'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• BEST &amp; WORST •</strong></p></div><div>
<p>Our best and worst pairing from yesterday's announcements is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oisix-ra-daichi-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10145:1" rel="noopener">Oisix ra daichi (3182 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkiso-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6272:1" rel="noopener">Nikkiso (6376 JP).</a></p>
<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/166/825/original/2020-10-23_06-19-12.png?1603401664" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="166825"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/166/826/original/2020-10-23_06-20-11.png?1603401680" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="166826"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics</div></section><hr>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p>
</div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>8 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><p><strong>Results Score:</strong> 38% Positive / 0% Neutral / 63% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong> -3.0 points</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> -5.3% Quarter YoY / -1.4% Rolling TTM YoY </p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -2.3ppt</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 25%</p></li>
</ul></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>16 Annual • 15 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><p><strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 31% Positive / 6% Neutral / 63% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 53% Positive / 7% Neutral / 40% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -0.7 points</p></li>
</ul></div>

• BEST &amp; WORST •
Our best and worst pairing from yesterday's announcements is Oisix ra daichi (3182 JP) and Nikkiso (6376 JP).
Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics
DAILY STATS
8 Quarterly Results
Results Score: 38% Positive / 0% Neutral / 63% Negative
Average Results Score Change: -3.0 points
Average % Change in Revenue: -5.3% Quarter YoY / -1.4% Rolling TTM YoY 
Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -2.3ppt
Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 25%
16 Annual • 15 Interim Forecasts/Revisions
Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 31% Positive / 6% Neutral / 63% Negative
Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 53% Positive / 7% Neutral / 40% Negative
Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -0.7 points


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​22 -Chugai, Disco, Benefit One [& Pasona], Oisix

<div>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/147/271/original/2020-07-22_07-23-37.png?1595370233" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="147271"></figure><p><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/147/268/original/2020-07-22_06-41-57.png?1595367748" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="147268"></p></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/disco-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15817:1" rel="noopener">DISCO 'DANCES</a>'</strong> - DISCO 'led' yesterday's results &amp; revision highlighting this part of the technology 'chain's' COVID immunity.  Rolling TTM revenues and operating profits have turned positive year-on-year for the first time in at least six quarters. Further, the initial half-year forecast (not shown above) implies this upward momentum has continued into the current quarter. Disco shares have, however, lagged its larger peers over the last twelve, six, three months and should now close some of the performance 'gap'. The SPE Peer Group is, however, the most Overbought in the market and valuations are 'full' which will temper the upside. We would not be short. For more detail, please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/scott-foster" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1134" rel="noopener">Scott Foster</a>'s April Insight - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/disco-6146-jp-preliminary-sales-report-encouraging-back-to-the-office-in-wuhan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:38350" rel="noopener">Disco (6146 JP): Preliminary Sales Report Encouraging, Back to the Office in Wuhan</a>. </p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/147/269/original/File%202020-07-22%206%2056%2012.jpeg?1595368629" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="147269"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p>
</div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>8 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Results Score:</strong> 3 Positive / 3 Neutral / 2 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Results Score Change: </strong>-0.6</li>
<li>
<strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> -3.6% Quarter YoY / -0.2% Rolling TTM YoY</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -0.2ppt</li>
<li>
<strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 25%</li>
</ul></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong>6 Annual • 9 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 2 Positive / 0 Neutral / 4 Negative</li>
<li>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 3 Positive / 0 Neutral / 6 Negative</li>
<li>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -9.2</li>
</ul></div>


Source • Japan Analytics
DISCO 'DANCES' - DISCO 'led' yesterday's results &amp; revision highlighting this part of the technology 'chain's' COVID immunity.  Rolling TTM revenues and operating profits have turned positive year-on-year for the first time in at least six quarters. Further, the initial half-year forecast (not shown above) implies this upward momentum has continued into the current quarter. Disco shares have, however, lagged its larger peers over the last twelve, six, three months and should now close some of the performance 'gap'. The SPE Peer Group is, however, the most Overbought in the market and valuations are 'full' which will temper the upside. We would not be short. For more detail, please see Scott Foster's April Insight - Disco (6146 JP): Preliminary Sales Report Encouraging, Back to the Office in Wuhan. 
Source • Japan Analytics
DAILY STATS
8 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 3 Positive / 3 Neutral / 2 Negative

