Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The recent sharp sell-off in global growth stocks has provided an opportunity for long-term investors to buy <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">freee (4478 JP)</a> </span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"> at more attractive prices. Having fallen 45% from its peak earlier this year, the stock now trading at a trailing 12M EV/Revenue of 37x. </span></p>
<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><strong>Is that cheap enough?</strong> Well, the company is growing revenue at close to 50% YoY. If we assume that rate of growth is maintained into the next fiscal year, the stock would be much closer to a 20x multiple and much closer to the average of small cap Japanese growth companies currently trading at 15x revenue. </span></p>
<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">There is a good buying opportunity opening up for patient investors. </span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> <br><br></span></p>
<section class="figure">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/205/714/original/freee3.png?1620815258" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="205714"></figure>
</section>
<div class="content-caption">Source: Company presentation</div>
<p><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span></p>

The recent sharp sell-off in global growth stocks has provided an opportunity for long-term investors to buy freee (4478 JP)  at more attractive prices. Having fallen 45% from its peak earlier this year, the stock now trading at a trailing 12M EV/Revenue of 37x. 
Is that cheap enough? Well, the company is growing revenue at close to 50% YoY. If we assume that rate of growth is maintained into the next fiscal year, the stock would be much closer to a 20x multiple and much closer to the average of small cap Japanese growth companies currently trading at 15x revenue. 
There is a good buying opportunity opening up for patient investors.    



Source: Company presentation
 

Japan Small Cap Growth: FREEE (4478) - Opportunities Opening Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/money-forward-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25919:1" rel="noopener">Money Forward (3994 JP)</a> remains our High Conviction long for 2021. </li>
<li>1Q21 consolidated sales rose 45% YoY to ¥3.5b with gross profit rising 53% to ¥2.5b (73% gross margin)</li>
<li>Annual Recurring Revenue rose 35% YoY to ¥9b, driven by continued customer acquisition (now exceeds 464,000 paying customers)</li>
</ul>



Money Forward (3994 JP) remains our High Conviction long for 2021. 
1Q21 consolidated sales rose 45% YoY to ¥3.5b with gross profit rising 53% to ¥2.5b (73% gross margin)
Annual Recurring Revenue rose 35% YoY to ¥9b, driven by continued customer acquisition (now exceeds 464,000 paying customers)


Small Cap Japan Growth: Money Forward (3994)

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

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)

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• LARGE CAP RESULTS - 13th APRIL •</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/386/original/image_36527959121618346539491.png?1618346540" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200386"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>RESULTS</strong> - Only 38% of Tuesdays 69 results announcements scored positively. Of the largest-cap stocks reporting, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toho-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7806:1" rel="noopener">Toho (9602 JP)</a> cinemas has yet to bottom out but is still in profit. 'New wave' software companies <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sansan-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28112:1" rel="noopener">Sansan (4443 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/money-forward-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25919:1" rel="noopener">Money Forward (3994 JP)</a> are growing into their extreme valuations, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona's</a> under-appreciated margin transformation continues. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/403/original/image_63727914331618348873715.png?1618348877" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200403"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/404/original/image_12260447541618348911606.png?1618348912" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200404"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/405/original/image_35233699051618348944141.png?1618348944" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200405"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/406/original/image_14670185761618348969100.png?1618348969" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200406"></figure><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• LARGE CAP FORECASTS/REVISIONS - 13th APRIL •</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/407/original/image_58511005871618349036093.png?1618349036" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200407"></figure><p><strong>FORECASTS/REVISIONS</strong> - Two-thirds of annual forecasts/revisions were positive, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toho-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7806:1" rel="noopener">Toho (9602 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/j-front-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8947:1" rel="noopener">J Front Retailing (3086 JP)</a> the leading largest-cap optimists. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/santen-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8602:1" rel="noopener">Santen Pharmaceutical (4536 JP)</a> revised down following a delay in the approval of glaucoma implant DE-128.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/408/original/image_63605452481618349380112.png?1618349381" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200408"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/200/409/original/image_46822562891618349413296.png?1618349413" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="200409"></figure>

• LARGE CAP RESULTS - 13th APRIL •Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan AnalyticsRESULTS - Only 38% of Tuesdays 69 results announcements scored positively. Of the largest-cap stocks reporting, Toho (9602 JP) cinemas has yet to bottom out but is still in profit. 'New wave' software companies Sansan (4443 JP) and Money Forward (3994 JP) are growing into their extreme valuations, while Pasona's under-appreciated margin transformation continues. • LARGE CAP FORECASTS/REVISIONS - 13th APRIL •FORECASTS/REVISIONS - Two-thirds of annual forecasts/revisions were positive, with Toho (9602 JP) and J Front Retailing (3086 JP) the leading largest-cap optimists. Santen Pharmaceutical (4536 JP) revised down following a delay in the approval of glaucoma implant DE-128.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/​​​​​​13 - Pasona (Grata) & J Front Retailing

APAC IPOs & Placements

Zhen Zhou, Toh

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/visional-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32977:1" rel="noopener">Visional Inc (4194 JP)</a> is looking to raise up to US$609m in its Japan IPO.</p><p>Visional Inc. is a human resources (HR) technology company based in Japan. The company operates BizReach, an online recruiting platform that helps to connect professional job seekers to direct employers and third-party recruiters. It also offers HRMOS, which is a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) platform.</p><p>In this note, we share our thoughts on assumptions, valuation, and deal dynamics.</p>

Visional Inc (4194 JP) is looking to raise up to US$609m in its Japan IPO.Visional Inc. is a human resources (HR) technology company based in Japan. The company operates BizReach, an online recruiting platform that helps to connect professional job seekers to direct employers and third-party recruiters. It also offers HRMOS, which is a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) platform.In this note, we share our thoughts on assumptions, valuation, and deal dynamics.

