'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>• BEST &amp; WORST •</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;">The current 'crop' of results and revisions announcements have yet to generate much to cheer about. For yesterday's 75 results the average TTM revenue decline is 8% and operating margins have declined by 4 percentage points year-on-year. 25% of the companies are still in the red for the quarter. Our best and worst pair for the day is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sakata-seed-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9825:1" rel="noopener">Sakata Seed (1377 JP)</a> and eyewear retailer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jins-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12002:1" rel="noopener">JINS (3046 JP)</a>.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/182/339/original/2021-01-14_06-42-35.png?1610574169" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="182339"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/182/340/original/2021-01-14_06-44-07.png?1610574261" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="182340"></figure></section><div class="content-caption">Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics.</div>

• BEST &amp; WORST •The current 'crop' of results and revisions announcements have yet to generate much to cheer about. For yesterday's 75 results the average TTM revenue decline is 8% and operating margins have declined by 4 percentage points year-on-year. 25% of the companies are still in the red for the quarter. Our best and worst pair for the day is Sakata Seed (1377 JP) and eyewear retailer JINS (3046 JP).Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​01/​​​​​13 JINS, Pasona, Sakata Seed

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. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Major eyewear retailer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meganesuper-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14070:1" rel="noopener">Meganesuper (3318 JP)</a>, has announced it is switching from physical stores to mobile shops mounted on trucks. <strong>By the end of 2023, Megane Super wants 110 trucks in service across the country.</strong></p>
<p>Supermarkets and others are also trying this idea with growing success but this is the first case of an eyewear company and, we think, the first where the retailer says it no longer expects to open physical stores.</p>
<p>Initial results suggest the trucks work very well, with far lower set-up and operating costs, but with sales equivalent to some of the chain’s best immobile shops, potentially resulting in a significant uptick in operating margins.</p>

Major eyewear retailer Meganesuper (3318 JP), has announced it is switching from physical stores to mobile shops mounted on trucks. By the end of 2023, Megane Super wants 110 trucks in service across the country.
Supermarkets and others are also trying this idea with growing success but this is the first case of an eyewear company and, we think, the first where the retailer says it no longer expects to open physical stores.
Initial results suggest the trucks work very well, with far lower set-up and operating costs, but with sales equivalent to some of the chain’s best immobile shops, potentially resulting in a significant uptick in operating margins.

Megane Super: Shops on Wheels Are the Future

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• LEADING INDICATOR •</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/164/379/original/2020-10-10_12-16-59.png?1602299856" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="164379"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>LEADING THE WAY</strong> - The market continues to make new post-COVID highs supported by global and local liquidity conditions and now a bottoming of earnings momentum. As was the case in 2009, the Cabinet Office Leading Indicator, which is published with a lag of two months, identified the low point ahead of the market and our Results &amp; Revision Score. At present, only three Sectors - Internet Content &amp; Services, Information Technology, and Non-Bank Finance have positive Scores, of which only the first and last are rising. We expect the coming 'wave' of announcements to turn the tide as has been 'previewed' in the percentages of positive results and revision over the last week.    </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/164/382/original/2020-10-10_12-48-29.png?1602301755" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="164382"></figure><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• BEST &amp; WORST •</strong></p></div><div>
<p>The best and worst pair from yesterday's announcements is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sakata-seed-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9825:1" rel="noopener">Sakata Seed (1377 JP)</a>  and dental, surgical and ophthalmic instrument maker <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mani-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6534:1" rel="noopener">Mani (7730 JP)</a>. the latter despite the company's very bullish fully-year forecast. </p>
<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/164/515/original/2020-10-11_11-27-17.png?1602383275" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="164515"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/164/516/original/2020-10-11_11-30-09.png?1602383437" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="164516"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics</div></section><hr>
<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p></div>
<hr>
<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>26 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div>
<div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><p><strong>Results Score:</strong> 58% Positive / 10% Neutral / 32% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong> +2.2 points</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> +2.1% Quarter YoY / -4.5% Rolling TTM YoY </p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -1.9ppt</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 18%</p></li>
</ul></div>
<hr>
<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>32 Annual • 12 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div>
<div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><p><strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 41% Positive / 6% Neutral / 53% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 42% Positive / 8% Neutral / 50% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -2.1 point</p></li>
</ul></div>
</div>

