'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/000/100/175/original/2019-09-29_05-54-31.png?1569704091" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="100175"></figure></div><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>TAKE PROFITS</strong> - The 'breakout' rally above the 50-day moving average over the last thirteen trading days has added 8% to total market value and has been driven by ample liquidity, stronger US$, a lack of developments in global trade talks and more dove-like utterances and stances from the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, respectively. With the US Treasury about to restore its cash balance (through large T-bill offerings) by over US$250 billion, the US monetary base could contract by over 5% in the next quarter. Markets will face a stiff headwind and, with business conditions moving from bad to worse and central banks limited in the scope of further comment/action, the fourth quarter could be as perilous as the third quarter was benign.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/100/176/original/2019-09-29_07-49-09.png?1569710965" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="100176"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/100/177/original/2019-09-29_08-01-13.png?1569711690" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="100177"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/100/178/original/2019-09-29_08-09-38.png?1569712198" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="100178"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><div class="content-caption"></div><p><strong>PEAK ACTION</strong> - Both the 5-day <strong>Relative Strength Index</strong> and the 25-day <strong>Toraku Index</strong> have pulled back from extreme levels from which further upside is typically limited. In a similar vein, the 52 Week New Highs - New Lows reached a 20-month high of 141 on Thursday suggesting a peak in this bear market rally.   </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/100/179/original/2019-09-29_08-29-33.png?1569713388" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="100179"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>VOLUME SCORE TIMELINE</strong> - Volume peaked on 13th September at the highest level of any day this year and, as of Friday, is still above the fourth-month average. Favoured Sectors continue to be non-manufacturing, especially the Internet, IT, Commercial Services and REITs Sectors. Volume is weakest in the Metals, Machinery, Technology Hardware Sectors, but also now in the 'China-related' Other Consumer Products Sector. The Bank of Japan resumed ETF purchases on Friday after an eighteen-trading day hiatus.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/100/180/original/2019-09-29_12-35-13.png?1569728129" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="100180"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>3-MONTH SECTOR CONTRIBUTION</strong> - Relief over the apparent conclusion of Japan/US trade talks without any tariffs on Japan's <strong>Auto</strong> sector resulted in a 22 bps return contribution from the Sector; we would take profits on the conclusion of the final deal as global sales trends remain dire.  The <strong>Telecommunications</strong> Sector's underperformance reflects the 16% decline in <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> over the period for reasons well-documented on this platform.  The other outperforming Sectors are mostly in domestic non-manufacturing, but <strong>Technology Hardware</strong> continues to defy underlying current business conditions, as we shall discuss below.  <strong>Retail</strong> stocks are benefiting from positive sentiment to the short-term stimulus, although the early results from the Sector, many of whose leading companies will report second-quarter results over the next two weeks, suggest this optimism is, perhaps, misplaced. Lastly, the <strong>Banks</strong> Sector appears to have reached a short-term nadir and rose by 1.6% over the period.   </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/100/182/original/2019-09-29_12-57-32.png?1569729476" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="100182"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>SECTOR SCORE MATRIX - </strong>Our Sector Score matrix spreads all 30 Sectors by Relative Price Score and Results &amp; Revisions Score where the extreme outliers are denoted as <strong>Contrarian Sell</strong>, <strong>Contrarian Buy</strong>, <strong>Unrequited Growth</strong>, and <strong>Ex-Growth</strong>. The Information Technology Sector is the only 'Contrarian Sell', and we note that the Sector declined by 0.7% over the last three months. <strong>Consumer Services</strong> is the most Overbought Sector, mostly due to the continuing out-performance of <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> - now the fifth-most Overbought mega-cap. <strong>Banks</strong> are no longer a 'Contrarian Buy', while, as noted in our last Update, <strong>Metals</strong> remain the value investor pick, and saw at least one broker upgrade <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-steel-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:961:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Steel (5401 JP)</a> last week.    </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/100/201/original/2019-09-30_04-51-12.png?1569786797" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="100201"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/100/202/original/2019-09-30_04-57-34.png?1569787075" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="100202"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><div class="content-caption"></div><p><strong>RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS SCORE</strong> - As we head into the next results 'season' it is instructive to note that earnings momentum is still negative and our Results &amp; Revision Score is at its lowest point since April 2017. The Series correlates well with the Cabinet Office's Leading Indicator which as of July reached a new 'post-GFC' low. Japanese listed corporated have done well to preserve their earnings power in harsh global conditions. We are about to discover how much of this is due to spending brought forward ahead of next month's consumption tax increase. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> section below, we will review Sector performance, scores and valuation in more detail, as well as Company Results &amp; Revisions and individual stock performance over the previous three months.</p></div>

