Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>As designed, the JPX-Nikkei400 Index is something of a disaster. It aims to be slightly 'smart' vs other cap-weighted indices like TOPIX, but tracking error vs TOPIX is de minimus.</li>
<li>This year, in week 1, the ADD vs DELETE performance is positive. If we sector-hedge the ADDs vs DELETEs, it's doing even better.</li>
<li>This is probably due to relatively low pre-positioning, and cares. Momentum suggests one could be long ADDs vs DELETEs. And there is the perennial trade to watch out for.</li>
</ul>


As designed, the JPX-Nikkei400 Index is something of a disaster. It aims to be slightly 'smart' vs other cap-weighted indices like TOPIX, but tracking error vs TOPIX is de minimus.
This year, in week 1, the ADD vs DELETE performance is positive. If we sector-hedge the ADDs vs DELETEs, it's doing even better.
This is probably due to relatively low pre-positioning, and cares. Momentum suggests one could be long ADDs vs DELETEs. And there is the perennial trade to watch out for.


2022 JPX Nikkei 400 Rebal Update - Going the Right Way

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>This is now the third Int'l Compass/third week in a row where we are discussing an increasing number of country indexes experiencing bullish 3.5-9-month downtrend reversals.</li>
<li>Importantly, all of the previously mentioned indexes are holding above their breakout levels (i.e., there has yet to be any failed breakouts).</li>
<li>Now, the U.S. dollar (DXY) is starting to show early signs of topping. We continue to believe that global equities are going through a bottoming process.</li>
</ul>


This is now the third Int'l Compass/third week in a row where we are discussing an increasing number of country indexes experiencing bullish 3.5-9-month downtrend reversals.
Importantly, all of the previously mentioned indexes are holding above their breakout levels (i.e., there has yet to be any failed breakouts).
Now, the U.S. dollar (DXY) is starting to show early signs of topping. We continue to believe that global equities are going through a bottoming process.


U.S. Dollar Topping?; Bullish Reversals Continue; Ideas in Growth/Cyclicals, Financials

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.

Equity Capital Markets

West Japan Railway Co / Equity Capital Markets

<p>Even after completing its rather significant capital raise and equity dilution we still do not consider JR West to be out of the woods and we have some concern about its ability to manage cash flow to meet its 35% dividend payout target.</p>

Even after completing its rather significant capital raise and equity dilution we still do not consider JR West to be out of the woods and we have some concern about its ability to manage cash flow to meet its 35% dividend payout target.

JR West – Lacking Advantages Compared to JR Kyushu

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/west-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12077:1" rel="noopener">West Japan Railway Co (9021 JP)</a>  is one of the first three listed JR companies (along with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/east-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14271:1" rel="noopener">East Japan Railway Co (9020 JP)</a> and <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 was always the smallest, in size and investor interest, until <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kyushu-railway-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23609:1" rel="noopener">Kyushu Railway Company (9142 JP)</a> came along. </p><p>JR West has "always" traded at a lower EV/EBITDA, EV/EBIT, and PER than a basket of its peers. For a long time that was due to lower ROAs and higher debt/EBITDA. Now ROAs have basically matched the basket of peers and so pre and post-covid, ROEs looked OK. </p><p>Covid hit hard. Inbound tourism fell, business travel fell, commuting use fell, costs didn't. Gross margins which had been 22-27% for most of the last 20 years fell below zero. Revenues fell by 40%. Four Zero Percent. That is huge for a transport utility.  This is the same story for all the rails, but more for some than others.   </p><p>The stock is down 50% from late 2019 highs. The question is whether that is enough. </p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/227/967/original/Screenshot+2021-09-05+at+10.36.27+AM.png?1630809405" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="227967"></figure></section><p>Last week on 1 September, the company <a href="https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ir/news/2022/pdf/en_20210901.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> an offering of 51+mm shares including greenshoe, split 40/60 international/domestic. That is about 40 days volume and after the stock fell 15%, is worth about ¥260bn. </p><p>The company has a large number of retail shareholders, and a very heavy passive and cross-holding ownership. It has a relatively low active institutional ownership - domestic or foreign. </p><p>With the dividend down 40+% it still yields ~2% because of where the stock has fallen. Even better for some potential holders, the kabunushi yutai yield is 5+%, and up to 9% if one optimises (and rides the shinkansen, stays in hotels, and eats at restaurants in hotels). That may make it a selling point to some, but institutional investors don't get that benefit, so that aspect alone may not get all of the deal sold.</p><p>There is an interesting story of Historical Cheapness vs Supply vs Benefits along with large passive ownership and decent-to-large passive demand for the offering. </p><p>More below the fold. </p>