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

<div>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">Freee (4478 JP)</a> (freee) is looking to raise around US$400m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares. </p>
<p>We had looked at the company at the time of listing, links to our previous notes are below: </p>
</div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/freee-pre-ipo-has-been-growing-fast-but-missing-data-points-leave-quite-a-few-niggling-doubts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">freee K.K. pre-IPO - Has been growing fast but missing data points leave quite a few niggling doubts,</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/freee-k-k-pre-ipo-the-battle-is-far-from-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freee K. K. Pre-IPO - The Battle Is Far from Over,</a></li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/free-k-k-ipo-it-s-not-exactly-freee-but-looks-ok-at-the-lower-end" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freee K.K. IPO - It’s Not Exactly Free but Looks Ok at the Lower-End</a>, and</li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/freee-ipo-trading-priced-at-par-to-comp-it-now-boils-down-to-how-much-premium-it-can-trade-at" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freee IPO Trading - Priced at Par to Comp, It Now Boils Down to How Much Premium It Can Trade At</a></li>
</ul></div><div><p>In this note, we'll run the deal through our ECM framework and talk about deal dynamics.</p></div>


Freee (4478 JP) (freee) is looking to raise around US$400m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares. 
We had looked at the company at the time of listing, links to our previous notes are below: 

freee K.K. pre-IPO - Has been growing fast but missing data points leave quite a few niggling doubts,
Freee K. K. Pre-IPO - The Battle Is Far from Over,

Freee K.K. IPO - It’s Not Exactly Free but Looks Ok at the Lower-End, and
Freee IPO Trading - Priced at Par to Comp, It Now Boils Down to How Much Premium It Can Trade At
In this note, we'll run the deal through our ECM framework and talk about deal dynamics.

Freee Placement - Needs to Correct by a Whole Lot More

Japan

Money Forward, Inc. develops mobile application software. The Company produces automatic household account book softwares, household account book application softwares, and other products. Money Forward also provides personal financial management, cloud based accounting solutions, and other services.

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Money Forward (3994 JP)

Japan Small Cap Growth: FREEE (4478) - Opportunities Opening Up

The recent sharp sell-off in global growth stocks has provided an opportunity for long-term investors to buy freee (4478 JP) at more attractive...

Mark Chadwick

Small Cap Japan Growth: Money Forward (3994)

Strong Q1 results underpin our high conviction Bullish stance on the stock. Q1 revenue grew 45%. Robust sales growth was driven by 51% sales growth...

Mark Chadwick

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/13 - Pasona (Grata) & J Front Retailing

RESULTS - Only 38% of Tuesdays 69 results announcements scored positively. Of the largest-cap stocks reporting, Toho (9602 JP) cinemas has yet to...

Campbell Gunn

Visional Inc IPO - Pricey Hire

Visional Inc (4194 JP) is looking to raise up to US$609m in its Japan IPO. Visional Inc. is a human resources (HR) technology company based in Japan.

Zhen Zhou, Toh

Freee Placement - Needs to Correct by a Whole Lot More

Freee (4478 JP) (freee) is looking to raise around US$400m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares. In this note, we'll run the deal...

Sumeet Singh

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japan Small Cap Growth: FREEE (4478) - Opportunities Opening Up

The recent sharp sell-off in global growth stocks has provided an opportunity for long-term investors to buy freee (4478 JP) at more attractive...

Mark Chadwick

Small Cap Japan Growth: Money Forward (3994)

Strong Q1 results underpin our high conviction Bullish stance on the stock. Q1 revenue grew 45%. Robust sales growth was driven by 51% sales growth...

Mark Chadwick

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/​​​​​​13 - Pasona (Grata) & J Front Retailing

RESULTS - Only 38% of Tuesdays 69 results announcements scored positively. Of the largest-cap stocks reporting, Toho (9602 JP) cinemas has yet to...

Campbell Gunn

Visional Inc IPO - Pricey Hire

Visional Inc (4194 JP) is looking to raise up to US$609m in its Japan IPO. Visional Inc. is a human resources (HR) technology company based in Japan.

Zhen Zhou, Toh

Freee Placement - Needs to Correct by a Whole Lot More

Freee (4478 JP) (freee) is looking to raise around US$400m via selling a mix of primary and secondary shares. In this note, we'll run the deal...

Sumeet Singh

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/13 - Pasona (Grata) & J Front Retailing