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>We last wrote on this relatively small Japanese cosmetics company in September 2021 suggesting that it could be worth keeping an eye on given its cheaper valuation compared to peers.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/premier-anti-aging-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34292:1" rel="noopener">Premier Anti-Aging (4934 JP)</a> shares are down 80% from the peak, mostly because it was sold-off alongside the low quality names in Mothers.</li>
<li>It seems early to turn outright bullish on Premier Anti-Aging yet. However, if you are short other unprofitable names in Mothers, we think Premier Anti-Aging is a sensible long hedge.</li>
</ul>


We last wrote on this relatively small Japanese cosmetics company in September 2021 suggesting that it could be worth keeping an eye on given its cheaper valuation compared to peers.

Premier Anti-Aging (4934 JP) shares are down 80% from the peak, mostly because it was sold-off alongside the low quality names in Mothers.
It seems early to turn outright bullish on Premier Anti-Aging yet. However, if you are short other unprofitable names in Mothers, we think Premier Anti-Aging is a sensible long hedge.


Premier Anti-Aging Company:  Getting to an Interesting Level

<ul>
<li>With Omicron under control, Japan is expected to relax home quarantine requirements for foreign travellers some time or the other.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, Google Mobility data hints that domestic customers are starting to head back to places like shopping centres, suggesting an improvement in demand conditions.</li>
<li>Based on valuation and the price performance trend, long time underperformer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pola-orbis-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2287:1" rel="noopener">Pola Orbis Holdings (4927 JP)</a> seems like the best option to capitalise on the reopening of Japan to foreign tourists.</li>
</ul>


With Omicron under control, Japan is expected to relax home quarantine requirements for foreign travellers some time or the other.
Meanwhile, Google Mobility data hints that domestic customers are starting to head back to places like shopping centres, suggesting an improvement in demand conditions.
Based on valuation and the price performance trend, long time underperformer Pola Orbis Holdings (4927 JP) seems like the best option to capitalise on the reopening of Japan to foreign tourists.


Pola Orbis: Our Preferred Choice Leading up The Reopening of Japan to Foreign Tourists

Equity Long-Short Analyst

Pyari Menon

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Procter &amp; Gamble Co (PG US), Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS), L'Oreal SA (OR FP), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-household-health-care" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6501:1" rel="noopener">LG Household &amp; Health Care (051900 KS)</a>,  and Kao Corp (4452 JP), lead product innovation table</li>
<li>Among the smaller names <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cosmax-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4491:1" rel="noopener">Cosmax Inc (192820 KS)</a>, Pola Orbis Holdings (4927 JP),  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kolmar-bnh-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33240:1" rel="noopener">Kolmar BNH (200130 KS)</a>, have been relatively prolific in innovating over the last three years.</li>
<li>Apart from the quality of the ingredients, consistency, stability of the formulations, the packaging, dispensing, virtual try-on, personalized recommendations, sustainability seem to be some of the key trends in innovations.</li>
</ul>


Procter &amp; Gamble Co (PG US), Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS), L'Oreal SA (OR FP), LG Household &amp; Health Care (051900 KS),  and Kao Corp (4452 JP), lead product innovation table
Among the smaller names Cosmax Inc (192820 KS), Pola Orbis Holdings (4927 JP),  Kolmar BNH (200130 KS), have been relatively prolific in innovating over the last three years.
Apart from the quality of the ingredients, consistency, stability of the formulations, the packaging, dispensing, virtual try-on, personalized recommendations, sustainability seem to be some of the key trends in innovations.


Insights from Datamining Technical Publications - Cosmetics

<ul>
<li>Considering the geopolitical relationship over the last 100 years, it doesn’t take much for Chinese people to start developing an anti-Japan sentiment.</li>
<li>The relationship between the two countries was already reaching nervy levels, before Tokyo’s decision to snub the 2022 Winter Olympics.</li>
<li>We think the Japanese government’s decision to not send a government delegation to the Winter Olympics could be all that is needed to spark an anti-Japan sentiment among Chinese consumers.</li>
</ul>


Considering the geopolitical relationship over the last 100 years, it doesn’t take much for Chinese people to start developing an anti-Japan sentiment.
The relationship between the two countries was already reaching nervy levels, before Tokyo’s decision to snub the 2022 Winter Olympics.
We think the Japanese government’s decision to not send a government delegation to the Winter Olympics could be all that is needed to spark an anti-Japan sentiment among Chinese consumers.


Japan’s Boycott of Winter Olympics Could Be the Tipping Point

<ul>
<li>With life getting back to the usual ways following changes due to COVID-19, the Japanese cosmetics sector was expected to experience an uplift in earnings, mainly through inbound demand.</li>
<li>However, the extension of China’s common prosperity crackdowns to the live-streaming e-commerce business, could more than offset a possible recovery in inbound demand.</li>
<li>Thus, we fear that there is additional downside risk to Japanese cosmetics multiples in the short term.</li>
</ul>


With life getting back to the usual ways following changes due to COVID-19, the Japanese cosmetics sector was expected to experience an uplift in earnings, mainly through inbound demand.
However, the extension of China’s common prosperity crackdowns to the live-streaming e-commerce business, could more than offset a possible recovery in inbound demand.
Thus, we fear that there is additional downside risk to Japanese cosmetics multiples in the short term.


Crackdown on Live-Streaming E-Commerce Could Derail The Recovery of Japanese Cosmetics

Japan

POLA ORBIS HOLDINGS INC. develops, manufactures and markets cosmetic products, centering in skincare  products. Under its multi-brand strategy, the Company holds nine cosmetic brands including POLA, prestige skincare brand, ORBIS, oil-free skincare brand, H2O PLUS and Jurlique.

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Pola Orbis Holdings (4927 JP)

Premier Anti-Aging Company: Getting to an Interesting Level

Premier Anti-Aging’s current multiple is around 27% below the sector’s cyclical low multiple suggesting that there could be significant upside...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Pola Orbis: Our Preferred Choice Leading up The Reopening of Japan to Foreign Tourists

Based on valuation and the price performance trend, long time underperformer Pola Orbis seems like the best option to capitalise on the reopening...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Insights from Datamining Technical Publications - Cosmetics

The beauty industry - where innovation can be real and driven by science, but sometimes just cosmetic to just change the perception

Pyari Menon

Japan’s Boycott of Winter Olympics Could Be the Tipping Point

The relationship between the two countries was already reaching nervy levels, before Tokyo’s decision to snub the 2022 Winter Olympics. With the...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Crackdown on Live-Streaming E-Commerce Could Derail The Recovery of Japanese Cosmetics

Valuation multiples of Japanese cosmetics makers more than doubled during the last 6-7 years alongside the growth driven by the China expansion and...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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