'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>• BEST &amp; WORST •</strong></p><p>Thursday was the disclosure 'peak' for the November/February/May/August year-end group of companies. One-quarter of the companies reporting results yesterday were in the red, and average revenues are margins are still declining. Half of the large caps are reporting losses for the trailing twelve-month period. On a brighter note,  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon (7751 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nachi-fujikoshi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9817:1" rel="noopener">Nachi Fujikoshi (6474 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/agc-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2167:1" rel="noopener">AGC (5201 JP) </a>continued the trend of industrial upward revisions ahead of their imminent full-year results. Our best and worst pairing from Thursday's announcements is <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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/create-restaurants-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11513:1" rel="noopener">create restaurants (3387 JP)</a>. </p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/182/603/original/2021-01-15_06-37-49.png?1610660282" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="182603"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/182/604/original/2021-01-15_06-38-33.png?1610660325" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="182604"></figure></section><div class="content-caption">Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics.</div>

• BEST &amp; WORST •Thursday was the disclosure 'peak' for the November/February/May/August year-end group of companies. One-quarter of the companies reporting results yesterday were in the red, and average revenues are margins are still declining. Half of the large caps are reporting losses for the trailing twelve-month period. On a brighter note,  Canon (7751 JP), Nachi Fujikoshi (6474 JP), and AGC (5201 JP) continued the trend of industrial upward revisions ahead of their imminent full-year results. Our best and worst pairing from Thursday's announcements is Fast Retailing (9983 JP) and create restaurants (3387 JP). Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​01/​​​​​​14 Fast, Create, Canon, AGC

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/748/original/2020-05-16_08-18-15.png?1589584720" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133748"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>"WORSENING"</strong> - The Cabinet Office updated their Business Condition Leading Indicator for March this week, confirming the trend already apparent from our Results &amp; Revision Score data series. The correlation between the series is 0.80, with the only significant deviation occurring in 2016, Coincident conditions are assessed as "worsening" wording that is unchanged since August 2019. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/788/original/2020-05-16_12-10-50.png?1589598664" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133788"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>DECOMPOSED</strong> - Our Score is decomposed into a Results Score, an Annual Forecast/Revision Score and an Interim Forecast Revision Score.  The last two are ten-year lows; the first should join them next week. A notable limiting factor is the shortage of forecasts being made. Without this reticence, both forecast Scores would be considerably lower.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/795/original/2020-05-16_12-47-02.png?1589600841" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133795"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>RETICENCE</strong> - 77% by number and 81% by value of companies with year-ends in  March, June, September, or December have already reported. Of these 2,464 companies representing ¥438 trillion of market cap, just 1,119 have issued annual forecasts for the current year, and 583 have made interim forecasts. Of all listed companies, one-third by market value are currently unable to see ahead twelve months and only 16% by value and 23% by number are prepared to look forward four-and-a-half months. This unusual degree of reticence leaves the sell-side without their regular anchoring comfort blanket.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/802/original/2020-05-16_13-27-57.png?1589605282" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133802"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>NOT CHEAP</strong> -  Even allowing for the lack of a full complement of forecasts, the market's forward multiple is at a five-year high with Net Income expected to reach levels first seen in 2015, 37% below the December 2018 peak. The ten-year peak trailing multiple was 29 on aggregate Net Income of  ¥14.6 trillion, which was ten times the 2009 trough.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/801/original/2020-05-16_14-00-16.png?1589605245" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133801"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>FIDDLING ABOUT</strong> - The Bank of Japan has reduced the amount of its daily ETF program for a second time; however, intervened for the last three days of last week seemingly intent on keeping the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> above 20,000. The cumulative total of BoJ purchases represents over 5% of the Total Market Value.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/884/original/2020-05-17_12-54-22.png?1589687679" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133884"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> below, we review some market data trends, look at the Results &amp; Revision Score trends by Sector (a 15-year timeline is shown above), apply some KPMG 'recovery analysis' to Japan and look at Friday's results and revisions.</p><div><ul>
<li>The balance between positive/neutral/negative of the <strong>490</strong> results announcements was <strong>206:45:239</strong>. The average change in Results Score was <strong>-0.2</strong>.</li>
<li>For the <strong>205</strong> revisions/initial forecasts, the split was <strong>49:10:146</strong>, and the average Revision Score was <strong>-7.5</strong>. Of the <strong>364</strong> companies declaring full-year results, <strong>47%</strong> made forecasts for the current year.</li>
<li>Fifty-one will announce today, the largest of which by market capitalisation will be <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/terumo-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6708:1" rel="noopener">Terumo Corp (4543 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/komatsu-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8416:1" rel="noopener">Komatsu (6301 JP).</a>
</li>
</ul></div>

