'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 class="content-highlight"><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>"Beware of geeks bearing formulas." - Warren Buffett </em></strong></p></div><p>Enterprise Value multiples have become common parlance in the investment world, both <strong>Enterprise Value/Operating Profit</strong> (EV/OP or EV/EBIT) and it's flawed 'bastard' cousin EV/EBITDA which we will leave well alone for this Insight. With markets supported on a cloud of central bank's liquidity and corporate trailing earnings distorted by COVID-19, many valuation ratios appear meaningless. To inject a dose of reality into the analysis of Japanese corporate valuations, we have created a new metric -<strong> Enterprise Value/Peak Operating Profit (EV/POP).</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/155/071/original/2020-08-26_10-36-07.png?1598405812" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="155071"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics (applies to all charts below)</div><p><strong>EV &amp; OP TIMELINE</strong> - Using currently-listed non-financial companies (with the four exceptions noted in the legend above), the correlation between Enterprise Value (here divided by 10) and Operating Income has increased since 2013. However, the current positive EV&lt;&gt;OP 'spread' is now larger than at any time since 2002. While non-financial Operating Profits have declined by 22% since peaking in the first quarter of FY2019, Enterprise Value is just ¥2.9 trillion, or 5% below its <a href="mailto:FY18-@Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FY18-</a>2Q peak level. Where the lines converge, the EV/OP multiple is 10 times, which is close to the sixteen-year average and the arbitrary line we shall use to distinguish the overvalued from the undervalued. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/155/075/original/2020-08-26_10-56-07.png?1598406979" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="155075"></figure><p><strong>EV/OP &amp; EV/POP</strong> - Aggregate EV/OP is now 11.6 times, breaking out of a narrow range to reach a  new a ten-year high. EV/POP reached a five-year low in March of 7.9 times but is now 20 basis points above the seven-year average of 8.8 times. By neither measure could the market be considered cheap; however, in EV/POP terms, aggregate valuations are only just above average.  For several favoured companies for which the market is prepared to pay any price for their perceived quality EV/POP multiple are far from average as in the examples below. At the other end of the valuation spectrum, EV/POP reveals some clear bargain-hunting opportunities.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/155/100/original/2020-08-26_13-12-11.png?1598415140" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="155100"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/155/102/original/2020-08-26_13-12-39.png?1598415169" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="155102"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/155/104/original/2020-08-26_13-15-58.png?1598415375" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="155104"></figure><p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> section, we look at the non-financial companies at more examples from both extremes of this metric, in an attempt to pick potential winners and losers as the world slowly normalises and liquidity begins to ebb.  We have purposely excluded companies with negative Enterprise Values, which we shall cover in a upcoming Insight. We have also excluded companies that have listed only in the last four years.</p>

"Beware of geeks bearing formulas." - Warren Buffett Enterprise Value multiples have become common parlance in the investment world, both Enterprise Value/Operating Profit (EV/OP or EV/EBIT) and it's flawed 'bastard' cousin EV/EBITDA which we will leave well alone for this Insight. With markets supported on a cloud of central bank's liquidity and corporate trailing earnings distorted by COVID-19, many valuation ratios appear meaningless. To inject a dose of reality into the analysis of Japanese corporate valuations, we have created a new metric - Enterprise Value/Peak Operating Profit (EV/POP).Source: Japan Analytics (applies to all charts below)EV &amp; OP TIMELINE - Using currently-listed non-financial companies (with the four exceptions noted in the legend above), the correlation between Enterprise Value (here divided by 10) and Operating Income has increased since 2013. However, the current positive EV&lt;&gt;OP 'spread' is now larger than at any time since 2002. While non-financial Operating Profits have declined by 22% since peaking in the first quarter of FY2019, Enterprise Value is just ¥2.9 trillion, or 5% below its FY18-2Q peak level. Where the lines converge, the EV/OP multiple is 10 times, which is close to the sixteen-year average and the arbitrary line we shall use to distinguish the overvalued from the undervalued. EV/OP &amp; EV/POP - Aggregate EV/OP is now 11.6 times, breaking out of a narrow range to reach a  new a ten-year high. EV/POP reached a five-year low in March of 7.9 times but is now 20 basis points above the seven-year average of 8.8 times. By neither measure could the market be considered cheap; however, in EV/POP terms, aggregate valuations are only just above average.  For several favoured companies for which the market is prepared to pay any price for their perceived quality EV/POP multiple are far from average as in the examples below. At the other end of the valuation spectrum, EV/POP reveals some clear bargain-hunting opportunities.In the DETAIL section, we look at the non-financial companies at more examples from both extremes of this metric, in an attempt to pick potential winners and losers as the world slowly normalises and liquidity begins to ebb.  We have purposely excluded companies with negative Enterprise Values, which we shall cover in a upcoming Insight. We have also excluded companies that have listed only in the last four years.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Stock Picking with 'Peak' EV/OP Multiples - Introducing EV/POP

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. 

