Smartkarma AI Primers, Smartkarma

αSK Primers

Smartkarma AI Primers

Smartkarma

Smartkarma unites the fragmented investment industry, connecting institutional investors, independent research providers, and corporates within a single network.

Research Reinvented

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
  <li>Gree is a company in transition, with its legacy game business exhibiting declining revenue and profitability, offset by a strategic pivot towards the higher-growth Metaverse (VTuber) and IP-related businesses.</li>
  <li>The company presents a compelling value and dividend profile, characterized by a high dividend yield, consistent dividend growth, and a valuation below its book value. However, the sustainability of shareholder returns is a key question given the negative trends in core financial metrics like revenue and cash flow.</li>
  <li>Future performance is heavily dependent on the successful execution of its diversification strategy, particularly the growth of its 'REALITY' metaverse platform and the development of new hit titles in a highly competitive Japanese mobile gaming market.</li>
</ul><p><em>This content is AI-generated and displayed for general informational purposes only. Please verify independently before use.</em></p>


  Gree is a company in transition, with its legacy game business exhibiting declining revenue and profitability, offset by a strategic pivot towards the higher-growth Metaverse (VTuber) and IP-related businesses.
  The company presents a compelling value and dividend profile, characterized by a high dividend yield, consistent dividend growth, and a valuation below its book value. However, the sustainability of shareholder returns is a key question given the negative trends in core financial metrics like revenue and cash flow.
  Future performance is heavily dependent on the successful execution of its diversification strategy, particularly the growth of its 'REALITY' metaverse platform and the development of new hit titles in a highly competitive Japanese mobile gaming market.
This content is AI-generated and displayed for general informational purposes only. Please verify independently before use.

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

Shenton Research

Shenton 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 Sep 11th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD30,193m.</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 Kioxia, SoftBank, Advantest, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Lintec, Nintendo, Japan Airport Terminal, Tokyo Electron, Disco, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Sep 11th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD30,193m.
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 Kioxia, SoftBank, Advantest, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Lintec, Nintendo, Japan Airport Terminal, Tokyo Electron, Disco, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial.


JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Sep 11th): Kioxia, SoftBank, Advantest, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Lintec

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• BEST &amp; WORST •</strong></p></div><p>Our best and worst pair from yesterday's announcements is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shimano-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3777:1" rel="noopener">Shimano (7309 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fujitsu-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16968:1" rel="noopener">Fujitsu (6702 JP)</a>.</p><div><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/167/904/original/2020-10-28_05-35-42.png?1603830956" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="167904"></figure></div><div><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/167/905/original/2020-10-28_05-36-25.png?1603831001" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="167905"></figure></div><div class="content-caption">Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics</div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>57 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><p><strong>Results Score:</strong> 49% Positive / 9% Neutral / 42% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Results Score Change</strong>: -1.7 points</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> -6.4% Quarter YoY / -5.9% Rolling TTM YoY </p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -1.4ppt</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 12%</p></li>
</ul></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>39 Annual • 36 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><p><strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 36% Positive / 8% Neutral / 56% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 53% Positive / 6% Neutral / 42% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -1.1 points</p></li>
</ul></div>

• BEST &amp; WORST •Our best and worst pair from yesterday's announcements is Shimano (7309 JP) and Fujitsu (6702 JP).Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan AnalyticsDAILY STATS57 Quarterly Results
Results Score: 49% Positive / 9% Neutral / 42% Negative
Average Results Score Change: -1.7 points
Average % Change in Revenue: -6.4% Quarter YoY / -5.9% Rolling TTM YoY 
Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -1.4ppt
Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 12%
39 Annual • 36 Interim Forecasts/Revisions
Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 36% Positive / 8% Neutral / 56% Negative
Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 53% Positive / 6% Neutral / 42% Negative
Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -1.1 points


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​27 Online Brokers, Hoya, Shin-Etsu, Fujitsu..

