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>With life getting back to the usual ways following changes due to COVID-19, the Japanese cosmetics sector was expected to experience an uplift in earnings, mainly through inbound demand.</li>
<li>However, the extension of China’s common prosperity crackdowns to the live-streaming e-commerce business, could more than offset a possible recovery in inbound demand.</li>
<li>Thus, we fear that there is additional downside risk to Japanese cosmetics multiples in the short term.</li>
</ul>


With life getting back to the usual ways following changes due to COVID-19, the Japanese cosmetics sector was expected to experience an uplift in earnings, mainly through inbound demand.
However, the extension of China’s common prosperity crackdowns to the live-streaming e-commerce business, could more than offset a possible recovery in inbound demand.
Thus, we fear that there is additional downside risk to Japanese cosmetics multiples in the short term.


Crackdown on Live-Streaming E-Commerce Could Derail The Recovery of Japanese Cosmetics

Equity Long-Short Analyst

Pyari Menon

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Brand recognition is a driver of margins and returns for consumer products, but developing and maintaining product superiority is of paramount importance to establish and sustain brands and market share</li>
<li>In this report, we take  look at how well companies in personal hygiene products like diapers, sanitary pads,  linings, and tampons are positioned from a technological perspective</li>
<li>
<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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kimberly-clark-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2292:1" rel="noopener">Kimberly Clark (KMB US)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unicharm-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6246:1" rel="noopener">Unicharm Corp (8113 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daio-paper-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3211:1" rel="noopener">Daio Paper Corp (3880 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12933:1" rel="noopener">Kao Corp (4452 JP)</a> lead the field</li>
</ul>


Brand recognition is a driver of margins and returns for consumer products, but developing and maintaining product superiority is of paramount importance to establish and sustain brands and market share
In this report, we take  look at how well companies in personal hygiene products like diapers, sanitary pads,  linings, and tampons are positioned from a technological perspective

Procter &amp; Gamble Co (PG US), Kimberly Clark (KMB US) , Unicharm Corp (8113 JP), Daio Paper Corp (3880 JP), and Kao Corp (4452 JP) lead the field


Stock Ideas from Data Mining Technical Publications: A Look at Diapers, Sanitary Pads, and Tampons

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>It has been an interesting year and short interest has varied a lot across countries, sectors and stocks. We look at changes in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.</li>
<li>Shorts have soared in Korea following the resumption of short selling, while short interest has increased in the other countries too.</li>
<li>Ping An Insurance and BYD had the biggest short covering, while China Merchants Bank saw the largest increase in shorts over the year.</li>
</ul>


It has been an interesting year and short interest has varied a lot across countries, sectors and stocks. We look at changes in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
Shorts have soared in Korea following the resumption of short selling, while short interest has increased in the other countries too.
Ping An Insurance and BYD had the biggest short covering, while China Merchants Bank saw the largest increase in shorts over the year.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kose-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18009:1" rel="noopener">Kose Corp (4922 JP)</a>’s share price is up 5.1% today compared to 3.6%, 4.9%, 4.2%, 2.8% and 2.2% for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shiseido-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5718:1" rel="noopener">Shiseido Company (4911 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pola-orbis-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2287:1" rel="noopener">Pola Orbis Holdings (4927 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fancl-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15862:1" rel="noopener">Fancl Corp (4921 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12933:1" rel="noopener">Kao Corp (4452 JP)</a> and the Topix Index respectively despite an underwhelming quarter ending September 2021 results release on 29<sup>th</sup> October 2021 (aftermarket) with revenue declining 1.7% (adjusted for changes in accounting standards) from the same period of the previous year.</li>
<li>Quarterly revenue increased 9.2% (adjusted) on a QoQ basis. The OP increased 86.2% YoY and 54.3% QoQ (adjusted) on cost controls.</li>
<li>In addition, the company has lowered its revenue and OP guidance for the 9 months from April-December 2021 by ¥14.0bn (5.9%) and ¥4.0bn (20%) respectively to ¥224.0bn revenue and ¥16.0bn OP, which implies a full-year revenue of ¥299.3bn and an OP of ¥18.2bn in CY2021 compared to ¥282.8bn revenue and ¥13.5bn OP in CY2020.</li>
</ul>



