'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)

• LARGE CAP RESULTS - 13th APRIL •<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/386/original/image_36527959121618346539491.png?1618346540" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200386"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics</div>RESULTS - Only 38% of Tuesdays 69 results announcements scored positively. Of the largest-cap stocks reporting, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toho-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7806:1" rel="noopener">Toho (9602 JP)</a> cinemas has yet to bottom out but is still in profit. 'New wave' software companies <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sansan-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28112:1" rel="noopener">Sansan (4443 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/money-forward-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25919:1" rel="noopener">Money Forward (3994 JP)</a> are growing into their extreme valuations, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona's</a> under-appreciated margin transformation continues. <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/403/original/image_63727914331618348873715.png?1618348877" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200403"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/404/original/image_12260447541618348911606.png?1618348912" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200404"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/405/original/image_35233699051618348944141.png?1618348944" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200405"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/406/original/image_14670185761618348969100.png?1618348969" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200406"></figure>• LARGE CAP FORECASTS/REVISIONS - 13th APRIL •<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/407/original/image_58511005871618349036093.png?1618349036" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200407"></figure>FORECASTS/REVISIONS - Two-thirds of annual forecasts/revisions were positive, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toho-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7806:1" rel="noopener">Toho (9602 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/j-front-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8947:1" rel="noopener">J Front Retailing (3086 JP)</a> the leading largest-cap optimists. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/santen-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8602:1" rel="noopener">Santen Pharmaceutical (4536 JP)</a> revised down following a delay in the approval of glaucoma implant DE-128.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/408/original/image_63605452481618349380112.png?1618349381" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200408"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/409/original/image_46822562891618349413296.png?1618349413" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200409"></figure>

• LARGE CAP RESULTS - 13th APRIL •Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan AnalyticsRESULTS - Only 38% of Tuesdays 69 results announcements scored positively. Of the largest-cap stocks reporting, Toho (9602 JP) cinemas has yet to bottom out but is still in profit. 'New wave' software companies Sansan (4443 JP) and Money Forward (3994 JP) are growing into their extreme valuations, while Pasona's under-appreciated margin transformation continues. • LARGE CAP FORECASTS/REVISIONS - 13th APRIL •FORECASTS/REVISIONS - Two-thirds of annual forecasts/revisions were positive, with Toho (9602 JP) and J Front Retailing (3086 JP) the leading largest-cap optimists. Santen Pharmaceutical (4536 JP) revised down following a delay in the approval of glaucoma implant DE-128.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/​​​​​​13 - Pasona (Grata) & J Front Retailing

APAC IPOs & Placements

Zhen Zhou, Toh

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/visional-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32977:1" rel="noopener">Visional Inc (4194 JP)</a> is looking to raise up to US$609m in its Japan IPO.Visional Inc. is a human resources (HR) technology company based in Japan. The company operates BizReach, an online recruiting platform that helps to connect professional job seekers to direct employers and third-party recruiters. It also offers HRMOS, which is a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) platform.In this note, we share our thoughts on assumptions, valuation, and deal dynamics.

Visional Inc (4194 JP) is looking to raise up to US$609m in its Japan IPO.Visional Inc. is a human resources (HR) technology company based in Japan. The company operates BizReach, an online recruiting platform that helps to connect professional job seekers to direct employers and third-party recruiters. It also offers HRMOS, which is a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) platform.In this note, we share our thoughts on assumptions, valuation, and deal dynamics.

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

<div>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">Freee (4478 JP)</a> (freee) is looking to raise around US$400m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares. 
We had looked at the company at the time of listing, links to our previous notes are below: 
</div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/freee-pre-ipo-has-been-growing-fast-but-missing-data-points-leave-quite-a-few-niggling-doubts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">freee K.K. pre-IPO - Has been growing fast but missing data points leave quite a few niggling doubts,</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/freee-k-k-pre-ipo-the-battle-is-far-from-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freee K. K. Pre-IPO - The Battle Is Far from Over,</a></li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/free-k-k-ipo-it-s-not-exactly-freee-but-looks-ok-at-the-lower-end" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freee K.K. IPO - It’s Not Exactly Free but Looks Ok at the Lower-End</a>, and</li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/freee-ipo-trading-priced-at-par-to-comp-it-now-boils-down-to-how-much-premium-it-can-trade-at" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freee IPO Trading - Priced at Par to Comp, It Now Boils Down to How Much Premium It Can Trade At</a></li>
</ul></div><div>In this note, we'll run the deal through our ECM framework and talk about deal dynamics.</div>


Freee (4478 JP) (freee) is looking to raise around US$400m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares. 
We had looked at the company at the time of listing, links to our previous notes are below: 

freee K.K. pre-IPO - Has been growing fast but missing data points leave quite a few niggling doubts,
Freee K. K. Pre-IPO - The Battle Is Far from Over,

Freee K.K. IPO - It’s Not Exactly Free but Looks Ok at the Lower-End, and
Freee IPO Trading - Priced at Par to Comp, It Now Boils Down to How Much Premium It Can Trade At
In this note, we'll run the deal through our ECM framework and talk about deal dynamics.

