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

<p>The convenience store sector (CVS) is Japan’s most successful retail format and one that has now enjoyed almost 50 years of growth. So the sudden and unprecedented sales declines in 2020, caused by so many people staying away from city centres during the pandemic, are an entirely new test for the sector.</p><p>Temporary blips aside, this leading position is likely to endure a little longer. Even with e-commerce growing faster and likely to over take CVS as the biggest channel by 2025, CVS will take on a prominent role in the fulfilment model used by many e-commerce companies.</p><p>In the CVS sector itself, Familymart's delisting and new role spearheading Itochu's retail interests will cause ructions in a sector that has reached saturation and where increased competition will force more change and differentiation.</p><p><strong>The following is an in-depth review of the state of play in Japan's convenience store sector</strong> following the absorption of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/familymart-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:320:1" rel="noopener">FamilyMart Co Ltd (8028 JP)</a> by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itochu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18448:1" rel="noopener">Itochu Corp (8001 JP)</a>. The review includes:</p><ul>
<li>Full rankings of all convenience stores including sales, stores, market share, key metrics like sales per store per day etc.</li>
<li>Analysis of the current and future prospects of the big three and the outlook for the smaller players – as much targets for the big three than anything else.</li>
<li>Details on e-commerce initiatives (or the lack of them), store coverage, diversification strategies etc.</li>
<li>Updates on the pressure points of the labour shortage and franchisee rebellions.</li>
</ul><p>This insight provides a complete review of the sector and a clear picture of where convenience stores are headed in the next three years.</p>

The convenience store sector (CVS) is Japan’s most successful retail format and one that has now enjoyed almost 50 years of growth. So the sudden and unprecedented sales declines in 2020, caused by so many people staying away from city centres during the pandemic, are an entirely new test for the sector.Temporary blips aside, this leading position is likely to endure a little longer. Even with e-commerce growing faster and likely to over take CVS as the biggest channel by 2025, CVS will take on a prominent role in the fulfilment model used by many e-commerce companies.In the CVS sector itself, Familymart's delisting and new role spearheading Itochu's retail interests will cause ructions in a sector that has reached saturation and where increased competition will force more change and differentiation.The following is an in-depth review of the state of play in Japan's convenience store sector following the absorption of FamilyMart Co Ltd (8028 JP) by Itochu Corp (8001 JP). The review includes:
Full rankings of all convenience stores including sales, stores, market share, key metrics like sales per store per day etc.
Analysis of the current and future prospects of the big three and the outlook for the smaller players – as much targets for the big three than anything else.
Details on e-commerce initiatives (or the lack of them), store coverage, diversification strategies etc.
Updates on the pressure points of the labour shortage and franchisee rebellions.
This insight provides a complete review of the sector and a clear picture of where convenience stores are headed in the next three years.

Convenience Stores: Diversification and a Fight for Share as Familymart Delists

Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

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.

Event-Driven

<p>Last week it was revealed that Warren Buffet had taken stakes of about 5% in Japan’s five major trading companies. This comes at a time when the Japanese market overall offers value investors rich pickings relative to valuations that had been getting more stretched by the day in other regions, especially the US. Below, we provide a quick synopsis of the trading companies’ business models and our thoughts on other potential investments that could attract Berkshire.</p>

Last week it was revealed that Warren Buffet had taken stakes of about 5% in Japan’s five major trading companies. This comes at a time when the Japanese market overall offers value investors rich pickings relative to valuations that had been getting more stretched by the day in other regions, especially the US. Below, we provide a quick synopsis of the trading companies’ business models and our thoughts on other potential investments that could attract Berkshire.

