Japan Experts, Extraordinary Performance, Astris Advisory Japan

Astris Advisory Japan

Japan Experts, Extraordinary Performance

Our Corporate Advisory service is designed to give clients access to a wider range of investors. These include Japan specialists as well as global investors. The goal is to help achieve a fair equity valuation.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Q1–3 FY12/25 results outperformed expectations. Membership in the core matchmaking business continued to grow steadily.</li><li>The Life Design segment also delivered significant growth, driven by solid performance in the photo, insurance, and wedding businesses, as well as the positive contribution from GROWBING, which was newly consolidated.</li><li>Organic growth continued to be a major driver of the group’s overall performance. </li></ul>

Q1–3 FY12/25 results outperformed expectations. Membership in the core matchmaking business continued to grow steadily.The Life Design segment also delivered significant growth, driven by solid performance in the photo, insurance, and wedding businesses, as well as the positive contribution from GROWBING, which was newly consolidated.Organic growth continued to be a major driver of the group’s overall performance. 

IBJ (6071 JP) - Diversification Taking Shape

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>This inaugural edition of the Astris Advisory Japan Annual Directory presents our corporate equity research coverage to support informed decision-making across the global investment community, corporates, and financial institutions.</li><li>As an independent research firm, Astris Advisory Japan operates differently from traditional sell-side institutions, enabling us to deliver research tailored to our clients’ strategic communication needs, prepared in accordance with internal standards and disclosure policies.</li><li>Leveraging a global network of institutional investors and international distribution partners, we enhance corporate visibility, broaden investor reach, and facilitate meaningful engagement with long-term capital providers. </li></ul>

This inaugural edition of the Astris Advisory Japan Annual Directory presents our corporate equity research coverage to support informed decision-making across the global investment community, corporates, and financial institutions.As an independent research firm, Astris Advisory Japan operates differently from traditional sell-side institutions, enabling us to deliver research tailored to our clients’ strategic communication needs, prepared in accordance with internal standards and disclosure policies.Leveraging a global network of institutional investors and international distribution partners, we enhance corporate visibility, broaden investor reach, and facilitate meaningful engagement with long-term capital providers. 

Annual Directory: Corporate Research - January 2026

'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.

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/146/859/original/2020-07-20_05-45-19.png?1595191529" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="146859"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona (2168 JP)</a></strong>- Pasona was the largest capitalisation company to report on Friday. At the end of June, the company warned on impairment losses at the full-year ended in May 2020. The outcome was a write-off of ¥2.7 billion, resulting in a 63% decline in Comprehensive Income to Common (CITC) to ¥676 million. In the<strong> DETAIL </strong>below, we review the operating performance and valuation of this 'activist trap'.</p><hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>4 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Results Score:</strong> 2 Positive / 0 Neutral / 2 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong> +2.3</li>
<li>
<strong>Average % Change in Revenue</strong>: -20% Quarter YoY / -12.9% Rolling TTM YoY</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -0.1ppt</li>
<li>
<strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 50%</li>
</ul></div><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br><strong>5 Annual • 4 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div><div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 1 Positive / 0 Neutral / 4 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 1 Positive / 0 Neutral / 3 Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -10.0</li>
</ul></div>

Source • Japan AnalyticsPasona (2168 JP)- Pasona was the largest capitalisation company to report on Friday. At the end of June, the company warned on impairment losses at the full-year ended in May 2020. The outcome was a write-off of ¥2.7 billion, resulting in a 63% decline in Comprehensive Income to Common (CITC) to ¥676 million. In the DETAIL below, we review the operating performance and valuation of this 'activist trap'.DAILY STATS4 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 2 Positive / 0 Neutral / 2 Negative

Average Results Score Change: +2.3

Average % Change in Revenue: -20% Quarter YoY / -12.9% Rolling TTM YoY

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -0.1ppt

Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 50%
 5 Annual • 4 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 1 Positive / 0 Neutral / 4 Negative

Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 1 Positive / 0 Neutral / 3 Negative

Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -10.0


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 17th July -

Doing bespoke work since 2002....., Custom Products Group

Patrick Hansen

Doing bespoke work since 2002.....

