'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

ja research

ja research is an independent research platform focused exclusively on Japanese equities. Leveraging data and graphic analysis provided by Japan Analytics, we provide insights on small and medium-sized companies that have been ignored by the sell-side as well as challenging conventional wisdom on larger companies. We also offer analyst and corporate access, the latter with translation if required. 

Quantitative Analysis

<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/093/001/original/2019-07-13_16-16-31.png?1563002212" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="93001"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/093/005/original/2019-07-13_16-25-24.png?1563002742" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="93005"></figure>Source: Japan Analytics
</div>MOVING AVERAGE BREAKOUT - Japanese equities have now risen by 5.1% since the low of 4th June and, since July 1st, the Total Market Value has exceeded the 50-Day Moving Average for the first time since 26th April. Over the last two weeks, the Total Market Value has gained 1.7% in both Yen and US dollar times. For the previous twelve months, the equity market has moved in line with the US dollar/Japanese Yen exchange rate. It remains to be seen how the 'gap' that has opened up in the last month will be closed. Any further strength in the Yen from current levels will likely see the market slip below the 50-Day Moving Average again.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/093/020/original/2019-07-14_06-28-16.png?1563053334" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="93020"></figure><div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/093/024/original/2019-07-14_06-45-29.png?1563054338" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="93024"></figure> Source: Japan Analytics</div>VALUE TRADED RATIO - The Value Traded Ratio (Value Traded/Total Market Value) has seen two new eighteen-month lows. If the three days around Christmas are excluded, the current apathy towards Japanese equities is the most extreme since 2012 and is confirmed by recent BAML investor surveys. In the past, such periods of inactivity (marked"▲"above)  have preceded changes in market direction, more often upwards rather than downwards and suggest the current rally has more 'legs'. <div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/093/025/original/2019-07-14_06-47-40.png?1563054585" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="93025"></figure> Source: Japan Analytics</div>TORAKU INDEX - Conversely, the Toraku advance/decline index is suggesting a degree of caution having breached the 120 'overbought' line for only the third time in eighteen months. Combining this analysis with the Value Traded Ratio, there is scope for a short-term upward move akin to that of October 2018 to be followed by a sharper downward trend into the autumn.  <div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/093/026/original/2019-07-14_06-54-51.png?1563054906" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="93026"></figure> Source: Japan Analytics</div>VOLUME SCORE TIMELINE - The lull in market turnover is confirmed in the greener 'bias' in our Sector volume timeline. The Retail and Restaurant Sectors are hot as we are in the middle of the quarterly results announcements for February/May/August/November year-end companies. REITs remain the 'go-to' defensive Sector while the Information Technology and Internet Sectors are the 'tema-du-jour' - to mix language metaphors. The 'untouchables' are Metals, Banks, UtilitiesTransportation,  and Multi-Industry.<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/093/028/original/2019-07-14_07-31-40.png?1563057109" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="93028"></figure> Source: Japan Analytics</div>3-MONTH SECTOR CONTRIBUTION - Over the last three months, a long Telcos/short Autos strategy would have yielded 82 basis points of performance. The Retail Sector has responded well to the results released so far led by drugstores <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/welcia-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20895:1" rel="noopener">Welcia (3141 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsuruha-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9536:1" rel="noopener">Tsuruha (3391 JP), </a><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><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsuruha-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9536:1" rel="noopener">, and </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lawson-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1040:1" rel="noopener">Lawson (2651 JP)</a>. Electrical Equipment has suffered from weakness in component stocks <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alps-alpine-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12001:1" rel="noopener">Alps Alpine (6770 JP)</a> (-38% over one year), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/murata-manufacturing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11649:1" rel="noopener">Murata (6981 JP)</a> (see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/scott-foster" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1134" rel="noopener">Scott Foster</a>'s <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/murata-mfg-6981-jp-buy-on-decline-for-the-long-term" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:30919" rel="noopener">(Buy on Decline for the Long Term</a>), and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiyo-yuden-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9924:1" rel="noopener">Taiyo Yuden (6976 JP)</a>, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/smc-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20866:1" rel="noopener">SMC (6273 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fanuc-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:752:1" rel="noopener">Fanuc (6954 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/komatsu-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8416:1" rel="noopener">Komatsu (6301 JP)</a> have weighed on the Machinery Sector.<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/093/031/original/2019-07-14_07-44-47.png?1563057897" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="93031"></figure></figure> Source: Japan Analytics</div>SECTOR SCORE MATRIX - Arranging our cap-weighted Sector Relative Price Scores and Results &amp; Revisions Scores in a four-quadrant matrix whose extremes are Contrarian Sell, Contrarian Buy, Unrequited Growth, and Ex-Growth suggest profit-taking in Information Technology (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/obic-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1273:1" rel="noopener">OBIC (4684 JP)</a>, Other Commerical Products (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hoya-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8990:1" rel="noopener">Hoya Corp (7741 JP)</a>, and Commercial Services (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/recruit-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15070:1" rel="noopener">Recruit 6098 JP).</a> We are not contrarian enough to fall into the banking 'trap', however, the Metals Sector may offer some 'crumbs' of comfort for those in need of a deep value 'fix' (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-steel-sumitomo-metal-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:961:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Steel &amp; Sumitomo Metal (5401 JP)</a>) <div class="content-highlight">In the DETAIL section below, we will review Sector performance, scores and valuation in more detail, as well as Company Results &amp; Revisions and individual stock performance over the previous two weeks, as well as adding some brief comments on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/welcia-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20895:1" rel="noopener">Welcia (3141 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daiseki-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2330:1" rel="noopener">Daiseki (9793 JP), </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yaskawa-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2458:1" rel="noopener">Yaskawa Electric (6506 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 (4927 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sekisui-house-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4508:1" rel="noopener">Sekisui House (1928 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keyence-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3077:1" rel="noopener">Keyence (6861 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-insurance-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:840:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Insurance (7181 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/obic-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1273:1" rel="noopener">Obic (4684 JP)</a>.</div>


