'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)

<div>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/135/544/original/2020-05-25_05-06-24.png?1590350813" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="135544"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
</div><p><strong>CLOSURE</strong> - As the fashion amongst Japanese companies is not to make any full-year forecasts, there has been little change in our forecast-based metrics over the last week. Trailing-twelve-month (TTM) profits declined by ¥3 trillion and ¥2.5 trillion at the operating and net levels, respectively, over the week - closing the 'gap' to forecast considerably. There is still some upside to the market multiple from the numerator. For the time being, however, liquidity rules.</p><div><p>In the <strong>DETAIL </strong>section below, we shall review Friday's announcements:-</p></div><div><ul>
<li>The balance between positive/neutral/negative of the 106 results announcements was 52:4:50. The average change in Results Score was -1.2.</li>
<li>For the 49 revisions/initial forecasts, the split was 10:1:38, and the average Forecast/Revision Score was -10.0. Again, only one-third of companies reporting full-year results chose to make current year forecasts. </li>
<li>As this highly-unusual disclosure period slowly winds down (7% of market cap has yet to report almost two months after books closed), 57 companies will announce results on Monday. The largest of these by market cap will be <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ajinomoto-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8911:1" rel="noopener">Ajinomoto (2802 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7797:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi (6501 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shimizu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8530:1" rel="noopener">Shimizu (1803 JP)</a>. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nissan-motor-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:72:1" rel="noopener">Nissan Motor (7201 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba (6502 JP)</a> will, hopefully, follow later in the week but may well be the 'sting in the trail'. </li>
</ul></div>


Source • Japan Analytics
CLOSURE - As the fashion amongst Japanese companies is not to make any full-year forecasts, there has been little change in our forecast-based metrics over the last week. Trailing-twelve-month (TTM) profits declined by ¥3 trillion and ¥2.5 trillion at the operating and net levels, respectively, over the week - closing the 'gap' to forecast considerably. There is still some upside to the market multiple from the numerator. For the time being, however, liquidity rules.In the DETAIL section below, we shall review Friday's announcements:-
The balance between positive/neutral/negative of the 106 results announcements was 52:4:50. The average change in Results Score was -1.2.
For the 49 revisions/initial forecasts, the split was 10:1:38, and the average Forecast/Revision Score was -10.0. Again, only one-third of companies reporting full-year results chose to make current year forecasts. 
As this highly-unusual disclosure period slowly winds down (7% of market cap has yet to report almost two months after books closed), 57 companies will announce results on Monday. The largest of these by market cap will be Ajinomoto (2802 JP), Hitachi (6501 JP), and Shimizu (1803 JP). Nissan Motor (7201 JP) and Toshiba (6502 JP) will, hopefully, follow later in the week but may well be the 'sting in the trail'. 


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 22nd May - FUJIFILM, ASICS, Benesse

Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities

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. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Canon Electronics has fallen 40% in the COVID-19 downdraft to the lowest level in nearly four years. At 12x management's EPS guidance for FY Dec-20 and 0.6x sales, the shares look attractive at first glance. But guidance is probably too optimistic and SPACE ONE, the company's satellite launch venture, is likely to be a drain on earnings for at least another two years.</p><p>In FY Dec-19, operating profit dropped 15.0% on a 1.8% decline in sales due to weak demand for parts for digital and cell phone cameras, scanners and printers, and the cost of preparing SPACE ONE to start launching satellites in 2021. This year, in a weaker economy, management is guiding for flat sales and a 39% decline in operating profit.</p><p>In view of the economic impact of COVID-19, sales and profit guidance look optimistic. A significant decline in sales is likely and profits could drop by half, with losses possible in 1H.</p><p>If the economy stabilizes by the end of the year and then recovers, we would expect sales and profits to regain previous levels by 2022. This would bring the projected P/E ratio down to 10x or less. On a five-year view, the success of SPACE ONE could bring it down to 7.5x. But the timing of recovery is unclear and SPACE ONE is behind its American and Chinese competitors.</p><p>Canon Electronics has a strong balance sheet, which should see it through the downturn. If repeated, last year's ¥80 dividend per share would provide a 5.8% yield, but if profits collapse, it might not be. There is no indicated dividend for this year.  </p><p>Canon Electronics is a speculative investment in economic recovery and the potential of a rocket launch business that has yet to get off the ground. Short-term risk is high.</p>

