Global Special Situations & Strategy, SR Services Ltd

David Lepper

Global Special Situations & Strategy

SR Services Ltd

SR Services provides Strategic Knowledge and Solutions services for Family Offices and Corporate Business. 

We deliver this via advisory services, strategic planning, opportunity analysis/sourcing, as well as solution implementation. 

Whilst, we create intellectual discipline and operational leverage for your projects or daily activities, our ultimate objective is to empower whilst enhancing your decision making. 

Strategic Knowledge and Solutions

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
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Deteriorating credit metrics continue to support our view that the level of risk is increasing within the small-mid cap universe. </li>
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Our screen looks for high valuation multiples presented by candidates with significant earnings growth forecasts, as well as financial indicators that suggest balance sheet distress. Therefore, with the credit markets pointing towards high yield stress, this screen becomes highly relevant.</li>
<li>
15 stocks appear in our Q2 2020 screen. The average stock rank in our list has decreased to 67.5 from 72.1 points since early March 2019. The reduction reflects some of the continued bearish moves in recent weeks within the Asian Universe. We, therefore, feel, as highlighted in other recent commentary, that the market is currently undergoing a defined separation of Quality, Value and relative Momentum.</li>
</ul>



Deteriorating credit metrics continue to support our view that the level of risk is increasing within the small-mid cap universe. 

Our screen looks for high valuation multiples presented by candidates with significant earnings growth forecasts, as well as financial indicators that suggest balance sheet distress. Therefore, with the credit markets pointing towards high yield stress, this screen becomes highly relevant.

15 stocks appear in our Q2 2020 screen. The average stock rank in our list has decreased to 67.5 from 72.1 points since early March 2019. The reduction reflects some of the continued bearish moves in recent weeks within the Asian Universe. We, therefore, feel, as highlighted in other recent commentary, that the market is currently undergoing a defined separation of Quality, Value and relative Momentum.


Screening the Silk Road: Q2 2020 Small-Mid Cap High Risk Names to Avoid

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

ja research

ja research is an independent research platform focused exclusively on Japanese equities. Leveraging data and graphic analysis provided by Japan Analytics, we provide insights on small and medium-sized companies that have been ignored by the sell-side as well as challenging conventional wisdom on larger companies. We also offer analyst and corporate access, the latter with translation if required. 

Quantitative Analysis

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/122/342/original/2020-03-11_11-02-32.png?1583892183" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="122342"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/122/590/original/2020-03-12_07-42-03.png?1583966536" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="122590"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>CUMULATIVE CASH FLOWS - In this third and final of our series on Japanese companies that might be compromised as the Covid-19 recession unfolds,  we shall look at Cumulative Cash Flows. Our cash flow model is derived from the disclosed Balance Sheets and Statements of Comprehensive Income and balances to zero for every company for every comparable period. Variations in disclosure between the audited annual yuho and unaudited quarterly kessan tanshin reports, notably when the company is reporting under the weaker IFRS standard can result in unavoidable quarter-to-quarter variations. Consequently, our analysis will focus on year-on-year changes as of the most recent quarterly disclosure irrespective of fiscal year-end.  Our review will cover six principal cash flow metrics:-<ul>
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Operating Cash Flow - Operating Cash Flow comprises all cash flow items relating to transactions with customers and suppliers except inventory cash flows.</li>
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Investing Cash Flow - Investing Cash Flow comprises cash flow to or from Fixed Assets and Inventories. Unlike GAAP Cash Flows Statements, It does not include investments in financial assets.</li>
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Inventory Cash Flow - A sub-set of Investing Cash Flow, inventory Cash Flow is the change in Inventory on the Balance Sheet. </li>
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Free Cash Flow - Free Cash Flow the sum of Operating Cash Flow, Fixed Asset Cash Flow and Inventory Cash Flow.</li>
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Financing Cash Flow - Financing Cash Flow comprises Debt &amp; Lease Liabilities, Investments and the taxation that is allocated to Financing Cash Flow. Debt &amp; Lease Liabilities includes changes in Short and Long-Term Debt and Lease Liabilities and Interest and Bond Issuance Expenses.' Investments' includes Interest &amp; Dividend Income, Purchases and Sales of Securities, Loans, Gains and Losses on Marketable Securities and Equity Earnings.</li>
<li>Change in Cash - Change in Cash is the sum of Free Cash Flow, Financing Cash Flow and Shareholder Cash Flow after including Minorities &amp; Adjustments. </li>
</ul>EXCLUDED - Four companies have been excluded from our review as they have substantial financial subsidiaries - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten (4755 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sony-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:563:1" rel="noopener">Sony (6758 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:359:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post (6178 JP)</a> which distort their balance sheets. We have also excluded companies with a current market cap below ¥50b, although some exceptions have been made for abnormally large movements, such as those in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-display-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8280:1" rel="noopener">Japan Display (6740 JP).</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba (6502 JP)</a>-  As an example of our analysis, Toshiba has seen the largest reduction in Cash as a percentage of market value over the last twelve months of any large-cap Japanese company. Toshiba's cash balance has declined by ¥1.4 trillion since peaking in 2019-Q2 - 114% of the current market cap. 70% of the cash generated between 2018-Q4 and 2019-Q2 has been allocated to share repurchases, dividends and cash reduction. The company's net cash remains at a healthy 51% of market value and 43% of Shareholders' Equity; however, Cumulative Operating Cash Flow will fall below zero in the current quarter. There are few additional reductions in Fixed Assets and Inventories that can be sustained without irreparable damage. The logic of buying back shares in an entity that has negative residual returns is not clear to us. Despite the potential for a TOPIX re-inclusion 'bounce', fundamentally the stock should be avoided.<div class="content-highlight">In the DETAIL Section below, we shall look at the top (or bottom) thirty large-cap companies on each of the metric above scaled by market capitalisation. </div>