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/035/original/2020-03-15_07-07-04.png?1584223644" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123035"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>RELATIVE VALUE</strong> - Since the recent peak of December 17th, the TOPIX Index has fallen by 28% in 56 trading days. The<strong> -0.57% daily average rate of decline</strong> over the last three months has only been exceeded on 32 of the 10,142 days since March 1979, eight of which occurred in 1990, with the balance in 2008. From the January 23rd 2018 peak of 1,911, the index has fallen by 34% and is within 3% of our target (expressed in terms of Total Market Value ex REITs) outlined in our <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-market-update-opportunity-knocks" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:37049" rel="noopener">Opportunity Knocks?</a> Insight published on 1st March. The market is also within 5% of the TOPIX low of 1,196 of 12th February 2016, which we expect will provide some short-term support. Although Japan and many other developed world economies are now in recession, markets do not fall in a straight line forever. <strong>Japanese equities now offer attractive relative value and should outperform over the coming months.</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/034/original/2020-03-15_06-53-01.png?1584222882" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123034"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/036/original/2020-03-15_07-18-49.png?1584224347" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123036"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/037/original/2020-03-15_07-23-55.png?1584224666" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123037"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>IT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME</strong> - Most bear markets in Japan have coincided with periods of Yen strength, including the 29% 2015/16 decline when the currency strengthened by 19%. Repeating the rate of decline analysis above, in US dollar terms there have only been <strong>four days in the last twenty-eight years</strong> with worse 56-day rates of decline - all in October 2008. <strong>All four days provided fearless investors with excellent medium-term gains.</strong> Although this increase in market volatility may be less welcome for international investors in Japanese equities, the impact of the <em>Covid-19 recession</em> on the Japanese economy will be more muted. Also, the 48% collapse in the oil price year-to-date will help offset the negative impact of the October 2019 increase in the consumption tax and the decline in export sales in Europe. Lastly, we would suggest that the much-derided net cash that Japanese corporates 'hoard' for rainy days such as these, should delay the need for increases in credit lines. Our recent series of Insights on<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-who-s-swimming-naked-part-2-altman-z-score" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:37316" rel="noopener"> Who’s Swimming Naked?</a> cover those companies to which this does not apply. <strong>Overall</strong>, <strong>for Japan at least, it is different this time.</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/039/original/File%202020-03-15%203%2024%2020.jpeg?1584225464" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123039"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/040/original/File%202020-03-15%203%2026%2031.jpeg?1584225508" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123040"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/041/original/File%202020-03-15%207%2044%2021.jpeg?1584225894" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123041"></figure><p></p><div class="content-caption">Source • Max Roser, Hannah Ritchie and Esteban Ortiz-Ospina (2020) - "Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) – Research and Statistics". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus' [Online Resource]</div><p><strong>CONTAINING COVID</strong> - According to <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the peerless <strong>Global Change Data Lab</strong> at Oxford University, Japan has, (except for the unfortunate passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess cruise ship), managed to contain Covid-19 better than any other large nation. While, there is some scepticism that this outcome could be a result of under-testing to avoid cancellation of the Olympic Games; nevertheless, the recorded cases fatality rate in a country with an above-average age profile is surprisingly low.  Currently, the daily increase in active Covid-19 cases in Japan is less than one hundred and was only seventeen on March 15th. The cumulative number of confirmed Covid-19 fatalities is 24, of which two occurred yesterday. The confirmed number of cases per 100,000 population is 0.65, which compares with 19.5 in South Korea, 16.5 in Italy and 12 in Iran. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/038/original/2020-03-15_07-34-05.png?1584225268" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123038"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • oann.com</div><p><strong>KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON -</strong> Last night's press conference by Prime Minister Abe was in stark contrast to the sombre tone to those of Prime Minister Johnson of the United Kingdom and the tragicomic ramblings of the US President. Having received the legislative powers to declare a state of emergency, Abe declined at this stage to invoke any social restrictions beyond the already-announced school closures. As in the UK, sporting authorities are cancelling events or holding them <em>sine populo</em>. Japan's long obsession with cleanliness, the culture of bowing as a greeting and readiness to conform have served to 'flatten the curve'. The increased focus on such practices has also resulted in a very low incidence of seasonal influenza this year. Japan also has significantly lower levels of air pollution compared to China, Iran and northern Italy, a  factor that has become a factor in fatality rates, especially amongst the elderly. Although internal travel and restaurant patronage have sharply declined in Japan, shops are open and are well-stocked (except for now-rationed paper products) and 'free movement' with slightly-greater-than-normal social distancing is the norm. Whatever the motivations may be regarding the Olympics and Abe's legacy, Japan is unwilling to force the economy into the economic depression that would be the result of prolonged lockdown. </p><p><strong>A COVID-19 WORLD</strong> - This 'keep-calm-carry-on' model of a Covid-19-prevalent world (as is also seen in Singapore and Taiwan) will eventually have to be applied globally. These countries rapid transition to the new 'Covid-19 world' should result in better short-term outcomes for these economies.  The UK is currently being criticised for attempting to follow a version of this model, and may eventually have to go against the advice of its epidemiologists. Fortunately, for now, the general public are giving the UK government the benefit of the doubt. There will be a sharp divergence in the medium-term economic outlooks for countries taking these two 'paths' with those that are over-reacting paying a heavy price. While this does not bode well for the Eurozone, East Asia, including Japan, should emerge in better shape in this new 'viral' world.      </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> section below, we shall review a number of our favourite market indicators, recent sector performance and make some recommendations as to how to harness this<strong> once-in-a-decade</strong> opportunity to buy high-quality Japanese companies at attractive prices.</p></div>

