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>Since I am interested in Eisai's corporate governance initiatives, this article would like to analyze them in conjunction with the situation of pharmaceutical companies.</li>
<li>Eisai has an outstandingly high rating, except for the fact that it has anti-takeover measures. The other 3 companies that have anti-takeover will need to improve corporate governance practices considerably.</li>
<li>The growth policy is reasonable and clearly explained, but there is still room for improvement in the use of the retained cash and disclosures in English for Eisai.</li>
</ul>


Since I am interested in Eisai's corporate governance initiatives, this article would like to analyze them in conjunction with the situation of pharmaceutical companies.
Eisai has an outstandingly high rating, except for the fact that it has anti-takeover measures. The other 3 companies that have anti-takeover will need to improve corporate governance practices considerably.
The growth policy is reasonable and clearly explained, but there is still room for improvement in the use of the retained cash and disclosures in English for Eisai.


Japan's Governance: Corporate Governance Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Companies

'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)

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS SUMMARY - 3rd FEBRUARY •</strong></p><div><p>Of Wednesday's 100 results announcements, 78% scored positively for earnings momentum despite trailing revenues falling by 5.7% on average and a 2.1 percentage point decline in operating margins. Only 8% of companies were in the red for the quarter.  64% of the 53 annual forecasts/revision announcements scored positively, and the average Forecast/Revision score was +1.2 points.</p></div><div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• BEST &amp; WORST •</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Wednesday's 'best' large-cap announcements came from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hirose-electric-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13513:1" rel="noopener">Hirose Electric (6806 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/brother-industries-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6114:1" rel="noopener">Brother Industries (6448 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sony-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:563:1" rel="noopener">Sony (6758 JP)</a>. The 'worst' were from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/eisai-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21001:1" rel="noopener">Eisai (4523 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/square-enix-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15003:1" rel="noopener">Square Enix (9684 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a>.  We would also note the relatively modest improvement in the trading companies.</p>
</div><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/186/604/original/2021-02-04_04-53-07.png?1612382019" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="186604"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/186/605/original/2021-02-04_04-54-02.png?1612382054" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="186605"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/186/606/original/2021-02-04_04-54-35.png?1612382089" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="186606"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/186/607/original/2021-02-04_04-55-18.png?1612382134" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="186607"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/186/608/original/2021-02-04_04-56-09.png?1612382183" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="186608"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/186/609/original/2021-02-04_04-56-48.png?1612382221" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="186609"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/186/610/original/2021-02-04_04-57-14.png?1612382245" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="186610"></figure></section><div style="text-align: center;" class="content-caption">     Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics</div>

• RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS SUMMARY - 3rd FEBRUARY •Of Wednesday's 100 results announcements, 78% scored positively for earnings momentum despite trailing revenues falling by 5.7% on average and a 2.1 percentage point decline in operating margins. Only 8% of companies were in the red for the quarter.  64% of the 53 annual forecasts/revision announcements scored positively, and the average Forecast/Revision score was +1.2 points.
• BEST &amp; WORST •
Wednesday's 'best' large-cap announcements came from Hirose Electric (6806 JP), Brother Industries (6448 JP), and Sony (6758 JP). The 'worst' were from Eisai (4523 JP), Square Enix (9684 JP), and Z Holdings (4689 JP).  We would also note the relatively modest improvement in the trading companies.
     Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​02/​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​03 Hirose, Eisai..

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/eisai-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21001:1" rel="noopener">Eisai Co Ltd (4523 JP)</a>  is a global R&amp;D based pharmaceutical company who has positioned neurology and oncology as its therapeutic areas of focus. Since October 2017, Biogen and Eisai have collaborated on the development and commercialisation of Aducanumab (BIIB037), an investigational treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The US FDA accepted the Biologics License Application (BLA) for Aducanumab for review in August 2020 and was granted priority review status.</p><p>US FDA briefing documents (dated 04<sup>th</sup> November) states that the FDA staff have enough data to approve the treatment, which would become the first new Alzheimer’s therapy in nearly two decades. The briefing documents have been released ahead of a meeting of outside advisers who will issue a non-binding vote on whether to recommend Aducanumab’s approval. These experts are scheduled to meet on Friday, 06<sup>th</sup> November.</p><p>Eisai’s shares have climbed 18% during Thursday’s trading following the release of the FDA briefing document. In this insight, we take a look at Aducanumab, the collaboration agreement between Eisai and Biogen, and the impact on the company’s fundamental and valuation if the drug is approved by the FDA.</p>

