Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

Results were for the quarter were mixed with accelerating erosion in consumer mobile outpacing offsetting growth from new services (VAS and corporate sales). The bad news is mobile service revenue declines were modestly steeper than we expected and on a run-rate basis are now higher than management targets for the full year. But business services growth remains healthy and improvements in user retention could provide some support for consumer mobile. KDDI is on track to meet full-year targets although the margin for error has narrowed. We remain at Buy.

Results were for the quarter were mixed with accelerating erosion in consumer mobile outpacing offsetting growth from new services (VAS and corporate sales). The bad news is mobile service revenue declines were modestly steeper than we expected and on a run-rate basis are now higher than management targets for the full year. But business services growth remains healthy and improvements in user retention could provide some support for consumer mobile. KDDI is on track to meet full-year targets although the margin for error has narrowed. We remain at Buy.  

KDDI (Buy) - Q2 21 Results Reaction: Mobile Declines Outpace New Growth Drivers

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst, KT Capital Group

Alec Tseung

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst

Lifenet Insurance Company / Equity Bottom-Up

We have discussed the more detailed investment thesis and financial analysis in our previous note (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/lifenet-a-rejuvenated-insurtech-story-in-japan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:53842" rel="noopener">Lifenet: A Rejuvenated InsurTech Story in Japan)</a>. In this brief note, we will focus more on its recent partnership and “platformization” strategy and why this could be a future catalyst.

We have discussed the more detailed investment thesis and financial analysis in our previous note (Lifenet: A Rejuvenated InsurTech Story in Japan). In this brief note, we will focus more on its recent partnership and “platformization” strategy and why this could be a future catalyst.

Lifenet: "Platformization" To Potentially Drive the Next Phase of Growth

NTT (Nippon Telegraph & Telephone) / Equity Bottom-Up

NTT has unveiled its plan to integrate ICT subsidiaries under wireless unit DoCoMo and boosted FY23 EPS guidance from ¥320 to ¥370. NTT was already running well-ahead of pace to reach the former but the new target is 6% above consensus forecasts as cost reductions/synergies from the DoCoMo acquisition are fully factored in. Other notable targets include a 25% increase in enterprise revenue from ¥1,600bn to ¥2,000bn ($18bn) over five years which seems achievable considering double-digit sector growth reported by competitors.  NTT trades at a discount to peers despite setting growth targets that are more than 2x higher. We remain at Buy.

NTT has unveiled its plan to integrate ICT subsidiaries under wireless unit DoCoMo and boosted FY23 EPS guidance from ¥320 to ¥370. NTT was already running well-ahead of pace to reach the former but the new target is 6% above consensus forecasts as cost reductions/synergies from the DoCoMo acquisition are fully factored in. Other notable targets include a 25% increase in enterprise revenue from ¥1,600bn to ¥2,000bn ($18bn) over five years which seems achievable considering double-digit sector growth reported by competitors.  NTT trades at a discount to peers despite setting growth targets that are more than 2x higher. We remain at Buy. 

NTT (Buy) - Mid-Term EPS Guidance Boost as a Fully Integrated DoCoMo Drives Growth

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The Nikkei reports the Ministry of Industry Affairs and Communications (MIC, the regulator) will not allow NTT’s local exchange companies to give a wholly owned DoCoMo preferential treatment. This is not surprising and whilst it may modestly impact sentiment in the near-term, the real issue is competition in selling integrated fixed-wireless services to corporate users and that will develop no matter how NTT is regulated.  Meanwhile, a shift in political and regulatory focus away from mobile pricing is good news for everyone and we remain overweight with NTT as our top pick.

The Nikkei reports the Ministry of Industry Affairs and Communications (MIC, the regulator) will not allow NTT’s local exchange companies to give a wholly owned DoCoMo preferential treatment. This is not surprising and whilst it may modestly impact sentiment in the near-term, the real issue is competition in selling integrated fixed-wireless services to corporate users and that will develop no matter how NTT is regulated.  Meanwhile, a shift in political and regulatory focus away from mobile pricing is good news for everyone and we remain overweight with NTT as our top pick.

Japan Telecom Sector - Regulator to Signal Level Playing Field for DoCoMo

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gree-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17135:1" rel="noopener">Gree Inc (3632 JP)</a> is an online media business and game developer (Switch and Facebook Messenger) and does a hodgepodge of other businesses. It has its good points, but nobody would call it a category killer or call it dominant in any way. And the stock has had a somewhat lacklustre 10 years. <section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/232/890/original/Screenshot+2021-09-30+at+9.05.23+PM.png?1633007148" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="232890"></figure></section>But it has its strong points, and it announced the exercise of one of those today.More below the fold.

Gree Inc (3632 JP) is an online media business and game developer (Switch and Facebook Messenger) and does a hodgepodge of other businesses. It has its good points, but nobody would call it a category killer or call it dominant in any way. And the stock has had a somewhat lacklustre 10 years. But it has its strong points, and it announced the exercise of one of those today.More below the fold.

Japan

KDDI CORPORATION provides mobile communication services and sells mobile devices.  The Company also is a broadband provider.

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KDDI Corp (9433 JP)

KDDI (Buy) - Q2 21 Results Reaction: Mobile Declines Outpace New Growth Drivers

Q2 results were mixed with accelerating erosion in consumer mobile outpacing growth from VAS and corporate sales. But management appears confident...

Kirk Boodry

Lifenet: "Platformization" To Potentially Drive the Next Phase of Growth

Lifenet's "platformization" strategy could supplement its current business model and drive future growth as global Fintech development moves into a...

Alec Tseung

NTT (Buy) - Mid-Term EPS Guidance Boost as a Fully Integrated DoCoMo Drives Growth

NTT management says DoCoMo synergies can drive FY23 EPS to ¥370 (Redex ¥355, consensus ¥348) which implies 19% growth over two years for a stock...

Kirk Boodry

Japan Telecom Sector - Regulator to Signal Level Playing Field for DoCoMo

The regulator will block preferential pricing for DoCoMo within NTT. This is not surprising. The real issue is competition for enterprise users...

Kirk Boodry

Greeeee... Wheeeee.....!

Gree is not a great gaming stock, and not a great online media stock. But it IS cheap. It has a huge amount of cash, and an interesting VC...

Travis Lundy

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