Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<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> investors are in a conundrum. The stock is doing well. With one quarter to go, the company just raised its full-year EPS target by 8.3%.</li>
<li>It also raised its H2 dividend by 20+% so the full-year div will be more than 20% higher than previously forecast and up 35+% since last year. All good. </li>
<li>Except for the selling. Potentially lots of selling. And more outperformance begets more selling. Then even more selling in 2024. And 2025? What about 2025? More outperformance begets more selling.</li>
</ul>



Fast Retailing (9983 JP) investors are in a conundrum. The stock is doing well. With one quarter to go, the company just raised its full-year EPS target by 8.3%.
It also raised its H2 dividend by 20+% so the full-year div will be more than 20% higher than previously forecast and up 35+% since last year. All good. 
Except for the selling. Potentially lots of selling. And more outperformance begets more selling. Then even more selling in 2024. And 2025? What about 2025? More outperformance begets more selling.


Fast Retailing UPs Forecasts, Which Creates A Sell/Short Opportunity

Independent Insight Provider, Japanese equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Independent Insight Provider, Japanese equities

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>Applied Materials' new Sculpta pattern-shaping tool could greatly reduce demand for EUV mask inspection on a medium- to long-term view. High-NA EUV is likely to do the same.</li>
<li>Lasertec's high valuations are predicated on a multi-year high growth trajectory. That trajectory is now being called into question. </li>
<li>We have cut our FY Jun-25 profit forecast by 32%, but the projected P/E ratio is still 40x. More downside ahead.</li>
</ul>


Applied Materials' new Sculpta pattern-shaping tool could greatly reduce demand for EUV mask inspection on a medium- to long-term view. High-NA EUV is likely to do the same.
Lasertec's high valuations are predicated on a multi-year high growth trajectory. That trajectory is now being called into question. 
We have cut our FY Jun-25 profit forecast by 32%, but the projected P/E ratio is still 40x. More downside ahead.


Lasertec (6920 JP): Negative Potential of Sculpta Not in the Price

<ul>
<li>The September 2023 Nikkei 225 Rebalance is tomorrow at the close. This will engender a lot of buying of three names, and a lot of selling of 3 names.  </li>
<li>It will also engender a funding trade of nearly ¥460bn. </li>
<li>I am going to beat the dead horse and warn about certain issues with this rebalance.</li>
</ul>


The September 2023 Nikkei 225 Rebalance is tomorrow at the close. This will engender a lot of buying of three names, and a lot of selling of 3 names.  
It will also engender a funding trade of nearly ¥460bn. 
I am going to beat the dead horse and warn about certain issues with this rebalance.


<ul>
<li>Every year it's the same trade. This year it is Wednesday and Thursday. There are risks to the analysis - notably allocation.</li>
<li>But there may be ¥800bn+ to buy on one day into the close later this month (+ another ¥200-300bn on two other days). Then a ¥500bn sell two days later.</li>
<li>Over the past ten years, the two day return on the March trade is great. In Sep, not so much. This year there are Extra Special Flows.</li>
</ul>


Every year it's the same trade. This year it is Wednesday and Thursday. There are risks to the analysis - notably allocation.
But there may be ¥800bn+ to buy on one day into the close later this month (+ another ¥200-300bn on two other days). Then a ¥500bn sell two days later.
Over the past ten years, the two day return on the March trade is great. In Sep, not so much. This year there are Extra Special Flows.


The Biggish Sep 2023 "Wednesday-Thursday Trade" With Added Monday/Friday Flavour

<ul>
<li>Today, somewhat earlier than expected), the Nikkei Index Team announced the changes to the Nikkei 225.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lasertec-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4126:1" rel="noopener">Lasertec Corp (6920 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mercari-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27149:1" rel="noopener">Mercari (4385 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nitori-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20386:1" rel="noopener">Nitori Holdings (9843 JP)</a> are added. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-sheet-glass-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9013:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Sheet Glass (5202 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsui-e-s-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2402:1" rel="noopener">Mitsui E&amp;S Holdings (7003 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/matsui-securities-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6553:1" rel="noopener">Matsui Securities (8628 JP)</a> removed.</li>
<li>That triggers flows of about ¥480bn a side, and some big, big changes. The announcement helps understand new process better.</li>
</ul>


Today, somewhat earlier than expected), the Nikkei Index Team announced the changes to the Nikkei 225.