Canon Electronics has fallen 40% in the COVID-19 downdraft to the lowest level in nearly four years. At 12x management's EPS guidance for FY Dec-20 and 0.6x sales, the shares look attractive at first glance. But guidance is probably too optimistic and SPACE ONE, the company's satellite launch venture, is likely to be a drain on earnings for at least another two years.In FY Dec-19, operating profit dropped 15.0% on a 1.8% decline in sales due to weak demand for parts for digital and cell phone cameras, scanners and printers, and the cost of preparing SPACE ONE to start launching satellites in 2021. This year, in a weaker economy, management is guiding for flat sales and a 39% decline in operating profit.In view of the economic impact of COVID-19, sales and profit guidance look optimistic. A significant decline in sales is likely and profits could drop by half, with losses possible in 1H.If the economy stabilizes by the end of the year and then recovers, we would expect sales and profits to regain previous levels by 2022. This would bring the projected P/E ratio down to 10x or less. On a five-year view, the success of SPACE ONE could bring it down to 7.5x. But the timing of recovery is unclear and SPACE ONE is behind its American and Chinese competitors.Canon Electronics has a strong balance sheet, which should see it through the downturn. If repeated, last year's ¥80 dividend per share would provide a 5.8% yield, but if profits collapse, it might not be. There is no indicated dividend for this year.  Canon Electronics is a speculative investment in economic recovery and the potential of a rocket launch business that has yet to get off the ground. Short-term risk is high.

Canon Electronics (7739 JP): Downside Risk to Earnings and the Dividend

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<p style="text-align: justify;">Global equities are now breaking out to new highs amid positive technical developments -- something we noted was increasingly likely in last week’s <em>Int’l Compass</em>. These breakouts and other technical developments highlighted below argue that this is the beginning of a new leg higher. Now is the time to be playing offense. In today’s report we highlight our favorite setups within Industrials, spanning the Vermilion international Manufacturing, Services, and Transportation Sectors.</p>

Global equities are now breaking out to new highs amid positive technical developments -- something we noted was increasingly likely in last week’s Int’l Compass. These breakouts and other technical developments highlighted below argue that this is the beginning of a new leg higher. Now is the time to be playing offense. In today’s report we highlight our favorite setups within Industrials, spanning the Vermilion international Manufacturing, Services, and Transportation Sectors.

Global Equity Strategy: Global Equities Beginning a New Leg Higher

<p>The probability for a breakout for global equities (MSCI ACWI) has increased in the past week based on several positive technical developments which we highlight below. Still, there are several indicators that continue to tell us we are not yet out of the woods. In this report we outline key technical levels and drivers across major markets, and highlight attractive set ups in the following areas: European &amp; UK Banks, Exchanges/Markets, Asset Managers, and Insurance, Major Autos and Communications.</p>

The probability for a breakout for global equities (MSCI ACWI) has increased in the past week based on several positive technical developments which we highlight below. Still, there are several indicators that continue to tell us we are not yet out of the woods. In this report we outline key technical levels and drivers across major markets, and highlight attractive set ups in the following areas: European &amp; UK Banks, Exchanges/Markets, Asset Managers, and Insurance, Major Autos and Communications.

Global Equity Strategy: Bullish Breakout Probability on the Rise

<p>In our October International Strategy, we outline important technical levels across markets and highlight various themes which lead to our neutral outlook, along with areas of the market where we see actionable opportunities, including Japan, and global technology.</p>

In our October International Strategy, we outline important technical levels across markets and highlight various themes which lead to our neutral outlook, along with areas of the market where we see actionable opportunities, including Japan, and global technology.

Global Equity Strategy: Neutral Outlook Intact, Japan and Global Tech Are Bright Spots.

Japan

Shimizu Corporation is a general contractor operating nationwide and overseas. The Company builds residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. Shimizu also performs civil engineering works for roads and operates real estate businesses. The Company, through its subsidiaries, sells and leases construction materials and machinery.

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Shimizu Corp (1803 JP)

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 22nd May - FUJIFILM, ASICS, Benesse

CLOSURE - As the fashion amongst Japanese companies is not to make any full-year forecasts, there has been little change in our forecast-based...

Campbell Gunn

Canon Electronics (7739 JP): Downside Risk to Earnings and the Dividend

Canon Electronics has fallen 40% in the COVID-19 downdraft to the lowest level in nearly four years. At 12x management's EPS guidance for FY Dec-20...

Scott Foster

Global Equity Strategy: Global Equities Beginning a New Leg Higher

Global equities are now breaking out to new highs amid positive technical developments -- something we noted was increasingly likely in last week’s...

Vermilion Research

Global Equity Strategy: Bullish Breakout Probability on the Rise

The probability for a breakout for global equities (MSCI ACWI) has increased in the past week based on several positive technical developments...

Vermilion Research

Global Equity Strategy: Neutral Outlook Intact, Japan and Global Tech Are Bright Spots.

In our October International Strategy, we outline important technical levels across markets and highlight various themes which lead to our neutral...

Vermilion Research

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