Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Corona virus is rampaging across Japan again. There were 1,591 new COVID cases in Tokyo and over 6,000 nationwide yesterday. Earlier this week, the Japanese government said that they are considering declaring a state of emergency in and around the Tokyo area.</li>
<li>Japanese cosmetics underperformed Topix by 10 percentage points during last year as the cosmetics sector earnings declined by 68% due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.</li>
<li>Following the first round of restrictions in April 2020, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kose-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18009:1" rel="noopener">Kose Corp (4922 JP)</a>’s share price underperformed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fancl-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15862:1" rel="noopener">Fancl Corp (4921 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12933:1" rel="noopener">Kao Corp (4452 JP)</a> by 49% and 9% respectively in the April-July 2020 period. Since then Kose has outperformed Fancl 31% and Kao by 56%.</li>
<li>As Japan prepares for a second round of “soft lockdowns”, we would recommend investors to reposition their investments in Japanese cosmetics to <strong>Short Kose</strong> and <strong>Long Fancl and Kao</strong>.</li>
</ul>


Corona virus is rampaging across Japan again. There were 1,591 new COVID cases in Tokyo and over 6,000 nationwide yesterday. Earlier this week, the Japanese government said that they are considering declaring a state of emergency in and around the Tokyo area.
Japanese cosmetics underperformed Topix by 10 percentage points during last year as the cosmetics sector earnings declined by 68% due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Following the first round of restrictions in April 2020, Kose Corp (4922 JP)’s share price underperformed Fancl Corp (4921 JP) and Kao Corp (4452 JP) by 49% and 9% respectively in the April-July 2020 period. Since then Kose has outperformed Fancl 31% and Kao by 56%.
As Japan prepares for a second round of “soft lockdowns”, we would recommend investors to reposition their investments in Japanese cosmetics to Short Kose and Long Fancl and Kao.


Japanese Cosmetics Pair Trade Opportunities As Japan Prepares to Declare a State of Emergency

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/country-garden-services-holdings-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27343:1" rel="noopener">Country Garden Services Holdings (6098 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com (HK) (9618 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netease" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29030:1" rel="noopener">NetEase (9999 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/semiconductor-manufacturing-international-corp-smic" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14231:1" rel="noopener">Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (981 HK)</a>. Shorts increased on Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate, and decreased on Financials and Information Technology names.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/honda-motor-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:154:1" rel="noopener">Honda Motor (7267 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12933:1" rel="noopener">Kao Corp (4452 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/central-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13520:1" rel="noopener">Central Japan Railway Co (9022 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bridgestone-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8914:1" rel="noopener">Bridgestone Corp (5108 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/m3-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13316:1" rel="noopener">M3 Inc (2413 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/takeda-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11747:1" rel="noopener">Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11028:1" rel="noopener">Toto Ltd (5332 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/casio-computer-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18338:1" rel="noopener">Casio Computer (6952 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased on Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, Consumer Staples and Industrials, and decreased on Health Care names.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, there were large short positions put on in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-chem-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3583:1" rel="noopener">LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 KS)</a>.</p></div><div><p>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/largan-precision-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9126:1" rel="noopener">Largan Precision (3008 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unimicron-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18778:1" rel="noopener">Unimicron Technology (3037 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chung-hsin-electric-machinery-mfg-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3380:1" rel="noopener">Chung Hsin Electric &amp; Machinery Mfg (1513 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innolux-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4509:1" rel="noopener">Innolux Corp (3481 TT)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/walsin-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11084:1" rel="noopener">Walsin Technology (2492 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/epistar-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6849:1" rel="noopener">Epistar Corp (2448 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/novatek-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10904:1" rel="noopener">Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT)</a>.   </p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Country Garden Services Holdings (6098 HK), JD.com (HK) (9618 HK), China Mobile (941 HK) and NetEase (9999 HK) while there was short covering on Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK) and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (981 HK). Shorts increased on Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate, and decreased on Financials and Information Technology names.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Honda Motor (7267 JP), Kao Corp (4452 JP), Central Japan Railway Co (9022 JP) and Bridgestone Corp (5108 JP) while shorts decreased on M3 Inc (2413 JP), Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP), Toto Ltd (5332 JP) and Casio Computer (6952 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased on Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, Consumer Staples and Industrials, and decreased on Health Care names.In Korea, there were large short positions put on in LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS), Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), Celltrion Inc (068270 KS) and SK Hynix (000660 KS).Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were Largan Precision (3008 TT), Unimicron Technology (3037 TT), Chung Hsin Electric &amp; Machinery Mfg (1513 TT) and Innolux Corp (3481 TT) while shorts were covered on TSMC (2330 TT), Walsin Technology (2492 TT), Epistar Corp (2448 TT) and Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT).   

