'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

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. 

Quantitative Analysis

<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/091/044/original/2019-06-23_11-15-52.png?1561256166" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="91044"></figure>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/091/045/original/2019-06-23_11-21-43.png?1561256515" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="91045"></figure>
Source: Japan Analytics
</div>RESILIENCE - Japanese equities have risen by 2.9% since the low of 4th June. In US dollar terms, the gain is 3.7%. Over the last two weeks, the gains are 0.7% and 1.6%, respectively. For the previous twelve months, the equity market has moved in almost perfect 'sync' with the US dollar/Japanese Yen exchange rate. This month's divergence is unusual, and it remains to be seen when, how, and if the gap will be closed. The cross rate is within ¥2.6 of the high points of the last two years. Barring any military sparring in the Middle East, any weakness in the Yen from current levels will be supportive of the equity market.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/091/046/original/2019-06-23_11-51-30.png?1561258305" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="91046"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/091/047/original/2019-06-23_11-51-58.png?1561258329" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="91047"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>RSI &amp; TORAKU - Both the 5-day Relative Strength Index and the 25-Day Toraku Index have recovered to the middle of their normal range and suggest quieter days ahead, currency moves permitting.<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/091/065/original/2019-06-23_12-26-08.png?1561260389" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="91065"></figure> Source: Japan Analytics</div>ABSOLUTE BREADTH - Our Absolute Breadth Index reached a new low for the year on Friday, but is well above the 0.5 level that would indicate a buying opportunity.<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/091/069/original/2019-06-23_12-30-22.png?1561260645" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="91069"></figure> Source: Japan Analytics</div>VOLUME SCORE TIMELINE - Volumes remains concentrated in the Internet, Information Technology, REITs, Restaurants, and Energy Sectors, the Materials, Transportation, Utilities, and Multi-Industry Sectors are the volume laggards.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/091/100/original/2019-06-23_13-32-38.png?1561264370" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="91100"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>VALUATION - The quarterly results for companies with January, April, July and October year-ends are now in, but have had little impact on the 'aggregates'. The trailing-twelve-month (TTM) PER is 14.4, and the Forecast PER is 13.9 - attractive relative to recent history but not at bargain-basement levels. <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/091/102/original/2019-06-23_13-44-36.png?1561265086" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="91102"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>RESULTS &amp; REVISION SCORES - Our scoring of aggregate Results and Revisions has also not seen any significant changes, although the trends are still downwards, especially for Interim Revisions.<div class="content-highlight">In the DETAIL section below, we will review Sector performance, scores and valuation, Company Results &amp; Revisions and stock performance over the previous two weeks, as well as adding some brief comments on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kobe-bussan-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4701:1" rel="noopener">Kobe Bussan (3038 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsuruha-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9536:1" rel="noopener">Tsuruha (3391 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pigeon-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3294:1" rel="noopener">Pigeon (7956 JP), </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sanbio-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24540:1" rel="noopener">SanBio (4592 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ain-pharmaciez-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9313:1" rel="noopener">Ain (9627 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuji-seal-international-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8723:1" rel="noopener">Fuji Seal (7864 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fanuc-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:752:1" rel="noopener">Fanuc (6954 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/leopalace21-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8244:1" rel="noopener">Leopalace21 (8848 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/obic-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1273:1" rel="noopener">Obic (4684 JP)</a>.​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​</div>