Eisai Co Ltd (4523 JP)  is a global R&amp;D based pharmaceutical company who has positioned neurology and oncology as its therapeutic areas of focus. Since October 2017, Biogen and Eisai have collaborated on the development and commercialisation of Aducanumab (BIIB037), an investigational treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The US FDA accepted the Biologics License Application (BLA) for Aducanumab for review in August 2020 and was granted priority review status.US FDA briefing documents (dated 04th November) states that the FDA staff have enough data to approve the treatment, which would become the first new Alzheimer’s therapy in nearly two decades. The briefing documents have been released ahead of a meeting of outside advisers who will issue a non-binding vote on whether to recommend Aducanumab’s approval. These experts are scheduled to meet on Friday, 06th November.Eisai’s shares have climbed 18% during Thursday’s trading following the release of the FDA briefing document. In this insight, we take a look at Aducanumab, the collaboration agreement between Eisai and Biogen, and the impact on the company’s fundamental and valuation if the drug is approved by the FDA.

Eisai: Shares Surge on Positive Review of Drug Candidate; Blockbuster Potential if Approved

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Quantitative Analysis

<p>The question has been asked about dividends in Japan and what they may look like for the remainder of this year and into 2021. </p><p>Japanese companies have grown revenues over the past ten years, and have grown net income quite a bit faster. In addition, payout ratios have risen on a normalized basis since their last-decade lows in 2014. Because net income has dropped in the past year while dividends paid out have risen, payout ratios have spiked sharply. With the very large amount of buybacks executed in the past fiscal year to March 2020, total payout to shareholders has been quite significant. </p><p>But COVID-19 has changed things. When companies announced earnings in April and May, a huge swath of corporate Japan neglected to provide forecasts. The largest number I have ever seen provided forecasts in ranges rather than as numbers. When Q1 earnings came around, many companies made a stab at full-year. Some have provided dividend guidance but net income in the April-June quarter along with forecasts for H1 and FY have given the Street some comfort to be able to forecast earnings and DPS. If one looks at the top 500, top 1000, and full set of companies in TOPIX on a like-for-like basis (where guidance exists), company guidance on both net income and dividends is below where the Street is (on a consensus basis). I expect, for the moment, that the Street still may have some to come down. There is every possibility that covid-19 aftershocks will produce some VERY bad numbers, but I do not expect that many companies to exceed forecasts by a wide margin. Some WFH and tech names may do well, but Japan is not NASDAQ (much to the chagrin of Japan's investors). </p><p>On the whole, there are significant discrepancies in forecasts among sectors - autos, airlines, materials are all bad - but interestingly, there is also huge discrepancy among market cap biases. Even on a like-for-like basis on coverage or guidance, the top 500 names see total dividend forecasts for the FY to March 2021 only 3% lower than what was paid in the year to March 2020. That seems like a relatively small drop. The consensus implied drop in DPS for the next 500 names seems considerably larger, though some of this may be to worse data quality as you go down the market cap scale. </p><p><em>A study of dividends this year and beyond continues below.</em></p>

The question has been asked about dividends in Japan and what they may look like for the remainder of this year and into 2021. Japanese companies have grown revenues over the past ten years, and have grown net income quite a bit faster. In addition, payout ratios have risen on a normalized basis since their last-decade lows in 2014. Because net income has dropped in the past year while dividends paid out have risen, payout ratios have spiked sharply. With the very large amount of buybacks executed in the past fiscal year to March 2020, total payout to shareholders has been quite significant. But COVID-19 has changed things. When companies announced earnings in April and May, a huge swath of corporate Japan neglected to provide forecasts. The largest number I have ever seen provided forecasts in ranges rather than as numbers. When Q1 earnings came around, many companies made a stab at full-year. Some have provided dividend guidance but net income in the April-June quarter along with forecasts for H1 and FY have given the Street some comfort to be able to forecast earnings and DPS. If one looks at the top 500, top 1000, and full set of companies in TOPIX on a like-for-like basis (where guidance exists), company guidance on both net income and dividends is below where the Street is (on a consensus basis). I expect, for the moment, that the Street still may have some to come down. There is every possibility that covid-19 aftershocks will produce some VERY bad numbers, but I do not expect that many companies to exceed forecasts by a wide margin. Some WFH and tech names may do well, but Japan is not NASDAQ (much to the chagrin of Japan's investors). On the whole, there are significant discrepancies in forecasts among sectors - autos, airlines, materials are all bad - but interestingly, there is also huge discrepancy among market cap biases. Even on a like-for-like basis on coverage or guidance, the top 500 names see total dividend forecasts for the FY to March 2021 only 3% lower than what was paid in the year to March 2020. That seems like a relatively small drop. The consensus implied drop in DPS for the next 500 names seems considerably larger, though some of this may be to worse data quality as you go down the market cap scale. A study of dividends this year and beyond continues below.

