Japanese Equity Specialist, Ortus Advisors

Andrew Jackson

Japanese Equity Specialist

Ortus Advisors

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Credo gains read well for connectivity plays but Astera Labs ran out of steam after early pop.</li>
<li>Intel higher still after Apple reportedly signs NDA to explore 18A for the M-series.</li>
<li>Power and industrial semi names led higher by NXP after upbeat comments at UBS conference.</li>
</ul>


Credo gains read well for connectivity plays but Astera Labs ran out of steam after early pop.
Intel higher still after Apple reportedly signs NDA to explore 18A for the M-series.
Power and industrial semi names led higher by NXP after upbeat comments at UBS conference.


Japan Morning Connection: Boeing FCF Back on Track a Good Sign for JP Heavies and CF Makers

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

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.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Nov 28th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD19,551m.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top/bottom net long/short of margin trading by value, net margin buy as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight net margin buy/sell changes in SBI, Advantest, Furukawa Electric, Mizuho Financial, Lasertec, Fujikura, Toyoda Gosei, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsui E&amp;S, Daihen, Sbi, Advantest, Furukawa Electric, Mizuho Financial.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Nov 28th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD19,551m.
We tabulate league tables for top/bottom net long/short of margin trading by value, net margin buy as multiple of ADT.
We highlight net margin buy/sell changes in SBI, Advantest, Furukawa Electric, Mizuho Financial, Lasertec, Fujikura, Toyoda Gosei, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsui E&amp;S, Daihen, Sbi, Advantest, Furukawa Electric, Mizuho Financial.


JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Nov 28th): SBI, Advantest, Furukawa Electric, Mizuho Financial, Lasertec

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>After 2 very poor quarters (revenue decline YoY), 2Q25 revenue increase 93% YoY, net income 137%. The painfully high volatility will not go away. </li>
<li>But Lasertec maintains its FY25 guidance which means that the blowout 2Q25 does not indicate higher growth</li>
<li>The expectation bubble should have completely deflated (SiC for EV, Intel, Samsung). The stock is trading at 18x, at the bottom of its trading range and valuations. Attractive.</li>
</ul>


After 2 very poor quarters (revenue decline YoY), 2Q25 revenue increase 93% YoY, net income 137%. The painfully high volatility will not go away. 
But Lasertec maintains its FY25 guidance which means that the blowout 2Q25 does not indicate higher growth
The expectation bubble should have completely deflated (SiC for EV, Intel, Samsung). The stock is trading at 18x, at the bottom of its trading range and valuations. Attractive.


Lasertec: FY25 Guidance Isn’t Revised up Despite a Blockbuster 2Q25. The Stock Is Attractive.

<ul>
<li>AMAT mentions “tremendous architecture inflections” in Logic and Memory (GAA, BSPD, HBM), this is true. But reviewed yesterday, how much, how fast versus declining Mature Logic and China declining?</li>
<li>2025 China to decline -25%, RoW to increase +25% on AI. This should continue in 2026. Post China’s elevated capex in 2023-24, the SPE sector is a play on AI. </li>
<li>ASML and KLA are 1) quasi monopoly 2) in segments that outgrow the total market. ASML is cheapish, KAL at average valuations. Best 2 stocks: ASML, KLA</li>
</ul>


AMAT mentions “tremendous architecture inflections” in Logic and Memory (GAA, BSPD, HBM), this is true. But reviewed yesterday, how much, how fast versus declining Mature Logic and China declining?
2025 China to decline -25%, RoW to increase +25% on AI. This should continue in 2026. Post China’s elevated capex in 2023-24, the SPE sector is a play on AI. 
ASML and KLA are 1) quasi monopoly 2) in segments that outgrow the total market. ASML is cheapish, KAL at average valuations. Best 2 stocks: ASML, KLA


SPE Part 2: Growth in 2025-26 from AI Segment Only (Logic, HBM, Packaging). Best 2 Stocks: ASML, KLA