Custom Products Group

Custom Products was started 14 years ago at Lehman Brothers by current co-founder Patrick Hansen, CFA. After 3 years at Lehman, Patrick moved the team to Macquarie Securities where Simon Rigney (co-founder) joined. 3 years ago we took Custom Products independent. 

Our core strength can be summed up three words. 1- Customization - we have very little off the shelf products and most work is done on a one on one bespoke basis. 2- Speed - We pride ourselves in our ability to get requests back to the client very quickly. 3- Confidentiality - We do not redistribute. There is no grace period where we wait a week and then mass blast. Any request stops with that client.

<p>I know we usually focus on Value in Japan, but sometimes it is worth looking for Growth names. We first limited the universe to names with mkt-cap below ¥200bn. We then screened for names that had positive YoY quarterly growth every quarter for the last 3 years. 98 names made that list.</p><p>We cut the list down to 24 names by limiting it to names that have also had positive quarterly OP  growth 12 out of the last 13 quarters.</p><h2>Screen Results </h2><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/029/859/original/2.png?1500323285" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="29859"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Custom Products</div><p>As you can see from the table above…</p>

I know we usually focus on Value in Japan, but sometimes it is worth looking for Growth names. We first limited the universe to names with mkt-cap below ¥200bn. We then screened for names that had positive YoY quarterly growth every quarter for the last 3 years. 98 names made that list.We cut the list down to 24 names by limiting it to names that have also had positive quarterly OP  growth 12 out of the last 13 quarters.Screen Results Source: Custom ProductsAs you can see from the table above…

<ul><li>Q1 FY12/25 results were ahead of expectations with +57.1% OP growth YoY.</li><li>The core marriage agency business experienced steady growth, with both the Affiliate Business and the Directly Managed Lounge Business driving new membership growth with optimized marketing spend.</li><li>IBJ is leveraging its core competencies in operating a leading matchmaking franchise model to expand into adjacent businesses and develop new earnings pillars, primarily the newly disclosed K Village Business segment and 'NAYUTAS', its Korean voice training and dance school operation. </li></ul>

Q1 FY12/25 results were ahead of expectations with +57.1% OP growth YoY.The core marriage agency business experienced steady growth, with both the Affiliate Business and the Directly Managed Lounge Business driving new membership growth with optimized marketing spend.IBJ is leveraging its core competencies in operating a leading matchmaking franchise model to expand into adjacent businesses and develop new earnings pillars, primarily the newly disclosed K Village Business segment and 'NAYUTAS', its Korean voice training and dance school operation. 

IBJ (6071 JP) - Momentum Building with Diversification

Japan

IBJ Inc provides marriage matchmaking services. The Company offers marriage consulting services through the Internet. IBJ also offers and consults business events and seminars.

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IBJ (6071 JP)

IBJ (6071 JP) - Diversification Taking Shape

The Life Design segment also delivered significant growth, driven by solid performance in the photo, insurance, and wedding businesses, as well as...

Astris Advisory Japan

Annual Directory: Corporate Research - January 2026

This inaugural edition of the Astris Advisory Japan Annual Directory presents our corporate equity research coverage to support informed decision...

Astris Advisory Japan

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 17th July -

Pasona (2168 JP)- Pasona was the largest capitalisation company to report on Friday. At the end of June, the company warned on impairment losses at...

Campbell Gunn

Small-Cap Growth Names in Japan....

I know we usually focus on Value in Japan, but sometimes it is worth looking for Growth names. We first limited the universe to names with mkt-cap...

Custom Products Group

IBJ (6071 JP) - Momentum Building with Diversification

The core marriage agency business experienced steady growth, with both the Affiliate Business and the Directly Managed Lounge Business driving new...

Astris Advisory Japan

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