Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Three years ago, Itochu Corp made it clear it would be investing heavily in its brand business.</li>
<li>It has been true to its word, adding the likes of Reebok, Under Armour and Forever 21 to its portfolio in the last year alone.</li>
<li>It has now signed a deal with long-term Japan operator, L.L.Bean, while gearing up for a major relaunch of Eddie Bauer.</li>
</ul>


Three years ago, Itochu Corp made it clear it would be investing heavily in its brand business.
It has been true to its word, adding the likes of Reebok, Under Armour and Forever 21 to its portfolio in the last year alone.
It has now signed a deal with long-term Japan operator, L.L.Bean, while gearing up for a major relaunch of Eddie Bauer.


Itochu Signs L.L.Bean License, Gears up Forever 21 and Eddie Bauer Relaunches

Equity Long-Short Analyst

Pyari Menon

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The three companies we write about this week are ASML Holding NV (ASML US) , Bayer AG (BAYN GY)  and Gentex Corp (GNTX US)</li>
<li>We included ChatGPT's innovation assessment for the three companies in the report. The qualitative commentary of ChatGPT though fluffy does somewhat reflect our quantitative assessment from technical literature.</li>
<li>For the nine weeks since inception ended 20 Jan the combined innovation portfolio was +3.5%, versus DJIA -1.1%, S&amp;P500 +0.2%, Nasdaq -0.1%, Russell2000 +1.0%, MSCI-ACWI-ETF +3.1%, all in US$ terms</li>
</ul>


The three companies we write about this week are ASML Holding NV (ASML US) , Bayer AG (BAYN GY)  and Gentex Corp (GNTX US)
We included ChatGPT's innovation assessment for the three companies in the report. The qualitative commentary of ChatGPT though fluffy does somewhat reflect our quantitative assessment from technical literature.
For the nine weeks since inception ended 20 Jan the combined innovation portfolio was +3.5%, versus DJIA -1.1%, S&amp;P500 +0.2%, Nasdaq -0.1%, Russell2000 +1.0%, MSCI-ACWI-ETF +3.1%, all in US$ terms


<ul>
<li>We again write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their inclusion.</li>
<li>The three companies we write about this week are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/schlumberger-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20625:1" rel="noopener">Schlumberger Ltd (SLB US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/whirlpool-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1538:1" rel="noopener">Whirlpool Corp (WHR US)</a> 
</li>
<li>For the six weeks ended 30 Dec the combined innovation portfolio was -1.7, versus DJIA -1.8%, S&amp;P500 -3.2%, Nasdaq -6.1% &amp; MSCI-ACWI-ETF -2.4%, all in US$ terms</li>
</ul>


We again write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their inclusion.
The three companies we write about this week are Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) , Schlumberger Ltd (SLB US) and Whirlpool Corp (WHR US) 

For the six weeks ended 30 Dec the combined innovation portfolio was -1.7, versus DJIA -1.8%, S&amp;P500 -3.2%, Nasdaq -6.1% &amp; MSCI-ACWI-ETF -2.4%, all in US$ terms


<ul>
<li>We again write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their inclusion in the portfolio.</li>
<li>The three companies we write about this week are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evonik-industries-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21618:1" rel="noopener">Evonik Industries Ag (EVK GR)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/altria-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6572:1" rel="noopener">Altria Group (MO US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/procter-gamble-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:978:1" rel="noopener">Procter &amp; Gamble Co (PG US)</a> </li>
<li>For three weeks ended 9 Dec the combined innovation portfolio was +0.7%, versus DJIA -0.8%, S&amp;P500 -0.8%, Nasdaq -1.3% &amp; MSCI-ACWI-ETF +0.5%.</li>
</ul>


We again write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their inclusion in the portfolio.
The three companies we write about this week are Evonik Industries Ag (EVK GR)Altria Group (MO US) and Procter &amp; Gamble Co (PG US) 
For three weeks ended 9 Dec the combined innovation portfolio was +0.7%, versus DJIA -0.8%, S&amp;P500 -0.8%, Nasdaq -1.3% &amp; MSCI-ACWI-ETF +0.5%.


<ul>
<li>We write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their the innovation scores and inclusion in the portfolio.  </li>
<li>The three companies are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/johnson-johnson-831a1ab9-b291-4564-99b0-dc7f8d2b8175" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26818:1" rel="noopener">Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ UN)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mondelez-international-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8111:1" rel="noopener">Mondelez International (MDLZ US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/qorvo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11965:1" rel="noopener">Qorvo Inc (QRVO US), which have the highest weighting in each portfolio</a>
</li>
<li>For the week the large cap portfolio was up 1.2%, the midcap was up 1.4% and the small cap was up 0.9%, all in US$ terms.  </li>
</ul>


We write about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly giving the reasons behind their the innovation scores and inclusion in the portfolio.  
The three companies are Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ UN) , Mondelez International (MDLZ US) and Qorvo Inc (QRVO US), which have the highest weighting in each portfolio

For the week the large cap portfolio was up 1.2%, the midcap was up 1.4% and the small cap was up 0.9%, all in US$ terms.  


How the Portfolios Did for the First Week

United States

Under Armour, Inc. develops, markets, and distributes branded performance products for men, women, and youth. The Company designs and sells a broad offering of apparel and accessories made of synthetic microfibers.

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Under Armour (UAA US)

Itochu Signs L.L.Bean License, Gears up Forever 21 and Eddie Bauer Relaunches

Itochu continues to gain share in consumer goods distribution in Japan, particularly in fashion and lifestyle sectors, resulting in consistently...

Michael Causton

The Innovations Portfolio - Week Nine

For the nine weeks since inception ended 20 Jan the combined innovation portfolio was +3.5%, versus DJIA -1.1%, S&P500 +0.2%, Nasdaq -0.1%,...

Pyari Menon

The Innovations Portfolios - Week Six

For the six weeks ended 30 Dec the combined innovation portfolio was -1.7, versus DJIA -1.8%, S&P500 -3.2%, Nasdaq -6.1% & MSCI-ACWI-ETF -2.4%, all...

Pyari Menon

The Innovations Portfolios - Week Three

We assess how the three portfolios did for the first three weeks and discuss about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios

Pyari Menon

How the Portfolios Did for the First Week

We assess how the three portfolios did for the first week and discuss about one stock each from the large, mid and small cap portfolios, briefly...

Pyari Menon

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)