Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>A rather inauspicious start to the year and equities tumbling 2.5% in the first trading week</li>
<li>Japan should be a top performing market in 2025 - it is undervalued, buoyed by reforms and has strong domestic fund flow</li>
<li>Wage growth is key this year, setting stage for a stronger economy. Semiconductor stocks were the star performers this week! </li>
</ul>


A rather inauspicious start to the year and equities tumbling 2.5% in the first trading week
Japan should be a top performing market in 2025 - it is undervalued, buoyed by reforms and has strong domestic fund flow
Wage growth is key this year, setting stage for a stronger economy. Semiconductor stocks were the star performers this week! 


Japan Strategy Weekly | 3 Reasons to Buy Japan in 2025

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/topcon-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:738:1" rel="noopener">Topcon Corp (7732 JP)</a> shares rose 51% over two days, confirming a Bloomberg report that is conducting a privatisation auction. The process is in the second round of bids.</li>
<li>Exploring the privatisation process is unsurprising, as Topcon has materially underperformed the Nikkei 225 since its last medium-term management term plan was announced on 12 May 2023.</li>
<li>Despite the share price pop, Topcon trades at a discount to median peer multiples. At an offer of JPY3,000, Topcon would trade in line with median peer multiples.</li>
</ul>



Topcon Corp (7732 JP) shares rose 51% over two days, confirming a Bloomberg report that is conducting a privatisation auction. The process is in the second round of bids.
Exploring the privatisation process is unsurprising, as Topcon has materially underperformed the Nikkei 225 since its last medium-term management term plan was announced on 12 May 2023.
Despite the share price pop, Topcon trades at a discount to median peer multiples. At an offer of JPY3,000, Topcon would trade in line with median peer multiples.


Topcon (7732 JP): Privatisation Auction Underscores Underlying Value

Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nakanishi-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20823:1" rel="noopener">Nakanishi Inc (7716 JP)</a> guided for 25% revenue growth to ¥74B for 2024, driven by an additional ¥12B revenue contribution from DCI and 6% growth in dental business to ¥47B.</li>
<li>EBITDA is expected to improve from 2025 due to normalization of the personnel expenses and depreciation. 2026 EBITDA margin (26.8%) will improve significantly over 2024 (23.9%).</li>
<li>Amid slow global consumption, Nakanishi’s cost-effective products offer strong value proposition. The company is expected to meet 2024 guidance and no negative surprise (downward revision in last year) is expected.</li>
</ul>



Nakanishi Inc (7716 JP) guided for 25% revenue growth to ¥74B for 2024, driven by an additional ¥12B revenue contribution from DCI and 6% growth in dental business to ¥47B.
EBITDA is expected to improve from 2025 due to normalization of the personnel expenses and depreciation. 2026 EBITDA margin (26.8%) will improve significantly over 2024 (23.9%).
Amid slow global consumption, Nakanishi’s cost-effective products offer strong value proposition. The company is expected to meet 2024 guidance and no negative surprise (downward revision in last year) is expected.


Nakanishi Inc (7716 JP): Acquisition and Fx to Nourish Topline; Margin Expansion in Near-Term

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>In FY25, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nihon-kohden-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7668:1" rel="noopener">Nihon Kohden (6849 JP)</a> guided for domestic revenue of ¥147B, up 3% YoY. The demand for patient monitors and treatment equipment is expected to remain steady.</li>
<li>Nihon Kohden expects North America business to report a revenue CAGR of 11% (fastest among all the other regions) during FY24–27, outpacing mid-single-digit growth of the market.</li>
<li>The company announced ¥10B buyback plan to repurchase up to 6M shares, representing 3.57% of total number of issued shares from August 5, 2024, to March 31, 2025.</li>
</ul>


In FY25, Nihon Kohden (6849 JP) guided for domestic revenue of ¥147B, up 3% YoY. The demand for patient monitors and treatment equipment is expected to remain steady.
Nihon Kohden expects North America business to report a revenue CAGR of 11% (fastest among all the other regions) during FY24–27, outpacing mid-single-digit growth of the market.
The company announced ¥10B buyback plan to repurchase up to 6M shares, representing 3.57% of total number of issued shares from August 5, 2024, to March 31, 2025.


