Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

Zero One

Founded in 2015, Zero One produces independent investment research and provides corporate finance advisory services with a focus on both listed and private technology companies. Founder Vincent Fernando has over 20 years of experience in US and Asia capital markets.

Independent Investment Research

Equity Bottom-Up

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>TSMC and ASML will report results this week. We may get additional detail about the scope of AI-related demand as a medium-term driver for the semiconductor industry.</li>
<li>Many Taiwan AI plays were top losers last week. Separately, the U.S. is expected to announce new tech restrictions for China this week.</li>
<li>SK Hynix is reportedly working closely with Mediatek to integrate some of its most advanced memory in Mediatek's flagship Dimensity chips. Mediatek was a top gainer last week.</li>
</ul>


TSMC and ASML will report results this week. We may get additional detail about the scope of AI-related demand as a medium-term driver for the semiconductor industry.
Many Taiwan AI plays were top losers last week. Separately, the U.S. is expected to announce new tech restrictions for China this week.
SK Hynix is reportedly working closely with Mediatek to integrate some of its most advanced memory in Mediatek's flagship Dimensity chips. Mediatek was a top gainer last week.


Taiwan Tech Weekly: TSMC & ASML Results This Week; Taiwan AI Plays Top Losers

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS: Chinese Ban on iPhone weighs on US Equity Sentiment;  Tech, to no one's surprise, hit hard, with Nasdaq100 -0.7% SOX -2%; Initial Jobless Claims drop - fuels inflation fears</li>
<li>JAPAN: NKY Futs -0.9% vs Cash; USDJPY 147.3; Kishida to reschuffle Cabinet as early as next week;   HA-2 Moon Rocket Successful Launch.; More rumors on Switch 2</li>
<li>JAPAN X: Unveiling the Future: Nintendo's Switch 2 Rumors ? or  Reality ? Seems like Reality. Likely not a smart move to go bearish on Nintendo ! Watch this space.  </li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS: Chinese Ban on iPhone weighs on US Equity Sentiment;  Tech, to no one's surprise, hit hard, with Nasdaq100 -0.7% SOX -2%; Initial Jobless Claims drop - fuels inflation fears
JAPAN: NKY Futs -0.9% vs Cash; USDJPY 147.3; Kishida to reschuffle Cabinet as early as next week;   HA-2 Moon Rocket Successful Launch.; More rumors on Switch 2
JAPAN X: Unveiling the Future: Nintendo's Switch 2 Rumors ? or  Reality ? Seems like Reality. Likely not a smart move to go bearish on Nintendo ! Watch this space.  


Ohayo Japan|China's Apple Ban Hits Equities; JAPAN X: Nintendo's Switch 2 Prospects in 2024 ?

Executive Director, Metrical Inc

Aki Matsumoto

Executive Director

Independent Leading Corporate Governance Research

Metrical Inc

METRICAL INC. is an independent leading Corporate Governance research firm in Japan where Corporate Governance is increasingly recognized as an important element on corporate management in these days. Thus, CG research and solutions would become an essential component of global capital markets and play important to contribute to transparency of the markets and maximize shareholders’ value in Japan. 

METRICAL INC. provides Corporate Governance research and analysis including rating services, and  also offers investment research and IR services with solutions and customized profound research on CG and IR issues.

<ul>
<li>It'll be practical to appoint a female director from outside company at coming AGM and replace them with women when the terms of 2 current male statutory auditors each expire.</li>
<li>With Canon's current ratio of female managers at 3.6%, it will take time for the current female non-statutory executive officers to leapfrog a number of seniors to board positions.</li>
<li>Since Mr. Mitarai will be 95 years old in 2030, a full-fledged change in board composition is required, including the appointment of non-Japanese directors, rather than just "matching numbers.”</li>
</ul>


It'll be practical to appoint a female director from outside company at coming AGM and replace them with women when the terms of 2 current male statutory auditors each expire.
With Canon's current ratio of female managers at 3.6%, it will take time for the current female non-statutory executive officers to leapfrog a number of seniors to board positions.
Since Mr. Mitarai will be 95 years old in 2030, a full-fledged change in board composition is required, including the appointment of non-Japanese directors, rather than just "matching numbers.”


A Full-Fledged Change in Board Composition, Not Just "Matching Numbers," Is Required

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.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujifilm-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16353:1" rel="noopener">FUJIFILM Holdings (4901 JP)</a> reported 1QFY03/24 results today. Both revenue and OP increased 5.6% and 5.2% YoY to ¥660.8bn (vs consensus ¥649bn) and ¥52.2bn (vs consensus ¥52.1bn) respectively.</li>
<li>Materials segment’s earnings were negatively impacted during the quarter due to a stagnant semiconductor market, however, we expect segment’s earnings to improve with the completion of Entegris acquisition.</li>
<li>Despite the company successfully transitioning into a healthcare player, Fujifilm is still trading in line with imaging/photocopy players and there is significant upside to the company’s current share price.</li>
</ul>



FUJIFILM Holdings (4901 JP) reported 1QFY03/24 results today. Both revenue and OP increased 5.6% and 5.2% YoY to ¥660.8bn (vs consensus ¥649bn) and ¥52.2bn (vs consensus ¥52.1bn) respectively.
Materials segment’s earnings were negatively impacted during the quarter due to a stagnant semiconductor market, however, we expect segment’s earnings to improve with the completion of Entegris acquisition.
Despite the company successfully transitioning into a healthcare player, Fujifilm is still trading in line with imaging/photocopy players and there is significant upside to the company’s current share price.


Fujifilm: Earnings Beat; Yet to Trade in Line with Healthcare Players

<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

Japan

Canon Inc. is a professional and consumer imaging solutions company and patent-holder of digital imaging technologies. The Company's products include networked multifunction devices, digital and analog copiers, computer peripherals, facsimile machines, image filing systems, camcorders, cameras and lenses, semiconductor, and broadcast and medical equipment.

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Canon Inc (7751 JP)

Taiwan Tech Weekly: TSMC & ASML Results This Week; Taiwan AI Plays Top Losers

SK Hynix is reportedly working closely with Mediatek to integrate some of its most advanced memory in Mediatek's flagship Dimensity chips. Mediatek...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Ohayo Japan|China's Apple Ban Hits Equities; JAPAN X: Nintendo's Switch 2 Prospects in 2024 ?

China Ban Weighs on Apple, Tech Space; NKY Futs -0.9% vs Cash; USDJPY 147.3; Kishida to reschuffle Cabinet as early as next week; HA-2 Moon...

Mark Chadwick

A Full-Fledged Change in Board Composition, Not Just "Matching Numbers," Is Required

I would like to discuss the issues on the August 18 Nikkei Shimbun article, "Canon to Appoint Female Board Members "in Line with Government Policy"...

Metrical Inc

Fujifilm: Earnings Beat; Yet to Trade in Line with Healthcare Players

Fujifilm's 1QFY24 earnings beat consensus. The company's transition into a healthcare player is yet to fully pay-off, and we expect recent M&As to...

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

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

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