Source • Japan AnalyticsCUMULATIVE CASH FLOWS - In this third and final of our series on Japanese companies that might be compromised as the Covid-19 recession unfolds,  we shall look at Cumulative Cash Flows. Our cash flow model is derived from the disclosed Balance Sheets and Statements of Comprehensive Income and balances to zero for every company for every comparable period. Variations in disclosure between the audited annual yuho and unaudited quarterly kessan tanshin reports, notably when the company is reporting under the weaker IFRS standard can result in unavoidable quarter-to-quarter variations. Consequently, our analysis will focus on year-on-year changes as of the most recent quarterly disclosure irrespective of fiscal year-end.  Our review will cover six principal cash flow metrics:-

Operating Cash Flow - Operating Cash Flow comprises all cash flow items relating to transactions with customers and suppliers except inventory cash flows.

Investing Cash Flow - Investing Cash Flow comprises cash flow to or from Fixed Assets and Inventories. Unlike GAAP Cash Flows Statements, It does not include investments in financial assets.

Inventory Cash Flow - A sub-set of Investing Cash Flow, inventory Cash Flow is the change in Inventory on the Balance Sheet. 

Free Cash Flow - Free Cash Flow the sum of Operating Cash Flow, Fixed Asset Cash Flow and Inventory Cash Flow.

Financing Cash Flow - Financing Cash Flow comprises Debt &amp; Lease Liabilities, Investments and the taxation that is allocated to Financing Cash Flow. Debt &amp; Lease Liabilities includes changes in Short and Long-Term Debt and Lease Liabilities and Interest and Bond Issuance Expenses.' Investments' includes Interest &amp; Dividend Income, Purchases and Sales of Securities, Loans, Gains and Losses on Marketable Securities and Equity Earnings.
Change in Cash - Change in Cash is the sum of Free Cash Flow, Financing Cash Flow and Shareholder Cash Flow after including Minorities &amp; Adjustments. 
EXCLUDED - Four companies have been excluded from our review as they have substantial financial subsidiaries - Z Holdings (4689 JP), Rakuten (4755 JP), Sony (6758 JP), Japan Post (6178 JP) which distort their balance sheets. We have also excluded companies with a current market cap below ¥50b, although some exceptions have been made for abnormally large movements, such as those in Japan Display (6740 JP).Toshiba (6502 JP)-  As an example of our analysis, Toshiba has seen the largest reduction in Cash as a percentage of market value over the last twelve months of any large-cap Japanese company. Toshiba's cash balance has declined by ¥1.4 trillion since peaking in 2019-Q2 - 114% of the current market cap. 70% of the cash generated between 2018-Q4 and 2019-Q2 has been allocated to share repurchases, dividends and cash reduction. The company's net cash remains at a healthy 51% of market value and 43% of Shareholders' Equity; however, Cumulative Operating Cash Flow will fall below zero in the current quarter. There are few additional reductions in Fixed Assets and Inventories that can be sustained without irreparable damage. The logic of buying back shares in an entity that has negative residual returns is not clear to us. Despite the potential for a TOPIX re-inclusion 'bounce', fundamentally the stock should be avoided.In the DETAIL Section below, we shall look at the top (or bottom) thirty large-cap companies on each of the metric above scaled by market capitalisation. 

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Who’s Swimming Naked? > Part 3: Cumulative Cash Flow

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Independent and original Asian investment research

Aletheia Capital

Aletheia Capital (HK) Ltd. (previously known as Asianomics) combines the extensive knowledge of its experienced team with technology and regulatory changes to disrupt Global Markets business in Asia. The firm is completely independent with no conflicts of interest either on Investment Banking advisory or Capital Markets execution.

Equity Bottom-Up

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/114/303/original/BANNER-CARGO-FINAL.png?1579444685" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="114303"></figure>In H119, container shipping rates in the key Transpacific Eastbound tradelane held up well despite tepid demand, as fleet expansion in most of 2019 was modest and some peak season (Q3) demand was probably pulled forward to avoid the threat of new tariffs on Chinese goods moving to the US.But it appears key Transpacific Eastbound rates have been declining since late Q3 or early Q4, and we believe profitability probably peaked in Q3 for most carriers. The measures we track suggest average rates declined by 4-5% YoY in November and December. With Transpacific Eastbound under pressure and fuel prices still high, we believe near-term earnings are likely to decline for most container shipping companies. Despite optimism about the potential for improved trade relations between the US and China, we would avoid the segment for now.