Lasertec Corp (6920 JP), Mercari (4385 JP), and Nitori Holdings (9843 JP) are added. Nippon Sheet Glass (5202 JP), Mitsui E&amp;S Holdings (7003 JP), and Matsui Securities (8628 JP) removed.
That triggers flows of about ¥480bn a side, and some big, big changes. The announcement helps understand new process better.


September Nikkei 225 Review - Lasertec, Mercari, Nitori IN, Expected DELETEs Out (Matsui the Biggie)

Japan

Lasertec Corporation develops, designs, manufactures and markets photomask inspection systems to make semiconductor devices, confocal scanning laser microscopes and liquid crystal display (LCD) inspection systems.

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Lasertec Corp (6920 JP)

Fast Retailing UPs Forecasts, Which Creates A Sell/Short Opportunity

Fast Retailing announced decent earnings for Q3 and upgraded forecasts for August 2023. It also raised its full-year dividend vs previous guidance....

Travis Lundy

Lasertec (6920 JP): Negative Potential of Sculpta Not in the Price

Potential negative impact of AMAT's Sculpta pattern-shaping tool not yet discounted. High-NA EUV also negative for Lasertec. Forecast cut, but FY...

Scott Foster

Nikkei 225 Rebal - Beating a Dead Horse

Tomorrow's Nikkei 225 Rebalance is ¥490bn a side, with ¥460bn of funding trade. Matsui Sec is like a big offering. The three ADDs are all more...

Travis Lundy

The Biggish Sep 2023 "Wednesday-Thursday Trade" With Added Monday/Friday Flavour

Every September there is a big buy flow. Sometimes it is offset by de-allocation. This year there are two more buy flows and another big sell flow...

Travis Lundy

September Nikkei 225 Review - Lasertec, Mercari, Nitori IN, Expected DELETEs Out (Matsui the Biggie)

Since the Sep 2023 Nikkei announcement 10 days ago, Lasertec flatlined vs Peers, Nitori popped, then underperformed what might loosely be...

Travis Lundy

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Fast Retailing UPs Forecasts, Which Creates A Sell/Short Opportunity

Fast Retailing announced decent earnings for Q3 and upgraded forecasts for August 2023. It also raised its full-year dividend vs previous guidance....

Travis Lundy

Lasertec (6920 JP): Negative Potential of Sculpta Not in the Price

Potential negative impact of AMAT's Sculpta pattern-shaping tool not yet discounted. High-NA EUV also negative for Lasertec. Forecast cut, but FY...

Scott Foster

Nikkei 225 Rebal - Beating a Dead Horse

​Tomorrow's Nikkei 225 Rebalance is ¥490bn a side, with ¥460bn of funding trade. Matsui Sec is like a big offering. The three ADDs are all more...

Travis Lundy

The Biggish Sep 2023 "Wednesday-Thursday Trade" With Added Monday/Friday Flavour

Every September there is a big buy flow. Sometimes it is offset by de-allocation. This year there are two more buy flows and another big sell flow...

Travis Lundy

September Nikkei 225 Review - Lasertec, Mercari, Nitori IN, Expected DELETEs Out (Matsui the Biggie)

Since the Sep 2023 Nikkei announcement 10 days ago, Lasertec flatlined vs Peers, Nitori popped, then underperformed what might loosely be...

Travis Lundy

Tomorrow's Nikkei 225 Rebalance is ¥490bn a side, with ¥460bn of funding trade. Matsui Sec is like a big offering. The three ADDs are all more...