Equity Long-Short Analyst

Pyari Menon

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>We again write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their inclusion.</li>
<li>The three companies we write about this week are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/schlumberger-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20625:1" rel="noopener">Schlumberger Ltd (SLB US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/whirlpool-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1538:1" rel="noopener">Whirlpool Corp (WHR US)</a> 
</li>
<li>For the six weeks ended 30 Dec the combined innovation portfolio was -1.7, versus DJIA -1.8%, S&amp;P500 -3.2%, Nasdaq -6.1% &amp; MSCI-ACWI-ETF -2.4%, all in US$ terms</li>
</ul>


We again write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their inclusion.
The three companies we write about this week are Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) , Schlumberger Ltd (SLB US) and Whirlpool Corp (WHR US) 

For the six weeks ended 30 Dec the combined innovation portfolio was -1.7, versus DJIA -1.8%, S&amp;P500 -3.2%, Nasdaq -6.1% &amp; MSCI-ACWI-ETF -2.4%, all in US$ terms


<ul>
<li>We again write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their inclusion in the portfolio.</li>
<li>The three companies we write about this week are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evonik-industries-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21618:1" rel="noopener">Evonik Industries Ag (EVK GR)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/altria-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6572:1" rel="noopener">Altria Group (MO US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/procter-gamble-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:978:1" rel="noopener">Procter &amp; Gamble Co (PG US)</a> </li>
<li>For three weeks ended 9 Dec the combined innovation portfolio was +0.7%, versus DJIA -0.8%, S&amp;P500 -0.8%, Nasdaq -1.3% &amp; MSCI-ACWI-ETF +0.5%.</li>
</ul>


We again write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their inclusion in the portfolio.
The three companies we write about this week are Evonik Industries Ag (EVK GR)Altria Group (MO US) and Procter &amp; Gamble Co (PG US) 
For three weeks ended 9 Dec the combined innovation portfolio was +0.7%, versus DJIA -0.8%, S&amp;P500 -0.8%, Nasdaq -1.3% &amp; MSCI-ACWI-ETF +0.5%.


<ul>
<li>We write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their the innovation scores and inclusion in the portfolio.  </li>
<li>The three companies are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/johnson-johnson-831a1ab9-b291-4564-99b0-dc7f8d2b8175" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26818:1" rel="noopener">Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ UN)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mondelez-international-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8111:1" rel="noopener">Mondelez International (MDLZ US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/qorvo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11965:1" rel="noopener">Qorvo Inc (QRVO US), which have the highest weighting in each portfolio</a>
</li>
<li>For the week the large cap portfolio was up 1.2%, the midcap was up 1.4% and the small cap was up 0.9%, all in US$ terms.  </li>
</ul>


We write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their the innovation scores and inclusion in the portfolio.  
The three companies are Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ UN) , Mondelez International (MDLZ US) and Qorvo Inc (QRVO US), which have the highest weighting in each portfolio

For the week the large cap portfolio was up 1.2%, the midcap was up 1.4% and the small cap was up 0.9%, all in US$ terms.  


How the Portfolios Did for the First Week

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>I considered the article reported by Nikkei, "Halving the Number of In-House Directors to Three, Equal to Outside Directors. It was misleading because it didn't consider the board composition.</li>
<li>This change in the board composition is merely a measure to meet the listing criteria of prime market means and will not immediately lead to improved transparency of the board.</li>
<li>It must be said that there are numerous issues to be improved for the Company, looking into the corporate practices in detail of the company.</li>
</ul>


I considered the article reported by Nikkei, "Halving the Number of In-House Directors to Three, Equal to Outside Directors. It was misleading because it didn't consider the board composition.
This change in the board composition is merely a measure to meet the listing criteria of prime market means and will not immediately lead to improved transparency of the board.
It must be said that there are numerous issues to be improved for the Company, looking into the corporate practices in detail of the company.


Japan's Governance: Article on the Composition of the Board of Directors of JTEKT Corporation (6473)