Source: Japan Analytics
MOVING AVERAGE BREAKOUT - Japanese equities have now risen by 5.1% since the low of 4th June and, since July 1st, the Total Market Value has exceeded the 50-Day Moving Average for the first time since 26th April. Over the last two weeks, the Total Market Value has gained 1.7% in both Yen and US dollar times. For the previous twelve months, the equity market has moved in line with the US dollar/Japanese Yen exchange rate. It remains to be seen how the 'gap' that has opened up in the last month will be closed. Any further strength in the Yen from current levels will likely see the market slip below the 50-Day Moving Average again.
 Source: Japan AnalyticsVALUE TRADED RATIO - The Value Traded Ratio (Value Traded/Total Market Value) has seen two new eighteen-month lows. If the three days around Christmas are excluded, the current apathy towards Japanese equities is the most extreme since 2012 and is confirmed by recent BAML investor surveys. In the past, such periods of inactivity (marked"▲"above)  have preceded changes in market direction, more often upwards rather than downwards and suggest the current rally has more 'legs'. 
 Source: Japan AnalyticsTORAKU INDEX - Conversely, the Toraku advance/decline index is suggesting a degree of caution having breached the 120 'overbought' line for only the third time in eighteen months. Combining this analysis with the Value Traded Ratio, there is scope for a short-term upward move akin to that of October 2018 to be followed by a sharper downward trend into the autumn.  
 Source: Japan AnalyticsVOLUME SCORE TIMELINE - The lull in market turnover is confirmed in the greener 'bias' in our Sector volume timeline. The Retail and Restaurant Sectors are hot as we are in the middle of the quarterly results announcements for February/May/August/November year-end companies. REITs remain the 'go-to' defensive Sector while the Information Technology and Internet Sectors are the 'tema-du-jour' - to mix language metaphors. The 'untouchables' are Metals, Banks, UtilitiesTransportation,  and Multi-Industry.
 Source: Japan Analytics3-MONTH SECTOR CONTRIBUTION - Over the last three months, a long Telcos/short Autos strategy would have yielded 82 basis points of performance. The Retail Sector has responded well to the results released so far led by drugstores Welcia (3141 JP) and Tsuruha (3391 JP), Fast Retailing (9983 JP), and Lawson (2651 JP). Electrical Equipment has suffered from weakness in component stocks Alps Alpine (6770 JP) (-38% over one year), Murata (6981 JP) (see Scott Foster's (Buy on Decline for the Long Term), and Taiyo Yuden (6976 JP), while SMC (6273 JP), Fanuc (6954 JP), and Komatsu (6301 JP) have weighed on the Machinery Sector.
 Source: Japan AnalyticsSECTOR SCORE MATRIX - Arranging our cap-weighted Sector Relative Price Scores and Results &amp; Revisions Scores in a four-quadrant matrix whose extremes are Contrarian Sell, Contrarian Buy, Unrequited Growth, and Ex-Growth suggest profit-taking in Information Technology (OBIC (4684 JP), Other Commerical Products (Hoya Corp (7741 JP), and Commercial Services (Recruit 6098 JP). We are not contrarian enough to fall into the banking 'trap', however, the Metals Sector may offer some 'crumbs' of comfort for those in need of a deep value 'fix' (Nippon Steel &amp; Sumitomo Metal (5401 JP)) In the DETAIL section below, we will review Sector performance, scores and valuation in more detail, as well as Company Results &amp; Revisions and individual stock performance over the previous two weeks, as well as adding some brief comments on Welcia (3141 JP), Daiseki (9793 JP), Yaskawa Electric (6506 JP), Pola Orbis (4927 JP), Sekisui House (1928 JP), Keyence (6861 JP), Japan Post Insurance (7181 JP), and Obic (4684 JP).