Freee Placement - Needs to Correct by a Whole Lot More

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">freee (4478 JP)</a> reported another set of stunning quarterly revenue growth figures. </li>
<li>The market for cloud-based accounting software is still at its early stages of adoption. </li>
<li>We compare Freee with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/money-forward-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25919:1" rel="noopener">Money Forward (3994 JP)</a> . Freee's accounting business (on a like-for-like basis) comes out on top. But, Money Forward is cheaper and has a wider range of growth options.</li>
</ul>



freee (4478 JP) reported another set of stunning quarterly revenue growth figures. 
The market for cloud-based accounting software is still at its early stages of adoption. 
We compare Freee with Money Forward (3994 JP) . Freee's accounting business (on a like-for-like basis) comes out on top. But, Money Forward is cheaper and has a wider range of growth options.


Japan Small Cap Growth - Freee or Money Forward?

<div>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/money-forward-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25919:1" rel="noopener">Money Forward (3994 JP)</a> (MF) reported a strong finish to FY11/20, with Q4 revenues up 51% YoY.  
</li>
<li>
The core MF Business segment (65% of sales) grew 78% YoY in the quarter to ¥2.2b. 
</li>
<li>
Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) reached ¥8.25b (72% of total sales) 
</li>
<li>
Gross margin in Q4 was 68.2%, up 7.8ppts from the previous year.  
</li>
<li>
The number of paying customers for the entire group (individuals, sole proprietors and corporations) exceeded 420,000.  
</li>
<li>
Guidance: FY11/21 revenue guided to a range of ¥14.75-15.75b (30-39% YoY) 
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<div>
Company Description  Money Forward is a financial platform for both individuals and businesses. The rapid adoption of cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) is driving rapid sales growth for business accounting software and, with penetration still at low levels, this trend is expected to continue. Money Forward operates under four main domains:  MF Business (cloud accounting), MF Finance (payment services/fund), MF X (technology solutions) and MF Home (personal financial management).   
</div>
</div>




Money Forward (3994 JP) (MF) reported a strong finish to FY11/20, with Q4 revenues up 51% YoY.  


The core MF Business segment (65% of sales) grew 78% YoY in the quarter to ¥2.2b. 


Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) reached ¥8.25b (72% of total sales) 


Gross margin in Q4 was 68.2%, up 7.8ppts from the previous year.  


The number of paying customers for the entire group (individuals, sole proprietors and corporations) exceeded 420,000.  


Guidance: FY11/21 revenue guided to a range of ¥14.75-15.75b (30-39% YoY) 





Company Description  Money Forward is a financial platform for both individuals and businesses. The rapid adoption of cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) is driving rapid sales growth for business accounting software and, with penetration still at low levels, this trend is expected to continue. Money Forward operates under four main domains:  MF Business (cloud accounting), MF Finance (payment services/fund), MF X (technology solutions) and MF Home (personal financial management).   



Japan Small Cap Growth: Money Forward - Strong Finish to the Year

Japan

Money Forward, Inc. develops mobile application software. The Company produces automatic household account book softwares, household account book application softwares, and other products. Money Forward also provides personal financial management, cloud based accounting solutions, and other services.

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Money Forward (3994 JP)

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/13 - Pasona (Grata) & J Front Retailing

RESULTS - Only 38% of Tuesdays 69 results announcements scored positively. Of the largest-cap stocks reporting, Toho (9602 JP) cinemas has yet to...

Campbell Gunn

Visional Inc IPO - Pricey Hire

Visional Inc (4194 JP) is looking to raise up to US$609m in its Japan IPO. Visional Inc. is a human resources (HR) technology company based in Japan.

Zhen Zhou, Toh

Freee Placement - Needs to Correct by a Whole Lot More

Freee (4478 JP) (freee) is looking to raise around US$400m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares. In this note, we'll run the deal...

Sumeet Singh

Japan Small Cap Growth - Freee or Money Forward?

We compare Freee's cloud accounting platform with Money Forwards. We carry out some new analysis to compare both on a like-for-like basis.

Mark Chadwick

Japan Small Cap Growth: Money Forward - Strong Finish to the Year

Money Forward (3994) reported a strong finish to FY11/20, with Q4 revenues up 51% YoY. It is our 2021 High Conviction call and we remain bullish...

Mark Chadwick

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🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/​​​​​​13 - Pasona (Grata) & J Front Retailing

RESULTS - Only 38% of Tuesdays 69 results announcements scored positively. Of the largest-cap stocks reporting, Toho (9602 JP) cinemas has yet to...

Campbell Gunn

Visional Inc IPO - Pricey Hire

Visional Inc (4194 JP) is looking to raise up to US$609m in its Japan IPO. Visional Inc. is a human resources (HR) technology company based in Japan.

Zhen Zhou, Toh

Freee Placement - Needs to Correct by a Whole Lot More

Freee (4478 JP) (freee) is looking to raise around US$400m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares. In this note, we'll run the deal...

Sumeet Singh

Japan Small Cap Growth - Freee or Money Forward?

We compare Freee's cloud accounting platform with Money Forwards. We carry out some new analysis to compare both on a like-for-like basis.

Mark Chadwick

Japan Small Cap Growth: Money Forward - Strong Finish to the Year

Money Forward (3994) reported a strong finish to FY11/20, with Q4 revenues up 51% YoY. It is our 2021 High Conviction call and we remain bullish...

Mark Chadwick

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/13 - Pasona (Grata) & J Front Retailing