Source: Japan AnalyticsTAKE PROFITS - The 'breakout' rally above the 50-day moving average over the last thirteen trading days has added 8% to total market value and has been driven by ample liquidity, stronger US$, a lack of developments in global trade talks and more dove-like utterances and stances from the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, respectively. With the US Treasury about to restore its cash balance (through large T-bill offerings) by over US$250 billion, the US monetary base could contract by over 5% in the next quarter. Markets will face a stiff headwind and, with business conditions moving from bad to worse and central banks limited in the scope of further comment/action, the fourth quarter could be as perilous as the third quarter was benign.Source: Japan AnalyticsPEAK ACTION - Both the 5-day Relative Strength Index and the 25-day Toraku Index have pulled back from extreme levels from which further upside is typically limited. In a similar vein, the 52 Week New Highs - New Lows reached a 20-month high of 141 on Thursday suggesting a peak in this bear market rally.   Source: Japan AnalyticsVOLUME SCORE TIMELINE - Volume peaked on 13th September at the highest level of any day this year and, as of Friday, is still above the fourth-month average. Favoured Sectors continue to be non-manufacturing, especially the Internet, IT, Commercial Services and REITs Sectors. Volume is weakest in the Metals, Machinery, Technology Hardware Sectors, but also now in the 'China-related' Other Consumer Products Sector. The Bank of Japan resumed ETF purchases on Friday after an eighteen-trading day hiatus.Source: Japan Analytics3-MONTH SECTOR CONTRIBUTION - Relief over the apparent conclusion of Japan/US trade talks without any tariffs on Japan's Auto sector resulted in a 22 bps return contribution from the Sector; we would take profits on the conclusion of the final deal as global sales trends remain dire.  The Telecommunications Sector's underperformance reflects the 16% decline in Softbank Group (9984 JP) over the period for reasons well-documented on this platform.  The other outperforming Sectors are mostly in domestic non-manufacturing, but Technology Hardware continues to defy underlying current business conditions, as we shall discuss below.  Retail stocks are benefiting from positive sentiment to the short-term stimulus, although the early results from the Sector, many of whose leading companies will report second-quarter results over the next two weeks, suggest this optimism is, perhaps, misplaced. Lastly, the Banks Sector appears to have reached a short-term nadir and rose by 1.6% over the period.   Source: Japan AnalyticsSECTOR SCORE MATRIX - Our Sector Score matrix spreads all 30 Sectors by Relative Price Score and Results &amp; Revisions Score where the extreme outliers are denoted as Contrarian Sell, Contrarian Buy, Unrequited Growth, and Ex-Growth. The Information Technology Sector is the only 'Contrarian Sell', and we note that the Sector declined by 0.7% over the last three months. Consumer Services is the most Overbought Sector, mostly due to the continuing out-performance of Oriental Land (4661 JP) - now the fifth-most Overbought mega-cap. Banks are no longer a 'Contrarian Buy', while, as noted in our last Update, Metals remain the value investor pick, and saw at least one broker upgrade Nippon Steel (5401 JP) last week.    Source: Japan AnalyticsRESULTS &amp; REVISIONS SCORE - As we head into the next results 'season' it is instructive to note that earnings momentum is still negative and our Results &amp; Revision Score is at its lowest point since April 2017. The Series correlates well with the Cabinet Office's Leading Indicator which as of July reached a new 'post-GFC' low. Japanese listed corporated have done well to preserve their earnings power in harsh global conditions. We are about to discover how much of this is due to spending brought forward ahead of next month's consumption tax increase. In the DETAIL section below, we will review Sector performance, scores and valuation in more detail, as well as Company Results &amp; Revisions and individual stock performance over the previous three months.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Market Update - Take Profits