Asia Short Interest: JD, NetEase, Xiaomi, SMIC, M3, Toto, LG Chem, Celltrion, Largan, TSMC

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guangzhou-blue-moon-industry-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29179:1" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Holdings (BMG HK)</a> (BMG) raised around US$1.4bn in its Hong Kong listing. The company is backed by Hillhouse who first invested in the company in 2010. </p></div><div><p>We have covered various aspects of the deal, in our earlier insights:</p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-the-positives-dominant-market-share-strong-online-sales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - The Positives - Dominant Market Share, Strong Online Sales</a></li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-the-negatives-flagging-offline-sales-not-really-a-primary-raising" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Flagging Offline Sales, Not Really a Primary Raising</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-no-1-but-no-exclusive-advantage-observation-on-the-ground" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon: No. 1 but no exclusive advantage, observation on the ground.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-online-reviews-and-peer-comparison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Online Reviews and Peer Comparison</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-initial-thoughts-on-valuation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Initial Thoughts on Valuation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-phip-updates-a-mixed-bag" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - PHIP Updates - A Mixed Bag</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-valuation-updates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Valuation Updates</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-ipo-not-a-clean-wash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group IPO - Not a Clean Wash</a></li>
</ul></div><div><p>In this insight, I'll talk about the subscription levels and provide a table with implied valuations.</p></div>

Blue Moon Group Holdings (BMG HK) (BMG) raised around US$1.4bn in its Hong Kong listing. The company is backed by Hillhouse who first invested in the company in 2010. We have covered various aspects of the deal, in our earlier insights:
Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - The Positives - Dominant Market Share, Strong Online Sales
In Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Flagging Offline Sales, Not Really a Primary Raising

Blue Moon: No. 1 but no exclusive advantage, observation on the ground.
Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Online Reviews and Peer Comparison
Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Initial Thoughts on Valuation
Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - PHIP Updates - A Mixed Bag
Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Valuation Updates
Blue Moon Group IPO - Not a Clean Wash
In this insight, I'll talk about the subscription levels and provide a table with implied valuations.

Blue Moon Group IPO Trading - Too Expensive for Our Liking but Retail Traders Seem to Like It

<div><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guangzhou-blue-moon-industry-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29179:1" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Holdings (BMG HK)</a> (BMG) aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its Hong Kong listing. The company is backed by Hillhouse who first invested in the company in 2010. </p></div><div><p>BMG is a consumer household care company in China, which sells its products in three main categories: fabric care, personal hygiene and home care. As per Frost &amp; Sullivan, it has been the market leader in liquid laundry detergent, liquid soap and concentrated liquid laundry detergent market over 2017-19. </p></div><div><p> I have covered various aspects of the deal, in my earlier insights:</p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-the-positives-dominant-market-share-strong-online-sales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - The Positives - Dominant Market Share, Strong Online Sales</a>, I spoke about the positive aspects of the deal.</li>
<li>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-the-negatives-flagging-offline-sales-not-really-a-primary-raising" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Flagging Offline Sales, Not Really a Primary Raising</a>, I spoke about the not so flattering aspects of the deal</li>
<li>While my colleague, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/ming-lu" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:2496" rel="noopener">Ming Lu, </a>commented on the offline presence in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-no-1-but-no-exclusive-advantage-observation-on-the-ground" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon: No. 1 but no exclusive advantage, observation on the ground.</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-online-reviews-and-peer-comparison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Online Reviews and Peer Comparison</a>, I compared the company compares with some of its listed peers.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-initial-thoughts-on-valuation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Initial Thoughts on Valuation</a>, I took a first stab at valuations.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-phip-updates-a-mixed-bag" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - PHIP Updates - A Mixed Bag</a>, I spoke about the updates from the PHIP filing</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/blue-moon-group-pre-ipo-valuation-updates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Valuation Updates</a>, I spoke about updates to my previous valuation</li>
</ul></div><div><p>In this insight, I'll run the deal through our ECM framework</p></div>

