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. 

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Tsuruha is about to absorb Welcia and together, will become a ¥2 trillion operation and far bigger than drugstore rivals. </li>
<li>This should be a winning combination given the new economies of scale, repivoted management team and national reach.</li>
<li>But there is a problem: price competition is already changing the playing field. And convenience stores are about to get serious with OTC meds.</li>
</ul>


Tsuruha is about to absorb Welcia and together, will become a ¥2 trillion operation and far bigger than drugstore rivals. 
This should be a winning combination given the new economies of scale, repivoted management team and national reach.
But there is a problem: price competition is already changing the playing field. And convenience stores are about to get serious with OTC meds.


Could Discounters Derail Tsuruha-Welcia's Ambitions?

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 May 30th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD17,220m.</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 Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Ufj Financial, Disco, Hitachi, Toyota Industries, Skylark, Toyota Motor, Sanrio, Ihi, Create Sd.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of May 30th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD17,220m.
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 Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Ufj Financial, Disco, Hitachi, Toyota Industries, Skylark, Toyota Motor, Sanrio, Ihi, Create Sd.


JPX Margin Trading Weekly (May 30th): Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Ufj Financial, Disco

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of May 23rd. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD16,904m.</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 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kusuri No Aoki, Toyota Industries, Fujikura, Sompo, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, Furukawa Electric, Softbank, Advantest, Mizuho Financial.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of May 23rd. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD16,904m.
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 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kusuri No Aoki, Toyota Industries, Fujikura, Sompo, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, Furukawa Electric, Softbank, Advantest, Mizuho Financial.


JPX Margin Trading Weekly (May 23rd): Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kusuri No Aoki, Toyota Industries

<ul>
<li>Aeon will almost definitely increase its stake in Tsuruha Holdings, which on its own will catalyse drugstore competitors to consider their mergeable options.</li>
<li>Tsuruha MAY merge with Welcia under Aeon and just talk of this will catalyse drugstore competitors even more.</li>
<li>But the ongoing fusion of drugstore retailing and FMCG formats like supermarkets and convenience stores, will also spur the entire FMCG sector to respond to Aeon's massive potential dominance.</li>
</ul>


Aeon will almost definitely increase its stake in Tsuruha Holdings, which on its own will catalyse drugstore competitors to consider their mergeable options.
Tsuruha MAY merge with Welcia under Aeon and just talk of this will catalyse drugstore competitors even more.
But the ongoing fusion of drugstore retailing and FMCG formats like supermarkets and convenience stores, will also spur the entire FMCG sector to respond to Aeon's massive potential dominance.


Aeon (Maybe) Gets Tsuruha, Could Trigger Wave of Mergers in the Sector (And Beyond)

Equity Bottom-Up

The merger of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/matsumotokiyoshi-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2259:1" rel="noopener">Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co., Ltd. (3088 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cocokara-fine-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15447:1" rel="noopener">Cocokara Fine (3098 JP)</a> is just one symptom of the growing concentration of market share in the drugstore sector.But the sector's leaders are no longer just battling for dominance in drugstore retailing; increasingly drugstores are evolving far behind this niche sector.Drugstore retailing is growing faster than any sector other than e-commerce because drugstores are positioned to meet customer needs for well-being, health and, nowadays, a broad range of daily necessities including food, and so becoming ever more integrated into consumers’ daily shopping experience.Their eclectic ranges also mean they perform well in the middle of natural disasters and crises of various forms and many chains have seen good results thanks to earthquakes, extreme weather and especially thanks to Covid, but this doesn’t fully explain the sector’s success.Crises may have helped, but Japan’s top drugstores are today some of the country’s best retailers in their own right.The following is a complete, in-depth review of the drugstore sector, including rankings, KPIs, and future trends on the sector and the potential winners.Jun Tsuruha, the current <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsuruha-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9536:1" rel="noopener">Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP)</a> CEO, was widely quoted last year as saying the sector would soon be dominated by just “four or five” major firms. This is far from fantasy, with Tsuruha, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/welcia-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20895:1" rel="noopener">Welcia Holdings (3141 JP)</a>, Matsukiyo-Cocokara, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cosmos-pharmaceutical-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3797:1" rel="noopener">Cosmos Pharmaceutical (3349 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sugi-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9255:1" rel="noopener">Sugi Holdings (7649 JP)</a> the most likely contenders.

