'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)

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/130/058/original/2020-04-28_05-09-49.png?1588018213" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="130058"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>THE 'UNLIMTED' BANK OF JAPAN - The Bank of Japan's well-telegraphed announcement that they will be free of any constraints in their purchases of fixed income securities had limited impact on the exchange rate and bond markets. In practice, the central bank is limited by the lack of availability of JGBs and yields already being current at their target rate of zero. However, the extension of the BoJ remit to cover corporate bonds and even 'household debt' did prompt short-covering of indebted deep cyclical sectors of the equity market. There were no new purchases of ETFs yesterday.FORECAST REVISION SCORE &lt; RESULTS SCORE - Our Forecast/Revision Score has been higher than our Results Score since February as companies with December year-ends released bullish forecasts for 2020. Many of these forecasts are now being revised down or, as in the case of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon  (7751 JP)</a>, are being withdrawn.  This Score 'crossover' has been bearish for equities over the past decade, and we would require the reverse for a medium or long-term 'buy' signal for Japanese equities. One caveat is the large number of companies forgoing making initial forecasts for FY2021. Yesterday, only seventeen of the forty-four annual results declarations were accompanied by new forecasts. In the DETAIL below, we shall review Monday's large-cap results, revisions and initial forecast announcements.  The positive/neutral/negative balance for the 52 results was 23:5:24; and for the 50 revisions/initial forecasts, the split was 22:2:26. Four companies, including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/stanley-electric-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1330:1" rel="noopener">Stanley Electric (6923 JP)</a>  cut their dividends; two increased.

Source • Japan AnalyticsTHE 'UNLIMTED' BANK OF JAPAN - The Bank of Japan's well-telegraphed announcement that they will be free of any constraints in their purchases of fixed income securities had limited impact on the exchange rate and bond markets. In practice, the central bank is limited by the lack of availability of JGBs and yields already being current at their target rate of zero. However, the extension of the BoJ remit to cover corporate bonds and even 'household debt' did prompt short-covering of indebted deep cyclical sectors of the equity market. There were no new purchases of ETFs yesterday.FORECAST REVISION SCORE &lt; RESULTS SCORE - Our Forecast/Revision Score has been higher than our Results Score since February as companies with December year-ends released bullish forecasts for 2020. Many of these forecasts are now being revised down or, as in the case of Canon  (7751 JP), are being withdrawn.  This Score 'crossover' has been bearish for equities over the past decade, and we would require the reverse for a medium or long-term 'buy' signal for Japanese equities. One caveat is the large number of companies forgoing making initial forecasts for FY2021. Yesterday, only seventeen of the forty-four annual results declarations were accompanied by new forecasts. In the DETAIL below, we shall review Monday's large-cap results, revisions and initial forecast announcements.  The positive/neutral/negative balance for the 52 results was 23:5:24; and for the 50 revisions/initial forecasts, the split was 22:2:26. Four companies, including Stanley Electric (6923 JP)  cut their dividends; two increased. 

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 28th April - The 'Unlimited' BoJ + Panasonic, T.Yuden, Kao, Kyocera

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Consumer Staples are a good inflation hedge, but only if they can pass on the increase in raw material costs to end consumers. In a scenario of high unemployment and collapsing demand this may not always be possible.We have taken a look at the change in short interest on Asian consumer staples names across Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and Japan to identify stocks that the market is betting on and against.There is a fair bit of variability among the HK and Taiwan stocks, short interest has been broadly lower in Korea and has been plummeting in Japan. Investors can use the data as one of the inputs in identifying stocks that could benefit from an increase in inflation in the near/medium term.

Consumer Staples are a good inflation hedge, but only if they can pass on the increase in raw material costs to end consumers. In a scenario of high unemployment and collapsing demand this may not always be possible.We have taken a look at the change in short interest on Asian consumer staples names across Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and Japan to identify stocks that the market is betting on and against.There is a fair bit of variability among the HK and Taiwan stocks, short interest has been broadly lower in Korea and has been plummeting in Japan. Investors can use the data as one of the inputs in identifying stocks that could benefit from an increase in inflation in the near/medium term.

Asian Consumer Staples - Inflation Hedge?

ja research

ja research is an independent research platform focused exclusively on Japanese equities. Leveraging data and graphic analysis provided by Japan Analytics, we provide insights on small and medium-sized companies that have been ignored by the sell-side as well as challenging conventional wisdom on larger companies. We also offer analyst and corporate access, the latter with translation if required. 

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/116/367/original/2020-02-05_03-43-39.png?1580847984" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="116367"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>4TH FEBRUARY ROUNDUP - As expected the 121 Results and 41 Forecast/Revision announcements yesterday took our Results Score 16bps lower to a new three-year low, although the Score is still positive. The Forecast/REvision Score added 13bps helped by <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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12933:1" rel="noopener">Kao (4452 JP)</a> although the latter's forecast is optimistic as we discuss in the DETAIL below.<hr>• SECTOR TIMELINE •<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/116/368/original/2020-02-05_03-47-58.png?1580848469" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="116368"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>SECTOR TIMELINE - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hoya-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8990:1" rel="noopener">Hoya (7741 JP)</a>'s results were the largest factor in the decline in the Other Commerical Products Sector. <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> helped Healthcare tick up, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-gro" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> fuelled the strong recovery in the Banks Sector.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/systena-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20438:1" rel="noopener">Systena (2317 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ntt-data-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11232:1" rel="noopener">NTT Data (9613 JP)</a> added to the erosion of the Information Technology Sector's lead, although partially offset by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itochu-techno-solutions-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2431:1" rel="noopener">Itochu Techno Solutions (4739 JP)</a>.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsui-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20799:1" rel="noopener">Mitsui (8031 JP)</a> 21% yoy decline in Q3 Net Income continued to downtrend in the Wholesale Sector's Score.