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/156/586/original/2020-09-02_15-03-28.png?1599026640" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="156586"></figure>
<div class="content-caption">Source for all charts: Japan Analytics</div>
<p><strong>NEV IN JAPAN</strong> - Japan has a reputation for being the world's leading market for finding listed companies with negative Enterprise Value (NEV). Based on a sample of 842,133 traded months for the 3,826 currently-listed non-financial companies in our universe since 1993, NEV-traded months represent 8%. One thousand and eleven companies have spent at least one month with a negative EV and the average NEV 'period' is just over two years.  The number of NEV companies has varied over the last thirty years, from only one in 1994 (Sanyu Construction 1841 JP) to a peak of 437 in 2009 - 15.4% of the universe. In the last two years, the percentage has doubled to 10% or 366 companies, most of which are small-cap.</p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/156/590/original/2020-09-02_15-13-33.png?1599027223" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="156590"></figure>
<p><strong>50 BPS</strong> -Accordingly, the aggregate (inverted) value of NEV stocks is ¥2.5 trillion or just 50 basis points of the aggregate of the universe. Nevertheless, the current value is at the upper end of the thirty-year range. We have excluded four non-financial companies - Z Holdings, Rakuten, Japan Post, and Sony - as they have financial subsidiaries on their balance sheets.</p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/156/595/original/2020-09-02_15-36-40.png?1599028611" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="156595"></figure>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/156/866/original/2020-09-03_16-43-25.png?1599119017" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="156866"></figure>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/156/596/original/2020-09-02_15-37-56.png?1599028687" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="156596"></figure>
<p><strong>NEV 'BUYS'</strong> - Brief periods, and occasionally extended, when higher-quality companies dip into NEV are often good long-term buying opportunities as shown above with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/temp-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1428:1" rel="noopener">Persol (2181 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toei-animation-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18641:1" rel="noopener">Toei Animation (4816 JP)</a>  and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hakuhodo-dy-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8736:1" rel="noopener">Hakuhodo DY (2433 JP)</a>. </p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/156/623/original/2020-09-02_17-57-38.png?1599037069" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="156623"></figure>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/156/625/original/2020-09-02_18-04-05.png?1599037457" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="156625"></figure>
<p><strong>NEV 'TRAPS'</strong> - Conversely, NEV can persist for years, 'trapping' both value investors and activists, particularly where management remain 'cloth-eared' such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-broadcasting-system" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12981:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Broadcasting System (9401 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toppan-printing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11875:1" rel="noopener">Toppan Printing (7911 JP).</a></p>
<div class="content-highlight">
<p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> section below, we will review the current large-cap NEV companies, as well the most persistent and the largest peak to trough NEV ranges and make some specific stock recommendations.</p>
</div>


Source for all charts: Japan Analytics
NEV IN JAPAN - Japan has a reputation for being the world's leading market for finding listed companies with negative Enterprise Value (NEV). Based on a sample of 842,133 traded months for the 3,826 currently-listed non-financial companies in our universe since 1993, NEV-traded months represent 8%. One thousand and eleven companies have spent at least one month with a negative EV and the average NEV 'period' is just over two years.  The number of NEV companies has varied over the last thirty years, from only one in 1994 (Sanyu Construction 1841 JP) to a peak of 437 in 2009 - 15.4% of the universe. In the last two years, the percentage has doubled to 10% or 366 companies, most of which are small-cap.

50 BPS -Accordingly, the aggregate (inverted) value of NEV stocks is ¥2.5 trillion or just 50 basis points of the aggregate of the universe. Nevertheless, the current value is at the upper end of the thirty-year range. We have excluded four non-financial companies - Z Holdings, Rakuten, Japan Post, and Sony - as they have financial subsidiaries on their balance sheets.



NEV 'BUYS' - Brief periods, and occasionally extended, when higher-quality companies dip into NEV are often good long-term buying opportunities as shown above with Persol (2181 JP), Toei Animation (4816 JP)  and Hakuhodo DY (2433 JP). 


NEV 'TRAPS' - Conversely, NEV can persist for years, 'trapping' both value investors and activists, particularly where management remain 'cloth-eared' such as Tokyo Broadcasting System (9401 JP) and Toppan Printing (7911 JP).

In the DETAIL section below, we will review the current large-cap NEV companies, as well the most persistent and the largest peak to trough NEV ranges and make some specific stock recommendations.


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Looking for Value in Negative Enterprise Value

