'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

ja research

ja research is an independent research platform focused exclusively on Japanese equities. Leveraging data and graphic analysis provided by Japan Analytics, we provide insights on small and medium-sized companies that have been ignored by the sell-side as well as challenging conventional wisdom on larger companies. We also offer analyst and corporate access, the latter with translation if required. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/083/132/original/2019-03-25_18-58-11.png?1553507902" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="83132"></figure>Source: Japan Analytics
</div>There are currently 241 listed Japanese companies that can be categorised as Internet businesses. Our classification overlaps with the TOPIX-33 Information &amp; Communication sub-Sector but is broader in that it encompasses all companies listed on all sections and exchanges but is also narrower in that we have excluded Telecommunications (including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/315" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1">S</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/315" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1">oftbank Group (9984 JP)</a>) and Information Technology companies. We have adopted a 'quantamental' approach which covers the long-term and current trends for Japan's Internet Sector as a whole, as well as eight sub-Sectors or Peer Groups and the Sectors' leading companies by market capitalisation.  Our focus is exclusively on the locally-listed universe and is based on disclosed financial and market data. We do not provide any forecasts, other than the companies' own forecasts and we do not attempt to make any business model or strategic judgments. Our focus is purely on financial and market performance. We do not cover unlisted and defunct companies such as Livedoor and, therefore, there is implicit survivor bias in the data. The broad themes that are developed in DETAIL below are grouped into six topics as follows: - • SUMMARY •  • FUNDAMENTAL OVERVIEW •  • SCORING - RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS / RELATIVE PRICE •  • RESULTS TRENDS •  • VALUATION • • RECOMMENDATIONS •<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/083/206/original/2019-03-25_17-46-58.png?1553565764" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="83206"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>OVERVIEW - As will be covered in greater DETAIL below, Japan has failed to evolve a substantial Internet Sector and, in many business models, has been passed by global competitors including in the home market. Although Internet Sector revenues have grown steadily and now account for close to 1% of the total for all listed companies, operating margins have declined by half in the last seven years and are now only four percentage points higher than the market average. Accordingly, as measured by our Results &amp; Revision Score, the Sector is close to a twelve-year low. The market's response is an unchanged Sector weight in the market composite despite the addition of 111 new companies in the last six years, and a Relative Price Score that has moved in a narrow range over that period. The Sector averages disguise the weak business and market performance of a handful of Sector leaders as well as the overvaluation of the Sector's more successful business models, which is partly a result of a lack of alternatives. Despite the world's most significant Internet investor - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/315" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a>'s Vision Fund - being based in Japan, this fund and other global investors in Internet business have been right to give Japan a 'pass'.


Source: Japan Analytics
There are currently 241 listed Japanese companies that can be categorised as Internet businesses. Our classification overlaps with the TOPIX-33 Information &amp; Communication sub-Sector but is broader in that it encompasses all companies listed on all sections and exchanges but is also narrower in that we have excluded Telecommunications (including Softbank Group (9984 JP)) and Information Technology companies. We have adopted a 'quantamental' approach which covers the long-term and current trends for Japan's Internet Sector as a whole, as well as eight sub-Sectors or Peer Groups and the Sectors' leading companies by market capitalisation.  Our focus is exclusively on the locally-listed universe and is based on disclosed financial and market data. We do not provide any forecasts, other than the companies' own forecasts and we do not attempt to make any business model or strategic judgments. Our focus is purely on financial and market performance. We do not cover unlisted and defunct companies such as Livedoor and, therefore, there is implicit survivor bias in the data. The broad themes that are developed in DETAIL below are grouped into six topics as follows: - • SUMMARY •  • FUNDAMENTAL OVERVIEW •  • SCORING - RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS / RELATIVE PRICE •  • RESULTS TRENDS •  • VALUATION • • RECOMMENDATIONS •Source: Japan AnalyticsOVERVIEW - As will be covered in greater DETAIL below, Japan has failed to evolve a substantial Internet Sector and, in many business models, has been passed by global competitors including in the home market. Although Internet Sector revenues have grown steadily and now account for close to 1% of the total for all listed companies, operating margins have declined by half in the last seven years and are now only four percentage points higher than the market average. Accordingly, as measured by our Results &amp; Revision Score, the Sector is close to a twelve-year low. The market's response is an unchanged Sector weight in the market composite despite the addition of 111 new companies in the last six years, and a Relative Price Score that has moved in a narrow range over that period. The Sector averages disguise the weak business and market performance of a handful of Sector leaders as well as the overvaluation of the Sector's more successful business models, which is partly a result of a lack of alternatives. Despite the world's most significant Internet investor - Softbank Group (9984 JP)'s Vision Fund - being based in Japan, this fund and other global investors in Internet business have been right to give Japan a 'pass'. 

