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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>OniGo only opened its first dark store in the middle of last year and along with competitors is expanding rapidly.</li>
<li>But it also recently signed up to deliver orders from Lawson Store 100 and is running a trial from Comfort Market, Seven &amp; I’s concept store in Setagaya.  </li>
<li>In both cases, online orders are picked, not by store staff, but by OniGo’s own staff, to increase the speed of order preparation and to tie to store’s inventory systems.</li>
</ul>


OniGo only opened its first dark store in the middle of last year and along with competitors is expanding rapidly.
But it also recently signed up to deliver orders from Lawson Store 100 and is running a trial from Comfort Market, Seven &amp; I’s concept store in Setagaya.  
In both cases, online orders are picked, not by store staff, but by OniGo’s own staff, to increase the speed of order preparation and to tie to store’s inventory systems.


Dark Store Delivery in Japan Takes Off – Collaborating with Retailers

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

NTT (Nippon Telegraph & Telephone) / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The April-June TSE FFW Methodology Revision moves favour certain sectors over others. There is nearly ¥500bn of telecom stocks to buy with 60+% of that in four names.</li>
<li>Other factors may support some of the names as well. </li>
<li>There is enough excess buying to warrant trading tilts and keeping fundamental positions even as forward earnings multiples have expanded to multi-year highs.</li>
</ul>


The April-June TSE FFW Methodology Revision moves favour certain sectors over others. There is nearly ¥500bn of telecom stocks to buy with 60+% of that in four names.
Other factors may support some of the names as well. 
There is enough excess buying to warrant trading tilts and keeping fundamental positions even as forward earnings multiples have expanded to multi-year highs.


Strong Telecom Flows in TOPIX FFW Transition Months

<ul>
<li>As we have been tracking in recent months, the market for rapid home delivery of FMCG and food is hotting up, with much of the action at convenience stores.</li>
<li>The CVS sector was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic but with a network of 56,000 stores, there is an opportunity to use these stores as supply points.</li>
<li>CVS need to engage with delivery services given the growing number of firms creating their own dark store networks which compete with local supermarkets and CVS.</li>
</ul>


As we have been tracking in recent months, the market for rapid home delivery of FMCG and food is hotting up, with much of the action at convenience stores.
The CVS sector was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic but with a network of 56,000 stores, there is an opportunity to use these stores as supply points.
CVS need to engage with delivery services given the growing number of firms creating their own dark store networks which compete with local supermarkets and CVS.


Quick Commerce and Unmanned Stores Challenge Japanese Convenience Retailing

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>Among many e-commerce names, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/monotaro-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15441:1" rel="noopener">MonotaRO Co Ltd (3064 JP)</a> is one of the most promising with operating profitability predicted to improve by 200 bps to 14.0% by 2023.</li>
<li>Unlike many e-commerce players, the company doesn’t strain itself financially while pursuing revenue growth through expansion.</li>
<li>At 35.8x OP, MonotaRo is not cheap to be outright bullish. However, it is a reasonable long hedge to allow you to short a lot of other names in e-commerce.</li>
</ul>


Among many e-commerce names, MonotaRO Co Ltd (3064 JP) is one of the most promising with operating profitability predicted to improve by 200 bps to 14.0% by 2023.
Unlike many e-commerce players, the company doesn’t strain itself financially while pursuing revenue growth through expansion.
At 35.8x OP, MonotaRo is not cheap to be outright bullish. However, it is a reasonable long hedge to allow you to short a lot of other names in e-commerce.


<ul>
<li>LINE Gift has doubled its user base to 20 million in a year, and added merchants like Seven Eleven, but isn’t content with this. </li>
<li>It has only just integrated with Zozo and Yahoo Shopping and expects these new partners, as well as new TV ad campaigns, to deliver a major increase in user numbers.</li>
<li>The collaboration with Z Holdings' through Yahoo Shopping and Zozo shows the potential for leveraging the groups' huge user base.</li>
</ul>


LINE Gift has doubled its user base to 20 million in a year, and added merchants like Seven Eleven, but isn’t content with this. 
It has only just integrated with Zozo and Yahoo Shopping and expects these new partners, as well as new TV ad campaigns, to deliver a major increase in user numbers.
The collaboration with Z Holdings' through Yahoo Shopping and Zozo shows the potential for leveraging the groups' huge user base.


Japan

USEN-NEXT HOLDINGS Co.,Ltd. provides network information services. The Company provides video contents distribution, music contents distribution, and other services. USEN-NEXT HOLDINGS also provides internet agency, mobile communication, and other services.