Source • Japan AnalyticsRELATIVE VALUE - Since the recent peak of December 17th, the TOPIX Index has fallen by 28% in 56 trading days. The -0.57% daily average rate of decline over the last three months has only been exceeded on 32 of the 10,142 days since March 1979, eight of which occurred in 1990, with the balance in 2008. From the January 23rd 2018 peak of 1,911, the index has fallen by 34% and is within 3% of our target (expressed in terms of Total Market Value ex REITs) outlined in our Opportunity Knocks? Insight published on 1st March. The market is also within 5% of the TOPIX low of 1,196 of 12th February 2016, which we expect will provide some short-term support. Although Japan and many other developed world economies are now in recession, markets do not fall in a straight line forever. Japanese equities now offer attractive relative value and should outperform over the coming months.Source • Japan AnalyticsIT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME - Most bear markets in Japan have coincided with periods of Yen strength, including the 29% 2015/16 decline when the currency strengthened by 19%. Repeating the rate of decline analysis above, in US dollar terms there have only been four days in the last twenty-eight years with worse 56-day rates of decline - all in October 2008. All four days provided fearless investors with excellent medium-term gains. Although this increase in market volatility may be less welcome for international investors in Japanese equities, the impact of the Covid-19 recession on the Japanese economy will be more muted. Also, the 48% collapse in the oil price year-to-date will help offset the negative impact of the October 2019 increase in the consumption tax and the decline in export sales in Europe. Lastly, we would suggest that the much-derided net cash that Japanese corporates 'hoard' for rainy days such as these, should delay the need for increases in credit lines. Our recent series of Insights on Who’s Swimming Naked? cover those companies to which this does not apply. Overall, for Japan at least, it is different this time.Source • Max Roser, Hannah Ritchie and Esteban Ortiz-Ospina (2020) - "Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) – Research and Statistics". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus' [Online Resource]CONTAINING COVID - According to data from the peerless Global Change Data Lab at Oxford University, Japan has, (except for the unfortunate passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess cruise ship), managed to contain Covid-19 better than any other large nation. While, there is some scepticism that this outcome could be a result of under-testing to avoid cancellation of the Olympic Games; nevertheless, the recorded cases fatality rate in a country with an above-average age profile is surprisingly low.  Currently, the daily increase in active Covid-19 cases in Japan is less than one hundred and was only seventeen on March 15th. The cumulative number of confirmed Covid-19 fatalities is 24, of which two occurred yesterday. The confirmed number of cases per 100,000 population is 0.65, which compares with 19.5 in South Korea, 16.5 in Italy and 12 in Iran. Source • oann.comKEEP CALM AND CARRY ON - Last night's press conference by Prime Minister Abe was in stark contrast to the sombre tone to those of Prime Minister Johnson of the United Kingdom and the tragicomic ramblings of the US President. Having received the legislative powers to declare a state of emergency, Abe declined at this stage to invoke any social restrictions beyond the already-announced school closures. As in the UK, sporting authorities are cancelling events or holding them sine populo. Japan's long obsession with cleanliness, the culture of bowing as a greeting and readiness to conform have served to 'flatten the curve'. The increased focus on such practices has also resulted in a very low incidence of seasonal influenza this year. Japan also has significantly lower levels of air pollution compared to China, Iran and northern Italy, a  factor that has become a factor in fatality rates, especially amongst the elderly. Although internal travel and restaurant patronage have sharply declined in Japan, shops are open and are well-stocked (except for now-rationed paper products) and 'free movement' with slightly-greater-than-normal social distancing is the norm. Whatever the motivations may be regarding the Olympics and Abe's legacy, Japan is unwilling to force the economy into the economic depression that would be the result of prolonged lockdown. A COVID-19 WORLD - This 'keep-calm-carry-on' model of a Covid-19-prevalent world (as is also seen in Singapore and Taiwan) will eventually have to be applied globally. These countries rapid transition to the new 'Covid-19 world' should result in better short-term outcomes for these economies.  The UK is currently being criticised for attempting to follow a version of this model, and may eventually have to go against the advice of its epidemiologists. Fortunately, for now, the general public are giving the UK government the benefit of the doubt. There will be a sharp divergence in the medium-term economic outlooks for countries taking these two 'paths' with those that are over-reacting paying a heavy price. While this does not bode well for the Eurozone, East Asia, including Japan, should emerge in better shape in this new 'viral' world.      In the DETAIL section below, we shall review a number of our favourite market indicators, recent sector performance and make some recommendations as to how to harness this once-in-a-decade opportunity to buy high-quality Japanese companies at attractive prices.