Kose Corp (4922 JP)’s share price is up 5.1% today compared to 3.6%, 4.9%, 4.2%, 2.8% and 2.2% for Shiseido Company (4911 JP), Pola Orbis Holdings (4927 JP), Fancl Corp (4921 JP), Kao Corp (4452 JP) and the Topix Index respectively despite an underwhelming quarter ending September 2021 results release on 29th October 2021 (aftermarket) with revenue declining 1.7% (adjusted for changes in accounting standards) from the same period of the previous year.
Quarterly revenue increased 9.2% (adjusted) on a QoQ basis. The OP increased 86.2% YoY and 54.3% QoQ (adjusted) on cost controls.
In addition, the company has lowered its revenue and OP guidance for the 9 months from April-December 2021 by ¥14.0bn (5.9%) and ¥4.0bn (20%) respectively to ¥224.0bn revenue and ¥16.0bn OP, which implies a full-year revenue of ¥299.3bn and an OP of ¥18.2bn in CY2021 compared to ¥282.8bn revenue and ¥13.5bn OP in CY2020.


Further Downside Is Possible As Kose Keeps Losing Ground in Japan

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shiseido-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5718:1" rel="noopener">Shiseido Company (4911 JP)</a>’s CEO, Masahiko Uotani has met with several reporters to discuss the company’s view on the cosmetics industry at a time Shiseido’s share price has underperformed the Topix and Nikkei indices by more than 8%.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/236/665/original/image_43531005321634807122546.png?1634807123" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="236665"></figure><div class="content-caption"><em>Source: Cap IQ</em></div><p>Uotani is expecting a sharp recovery in inbound revenue over the course of the next year. Even though Uotani says that he is less concerned about signs of an economic slowdown and concerns of tighter regulation in China, he is planning on hedging the China slowdown risk through acquisitions in the US and Europe.</p>

Shiseido Company (4911 JP)’s CEO, Masahiko Uotani has met with several reporters to discuss the company’s view on the cosmetics industry at a time Shiseido’s share price has underperformed the Topix and Nikkei indices by more than 8%.Source: Cap IQUotani is expecting a sharp recovery in inbound revenue over the course of the next year. Even though Uotani says that he is less concerned about signs of an economic slowdown and concerns of tighter regulation in China, he is planning on hedging the China slowdown risk through acquisitions in the US and Europe.

Shiseido: Inbound Demand Could Rebound During The Next Twelve Months

Japan

Kao Corporation is a manufacturer of household and chemical products. The company produces cosmetics, laundry and cleaning products, hygiene products, fatty chemicals, edible oils, and specialty chemicals.

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Kao Corp (4452 JP)

Crackdown on Live-Streaming E-Commerce Could Derail The Recovery of Japanese Cosmetics

Valuation multiples of Japanese cosmetics makers more than doubled during the last 6-7 years alongside the growth driven by the China expansion and...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Stock Ideas from Data Mining Technical Publications: A Look at Diapers, Sanitary Pads, and Tampons

Spotting the innovation leaders in the hygiene aisle of the supermarkets. A look at the diaper, sanitary pads, and tampon makers.

Pyari Menon

Asia: The Year in Shorts

There have been large increases and decreases in short interest on stocks across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan over the year. We look at the biggest...

Brian Freitas

Further Downside Is Possible As Kose Keeps Losing Ground in Japan

The share price and valuation multiples have come down by around 25% and 35% respectively over the last three months as the market started reacting...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Shiseido: Inbound Demand Could Rebound During The Next Twelve Months

Inbound demand is an extremely important portion of Shiseido’s domestic revenue as it contributed around ¥70.0-80.0bn (around 18% of domestic...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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