Source: Japan Analytics
RESILIENCE - Japanese equities have risen by 2.9% since the low of 4th June. In US dollar terms, the gain is 3.7%. Over the last two weeks, the gains are 0.7% and 1.6%, respectively. For the previous twelve months, the equity market has moved in almost perfect 'sync' with the US dollar/Japanese Yen exchange rate. This month's divergence is unusual, and it remains to be seen when, how, and if the gap will be closed. The cross rate is within ¥2.6 of the high points of the last two years. Barring any military sparring in the Middle East, any weakness in the Yen from current levels will be supportive of the equity market.Source: Japan AnalyticsRSI &amp; TORAKU - Both the 5-day Relative Strength Index and the 25-Day Toraku Index have recovered to the middle of their normal range and suggest quieter days ahead, currency moves permitting.
 Source: Japan AnalyticsABSOLUTE BREADTH - Our Absolute Breadth Index reached a new low for the year on Friday, but is well above the 0.5 level that would indicate a buying opportunity.
 Source: Japan AnalyticsVOLUME SCORE TIMELINE - Volumes remains concentrated in the Internet, Information Technology, REITs, Restaurants, and Energy Sectors, the Materials, Transportation, Utilities, and Multi-Industry Sectors are the volume laggards.Source: Japan AnalyticsVALUATION - The quarterly results for companies with January, April, July and October year-ends are now in, but have had little impact on the 'aggregates'. The trailing-twelve-month (TTM) PER is 14.4, and the Forecast PER is 13.9 - attractive relative to recent history but not at bargain-basement levels. Source: Japan AnalyticsRESULTS &amp; REVISION SCORES - Our scoring of aggregate Results and Revisions has also not seen any significant changes, although the trends are still downwards, especially for Interim Revisions.In the DETAIL section below, we will review Sector performance, scores and valuation, Company Results &amp; Revisions and stock performance over the previous two weeks, as well as adding some brief comments on Kobe Bussan (3038 JP), Tsuruha (3391 JP), Pigeon (7956 JP), SanBio (4592 JP), Ain (9627 JP), Fuji Seal (7864 JP), Fanuc (6954 JP), Leopalace21 (8848 JP), and Obic (4684 JP).​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Market Update - Resilience

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Equity Bottom-Up

Two of the country’s largest mass market drugstore operators announced talks about a new tie-up last month. If it happens, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/2259" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2259:1">Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co (3088 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/15447" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15447:1">Cocokara Fine (3098 JP)</a> will jointly run a drugstore operation more than a third larger than any current rival.
In this fast developing sector, such a move will not be taken lying down by rivals and could well stimulate a rush of similar tie-ups over the next year.

Two of the country’s largest mass market drugstore operators announced talks about a new tie-up last month. If it happens, Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co (3088 JP) and Cocokara Fine (3098 JP) will jointly run a drugstore operation more than a third larger than any current rival.
In this fast developing sector, such a move will not be taken lying down by rivals and could well stimulate a rush of similar tie-ups over the next year.

Matsukiyo and Cocokara Fine Tie to Shake up Drugstore Sector

- MARKET COMPOSITE -<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/081/436/original/2019-03-10_11-07-01.png?1552183736" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="81436"></figure><div style="text-align: center;" class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><div>
SOUTHBOUND - The upside we anticipated two weeks ago turned out to be only ¥6t before the harsh realities of some weak macro data intervened and sent the market 3% lower over the last two trading days suggesting the bear market rally is now over. After peaking at 48%, the market-value-based percentage above the weighted sum of moving averages has now retreated to 33%. </div><hr>- SECTORS - <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/081/437/original/2019-03-10_11-38-43.png?1552185548" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="81437"></figure><div style="text-align: left;" class="content-caption">
LEGEND: The 'sparklines' show the three-year trend in the weighted percentage above moving average relative to the Market Composite and the 'STDev' column is a measure of the variability of that relative measure. The table also provides averages for the breaks above and breaks below and the positive and negative crossovers.</div>SECTOR BREAKDOWN - The top six sectors remain domestic and defensive and are unchanged from two weeks ago with REITs, the clear leader. Equally predictable is the bottom half-dozen - Banks, Non-Bank Finance, Retail, Autos, and Metals remain from two weeks ago, with Machinery replacing Construction. Banks stay at the bottom, and the sector had its largest volume 'day' as measured by our Volume Score since September 21st, 2018 on Friday although many other sectors were 'active.' <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/081/440/original/2019-03-10_11-54-26.png?1552186476" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="81440"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><hr>- COMPANIES -COMPANY MOVING AVERAGE OUTLIERS - As with the Market Composite and Sectors, the Moving Average Outlier indicator uses a weighted sum of each company's share price relative to its 5-day, 20-day, 60-day, 120-day and 240-day moving averages. 'Extreme' values are weighted sums greater than 100% and less than -100%. We would caution that this indicator is best used for timing shorter-term reversals and, in many cases, higher highs and lower lows will be seen. <div class="content-highlight">
In the DETAIL section below, we highlight the current top and bottom twenty-five large capitalisation outliers, as well as those companies that have seen the most significant positive and negative changes in their outlier percentage in the last two weeks and provide short comments on companies of particular note.
Our most extreme positive outlier two weeks ago, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/26181" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26181:1">Pksha Technology (3993 JP)</a> declined by 8% and 'tops' our most negative two-week change list, while the most negative outlier <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/24540" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24540:1">SanBio (4592 JP)</a> rose by 3%. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/8244" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8244:1">Leopalace21 (8848 JP)</a> which was also featured recovered by 9%.
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/2709" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2709:1">AnGes (4563 JP)</a> is currently the most extreme large cap positive outlier having peaked at '492' on 26th February up from a 'trough' of -132 in December. Biotechnology peer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/24540" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24540:1">SanBio (4592 JP)</a> is, for the third time this year, the most extreme negative outlier, having topped the 13th January and 24th February positive outlier lists and is another 'round-tripper'. 
</div><div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/081/441/original/2019-03-10_12-13-00.png?1552187591" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="81441"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/081/442/original/2019-03-10_12-17-48.png?1552187878" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="81442"></figure>Source: Japan Analytics
</div>