Average Results Score Change: -0.6

Average % Change in Revenue: -3.6% Quarter YoY / -0.2% Rolling TTM YoY

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -0.2ppt

Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 25%
 6 Annual • 9 Interim Forecasts/Revisions
Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 2 Positive / 0 Neutral / 4 Negative
Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 3 Positive / 0 Neutral / 6 Negative
Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -9.2


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 21st July - Disco Dances & The Nagamori Premium

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/143/496/original/2020-06-30_14-16-44.png?1593494217" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="143496"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong>THE CASH CONVERSION CYCLE</strong> - Net Working Capital is a measure of how efficiently a company manages its short-term assets and liabilities to generate cash and is also known as the Cash Conversion Cycle. In practice, Net Working Capital is scaled by the number of days of Revenue or Cost of Goods Sold that are 'tied' up in three components - Receivables, Inventory, and Payables.</p>
<p><strong>Net Working Capital Days</strong> varies by industry and the lower the number, the better. Amounts over 210 days are excessive, and a sign of business stress.  Net Working Capital is defined as:-</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>+ Receivables/Revenue </strong>- the average number of days required to collect on sales. Businesses usually extend a degree of credit to non-cash customers.  Receivables Days over 100 are excessive.</li>
<li>
<strong>+ Inventory/Cost of Goods Sold -</strong> the average number of days it takes to sell out of Inventory. Amounts vary widely by industry but days over 210 are excessive.</li>
<li>- <strong>Payables/Cost of Goods Sold -</strong>the average number of days the company takes to settle transactions with suppliers. By extending nominally interest-free credit, suppliers provide operating leverage to a business. A larger negative number is better, but days less than -100 are excessive.</li>
</ul>
<p>The relationship between Receivables and Payables should also be considered particularly where the company is giving more generous credit terms to its customers than it receives from its suppliers. The Cash Conversion Cycle for the aggregate of all non-financial currently-listed Japanese companies has averaged 77 days over the last thirty years. However, over the previous twelve months., a fourteen-day rise in Inventory Days during the last four years has pushed Net Working Capital Days to 93.</p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/143/529/original/2020-06-30_15-09-41.png?1593497395" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="143529"></figure>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/143/530/original/2020-06-30_15-10-32.png?1593497471" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="143530"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<div class="content-caption"></div>
<p><strong>NET WORKING CAPITAL DAYS AS A STRESS TEST</strong> - The correlation between Net Working Capital Days and relative performance varies by company and by Sectors. The examples above show how signals can be heeded -  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikon-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7117:1" rel="noopener">Nikon (7731 JP)</a>, or ignored - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/smc-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20866:1" rel="noopener">SMC (6273 JP)</a> since 2018. (For more on SMC working capital issues, please see my colleague <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/scott-foster" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1134" rel="noopener">Scott Foster</a>'s Insight of last year - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/smc-6273-jp-getting-in-line-with-reality" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:30081" rel="noopener">SMC (6273 JP): Getting in Line with Reality</a>).   </p>
<p>For this Insight, we have limited our review to larger capitalisation manufacturing companies. In the<strong> DETAIL</strong> section below, we shall cover the outliers at both ends of <strong>Receivables Days</strong>, <strong>Inventory Days</strong>, <strong>Payables Days</strong>, and finally <strong>Net Working Capital Days</strong>.</p>


Source • Japan Analytics
THE CASH CONVERSION CYCLE - Net Working Capital is a measure of how efficiently a company manages its short-term assets and liabilities to generate cash and is also known as the Cash Conversion Cycle. In practice, Net Working Capital is scaled by the number of days of Revenue or Cost of Goods Sold that are 'tied' up in three components - Receivables, Inventory, and Payables.
Net Working Capital Days varies by industry and the lower the number, the better. Amounts over 210 days are excessive, and a sign of business stress.  Net Working Capital is defined as:-


+ Receivables/Revenue - the average number of days required to collect on sales. Businesses usually extend a degree of credit to non-cash customers.  Receivables Days over 100 are excessive.