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• MARKET COMPOSITE - AGGREGATE RESULTS •</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/095/865/original/2019-08-16_06-45-04.png?1565905530" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="95865"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>THIRD DOWN QUARTER</strong> - This Insight will review the aggregate results for the 3774 listed Japanese companies for the quarter just ended and updated our Results &amp; Revision Scores for the Market Composite and each of our 30 Sectors. Operating Income has declined by 1.8% since the end of May and is now 5.1% below the peak of December 21st last year. The decline in Net Income has been more significant - 15.7% from the peak and 3.5% since May.  Japan's aggregate trailing-twelve-month (TTM) Net Income will end this year at a lower level than two years ago. </p><p><strong>FORECASTS STILL OPTIMISTIC</strong> -  The 'gap' between current and forecast results is now the widest in two years; however, the 'roles' are reversed. Aggregate forecasts have declined by 1.4% for Operating Income and 1.6% for Net Income and the forecast 'improvements' by year-end are 3% and 6%, respectively, which we consider optimistic. </p><p><strong>UPSIDE LIMITED</strong> - The decline in the market in recent weeks has taken the forward multiple to the second-lowest level this year at 13.7 times. Alternatively, the market is implying a further 17% decline in Net Income, assuming a 'normal' market multiple of 16.7 times. We are more inclined to the latter possibility.</p><div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/095/770/original/2019-08-15_12-05-51.png?1565838392" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="95770"></figure><p>Source: Japan Analytics </p>
</div><p><strong>MARGIN ROLLOVER</strong> - Revenues are still increasing by 3.8% a year; however, the rolling quarterly rate of increase is slowing to just 0.4% in the quarter just ended while the forecast-implied growth rate for the next nine months is 2%.  Operating margins peaked at 7.78% one year ago and have since declined by 61 basis points since then.  TTM Net Margins are now 4.83% and have declined by 102 basis points in the last three quarters.</p><div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/095/772/original/2019-08-15_12-26-32.png?1565839621" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="95772"></figure><p>Source: Japan Analytics </p>
</div><p><strong>SECTOR MARGINS - TOP</strong> - <strong>Bank</strong> Sector margins continue to slide, but have yet to lose their leading position to <strong>Telecoms</strong> despite the latter's margins being unchanged over three months. <strong>Internet</strong> and b both saw large margins contractions as did <strong>Chemicals</strong> which may slip out of this group next quarter. The most robust performance came from our long-time preferred Sector, <strong>Infomation Technology</strong>.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/095/773/original/2019-08-15_12-44-16.png?1565840676" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="95773"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics </div><p><strong>SECTOR MARGINS - MID</strong> - The <strong>Market Composite</strong> OPM has declined by 27 basis points in the last three months to 7.2%, and only nine of 29 Sectors have higher margins. Of the mid-ranked Sectors by margins, only <strong>Multi-Industry</strong> and <strong>Consumer Services</strong> saw margin increases of more than ten basis points. The worst-performing in this group were <strong>Food, Beverage &amp; Tobacco</strong> and <strong>Technology Hardwar</strong>e. Over a longer-term period, there has been a notable decline in <strong>Construction</strong> and<strong> Non-Bank Finance</strong> Sector margins. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/095/774/original/2019-08-15_12-52-37.png?1565841201" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="95774"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>SECTOR MARGINS - BOTTOM </strong>- Only <strong>Utilities</strong> of the bottom-nine OPM Sectors saw a margin improvement in the last three months, while<strong> Building Materials</strong>, <strong>Autos</strong>,<strong> Metals</strong>, <strong>Energy</strong>, and <strong>Other Materials</strong> all had double-digit declines. <strong>Retail</strong> margins are the most stable amongst this group,</p><p><strong>OUTLOOK</strong> - Aggregate results are a lagging indicator for the market, having peaked one year after the market peak of January 2018 - which is why we prefer to rely more on our scoring methodology (see below). Accordingly, we expect the trend in profits and margins to continue to be negative for the rest of the fiscal year and look for revenues to join the trend next quarter.  