- MARKET COMPOSITE -Source: Japan Analytics
SOUTHBOUND - The upside we anticipated two weeks ago turned out to be only ¥6t before the harsh realities of some weak macro data intervened and sent the market 3% lower over the last two trading days suggesting the bear market rally is now over. After peaking at 48%, the market-value-based percentage above the weighted sum of moving averages has now retreated to 33%. - SECTORS - 
LEGEND: The 'sparklines' show the three-year trend in the weighted percentage above moving average relative to the Market Composite and the 'STDev' column is a measure of the variability of that relative measure. The table also provides averages for the breaks above and breaks below and the positive and negative crossovers.SECTOR BREAKDOWN - The top six sectors remain domestic and defensive and are unchanged from two weeks ago with REITs, the clear leader. Equally predictable is the bottom half-dozen - Banks, Non-Bank Finance, Retail, Autos, and Metals remain from two weeks ago, with Machinery replacing Construction. Banks stay at the bottom, and the sector had its largest volume 'day' as measured by our Volume Score since September 21st, 2018 on Friday although many other sectors were 'active.' Source: Japan Analytics- COMPANIES -COMPANY MOVING AVERAGE OUTLIERS - As with the Market Composite and Sectors, the Moving Average Outlier indicator uses a weighted sum of each company's share price relative to its 5-day, 20-day, 60-day, 120-day and 240-day moving averages. 'Extreme' values are weighted sums greater than 100% and less than -100%. We would caution that this indicator is best used for timing shorter-term reversals and, in many cases, higher highs and lower lows will be seen. 
In the DETAIL section below, we highlight the current top and bottom twenty-five large capitalisation outliers, as well as those companies that have seen the most significant positive and negative changes in their outlier percentage in the last two weeks and provide short comments on companies of particular note.
Our most extreme positive outlier two weeks ago, Pksha Technology (3993 JP) declined by 8% and 'tops' our most negative two-week change list, while the most negative outlier SanBio (4592 JP) rose by 3%. Leopalace21 (8848 JP) which was also featured recovered by 9%.
AnGes (4563 JP) is currently the most extreme large cap positive outlier having peaked at '492' on 26th February up from a 'trough' of -132 in December. Biotechnology peer SanBio (4592 JP) is, for the third time this year, the most extreme negative outlier, having topped the 13th January and 24th February positive outlier lists and is another 'round-tripper'. 

