
<li>JAPAN. NKY Futures +0.7% vs Cash; USDJPY 145.5;  Yen Weakens be beyond 145 to USD, heads to 146 on widening spreads; JP M&amp;A Boom as Cos seek improvements; Dentsu Miss</li>
<li>NUGGET. Activism-Japanese Firms Expect It ! June's Reuters survey of companies in Japan revealed this fact. At the very minimum, an implicit acknowledgement that there is room for improvement</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS.  US Equities rebound led by Tech as NVIDIA +7% gets boost from MS report; China troubles persist: Country Garden suspends bond trading; Foreign Investors losing interest in China
JAPAN. NKY Futures +0.7% vs Cash; USDJPY 145.5;  Yen Weakens be beyond 145 to USD, heads to 146 on widening spreads; JP M&amp;A Boom as Cos seek improvements; Dentsu Miss
NUGGET. Activism-Japanese Firms Expect It ! June's Reuters survey of companies in Japan revealed this fact. At the very minimum, an implicit acknowledgement that there is room for improvement


Ohayo Japan| Tech Lead in Equity Rebound Amid Concerns; NUGGET: Activism-Japanese Firms Expect It !

Equity Long-Short, Semiconductors, Fabricated Knowledge

Douglas O'Laughlin

Equity Long-Short, Semiconductors

Fabricated Knowledge

Learn more about the world's most important manufactured product. Meaningful insight, timely analysis, and an occasional investment idea.

<ul><li>A partial earnings recap of companies so far this week: grouped by categories</li><li>Simo and Maxlinear are going to be in a separate note.</li><li>It’s too funny and interesting not to, but that will hopefully come out soon. It’s been quite a week of content.</li></ul>

A partial earnings recap of companies so far this week: grouped by categoriesSimo and Maxlinear are going to be in a separate note.It’s too funny and interesting not to, but that will hopefully come out soon. It’s been quite a week of content.

Auto Semiconductor Earnings, Testing, Semicap

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

<ul>
<li>During 4QFY03/2023 results release, Nikon announced a medium-term target of revenues of ¥700bn, OPM of 10%+ and ROE of 8%+ by the end of FY2025E (FY ended 31st March 2026).</li>
<li>Our analysis (with conservative assumptions) suggests that the company could easily achieve its medium-term target despite the company expecting to see its earnings declining in FY03/2024E.</li>
<li>Nikon is trading at a discount to its Japanese peers Canon and Konica Minolta and we think the market is clearly undervaluing the company as a pure-play Imaging products player.</li>
</ul>


During 4QFY03/2023 results release, Nikon announced a medium-term target of revenues of ¥700bn, OPM of 10%+ and ROE of 8%+ by the end of FY2025E (FY ended 31st March 2026).
Our analysis (with conservative assumptions) suggests that the company could easily achieve its medium-term target despite the company expecting to see its earnings declining in FY03/2024E.
Nikon is trading at a discount to its Japanese peers Canon and Konica Minolta and we think the market is clearly undervaluing the company as a pure-play Imaging products player.


Nikon: A Reality Check on Nikon’s Medium-Term Management Plan

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS. Fed Lifts rates +25bps as expected; No longer sees recession emerging; Equities - Mixed as Industrials Rally, Tech Sells off; Meta Beats on Rev/EPS; Boeing Surges on Outloook</li>
<li>JAPAN. Nikkei Futures -0.4% vs Cash; USDJPY 140.4; Fed Move Done, but for BOJ - Potential for a Surprise Move ? Advantest Miss-back to reality ?  Earnings in Full Swing. </li>
<li>NUGGET. Japanese Executives Not Properly Incentivized; Shareholders need to take a different tact in addressing corporate performance. </li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS. Fed Lifts rates +25bps as expected; No longer sees recession emerging; Equities - Mixed as Industrials Rally, Tech Sells off; Meta Beats on Rev/EPS; Boeing Surges on Outloook
JAPAN. Nikkei Futures -0.4% vs Cash; USDJPY 140.4; Fed Move Done, but for BOJ - Potential for a Surprise Move ? Advantest Miss-back to reality ?  Earnings in Full Swing. 
NUGGET. Japanese Executives Not Properly Incentivized; Shareholders need to take a different tact in addressing corporate performance. 


Ohayo Japan| Fed Watch: Now for Hawkish Hold; Advantest Miss; NUGGET: JP Executives Not Incentivized

Japan

ADVANTEST CORPORATION produces semiconductor testing devices and electronic measuring instruments.  The Company's products include large-scale integration (LSI) test systems, memory test systems, dynamic test handlers, network analyzers, electronic meters, optical testing devices, and signal sources.

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Advantest Corp (6857 JP)

Advantest (6857 JP): High Gearing on the Downside

1Q results show high gearing on the downside: IC test operating profit down 55%, other segment profits zero. NP down 75%. Further weakness ahead...

Scott Foster

Ohayo Japan| Tech Lead in Equity Rebound Amid Concerns; NUGGET: Activism-Japanese Firms Expect It !

US Big Cap Tech leads amid concerns; NKY Futures +0.7% vs Cash; USDJPY 145.5; Yen Weakens be beyond 145 to USD, heads to 146 on widening spreads;...

Mark Chadwick

Auto Semiconductor Earnings, Testing, Semicap

A partial earnings recap of companies so far this week: grouped by categories Simo and Maxlinear are going to be in a separate note. It’s too...

Fabricated Knowledge

Nikon: A Reality Check on Nikon’s Medium-Term Management Plan

As Nikon is reporting earnings soon, this insight would help readers have a quick glance at the company's last quarter earnings and whether Nikon...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Ohayo Japan| Fed Watch: Now for Hawkish Hold; Advantest Miss; NUGGET: JP Executives Not Incentivized

Now for a Hawkish Hold from the Fed; Nikkei Futures -0.4% vs Cash; USDJPY 140.4; Fed Move Down, but for BOJ - Potential for a Surprise Move ?...

Mark Chadwick

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