Stream Media Corporation provides management of artists events and medias. The Company manages activities of Korean artists in Japan, and plans and organizes activities including their music and appearances at events, official mobile sites,  fan club sites, and others in commercials. Stream Media also provides Korean channel broadcasting services,

OKINAWA CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY provides cellular and car phone services in Okinawa Prefecture.  The Company also sells cellular phones and accessories.

ARTERIA Networks Corporation provides telecommunication services. The Company offers internet connection, virtual private network construction, colocation, mobile connection, mobile device management, optical fiber network construction, and other services.

Vision Inc. provides a variety of telecommunication services, including fixed-line telecom, wireless telecom and wifi services. The company also provides distribution and lease service of office equipments and communications equipments.

FreeBit Co., Ltd. provides Internet connectivity outsourcing services for Internet service providers.  The Company also offers ubiquitous networking environment.  FreeBit provides consulting services for Internet related businesses as well.

Japan Communications Inc. provides telecommunication services to corporate clients.  The Company also provides wireless high-speed internet access mainly to consumers.

Broadmedia Corporation provides broadband service, CDN (contents delivery network), and media contents belonging to Softbank broadcasting. Broadmedia also markets game on demand service.

BroadBand Tower, Inc. operates Internet data centers to provide space services and Internet connectivity services.  The Company also distributes video contents on the Internet.

FORVAL TELECOM, INC. is a telecommunication services reseller, and provides discount international and domestic telephone and cellular phone services for the business and private sectors.  The Company also sells prepaid telephone cards and calling card services, and also does network and systems consulting.

Snap Inc. provides technology and social media services. The Company develops mobile camera application products and services that allow users to send and receive photos, drawings, text, and videos. Snap serves customers worldwide.

CAR Group Limited operates as a digital marketplace for vehicles. The Company provides a diversified portfolio of brands to sell and buy cars. CAR Group serves customers worldwide.

Match Group, Inc. is a dating service provider. The Company offers diverse portfolio of apps and services which enables connections across the spectrum of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and backgrounds. Match Group serves customers worldwide.

Pinterest, Inc. operates and maintains social networking site. The Company provides online venue for personal photos, ideas, oddities, decorations, places to visit, recipes, and other items. Pinterest serves customers worldwide.

IAC Inc operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides media and Internet services. IAC serves customers worldwide.

Domain Holdings Australia Limited offers multi-platform property solutions. The Company operates an online portal that delivers property marketing solutions for residential, new development, and commercial properties. Domain Holdings Australia serves buyers, sellers, renters, and investors in Australia.

EverQuote, Inc. operates as an Internet based marketing firm. The Company, through its platform, enables consumers to connect with auto insurance carriers and agents to meet their auto insurance needs. EverQuote serves customers in the United States.

Hello Group Inc. operates as a mobile-based social networking platform. The Company enables users to establish and expand social relationships based on location and interests. Hello Group operates out of the Peoples Republic of China.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. operates as a media and entertainment company. The Company offers live wrestling events, television programming, music publishing, advertising, licensing, and home video streaming services. World Wrestling distributes its programs worldwide in various languages.

Fox Corporation operates as an entertainment company. The Company produces and licenses news, sports, and entertainment content for distribution through cable television systems, direct broadcast satellite operators, telecommunications companies, and online video distributors. Fox also manages broadcast studios, theaters, editing bays, sound stages, and other production facilities.

LY Corporation operates as an internet search engine "Yahoo! JAPAN". The Company provides electronic commerce and settlement finance services for small medium enterprises and individuals. LY also operates media business including search linked advertising and display advertising services.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

LY (4689 JP)

Dark Store Delivery in Japan Takes Off – Collaborating with Retailers

Dark stores are taking off, set up by delivery firms to ship food and basic daily use products. Some are competing with retailers but others are...

Michael Causton

Strong Telecom Flows in TOPIX FFW Transition Months

The Telecom Sector is the biggest sector beneficiary of TOPIX FFW flows over the next few months. Still bullish NTT vs the others near-term. All...

Travis Lundy

Quick Commerce and Unmanned Stores Challenge Japanese Convenience Retailing

As we have been tracking in recent months, the market for rapid home delivery of FMCG and food is hotting up, with much of the action at...

Michael Causton

MonotaRo: A Rare Winner in E-Commerce

While most e-commerce players are fighting each other and the e-commerce arms of traditional businesses, MonotaRo operates in a niche with very...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

LINE Gift: The Next Stage

LINE Gift has doubled its user base to 20 million in a year but has plans to grow much bigger and is a great example of the potential to leverage...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)