Source • Japan Analytics"WORSENING" - The Cabinet Office updated their Business Condition Leading Indicator for March this week, confirming the trend already apparent from our Results &amp; Revision Score data series. The correlation between the series is 0.80, with the only significant deviation occurring in 2016, Coincident conditions are assessed as "worsening" wording that is unchanged since August 2019. Source • Japan AnalyticsDECOMPOSED - Our Score is decomposed into a Results Score, an Annual Forecast/Revision Score and an Interim Forecast Revision Score.  The last two are ten-year lows; the first should join them next week. A notable limiting factor is the shortage of forecasts being made. Without this reticence, both forecast Scores would be considerably lower.Source • Japan AnalyticsRETICENCE - 77% by number and 81% by value of companies with year-ends in  March, June, September, or December have already reported. Of these 2,464 companies representing ¥438 trillion of market cap, just 1,119 have issued annual forecasts for the current year, and 583 have made interim forecasts. Of all listed companies, one-third by market value are currently unable to see ahead twelve months and only 16% by value and 23% by number are prepared to look forward four-and-a-half months. This unusual degree of reticence leaves the sell-side without their regular anchoring comfort blanket.Source • Japan AnalyticsNOT CHEAP -  Even allowing for the lack of a full complement of forecasts, the market's forward multiple is at a five-year high with Net Income expected to reach levels first seen in 2015, 37% below the December 2018 peak. The ten-year peak trailing multiple was 29 on aggregate Net Income of  ¥14.6 trillion, which was ten times the 2009 trough.Source • Japan AnalyticsFIDDLING ABOUT - The Bank of Japan has reduced the amount of its daily ETF program for a second time; however, intervened for the last three days of last week seemingly intent on keeping the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) above 20,000. The cumulative total of BoJ purchases represents over 5% of the Total Market Value.Source • Japan AnalyticsIn the DETAIL below, we review some market data trends, look at the Results &amp; Revision Score trends by Sector (a 15-year timeline is shown above), apply some KPMG 'recovery analysis' to Japan and look at Friday's results and revisions.
The balance between positive/neutral/negative of the 490 results announcements was 206:45:239. The average change in Results Score was -0.2.
For the 205 revisions/initial forecasts, the split was 49:10:146, and the average Revision Score was -7.5. Of the 364 companies declaring full-year results, 47% made forecasts for the current year.
Fifty-one will announce today, the largest of which by market capitalisation will be Softbank Group (9984 JP), Terumo Corp (4543 JP), and Komatsu (6301 JP).



🇯🇵 JAPAN MARKET UPDATE 18th May - "Worsening"

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Equity Analyst

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In May 2019, Japan’s biggest drugmaker, Takeda announced the sale of its surgical patch product, TachoSil to Johnson &amp; Johnson’s subsidiary Ethicon for a cash consideration of US$400m.</li>
<li>Ethicon will buy the assets and licenses associated with the manufacturing, licensing and commercialisation of TachoSil, but Takeda will retain the manufacturing facility in Linz, Austria.</li>
<li>Under the terms, Takeda will sign a long-term manufacturing services agreement to make and sell TachoSil products to Ethicon.</li>
<li><p>Concerned that <span>the deal could lead to reduced competition and higher prices for customers, EU antitrust regulators have opened a full investigation into the acquisition. </span></p></li>
<li>The European Commission has set an August 10 deadline for making its final decision on the deal and we believe, there is a high possibility for this deal to get approved (with or without conditions) given that even larger transactions such as AB/InBev-SABMiller and Abbvie-Allergan were approved by the commission.</li>
</ul>


