Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Japan Petroleum Exploration / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Japanese companies are buying back more stock than ever before, and recent moves by the TSE and METI are effectively pushing for more.</li>
<li>The new goal is to lift PBR and ROE. The easiest way to lift ROE is reduce E. Low-PBR Cos with excess assets and cross-holdings (outbound and inbound) are targets.</li>
<li>In this insight I look at several possible rankings for potential large buyback targets.</li>
</ul>


Japanese companies are buying back more stock than ever before, and recent moves by the TSE and METI are effectively pushing for more.
The new goal is to lift PBR and ROE. The easiest way to lift ROE is reduce E. Low-PBR Cos with excess assets and cross-holdings (outbound and inbound) are targets.
In this insight I look at several possible rankings for potential large buyback targets.


JAPAN GOVERNANCE CHANGES II - Who Could Surprise on Buybacks? Quant Rankings

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

<ul>
<li>The bullish outlook for global equities (MSCI ACWI) that we initiated in early November 2023 remains intact; continue to ride this trend higher.</li>
<li>Many of the heavily-weighted countries in terms of global market capitalization (U.S., Europe, Japan) are extended; we'd welcome some consolidation, though it may come from higher levels.</li>
<li>Ultimately, market dynamics remain healthy, and we would treat pullbacks as buying opportunities. Downgrading India to market weight. Actionable Themes: Global Materials, Energy, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrials</li>
</ul>


The bullish outlook for global equities (MSCI ACWI) that we initiated in early November 2023 remains intact; continue to ride this trend higher.
Many of the heavily-weighted countries in terms of global market capitalization (U.S., Europe, Japan) are extended; we'd welcome some consolidation, though it may come from higher levels.
Ultimately, market dynamics remain healthy, and we would treat pullbacks as buying opportunities. Downgrading India to market weight. Actionable Themes: Global Materials, Energy, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrials


Bullish Outlook Intact; Downgrading India; Buys in Materials, Energy, Discretionary, Industrials

<ul>
<li>A year ago I wrote that same headline as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/inpex-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20665:1" rel="noopener">Inpex Corp (1605 JP)</a> reported H1 results, a change in forecasts, and a bigly buyback.</li>
<li>Yesterday, Inpex reported FY2023 H1 results, a change in forecasts, and a bigly buyback. </li>
<li>The mechanics are the same. The impact is a bit different, but it is worth looking at. Then there is the event on 28 February 2024.</li>
</ul>


A year ago I wrote that same headline as Inpex Corp (1605 JP) reported H1 results, a change in forecasts, and a bigly buyback.
Yesterday, Inpex reported FY2023 H1 results, a change in forecasts, and a bigly buyback. 
The mechanics are the same. The impact is a bit different, but it is worth looking at. Then there is the event on 28 February 2024.


Inpex (1605 JP) - Earnings, Forecasts and a BIGLY Buyback (Aug 2023 Version)

<ul>
<li>Today <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/inpex-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20665:1" rel="noopener">Inpex Corp (1605 JP)</a> announced Q2 earnings (<a href="https://www.inpex.co.jp/english/ir/library/pdf/result/e-result20220808.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">results</a>, <a href="https://www.inpex.co.jp/english/ir/pdf/e20220808_c.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">presentation</a>), a revised <a href="https://www.inpex.co.jp/english/news/assets/pdf/20220808.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full-year forecast</a> due to higher crude and lower yen, an 11%-above-guidance dividend, and a big buyback.</li>
<li>The buyback is for up to 120mm shares spending up to ¥120bn, to run through year-end. Practically speaking, it is limited to 80mm shares or so at current price. </li>
<li>This should be a non-negligible portion of Real World Float, and I expect the buyback to have impact over the next five months.</li>
</ul>


Today Inpex Corp (1605 JP) announced Q2 earnings (results, presentation), a revised full-year forecast due to higher crude and lower yen, an 11%-above-guidance dividend, and a big buyback.
The buyback is for up to 120mm shares spending up to ¥120bn, to run through year-end. Practically speaking, it is limited to 80mm shares or so at current price. 
This should be a non-negligible portion of Real World Float, and I expect the buyback to have impact over the next five months.