West Japan Railway Co (9021 JP)  is one of the first three listed JR companies (along with East Japan Railway Co (9020 JP) and Central Japan Railway Co (9022 JP)) and was always the smallest, in size and investor interest, until Kyushu Railway Company (9142 JP) came along. JR West has "always" traded at a lower EV/EBITDA, EV/EBIT, and PER than a basket of its peers. For a long time that was due to lower ROAs and higher debt/EBITDA. Now ROAs have basically matched the basket of peers and so pre and post-covid, ROEs looked OK. Covid hit hard. Inbound tourism fell, business travel fell, commuting use fell, costs didn't. Gross margins which had been 22-27% for most of the last 20 years fell below zero. Revenues fell by 40%. Four Zero Percent. That is huge for a transport utility.  This is the same story for all the rails, but more for some than others.   The stock is down 50% from late 2019 highs. The question is whether that is enough. Last week on 1 September, the company announced an offering of 51+mm shares including greenshoe, split 40/60 international/domestic. That is about 40 days volume and after the stock fell 15%, is worth about ¥260bn. The company has a large number of retail shareholders, and a very heavy passive and cross-holding ownership. It has a relatively low active institutional ownership - domestic or foreign. With the dividend down 40+% it still yields ~2% because of where the stock has fallen. Even better for some potential holders, the kabunushi yutai yield is 5+%, and up to 9% if one optimises (and rides the shinkansen, stays in hotels, and eats at restaurants in hotels). That may make it a selling point to some, but institutional investors don't get that benefit, so that aspect alone may not get all of the deal sold.There is an interesting story of Historical Cheapness vs Supply vs Benefits along with large passive ownership and decent-to-large passive demand for the offering. More below the fold. 