+ Inventory/Cost of Goods Sold - the average number of days it takes to sell out of Inventory. Amounts vary widely by industry but days over 210 are excessive.
- Payables/Cost of Goods Sold -the average number of days the company takes to settle transactions with suppliers. By extending nominally interest-free credit, suppliers provide operating leverage to a business. A larger negative number is better, but days less than -100 are excessive.

The relationship between Receivables and Payables should also be considered particularly where the company is giving more generous credit terms to its customers than it receives from its suppliers. The Cash Conversion Cycle for the aggregate of all non-financial currently-listed Japanese companies has averaged 77 days over the last thirty years. However, over the previous twelve months., a fourteen-day rise in Inventory Days during the last four years has pushed Net Working Capital Days to 93.


Source • Japan Analytics

NET WORKING CAPITAL DAYS AS A STRESS TEST - The correlation between Net Working Capital Days and relative performance varies by company and by Sectors. The examples above show how signals can be heeded -  Nikon (7731 JP), or ignored - SMC (6273 JP) since 2018. (For more on SMC working capital issues, please see my colleague Scott Foster's Insight of last year - SMC (6273 JP): Getting in Line with Reality).   
For this Insight, we have limited our review to larger capitalisation manufacturing companies. In the DETAIL section below, we shall cover the outliers at both ends of Receivables Days, Inventory Days, Payables Days, and finally Net Working Capital Days.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Stress Tests Part 5: Net Working Capital Outliers

Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Disco's relative performance has remained strong, which we regard as appropriate for the world's dominant supplier of silicon wafer dicing saws, grinders, polishers, and related consumables. </p><p>Preliminary parent company sales data for 4Q of FY Mar-20 suggest that full-year consolidated results should meet or exceed guidance. Audited consolidated results are scheduled to be announced on  April 23.</p><p>Management reports that equipment to be shipped in April and May is being produced on schedule. Since a state of emergency has so far not been declared in Hiroshima or Nagano prefectures, where Disco's factories are located, operations have not been disrupted. </p><p>In addition, the company's shipping service suppliers continue their operations both in Japan and overseas. There should, therefore, be no significant impact on deliveries this month or next.</p><p>Telecommuting was discontinued and normal operations resumed in Wuhan on April 7. All of the company's sales and maintenance offices in China are now functioning normally.</p><p>Having rebounded by 35% over the past month, the shares are more than half way back to their ¥27,990 January high. At 35x management's EPS guidance for FY Mar-20 and 23x cyclical peak EPS recorded in FY Mar-18, they once again look like an investment in long-term economic recovery.</p>

Disco's relative performance has remained strong, which we regard as appropriate for the world's dominant supplier of silicon wafer dicing saws, grinders, polishers, and related consumables. Preliminary parent company sales data for 4Q of FY Mar-20 suggest that full-year consolidated results should meet or exceed guidance. Audited consolidated results are scheduled to be announced on  April 23.Management reports that equipment to be shipped in April and May is being produced on schedule. Since a state of emergency has so far not been declared in Hiroshima or Nagano prefectures, where Disco's factories are located, operations have not been disrupted. In addition, the company's shipping service suppliers continue their operations both in Japan and overseas. There should, therefore, be no significant impact on deliveries this month or next.Telecommuting was discontinued and normal operations resumed in Wuhan on April 7. All of the company's sales and maintenance offices in China are now functioning normally.Having rebounded by 35% over the past month, the shares are more than half way back to their ¥27,990 January high. At 35x management's EPS guidance for FY Mar-20 and 23x cyclical peak EPS recorded in FY Mar-18, they once again look like an investment in long-term economic recovery.

Disco (6146 JP): Preliminary Sales Report Encouraging, Back to the Office in Wuhan

<p>Japanese makers of semiconductor equipment have recently told us that (1) their customers continue to order new equipment and have not yet reduced their capital spending plans, but that (2) installations have been delayed or prevented due to restrictions introduced in response to COVID-19.  This is not sustainable.</p><p>The situation appears to be easing somewhat in China, but as worsening economic conditions undercut demand for electronic devices around the world, it may not matter.</p><p>Screen Holdings - the top maker of cleaning equipment for the semiconductor industry and coater/developers for the flat panel display industry - reduced FY Mar-20 guidance at the end of January, cutting their operating profit estimate by nearly half due to lower than expected capacity utilization and an unfavorable sales mix. Now they are talking about the unavoidable impact of deteriorating economic conditions.</p><p>Screen's share price has dropped by 57% since January to 20x management's new EPS guidance for FY Mar-20. But the company is likely to drop back into the red this quarter and, in our estimation, lose money in FY Mar-21 as a whole. As economists increasingly talk about depression, not recession, downside risk remains.</p><p>The company plans to announce FY Mar-20 results and guidance for FY Mar-21 on May 12. </p>

