In this briefing:
- Value-Enhancing 5G Spectrum Allocations on the Way for KDDI, DoCoMo, Softbank and Rakuten
- Komatsu, HCM, CAT: The Stock Punishment Does Not Match the Outlook Deterioration Crime
- Petrochina Breakout and Laggard Play
- Musashino Bank (8336 JP): Braking Bad
1. Value-Enhancing 5G Spectrum Allocations on the Way for KDDI, DoCoMo, Softbank and Rakuten
The Ministry of Industry Affairs and Communications (MIC, the regulator) will allocate 2.2 GHz of new spectrum bandwidth by the end of March equal to 2.8x the existing spectrum base. This is not unexpected but we think this is a good opportunity to re-iterate some of the positive points on 5G spectrum as operators make their final applications this month and we wait for a final decision in six weeks. Importantly, with ten spectrum channels, not everyone will be treated equally although all should benefit. We expect Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) to pick up one-two bands whilst KDDI Corp (9433 JP) , NTT Docomo Inc (9437 JP) and Softbank Corp (9434 JP) should all receive at least two.
2. Komatsu, HCM, CAT: The Stock Punishment Does Not Match the Outlook Deterioration Crime
We have been struck by the degree of underperformance of the construction machinery names despite strong earnings performance. While the cyclical nature of the names makes judging performance purely on earnings results (or even the outlook) hazardous, in this case we believe the market has been premature and excessive in its derating of these stocks which have sold off to similar levels as the WFE names such as Tokyo Electron (8035 JP) and Robotics names such as Fanuc Corp (6954 JP).
While it is possible that Komatsu Ltd (6301 JP), Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JP) and Caterpillar Inc (CAT US) have sold off partly due to their China exposure, it needs to be emphasised that 1) these companies are no longer heavily dependent on China and revenue exposure is 12% for HCM, 10% for CAT and 7% for Komatsu, and 2) while the Chinese market at about 60k excavators is probably close to the top of its cycle, it is not a bubble like in 2010 when it 111k units and thus a collapse in demand is unlikely (though a decline is).
As the table below notes, earnings estimates for the construction machinery companies have only tapered marginally from their peaks, and while find the forecasts for continued growth into 2020 somewhat optimistic the resilience of mining demand means we are disinclined to dismiss them out of hand. On the other hand estimates for WFE and Robot names have dropped significantly, but despite this, share price performance is similar for all three categories of stocks. We discuss this stark discrepancy further below.
Change in 2019 OP Estimate Vs. Peak | Peak OP Estimate Date | Peak to Trough Share Price Change | Share Price Vs. Peak | Peak Share Price Date | |
Caterpillar | -6.4% | Aug 18 | -35.2% | -21.4% | Jan 18 |
Komatsu | -2.1% | Dec 18 | -49.7% | -38.8% | Jan 18 |
Hitachi Construction Machinery | -4.6% | Oct 18 | -50.5% | -41.2% | Feb 18 |
Average | -4.4% | -45.1% | -33.8% | ||
ASML | -10.1% | Jan 19 | -31.2% | -14.4% | Jul 18 |
Applied Materials | -38.4% | Apr 18 | -53.2% | -36.8% | Mar 18 |
LAM Research | -28.7% | Apr 18 | -46.4% | -21.3% | Mar 18 |
Tokyo Electron | -36.6% | Jul 18 | -49.9% | -32.4% | Nov 17 |
Average | -28.5% | -45.2% | -26.2% | ||
Fanuc | -44.7% | Mar 18 | -52.9% | -42.4% | Jan 18 |
Yaskawa | -34.7% | Mar 18 | -58.5% | -47.0% | Jan 18 |
Harmonic Drive Systems | -43.2% | May 18 | -65.9% | -49.3% | Jan 18 |
Average | -40.9% | -59.1% | -46.2% |
3. Petrochina Breakout and Laggard Play
Petrochina Co Ltd H (857 HK) has remains suppressed but with oil perking up there is a laggard upside play taking shape as we begin to see distribution in HK upside leaders. On weakness we like positioning on the long side and can be used as a pair with an index short or one of the steel counters.
Given stock leaders are showing deteriorating upside momentum, we expect laggards to attract more attention.
RSI and MACD breakout patterns outlined as well as the price breakout at 5.10.
A bigger descending wedge also shows promise as a secondary breakout trigger.
MACD pattern resistance will help define the trending capability post breakout.
4. Musashino Bank (8336 JP): Braking Bad
Musashino Bank (8336 JP) was one of the last regional banks to announce 3Q FY3/2019 results, and they were a nasty surprise: a consolidated net loss for the nine months to 31 December 2018, caused by heavy reserving in Q3 (October-December 2018) against the bank’s exposure to the troubled Akebono Brake Industry Co (7238 JP) . While the bank has slashed its full-year net profit guidance from ¥11.1 billion to ¥4.5 billion, this would still require an heroic level of profits in Q4 which the bank has never before achieved. The share price has fallen over 31% in the last twelve months. Valuations at current levels are still high (FY3/2019 PER is 17.6x) and we consider the share price to be vulnerable to further weakness. Caveat emptor (May the buyer beware) !
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