Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Fast Retail missed analyst estimates for Q2 sales and operating profit. Revenue growth slowed to 5% YoY</li>
<li>Full year operating profit guidance maintained at Y450 billion, just slightly below the street </li>
<li>The stock is trading at 27x EV/EBIT, in-line with historical averages, but still expensive in absolute terms and versus global peers</li>
</ul>


Fast Retail missed analyst estimates for Q2 sales and operating profit. Revenue growth slowed to 5% YoY
Full year operating profit guidance maintained at Y450 billion, just slightly below the street 
The stock is trading at 27x EV/EBIT, in-line with historical averages, but still expensive in absolute terms and versus global peers


Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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.

<ul>
<li>While domestic revenues may have slowed, Uniqlo's domestic OP shows upside potential driven by upside to GM and a gradual reduction in SG&amp;A expenditure.</li>
<li>Simultaneously, Uniqlo International is exhibiting strong performance, with anticipated revenue and OP growth of 21% and 30% YoY respectively.</li>
<li>Despite expecting a strong earnings beat, concerns over high valuations and index issues make us cautious about trading <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a> in the current earnings cycle.</li>
</ul>


While domestic revenues may have slowed, Uniqlo's domestic OP shows upside potential driven by upside to GM and a gradual reduction in SG&amp;A expenditure.
Simultaneously, Uniqlo International is exhibiting strong performance, with anticipated revenue and OP growth of 21% and 30% YoY respectively.
Despite expecting a strong earnings beat, concerns over high valuations and index issues make us cautious about trading Fast Retailing (9983 JP) in the current earnings cycle.


Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a> is the largest weight in the Nikkei 225. On Friday, it closed at 11.36% of the Nikkei 225, putting it well above the 10% cap level.</li>
<li>If the stock is above 10% on a pro-forma basis on the base date of 31 July 2024, it will get a capping coefficient. 8.4mm shares (US$2.5bn) to sell.</li>
<li>At Friday's close, we were borderline above a double-downweight trigger. At Monday's open, just below. 30mins later? Back well above. Lots of interesting issues and nuances here for a short.</li>
</ul>



Fast Retailing (9983 JP) is the largest weight in the Nikkei 225. On Friday, it closed at 11.36% of the Nikkei 225, putting it well above the 10% cap level.
If the stock is above 10% on a pro-forma basis on the base date of 31 July 2024, it will get a capping coefficient. 8.4mm shares (US$2.5bn) to sell.
At Friday's close, we were borderline above a double-downweight trigger. At Monday's open, just below. 30mins later? Back well above. Lots of interesting issues and nuances here for a short.


Fast Retailing (9983) - Now At Double Downweight Levels

David Blennerhassett

<ul>
<li>The trade of being short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a> vs Nikkei 225 or Sector Basket is fundamentally slightly short Nikkei 225 froth.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/giordano-international-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13899:1" rel="noopener">Giordano (709 HK)</a>'s SGM will likely pivot off how the shareholders under Halcyon Securities vote. Digging a little deeper as to who these shareholders are, provides some (not-altogether) surprising results.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/az-com-maruwa-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17280:1" rel="noopener">AZ-Com Maruwa Holdings (9090 JP)</a> intends to launch a Tender Offer on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chilled-frozen-logistics-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40987:1" rel="noopener">Chilled &amp; Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP)</a> without having contacted C&amp;F first. A HOSTILE deal. Yum!</li>
</ul>


The trade of being short Fast Retailing (9983 JP) vs Nikkei 225 or Sector Basket is fundamentally slightly short Nikkei 225 froth.

Giordano (709 HK)'s SGM will likely pivot off how the shareholders under Halcyon Securities vote. Digging a little deeper as to who these shareholders are, provides some (not-altogether) surprising results.

AZ-Com Maruwa Holdings (9090 JP) intends to launch a Tender Offer on Chilled &amp; Frozen Logistics Holdings (9099 JP) without having contacted C&amp;F first. A HOSTILE deal. Yum!


