Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">Freee KK (4478 JP)</a> reported 2QFY06/2025 results on Friday which beat consensus estimates. The company also reported a second consecutive quarter of operating profits in 2Q.</li>
<li>Despite cutting down significantly on selling and marketing, freee has managed to maintain growth. The company also has revised upwards its OP guidance and expects positive adj. free cashflows.</li>
<li>Though freee’s share price has moved up 35% YTD, strengthening profitability and its solid business model vs <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> should further drive share price up.</li>
</ul>



Freee KK (4478 JP) reported 2QFY06/2025 results on Friday which beat consensus estimates. The company also reported a second consecutive quarter of operating profits in 2Q.
Despite cutting down significantly on selling and marketing, freee has managed to maintain growth. The company also has revised upwards its OP guidance and expects positive adj. free cashflows.
Though freee’s share price has moved up 35% YTD, strengthening profitability and its solid business model vs Money Forward (3994 JP) should further drive share price up.


High Conviction 2025 – Freee: Earnings Beat with Upward Revision to Profit Guidance

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35638:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Bank (5838 JP)</a>, the online banking arm of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten (4755 JP)</a>, aims to raise up to around US$630m in its Japan listing in April 2023.</li>
<li>RB is the largest internet bank in Japan, by number of accounts. As of Dec 22, it had 13.3m deposit accounts with a total deposit base of JPY8.8tn.</li>
<li>In our earlier notes, we have looked at the company’s past performance and undertook a peer comparison. In this note, we talk about valuations in the IPO price range.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten Bank (5838 JP), the online banking arm of Rakuten (4755 JP), aims to raise up to around US$630m in its Japan listing in April 2023.
RB is the largest internet bank in Japan, by number of accounts. As of Dec 22, it had 13.3m deposit accounts with a total deposit base of JPY8.8tn.
In our earlier notes, we have looked at the company’s past performance and undertook a peer comparison. In this note, we talk about valuations in the IPO price range.


Rakuten Bank IPO - Lower Range Makes It Even More Attractive

SBI Shinsei Bank / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sbi-shinsei-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16897:1" rel="noopener">SBI Shinsei Bank (8303 JP)</a>, a Japanese financial institution, raised around US$2.1bn in its Japan listing.</li>
<li>SBI Shinsei Bank (SBISB) is a Japanese financial institution providing a range of financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers.</li>
<li>We looked at the company’s past performance in our earlier note. In this note, we talk about the trading dynamics.</li>
</ul>



SBI Shinsei Bank (8303 JP), a Japanese financial institution, raised around US$2.1bn in its Japan listing.
SBI Shinsei Bank (SBISB) is a Japanese financial institution providing a range of financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers.
We looked at the company’s past performance in our earlier note. In this note, we talk about the trading dynamics.


SBI Shinsei Bank IPO Trading - Strong Demand, Peers Mini-Rally Will Help

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sbi-shinsei-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16897:1" rel="noopener">SBI Shinsei Bank (8303 JP)</a>, a Japanese financial institution, aims to raise around US$2.1bn in its Japan listing.</li>
<li>SBI Shinsei Bank (SBISB) is a Japanese financial institution providing a range of financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers.</li>
<li>We looked at the company’s past performance in our earlier note. In this note, we talk about valuations.</li>
</ul>



SBI Shinsei Bank (8303 JP), a Japanese financial institution, aims to raise around US$2.1bn in its Japan listing.
SBI Shinsei Bank (SBISB) is a Japanese financial institution providing a range of financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers.
We looked at the company’s past performance in our earlier note. In this note, we talk about valuations.


SBI Shinsei Bank IPO - Stronger Support, Decent Valuation

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sbi-shinsei-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16897:1" rel="noopener">SBI Shinsei Bank (8303 JP)</a>, a Japanese financial institution, aims to raise around US$2bn in its Japan listing</li>
<li>SBI Shinsei Bank (SBISB) is a Japanese financial institution providing a range of financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers.</li>
<li>We have looked at past performance in our earlier notes. In this note, we talk about valuations.</li>
</ul>



SBI Shinsei Bank (8303 JP), a Japanese financial institution, aims to raise around US$2bn in its Japan listing
SBI Shinsei Bank (SBISB) is a Japanese financial institution providing a range of financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers.
We have looked at past performance in our earlier notes. In this note, we talk about valuations.


SBI Shinsei Bank Pre-IPO - Thoughts on Valuations

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)

High Conviction 2025 – Freee: Earnings Beat with Upward Revision to Profit Guidance

freee's 2Q earnings were strong with upward revision to OP guidance. Share price has been up 35% YTD driven by its strengthening profitability...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Rakuten Bank IPO - Lower Range Makes It Even More Attractive

Rakuten Bank (5838 JP), the online banking arm of Rakuten (4755 JP), aims to raise up to around US$630m in its Japan listing in April 2023.

Sumeet Singh

SBI Shinsei Bank IPO Trading - Strong Demand, Peers Mini-Rally Will Help

SBI Shinsei Bank (8303 JP), a Japanese financial institution, raised around US$2.1bn in its Japan listing. In this note, we talk about the trading...

Sumeet Singh

SBI Shinsei Bank IPO - Stronger Support, Decent Valuation

SBI Shinsei Bank (8303 JP), a Japanese financial institution, aims to raise around US$2.1bn in its Japan listing. In this note, we talk about...

Sumeet Singh

SBI Shinsei Bank Pre-IPO - Thoughts on Valuations

SBI Shinsei Bank (8303 JP), a Japanese financial institution, aims to raise around US$2bn in its Japan listing. In this note, we talk about...

Sumeet Singh

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