A breach of the December market low would be required to keep the market multiple below 'normal' levels, and we would advise patience for all but the most committed investors in Japanese equities.  </p><hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• RESULTS &amp; REVISION SCORE •</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/095/869/original/2019-08-16_06-50-04.png?1565905842" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="95869"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>RESULT &amp; REVISION SCORE </strong>- After peaking in November 2017, our Results &amp; Revision Score has declined for six of the last seven quarters, the exception being the previous quarter which was 'supported' by the optimistic full-year forecasts made in May, As shown below, the Annual forecasts were at 'odds' with the more pessimistic forecasts for the half-year - half-way through the half-year, the latter are proving to be more reliable. Ove the last two years, the correlation between the Results &amp; Revision Score and Total Market Cap ex REITs has been 0.78.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/095/838/original/2019-08-15_18-08-12.png?1565860115" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="95838"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>28-MONTH LOW</strong> - The Results &amp; Revision Score has three components, Results, Annual Forecasts &amp; Revisions and Interim Forecasts &amp; Revisions, and the last two can be combined to derive a Forecast &amp; Revision Score. The Forecast &amp; Revision Score is a good leading indicator for the Results Score with a lead-time of four to six months. Although still positive, the Results Score is at a new twenty-eight low of 1.25. The Score has only been negative for ten months since May 2010 reaching a nine-year low in December 2016. If current global macro indicators are correct, the Results Score should be heading into negative territory by the third-quarter results which will be released in February next year.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/095/839/original/2019-08-15_18-23-10.png?1565861002" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="95839"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>INTERIM v FULL-YEAR FORECASTS</strong> - The Forecast &amp; Revision Score is a weighted combination of two forecast series based on the official company forecasts released and updated by most Japanese companies throughout the year. The Annual forecasts tend to receive more senior management attention than the Interim, which are often delegated to the CFO. As a result, the latter series is more volatile, leading on the downside from peaks and lagging on the upside from toughs. The current Interim Score is the second-lowest in nine years, after April 2016 and has offset the optimism implied in the uptick in the Annual Score this May. <strong>If the precedents of 2011 and 2016 are to be followed, the Results Score should bottom out eight months from now, in April 2020.</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/095/870/original/2019-08-16_06-58-00.png?1565906307" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="95870"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>CURRENCY IN THE DRIVING SEAT</strong> - The importance of the currency as a key driver in the earnings cycle in Japan is well illustrated above where the peaks and troughs of the year-on-year change in the US$/Yen exchange rate lagged by six months align well with the changes the Results &amp; Revision Score (RRS), where the correlation is 0.79 since the beginning of 2014. The recent strengthening of the Yen suggests a new low for the RRS in the first half of 2020.</p><p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> section below, we shall examine the detailed trends in earnings results and forecasts for the 29 Sectors that make up our Market Composite as well as the Sector Results &amp; Revisions Scores.</p>