In May 2019, Japan’s biggest drugmaker, Takeda announced the sale of its surgical patch product, TachoSil to Johnson &amp; Johnson’s subsidiary Ethicon for a cash consideration of US$400m.
Ethicon will buy the assets and licenses associated with the manufacturing, licensing and commercialisation of TachoSil, but Takeda will retain the manufacturing facility in Linz, Austria.
Under the terms, Takeda will sign a long-term manufacturing services agreement to make and sell TachoSil products to Ethicon.
Concerned that the deal could lead to reduced competition and higher prices for customers, EU antitrust regulators have opened a full investigation into the acquisition. 
The European Commission has set an August 10 deadline for making its final decision on the deal and we believe, there is a high possibility for this deal to get approved (with or without conditions) given that even larger transactions such as AB/InBev-SABMiller and Abbvie-Allergan were approved by the commission.


J&J’s Purchase of Takeda’s Surgical Patch Subject to EU Investigation; Expect a Deal Anyways

<ul>
<li>AGC, the Japanese manufacturer of glass, electronics, chemicals and ceramics announced on Tuesday (17<sup>th</sup> March) that it has launched a voluntary tender offer to buy all of the ordinary shares of Molecular Medicine S.p.A. (Molmed).</li>
<li>Molmed is a clinical stage biotechnology company engaged in the research and development of gene and cell therapies and also offers GMP services for the development and manufacturing of gene &amp; cell therapies for third parties and/or in partnership at its authorized facilities.</li>
<li>AGC has offered to buy Molmed’s shares at EUR0.518 per share which values the offer at EUR240m. Molmed’s shares closed at EUR0.26 per share at the close of Monday’s trading, and the offer implies a 100% premium on the biotech company’s last closed price.</li>
</ul>


AGC, the Japanese manufacturer of glass, electronics, chemicals and ceramics announced on Tuesday (17th March) that it has launched a voluntary tender offer to buy all of the ordinary shares of Molecular Medicine S.p.A. (Molmed).
Molmed is a clinical stage biotechnology company engaged in the research and development of gene and cell therapies and also offers GMP services for the development and manufacturing of gene &amp; cell therapies for third parties and/or in partnership at its authorized facilities.
AGC has offered to buy Molmed’s shares at EUR0.518 per share which values the offer at EUR240m. Molmed’s shares closed at EUR0.26 per share at the close of Monday’s trading, and the offer implies a 100% premium on the biotech company’s last closed price.


Japan’s AGC Launches Voluntary Tender Offer on Italian Biotech Firm Molmed

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. 

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/116/531/original/2020-02-06_03-39-10.png?1580933731" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="116531"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>5TH FEBRUARY ROUNDUP</strong> - Wednesday saw 171 Results and 65 Forecast/Revision announcements. The Results Score set another new three-year low losing 16bps to reach 0.35, while the Forecast/Revision Score shed 7bps to reach 0.08. The sogo shosha trading company results were weak, with the exception of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itochu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18448:1" rel="noopener">Itochu (8001 JP)</a>. Amongst large caps, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/marubeni-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7463:1" rel="noopener">Marubeni (8002 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dena-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:747:1" rel="noopener">DeNA(2432 JP)</a> had Operating Losses, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mazda-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20528:1" rel="noopener">Mazda Motor (7261 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujikura-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10768:1" rel="noopener">Fujikura (5803 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daicel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10533:1" rel="noopener">Daicel (4202 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/furukawa-electric-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5193:1" rel="noopener">Furukawa Electric (5801 JP)</a> saw steep quarterly year-on-year OP declines. Amongst the 'winners' were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/square-enix-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15003:1" rel="noopener">Square Enix (9684 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rengo-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20278:1" rel="noopener">Rengo (3941 JP)</a>.</p><hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• SECTOR TIMELINE •</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/116/532/original/2020-02-06_03-42-28.png?1580934310" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="116532"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>SECTOR TIMELINE</strong> - The <strong>Wholesale</strong> Sector was the largest loser yesterday with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20668:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi (8058 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kanematsu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5810:1" rel="noopener">Kanematsu (8020 JP)</a> joining Marubeni in posting poor results. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiyo-nippon-sanso-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15756:1" rel="noopener">Taiyo Nippon Sanso (4091 JP)</a> slowing momentum and downward revision saw the <strong>Chemical</strong> Sector move lower again. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/agc-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2167:1" rel="noopener">AGC (5201 JP)</a> initial forecast for FY2020 helped the <strong>Other Materials</strong> Sector recover some ground. </p>