• LEADING INDICATOR •Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan AnalyticsLEADING THE WAY - The market continues to make new post-COVID highs supported by global and local liquidity conditions and now a bottoming of earnings momentum. As was the case in 2009, the Cabinet Office Leading Indicator, which is published with a lag of two months, identified the low point ahead of the market and our Results &amp; Revision Score. At present, only three Sectors - Internet Content &amp; Services, Information Technology, and Non-Bank Finance have positive Scores, of which only the first and last are rising. We expect the coming 'wave' of announcements to turn the tide as has been 'previewed' in the percentages of positive results and revision over the last week.    • BEST &amp; WORST •
The best and worst pair from yesterday's announcements is Sakata Seed (1377 JP)  and dental, surgical and ophthalmic instrument maker Mani (7730 JP). the latter despite the company's very bullish fully-year forecast. 
Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics
DAILY STATS

26 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 58% Positive / 10% Neutral / 32% Negative
Average Results Score Change: +2.2 points
Average % Change in Revenue: +2.1% Quarter YoY / -4.5% Rolling TTM YoY 
Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -1.9ppt
Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 18%


32 Annual • 12 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 41% Positive / 6% Neutral / 53% Negative
Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 42% Positive / 8% Neutral / 50% Negative
Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -2.1 point



🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/​​​​​​​​​​09 - Yaskawa, MANI, OSG, JINS, Sakata Seed

<div>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/145/396/original/2020-07-11_10-05-20.png?1594454466" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="145396"></figure><div class="content-caption"> Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong>SMALL CHANGE</strong> - With over half of the companies with February, May, August and November year-ends having reported, the gap between the performance of larger and smaller capitalisation companies is widening again - as was the case prior to the March COVID 'crash'. The former are benefiting from a relatively more robust earnings momentum and the willingness of shareholders to look through to 2022. For the latter, their mostly-retail investor base is focused more on the prolongation of current operating losses despite, in many cases, ample Net Financial Assets.  42% of companies reporting on Friday had net losses for the last three months on an average decline in revenues of 14%. For the next reporting 'cohort' with one less 'normal' month, these statistics will be worse.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p>
</div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>83 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Results Score:</strong> 19 Positive / 3 Neutral / 61 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong> -4.4</li>
<li>
<strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> -14.2% Quarter YoY / -0.9% Rolling TTM YoY</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -0.7ppt</li>
<li>
<strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 42%</li>
</ul></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong>31 Annual • 13 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score: </strong>13 Positive / 4 Neutral / 14 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: </strong>5 Positive / 1 Neutral / 7 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -3.9</li>
</ul></div>


 Source • Japan Analytics
SMALL CHANGE - With over half of the companies with February, May, August and November year-ends having reported, the gap between the performance of larger and smaller capitalisation companies is widening again - as was the case prior to the March COVID 'crash'. The former are benefiting from a relatively more robust earnings momentum and the willingness of shareholders to look through to 2022. For the latter, their mostly-retail investor base is focused more on the prolongation of current operating losses despite, in many cases, ample Net Financial Assets.  42% of companies reporting on Friday had net losses for the last three months on an average decline in revenues of 14%. For the next reporting 'cohort' with one less 'normal' month, these statistics will be worse.
DAILY STATS
83 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 19 Positive / 3 Neutral / 61 Negative

Average Results Score Change: -4.4

Average % Change in Revenue: -14.2% Quarter YoY / -0.9% Rolling TTM YoY

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -0.7ppt

Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 42%
 31 Annual • 13 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 13 Positive / 4 Neutral / 14 Negative

Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 5 Positive / 1 Neutral / 7 Negative

Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -3.9


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10th July - Small Change

<p><em><strong>The following is an in-depth review of the retail sector results for 2018-19 giving investors a quick overview of the strengths and weaknesses in the sector as well as highlighting key winners and losers by sales growth and profit. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-retail-highlights-2018-19-sector-by-sector-and-winners-in-each-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In an accompanying Insight, we provide snapshot reviews of each sector to give investors quick guides to seach retail sector's strengths and weaknesses.</a></strong></em></p>
<p>Leading retailers grew sales and share last year and made more money too. Although savings rates rose to their highest level ever in 2018, this also meant that a lot of households had money stored up, providing better retailers and brands with an opportunity to convince them to spend some of it.</p>
<p>Many formats and sectors had a good year including convenience stores, discount chains, drugstores, speciality chains such as in fashion and even consumer electronics (at least for now), but some also contracted, notably GMS chains and department stores.</p>
<p>Retailing also became more profitable last year, up 6% on average for the top 250 retailers, and is expected to grow profits further on the back of new technologies wrought by the pressures of the labour shortage. However, profit growth is slowing as competition increases across different formats.</p>

The following is an in-depth review of the retail sector results for 2018-19 giving investors a quick overview of the strengths and weaknesses in the sector as well as highlighting key winners and losers by sales growth and profit. In an accompanying Insight, we provide snapshot reviews of each sector to give investors quick guides to seach retail sector's strengths and weaknesses.
Leading retailers grew sales and share last year and made more money too. Although savings rates rose to their highest level ever in 2018, this also meant that a lot of households had money stored up, providing better retailers and brands with an opportunity to convince them to spend some of it.
Many formats and sectors had a good year including convenience stores, discount chains, drugstores, speciality chains such as in fashion and even consumer electronics (at least for now), but some also contracted, notably GMS chains and department stores.
Retailing also became more profitable last year, up 6% on average for the top 250 retailers, and is expected to grow profits further on the back of new technologies wrought by the pressures of the labour shortage. However, profit growth is slowing as competition increases across different formats.

Japan Retail Review and Ranking 2018-19: Profit Growth Slowing as Competition Increases

Japan

JINS HOLDINGS Inc. sells eyeglass products. The Company mainly distributes thin aspheric lenses and other products. JINS Holdings also provides medial products, apparels, and other products.

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JINS Inc (3046 JP)

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 01/13 JINS, Pasona, Sakata Seed

The current 'crop' of results and revisions announcements have yet to generate much to cheer about. For yesterday's 75 results the average TTM...

Campbell Gunn

Megane Super: Shops on Wheels Are the Future

All retailers are investing in online and closing stores but in Japan, combining online with mobile shops in trucks allows customers to try before...

Michael Causton

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/09 - Yaskawa, MANI, OSG, JINS, Sakata Seed

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/09 - Yaskawa, MANI, OSG, JINS, Sakata Seed________________________________

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10th July - Small Change

SMALL CHANGE - With over half of the companies with February, May, August and November year-ends having reported, the gap between the performance...

Campbell Gunn

Japan Retail Review and Ranking 2018-19: Profit Growth Slowing as Competition Increases

The following is an in-depth review of the retail sector results for 2018-19 giving investors a quick overview of the strengths and weaknesses in...

Michael Causton

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🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​01/​​​​​13 JINS, Pasona, Sakata Seed

The current 'crop' of results and revisions announcements have yet to generate much to cheer about. For yesterday's 75 results the average TTM...

Campbell Gunn

Megane Super: Shops on Wheels Are the Future

All retailers are investing in online and closing stores but in Japan, combining online with mobile shops in trucks allows customers to try before...

Michael Causton

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/​​​​​​​​​​09 - Yaskawa, MANI, OSG, JINS, Sakata Seed

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/​​​​​​​​​​09 - Yaskawa, MANI, OSG, JINS, Sakata Seed________________________________

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10th July - Small Change

SMALL CHANGE - With over half of the companies with February, May, August and November year-ends having reported, the gap between the performance...

Campbell Gunn

Japan Retail Review and Ranking 2018-19: Profit Growth Slowing as Competition Increases

The following is an in-depth review of the retail sector results for 2018-19 giving investors a quick overview of the strengths and weaknesses in...

Michael Causton

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 01/13 JINS, Pasona, Sakata Seed

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/09 - Yaskawa, MANI, OSG, JINS, Sakata Seed

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/09 - Yaskawa, MANI, OSG, JINS, Sakata Seed________________________________