<ul>
<li>NVDA disappoints market expectations and trades -7% after-market, setting a very weak tone for Japanese SPE and tech related names to start.</li>
<li>The bad news for 4911 Shiseido continues, with the tone out of a small sell-side meeting held yesterday after-market pointed to further earnings downside.</li>
<li>Expect a continued rotation into value and domestic defensives as the market pivots away from AI/tech with plenty of room for profit taking after the recent rebound.</li>
</ul>


NVDA disappoints market expectations and trades -7% after-market, setting a very weak tone for Japanese SPE and tech related names to start.
The bad news for 4911 Shiseido continues, with the tone out of a small sell-side meeting held yesterday after-market pointed to further earnings downside.
Expect a continued rotation into value and domestic defensives as the market pivots away from AI/tech with plenty of room for profit taking after the recent rebound.


Japan Morning Connection: NVDA Disappoints

Japan

Lasertec Corporation develops, designs, manufactures and markets photomask inspection systems to make semiconductor devices, confocal scanning laser microscopes and liquid crystal display (LCD) inspection systems.

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Lasertec Corp (6920 JP)

Japan Morning Connection: Boeing FCF Back on Track a Good Sign for JP Heavies and CF Makers

Memory names took a back seat, while power and industrial semi's were lifted by upbeat comments at a UBS conference. Intel had another strong move...

Andrew Jackson

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Nov 28th): SBI, Advantest, Furukawa Electric, Mizuho Financial, Lasertec

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted SBI (8473 JP), Advantest (6857 JP), Furukawa Electric (5801 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Lasertec: FY25 Guidance Isn’t Revised up Despite a Blockbuster 2Q25. The Stock Is Attractive.

Lasertec sees massive revenue and net income growth in 2Q25, but high volatility persists and FY25 guidance remains unchanged. Stock trading at...

Nicolas Baratte

SPE Part 2: Growth in 2025-26 from AI Segment Only (Logic, HBM, Packaging). Best 2 Stocks: ASML, KLA

architectural advancements in Logic and Memory, but questions remain on growth rates and China's decline. ASML and KLA are top picks in the sector....

Nicolas Baratte

Japan Morning Connection: NVDA Disappoints

NVDA disappoints market, setting weak tone for Japanese tech names. Shiseido faces further earnings downside. Market pivots to value and domestic...

Andrew Jackson

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japan Morning Connection: Boeing FCF Back on Track a Good Sign for JP Heavies and CF Makers

Memory names took a back seat, while power and industrial semi's were lifted by upbeat comments at a UBS conference. Intel had another strong move...

Andrew Jackson

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Nov 28th): SBI, Advantest, Furukawa Electric, Mizuho Financial, Lasertec

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted SBI (8473 JP), Advantest (6857 JP), Furukawa Electric (5801 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Lasertec: FY25 Guidance Isn’t Revised up Despite a Blockbuster 2Q25. The Stock Is Attractive.

​Lasertec sees massive revenue and net income growth in 2Q25, but high volatility persists and FY25 guidance remains unchanged. Stock trading at...

Nicolas Baratte

SPE Part 2: Growth in 2025-26 from AI Segment Only (Logic, HBM, Packaging). Best 2 Stocks: ASML, KLA

architectural advancements in Logic and Memory, but questions remain on growth rates and China's decline. ASML and KLA are top picks in the sector....

Nicolas Baratte

Japan Morning Connection: NVDA Disappoints

​NVDA disappoints market, setting weak tone for Japanese tech names. Shiseido faces further earnings downside. Market pivots to value and domestic...

Andrew Jackson

Lasertec sees massive revenue and net income growth in 2Q25, but high volatility persists and FY25 guidance remains unchanged. Stock trading at...

NVDA disappoints market, setting weak tone for Japanese tech names. Shiseido faces further earnings downside. Market pivots to value and domestic...