A Quick Look at the Buffet Trade and the Most Obvious Follow-Ons

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

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

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/834/original/2020-08-02_06-39-22.png?1596317982" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149834"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>CORRECTION</strong> - The last day of July saw the TOPIX index fall by 2.8% to reach a new two-month low, 8.2% below the closing high of June 8th. A combination of a strong yen, peak COVID-19 cases, the continuing unedifying stream of results &amp; revisions, and month-end portfolio 'adjustments' proved toxic. Our Results Score lost a further 57 basis points, while bullish initial full-year forecasts from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/takeda-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11747:1" rel="noopener">Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/denso-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18703:1" rel="noopener">Denso (6902 JP)</a> helped the Forecast/Revision Score recover by 51 basis points. Nevertheless, the market's correlation with earnings and revisions momentum remains distorted by central bank liquidity. As noted in<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-market-update-tired" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:41562" rel="noopener"> Tired</a>, we expect both our Scores to bottom nearer the 2009 lows, in which case the Bank of Japan's cumulative purchases could reach over 10% of market value.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/839/original/2020-08-02_07-35-10.png?1596321328" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149839"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>DOWNFALL</strong> - After one-third of quarterly earnings announcements, at the current pace forward aggregate operating and net income could reach ¥35 trillion and ¥20 trillion, respectively by the end of the month, taking the market multiple to 30x, absent any further correction in share prices. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/840/original/2020-08-02_07-52-16.png?1596322358" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149840"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>SECTOR SCORES</strong> - As in past cycles, the <strong>Information Technology</strong>,<strong> Internet</strong>, and<strong> Healthcare</strong> Sectors have proved to be the most resilient. On the downside, the breadth of the lowest-scoring Sectors is abnormal, with <strong>Consumer Services</strong> and <strong>Transport &amp; Logistics</strong> joining <strong>Metals</strong>, <strong>Autos</strong>, <strong>Eletcial Equipment</strong> and<strong> Machinery</strong>. The trailing-twelve-month (TTM) results in the table below confirm the chart above but suggests some caution over <strong>Internet</strong> Sector margins.   </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/842/original/2020-08-02_07-59-45.png?1596322803" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149842"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>•BEST &amp; WORST 31st JULY •</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>BEST &amp; WORST</strong> - Combining the day's results, revisions and forecasts, we select the 'best' and the 'worst' announcements according to our scoring. On the podium were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/takeda-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11747:1" rel="noopener">Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/infocom-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8412:1" rel="noopener">Infocom (4348 JP)</a>. In the pits were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/casio-computer-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18338:1" rel="noopener">Casio Computer (6952 JP)</a> and three railway lines - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/odakyu-electric-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5405:1" rel="noopener">Odakyu (9007 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/west-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12077:1" rel="noopener">West Japan (9021 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/central-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13520:1" rel="noopener">Central Japan (9022 JP)</a> for which we will show the Peer Group's record-low long-term Scores.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/913/original/2020-08-02_08-30-42.png?1596324654" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149913"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/914/original/2020-08-02_08-31-29.png?1596324699" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149914"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/915/original/2020-08-02_08-33-28.png?1596324818" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149915"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/916/original/2020-08-02_08-40-22.png?1596325251" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149916"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><div>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>PERCENTAGES</strong> - <strong>66%</strong> of quarterly results,  <strong>71%</strong> of annual forecasts/revisions and <strong>75%</strong> of interim forecasts have negative Scores and <strong>26%</strong> of companies reporting lost money for the quarter.</p>
</div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>429 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Results Score:</strong> 28% Positive / 6% Neutral / 66% Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong> -3.1 points</li>
<li>
<strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> -9.3% Quarter YoY / -2.0% Rolling TTM YoY </li>
<li>
<strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -1.0 ppt</li>
<li>
<strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 26%</li>
</ul></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong>153 Annual • 115 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 26% Positive / 3% Neutral / 71% Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change</strong>: 24% Positive / 1% Neutral / 75% Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -8.4 points</li>
</ul></div>

Source • Japan AnalyticsCORRECTION - The last day of July saw the TOPIX index fall by 2.8% to reach a new two-month low, 8.2% below the closing high of June 8th. A combination of a strong yen, peak COVID-19 cases, the continuing unedifying stream of results &amp; revisions, and month-end portfolio 'adjustments' proved toxic. Our Results Score lost a further 57 basis points, while bullish initial full-year forecasts from Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP) and Denso (6902 JP) helped the Forecast/Revision Score recover by 51 basis points. Nevertheless, the market's correlation with earnings and revisions momentum remains distorted by central bank liquidity. As noted in Tired, we expect both our Scores to bottom nearer the 2009 lows, in which case the Bank of Japan's cumulative purchases could reach over 10% of market value.Source • Japan AnalyticsDOWNFALL - After one-third of quarterly earnings announcements, at the current pace forward aggregate operating and net income could reach ¥35 trillion and ¥20 trillion, respectively by the end of the month, taking the market multiple to 30x, absent any further correction in share prices. Source • Japan AnalyticsSECTOR SCORES - As in past cycles, the Information Technology, Internet, and Healthcare Sectors have proved to be the most resilient. On the downside, the breadth of the lowest-scoring Sectors is abnormal, with Consumer Services and Transport &amp; Logistics joining Metals, Autos, Eletcial Equipment and Machinery. The trailing-twelve-month (TTM) results in the table below confirm the chart above but suggests some caution over Internet Sector margins.   Source • Japan Analytics•BEST &amp; WORST 31st JULY •BEST &amp; WORST - Combining the day's results, revisions and forecasts, we select the 'best' and the 'worst' announcements according to our scoring. On the podium were Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP) and Infocom (4348 JP). In the pits were Casio Computer (6952 JP) and three railway lines - Odakyu (9007 JP), West Japan (9021 JP) and Central Japan (9022 JP) for which we will show the Peer Group's record-low long-term Scores.Source • Japan Analytics

