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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/base-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28353:1" rel="noopener">BASE Inc (4477 JP)</a> delivered 4Q20 results yesterday with revenue and gross profit growth of 104.8% and 108.4% YoY respectively in 4Q20. However, operating loss expanded 113% YoY to ¥343m due to an increase in promotional expenditure.The company’s 2021 revenue guidance of ¥9,750-10,536m (17.6%-27.1% YoY) suggests that BASE Inc’s revenue growth is expected to decelerate rapidly following a temporary increase in 2020 due to COVID. This rapid deceleration in revenue growth is expected while there is a substantial increase in promotional spending. 2021 OP guidance ¥-1,433 to -929m compared to an operating profit of ¥803m in 2020. Therefore, Base Inc’s growth prospects in the domestic market could be somewhat limited and at 15.8x consensus FY+2 EV/Sales (2022 revenue: ¥15,593, 48% YoY), Base Inc appears significantly overvalued. However, the announced five to one stock split effective on 1st April 2021 could be a catalyst for a short-term rally. Thus, we would wait for Base Inc’s share price to react to the stock split news before arranging a short position.

BASE Inc (4477 JP) delivered 4Q20 results yesterday with revenue and gross profit growth of 104.8% and 108.4% YoY respectively in 4Q20. However, operating loss expanded 113% YoY to ¥343m due to an increase in promotional expenditure.The company’s 2021 revenue guidance of ¥9,750-10,536m (17.6%-27.1% YoY) suggests that BASE Inc’s revenue growth is expected to decelerate rapidly following a temporary increase in 2020 due to COVID. This rapid deceleration in revenue growth is expected while there is a substantial increase in promotional spending. 2021 OP guidance ¥-1,433 to -929m compared to an operating profit of ¥803m in 2020. Therefore, Base Inc’s growth prospects in the domestic market could be somewhat limited and at 15.8x consensus FY+2 EV/Sales (2022 revenue: ¥15,593, 48% YoY), Base Inc appears significantly overvalued. However, the announced five to one stock split effective on 1st April 2021 could be a catalyst for a short-term rally. Thus, we would wait for Base Inc’s share price to react to the stock split news before arranging a short position.

Index Rebal/Special Situations, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Index Rebal/Special Situations

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Event-Driven

In the month of January 2021, one of the most anticipated TOPIX Inclusion candidates, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP)</a> announced its move to TSE1 triggering what could potentially be one of the largest TOPIX Inclusion events in recent memory. The stock could see its TOPIX Inclusion take place at the end of February, along with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sansan-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28112:1" rel="noopener">Sansan Inc (4443 JP)</a> - another larger-than-usual candidate - and two other super-high-impact names <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bull-dog-sauce-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16235:1" rel="noopener">Bull Dog Sauce (2804 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alps-logistics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3935:1" rel="noopener">Alps Logistics (9055 JP)</a>. There is plenty to look forward to. In this insight, I have provided performance updates for 6 "Live" event stocks (including the names mentioned above) which are expected to have Inclusion Events at the end of February 2021 and 14 "Post" event stocks that completed their Inclusion Events at the end of December 2020 and January 2021 (on 28 January 2021).Furthermore, I have also highlighted some interesting Pre-event situations involving stocks that are likely to become TSE1-promotion candidates in the near future.

In the month of January 2021, one of the most anticipated TOPIX Inclusion candidates, Toshiba Corp (6502 JP) announced its move to TSE1 triggering what could potentially be one of the largest TOPIX Inclusion events in recent memory. The stock could see its TOPIX Inclusion take place at the end of February, along with Sansan Inc (4443 JP) - another larger-than-usual candidate - and two other super-high-impact names Bull Dog Sauce (2804 JP) and Alps Logistics (9055 JP). There is plenty to look forward to. In this insight, I have provided performance updates for 6 "Live" event stocks (including the names mentioned above) which are expected to have Inclusion Events at the end of February 2021 and 14 "Post" event stocks that completed their Inclusion Events at the end of December 2020 and January 2021 (on 28 January 2021).Furthermore, I have also highlighted some interesting Pre-event situations involving stocks that are likely to become TSE1-promotion candidates in the near future. 

With the Section Transfer Requirements to move to TSE1 becoming more stringent, some small-cap candidates have been rushing to enter TSE1 so that they can avoid having to face the new regulations under which they may struggle to qualify. This trend has resulted in a "flurry" of TOPIX Inclusion Trades in the month of December 2020 as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/travis-lundy" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:25" rel="noopener">Travis Lundy</a> predicted in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/the-tse-s-listing-criteria-revisions-part-i" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43150" rel="noopener">The TSE's Listing Criteria Revisions - Part I</a>.
<blockquote>
For index inclusion and event traders taking advantage of a large number of interesting trades, the number will suddenly go waaaay down. This means <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/janaghan-jeyakumar-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:3173" rel="noopener">Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA</a> likely has a flurry of interesting trade ideas to read about in the next few months, but after about March next year, things will drop off in a hurry.
</blockquote>
In this insight, I have provided performance updates for 11 "Live" event stocks which are expected to have Inclusion Events at the end of January 2021 and 6 "Post" event stocks that completed their Inclusion Events at the end of November 2020 and December 2020. Furthermore, I have also highlighted some interesting Pre-event situations involving stocks that are likely to become TSE1-promotion candidates in the near future.