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Market Update - Levitating on Thin Air

Independent Insight Provider, Japanese equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Independent Insight Provider, Japanese equities

Equity Bottom-Up

Murata continues to invest heavily in more efficient and greater production capacity, while weak demand for smart phones and the U.S.-China trade war undercut short-term demand for multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and its other products. As a result, after 15% sales growth and near-record operating profit last fiscal year, management is guiding for flat sales and a 17.5% decline in operating profit in FY Mar-20. Negative factors include significantly higher depreciation and R&amp;D spending, lower capacity utilization rates and lower prices.To a large degree, this should already be discounted. After peaking at ¥6,752 nearly a year ago and spiking to ¥6,500 last November, Murata's share price dropped below ¥4,500 in January, May and June of this year. But uncertainty over sanctions on Huawei (a major customer) and the timing of recovery remains. The book-to-bill ratio (new orders/sales) has dropped below 1.0 and it is not yet clear to what degree achieving sales guidance might depend on the order backlog and profit guidance on cutting back R&amp;D spending.Murata's long-term growth story appears to be intact: rising demand driven by smart phone upgrades, 5G, auto electronics, the Internet of Things, etc.; industry-leading technology; dominant market share. We expect sales growth and profits to recover going into 2020 and operating profit to reach a new record high in FY Mar-22.At ¥4,849 (July 10 closing price), the shares are selling at 18x our EPS estimate for this fiscal year, 16x our estimate for next year and 13X our estimate for FY Mar-22. At ¥4,500, the post-recovery FY Mar-22 P/E ratio would be 12x. At ¥7,000, it would be 20x. The 5-year P/E range is 12x - 26x. Downside to ¥4,500 is 7%. Upside to ¥7,000 is 55%.1Q results are scheduled to be announced on July 31.