🇯🇵 Japan • Internet Sector Review - 'Japan Passing'

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

The S&amp;P 500 is working through 2,817 resistance and our technical work continues to support an overall positive outlook. As markets improve in Europe and in EM countries, U.S. markets in turn should get a tailwind of improved global equity market conditions.  In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Technology: Large- and Mid-Cap Semiconductors Large/Mid-Cap Semi Equip. (TE-04), Software, Enterprise Applications (TE-42), and Software, Design Solutions (TE-46). List of charts included: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/16764" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16764:1">Intel Corp (INTC US)</a> $TSM, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/18804" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18804:1">Texas Instruments (TXN US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/12574" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12574:1">Analog Devices (ADI US)</a>  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/11600" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11600:1">Xilinx Inc (XLNX US)</a>  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/19009" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19009:1">Advanced Micro Devices (AMD US)</a>  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/8788" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8788:1">Microchip Technology (MCHP US)</a>  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/6121" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6121:1">Skyworks Solutions (SWKS US)</a>  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/15837" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15837:1">Marvell Technology Group Ltd (MRVL US)</a>  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/2729" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2729:1">On Semiconductor (ON US)</a>  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/2088" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2088:1">Monolithic Power Systems, Inc (MPWR US)</a>  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/21097" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21097:1">ASML Holding NV (ASML NA)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/283" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:283:1">Applied Materials (AMAT US)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/1116" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1116:1">Lam Research (LRCX US)</a>  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/13088" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13088:1">Teradyne Inc (TER US)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/5970" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5970:1">Mks Instruments (MKSI US)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/15273" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15273:1">Microsoft Corp (MSFT US)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/1065" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1065:1">Oracle Corp (ORCL US)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/1066" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1066:1">Sap Se Sponsored Adr (SAP US)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/15257" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15257:1">Now Inc (DNOW US)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/5660" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5660:1">Workday Inc Class A (WDAY US)</a> .

The S&amp;P 500 is working through 2,817 resistance and our technical work continues to support an overall positive outlook. As markets improve in Europe and in EM countries, U.S. markets in turn should get a tailwind of improved global equity market conditions.  In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Technology: Large- and Mid-Cap Semiconductors Large/Mid-Cap Semi Equip. (TE-04), Software, Enterprise Applications (TE-42), and Software, Design Solutions (TE-46). List of charts included: Intel Corp (INTC US) $TSM, Texas Instruments (TXN US), Analog Devices (ADI US)  Xilinx Inc (XLNX US)  Advanced Micro Devices (AMD US)  Microchip Technology (MCHP US)  Skyworks Solutions (SWKS US)  Marvell Technology Group Ltd (MRVL US)  On Semiconductor (ON US)  Monolithic Power Systems, Inc (MPWR US)  ASML Holding NV (ASML NA) , Applied Materials (AMAT US)Lam Research (LRCX US)  Teradyne Inc (TER US)Mks Instruments (MKSI US)Microsoft Corp (MSFT US)Oracle Corp (ORCL US)Sap Se Sponsored Adr (SAP US)Now Inc (DNOW US)Workday Inc Class A (WDAY US) .