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/139/255/original/2020-06-11_08-36-54.png?1591832240" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="139255"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>STRESS TESTS</strong> - This Insight is the first in a series that will use a variety of standard and less-frequently used 'stress-tests' to look through the current euphoria and assess where business risk is concentrated among larger Japanese companies. According to Tokyo Shoko Research, 171 listed Japanese firms have raised nearly ¥10 trillion in new funds to weather COVID-19.</p><p><strong>ALTMAN Z-SCORES</strong> - The first Insight will update our earlier Who's<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-who-s-swimming-naked-part-2-altman-z-score" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:37316" rel="noopener"> Swimming Naked?</a> Insight and focus on the Altman Z-Score as updated for the most recent quarterly results for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing companies.  In each category, ee will look at both the companies that are below Altman's 'distress' levels and those companies that have the most significant negative deviation from their seven-year average score. Only six of the bottom-thirty manufacturing and five of the bottom-thirty manufacturing companies have outperformed over one year. Many are already Oversold and offer potential value opportunities -as with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nissan-motor-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:72:1" rel="noopener">Nissan Motor (7201 JP)</a> which is now as distressed as when Carlos Ghosn first arrived.  </p><p><strong>QUASI-FINANCIAL FIRMS</strong> - The Z-Score methodology does not work for financial firms. Accordingly, five non-financial companies which have significant financial subsidiaries - <strong> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten (4755 JP)</a></strong>,<strong> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:359:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post (6178 JP)</a></strong>, <strong><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></strong> and <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sony-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:563:1" rel="noopener">Sony (6758 JP)</a></strong>- have been excluded from this analysis. </p>

Source: Japan AnalyticsSTRESS TESTS - This Insight is the first in a series that will use a variety of standard and less-frequently used 'stress-tests' to look through the current euphoria and assess where business risk is concentrated among larger Japanese companies. According to Tokyo Shoko Research, 171 listed Japanese firms have raised nearly ¥10 trillion in new funds to weather COVID-19.ALTMAN Z-SCORES - The first Insight will update our earlier Who's Swimming Naked? Insight and focus on the Altman Z-Score as updated for the most recent quarterly results for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing companies.  In each category, ee will look at both the companies that are below Altman's 'distress' levels and those companies that have the most significant negative deviation from their seven-year average score. Only six of the bottom-thirty manufacturing and five of the bottom-thirty manufacturing companies have outperformed over one year. Many are already Oversold and offer potential value opportunities -as with Nissan Motor (7201 JP) which is now as distressed as when Carlos Ghosn first arrived.  QUASI-FINANCIAL FIRMS - The Z-Score methodology does not work for financial firms. Accordingly, five non-financial companies which have significant financial subsidiaries -  Rakuten (4755 JP), Z Holdings (4689 JP), Japan Post (6178 JP), Softbank Group (9984 JP) and Sony (6758 JP)- have been excluded from this analysis. 

🇯🇵 JAPAN - Stress Tests Part 1 - Altman Z-Scores

Japan

Gree, Inc. operates a Social Network Service, GREE for PC and mobile users. The website provides online communities and games to its members. The Company also sells advertising space through advertising agencies.

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Gree Inc (3632 JP)

Primer: Gree Inc (3632 JP) - Aug 2026

Gree is a company in transition, with its legacy game business exhibiting declining revenue and profitability, offset by a strategic pivot...

αSK Primers

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Sep 11th): Kioxia, SoftBank, Advantest, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Lintec

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Kioxia (285A JP), SoftBank (9984 JP), Advantest (6857 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/27 Online Brokers, Hoya, Shin-Etsu, Fujitsu..

• BEST & WORST • Our best and worst pair from yesterday's announcements is Shimano (7309 JP) and Fujitsu (6702 JP).____________

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Looking for Value in Negative Enterprise Value

NEV IN JAPAN - Japan has a reputation for being the world's leading market for finding listed companies with negative Enterprise Value (NEV)....

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN - Stress Tests Part 1 - Altman Z-Scores

STRESS TESTS - This Insight is the first in a series that will use a variety of standard and less-frequently used 'stress-tests' to look through...

Campbell Gunn

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Primer: Gree Inc (3632 JP) - Aug 2026

Gree is a company in transition, with its legacy game business exhibiting declining revenue and profitability, offset by a strategic pivot...

αSK Primers

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Sep 11th): Kioxia, SoftBank, Advantest, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Lintec

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Kioxia (285A JP), SoftBank (9984 JP), Advantest (6857 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​27 Online Brokers, Hoya, Shin-Etsu, Fujitsu..

• BEST & WORST • Our best and worst pair from yesterday's announcements is Shimano (7309 JP) and Fujitsu (6702 JP).____________

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Looking for Value in Negative Enterprise Value

NEV IN JAPAN - Japan has a reputation for being the world's leading market for finding listed companies with negative Enterprise Value (NEV)....

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN - Stress Tests Part 1 - Altman Z-Scores

STRESS TESTS - This Insight is the first in a series that will use a variety of standard and less-frequently used 'stress-tests' to look through...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 10/27 Online Brokers, Hoya, Shin-Etsu, Fujitsu..