🇯🇵 JAPAN MARKET UPDATE • Relative Value: Short-Term Buy On Japanese Equities

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/116/531/original/2020-02-06_03-39-10.png?1580933731" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="116531"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>5TH FEBRUARY ROUNDUP</strong> - Wednesday saw 171 Results and 65 Forecast/Revision announcements. The Results Score set another new three-year low losing 16bps to reach 0.35, while the Forecast/Revision Score shed 7bps to reach 0.08. The sogo shosha trading company results were weak, with the exception of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itochu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18448:1" rel="noopener">Itochu (8001 JP)</a>. Amongst large caps, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/marubeni-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7463:1" rel="noopener">Marubeni (8002 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dena-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:747:1" rel="noopener">DeNA(2432 JP)</a> had Operating Losses, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mazda-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20528:1" rel="noopener">Mazda Motor (7261 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujikura-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10768:1" rel="noopener">Fujikura (5803 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daicel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10533:1" rel="noopener">Daicel (4202 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/furukawa-electric-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5193:1" rel="noopener">Furukawa Electric (5801 JP)</a> saw steep quarterly year-on-year OP declines. Amongst the 'winners' were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/square-enix-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15003:1" rel="noopener">Square Enix (9684 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rengo-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20278:1" rel="noopener">Rengo (3941 JP)</a>.</p><hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• SECTOR TIMELINE •</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/116/532/original/2020-02-06_03-42-28.png?1580934310" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="116532"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>SECTOR TIMELINE</strong> - The <strong>Wholesale</strong> Sector was the largest loser yesterday with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20668:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi (8058 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kanematsu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5810:1" rel="noopener">Kanematsu (8020 JP)</a> joining Marubeni in posting poor results. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiyo-nippon-sanso-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15756:1" rel="noopener">Taiyo Nippon Sanso (4091 JP)</a> slowing momentum and downward revision saw the <strong>Chemical</strong> Sector move lower again. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/agc-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2167:1" rel="noopener">AGC (5201 JP)</a> initial forecast for FY2020 helped the <strong>Other Materials</strong> Sector recover some ground. </p>