• MARKET COMPOSITE - AGGREGATE RESULTS •Source: Japan AnalyticsTHIRD DOWN QUARTER - This Insight will review the aggregate results for the 3774 listed Japanese companies for the quarter just ended and updated our Results &amp; Revision Scores for the Market Composite and each of our 30 Sectors. Operating Income has declined by 1.8% since the end of May and is now 5.1% below the peak of December 21st last year. The decline in Net Income has been more significant - 15.7% from the peak and 3.5% since May.  Japan's aggregate trailing-twelve-month (TTM) Net Income will end this year at a lower level than two years ago. FORECASTS STILL OPTIMISTIC -  The 'gap' between current and forecast results is now the widest in two years; however, the 'roles' are reversed. Aggregate forecasts have declined by 1.4% for Operating Income and 1.6% for Net Income and the forecast 'improvements' by year-end are 3% and 6%, respectively, which we consider optimistic. UPSIDE LIMITED - The decline in the market in recent weeks has taken the forward multiple to the second-lowest level this year at 13.7 times. Alternatively, the market is implying a further 17% decline in Net Income, assuming a 'normal' market multiple of 16.7 times. We are more inclined to the latter possibility.
Source: Japan Analytics 
MARGIN ROLLOVER - Revenues are still increasing by 3.8% a year; however, the rolling quarterly rate of increase is slowing to just 0.4% in the quarter just ended while the forecast-implied growth rate for the next nine months is 2%.  Operating margins peaked at 7.78% one year ago and have since declined by 61 basis points since then.  TTM Net Margins are now 4.83% and have declined by 102 basis points in the last three quarters.
Source: Japan Analytics 
SECTOR MARGINS - TOP - Bank Sector margins continue to slide, but have yet to lose their leading position to Telecoms despite the latter's margins being unchanged over three months. Internet and b both saw large margins contractions as did Chemicals which may slip out of this group next quarter. The most robust performance came from our long-time preferred Sector, Infomation Technology.Source: Japan Analytics SECTOR MARGINS - MID - The Market Composite OPM has declined by 27 basis points in the last three months to 7.2%, and only nine of 29 Sectors have higher margins. Of the mid-ranked Sectors by margins, only Multi-Industry and Consumer Services saw margin increases of more than ten basis points. The worst-performing in this group were Food, Beverage &amp; Tobacco and Technology Hardware. Over a longer-term period, there has been a notable decline in Construction and Non-Bank Finance Sector margins. Source: Japan AnalyticsSECTOR MARGINS - BOTTOM - Only Utilities of the bottom-nine OPM Sectors saw a margin improvement in the last three months, while Building Materials, Autos, Metals, Energy, and Other Materials all had double-digit declines. Retail margins are the most stable amongst this group,OUTLOOK - Aggregate results are a lagging indicator for the market, having peaked one year after the market peak of January 2018 - which is why we prefer to rely more on our scoring methodology (see below). Accordingly, we expect the trend in profits and margins to continue to be negative for the rest of the fiscal year and look for revenues to join the trend next quarter.  A breach of the December market low would be required to keep the market multiple below 'normal' levels, and we would advise patience for all but the most committed investors in Japanese equities.  • RESULTS &amp; REVISION SCORE •Source: Japan AnalyticsRESULT &amp; REVISION SCORE - After peaking in November 2017, our Results &amp; Revision Score has declined for six of the last seven quarters, the exception being the previous quarter which was 'supported' by the optimistic full-year forecasts made in May, As shown below, the Annual forecasts were at 'odds' with the more pessimistic forecasts for the half-year - half-way through the half-year, the latter are proving to be more reliable. Ove the last two years, the correlation between the Results &amp; Revision Score and Total Market Cap ex REITs has been 0.78.Source: Japan Analytics28-MONTH LOW - The Results &amp; Revision Score has three components, Results, Annual Forecasts &amp; Revisions and Interim Forecasts &amp; Revisions, and the last two can be combined to derive a Forecast &amp; Revision Score. The Forecast &amp; Revision Score is a good leading indicator for the Results Score with a lead-time of four to six months. Although still positive, the Results Score is at a new twenty-eight low of 1.25. The Score has only been negative for ten months since May 2010 reaching a nine-year low in December 2016. If current global macro indicators are correct, the Results Score should be heading into negative territory by the third-quarter results which will be released in February next year.Source: Japan AnalyticsINTERIM v FULL-YEAR FORECASTS - The Forecast &amp; Revision Score is a weighted combination of two forecast series based on the official company forecasts released and updated by most Japanese companies throughout the year. The Annual forecasts tend to receive more senior management attention than the Interim, which are often delegated to the CFO. As a result, the latter series is more volatile, leading on the downside from peaks and lagging on the upside from toughs. The current Interim Score is the second-lowest in nine years, after April 2016 and has offset the optimism implied in the uptick in the Annual Score this May. If the precedents of 2011 and 2016 are to be followed, the Results Score should bottom out eight months from now, in April 2020.Source: Japan AnalyticsCURRENCY IN THE DRIVING SEAT - The importance of the currency as a key driver in the earnings cycle in Japan is well illustrated above where the peaks and troughs of the year-on-year change in the US$/Yen exchange rate lagged by six months align well with the changes the Results &amp; Revision Score (RRS), where the correlation is 0.79 since the beginning of 2014. The recent strengthening of the Yen suggests a new low for the RRS in the first half of 2020.In the DETAIL section below, we shall examine the detailed trends in earnings results and forecasts for the 29 Sectors that make up our Market Composite as well as the Sector Results &amp; Revisions Scores.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Summer Results & Revisions - Market Composite & Sectors - Third Down