DAILY STATS
PERCENTAGES - 66% of quarterly results,  71% of annual forecasts/revisions and 75% of interim forecasts have negative Scores and 26% of companies reporting lost money for the quarter.
429 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 28% Positive / 6% Neutral / 66% Negative

Average Results Score Change: -3.1 points

Average % Change in Revenue: -9.3% Quarter YoY / -2.0% Rolling TTM YoY 

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -1.0 ppt

Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 26%
 153 Annual • 115 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 26% Positive / 3% Neutral / 71% Negative

Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 24% Positive / 1% Neutral / 75% Negative

Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -8.4 points


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 31st July - Takeda, Yamato/SG, Seria, FP, Keyence, Dai-Ichi Sankyo

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

<ul>
<li>The Corona virus was an effective muzzle on activist demands this year. It also gave companies a convenient excuse to curtail investor participation. </li>
<li>Virtually all shareholder proposals were rejected. It could be written off as "when disaster strikes people come together". </li>
<li>This should not detract from the significant improvements in corporate governance to date nor the less visible wins that take place behind closed doors. </li>
<li>Japanese cash-rich companies look even more attractive relative to global peers. Activism is not going away. Perhaps, the approach may change. </li>
</ul>


The Corona virus was an effective muzzle on activist demands this year. It also gave companies a convenient excuse to curtail investor participation. 
Virtually all shareholder proposals were rejected. It could be written off as "when disaster strikes people come together". 
This should not detract from the significant improvements in corporate governance to date nor the less visible wins that take place behind closed doors. 
Japanese cash-rich companies look even more attractive relative to global peers. Activism is not going away. Perhaps, the approach may change. 


Japanese Activism: Playing Behind Closed Doors

Japan

TOKYU CORPORATION provides passenger rail transportation, bus transportation, truckload services, and air transportation serving the Tokyo and its surrounding areas.  The Company operates department stores, real estate leasing, and hotel businesses.  Through its subsidiaries, Tokyu offers leisure-related services such as travel agents, theaters. golf, and rent car agents.

Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc. is a passenger rail company serving the Kansai area.  The Company also provides passenger bus transportation and logistics services.  In addition, Hankyu Hanshin Holdings operates housing and urban development, athletic facilities, theaters, travel agents, hotels, and other leisure-related services.

Hitachi Transport System, Ltd. provides freight truck, port harbor, and marine transportation, logistics, cargo handling, warehousing, and customs clearing services.  The Company mainly transports Hitachi Ltd's freight such as industrial machinery and precision equipment.

Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd. provides passenger rail and bus transportation services in the Metropolitan Tokyo and Chiba prefecture areas.  The Company operates department and supermarket stores, hotels, travel agents, movie theater and restaurants, and sells, leases, and maintains real estate.  Keisei Electric is a shareholder of Oriental Land Co., Ltd. which operates Tokyo Disneyland.

Kintetsu Group Holdings provides passenger rail, bus, taxi, and freight truck transportation services in the Kinki region including Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara prefectures.  The Company also offers ground, air, and marine logistics services and operates department stores and real estate business.

Kyushu Railway Company, doing business as JR Kyushu, offers transportation services. The Company provides passenger and railway freight services, as well as route, ticket, and time table information. JR Kyushu serves customers in Japan.

Keio Corporation mainly provides rail and bus transportation services for passengers in the Kanto area.  The Company leases real estate and operates department stores and supermarkets.  Keio also operates hotels in the Shinjuku and Sapporo areas.

Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. provides passenger rail and bus transportation services in the Kanto and Chubu areas including Tokyo.  The Company also operates department stores, amusement parks, hotels, real estate, and travel businesses.  The Company provides general construction such as residential building and land development.

Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. mainly provides passenger rail and bus transportation services in the Chubu area.  The Company also leases and sells real estate and operates leisure-related businesses such as department stores, hotels, and travel agents.

SEINO HOLDINGS CO., LTD. comprises a family of companies offering comprehensive transportation and logistics solutions for customers.  The Companyprovides express transportation, door-to-door parcel delivery, moving, contract logistics, and international logistics services via its ground, air, and marine transportation network.  SEINO HOLDINGS also operates Toyota dealers.

