Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Over 15 years analysing Japanese and Asian stocks from a long/short perspective

I focus on cyclically driven sectors such as Gaming, Factory Automation and Autos

An eclectic background as a long-short analyst, upper management at a financial data startup through its listing, and as the founder of a team analysing big/alternative data, all of which supports independent and differentiated views... we hope

An appreciation for Mathematics drives the development of a "Micro-Quantamental" process which can provide a data-driven, historically-informed and semi-automated foundation upon which to layer more qualitative and judgemental analysis, thus improving investment decision-making speed and accuracy

Japan/Asia Long-Short

Smartkarma Webinar | Asian Payment Companies and E-Wallet Players

Gojek Gets Additional Funding-Indonesia Food Authority Disapproves of Rumoured Merger Deal with Grab

WhatsApp, PayPal Funding To Fortify Go-Jek's Go-Pay Business

Ride Hailers: Disruptive Technology Platform or Taxi Dispatch Service Operators?

Uber and Lyft – So About That Wonderful New Path to Profitability

Uber Q2 19 Results: Another Quarter of High Costs and Slowing Revenue Growth

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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Japan Internet software and services / Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)

<p>In our Smartkarma Originals Insight on Ride Hailing last year, we articulated our view as being sceptical of the ability of pure ride hailers to generate noticeably different margins from regular taxi companies. However, we highlighted Grab and Go-Jek as having interesting business models due to their attempts to develop digital finance businesses. With the Nikkei reporting that MUFG will shortly invest as much as ¥80bn in Grab to tap its digital and data expertise we are increasingly confident in our call that the path to profitability for Grab and Go-Jek looks a lot less uncertain than for many of their global peers.</p>

In our Smartkarma Originals Insight on Ride Hailing last year, we articulated our view as being sceptical of the ability of pure ride hailers to generate noticeably different margins from regular taxi companies. However, we highlighted Grab and Go-Jek as having interesting business models due to their attempts to develop digital finance businesses. With the Nikkei reporting that MUFG will shortly invest as much as ¥80bn in Grab to tap its digital and data expertise we are increasingly confident in our call that the path to profitability for Grab and Go-Jek looks a lot less uncertain than for many of their global peers.

MUFG GRABbing at the Chance to Serve ASEAN’s Unbanked