JR West (9021 JP) Offering - Supply Vs Yutai+Passive Demand

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/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>, <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/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a>, <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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chow-tai-fook-jewellery-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:549:1" rel="noopener">Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ind-comm-bk-of-china-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">ICBC (H) (1398 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asm-pacific-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15061:1" rel="noopener">ASM Pacific Technology (522 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pccw-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:873:1" rel="noopener">PCCW Ltd (8 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunny-optical-tech" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13363:1" rel="noopener">Sunny Optical (2382 HK)</a>. Shorts increased in the Consumer Discretionary and Industrials sectors, while decreasing in Financials, Information Technology, Energy and Real Estate.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pharma-foods-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10530:1" rel="noopener">Pharma Foods International (2929 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cyberagent-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8197:1" rel="noopener">CyberAgent Inc (4751 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-yusen-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12285:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Yusen Kk (9101 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ebara-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4728:1" rel="noopener">Ebara Corp (6361 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/skylark-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:474:1" rel="noopener">Skylark Co Ltd (3197 JP)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kyushu-railway-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23609:1" rel="noopener">Kyushu Railway Company (9142 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/marui-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13604:1" rel="noopener">Marui Group (8252 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chugoku-electric-power-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16243:1" rel="noopener">Chugoku Electric Power Co (9504 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keihan-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6120:1" rel="noopener">Keihan Holdings Co., Ltd. (9045 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a>. Shorts decreased in almost all sectors led by Industrials, Materials, Consumer Discretionary, Financials and Consumer Staples.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hmm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13494:1" rel="noopener">HMM Co., Ltd. (011200 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/doosan-heavy-industries-construction" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7389:1" rel="noopener">Doosan Heavy Industries &amp; Construction (034020 KS)</a>, <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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/posco-chemical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12421:1" rel="noopener">Posco Chemical Co Ltd (003670 KS)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-motor-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:155:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Motor Co (005380 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/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a>.</p></div><div><p>In Taiwan, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/au-optronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6704:1" rel="noopener">AU Optronics (2409 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innolux-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4509:1" rel="noopener">Innolux Corp (3481 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yang-ming-marine-transport" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8502:1" rel="noopener">Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hannstar-display-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13922:1" rel="noopener">Hannstar Display (6116 TT)</a> while shorts covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chicony-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13085:1" rel="noopener">Chicony Electronics (2385 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chunghwa-telecom-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9181:1" rel="noopener">Chunghwa Telecom (2412 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/highwealth-construction-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6739:1" rel="noopener">Highwealth Construction (2542 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mediatek-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:772:1" rel="noopener">Mediatek Inc (2454 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/quanta-computer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2754:1" rel="noopener">Quanta Computer (2382 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 Alibaba Group (9988 HK), Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK), Country Garden Services Holdings (6098 HK) and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK) while there was short covering on ICBC (H) (1398 HK), ASM Pacific Technology (522 HK), Tencent (700 HK), PCCW Ltd (8 HK) and Sunny Optical (2382 HK). Shorts increased in the Consumer Discretionary and Industrials sectors, while decreasing in Financials, Information Technology, Energy and Real Estate.In Japan, stocks increased on Pharma Foods International (2929 JP), CyberAgent Inc (4751 JP), Nippon Yusen Kk (9101 JP), Ebara Corp (6361 JP) and Skylark Co Ltd (3197 JP) while there was short covering on Kyushu Railway Company (9142 JP), Marui Group (8252 JP), Chugoku Electric Power Co (9504 JP), Keihan Holdings Co., Ltd. (9045 JP) and Canon Inc (7751 JP). Shorts decreased in almost all sectors led by Industrials, Materials, Consumer Discretionary, Financials and Consumer Staples.In Korea, shorts increased on HMM Co., Ltd. (011200 KS), Doosan Heavy Industries &amp; Construction (034020 KS), LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS) and Posco Chemical Co Ltd (003670 KS) while shorts were covered on Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS), Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), SK Hynix (000660 KS) and Naver Corp (035420 KS).In Taiwan, shorts increased on AU Optronics (2409 TT), Yageo Corporation (2327 TT), Innolux Corp (3481 TT), Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609 TT) and Hannstar Display (6116 TT) while shorts covered on Chicony Electronics (2385 TT), Chunghwa Telecom (2412 TT), Highwealth Construction (2542 TT), Mediatek Inc (2454 TT) and Quanta Computer (2382 TT).

Asia Shorts: CGS, CTF, ASM Pac, PCCW, KyushuRail, Marui, HMM, Doosan, LG Chem, HMC, Yang Ming

Japan

Kyushu Railway Company, doing business as JR Kyushu, offers transportation services. The Company provides passenger and railway freight services, as well as route, ticket, and time table information. JR Kyushu serves customers in Japan.

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Kyushu Railway (9142 JP)

2022 JPX Nikkei 400 Rebal Update - Going the Right Way

JPX Nikkei 400 rebalance is going the right way in the 6 trading days so far, and it wasn't done on Day1 (which was lacklustre). It may be under...

Travis Lundy

U.S. Dollar Topping?; Bullish Reversals Continue; Ideas in Growth/Cyclicals, Financials

This is now the third week in a row where we are discussing an increasing number of country indexes with bullish 3.5-9-month downtrend reversals,...

Vermilion Research

JR West – Lacking Advantages Compared to JR Kyushu

Even after completing its rather significant capital raise and equity dilution JR West is still not out of the woods and we have some concern about...

Mio Kato

JR West (9021 JP) Offering - Supply Vs Yutai+Passive Demand

JR West surprised the market with an equity offering last Wednesday. It is JPY 260bn or so at current price and represents more than 20% EPS...

Travis Lundy

Asia Shorts: CGS, CTF, ASM Pac, PCCW, KyushuRail, Marui, HMM, Doosan, LG Chem, HMC, Yang Ming

The Insight looks at large short interest movements across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan stocks and highlights large increases/decreases in shorts to...

Brian Freitas

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