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<p>Despite several indexes recently touching new 52+ week highs, broad global indexes (MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EAFE, and EM) remain near logical resistance, and indicators continue to send mixed signals. As a result we are hesitant to get too bullish or bearish. Instead we want to focus on Sector/Group/industry themes where we bottoming price and RS, or attractive pullback opportunities within established price and RS uptrends.  In this report we highlight such opportunities, within the Technology, Consumer Staples and Services Sectors.</p>

Despite several indexes recently touching new 52+ week highs, broad global indexes (MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EAFE, and EM) remain near logical resistance, and indicators continue to send mixed signals. As a result we are hesitant to get too bullish or bearish. Instead we want to focus on Sector/Group/industry themes where we bottoming price and RS, or attractive pullback opportunities within established price and RS uptrends.  In this report we highlight such opportunities, within the Technology, Consumer Staples and Services Sectors.

Global Equity Strategy: Not Too Bullish, Not Too Bearish

<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/087/536/original/2019-05-12_08-28-48.png?1557617338" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="87536"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/087/537/original/2019-05-12_08-29-53.png?1557617406" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="87537"></figure><p>Source: Japan Analytics</p>
</div><p><strong>SLIP-SLIDIN' AWAY</strong> - Japanese equities have lost 3.9% in the last holiday-shortened week and 4.6% or ¥30t since the bear-market rally peak on 17th April. The new Reiwa 令和 era has yet to see a positive close and the Bank of Japan has intervened to buy ETFs on three out of the last six trading days. A ¥2 appreciation in the Yen has cushioned the blow for non-resident/unhedged investors. For the first time since October 2018, the 50-day moving average of Total Market Value has been decisively breached. The remaining bulls will now be looking for a 'higher low' between ¥600t and ¥625t. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/087/533/original/2019-05-12_08-13-49.png?1557616440" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="87533"></figure><div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/087/538/original/2019-05-12_08-38-11.png?1557617904" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="87538"></figure><p>Source: Japan Analytics</p>
</div><p><strong>BOUNCE AHEAD</strong> - The 5-day Relative Strength Index suggests a short-term recovery in the coming week, or until China announces its 'retaliation' measures to counter the recently-expanded US tariffs. 'Japan Inc.' is now voicing concerns about Japan's trade practices becoming the next focus for the US Trade Representative. Our Value Traded Ratio has also seen the strongest upward move- from 28 (the lowest level in nine months) to 53 (the highest since 21st December) in only eight trading days. Such sharp moves usually mark short-term low points.</p><p><strong>RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS</strong> - In the last four trading days, 1,153 Japanese companies have reported quarterly results, and there have been 855 initial forecasts for FY2020, 101 revision to annual forecasts, 598 initial interim estimates and ten revisions to interim forecasts. We are now at the halfway point of the Spring results announcements.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/087/539/original/2019-05-12_11-25-42.png?1557627962" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="87539"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>RESULTS &amp; REVISION SCORE</strong> - Our scoring methodology continues to have a reasonable correlation (0.79) with the Total Market Value. In the DETAIL section below we will analyse the breakdown the three components of the score, update our Sector Scores and look at the best and worst large-cap company results over the week. In the meantime, Simon &amp; Garfunkel can provide some light relief.</p><center><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZNt5FnMK2sM" width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></center><div class="content-caption">Simon &amp; Garfunkel: Slip-Slidin' Away - The Concert in Central Park, September 19, 1981</div>


