Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>Just after I last wrote a couple of weeks ago noting that the Top DELETE candidate had changed just weeks after the 3rd ADD candidate had changed, two caps arrived.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/advantest-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18107:1" rel="noopener">Advantest Corp (6857 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-electron-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:280:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Electron (8035 JP)</a> went over 10% and have stayed up. <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 about 6% away. But FR and Advantest are negatively-correlated.</li>
<li>Newly available data tells us more about <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jx-advanced-metals-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44346:1" rel="noopener">JX Advanced Metals (5016 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a>. The DELETE candidates are tougher.  </li>
</ul>


Just after I last wrote a couple of weeks ago noting that the Top DELETE candidate had changed just weeks after the 3rd ADD candidate had changed, two caps arrived.

Advantest Corp (6857 JP) and Tokyo Electron (8035 JP) went over 10% and have stayed up. Fast Retailing (9983 JP) is about 6% away. But FR and Advantest are negatively-correlated.
Newly available data tells us more about JX Advanced Metals (5016 JP) and Kokusai Electric (6525 JP). The DELETE candidates are tougher.  


[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal - Easy ADDs, Tough DELETEs, Two(?) Caps; And Squeeziness

Equity Long-Short

Mo Aziz

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Initiating with BUY and a 12-month price target of NT$2,700, implying 25% upside potential. Applied 50x FY2027E P/E — disciplined relative to peers but premium-justified by growth durability.</li>
<li>Three structural growth drivers converge in Chroma: AI server power validation, SiC/GaN power semiconductor testing, and EV/ESS battery test systems. Each market can sustain above-industry growth independently.</li>
<li>Micron's blowout quarter settles the AI demand debate. With Chroma trading 16% below its May high, the recent correction provides a more attractive entry point.</li>
</ul>


Initiating with BUY and a 12-month price target of NT$2,700, implying 25% upside potential. Applied 50x FY2027E P/E — disciplined relative to peers but premium-justified by growth durability.
Three structural growth drivers converge in Chroma: AI server power validation, SiC/GaN power semiconductor testing, and EV/ESS battery test systems. Each market can sustain above-industry growth independently.
Micron's blowout quarter settles the AI demand debate. With Chroma trading 16% below its May high, the recent correction provides a more attractive entry point.


Chroma ATE (2360 TT): Initiation — Silent Gatekeeper of the Electrification Supercycle

'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)

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/206/original/2020-07-31_06-20-27.png?1596144054" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149206"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>NEW LOWS</strong> - As more quarterly results &amp; forecasts come out, both our Results and Forecast/Revisions Scores reached new ten-year lows yesterday. We expect at least half of the gap to the 2009 lows to be closed by the end of August. The market continues to rest in the comfort of the central banks' 'cotton wool'. Our picks of the best and worst results of the day are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anritsu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3700:1" rel="noopener">Anritsu (6754 JP) </a>and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oriental-land-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13517:1" rel="noopener">Oriental Land (4661 JP)</a>, respectively. There was also an interesting divergence between the two 'M&amp;A' specialists, as we reveal in the<strong> DETAIL</strong> below.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/208/original/2020-07-31_06-31-18.png?1596144693" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149208"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/149/209/original/2020-07-31_06-30-54.png?1596144708" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="149209"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics<hr>
</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>189 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Results Score</strong>: 56 Positive / 8 Neutral / 125 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong> -2.8</li>
<li>
<strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> -10.2% Quarter YoY / -2.7% Rolling TTM YoY </li>
<li>
<strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -1.2ppt <em>(ex AnGes)</em>
</li>
<li>
<strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses</strong>: 29%</li>
</ul></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong>75 Annual • 43 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 21 Positive / 3 Neutral / 51 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 9 Positive / 0 Neutral / 34 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -9.0</li>
</ul></div>

