Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>KDDI reported earnings today, offering a near meaningless March 2022 results presentation slide deck, and an only slightly more meaningful new Mid-Term Plan.</li>
<li>The only clarity provided is on the bit which makes up about a third of future OP as the two-thirds (mobile telephony ARPU-related revenues) will see considerable pain this year. </li>
<li>The buyback is nice, but KDDI is no longer cheap, and may have relative upside only against Softbank Corp. </li>
</ul>


KDDI reported earnings today, offering a near meaningless March 2022 results presentation slide deck, and an only slightly more meaningful new Mid-Term Plan.
The only clarity provided is on the bit which makes up about a third of future OP as the two-thirds (mobile telephony ARPU-related revenues) will see considerable pain this year. 
The buyback is nice, but KDDI is no longer cheap, and may have relative upside only against Softbank Corp. 


KDDI (9433) Results OK, Forecasts OK, Buyback Even Better, But No Longer Cheap

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

<ul>
<li>Guidance for modest growth in FY22 operating income is broadly in line with expectations and reassuring after a range of potential outcomes in reports from NTT and Softbank  </li>
<li>The company has issued a mid-term plan with a positive message on growth from new businesses and in-line guidance for capex/shareholder returns but a lack of FY24 finanical targets</li>
<li>On balance, the message is positive as a stable business and rising shareholder returns makes KDDI an attractive option in a frothy market</li>
</ul>


Guidance for modest growth in FY22 operating income is broadly in line with expectations and reassuring after a range of potential outcomes in reports from NTT and Softbank  
The company has issued a mid-term plan with a positive message on growth from new businesses and in-line guidance for capex/shareholder returns but a lack of FY24 finanical targets
On balance, the message is positive as a stable business and rising shareholder returns makes KDDI an attractive option in a frothy market


KDDI (Buy) Q4 21 Results Reaction: FY22 Profits Steady and Wide-Ranging Mid-Term Plan

Event-Driven

NTT (Nippon Telegraph & Telephone) / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The three Japanese telecoms reported earnings this week. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27445:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Corp (9434 JP)</a> was disappointing (and slightly confusing). <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kddi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:639:1" rel="noopener">KDDI Corp (9433 JP)</a> was much of a muchness.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-telegraph-telephone-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:623:1" rel="noopener">NTT (Nippon Telegraph &amp; Telephone) (9432 JP)</a>  looked the best, and announced the largest buyback - ¥400bn or 3%. But it comes from a government sale, not the market. </li>
<li>Nevertheless, the company is doing what it promised and executing on its promise. And despite the "bullishness" in the revenue forecast, earnings forecasts to March 2023 look conservative.</li>
</ul>


The three Japanese telecoms reported earnings this week. Softbank Corp (9434 JP) was disappointing (and slightly confusing). KDDI Corp (9433 JP) was much of a muchness.

NTT (Nippon Telegraph &amp; Telephone) (9432 JP)  looked the best, and announced the largest buyback - ¥400bn or 3%. But it comes from a government sale, not the market. 
Nevertheless, the company is doing what it promised and executing on its promise. And despite the "bullishness" in the revenue forecast, earnings forecasts to March 2023 look conservative.


NTT (9432) - Salutary Earnings Salutary Buyback, More to Go

NTT (Nippon Telegraph & Telephone) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Q4 results and FY22 guidance are in line with expectations and management is confident it is on track to meet its FY23 ¥370 EPS commitment</li>
<li>Returns to shareholders modestly better than expected with a ¥400bn buyback and the possibility of a further dividend hike later in the year still on the table</li>
<li>We remain positive on NTT shares which trade at an attractive 10-11x EPS with further support from expanding shareholder returns</li>
</ul>


Q4 results and FY22 guidance are in line with expectations and management is confident it is on track to meet its FY23 ¥370 EPS commitment
Returns to shareholders modestly better than expected with a ¥400bn buyback and the possibility of a further dividend hike later in the year still on the table
We remain positive on NTT shares which trade at an attractive 10-11x EPS with further support from expanding shareholder returns


NTT (Buy) - Q4 21 Results Reaction: Steady as She Goes

<ul>
<li>Softbank Corp will meet its mid-term business plan commitment of ¥1,000bn in FY22 operating income but it needs a boost from valuation gains from PayPay to get there</li>
<li>Operationally, it is forecasting a 11% EBITDA decline driven by mobile revenue erosion and higher marketing expense with the lack of a growth contribution from Z Holdings apparent</li>
<li>The good news is the dividend is unchanged.  We expect a better story from NTT and KDDI later in the week but stable returns provide support</li>
</ul>


Softbank Corp will meet its mid-term business plan commitment of ¥1,000bn in FY22 operating income but it needs a boost from valuation gains from PayPay to get there
Operationally, it is forecasting a 11% EBITDA decline driven by mobile revenue erosion and higher marketing expense with the lack of a growth contribution from Z Holdings apparent
The good news is the dividend is unchanged.  We expect a better story from NTT and KDDI later in the week but stable returns provide support


Softbank Corp Q4 21 Results Reaction: Behind the Headlines, Disappointing Guidance

Japan

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation provides a variety of telecommunication services, including telephone, telegraph, leased circuits, data communication, terminal equipment sales, and related services. The Company provides both local and long distance telephone services within Japan.

NTT (Nippon Telegraph & Telephone) (9432 JP)

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NTT (Nippon Telegraph & Telephone) (9432 JP)

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Kirk Boodry

Softbank Corp Q4 21 Results Reaction: Behind the Headlines, Disappointing Guidance

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Kirk Boodry

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