Source • Japan Analytics5TH FEBRUARY ROUNDUP - Wednesday saw 171 Results and 65 Forecast/Revision announcements. The Results Score set another new three-year low losing 16bps to reach 0.35, while the Forecast/Revision Score shed 7bps to reach 0.08. The sogo shosha trading company results were weak, with the exception of Itochu (8001 JP). Amongst large caps, Marubeni (8002 JP) and DeNA(2432 JP) had Operating Losses, while Mazda Motor (7261 JP), Fujikura (5803 JP), Daicel (4202 JP), and Furukawa Electric (5801 JP) saw steep quarterly year-on-year OP declines. Amongst the 'winners' were Square Enix (9684 JP), and Rengo (3941 JP).• SECTOR TIMELINE •Source • Japan AnalyticsSECTOR TIMELINE - The Wholesale Sector was the largest loser yesterday with Mitsubishi (8058 JP) and Kanematsu (8020 JP) joining Marubeni in posting poor results. Taiyo Nippon Sanso (4091 JP) slowing momentum and downward revision saw the Chemical Sector move lower again. AGC (5201 JP) initial forecast for FY2020 helped the Other Materials Sector recover some ground. 

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions Daily Roundup - 5th February ▲5201 4202 6269 ▼4091 9987 6869

Quantitative Analysis

<div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE - COMPANIES •</strong></p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/110/839/original/2019-12-17_10-16-56.png?1576545466" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="110839"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong>COMPANY RELATIVE PRICE SCORE OUTLIERS </strong>- The Relative Price Score (RPS) is a measure of price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by comparing the current deviation with the mean absolute deviation of monthly and daily relative share prices over the last 28 years and 24 months, respectively. As all companies are put on a comparable scale, 'Overbought' and 'Oversold' outliers and short-term changes in scoring can reveal attractive trading opportunities. Company outlier thresholds are set at +4 &amp; -2 and equate to the top and bottom first-to-second percentiles of historical observations from which mean reversion takes a matter of months. </p>
</div><div><div><p>Following on from our previous Insight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-december-sector-peer-group-relative-price-scores-from-defensives-to-cylicals" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:35266" rel="noopener">December Sector &amp; Peer Group Relative Price Scores - From Defensives to Cylicals</a> which covered <strong>Sectors</strong> and <strong>Peer Groups</strong>, in the <strong>DETAIL</strong> section below, we update our list of Overbought and Oversold large-cap companies (market capitalisation over ¥100b) with the current <strong>Very Overbought</strong> (RPS&gt;5), <strong>Too-Late-To-Buy</strong> (RPS &gt;4.5) and <strong>Oversold</strong> (RPS &lt;-2) companies, as well as the largest positive and negative <strong>3-month Changes</strong> in RPS adding some stock-specific comments in each category.</p></div></div>


• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE - COMPANIES •
Source: Japan Analytics
COMPANY RELATIVE PRICE SCORE OUTLIERS - The Relative Price Score (RPS) is a measure of price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by comparing the current deviation with the mean absolute deviation of monthly and daily relative share prices over the last 28 years and 24 months, respectively. As all companies are put on a comparable scale, 'Overbought' and 'Oversold' outliers and short-term changes in scoring can reveal attractive trading opportunities. Company outlier thresholds are set at +4 &amp; -2 and equate to the top and bottom first-to-second percentiles of historical observations from which mean reversion takes a matter of months. 
Following on from our previous Insight December Sector &amp; Peer Group Relative Price Scores - From Defensives to Cylicals which covered Sectors and Peer Groups, in the DETAIL section below, we update our list of Overbought and Oversold large-cap companies (market capitalisation over ¥100b) with the current Very Overbought (RPS&gt;5), Too-Late-To-Buy (RPS &gt;4.5) and Oversold (RPS &lt;-2) companies, as well as the largest positive and negative 3-month Changes in RPS adding some stock-specific comments in each category.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • December Company Relative Price Scores - Opportunities in the Outliers

