Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Supun Walpola

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

<p>Despite shifting to a more affordable price plan and spending heavily on subsidies, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/money-forward-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25919:1" rel="noopener">Money Forward (3994 JP)</a>’s enterprise SaaS business has failed to accelerate its user growth as expected. This continues to put pressure on MF’s profitability as the company keeps spending heavily on customer acquisition. Therefore, in contrast to its counterpart, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">freee (4478 JP)</a>, MF’s recent price rally does not seem to be supported by improving profitability.  We expect a near-term correction as both customer growth and profitability disappoint over the next few quarters.  </p>

Despite shifting to a more affordable price plan and spending heavily on subsidies, Money Forward (3994 JP)’s enterprise SaaS business has failed to accelerate its user growth as expected. This continues to put pressure on MF’s profitability as the company keeps spending heavily on customer acquisition. Therefore, in contrast to its counterpart, freee (4478 JP), MF’s recent price rally does not seem to be supported by improving profitability.  We expect a near-term correction as both customer growth and profitability disappoint over the next few quarters.  

Money Forward: Recent Price Rally Is Not Backed by Improving Profitability – Unlike Freee

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">freee (4478 JP)</a>  provides cloud-based accounting software for small businesses and individuals. </span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Freee</span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"> serves over 220,000 clients with an annualized recurring revenue of around $80m. </span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">In the year ended June, revenue grew 53% YoY. There is a huge opportunity to grow in the nascent cloud accounting market in Japan. With a strong and well-incentivised management team, Freee is well placed to build a strong moat around its business. At 68x TTM revenue, the valuation is way up in the clouds. <br></span></p><p></p><section class="figure"><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/165/623/original/Annual-Recurring-Revenue-ARR_chartbuilder.png?1602902386" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="165623"></figure></section><p></p></section>

freee (4478 JP)  provides cloud-based accounting software for small businesses and individuals.  Freee serves over 220,000 clients with an annualized recurring revenue of around $80m.  In the year ended June, revenue grew 53% YoY. There is a huge opportunity to grow in the nascent cloud accounting market in Japan. With a strong and well-incentivised management team, Freee is well placed to build a strong moat around its business. At 68x TTM revenue, the valuation is way up in the clouds.  

Small Cap Growth: Freee (4478) - Counting Clouds

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

<div>Freee, the Japanese cloud-based accounting and HR/Payroll software provider to SMEs has seen a huge rally in its share price over the past few months. The company’s share price has more than doubled to JPY7,950 per share since we last wrote on the company in February this year.</div><div><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/163/071/original/image_23875405221601636185351.png?1601636187" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="163071"></figure></div><div class="content-caption">Source: Cap IQ</div><div>In this insight, we have examined the company’s operating matrices, its ability to turn around the business into profits and the company’s valuation. </div>

Freee, the Japanese cloud-based accounting and HR/Payroll software provider to SMEs has seen a huge rally in its share price over the past few months. The company’s share price has more than doubled to JPY7,950 per share since we last wrote on the company in February this year.Source: Cap IQIn this insight, we have examined the company’s operating matrices, its ability to turn around the business into profits and the company’s valuation. 

Freee KK: Quantamental Reveals the Company May Break-Even Over the Next 2-Years

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/money-forward-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25919:1" rel="noopener">Money Forward (3994 JP)</a> provides online accounting software for Japan's SMEs, providing all of the time-saving tools that small business owners need to grow. It is the Japanese version of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xero-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:390:1" rel="noopener">Xero Ltd (XRO AU)</a> or Quickbooks by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intuit-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8235:1" rel="noopener">Intuit Inc (INTU US)</a> </li>
<li>Money Forward (MF) and its domestic peer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freee-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28424:1" rel="noopener">freee (4478 JP)</a> dominate the Japanese online market, which is growing in the region of 60-70% YoY.</li>
<li>There is a huge addressable market with low online penetration. MF has the potential to build a strong competitive moat, in the absence of the global majors.</li>
<li>Today, MF looks similar to Xero in 2013. If MF follows the same growth trajectory, investors could be looking at a 9-bagger.  </li>
</ul>



Money Forward (3994 JP) provides online accounting software for Japan's SMEs, providing all of the time-saving tools that small business owners need to grow. It is the Japanese version of Xero Ltd (XRO AU) or Quickbooks by Intuit Inc (INTU US) 
Money Forward (MF) and its domestic peer freee (4478 JP) dominate the Japanese online market, which is growing in the region of 60-70% YoY.
There is a huge addressable market with low online penetration. MF has the potential to build a strong competitive moat, in the absence of the global majors.
Today, MF looks similar to Xero in 2013. If MF follows the same growth trajectory, investors could be looking at a 9-bagger.  


Small Cap Growth: Money Forward (3994) - Be Audit You Can Be

<p>Sansan Inc, the business card digitisation company, reported its full-year FY05/2020 results early this week which saw strong growth in revenue and operating profits. At the same time, both revenue and OP beat consensus estimates by a significant margin and the results marked the company’s first full-year of operating profits despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>

Sansan Inc, the business card digitisation company, reported its full-year FY05/2020 results early this week which saw strong growth in revenue and operating profits. At the same time, both revenue and OP beat consensus estimates by a significant margin and the results marked the company’s first full-year of operating profits despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sansan 4QFY05/20 Results: First Full-Year of Operating Profits Despite Covid-19 Impact

Japan

freee K.K. develops software products. The Company produces cloud based accounting softwares, automatic online accounting systems, and other products. freee provides its services throughout Japan.

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Freee KK (4478 JP)

Money Forward: Recent Price Rally Is Not Backed by Improving Profitability – Unlike Freee

Money Forward’s recent price rally does not seem to be supported by improving profitability. We expect a correction as both customer growth and...

Supun Walpola

Small Cap Growth: Freee (4478) - Counting Clouds

Small Cap Growth: Freee is Japan's number one provider of cloud accounting software. Early stage growth with large TAM. Visionary management team;...

Mark Chadwick

Freee KK: Quantamental Reveals the Company May Break-Even Over the Next 2-Years

Freee, the Japanese cloud-based accounting and HR/Payroll software provider to SMEs has seen a huge rally in its share price over the past few...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Small Cap Growth: Money Forward (3994) - Be Audit You Can Be

Money Forward (3994 JP) is the Japanese

Mark Chadwick

Sansan 4QFY05/20 Results: First Full-Year of Operating Profits Despite Covid-19 Impact

Sansan Inc, the business card digitisation company, reported its full-year FY05/2020 results early this week which saw strong growth in revenue and...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

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