Murata continues to invest heavily in more efficient and greater production capacity, while weak demand for smart phones and the U.S.-China trade war undercut short-term demand for multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and its other products. As a result, after 15% sales growth and near-record operating profit last fiscal year, management is guiding for flat sales and a 17.5% decline in operating profit in FY Mar-20. Negative factors include significantly higher depreciation and R&amp;D spending, lower capacity utilization rates and lower prices.To a large degree, this should already be discounted. After peaking at ¥6,752 nearly a year ago and spiking to ¥6,500 last November, Murata's share price dropped below ¥4,500 in January, May and June of this year. But uncertainty over sanctions on Huawei (a major customer) and the timing of recovery remains. The book-to-bill ratio (new orders/sales) has dropped below 1.0 and it is not yet clear to what degree achieving sales guidance might depend on the order backlog and profit guidance on cutting back R&amp;D spending.Murata's long-term growth story appears to be intact: rising demand driven by smart phone upgrades, 5G, auto electronics, the Internet of Things, etc.; industry-leading technology; dominant market share. We expect sales growth and profits to recover going into 2020 and operating profit to reach a new record high in FY Mar-22.At ¥4,849 (July 10 closing price), the shares are selling at 18x our EPS estimate for this fiscal year, 16x our estimate for next year and 13X our estimate for FY Mar-22. At ¥4,500, the post-recovery FY Mar-22 P/E ratio would be 12x. At ¥7,000, it would be 20x. The 5-year P/E range is 12x - 26x. Downside to ¥4,500 is 7%. Upside to ¥7,000 is 55%.1Q results are scheduled to be announced on July 31.

Murata Mfg. (6981 JP): Buy on Decline for the Long Term

- RELATIVE PRICE SCORE - The Relative Price Score (RPS) is a measure of stock price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by comparing the current deviation with the mean absolute deviation of monthly and daily relative share prices. As all companies are put on a comparable scale, 'Overbought' and 'Oversold' outliers and changes in scoring can reveal short-term and longer-term trading opportunities. Company data is cap-weight-aggregated into 328 Peer Group and 30 Sector Relative Price Scores. Outlier thresholds are set at +4 &amp; -2 for Companies, +3 &amp; -1.5 for Peer Groups and +2 and -1 for Sectors. These thresholds equate with the top and bottom first-to-second percentiles of historical observations from which mean reversion normally takes only a few months.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/083/923/original/2019-04-03_12-00-47.png?1554260470" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="83923"></figure><div style="text-align: center;" class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>OUTLIER TRENDS - In the past, increases in the percentage of companies that are either Overbought or Oversold has been a useful indicator of market trends with a rising number of Overbought outliers being bullish and an increasing number of Oversold outliers being bearish and the crossovers between the numbers of each offering market timing signals.  The current situation where both sets of outliers are rising has only occurred once before in the last 30 years - in 1999/2000 shortly before the peak of the 'tech bubble'. We attribute some of the market's distortions to the Bank of Japan's market activities and the increase in algorithmic trading. Whatever the cause, repeating the 2000 tech bubble playbook is unlikely to end well. <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/083/924/original/2019-04-03_12-13-50.png?1554261675" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="83924"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>NEGATIVE 'SPREAD' - On a daily closing basis, the Oversold outlier percentage is currently 3.17%, the highest since December 25th 2018, despite the total market value being 14% higher than on that day. The 'spread' between Overbought and Oversold outliers is now -1.10, and has only been wider for three days at the end of last year either side of Christmas Day. Nevertheless, the Overbought percentage reached a new fifteen-year high at the end of March despite the total market value being 12.6% below the peak of January 2018. In a polarised market, the winners keep on winning, and the losers keep on losing.  <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/084/184/original/2019-04-06_13-57-40.png?1554526675" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="84184"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>MARKET TIMING - Using the crossover from Net Overbought to Net Oversold has been a reasonably good market timing indicator over the last two decades and would have avoided the five-year-long slump from 2007-2012. The most recent monthly closing signal was generated in January when the total market value was ¥634t, 2.7% lower than the current level.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/084/185/original/2019-04-06_14-00-23.png?1554526834" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="84185"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>DAILY TIMING SIGNALS - Using daily closing prices but slightly wider parameters to reduce 'noise' the signals are reasonably effective. The last signal was a sell on 18th December 2018 when the total market value was ¥623b, 4.5% below the current level. Both monthly and daily indicators have large negative 'spreads' and are unlikely to generate 'buy' signals for some time. Both are also suggesting that further declines lie ahead.   <hr>- SECTORS - <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/084/040/original/2019-04-04_17-34-34.png?1554366894" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="84040"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>28-YEAR TIMELINE - The twenty-eight-year history of Sectors' Relative Price Score is shown above and chronicles the periodic extremes of both Overbought and Oversold and the persistence of each. Only seventeen Sectors have been Overbought during this period for a total of 546 months of which half were before 2001. The average Overbought persistence is 4.3 months or 3.4 months excluding the Internet Content &amp; Services Sector.  Only fourteen Sectors have been Oversold since 1992 for a total of 243 months of which 55% were before 2001. The average Oversold persistence is 5.7 months although this has risen to 7.5 months since 2001. Currently, three Sectors are Overbought - Consumer Services, Other Consumer Products, and Healthcare, and two Sectors are Oversold - Banks and Utilities.    In the DETAIL section below, we provide an update on recent Sector and Peer Group trends and make some specific recommendations. A second Insight will follow looking at the Relative Price Scores for Companies.