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>•BEST &amp; WORST 3rd AUGUST •</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;">The 'best' and 'worst' from yesterday's large-cap announcements came from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kyorin-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15216:1" rel="noopener">Kyorin (4569 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-airlines-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1184:1" rel="noopener">Japan Airlines (9201 JP)</a>.  More extensive coverage follows in the DETAIL section below. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/150/264/original/2020-08-04_06-29-14.png?1596490167" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="150264"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/150/265/original/2020-08-04_06-30-03.png?1596490220" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="150265"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p></div><div><p><strong>PERCENTAGES </strong>- 66% of quarterly results,  61% of annual forecasts/revisions and 64% of interim forecasts have negative Scores and 26% of companies reporting lost money for the quarter.</p></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>105 Quarterly Result</strong>s</p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Results Score</strong>: 29% Positive / 6% Neutral / 66% Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong> -2.5 points</li>
<li>
<strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> -7.4% Quarter YoY / -1.3% Rolling TTM YoY </li>
<li>
<strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -0.8 ppt</li>
<li>
<strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 26%</li>
</ul></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong>36 Annual • 25 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 31% Positive / 8% Neutral / 61% Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 32% Positive / 4% Neutral / 64% Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -7.0 points</li>
</ul></div>

•BEST &amp; WORST 3rd AUGUST •The 'best' and 'worst' from yesterday's large-cap announcements came from Kyorin (4569 JP) and Japan Airlines (9201 JP).  More extensive coverage follows in the DETAIL section below. Source • Japan AnalyticsDAILY STATSPERCENTAGES - 66% of quarterly results,  61% of annual forecasts/revisions and 64% of interim forecasts have negative Scores and 26% of companies reporting lost money for the quarter.105 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 29% Positive / 6% Neutral / 66% Negative

Average Results Score Change: -2.5 points

Average % Change in Revenue: -7.4% Quarter YoY / -1.3% Rolling TTM YoY 

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -0.8 ppt

Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 26%
 36 Annual • 25 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 31% Positive / 8% Neutral / 61% Negative

Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 32% Positive / 4% Neutral / 64% Negative

Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -7.0 points


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 3rd August - Capcom, K's, Kikkoman, USS, Eisai

Japan

Eisai Co., Ltd. produces prescription drugs and medical equipment and sells mainly to sales agents and subsidiaries.  Through its subsidiary, Sanko Junyaku, the Company produces and sells diagnostic drugs.  Eisai also markets its products through related companies in the US, Europe, and Asia.  The Company also manufactures and sells foods, livestock feeds, chemical, and agrochemicals.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Eisai Co Ltd (4523 JP)

Japan's Governance: Corporate Governance Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Companies

Since I am interested in Eisai's corporate governance initiatives in the ESG meeting on Dec 21, this article would like to analyze them in...

Metrical Inc

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 02/03 Hirose, Eisai..

Of Wednesday's 100 results announcements, 78% scored positively for earnings momentum despite trailing revenues falling by 5.7% on average and a...

Campbell Gunn

Eisai: Shares Surge on Positive Review of Drug Candidate; Blockbuster Potential if Approved

Biogen and Eisai have collaborated on the development and commercialisation of Aducanumab, an investigational treatment for Alzheimer’s disease....

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Looking at Japan Dividends This Year

The question has been asked about dividends in Japan and what they may look like for the remainder of this year and into 2021. Japanese companies...

Travis Lundy

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 3rd August - Capcom, K's, Kikkoman, USS, Eisai

•BEST & WORST 3rd AUGUST •The 'best' and 'worst' from yesterday's large-cap announcements came from Kyorin (4569 JP) and Japan Airlines (9201...

Campbell Gunn

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japan's Governance: Corporate Governance Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Companies

Since I am interested in Eisai's corporate governance initiatives in the ESG meeting on Dec 21, this article would like to analyze them in...

Metrical Inc

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​02/​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​03 Hirose, Eisai..

Of Wednesday's 100 results announcements, 78% scored positively for earnings momentum despite trailing revenues falling by 5.7% on average and a...

Campbell Gunn

Eisai: Shares Surge on Positive Review of Drug Candidate; Blockbuster Potential if Approved

Biogen and Eisai have collaborated on the development and commercialisation of Aducanumab, an investigational treatment for Alzheimer’s disease....

Shifara Samsudeen, ACMA, CGMA

Looking at Japan Dividends This Year

The question has been asked about dividends in Japan and what they may look like for the remainder of this year and into 2021. Japanese companies...

Travis Lundy

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 3rd August - Capcom, K's, Kikkoman, USS, Eisai

•BEST & WORST 3rd AUGUST •The 'best' and 'worst' from yesterday's large-cap announcements came from Kyorin (4569 JP) and Japan Airlines (9201...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 02/03 Hirose, Eisai..