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>
<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 share price continues to hold at the post 2QFY22 level despite clear signs of weakness in many of its growth markets.</li>
<li>Even though markets have partially priced in the losing competitiveness in the Chinese market, it still believes Fast Retailing can offset that with growth from North America and Europe businesses.</li>
<li>As North America and Europe expose their true colours in the next quarterly results due mid-next month, we expect a much-needed correction to Fast Retailing’s share price.</li>
</ul>



Fast Retailing (9983 JP)’s share price continues to hold at the post 2QFY22 level despite clear signs of weakness in many of its growth markets.
Even though markets have partially priced in the losing competitiveness in the Chinese market, it still believes Fast Retailing can offset that with growth from North America and Europe businesses.
As North America and Europe expose their true colours in the next quarterly results due mid-next month, we expect a much-needed correction to Fast Retailing’s share price.


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. 

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shimamura-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15213:1" rel="noopener">Shimamura (8227 JP)</a> is on a roll at the moment, clawing back share after a troubled few years of mis-merchandising and confused targeting.</li>
<li>After a record year, Shimamura now thinks its merchandise teams are strong enough to take on urban centre consumers – without raising operating costs. This could be a worry for Uniqlo.</li>
<li>Shimamura has tried this before but back then its focus was on young women and had weaker merchandising skills. This time around too urban consumers want more discount apparel.</li>
</ul>



Shimamura (8227 JP) is on a roll at the moment, clawing back share after a troubled few years of mis-merchandising and confused targeting.
After a record year, Shimamura now thinks its merchandise teams are strong enough to take on urban centre consumers – without raising operating costs. This could be a worry for Uniqlo.
Shimamura has tried this before but back then its focus was on young women and had weaker merchandising skills. This time around too urban consumers want more discount apparel.


Shimamura Back on Track, Targeting Urban Centres

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> market consultation released last week could lead to some tweaks to the index methodology and the stock selection process. Nothing really material enough though.</li>
<li>Potential index inclusions in September are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/renesas-electronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15933:1" rel="noopener">Renesas Electronics</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oriental-land-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13517:1" rel="noopener">Oriental Land</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pan-pacific-international-holdings-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13475:1" rel="noopener">Pan Pacific International Holdings</a>, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyobo-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6187:1" rel="noopener">Toyobo Co Ltd</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-light-metal-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1485:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Light Metal</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oki-electric-industry-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2181:1" rel="noopener">Oki Electric Industry</a> are potential index deletions.</li>
<li>Passive <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225</a> trackers will need to buy between 4-9% of the real float on the high/ medium probability names, while they need to buy between 2.5-14 days of ADV.</li>
</ul>


The Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) market consultation released last week could lead to some tweaks to the index methodology and the stock selection process. Nothing really material enough though.
Potential index inclusions in September are Renesas Electronics, Oriental Land and Pan Pacific International Holdings, while Toyobo Co Ltd, Nippon Light Metal and Oki Electric Industry are potential index deletions.
Passive Nikkei 225 trackers will need to buy between 4-9% of the real float on the high/ medium probability names, while they need to buy between 2.5-14 days of ADV.


Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview: Market Consultation & Potential Changes

<ul>
<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 share price rose 10% towards the top end of the trend channel since reporting 15.8% YoY same-store sales growth in April 2022.</li>
<li>However, the growth rate was influenced by weak comps and in April 2022 domestic revenue was 9% below the pre-pandemic level.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, Uniqlo’s growth drivers are faltering with China’s revenue near pandemic lows and North America, Europe and Asia affected by rising inflation.</li>
</ul>



Fast Retailing (9983 JP)’s share price rose 10% towards the top end of the trend channel since reporting 15.8% YoY same-store sales growth in April 2022.
However, the growth rate was influenced by weak comps and in April 2022 domestic revenue was 9% below the pre-pandemic level.
Meanwhile, Uniqlo’s growth drivers are faltering with China’s revenue near pandemic lows and North America, Europe and Asia affected by rising inflation.


Fast Retailing: China Near Pandemic Lows and America, Europe and Asia Affected by Rising Inflation

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

Life Insurance  of India / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.</li>
<li>On the IPOs front, LIC's anchor book wasn't great while Delhivery finally launched its IPO and Hong Kong market saw its first launch in a while.</li>
<li>Placements remained few and far between with only <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-new-zealand-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:815:1" rel="noopener">Air New Zealand (AIR NZ)</a> launching its shortfall bookbuild.</li>
</ul>


Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.
On the IPOs front, LIC's anchor book wasn't great while Delhivery finally launched its IPO and Hong Kong market saw its first launch in a while.
Placements remained few and far between with only Air New Zealand (AIR NZ) launching its shortfall bookbuild.


ECM Weekly (9th May 22) - LIC, Campus, Rainbow, Delhivery, Shieldus, Yunkang, PAG, Keep, Air NZ

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: A Breakdown Overdue

After rising more than 23% following earnings on strong NA and Europe performance, Fast Retailing’s share price is refusing to go down despite...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Shimamura Back on Track, Targeting Urban Centres

Shimamura has fixed many underlying problems and looks stronger than in a decade. It is now targeting city centres and the athleisure and golf...

Michael Causton

Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview: Market Consultation & Potential Changes

Based on the market consultation and the new liquidity measure, we have Renesas Electronics, Oriental Land and Pan Pacific International Holdings...

Brian Freitas

Fast Retailing: China Near Pandemic Lows and America, Europe and Asia Affected by Rising Inflation

There could be a small improvement in YoY performance in Japan in the third quarter. However, it won’t be sufficient to offset weaknesses in...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

ECM Weekly (9th May 22) - LIC, Campus, Rainbow, Delhivery, Shieldus, Yunkang, PAG, Keep, Air NZ

Aequitas Research puts out a weekly update on the deals that were covered by the team recently along with updates for upcoming IPOs.

Sumeet Singh

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