Source: Japan Analytics


🇯🇵 Japan: Moving Average Outliers - AnGes, SanBio, Adastria, AIN, Sumco & Benefit One

- MARKET COMPOSITE -<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/079/882/original/2019-02-24_11-07-12.png?1550974089" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="79882"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>ALMOST THREE-MONTH HIGH RECOVERY - The bear market rally is now in its second stage, and the market composite is now 14% above the Christmas Day low. The 'market value'-based percentage above moving averages almost reached a new three-month on Thursday; the stock count version is lagging as usual.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/079/886/original/2019-02-24_11-32-45.png?1550975583" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="79886"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>STILL SOME UPSIDE - Using the three-month rate of change in this indicator, we are a few weeks away from generating a short-term sell signal, the last such trigger having occurred on 25th October. <hr>- SECTORS - <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/079/887/original/2019-02-24_11-45-38.png?1550976349" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="79887"></figure><div style="text-align: left;" class="content-caption">
LEGEND: The 'sparklines' show the three-year trend in the weighted percentage above moving average relative to the Market Composite and the 'STDev' column is a measure of the variability of that relative measure. The table also provides averages for the breaks above and breaks below and the positive and negative crossovers.</div>SECTOR BREAKDOWN - The top six sectors remain domestic and defensive. REITs, Information Technology, Transporation and Utilities continue from our previous review with Restaurants and Healthcare replacing Media and Telecommunications. Equally predictable is the bottom half-dozen - Banks, Non-Bank Finance, Autos, and Metals remain from two weeks ago, with Construction and Retail replacing Chemicals and Other Materials. <hr>- COMPANIES -COMPANY MOVING AVERAGE OUTLIERS - As with the Market Composite and Sectors, the Moving Average Outlier indicator uses a weighted sum of each company's share price relative to its 5-day, 20-day, 60-day, 120-day and 240-day moving averages. 'Extreme' values are weighted sums greater than 100% and less than -100%. We would caution that this indicator is best used for timing shorter-term reversals and, in many cases, higher highs and lower lows will be seen. <div class="content-highlight">
In the DETAIL section below, we highlight the current top and bottom twenty-five large capitalisation outliers, as well as those companies that have seen the most significant positive and negative changes in their outlier percentage in the last two weeks and provide short comments on companies of particular note.
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/26181" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26181:1">PKSHA Technology (3993 JP)</a> is currently the most extreme large capitalisation positive outlier and an excellent example of a -100 to 100 'roundtrip' in under two months. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/24540" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24540:1">SanBio (4592 JP)</a> is, again, the most extreme negative outlier, having topped the 13th January positive outlier list and is another 'round-tripper'. We also add the chart for 'cockroach' stock <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/8244" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8244:1">Leopalace21 (8848 JP)</a> which no longer qualifies for inclusion in our tables, having lost 60% of its value in the last two weeks and 79% in less than a year.
</div><div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/079/890/original/2019-02-24_12-58-23.png?1550980729" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="79890"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/079/891/original/2019-02-24_12-59-54.png?1550980806" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="79891"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/079/892/original/2019-02-24_13-12-58.png?1550981589" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="79892"></figure>Source: Japan Analytics
</div>

- MARKET COMPOSITE -Source: Japan AnalyticsALMOST THREE-MONTH HIGH RECOVERY - The bear market rally is now in its second stage, and the market composite is now 14% above the Christmas Day low. The 'market value'-based percentage above moving averages almost reached a new three-month on Thursday; the stock count version is lagging as usual.Source: Japan AnalyticsSTILL SOME UPSIDE - Using the three-month rate of change in this indicator, we are a few weeks away from generating a short-term sell signal, the last such trigger having occurred on 25th October. - SECTORS - 
LEGEND: The 'sparklines' show the three-year trend in the weighted percentage above moving average relative to the Market Composite and the 'STDev' column is a measure of the variability of that relative measure. The table also provides averages for the breaks above and breaks below and the positive and negative crossovers.SECTOR BREAKDOWN - The top six sectors remain domestic and defensive. REITs, Information Technology, Transporation and Utilities continue from our previous review with Restaurants and Healthcare replacing Media and Telecommunications. Equally predictable is the bottom half-dozen - Banks, Non-Bank Finance, Autos, and Metals remain from two weeks ago, with Construction and Retail replacing Chemicals and Other Materials. - COMPANIES -COMPANY MOVING AVERAGE OUTLIERS - As with the Market Composite and Sectors, the Moving Average Outlier indicator uses a weighted sum of each company's share price relative to its 5-day, 20-day, 60-day, 120-day and 240-day moving averages. 'Extreme' values are weighted sums greater than 100% and less than -100%. We would caution that this indicator is best used for timing shorter-term reversals and, in many cases, higher highs and lower lows will be seen. 
In the DETAIL section below, we highlight the current top and bottom twenty-five large capitalisation outliers, as well as those companies that have seen the most significant positive and negative changes in their outlier percentage in the last two weeks and provide short comments on companies of particular note.
PKSHA Technology (3993 JP) is currently the most extreme large capitalisation positive outlier and an excellent example of a -100 to 100 'roundtrip' in under two months. SanBio (4592 JP) is, again, the most extreme negative outlier, having topped the 13th January positive outlier list and is another 'round-tripper'. We also add the chart for 'cockroach' stock Leopalace21 (8848 JP) which no longer qualifies for inclusion in our tables, having lost 60% of its value in the last two weeks and 79% in less than a year.