Last Week in Event SPACE: Fast Retailing, Giordano, C&F Logistics, Swire, Japan's Big Dividend

<ul>
<li>Now that the March 2024 Nikkei 225 Rebalance is decided, we have a model for the Sep 2024 Review. As previously discussed on Smartkarma, actual name changes get tough now. </li>
<li>As of now, there should be two ADDs and two DELETEs. They might not occur. But there are two other situations which create interesting dynamics around big names. </li>
<li>The dynamics of Fast Retailing and Tokyo Electron promise more fun than the actual name changes in September 2024. It impacts how you trade Nikkei vs TOPIX and tech internals.</li>
</ul>


Now that the March 2024 Nikkei 225 Rebalance is decided, we have a model for the Sep 2024 Review. As previously discussed on Smartkarma, actual name changes get tough now. 
As of now, there should be two ADDs and two DELETEs. They might not occur. But there are two other situations which create interesting dynamics around big names. 
The dynamics of Fast Retailing and Tokyo Electron promise more fun than the actual name changes in September 2024. It impacts how you trade Nikkei vs TOPIX and tech internals.


Sep24 Nikkei 225 Rebal - 2 ADDs, 2 DELETEs Maybe, but Rebals Tougher, and Fastie+TEL Are the FUN

Japan

FAST RETAILING CO., LTD. operates a chain of clothing stores, UNIQLO, throughout Japan and in other markets overseas including UK, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, US, France, Singapore and Russia.  The Company designs, manufactures, and retails its own line of casual clothing.

Fast Retailing (9983 JP)

Fast Retailing(9983) | Not So Fast

Fast Retailer's Q2 sales and operating profit fell short of analyst estimates, with revenue growth slowing to 5% YoY. The stock is trading at a...

Mark Chadwick

Fast Retailing: Earnings Preview

Despite expecting a strong earnings beat, concerns over high valuations and index issues make us cautious about trading Fast Retailing in the...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Fast Retailing (9983) - Now At Double Downweight Levels

Now clearly into double-sell territory but nota bene: A double sell only works for the first couple of %, then we're back into single-sell...

Travis Lundy

Last Week in Event SPACE: Fast Retailing, Giordano, C&F Logistics, Swire, Japan's Big Dividend

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

Sep24 Nikkei 225 Rebal - 2 ADDs, 2 DELETEs Maybe, but Rebals Tougher, and Fastie+TEL Are the FUN

Predictions for the Sep 2024 Nikkei 225 index rebal. I expect Ryohin Keikaku. Next would be Nomura Research. But the big trades are Fast Retailing...

Travis Lundy

Fast Retailing(9983) | Not So Fast

​Fast Retailer's Q2 sales and operating profit fell short of analyst estimates, with revenue growth slowing to 5% YoY. The stock is trading at a...

Mark Chadwick

Fast Retailing: Earnings Preview

Despite expecting a strong earnings beat, concerns over high valuations and index issues make us cautious about trading Fast Retailing in the...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Fast Retailing (9983) - Now At Double Downweight Levels

Now clearly into double-sell territory but nota bene: A double sell only works for the first couple of %, then we're back into single-sell...

Travis Lundy

Last Week in Event SPACE: Fast Retailing, Giordano, C&F Logistics, Swire, Japan's Big Dividend

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

Sep24 Nikkei 225 Rebal - 2 ADDs, 2 DELETEs Maybe, but Rebals Tougher, and Fastie+TEL Are the FUN

Predictions for the Sep 2024 Nikkei 225 index rebal. I expect Ryohin Keikaku. Next would be Nomura Research. But the big trades are Fast Retailing...

Travis Lundy

Fast Retailer's Q2 sales and operating profit fell short of analyst estimates, with revenue growth slowing to 5% YoY. The stock is trading at a...