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>Rakuten sold its 20% stake in Seiyu to KKR at the end of May, divesting from direct ownership in physical supermarkets. </li>
<li>This provides a much needed injection of cash for Rakuten’s digital projects and should also help the online platform build trust with other supermarket chains interested in joining its platform.</li>
<li>Both companies reaffirmed their commitment to build the largest online food retail platform within the next two years.</li>
</ul>


Rakuten sold its 20% stake in Seiyu to KKR at the end of May, divesting from direct ownership in physical supermarkets. 
This provides a much needed injection of cash for Rakuten’s digital projects and should also help the online platform build trust with other supermarket chains interested in joining its platform.
Both companies reaffirmed their commitment to build the largest online food retail platform within the next two years.


Rakuten’s Seiyu Sell off Will Boost Netsuper Business

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

Alibaba Group Holding  / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>On 28th Mar 2023, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a> announced that it would adopt a new organizational and governance structure, splitting into six major business groups and other investments.</li>
<li>Alibaba also stated that each of the business groups would be set up as an independent entity with its own board and the groups will eventually seek to list.</li>
<li>In our previous notes, we highlighted which divisions could list and looked at some of the divisions in more detail. In this note, we will talk about the international operations.</li>
</ul>


On 28th Mar 2023, Alibaba Group (9988 HK) announced that it would adopt a new organizational and governance structure, splitting into six major business groups and other investments.
Alibaba also stated that each of the business groups would be set up as an independent entity with its own board and the groups will eventually seek to list.
In our previous notes, we highlighted which divisions could list and looked at some of the divisions in more detail. In this note, we will talk about the international operations.


Alibaba Potential IPOs - Part 4 - An Early Look at International Operations

Covering IPOs, Healthcare and Technology Stocks

Andrei Zakharov

<ul>
<li>Chewy will report 1QFY23 financial results after the market close on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Management expects 1QFY23 net sales of between $2.72B and $2.74B, representing 12%-13% y/y growth.</li>
<li>I calculate that insiders such as CEO &amp; Director Mr. Singh, CFO Mr. Marte, and other management team sold ~$28M worth of Chewy shares during the last six months.</li>
<li>My bear case scenario suggests downside on the continued slowdown in consumables, hard goods sales, intense competition in the pet insurance and pet health care segments, and uncertain macro environment.</li>
</ul>


Chewy will report 1QFY23 financial results after the market close on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Management expects 1QFY23 net sales of between $2.72B and $2.74B, representing 12%-13% y/y growth.
I calculate that insiders such as CEO &amp; Director Mr. Singh, CFO Mr. Marte, and other management team sold ~$28M worth of Chewy shares during the last six months.
My bear case scenario suggests downside on the continued slowdown in consumables, hard goods sales, intense competition in the pet insurance and pet health care segments, and uncertain macro environment.


Insiders Continue To Sell Chewy Stock. FY23 Guidance Seems Overly Optimistic

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten (4755 JP)</a> is looking to raise around US$2.4bn by selling shares via a Japanese Public Offering and an International Offering as well as through a third-party allotment.</li>
<li>The stock has already dropped 13.7% in the last couple of days on large volumes as the rumours of the offering started to swirl.</li>
<li>The offering prices late next week and passive trackers will be buying stock once the stock settles and this will provide support in the near-term.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten (4755 JP) is looking to raise around US$2.4bn by selling shares via a Japanese Public Offering and an International Offering as well as through a third-party allotment.
The stock has already dropped 13.7% in the last couple of days on large volumes as the rumours of the offering started to swirl.
The offering prices late next week and passive trackers will be buying stock once the stock settles and this will provide support in the near-term.


Rakuten (4755 JP) Offering: Could Drop Some More Before Passive Buying Kicks In

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

AP Moeller - Maersk A/S / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Maersk's Q1 earnings were solid, despite plummeting container rates and volumes. Annualizing Q1 Net Income would give RoE of about 17%, which is a healthy level, in our view. </li>
<li>Q1 EBITDA of US$4 bn is equivalent to 36% to 50% of full-year guidance, which remains unchanged. Maersk indicated Q1 will likely be its most profitable quarter in 2023.</li>
<li>Maersk's result reinforces our view that container rates are bottoming. A related takeaway is that a slowing goods inflation rate could lose a tailwind it's enjoyed since last October.</li>
</ul>


Maersk's Q1 earnings were solid, despite plummeting container rates and volumes. Annualizing Q1 Net Income would give RoE of about 17%, which is a healthy level, in our view. 
Q1 EBITDA of US$4 bn is equivalent to 36% to 50% of full-year guidance, which remains unchanged. Maersk indicated Q1 will likely be its most profitable quarter in 2023.
Maersk's result reinforces our view that container rates are bottoming. A related takeaway is that a slowing goods inflation rate could lose a tailwind it's enjoyed since last October.


Maersk Q1: Earnings Fine | Guidance Intact | Takeaways for Container Shipping (And Inflation)

United States

Walmart Inc. operates discount stores, supercenters, and neighborhood markets. The Company offers merchandise such as apparel, house wares, small appliances, electronics, musical instruments, books, home improvement, shoes, jewelry, toddler, games, household essentials, pets, pharmaceutical products, party supplies, and automotive tools. Walmart serves customers worldwide.

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Walmart (WMT US)

Rakuten’s Seiyu Sell off Will Boost Netsuper Business

Rakuten's sell off of Seiyu looked like a retreat from the online food business but in fact, the disposal will help bring in other retailers to its...

Michael Causton

Alibaba Potential IPOs - Part 4 - An Early Look at International Operations

On 28th Mar 2023, Alibaba Group (9988 HK) announced that it would adopt a new organizational and governance structure. In this note, we take a look...

Sumeet Singh

Insiders Continue To Sell Chewy Stock. FY23 Guidance Seems Overly Optimistic

I see further room for downside on the continued slowdown in consumables and hard goods sales, intense competition in the pet insurance and pet...

Andrei Zakharov

Rakuten (4755 JP) Offering: Could Drop Some More Before Passive Buying Kicks In

Rakuten is looking to raise US$2.45bn via a Japanese, International and third-party offering. The stock has dropped 13.7% in the last 2 days and...

Brian Freitas

Maersk Q1: Earnings Fine | Guidance Intact | Takeaways for Container Shipping (And Inflation)

Maersk's Q1 result showed a steep Y/Y decline in earnings due to lower rates. But RoE is fine, and the company maintained guidance, which supports...

Tracking Traffic

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