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

In summer of 2016, I warned on Smartkarma that the BOJ was going to have to shift its ETF buy basket away from Nikkei 225. It did so in late 2016. I warned again in early 2018 that it was going to get worse, and suggested a revision to the Nikkei 225 Average methodology in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/the-boj-s-ongoing-etf-impact-is-a-nikkei-225-reshuffle-in-the-cards" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:17331" rel="noopener">The BOJ's Ongoing ETF Impact - Is a Nikkei 225 Reshuffle in the Cards?</a> (followed by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-passive-boj-heading-for-trouble-with-nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:21980" rel="noopener">JAPAN PASSIVE:  BOJ Heading For Trouble with Nikkei 225</a>) whereby there would be a deemed minimum shares outstanding quantity so that Deemed Minimum Shares Out / Shares out multiplied by Existing Deemed Par Value would become NEW Deemed Par Value.
This would mean that some names would see lower weights, but on the whole, the Nikkei 225 basket would be much more liquid. 
Nothing was done. The BOJ again lowered its use of Nikkei 225 ETFs, then recently finally stopped using the average altogether. 
The Nikkei 225 had been made largely irrelevant by the Nikkei's refusal to adapt to the times.
<h2>The NEW News</h2>
Today after the close, the Nikkei Index Team announced the first proposed revision to the methodology of the Nikkei 225 Average in twenty years, and a consultation over the next five weeks. Because the concept of Par Value is no longer used in Japan in the Companies Act, it would get rid of the "Presumed Par Value" or "Deemed Par Value" for members and potential members of the Average, and replace it with a Price Adjustment Factor ("PAF") which is an inverse multiplier of the Deemed Par Value. 
In short.... it would do nothing to the index and its constituents as they stand today.
And new additions would be assigned a PAF which would presumably be related to their previously understood Deemed Par Value. But in any case, new constituents would be capped at 1% weightings so would see their Price Adjustment Factor.... adjusted. 
There are other changes proposed which change the rebalancing possibilities, and there is a note that the Average would only include members of TSE Prime (such that existing TSE1 and Nikkei 225 members which chose not to become members of TSE Prime would find themselves booted from the Nikkei 225. 
This is highly disappointing. A 20-year review could have been so much more interesting and the Nikkei could have rescued itself from effective oblivion. Alas, this misses the mark, by a wide margin. 
But details are details so we look at them below.

In summer of 2016, I warned on Smartkarma that the BOJ was going to have to shift its ETF buy basket away from Nikkei 225. It did so in late 2016. I warned again in early 2018 that it was going to get worse, and suggested a revision to the Nikkei 225 Average methodology in The BOJ's Ongoing ETF Impact - Is a Nikkei 225 Reshuffle in the Cards? (followed by JAPAN PASSIVE:  BOJ Heading For Trouble with Nikkei 225) whereby there would be a deemed minimum shares outstanding quantity so that Deemed Minimum Shares Out / Shares out multiplied by Existing Deemed Par Value would become NEW Deemed Par Value.
This would mean that some names would see lower weights, but on the whole, the Nikkei 225 basket would be much more liquid. 
Nothing was done. The BOJ again lowered its use of Nikkei 225 ETFs, then recently finally stopped using the average altogether. 
The Nikkei 225 had been made largely irrelevant by the Nikkei's refusal to adapt to the times.
The NEW News
Today after the close, the Nikkei Index Team announced the first proposed revision to the methodology of the Nikkei 225 Average in twenty years, and a consultation over the next five weeks. Because the concept of Par Value is no longer used in Japan in the Companies Act, it would get rid of the "Presumed Par Value" or "Deemed Par Value" for members and potential members of the Average, and replace it with a Price Adjustment Factor ("PAF") which is an inverse multiplier of the Deemed Par Value. 
In short.... it would do nothing to the index and its constituents as they stand today.
And new additions would be assigned a PAF which would presumably be related to their previously understood Deemed Par Value. But in any case, new constituents would be capped at 1% weightings so would see their Price Adjustment Factor.... adjusted. 
There are other changes proposed which change the rebalancing possibilities, and there is a note that the Average would only include members of TSE Prime (such that existing TSE1 and Nikkei 225 members which chose not to become members of TSE Prime would find themselves booted from the Nikkei 225. 
This is highly disappointing. A 20-year review could have been so much more interesting and the Nikkei could have rescued itself from effective oblivion. Alas, this misses the mark, by a wide margin. 
But details are details so we look at them below. 

After 20yrs, Nikkei 225 Proposes Minor Impact Rule Changes (Nintendo Disappointment?)

Japan

JTEKT Corporation manufactures bearings for motor vehicles and electronic equipment.  The Company also produces steering systems and oil seals for automobiles, electronic control units, and machine tools.

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JTEKT Corp (6473 JP)

The Innovations Portfolios - Week Six

For the six weeks ended 30 Dec the combined innovation portfolio was -1.7, versus DJIA -1.8%, S&P500 -3.2%, Nasdaq -6.1% & MSCI-ACWI-ETF -2.4%, all...

Pyari Menon

The Innovations Portfolios - Week Three

We assess how the three portfolios did for the first three weeks and discuss about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios

Pyari Menon

How the Portfolios Did for the First Week

We assess how the three portfolios did for the first week and discuss about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly...

Pyari Menon

Japan's Governance: Article on the Composition of the Board of Directors of JTEKT Corporation (6473)

The Nikkei's report gave the impression that the transparency of JTEKT's board would improve, but it was misleading because it didn't consider the...

Metrical Inc

After 20yrs, Nikkei 225 Proposes Minor Impact Rule Changes (Nintendo Disappointment?)

TWENTY YEARS after its last major index methodology review, the Nikkei has proposed changes to the Nikkei 225. Existing constituents are not...

Travis Lundy

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