Inpex (1605 JP) - Earnings, Forecasts and a BIGLY Buyback

When the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/inpex-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20665:1" rel="noopener">Inpex Corp (1605 JP)</a> buyback programme was announced last Friday, and the ToSTNeT-3 buyback was announced with the footnote that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-petroleum-exploration" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12219:1" rel="noopener">Japan Petroleum Exploration (1662 JP)</a> intended to sell shares to the tune of ¥50bn, I wrote about the outlook post ToSTNeT-3 buyback for both companies in...<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/inpex-buyback-offers-2-opportunities-inpex-1605-jp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:60204" rel="noopener">INPEX Buyback Offers 2 Opportunities - INPEX (1605 JP)</a> and</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/inpex-buyback-offers-2-opportunities-japex-1662-jp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:60225" rel="noopener">INPEX Buyback Offers 2 Opportunities - JAPEX (1662 JP)</a> </li>
</ul>In the piece on JAPEX, I noted that the combination of higher oil prices since the August announcement of expected losses this year, the price of crude and natgas was higher so the actual losses would likely be lower than forecast, and the sale of half JAPEX' stake in INPEX would lead to a near-record amount of excess non-operating capital (net cash+securities, etc) against a sharp reduction in cash burn at its Canadian units, which were to be sold. I recommended buying JAPEX suggesting the best way to apply that cash was a buyback. After the INPEX buyback, JAPEX <a href="https://www.japex.co.jp/uploads/pdf/JAPEX20211108_INPEXStocksTrade_e.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that the sale of INPEX shares would mean booking extraordinary income of JPY 39.8bn. This was to be expected. Yesterday, JAPEX announced H1 results, with...<ul>
<li>H1 OP at ¥9.54bn against the 10 August full year estimate at ¥11.9bn.</li>
<li>H1 Ordinary Profit (including equity affiliate income) at ¥19.35bn vs full-year estimate on 10 August of ¥26.16bn. </li>
<li>H1 Net Profit of -¥119.7bn vs full-year estimate of -¥114.0bn. This was expected because the full hit of securities sales losses (selling JACOS, etc), writedowns, and additional contingent liabilities on debt guarantees associated with the asset sales) would hit in H1, whereas H2 would see additional profit.</li>
</ul>Higher crude and gas prices and slightly higher USD/yen helped, and the company upped its full-year forecast for OP (up another 40%) and Ordinary Profit (up another 9%) yet again. With crude at current levels or hedge-able levels, those two numbers are light. The company also raised its net profit estimate for the full year to March 2022 from -¥114bn to -¥69.8bn, adding ¥44bn compared to the ¥39.8bn extraordinary gain (pre-tax) from the INPEX sale. JAPEX also announced a buyback. Bingo.More below the fold.

When the Inpex Corp (1605 JP) buyback programme was announced last Friday, and the ToSTNeT-3 buyback was announced with the footnote that Japan Petroleum Exploration (1662 JP) intended to sell shares to the tune of ¥50bn, I wrote about the outlook post ToSTNeT-3 buyback for both companies in...

INPEX Buyback Offers 2 Opportunities - INPEX (1605 JP) and

INPEX Buyback Offers 2 Opportunities - JAPEX (1662 JP) 
In the piece on JAPEX, I noted that the combination of higher oil prices since the August announcement of expected losses this year, the price of crude and natgas was higher so the actual losses would likely be lower than forecast, and the sale of half JAPEX' stake in INPEX would lead to a near-record amount of excess non-operating capital (net cash+securities, etc) against a sharp reduction in cash burn at its Canadian units, which were to be sold. I recommended buying JAPEX suggesting the best way to apply that cash was a buyback. After the INPEX buyback, JAPEX announced that the sale of INPEX shares would mean booking extraordinary income of JPY 39.8bn. This was to be expected. Yesterday, JAPEX announced H1 results, with...
H1 OP at ¥9.54bn against the 10 August full year estimate at ¥11.9bn.
H1 Ordinary Profit (including equity affiliate income) at ¥19.35bn vs full-year estimate on 10 August of ¥26.16bn. 
H1 Net Profit of -¥119.7bn vs full-year estimate of -¥114.0bn. This was expected because the full hit of securities sales losses (selling JACOS, etc), writedowns, and additional contingent liabilities on debt guarantees associated with the asset sales) would hit in H1, whereas H2 would see additional profit.
Higher crude and gas prices and slightly higher USD/yen helped, and the company upped its full-year forecast for OP (up another 40%) and Ordinary Profit (up another 9%) yet again. With crude at current levels or hedge-able levels, those two numbers are light. The company also raised its net profit estimate for the full year to March 2022 from -¥114bn to -¥69.8bn, adding ¥44bn compared to the ¥39.8bn extraordinary gain (pre-tax) from the INPEX sale. JAPEX also announced a buyback. Bingo.More below the fold.

Japan

Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. explores, develops, and markets petroleum products such as crude oil and natural gas.

Japan Petroleum Exploration (1662 JP)

JAPAN GOVERNANCE CHANGES II - Who Could Surprise on Buybacks? Quant Rankings

JAPAN GOVERNANCE: There is a buyback story coming. It will be big. Bigger than the past year or two, and it will continue. What to buy?

Travis Lundy

Bullish Outlook Intact; Downgrading India; Buys in Materials, Energy, Discretionary, Industrials

Bullish Outlook Intact on MSCI ACWI; Downgrading India to Market; Market Dynamics Healthy; Treat Pullbacks as Buying Opportunities; Buys in global...

Vermilion Research

Inpex (1605 JP) - Earnings, Forecasts and a BIGLY Buyback (Aug 2023 Version)

Inpex announced earnings and, revised its forecast upwards (for the second time this fiscal year), and announced a buyback. The buyback is big...

Travis Lundy

Inpex (1605 JP) - Earnings, Forecasts and a BIGLY Buyback

inpex (1605) has announced earnings (as expected), revised guidance (still light), a div hike (nice) and a big buyback. Language suggests it will...

Travis Lundy

JAPEX Profit and BUYBACK - More To Go

JAPEX sold INPEX shares, raised forecasts, and announced its own buyback. What is not to like? There is a fair bit more to go here.

Travis Lundy