- RELATIVE PRICE SCORE - The Relative Price Score (RPS) is a measure of stock price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by comparing the current deviation with the mean absolute deviation of monthly and daily relative share prices. As all companies are put on a comparable scale, 'Overbought' and 'Oversold' outliers and changes in scoring can reveal short-term and longer-term trading opportunities. Company data is cap-weight-aggregated into 328 Peer Group and 30 Sector Relative Price Scores. Outlier thresholds are set at +4 &amp; -2 for Companies, +3 &amp; -1.5 for Peer Groups and +2 and -1 for Sectors. These thresholds equate with the top and bottom first-to-second percentiles of historical observations from which mean reversion normally takes only a few months.Source: Japan AnalyticsOUTLIER TRENDS - In the past, increases in the percentage of companies that are either Overbought or Oversold has been a useful indicator of market trends with a rising number of Overbought outliers being bullish and an increasing number of Oversold outliers being bearish and the crossovers between the numbers of each offering market timing signals.  The current situation where both sets of outliers are rising has only occurred once before in the last 30 years - in 1999/2000 shortly before the peak of the 'tech bubble'. We attribute some of the market's distortions to the Bank of Japan's market activities and the increase in algorithmic trading. Whatever the cause, repeating the 2000 tech bubble playbook is unlikely to end well. Source: Japan AnalyticsNEGATIVE 'SPREAD' - On a daily closing basis, the Oversold outlier percentage is currently 3.17%, the highest since December 25th 2018, despite the total market value being 14% higher than on that day. The 'spread' between Overbought and Oversold outliers is now -1.10, and has only been wider for three days at the end of last year either side of Christmas Day. Nevertheless, the Overbought percentage reached a new fifteen-year high at the end of March despite the total market value being 12.6% below the peak of January 2018. In a polarised market, the winners keep on winning, and the losers keep on losing.  Source: Japan AnalyticsMARKET TIMING - Using the crossover from Net Overbought to Net Oversold has been a reasonably good market timing indicator over the last two decades and would have avoided the five-year-long slump from 2007-2012. The most recent monthly closing signal was generated in January when the total market value was ¥634t, 2.7% lower than the current level.Source: Japan AnalyticsDAILY TIMING SIGNALS - Using daily closing prices but slightly wider parameters to reduce 'noise' the signals are reasonably effective. The last signal was a sell on 18th December 2018 when the total market value was ¥623b, 4.5% below the current level. Both monthly and daily indicators have large negative 'spreads' and are unlikely to generate 'buy' signals for some time. Both are also suggesting that further declines lie ahead.   - SECTORS - Source: Japan Analytics28-YEAR TIMELINE - The twenty-eight-year history of Sectors' Relative Price Score is shown above and chronicles the periodic extremes of both Overbought and Oversold and the persistence of each. Only seventeen Sectors have been Overbought during this period for a total of 546 months of which half were before 2001. The average Overbought persistence is 4.3 months or 3.4 months excluding the Internet Content &amp; Services Sector.  Only fourteen Sectors have been Oversold since 1992 for a total of 243 months of which 55% were before 2001. The average Oversold persistence is 5.7 months although this has risen to 7.5 months since 2001. Currently, three Sectors are Overbought - Consumer Services, Other Consumer Products, and Healthcare, and two Sectors are Oversold - Banks and Utilities.    In the DETAIL section below, we provide an update on recent Sector and Peer Group trends and make some specific recommendations. A second Insight will follow looking at the Relative Price Scores for Companies. 