The merger of Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co., Ltd. (3088 JP) and Cocokara Fine (3098 JP) is just one symptom of the growing concentration of market share in the drugstore sector.But the sector's leaders are no longer just battling for dominance in drugstore retailing; increasingly drugstores are evolving far behind this niche sector.Drugstore retailing is growing faster than any sector other than e-commerce because drugstores are positioned to meet customer needs for well-being, health and, nowadays, a broad range of daily necessities including food, and so becoming ever more integrated into consumers’ daily shopping experience.Their eclectic ranges also mean they perform well in the middle of natural disasters and crises of various forms and many chains have seen good results thanks to earthquakes, extreme weather and especially thanks to Covid, but this doesn’t fully explain the sector’s success.Crises may have helped, but Japan’s top drugstores are today some of the country’s best retailers in their own right.The following is a complete, in-depth review of the drugstore sector, including rankings, KPIs, and future trends on the sector and the potential winners.Jun Tsuruha, the current Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP) CEO, was widely quoted last year as saying the sector would soon be dominated by just “four or five” major firms. This is far from fantasy, with Tsuruha, Welcia Holdings (3141 JP), Matsukiyo-Cocokara, Cosmos Pharmaceutical (3349 JP) and Sugi Holdings (7649 JP) the most likely contenders.

Japan Drugstores: Growing Leadership in Food, Household, Cosmetics – and the Odd Medicine Too

Japan

CREATE SD HOLDINGS Co Ltd operates a chain of drug stores based in Kanagawa. The Company sells medical supplies, cosmetics, foodstuff, baby products and daily goods. CREATE SD HOLDINGS also sells prescription medicine.

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Create Sd Holdings Co (3148 JP)

Could Discounters Derail Tsuruha-Welcia's Ambitions?

Tsuruha's acquisition of Welcia creates a powerhouse in the drugstore market, but price competition poses a challenge for the new entity's success.

Michael Causton

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (May 30th): Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Ufj Financial, Disco

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Kawasaki Heavy Industries (7012 JP), Mitsubishi Ufj Financial...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (May 23rd): Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kusuri No Aoki, Toyota Industries

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011 JP), Kusuri No Aoki (3549 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Aeon (Maybe) Gets Tsuruha, Could Trigger Wave of Mergers in the Sector (And Beyond)

Aeon's potential increased stake in Tsuruha Holdings and possible merger with Welcia will likely prompt drugstore competitors to consider their...

Michael Causton

Japan Drugstores: Growing Leadership in Food, Household, Cosmetics – and the Odd Medicine Too

The Japanese drugstore sector has seen a big merger but there will be more as the sector not only consolidates down to a few leaders but also...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Could Discounters Derail Tsuruha-Welcia's Ambitions?

​Tsuruha's acquisition of Welcia creates a powerhouse in the drugstore market, but price competition poses a challenge for the new entity's success.

Michael Causton

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (May 30th): Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Ufj Financial, Disco

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Kawasaki Heavy Industries (7012 JP), Mitsubishi Ufj Financial...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (May 23rd): Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kusuri No Aoki, Toyota Industries

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011 JP), Kusuri No Aoki (3549 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Aeon (Maybe) Gets Tsuruha, Could Trigger Wave of Mergers in the Sector (And Beyond)

​Aeon's potential increased stake in Tsuruha Holdings and possible merger with Welcia will likely prompt drugstore competitors to consider their...

Michael Causton

Japan Drugstores: Growing Leadership in Food, Household, Cosmetics – and the Odd Medicine Too

The Japanese drugstore sector has seen a big merger but there will be more as the sector not only consolidates down to a few leaders but also...

Michael Causton

Tsuruha's acquisition of Welcia creates a powerhouse in the drugstore market, but price competition poses a challenge for the new entity's success.

Aeon's potential increased stake in Tsuruha Holdings and possible merger with Welcia will likely prompt drugstore competitors to consider their...