Source: Japan Analytics
SLIP-SLIDIN' AWAY - Japanese equities have lost 3.9% in the last holiday-shortened week and 4.6% or ¥30t since the bear-market rally peak on 17th April. The new Reiwa 令和 era has yet to see a positive close and the Bank of Japan has intervened to buy ETFs on three out of the last six trading days. A ¥2 appreciation in the Yen has cushioned the blow for non-resident/unhedged investors. For the first time since October 2018, the 50-day moving average of Total Market Value has been decisively breached. The remaining bulls will now be looking for a 'higher low' between ¥600t and ¥625t. 
Source: Japan Analytics
BOUNCE AHEAD - The 5-day Relative Strength Index suggests a short-term recovery in the coming week, or until China announces its 'retaliation' measures to counter the recently-expanded US tariffs. 'Japan Inc.' is now voicing concerns about Japan's trade practices becoming the next focus for the US Trade Representative. Our Value Traded Ratio has also seen the strongest upward move- from 28 (the lowest level in nine months) to 53 (the highest since 21st December) in only eight trading days. Such sharp moves usually mark short-term low points.RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS - In the last four trading days, 1,153 Japanese companies have reported quarterly results, and there have been 855 initial forecasts for FY2020, 101 revision to annual forecasts, 598 initial interim estimates and ten revisions to interim forecasts. We are now at the halfway point of the Spring results announcements.Source: Japan AnalyticsRESULTS &amp; REVISION SCORE - Our scoring methodology continues to have a reasonable correlation (0.79) with the Total Market Value. In the DETAIL section below we will analyse the breakdown the three components of the score, update our Sector Scores and look at the best and worst large-cap company results over the week. In the meantime, Simon &amp; Garfunkel can provide some light relief.Simon &amp; Garfunkel: Slip-Slidin' Away - The Concert in Central Park, September 19, 1981

🇯🇵 Japan • Spring Results & Revisions & Market Update - Slip-Slidin' Away

Equity Bottom-Up

<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/983/original/2019-04-26_11-52-57.png?1556247183" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85983"></figure><p>Source: Japan Analytics</p>
</div><p><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/18107" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18107:1">ADVANTEST (6857 JP)</a></strong> reported FY2019 on 25th April and released initial forecasts for the current year which suggest that Operating Income will decline by 54% on a 19% decline in sales and a 23% decline in new orders. For details, please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/companies/909" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="companies:909">LightStream Research</a>'s Insight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/advantest-fy03-19-full-year-results-beat-consensus-4qfy03-19-declines-due-to-memory-downturn" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:29425">here</a>. This Insight will review the company's forecasting track record, update our Scoring Charts and, based on our valuation methodology, suggest the current downside risk or short 'potential' after today's near 9% decline.  <strong>We also highlight the 11% increase in net shares outstanding in the last five quarters.</strong></p>


Source: Japan Analytics
ADVANTEST (6857 JP) reported FY2019 on 25th April and released initial forecasts for the current year which suggest that Operating Income will decline by 54% on a 19% decline in sales and a 23% decline in new orders. For details, please see LightStream Research's Insight here. This Insight will review the company's forecasting track record, update our Scoring Charts and, based on our valuation methodology, suggest the current downside risk or short 'potential' after today's near 9% decline.  We also highlight the 11% increase in net shares outstanding in the last five quarters.

6857 🇯🇵 Advantest • Scoring & Valuation Update

Japan

DISCO CORPORATION manufactures abrasive and precision industrial machinery for cutting and grinding purposes.  The Company's products are applied in the semiconductor, electronics, and construction industries to produce consumer goods such as personal computers, digital cameras, video game systems, and Digital Video Disc (DVD) players.

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DISCO Corp (6146 JP)

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6857 🇯🇵 Advantest • Scoring & Valuation Update

ADVANTEST (6857 JP) reported FY2019 on 25th April and released initial forecasts for the current year which suggest that Operating Income will...

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