Source: Japan Analytics


🇯🇵 Japan: Moving Average Outliers - PKSHA, SanBio, Goldwin, ZOZO, Drugstores & ASICS

<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/076/722/original/2019-01-26_16-21-53.png?1548487323" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="76722"></figure>

Source: Japan Analytics
</div>
CONSISTENCY PAYS - In troubled markets, investors often seek out companies with greater earnings stability and a history of consistent stock outperformance. Conversely, companies that offer investors more of a rollercoaster ride (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/6232" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6232:1">Chiyoda Corp (6366 JP)</a> being an excellent recent example) are less rewarding, especially when adjusted for volatility. In an attempt to sort the 'Steady Eddies' from the Rollercoaster Rides', we have created a Consistency Score - a composite based on our Results Score, Forecast/Revision Score, Relative Price Score and Volume Score - which measures the variability, consistency, correlation, and range of each of these scores for every company.  Cap-weighted aggregate Consistency Scores are then derived for 321 Peer Groups and 29 Sectors - REITs are excluded from this analysis. Over 3 million data points have been reviewed in creating this analysis. As the old slogan goes - "we do the work, so you don't have to'.
'CARP = CONSISTENCY-AT-A-REASONABLE-PRICE' - Our findings will not surprise long-term investors in Japanese equities; the simple asset allocation decision to prefer domestic growth over global value has determined the quartile-ranking of many strategies in recent years. Although many of these Sectors, Peer Groups and stocks are now overvalued, we do not expect the underlying business dynamics to change in the years ahead and many excellent investment opportunities remain, especially down the cap-scale. Periodic and often substantial mean reversions in the more cyclical sectors, such as the one that has occurred in the last two days, will offer attractive trading opportunities for more-nimble portfolio managers. Longer-term orientated investors are better-advised to continue to favour 'consistency-at-a-reasonable-price'.  Some of our 'findings', as explained in more DETAIL below, are as follows: - 
<ul class="">
<li>
SECTORS - The better investors in Japan over the last two decades have eschewed traditional manufacturing in favour of Services, IT/Internet, Retail, Restaurants and 'FB&amp;T'. Only Machinery and Electrical Equipment outperformed the market's 4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the period.</li>
<li>
PEER GROUPS- The most-consistent Peer Groups are found in industries associated with food, drugs, welfare, shelter and amusement. Only five of the top-forty Peer Groups - Online Payment Services, E-Commerce, IT System Services, Telecom Distribution Services and Internet Software &amp; Services belong to the 'new age'. There are no manufacturing Peer Groups in the top-forty. The best performing Peer Group is Securities Services, and the worst-performing is Investment Management &amp; Advice. Although both have similar levels of consistency, the stock exchange has beaten its fund managers by 28% annually since 2005.</li>
<li>
COMPANIES - The simple average fourteen-year compound annual share price appreciation for all listed large-cap companies is +5.1%. For all listed companies the average falls to just +0.5%, highlighting the perils of investing in Japan's small caps. The average share price CAGR for our hindsight-selected top-forty is +18.7%. In contrast, only one of our forty least-consistent companies outperformed the market and the average for the least-consistent forty companies was a negative -3.2%.   Unsurprisingly, there are eight banks and six steel companies on the list, along with two glass companies and two shipping lines.</li>
<li>
CONSISTENCY HALL OF FAME/SHAME AWARDS - We have selected one company from each of the most and least consistent lists as the winner of a 'Consistency Award'. Both are highlighted in the chart above. One of them will be as surprising to many readers as it was to us.  </li>
</ul>




