Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Japan Post Holdings beat by 1.5% at the revenue line and 1% at the NP line with each of the three major businesses beating guidance slightly. </li>
<li>Guidance was, as usual, for NP to decline YoY and at ¥400bn was slightly below consensus at ¥428bn. </li>
<li>The more important news was a buyback for ¥200bn or 7.6% of outstanding shares.</li>
</ul>


Japan Post Holdings beat by 1.5% at the revenue line and 1% at the NP line with each of the three major businesses beating guidance slightly. 
Guidance was, as usual, for NP to decline YoY and at ¥400bn was slightly below consensus at ¥428bn. 
The more important news was a buyback for ¥200bn or 7.6% of outstanding shares.


Japan Post Holdings – Silly Guidance And A Not So Silly Buyback

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:359:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP)</a> and its two main components <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-insurance-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:840:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Insurance (7181 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:838:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Bank (7182 JP)</a> reported excellent earnings for the year to March 2022...</li>
<li>....but not so excellent forecasts for the year to March 2023. Some of that is conservative. Some is "finger-in-the-air", and some of it is the vagaries of insurance sales accounting.</li>
<li>But they all pay high dividends and Japan Post Holdings announced a ¥200bn buyback. And remember, there will likely Never Be Another JPH Equity Offering, Ever Again. Ever. </li>
</ul>



Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP) and its two main components Japan Post Insurance (7181 JP) and Japan Post Bank (7182 JP) reported excellent earnings for the year to March 2022...
....but not so excellent forecasts for the year to March 2023. Some of that is conservative. Some is "finger-in-the-air", and some of it is the vagaries of insurance sales accounting.
But they all pay high dividends and Japan Post Holdings announced a ¥200bn buyback. And remember, there will likely Never Be Another JPH Equity Offering, Ever Again. Ever. 


Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP) - Ugly Group Forecasts But a Very Bigly Buyback

David Blennerhassett

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/didi-chuxing-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27467:1" rel="noopener">DiDi Global (DIDI US)</a> had serious data problems. It still listed itself, against the wishes of the regulators. Then it got in serious hot water. And it's been getting hotter. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ramsay-health-care-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:673:1" rel="noopener">Ramsay Health Care (RHC AU)</a> announced an unsolicited, non-binding Offer from KKR (and HISTA), at A$88.00/share, a 36.7% premium to last close, however, earnings have been left bedridden by the pandemic.</li>
<li>Post-Deal, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12:1" rel="noopener">Keppel Corp (KEP SP)</a> will look more like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sembcorp-industries-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1087:1" rel="noopener">Sembcorp Industries (SCI SP)</a>. More engineering, less power generation infra assets, more other infra assets and more data centres. </li>
</ul>



DiDi Global (DIDI US) had serious data problems. It still listed itself, against the wishes of the regulators. Then it got in serious hot water. And it's been getting hotter. 

Ramsay Health Care (RHC AU) announced an unsolicited, non-binding Offer from KKR (and HISTA), at A$88.00/share, a 36.7% premium to last close, however, earnings have been left bedridden by the pandemic.
Post-Deal, Keppel Corp (KEP SP) will look more like Sembcorp Industries (SCI SP). More engineering, less power generation infra assets, more other infra assets and more data centres. 


Last Week in Event SPACE: Didi Global, Ramsay Health, Keppel Corp, Melco, Toshiba, Twitter

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Amazon Japan continues to lead in online merchandise sales, with GTVs rising faster than Rakuten in 2021 and far ahead of Z Holdings. </li>
<li>Nevertheless both the domestic incumbents are fighting hard to overcome their weaknesses and use their strengths in mobile networks, loyalty points and cashless payments to win share.</li>
<li>Rakuten is also now making it possible to consolidate orders from multiple merchants and plans to open this service to any online merchant – a game changer for online platforms. </li>
</ul>


Amazon Japan continues to lead in online merchandise sales, with GTVs rising faster than Rakuten in 2021 and far ahead of Z Holdings. 
Nevertheless both the domestic incumbents are fighting hard to overcome their weaknesses and use their strengths in mobile networks, loyalty points and cashless payments to win share.
Rakuten is also now making it possible to consolidate orders from multiple merchants and plans to open this service to any online merchant – a game changer for online platforms. 


Japan E-Commerce Wars Intensify Among the Big 3 Online Platforms

<ul>
<li>The BOJ looks increasingly trapped between a rapidly depreciating yen and a stated desire to hold rates low. </li>
<li>We believe that the BOJ will eventually have to compromise on its 0.25% ceiling for the ten year JGB once inflation data gives them cover to do so. </li>
<li>However, we believe Japan Post Holdings could potentially benefit from both macro forces and consider it one of the best risk-reward positions in Japan and perhaps globally.</li>
</ul>


The BOJ looks increasingly trapped between a rapidly depreciating yen and a stated desire to hold rates low. 
We believe that the BOJ will eventually have to compromise on its 0.25% ceiling for the ten year JGB once inflation data gives them cover to do so. 
However, we believe Japan Post Holdings could potentially benefit from both macro forces and consider it one of the best risk-reward positions in Japan and perhaps globally.


Japan Post Holdings – Good Play On the BOJ’s Conundrum

Japan

Japan Post Holdings Co. Ltd. operates post stations, banks, and insurance business. The Company offers letters and goods transportation services, stamp sales, deposits, loans, and insurance products.

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Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP)

Japan Post Holdings – Silly Guidance And A Not So Silly Buyback

Japan Post Holdings' earnings guidance is excessively conservative but nevertheless was only slightly below consensus while its buyback is big and...

Mio Kato