Japanese makers of semiconductor equipment have recently told us that (1) their customers continue to order new equipment and have not yet reduced their capital spending plans, but that (2) installations have been delayed or prevented due to restrictions introduced in response to COVID-19.  This is not sustainable.The situation appears to be easing somewhat in China, but as worsening economic conditions undercut demand for electronic devices around the world, it may not matter.Screen Holdings - the top maker of cleaning equipment for the semiconductor industry and coater/developers for the flat panel display industry - reduced FY Mar-20 guidance at the end of January, cutting their operating profit estimate by nearly half due to lower than expected capacity utilization and an unfavorable sales mix. Now they are talking about the unavoidable impact of deteriorating economic conditions.Screen's share price has dropped by 57% since January to 20x management's new EPS guidance for FY Mar-20. But the company is likely to drop back into the red this quarter and, in our estimation, lose money in FY Mar-21 as a whole. As economists increasingly talk about depression, not recession, downside risk remains.The company plans to announce FY Mar-20 results and guidance for FY Mar-21 on May 12. 

Screen Holdings (7735 JP): Additional Downside Risk as the Economy Weakens

Japan

DISCO CORPORATION manufactures abrasive and precision industrial machinery for cutting and grinding purposes.  The Company's products are applied in the semiconductor, electronics, and construction industries to produce consumer goods such as personal computers, digital cameras, video game systems, and Digital Video Disc (DVD) players.

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DISCO Corp (6146 JP)

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/22 -Chugai, Disco, Benefit One [& Pasona], Oisix

Our best and worst pairing from yesterday's announcements is Oisix ra daichi (3182 JP) and Nikkiso (6376 JP).____________

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 21st July - Disco Dances & The Nagamori Premium

DISCO 'DANCES' - DISCO 'led' yesterday's results & revision highlighting this part of the technology 'chain's' COVID immunity. Rolling TTM...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Stress Tests Part 5: Net Working Capital Outliers

THE CASH CONVERSION CYCLE - Net Working Capital is a measure of how efficiently a company manages its short-term assets and liabilities to...

Campbell Gunn

Disco (6146 JP): Preliminary Sales Report Encouraging, Back to the Office in Wuhan

Disco's relative performance has remained strong, which we regard as appropriate for the world's dominant supplier of silicon wafer dicing saws,...

Scott Foster

Screen Holdings (7735 JP): Additional Downside Risk as the Economy Weakens

Japanese makers of semiconductor equipment have recently told us that (1) their customers continue to order new equipment and have not yet reduced...

Scott Foster

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🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​22 -Chugai, Disco, Benefit One [& Pasona], Oisix

Our best and worst pairing from yesterday's announcements is Oisix ra daichi (3182 JP) and Nikkiso (6376 JP).____________

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 21st July - Disco Dances & The Nagamori Premium

DISCO 'DANCES' - DISCO 'led' yesterday's results & revision highlighting this part of the technology 'chain's' COVID immunity. Rolling TTM...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Stress Tests Part 5: Net Working Capital Outliers

THE CASH CONVERSION CYCLE - Net Working Capital is a measure of how efficiently a company manages its short-term assets and liabilities to...

Campbell Gunn

Disco (6146 JP): Preliminary Sales Report Encouraging, Back to the Office in Wuhan

Disco's relative performance has remained strong, which we regard as appropriate for the world's dominant supplier of silicon wafer dicing saws,...

Scott Foster

Screen Holdings (7735 JP): Additional Downside Risk as the Economy Weakens

Japanese makers of semiconductor equipment have recently told us that (1) their customers continue to order new equipment and have not yet reduced...

Scott Foster

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/22 -Chugai, Disco, Benefit One [& Pasona], Oisix