U.S. Equity Strategy: Positive Outlook Intact; Tech Leading

The market’s bounce off of the December, 2018 low was a swift “V” reversal. While we often see a retest of such events, our outlook since that time has repeatedly suggested that a retest may not occur. We continue to believe the market remains healthy with overall and leadership remaining centered in the cyclical Sectors, mainly Technology.  In this publication we provide an overview of our U.S. equity strategy, and examine attractive opportunities in each of our 12 Sectors, beginning with Technology - our favorite.

The market’s bounce off of the December, 2018 low was a swift “V” reversal. While we often see a retest of such events, our outlook since that time has repeatedly suggested that a retest may not occur. We continue to believe the market remains healthy with overall and leadership remaining centered in the cyclical Sectors, mainly Technology.  In this publication we provide an overview of our U.S. equity strategy, and examine attractive opportunities in each of our 12 Sectors, beginning with Technology - our favorite.

U.S. Equity Strategy: Positive Outlook Intact; Cyclicals Leading; Opportunities in Tech Sector

Japan TMT Analyst

Pelham Smithers

Market Intel on Asian Tech with a Japan focus

Pelham Smithers Associates

Founded in 2009, Pelham Smithers Associates (PSA) provides market intelligence on Asian technology, focusing in particular on Japan. The industries covered by our team of specialists are: consumer electronics, telecomms, pharmaceuticals, internet, electronic parts and materials, automotive technology, retail and capital goods. 

Research is provided by the following:
Pelham Smithers: Macro, consumer electronics, telecoms & pharma
Joel Scheiman: Electronics materials / components
Julie Boote: Autos
Will Nestuk: Capital goods, machinery & transportation equipment parts
Thao Nguyen: eCommerce, internet content, marketing & advertising

Equity Bottom-Up

The esports market in 2019 is living up to expectations with prize money running at double last year's levels at this point. However, the rise of the first person shooter is changing who wins and who loses from eSports as it gives console game publishers a competitive edge.

The esports market in 2019 is living up to expectations with prize money running at double last year's levels at this point. However, the rise of the first person shooter is changing who wins and who loses from eSports as it gives console game publishers a competitive edge.

ESport Prize Money in 2019 Running at 2x 2018 Levels

Technology is our favorite Sector within the U.S. equity landscape, and remains leadership – 73% of our Tech Groups are in the top 33% in terms of our Relative Strength Rankings (RSRs). Internally, semis and semi-suppliers continue to outperform and many names have pulled back to offer attractive entry points. In this report we highlight our favorite setups within the U.S. Technology Sector.

Technology is our favorite Sector within the U.S. equity landscape, and remains leadership – 73% of our Tech Groups are in the top 33% in terms of our Relative Strength Rankings (RSRs). Internally, semis and semi-suppliers continue to outperform and many names have pulled back to offer attractive entry points. In this report we highlight our favorite setups within the U.S. Technology Sector. 

United States

Microsoft Corporation operates as a software company. The Company offers applications, extra cloud storage, and advanced security solutions. Microsoft serves customers worldwide.

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Microsoft Corp (MSFT US)

🇯🇵 Japan • Internet Sector Review - 'Japan Passing'

There are currently 241 listed Japanese companies that can be categorised as Internet businesses. Our classification overlaps with the TOPIX-33...

Campbell Gunn

U.S. Equity Strategy: Positive Outlook Intact; Tech Leading

The S&P 500 is working through 2,817 resistance and our technical work continues to support an overall positive outlook. As markets improve in...

Vermilion Research

U.S. Equity Strategy: Positive Outlook Intact; Cyclicals Leading; Opportunities in Tech Sector

The market’s bounce off of the December, 2018 low was a swift “V” reversal. While we often see a retest of such events, our outlook since that time...

Vermilion Research

ESport Prize Money in 2019 Running at 2x 2018 Levels

The esports market in 2019 is living up to expectations with prize money running at double last year's levels at this point. However, the rise of...

Pelham Smithers Associates

Opportunities in U.S. Technology Sector

Technology is our favorite Sector within the U.S. equity landscape, and remains leadership – 73% of our Tech Groups are in the top 33% in terms of...

Vermilion Research

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