🇯🇵 Japan • Relative Price Scores - Market, Sectors & Peer Groups > Extreme Negative Divergence

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Friday 8 March after the close, the Nikkei <a href="https://indexes.nikkei.co.jp/en/nkave/archives/news/20190308E_1.pdf" target="_blank">announced</a> that because the third party share sale of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/15895" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15895:1">Pioneer Corp (6773 JP)</a>  had been completed, it would be deleted from the Nikkei 225 Average (and the Nikkei 500 Index). <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/15904" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15904:1">Omron Corp (6645 JP)</a> will replace Pioneer in the Nikkei 225 Average, with a deemed par value of 50 yen per share.The date for this index deletion and inclusion event is the 15th of March, as per the schedule of the February 19th announcement as to how the Pioneer event would be treated. This affords special sits/events followers a couple of different events to look at.

Friday 8 March after the close, the Nikkei announced that because the third party share sale of Pioneer Corp (6773 JP)  had been completed, it would be deleted from the Nikkei 225 Average (and the Nikkei 500 Index). Omron Corp (6645 JP) will replace Pioneer in the Nikkei 225 Average, with a deemed par value of 50 yen per share.The date for this index deletion and inclusion event is the 15th of March, as per the schedule of the February 19th announcement as to how the Pioneer event would be treated. This affords special sits/events followers a couple of different events to look at. 

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Farha Sabri

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.

<ul class="">
<li>Murata reported 3.4% YoY revenue growth to JPY427.6bn and 89.9% YoY OP growth to JPY85.6bn in its third quarter earnings.</li>
<li>Despite the strong third quarter performance, we, along with consensus, expect the company to underperform its revenue guidance. This is mainly due to the slowdown in the smartphone market, which is expected to persist in the current quarter as well.</li>
<li>Based on our estimates, Murata is currently trading at a FY1 PE multiple of 17.5x, lower than its historical median of 20.5x.</li>
</ul>


Murata reported 3.4% YoY revenue growth to JPY427.6bn and 89.9% YoY OP growth to JPY85.6bn in its third quarter earnings.
Despite the strong third quarter performance, we, along with consensus, expect the company to underperform its revenue guidance. This is mainly due to the slowdown in the smartphone market, which is expected to persist in the current quarter as well.
Based on our estimates, Murata is currently trading at a FY1 PE multiple of 17.5x, lower than its historical median of 20.5x.


Murata Up 12.8% Following 3QFY03/19 Earnings Release

Japan

MURATA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD. manufactures and sells ceramic applied electronic components.  The Company's products include filters, capacitors, thermistors, resistors, noise suppression components, coils, piezoelectric sound components, power supplies, sensors, hybrid integrated circuit (IC), and microwave components.

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Murata Manufacturing (6981 JP)

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