Source • Japan AnalyticsNEW LOWS - As more quarterly results &amp; forecasts come out, both our Results and Forecast/Revisions Scores reached new ten-year lows yesterday. We expect at least half of the gap to the 2009 lows to be closed by the end of August. The market continues to rest in the comfort of the central banks' 'cotton wool'. Our picks of the best and worst results of the day are Anritsu (6754 JP) and Oriental Land (4661 JP), respectively. There was also an interesting divergence between the two 'M&amp;A' specialists, as we reveal in the DETAIL below.Source • Japan Analytics
DAILY STATS189 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 56 Positive / 8 Neutral / 125 Negative

Average Results Score Change: -2.8

Average % Change in Revenue: -10.2% Quarter YoY / -2.7% Rolling TTM YoY 

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -1.2ppt (ex AnGes)


Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 29%
 75 Annual • 43 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 21 Positive / 3 Neutral / 51 Negative

Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 9 Positive / 0 Neutral / 34 Negative

Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -9.0


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 30th July - Anritsu, ZOZO, M&As, O-Land, MELCO, Advantest

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

DZT Research

DZT Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Jun 19th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD31,695m.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top/bottom net long/short of margin trading by value, net margin buy as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight net margin buy/sell changes in Kioxia, Advantest, Tokyo Electron, Skylark, Taiyo Yuden, SoftBank, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, McDonald's, Murata Manufacturing, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Jun 19th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD31,695m.
We tabulate league tables for top/bottom net long/short of margin trading by value, net margin buy as multiple of ADT.
We highlight net margin buy/sell changes in Kioxia, Advantest, Tokyo Electron, Skylark, Taiyo Yuden, SoftBank, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, McDonald's, Murata Manufacturing, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial.


JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Jun 19th): Kioxia, Advantest, Tokyo Electron, Skylark, Taiyo Yuden

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/143/496/original/2020-06-30_14-16-44.png?1593494217" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="143496"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong>THE CASH CONVERSION CYCLE</strong> - Net Working Capital is a measure of how efficiently a company manages its short-term assets and liabilities to generate cash and is also known as the Cash Conversion Cycle. In practice, Net Working Capital is scaled by the number of days of Revenue or Cost of Goods Sold that are 'tied' up in three components - Receivables, Inventory, and Payables.</p>
<p><strong>Net Working Capital Days</strong> varies by industry and the lower the number, the better. Amounts over 210 days are excessive, and a sign of business stress.  Net Working Capital is defined as:-</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>+ Receivables/Revenue </strong>- the average number of days required to collect on sales. Businesses usually extend a degree of credit to non-cash customers.  Receivables Days over 100 are excessive.</li>
<li>
<strong>+ Inventory/Cost of Goods Sold -</strong> the average number of days it takes to sell out of Inventory. Amounts vary widely by industry but days over 210 are excessive.</li>
<li>- <strong>Payables/Cost of Goods Sold -</strong>the average number of days the company takes to settle transactions with suppliers. By extending nominally interest-free credit, suppliers provide operating leverage to a business. A larger negative number is better, but days less than -100 are excessive.</li>
</ul>
<p>The relationship between Receivables and Payables should also be considered particularly where the company is giving more generous credit terms to its customers than it receives from its suppliers. The Cash Conversion Cycle for the aggregate of all non-financial currently-listed Japanese companies has averaged 77 days over the last thirty years. However, over the previous twelve months., a fourteen-day rise in Inventory Days during the last four years has pushed Net Working Capital Days to 93.</p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/143/529/original/2020-06-30_15-09-41.png?1593497395" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="143529"></figure>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/143/530/original/2020-06-30_15-10-32.png?1593497471" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="143530"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<div class="content-caption"></div>
<p><strong>NET WORKING CAPITAL DAYS AS A STRESS TEST</strong> - The correlation between Net Working Capital Days and relative performance varies by company and by Sectors. The examples above show how signals can be heeded -  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikon-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7117:1" rel="noopener">Nikon (7731 JP)</a>, or ignored - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/smc-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20866:1" rel="noopener">SMC (6273 JP)</a> since 2018. (For more on SMC working capital issues, please see my colleague <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/scott-foster" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1134" rel="noopener">Scott Foster</a>'s Insight of last year - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/smc-6273-jp-getting-in-line-with-reality" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:30081" rel="noopener">SMC (6273 JP): Getting in Line with Reality</a>).   </p>
<p>For this Insight, we have limited our review to larger capitalisation manufacturing companies. In the<strong> DETAIL</strong> section below, we shall cover the outliers at both ends of <strong>Receivables Days</strong>, <strong>Inventory Days</strong>, <strong>Payables Days</strong>, and finally <strong>Net Working Capital Days</strong>.</p>