Source • Japan Analytics5TH FEBRUARY ROUNDUP - Wednesday saw 171 Results and 65 Forecast/Revision announcements. The Results Score set another new three-year low losing 16bps to reach 0.35, while the Forecast/Revision Score shed 7bps to reach 0.08. The sogo shosha trading company results were weak, with the exception of Itochu (8001 JP). Amongst large caps, Marubeni (8002 JP) and DeNA(2432 JP) had Operating Losses, while Mazda Motor (7261 JP), Fujikura (5803 JP), Daicel (4202 JP), and Furukawa Electric (5801 JP) saw steep quarterly year-on-year OP declines. Amongst the 'winners' were Square Enix (9684 JP), and Rengo (3941 JP).• SECTOR TIMELINE •Source • Japan AnalyticsSECTOR TIMELINE - The Wholesale Sector was the largest loser yesterday with Mitsubishi (8058 JP) and Kanematsu (8020 JP) joining Marubeni in posting poor results. Taiyo Nippon Sanso (4091 JP) slowing momentum and downward revision saw the Chemical Sector move lower again. AGC (5201 JP) initial forecast for FY2020 helped the Other Materials Sector recover some ground. 

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions Daily Roundup - 5th February ▲5201 4202 6269 ▼4091 9987 6869

Japan

AGC Inc manufactures and sells a variety of glass products. Main products include glass for construction, glass for liquid crystal display(LCD), and glass for automobiles.  The Company also produces electronic parts, fine chemicals, and new ceramics.

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AGC Inc (5201 JP)

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 01/14 Fast, Create, Canon, AGC

Thursday was the disclosure 'peak' for the November/February/May/August year-end group of companies. One-quarter of the companies reporting results...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN MARKET UPDATE 18th May - "Worsening"

"WORSENING" - The Cabinet Office updated their Business Condition Leading Indicator for March this week, confirming the trend already apparent from...

Campbell Gunn

J&J’s Purchase of Takeda’s Surgical Patch Subject to EU Investigation; Expect a Deal Anyways

In May 2019, Japan’s biggest drugmaker, Takeda announced the sale of its surgical patch product, TachoSil to Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Japan’s AGC Launches Voluntary Tender Offer on Italian Biotech Firm Molmed

AGC, the Japanese manufacturer of glass, electronics, chemicals and ceramics announced on Tuesday (17th March) that it has launched a voluntary...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions Daily Roundup - 5th February ▲5201 4202 6269 ▼4091 9987 6869

5TH FEBRUARY ROUNDUP - Wednesday saw 171 Results and 65 Forecast/Revision announcements. The Results Score set another new three-year low losing...

Campbell Gunn

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​01/​​​​​​14 Fast, Create, Canon, AGC

Thursday was the disclosure 'peak' for the November/February/May/August year-end group of companies. One-quarter of the companies reporting results...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN MARKET UPDATE 18th May - "Worsening"

"WORSENING" - The Cabinet Office updated their Business Condition Leading Indicator for March this week, confirming the trend already apparent from...

Campbell Gunn

J&J’s Purchase of Takeda’s Surgical Patch Subject to EU Investigation; Expect a Deal Anyways

In May 2019, Japan’s biggest drugmaker, Takeda announced the sale of its surgical patch product, TachoSil to Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Japan’s AGC Launches Voluntary Tender Offer on Italian Biotech Firm Molmed

AGC, the Japanese manufacturer of glass, electronics, chemicals and ceramics announced on Tuesday (17th March) that it has launched a voluntary...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions Daily Roundup - 5th February ▲5201 4202 6269 ▼4091 9987 6869

5TH FEBRUARY ROUNDUP - Wednesday saw 171 Results and 65 Forecast/Revision announcements. The Results Score set another new three-year low losing...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 01/14 Fast, Create, Canon, AGC