With the Section Transfer Requirements to move to TSE1 becoming more stringent, some small-cap candidates have been rushing to enter TSE1 so that they can avoid having to face the new regulations under which they may struggle to qualify. This trend has resulted in a "flurry" of TOPIX Inclusion Trades in the month of December 2020 as Travis Lundy predicted in The TSE's Listing Criteria Revisions - Part I.

For index inclusion and event traders taking advantage of a large number of interesting trades, the number will suddenly go waaaay down. This means Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA likely has a flurry of interesting trade ideas to read about in the next few months, but after about March next year, things will drop off in a hurry.

In this insight, I have provided performance updates for 11 "Live" event stocks which are expected to have Inclusion Events at the end of January 2021 and 6 "Post" event stocks that completed their Inclusion Events at the end of November 2020 and December 2020. Furthermore, I have also highlighted some interesting Pre-event situations involving stocks that are likely to become TSE1-promotion candidates in the near future. 

Quantitative Analysis

<div>
When Japanese small-cap stocks listed on JASDAQ, MOTHERS, and the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange aim at the big leagues and apply for reassignment to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and are accepted, it causes significant events to occur. This triggers inclusion into the TOPIX Index which means passive funds tracking TOPIX need to buy on an inclusion event. This opens up several interesting trading opportunities for investors. 
</div>
<div>
In this insight, I have provided performance updates for 7 "Live" event stocks which are expected to have Inclusion Events at the end of December 2020 or January 2021 and 8 "Post" event stocks that completed their Inclusion Events at the end of October 2020 and November 2020. Furthermore, I have also highlighted some interesting Pre-event situations involving stocks that are likely to become TSE1-promotion candidates in the near future. 
</div>


When Japanese small-cap stocks listed on JASDAQ, MOTHERS, and the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange aim at the big leagues and apply for reassignment to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and are accepted, it causes significant events to occur. This triggers inclusion into the TOPIX Index which means passive funds tracking TOPIX need to buy on an inclusion event. This opens up several interesting trading opportunities for investors. 


In this insight, I have provided performance updates for 7 "Live" event stocks which are expected to have Inclusion Events at the end of December 2020 or January 2021 and 8 "Post" event stocks that completed their Inclusion Events at the end of October 2020 and November 2020. Furthermore, I have also highlighted some interesting Pre-event situations involving stocks that are likely to become TSE1-promotion candidates in the near future. 


There are currently ~1,500 stocks listed in the Mothers, JASDAQ, and Second Sections of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As time passes, some of these stocks will "graduate" to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE1), triggering inclusion into the TOPIX Index causing passive funds tracking TOPIX to buy them on an inclusion event. This presents various trading opportunities in several phases of this event timeline.  Being able to identify such candidates at a "Pre-event" phase (before the TSE reassignment is confirmed) can unlock great value for speculative bets as we recently witnessed in the case of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/topix-inclusion-4931-jp-shinnihonseiyaku" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45660" rel="noopener">TOPIX Inclusion (4931 JP): Shinnihonseiyaku</a> where the stock gained 90%+ in the ~5 months leading to the TSE1-reassignment announcement. However, in July 2020, TSE introduced more stringent new Section Transfer Requirements and TSE1 Listing Criteria adding a new layer of complexity to this prediction process, especially during the period of transition from the old rules to the new rules. In this insight, we take a look at how some of the potential TSE1 candidates will fare against these New Section Transfer Requirements and evaluate their attractiveness at the Pre-event phase. <hr><div class="content-remarks">This insight is an update to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/topix-inclusion-pre-events-who-is-ready" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:41091" rel="noopener">TOPIX Inclusion Pre-Events: Who Is Ready?</a>. Please refer to that insight for more information on the approach used in the below analysis. Note that some assumptions used in the analysis have changed since then. </div>

There are currently ~1,500 stocks listed in the Mothers, JASDAQ, and Second Sections of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As time passes, some of these stocks will "graduate" to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE1), triggering inclusion into the TOPIX Index causing passive funds tracking TOPIX to buy them on an inclusion event. This presents various trading opportunities in several phases of this event timeline.  Being able to identify such candidates at a "Pre-event" phase (before the TSE reassignment is confirmed) can unlock great value for speculative bets as we recently witnessed in the case of TOPIX Inclusion (4931 JP): Shinnihonseiyaku where the stock gained 90%+ in the ~5 months leading to the TSE1-reassignment announcement. However, in July 2020, TSE introduced more stringent new Section Transfer Requirements and TSE1 Listing Criteria adding a new layer of complexity to this prediction process, especially during the period of transition from the old rules to the new rules. In this insight, we take a look at how some of the potential TSE1 candidates will fare against these New Section Transfer Requirements and evaluate their attractiveness at the Pre-event phase. This insight is an update to TOPIX Inclusion Pre-Events: Who Is Ready?. Please refer to that insight for more information on the approach used in the below analysis. Note that some assumptions used in the analysis have changed since then. 

TOPIX Inclusions:  New Regulations! Who Is READY? 2.0

Japan

BASE, Inc. offers internet based services. The Company provides net shop creation, shopping application development, online payment development, and other services. BASE provides its services throughout Japan.

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BASE Inc (4477 JP)

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The TSE has new Listing Rules and Criteria for TSE1 listing and promotion. That means new analysis on what pre-event trades. One TOP PICK to trade...

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