Nihon Kohden (6849 JP): ¥10B Buyback Plan And Stock Split; Japan and US to Drive Business Growth

<ul>
<li>On December 26, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nihon-kohden-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7668:1" rel="noopener">Nihon Kohden (6849 JP)</a> shares jumped ~15% as the company was a beneficiary of the ban on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apple-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:666:1" rel="noopener">Apple (AAPL US)</a>’s latest smartwatch models.</li>
<li>Nihon Kohden reported better-than-expected result in H1FY24. The company raised FY24 revenue forecast to ¥221.5B (+7% YoY) from ¥215.0B. The company has also raised FY24 operating and net profit guidance.</li>
<li>Currently consensus expects 2% YoY revenue growth for the company in FY25. With strong demand for existing products and new launches, the expectation seems to be conservative.  </li>
</ul>


On December 26, Nihon Kohden (6849 JP) shares jumped ~15% as the company was a beneficiary of the ban on Apple (AAPL US)’s latest smartwatch models.
Nihon Kohden reported better-than-expected result in H1FY24. The company raised FY24 revenue forecast to ¥221.5B (+7% YoY) from ¥215.0B. The company has also raised FY24 operating and net profit guidance.
Currently consensus expects 2% YoY revenue growth for the company in FY25. With strong demand for existing products and new launches, the expectation seems to be conservative.  


Nihon Kohden (6849 JP): Apart from Apple Smartwatch Ban, Three More Reasons to Buy Shares

Japan

MANI, INC. manufactures medical goods and equipment.  The Company's products include threads and needles for surgeries, surgical knives for eye surgeries, and dental instruments and equipment.

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Mani Inc (7730 JP)

Japan Strategy Weekly | 3 Reasons to Buy Japan in 2025

Equities stumble in 2025's first week, but Japan's undervalued market and wage growth potential offer hope for a stronger economy. Semiconductor...

Mark Chadwick

Topcon (7732 JP): Privatisation Auction Underscores Underlying Value

Despite the share price pop, Topcon trades at a discount to median peer multiples. At an offer of JPY3,000, Topcon would trade in line with median...

Arun George

Nakanishi Inc (7716 JP): Acquisition and Fx to Nourish Topline; Margin Expansion in Near-Term

Nakanishi guided for 25% YoY revenue growth to ¥74B for 2024, driven by additional ¥12B revenue contribution from DCI and 6% YoY growth in dental...

Tina Banerjee

Nihon Kohden (6849 JP): ¥10B Buyback Plan And Stock Split; Japan and US to Drive Business Growth

Nihon Kohden has announced ¥10B buyback plan amid long-term growth prospect. The company guided for 3% and 11% revenue CAGR in Japan and North...

Tina Banerjee

Nihon Kohden (6849 JP): Apart from Apple Smartwatch Ban, Three More Reasons to Buy Shares

Nihon Kohden reported strong H1FY24 results and raised its revenue and profit forecasts for FY24. The company has strong product line-up for the...

Tina Banerjee

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japan Strategy Weekly | 3 Reasons to Buy Japan in 2025

​Equities stumble in 2025's first week, but Japan's undervalued market and wage growth potential offer hope for a stronger economy. Semiconductor...

Mark Chadwick

Topcon (7732 JP): Privatisation Auction Underscores Underlying Value

Despite the share price pop, Topcon trades at a discount to median peer multiples. At an offer of JPY3,000, Topcon would trade in line with median...

Arun George

Nakanishi Inc (7716 JP): Acquisition and Fx to Nourish Topline; Margin Expansion in Near-Term

Nakanishi guided for 25% YoY revenue growth to ¥74B for 2024, driven by additional ¥12B revenue contribution from DCI and 6% YoY growth in dental...

Tina Banerjee

Nihon Kohden (6849 JP): ¥10B Buyback Plan And Stock Split; Japan and US to Drive Business Growth

​Nihon Kohden has announced ¥10B buyback plan amid long-term growth prospect. The company guided for 3% and 11% revenue CAGR in Japan and North...

Tina Banerjee

Nihon Kohden (6849 JP): Apart from Apple Smartwatch Ban, Three More Reasons to Buy Shares

​Nihon Kohden reported strong H1FY24 results and raised its revenue and profit forecasts for FY24. The company has strong product line-up for the...

Tina Banerjee

Equities stumble in 2025's first week, but Japan's undervalued market and wage growth potential offer hope for a stronger economy. Semiconductor...

Nihon Kohden has announced ¥10B buyback plan amid long-term growth prospect. The company guided for 3% and 11% revenue CAGR in Japan and North...

Nihon Kohden reported strong H1FY24 results and raised its revenue and profit forecasts for FY24. The company has strong product line-up for the...