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE •</strong></p><p><strong>RELATIVE PRICE SCORE OUTLIERS</strong> - The<strong> Relative Price Score (RPS)</strong> is a measure of price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by comparing the current deviation with the mean absolute deviation of monthly and daily relative share prices over the last 28 years and 24 months, respectively. As all companies are put on a comparable scale, <strong>'Overbought'</strong> and<strong> 'Oversold'</strong> outliers and short-term changes in scoring can reveal attractive trading opportunities.</p><div>
<p>The data for all <strong>3,860</strong><strong>Companies</strong> is cap-weight-aggregated into Relative Price Scores for our <strong>328</strong><strong>Peer Groups</strong> and <strong>30 Sectors</strong>. The Overbought and Oversold outlier 'thresholds are set' at +4 &amp; -2 for Companies, +3 &amp; -1.5 for Peer Groups and +2 and -1 for Sectors, respectively. These thresholds equate with the top and bottom percentiles of historical observations.</p>
<p>With a few exceptions, mean reversion from these extreme outlying states occurs typically in a matter of weeks or months. It often coincides with the peak of market interest in a theme or investment fashion.</p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/110/440/original/2019-12-15_05-25-54.png?1576355187" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="110440"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong>OVERBOUGHT MEAN REVERSION</strong> -  Some examples of large-cap RPS mean reversion from being Overbought in the last three months include <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/house-foods-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5964:1" rel="noopener">House Foods (2810 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oriental-land-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13517:1" rel="noopener">Oriental Land (4661 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bandai-namco-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13435:1" rel="noopener">Bandai Namco (7832 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nomura-research-institute-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18129:1" rel="noopener">Nomura Research Institute (4307 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/invesco-office-j-reit-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7414:1" rel="noopener">Invesco Office JREIT (3298 JP)</a> - all five are domestically-orientated non-manufacturing companies.</p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/110/459/original/2019-12-15_05-51-43.png?1576356720" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="110459"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong>OVERSOLD MEAN REVERSION</strong> - Some examples of large-cap RPS mean reversion from being Oversold in the last three months include <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujikura-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10768:1" rel="noopener">Fujikura (5803 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nishi-nippon-financial-holdi" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26192:1" rel="noopener">Nishi-Nippon Financial (7189 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tv-asahi-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8830:1" rel="noopener">TV Asahi (9409 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/uacj-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5330:1" rel="noopener">UACJ (5741 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/agc-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2167:1" rel="noopener">AGC (5201 JP)</a> - one bank and three deep cyclical manufacturers. </p>
</div><div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> section below, we provide an update on  Sector and Peer Group trends, over the last three months and adds some stock-specific comments. <span>A separate Insight to follow in the next few days will cover the Relative Price Scores for individual companies.</span></p></div></div>

• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE •RELATIVE PRICE SCORE OUTLIERS - The Relative Price Score (RPS) is a measure of price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by comparing the current deviation with the mean absolute deviation of monthly and daily relative share prices over the last 28 years and 24 months, respectively. As all companies are put on a comparable scale, 'Overbought' and 'Oversold' outliers and short-term changes in scoring can reveal attractive trading opportunities.
The data for all 3,860Companies is cap-weight-aggregated into Relative Price Scores for our 328Peer Groups and 30 Sectors. The Overbought and Oversold outlier 'thresholds are set' at +4 &amp; -2 for Companies, +3 &amp; -1.5 for Peer Groups and +2 and -1 for Sectors, respectively. These thresholds equate with the top and bottom percentiles of historical observations.
With a few exceptions, mean reversion from these extreme outlying states occurs typically in a matter of weeks or months. It often coincides with the peak of market interest in a theme or investment fashion.
Source: Japan Analytics
OVERBOUGHT MEAN REVERSION -  Some examples of large-cap RPS mean reversion from being Overbought in the last three months include House Foods (2810 JP), Oriental Land (4661 JP), Bandai Namco (7832 JP), Nomura Research Institute (4307 JP), and Invesco Office JREIT (3298 JP) - all five are domestically-orientated non-manufacturing companies.
Source: Japan Analytics
OVERSOLD MEAN REVERSION - Some examples of large-cap RPS mean reversion from being Oversold in the last three months include Fujikura (5803 JP), Nishi-Nippon Financial (7189 JP), TV Asahi (9409 JP), UACJ (5741 JP), AGC (5201 JP) - one bank and three deep cyclical manufacturers. 
In the DETAIL section below, we provide an update on  Sector and Peer Group trends, over the last three months and adds some stock-specific comments. A separate Insight to follow in the next few days will cover the Relative Price Scores for individual companies.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • December Sector & Peer Group Relative Price Scores - From Defensives to Cylicals

Japan

SUZUKEN CO., LTD., a subsidiary of Medca Japan, wholesales and manufactures pharmaceutical products mainly to hospitals and practitioners.  The Company also provides medical equipment such as electro-cardiogram and blood pressure measurement.  Suzuken provides construction and repair works to hospitals and maintains patients' clinical records through information systems services.

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Suzuken Co Ltd (9987 JP)

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