Landstar System, Inc. is a North American truckload carrier.  The Company transports a variety of freight, including iron and steel, automotive products, paper, lumber, chemicals, foodstuffs, and military hardware.  Landstar provides truckload carrier services, intermodal transportation services, and expedited air and truck services to shippers in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Ryder System, Inc. provides a continuum of logistics, supply chain, and transportation management solutions worldwide.  The Company's offerings range from full-service leasing, commercial rental and maintenance of vehicles to integrated services.  The Company also offers comprehensive supply chain solutions, logistics management services, and e-Commerce solutions.

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. provides transportation and logistics services. The Company offers dry van, cross border freight transportation, fleet solutions, consulting, brokerage, equipment leasing, temperature controlled transport, and engineering services. Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings serves customers in North America.

Container Corporation of India Limited supplies railway cargo services, via its fleet of container trains.  The Company also provides bonded warehousing services.

Localiza Rent a Car SA rents automobiles.  The Company owns and franchises locations in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America.  Localiza primarily operates through airport locations.  The Company also sells used cars and offers fleet management services.

Rumo S.A. owns and operates rail networks. The Company transports agricultural commodities, chemicals, petrochemicals, construction materials, electronic goods, automotive parts, steel and forestry products, and fertilizers. Rumo serves customers in Brazil.

Aurizon Holdings Ltd is a rail freight company. The Company provides coal, bulk and general freight haulage services, operating on the Central Queensland Coal Network (CQCN) and including specialised track maintenance and workshop support functions.

U-Haul Holding Company operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, offers rental of trucks, trailers, and self storage space, as well as provides property and casualty and life insurance products. U-Haul Holding also sells boxes, tapes, and other moving and self-storage products and services to 'do-it-yourself' moving and storage customers.

Saia, Inc. provides trucking transportation to the retail, petrochemical, and manufacturing industries.  The Company offers regional, interregional, and national less-than-truckload services, and selected truckload services across the United States.

Avis Budget Group, Inc. engages in the provision of vehicle sharing and rental services. It operates through the Americas and International segments. The Americas segment licenses the firm's brands for car rentals in the United States. The International segment leases out vehicles in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. It operates under the Avis, Budget, Zipcar, Payless, and Apex brands. The company was founded on August 23, 2006 and is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ.

West Japan Railway Company provides rail transportation services including the shinkansen network (bullet train) in North Kyushu, Kinki, Chugoku, and Hokuriku including Kyoto and Osaka.  The Company also operates ferries in Miyajima, manages real estate, shopping centers, and hotels, and offers leisure-related services such as travel packaging products.

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West Japan Railway Co (9021 JP)

A Quick Look at the Buffet Trade and the Most Obvious Follow-Ons

Last week it was revealed that Warren Buffet had taken stakes of about 5% in Japan’s five major trading companies. This comes at a time when the...

Mio Kato

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

"Beware of geeks bearing formulas." - Warren Buffett Enterprise Value multiples have become common parlance in the investment world, both...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 31st July - Takeda, Yamato/SG, Seria, FP, Keyence, Dai-Ichi Sankyo

CORRECTION - The last day of July saw the TOPIX index fall by 2.8% to reach a new two-month low, 8.2% below the closing high of June 8th. A...

Campbell Gunn

Japanese Activism: Playing Behind Closed Doors

The Corona virus was an effective muzzle on activist demands this year. It also gave companies a convenient excuse to curtail investor...

Mark Chadwick

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Dividend (Yield)

Convenience Stores: Diversification and a Fight for Share as Familymart Delists

If you are looking for a full in-depth review and analysis of Japan's convenience stores sector and how things will shape up now that Familymart is...

Michael Causton

A Quick Look at the Buffet Trade and the Most Obvious Follow-Ons

Last week it was revealed that Warren Buffet had taken stakes of about 5% in Japan’s five major trading companies. This comes at a time when the...

Mio Kato

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

"Beware of geeks bearing formulas." - Warren Buffett Enterprise Value multiples have become common parlance in the investment world, both...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 31st July - Takeda, Yamato/SG, Seria, FP, Keyence, Dai-Ichi Sankyo

CORRECTION - The last day of July saw the TOPIX index fall by 2.8% to reach a new two-month low, 8.2% below the closing high of June 8th. A...

Campbell Gunn

Japanese Activism: Playing Behind Closed Doors

The Corona virus was an effective muzzle on activist demands this year. It also gave companies a convenient excuse to curtail investor...

Mark Chadwick