Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Securities analyst covering electronics, precision equipment & robotics, engineering, construction, transport and other sectors for more than 25 years in Japan and 3 years in Korea. Permanent resident of Japan.

Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities

Tokyo Electron (8035 JP): Getting Ahead of Itself

Disco (6146 JP): 5-To-8 Month Lead Times in the Price

Tokyo Electron (8035 JP): As Good as It Gets

Screen Holdings (7735 JP): New Orders and Efficiency Gains Greater than Expected

Screen Holdings (7735 JP): A Highly-Geared Laggard to Tokyo Electron

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

On March 24, the Nikkei newspaper reported that Tokyo Electron (TEL) (8035 JP), Canon (7751 JP) and Screen Holdings will cooperate with Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) to develop "next-generation production technology in the 2-nanometer process and beyond by the mid-2020s."In response to our inquiries, Tokyo Electron and Canon said "No Comment," but Screen told us that (1) The article is basically true, (2) Only these three companies seem to be involved, and (3) This is a new activity for Screen.This should help Japanese equipment makers support TSMC, which is now targeting commercial production with 3-nm process technology in 2022. It is also a reminder that Screen, like TEL, is a long-term investment.Screen's share price has risen by 16% since we last wrote on the company at the beginning of February. But there remains 24% potential upside to our ¥12,000 share price target.

On March 24, the Nikkei newspaper reported that Tokyo Electron (TEL) (8035 JP), Canon (7751 JP) and Screen Holdings will cooperate with Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) to develop "next-generation production technology in the 2-nanometer process and beyond by the mid-2020s."In response to our inquiries, Tokyo Electron and Canon said "No Comment," but Screen told us that (1) The article is basically true, (2) Only these three companies seem to be involved, and (3) This is a new activity for Screen.This should help Japanese equipment makers support TSMC, which is now targeting commercial production with 3-nm process technology in 2022. It is also a reminder that Screen, like TEL, is a long-term investment.Screen's share price has risen by 16% since we last wrote on the company at the beginning of February. But there remains 24% potential upside to our ¥12,000 share price target.

Screen Holdings (7735 JP): Aiming at 2nm Process Technology

SCREEN Holdings

Screen Holdings (7735 JP): Aiming at 2nm Process Technology