Source: Japan Analytics

CONSISTENCY PAYS - In troubled markets, investors often seek out companies with greater earnings stability and a history of consistent stock outperformance. Conversely, companies that offer investors more of a rollercoaster ride (Chiyoda Corp (6366 JP) being an excellent recent example) are less rewarding, especially when adjusted for volatility. In an attempt to sort the 'Steady Eddies' from the Rollercoaster Rides', we have created a Consistency Score - a composite based on our Results Score, Forecast/Revision Score, Relative Price Score and Volume Score - which measures the variability, consistency, correlation, and range of each of these scores for every company.  Cap-weighted aggregate Consistency Scores are then derived for 321 Peer Groups and 29 Sectors - REITs are excluded from this analysis. Over 3 million data points have been reviewed in creating this analysis. As the old slogan goes - "we do the work, so you don't have to'.
'CARP = CONSISTENCY-AT-A-REASONABLE-PRICE' - Our findings will not surprise long-term investors in Japanese equities; the simple asset allocation decision to prefer domestic growth over global value has determined the quartile-ranking of many strategies in recent years. Although many of these Sectors, Peer Groups and stocks are now overvalued, we do not expect the underlying business dynamics to change in the years ahead and many excellent investment opportunities remain, especially down the cap-scale. Periodic and often substantial mean reversions in the more cyclical sectors, such as the one that has occurred in the last two days, will offer attractive trading opportunities for more-nimble portfolio managers. Longer-term orientated investors are better-advised to continue to favour 'consistency-at-a-reasonable-price'.  Some of our 'findings', as explained in more DETAIL below, are as follows: - 


SECTORS - The better investors in Japan over the last two decades have eschewed traditional manufacturing in favour of Services, IT/Internet, Retail, Restaurants and 'FB&amp;T'. Only Machinery and Electrical Equipment outperformed the market's 4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the period.

PEER GROUPS- The most-consistent Peer Groups are found in industries associated with food, drugs, welfare, shelter and amusement. Only five of the top-forty Peer Groups - Online Payment Services, E-Commerce, IT System Services, Telecom Distribution Services and Internet Software &amp; Services belong to the 'new age'. There are no manufacturing Peer Groups in the top-forty. The best performing Peer Group is Securities Services, and the worst-performing is Investment Management &amp; Advice. Although both have similar levels of consistency, the stock exchange has beaten its fund managers by 28% annually since 2005.

COMPANIES - The simple average fourteen-year compound annual share price appreciation for all listed large-cap companies is +5.1%. For all listed companies the average falls to just +0.5%, highlighting the perils of investing in Japan's small caps. The average share price CAGR for our hindsight-selected top-forty is +18.7%. In contrast, only one of our forty least-consistent companies outperformed the market and the average for the least-consistent forty companies was a negative -3.2%.   Unsurprisingly, there are eight banks and six steel companies on the list, along with two glass companies and two shipping lines.

CONSISTENCY HALL OF FAME/SHAME AWARDS - We have selected one company from each of the most and least consistent lists as the winner of a 'Consistency Award'. Both are highlighted in the chart above. One of them will be as surprising to many readers as it was to us.  


Japan: Consistency Scores - Steady Eddies V. Rollercoaster Rides

Japan

AIN HOLDINGS INC. operates and franchises pharmacies in Japan.  The Company primarily sells medicines, external-use medicine, cosmetics, and food products. AIN Pharmaciez also conducts clinical tests for medical institutions.

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Ain Holdings Inc (9627 JP)

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