Source • Japan Analytics
THE CASH CONVERSION CYCLE - Net Working Capital is a measure of how efficiently a company manages its short-term assets and liabilities to generate cash and is also known as the Cash Conversion Cycle. In practice, Net Working Capital is scaled by the number of days of Revenue or Cost of Goods Sold that are 'tied' up in three components - Receivables, Inventory, and Payables.
Net Working Capital Days varies by industry and the lower the number, the better. Amounts over 210 days are excessive, and a sign of business stress.  Net Working Capital is defined as:-


+ Receivables/Revenue - the average number of days required to collect on sales. Businesses usually extend a degree of credit to non-cash customers.  Receivables Days over 100 are excessive.

+ Inventory/Cost of Goods Sold - the average number of days it takes to sell out of Inventory. Amounts vary widely by industry but days over 210 are excessive.
- Payables/Cost of Goods Sold -the average number of days the company takes to settle transactions with suppliers. By extending nominally interest-free credit, suppliers provide operating leverage to a business. A larger negative number is better, but days less than -100 are excessive.

The relationship between Receivables and Payables should also be considered particularly where the company is giving more generous credit terms to its customers than it receives from its suppliers. The Cash Conversion Cycle for the aggregate of all non-financial currently-listed Japanese companies has averaged 77 days over the last thirty years. However, over the previous twelve months., a fourteen-day rise in Inventory Days during the last four years has pushed Net Working Capital Days to 93.


Source • Japan Analytics

NET WORKING CAPITAL DAYS AS A STRESS TEST - The correlation between Net Working Capital Days and relative performance varies by company and by Sectors. The examples above show how signals can be heeded -  Nikon (7731 JP), or ignored - SMC (6273 JP) since 2018. (For more on SMC working capital issues, please see my colleague Scott Foster's Insight of last year - SMC (6273 JP): Getting in Line with Reality).   
For this Insight, we have limited our review to larger capitalisation manufacturing companies. In the DETAIL section below, we shall cover the outliers at both ends of Receivables Days, Inventory Days, Payables Days, and finally Net Working Capital Days.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Stress Tests Part 5: Net Working Capital Outliers

Japan

ADVANTEST CORPORATION produces semiconductor testing devices and electronic measuring instruments.  The Company's products include large-scale integration (LSI) test systems, memory test systems, dynamic test handlers, network analyzers, electronic meters, optical testing devices, and signal sources.

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Advantest Corp (6857 JP)

[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal - Easy ADDs, Tough DELETEs, Two(?) Caps; And Squeeziness

The Sep 2026 Nikkei 225 rebal is challenging. Two ADDs are easy. The third seems easy. The DELETEs are not, but I rarely recommend shorting them....

Travis Lundy

Chroma ATE (2360 TT): Initiation — Silent Gatekeeper of the Electrification Supercycle

Initiate Chroma with BUY, strong growth drivers and potential 25% upside potential on 12 months window. Micron's blowout quarter settles AI demand...

Mo Aziz

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 30th July - Anritsu, ZOZO, M&As, O-Land, MELCO, Advantest

NEW LOWS - As more quarterly results & forecasts come out, both our Results and Forecast/Revisions Scores reached new ten-year lows yesterday....

Campbell Gunn

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Jun 19th): Kioxia, Advantest, Tokyo Electron, Skylark, Taiyo Yuden

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Kioxia (285A JP), Advantest (6857 JP), Tokyo Electron (8035 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Stress Tests Part 5: Net Working Capital Outliers

THE CASH CONVERSION CYCLE - Net Working Capital is a measure of how efficiently a company manages its short-term assets and liabilities to...

Campbell Gunn

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