Blue Moon Group Holdings (BMG HK) (BMG) aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its Hong Kong listing. The company is backed by Hillhouse who first invested in the company in 2010. BMG is a consumer household care company in China, which sells its products in three main categories: fabric care, personal hygiene and home care. As per Frost &amp; Sullivan, it has been the market leader in liquid laundry detergent, liquid soap and concentrated liquid laundry detergent market over 2017-19.  I have covered various aspects of the deal, in my earlier insights:

Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - The Positives - Dominant Market Share, Strong Online Sales, I spoke about the positive aspects of the deal.
In Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - The Negatives - Flagging Offline Sales, Not Really a Primary Raising, I spoke about the not so flattering aspects of the deal
While my colleague, Ming Lu, commented on the offline presence in Blue Moon: No. 1 but no exclusive advantage, observation on the ground.


Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Online Reviews and Peer Comparison, I compared the company compares with some of its listed peers.

Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Initial Thoughts on Valuation, I took a first stab at valuations.

Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - PHIP Updates - A Mixed Bag, I spoke about the updates from the PHIP filing

Blue Moon Group Pre-IPO - Valuation Updates, I spoke about updates to my previous valuation
In this insight, I'll run the deal through our ECM framework

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

Equity Bottom-Up

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/176/175/original/2020-12-03_05-39-01.png?1606941555" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="176175"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics </div></section><div><p><strong>FOUR QUADRANTS PICKS</strong> - Our recent series of Insights covering companies that are extreme outliers in our Relative Price Score/Results &amp; Revision Score matrix has featured the following seven companies:-  </p></div><div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<strong>CONTRARIAN BUYS</strong> - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikon-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7117:1" rel="noopener">Nikon (7731 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuji-media-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3191:1" rel="noopener">Fuji Media (4676 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/east-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14271:1" rel="noopener">East Japan Railway (9020 JP)</a> </li>
<li>
<strong>CONTRARIAN SELLS</strong> - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/m3-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13316:1" rel="noopener">M3 (2413 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/disco-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15817:1" rel="noopener">DISCO (6146 JP)</a> </li>
<li>
<strong>TURNAROUND BUYS</strong> - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27445:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Corp (9434 JP)</a> </li>
<li>
<strong>EX-GROWTH SELLS</strong> - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12933:1" rel="noopener">Kao  (4452 JP)</a> </li>
</ul>
<p><strong>2021 HIGH CONVICTION COLLECTION</strong> - For Smartkarma's '2021 High Conviction Collection' we have chosen one of the seven to be our selection. Given the lack of short ideas so far - only two and both in the US - our pick, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/m3-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13316:1" rel="noopener">M3 (2413 JP)</a>, is the first Asian, and first Japanese, 'short' to join the Collection.</p>
<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/176/209/original/2020-12-03_10-35-14.png?1606959327" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="176209"></figure></section><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/m3-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13316:1" rel="noopener"><strong>M3</strong></a>- M3 is the most extreme outlier of the seven stocks we have featured and was recommended as a 'Suga Growth Long in our Smartkarma Original - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-in-the-suga-era-policy-priorities-suga-stocks" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43773" rel="noopener">Japan in the Suga Era - Policy Priorities &amp; 'Suga Stocks'</a>. Since then the stock has appreciated by 40% and by 10% since we published <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-four-quadrants-contrarian-sells" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45725" rel="noopener">Contrarian Sells</a>, adding almost ¥2 trillion in market value M3 is Japan's fifteenth largest company with a market value of ¥6.4 trillion, despite having only ¥144 billion in trailing revenues, ¥43 billion in trailing operating income, and just ¥18 billion in trailing CITC. While valuations may be less of a concern in the momentum-driven post-COVID era, we have highlighted several areas of concern regarding the company's margin-diluting diversification, that suggest that M3's tripling in value seen in 2020 will not be repeated. <strong>M3 is our 2021 'High Conviction Sell' </strong>     </p>
</div>

Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics FOUR QUADRANTS PICKS - Our recent series of Insights covering companies that are extreme outliers in our Relative Price Score/Results &amp; Revision Score matrix has featured the following seven companies:-  


CONTRARIAN BUYS - Nikon (7731 JP), Fuji Media (4676 JP), East Japan Railway (9020 JP) 

CONTRARIAN SELLS - M3 (2413 JP), DISCO (6146 JP) 

TURNAROUND BUYS - Softbank Corp (9434 JP) 

EX-GROWTH SELLS - Kao  (4452 JP) 

2021 HIGH CONVICTION COLLECTION - For Smartkarma's '2021 High Conviction Collection' we have chosen one of the seven to be our selection. Given the lack of short ideas so far - only two and both in the US - our pick, M3 (2413 JP), is the first Asian, and first Japanese, 'short' to join the Collection.
M3- M3 is the most extreme outlier of the seven stocks we have featured and was recommended as a 'Suga Growth Long in our Smartkarma Original - Japan in the Suga Era - Policy Priorities &amp; 'Suga Stocks'. Since then the stock has appreciated by 40% and by 10% since we published Contrarian Sells, adding almost ¥2 trillion in market value M3 is Japan's fifteenth largest company with a market value of ¥6.4 trillion, despite having only ¥144 billion in trailing revenues, ¥43 billion in trailing operating income, and just ¥18 billion in trailing CITC. While valuations may be less of a concern in the momentum-driven post-COVID era, we have highlighted several areas of concern regarding the company's margin-diluting diversification, that suggest that M3's tripling in value seen in 2020 will not be repeated. M3 is our 2021 'High Conviction Sell'      


2021 High Conviction 🇯🇵 Sell M3 (2413 JP)

Japan

Kao Corporation is a manufacturer of household and chemical products. The company produces cosmetics, laundry and cleaning products, hygiene products, fatty chemicals, edible oils, and specialty chemicals.

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Kao Corp (4452 JP)

Japanese Cosmetics Pair Trade Opportunities As Japan Prepares to Declare a State of Emergency

Long Kao/Short Kose and Long Fancl/Short Kose seems rather attractive/low risk pair trade opportunities amidst ongoing discussions about Japan...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Asia Short Interest: JD, NetEase, Xiaomi, SMIC, M3, Toto, LG Chem, Celltrion, Largan, TSMC

The weekly short interest report looks at large moves across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan names to gauge investor interest in the stock.

Brian Freitas

Blue Moon Group IPO Trading - Too Expensive for Our Liking but Retail Traders Seem to Like It

Blue Moon Group Holdings (BMG HK) (BMG) raised around US$1.4bn in its Hong Kong listing. The company is backed by Hillhouse who first invested in...

Sumeet Singh

Blue Moon Group IPO - Not a Clean Wash

Blue Moon Group Holdings (BMG HK) (BMG) aims to raise up to US$1.3bn in its Hong Kong listing. The company is backed by Hillhouse who first...

Sumeet Singh

2021 High Conviction 🇯🇵 Sell M3 (2413 JP)

2021 HIGH CONVICTION COLLECTION - For Smartkarma's '2021 High Conviction Collection' we have chosen one of our seven RPS/RRS outliers to be our...

Campbell Gunn

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