Daily Brief Japan: Softbank Group, TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX, Otsuka Holdings and more

In today’s briefing:

SoftBank Group (9984 JP): Results Preview, Key Topics
Japan Bullishly Inflecting; Constructive Outlook Intact; Global Pullback Likely Over
Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP): Global Products Continue to Shine; Second Consequent 2023 Guidance Raise

SoftBank Group (9984 JP): Results Preview, Key Topics

WeWork appears to be approaching bankruptcy; we expect SoftBank’s exposure to be at least USD1.4bn including credit lines
Arm Holdings post-IPO performance has been lacklustre, but we continue to believe that it remains dangerously over-valued against peers – and Arm provides 30% of the group’s equity value
We believe that JPY depreciation has supported SoftBank Group’s share price (given the high share of USD-denominated portfolio assets); in addition, we still see risks to current private company valuations

The MSCI ACWI index ACWI-US briefly fell below major support at $90.50-$91.50, though we do not consider it a “decisive” breakdown and we now see a false breakdown (bullish).
On MSCI ACWI (local currency), a false breakdown appears to already be in place, which is bullish as long as the index does not break to a new low.
MSCI EM (EEM-US) continues to hold above $36.50-$37 support, while MSCI ACWI ex-US (ACWX-US) and EAFE (EFA-US) remain above supports at $45 and $65-$66, respectively. Pullback is likely over.

During 9M2023, Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP) reported revenue growth of 17% YoY to ¥1,479B, driven by 21% YoY revenue growth in pharmaceutical segment due to 16% growth in global products.
Despite the recording of impairment losses, operating profit increased 77% YoY to ¥203B, leading to a 460 bps expansion of margin to 13.7%. Net profit zoomed 46% YoY to ¥162B.
The company has raised 2023 revenue guidance, second time this year. Otsuka now expects 2023 revenue to grow 14% YoY to ¥1,985B, 4% ahead of prior guidance of ¥1,905B.

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