Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities

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 Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Applied Materials' new Sculpta pattern-shaping tool could greatly reduce demand for EUV mask inspection on a medium- to long-term view. High-NA EUV is likely to do the same.</li>
<li>Lasertec's high valuations are predicated on a multi-year high growth trajectory. That trajectory is now being called into question. </li>
<li>We have cut our FY Jun-25 profit forecast by 32%, but the projected P/E ratio is still 40x. More downside ahead.</li>
</ul>


Applied Materials' new Sculpta pattern-shaping tool could greatly reduce demand for EUV mask inspection on a medium- to long-term view. High-NA EUV is likely to do the same.
Lasertec's high valuations are predicated on a multi-year high growth trajectory. That trajectory is now being called into question. 
We have cut our FY Jun-25 profit forecast by 32%, but the projected P/E ratio is still 40x. More downside ahead.


Lasertec (6920 JP): Negative Potential of Sculpta Not in the Price

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 Jun 13th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD17,593m.</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 Softbank, Fast Retailing, Ihi, Advantest, Toyota Motor, Isuzu Motors, Skylark, Fujikura, Nintendo, Mcdonald's.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Jun 13th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD17,593m.
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 Softbank, Fast Retailing, Ihi, Advantest, Toyota Motor, Isuzu Motors, Skylark, Fujikura, Nintendo, Mcdonald's.


JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Jun 13th): Softbank, Fast Retailing, Ihi, Advantest, Toyota Motor

Japanese Equity Specialist, Ortus Advisors

Andrew Jackson

Japanese Equity Specialist

Ortus Advisors

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Big gains for AMD with analysts more upbeat than last weeks reaction to its AI conference suggests.</li>
<li>Advantest 9.6% yesterday on broker comments should see market hunting for laggards such as Kokusai Electric.</li>
<li>Estee lauder seeing an uptick in China may help beleaguered Shiseido and Kose move higher.</li>
</ul>


Big gains for AMD with analysts more upbeat than last weeks reaction to its AI conference suggests.
Advantest 9.6% yesterday on broker comments should see market hunting for laggards such as Kokusai Electric.
Estee lauder seeing an uptick in China may help beleaguered Shiseido and Kose move higher.


Japan Morning Connection: Markets Seeing Iran's Potential Demise as Fuel to Risk-On Fire

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

<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.

Price Gauge
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Lasertec Corp (6920 JP)

Lasertec (6920 JP): Negative Potential of Sculpta Not in the Price

Potential negative impact of AMAT's Sculpta pattern-shaping tool not yet discounted. High-NA EUV also negative for Lasertec. Forecast cut, but FY...

Scott Foster

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Jun 13th): Softbank, Fast Retailing, Ihi, Advantest, Toyota Motor

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Softbank, Fast Retailing, Ihi, Advantest, Toyota Motor, Isuzu...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Japan Morning Connection: Markets Seeing Iran's Potential Demise as Fuel to Risk-On Fire

Japan SPE underperformers may catch a bid. Estee Lauder's jump up has positive implications for Japan's Shiseido and Kose.

Andrew Jackson

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)

Lasertec (6920 JP): Negative Potential of Sculpta Not in the Price

Potential negative impact of AMAT's Sculpta pattern-shaping tool not yet discounted. High-NA EUV also negative for Lasertec. Forecast cut, but FY...

Scott Foster

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Jun 13th): Softbank, Fast Retailing, Ihi, Advantest, Toyota Motor

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Softbank, Fast Retailing, Ihi, Advantest, Toyota Motor, Isuzu...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Japan Morning Connection: Markets Seeing Iran's Potential Demise as Fuel to Risk-On Fire

Japan SPE underperformers may catch a bid. Estee Lauder's jump up has positive implications for Japan's Shiseido and Kose.

Andrew Jackson

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

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