Source • Japan Analytics4TH FEBRUARY ROUNDUP - As expected the 121 Results and 41 Forecast/Revision announcements yesterday took our Results Score 16bps lower to a new three-year low, although the Score is still positive. The Forecast/REvision Score added 13bps helped by Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP) and Kao (4452 JP) although the latter's forecast is optimistic as we discuss in the DETAIL below.• SECTOR TIMELINE •Source • Japan AnalyticsSECTOR TIMELINE - Hoya (7741 JP)'s results were the largest factor in the decline in the Other Commerical Products Sector. Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP) helped Healthcare tick up, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) fuelled the strong recovery in the Banks Sector.  Systena (2317 JP) and NTT Data (9613 JP) added to the erosion of the Information Technology Sector's lead, although partially offset by Itochu Techno Solutions (4739 JP).  Mitsui (8031 JP) 21% yoy decline in Q3 Net Income continued to downtrend in the Wholesale Sector's Score.   

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions Daily Roundup - 4th February ▲2371 4502 4739 ▼7741 4452 2317

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

After a lengthy delay, Japan has increased its consumption tax from 8% to 10%. The tax hike came into effect from 1st of October 2019. The government plans to use the additional revenues from the consumption tax increase to fund social welfare programs and pay down public debt. However, the consumption tax hike is expected to have a negative impact on consumer spending. To counter this, the government has introduced certain measures such as exempting certain food items and takeout orders at restaurants from the tax hike and also started giving rebates for some purchases made using electronic payments.Below we look at the official retail spending statistics to understand the immediate impact of the consumption tax hike on different sectors/industries.

After a lengthy delay, Japan has increased its consumption tax from 8% to 10%. The tax hike came into effect from 1st of October 2019. The government plans to use the additional revenues from the consumption tax increase to fund social welfare programs and pay down public debt. However, the consumption tax hike is expected to have a negative impact on consumer spending. To counter this, the government has introduced certain measures such as exempting certain food items and takeout orders at restaurants from the tax hike and also started giving rebates for some purchases made using electronic payments.Below we look at the official retail spending statistics to understand the immediate impact of the consumption tax hike on different sectors/industries.

Japan Consumption Tax Hike: The Impact on Convenience Stores and Cosmetics

Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

Positive FANCL and KaoWe analysed the top five Japanese cosmetics companies predominantly focusing on fundamental investment research principles. Our analysis made us pick FANCL as our number one choice in the entire Japanese cosmetics industry. We are also slightly positive on Kao long-term with a neutral short-term view.Our long-term views on individual companies are mainly based on fundamental investment research principles and we have used POS data to track any changes in the trends behind our fundamentals based long term view. The frequency of POS data is much higher than traditional IR data and POS also breaks the data into extremely granular levels, meaning the information derived from POS is far more than what the traditional IR provides. Therefore, using POS we have developed systems to monitor the changes in our investment thesis at micro levels and also at a much higher frequency. Furthermore, we have also used POS data to forecast the company performance in its upcoming earnings. Lastly, the analysis of POS data helps us mitigate any surprises and potentially turn trend reversals to our advantage.We provide our detailed views on Fancl and Kao below.

Positive FANCL and KaoWe analysed the top five Japanese cosmetics companies predominantly focusing on fundamental investment research principles. Our analysis made us pick FANCL as our number one choice in the entire Japanese cosmetics industry. We are also slightly positive on Kao long-term with a neutral short-term view.Our long-term views on individual companies are mainly based on fundamental investment research principles and we have used POS data to track any changes in the trends behind our fundamentals based long term view. The frequency of POS data is much higher than traditional IR data and POS also breaks the data into extremely granular levels, meaning the information derived from POS is far more than what the traditional IR provides. Therefore, using POS we have developed systems to monitor the changes in our investment thesis at micro levels and also at a much higher frequency. Furthermore, we have also used POS data to forecast the company performance in its upcoming earnings. Lastly, the analysis of POS data helps us mitigate any surprises and potentially turn trend reversals to our advantage.We provide our detailed views on Fancl and Kao below.

Alternative Data - An Evolving Weapon for Active Managers (Fancl and Kao)

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)

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 28th April - The 'Unlimited' BoJ + Panasonic, T.Yuden, Kao, Kyocera

THE 'UNLIMTED' BANK OF JAPAN - The Bank of Japan's well-telegraphed announcement that they will be free of any constraints in their purchases of...

Campbell Gunn

Asian Consumer Staples - Inflation Hedge?

Consumer Staples are a good inflation hedge, but only if they can pass on the increase in raw material costs to end consumers. In a scenario of...

Brian Freitas

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions Daily Roundup - 4th February ▲2371 4502 4739 ▼7741 4452 2317

4TH FEBRUARY ROUNDUP - As expected the 121 Results and 41 Forecast/Revision announcements yesterday took our Results Score 16bps lower to a new...

Campbell Gunn

Japan Consumption Tax Hike: The Impact on Convenience Stores and Cosmetics

After a lengthy delay, Japan has increased its consumption tax from 8% to 10%. The tax hike came into effect from 1st of October 2019. The...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Alternative Data - An Evolving Weapon for Active Managers (Fancl and Kao)

Positive FANCL and KaoWe analysed the top five Japanese cosmetics companies predominantly focusing on fundamental investment research principles....

Mio Kato

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52-week Range

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