In H119, container shipping rates in the key Transpacific Eastbound tradelane held up well despite tepid demand, as fleet expansion in most of 2019 was modest and some peak season (Q3) demand was probably pulled forward to avoid the threat of new tariffs on Chinese goods moving to the US.But it appears key Transpacific Eastbound rates have been declining since late Q3 or early Q4, and we believe profitability probably peaked in Q3 for most carriers. The measures we track suggest average rates declined by 4-5% YoY in November and December. With Transpacific Eastbound under pressure and fuel prices still high, we believe near-term earnings are likely to decline for most container shipping companies. Despite optimism about the potential for improved trade relations between the US and China, we would avoid the segment for now.

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Containers & Air Cargo: For Most Box Carriers, Profitability Likely Already Peaked

* Our Q3-2019 Small-Mid Cap High-Risk list of stocks ( <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/screening-the-silkroad-small-mid-cap-high-risk-names-to-avoid-q3-2019" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:31999" rel="noopener">Screening the Silkroad: Small-Mid Cap High-Risk Names to Avoid: Q3 2019 ) </a> produced a market cap average price return of 5%. In comparison, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index posted 8.5% over the same period. The stock rank quality of the Q3 2019 list declined 5.1 points or 6.6% for the period.  * 16-stocks appear in our Q4 2019 screen, compared to 14, 19 and 26 in Q3, Q2 and Q1 respectively. The average stock rank has decreased marginally to 74.9 points from the 76.9 points in August 2019. The fact that the screen presents with a high stock rank remains a concern. In our view, this reflects the increased level of risk in the market which is being seen in other metrics as well. * Deteriorating credit metrics support our view that the level of risk appears is increasing within the small-mid cap universe.

* Our Q3-2019 Small-Mid Cap High-Risk list of stocks ( Screening the Silkroad: Small-Mid Cap High-Risk Names to Avoid: Q3 2019 )  produced a market cap average price return of 5%. In comparison, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index posted 8.5% over the same period. The stock rank quality of the Q3 2019 list declined 5.1 points or 6.6% for the period.  * 16-stocks appear in our Q4 2019 screen, compared to 14, 19 and 26 in Q3, Q2 and Q1 respectively. The average stock rank has decreased marginally to 74.9 points from the 76.9 points in August 2019. The fact that the screen presents with a high stock rank remains a concern. In our view, this reflects the increased level of risk in the market which is being seen in other metrics as well. * Deteriorating credit metrics support our view that the level of risk appears is increasing within the small-mid cap universe. 

Screening the Silk Road: Small-Mid Cap High Risk Names to Avoid: Q4 2019

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<h2>Reduced List, but significant all the same</h2><ul>
<li>
OurQ2-2019 Small-Mid Cap High-Risk list of stocks (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/screening-the-silkroad-small-mid-cap-high-risk-names-to-avoid-q2-2019" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:29753" rel="noopener">Screening the Silkroad: Small-Mid Cap High-Risk Names to Avoid: Q2 2019</a>) produced a market cap average price decrease of 9.7%. In comparison, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index decreased 7.5% over the same period.</li>
<li>Our screen looks for high valuation multiples presented by candidates with significant earnings growth forecasts, as well as financial indicators that suggest balance sheet distress.</li>
<li>
The Risk to this screen: The Financial and Utility sectors are not covered in this screen. Moreover, “risk is not a number, it is a concept or notion”, as cited by James Mortiner during his time at Société Genéralé. Hence, some stocks may appear on this screen due to their business model being realigned to a more profitable approach. They may also be a member of more positive value or quality screens, as a result of this realignment.</li>
<li>
14-stocks appear in our Q3 2019 screen, down from 19 and 26 in Q2 and Q1 2019 respectively. Of the new list, 7 stocks are new to the list. On a geographical basis, Singapore remains absent from the screen for the fifth quarter running, whilst New Zealand has not presented any names for the second quarter running.</li>
<li>
Whilst our screen highlights a decreased pool of candidates, the level of risk remains relatively static within the small-mid cap universe, there have been several revealing data points in this quarters screen, which suggest investors need to pay attention to the Asian markets.</li>
</ul>

Reduced List, but significant all the same

OurQ2-2019 Small-Mid Cap High-Risk list of stocks (Screening the Silkroad: Small-Mid Cap High-Risk Names to Avoid: Q2 2019) produced a market cap average price decrease of 9.7%. In comparison, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index decreased 7.5% over the same period.
Our screen looks for high valuation multiples presented by candidates with significant earnings growth forecasts, as well as financial indicators that suggest balance sheet distress.

The Risk to this screen: The Financial and Utility sectors are not covered in this screen. Moreover, “risk is not a number, it is a concept or notion”, as cited by James Mortiner during his time at Société Genéralé. Hence, some stocks may appear on this screen due to their business model being realigned to a more profitable approach. They may also be a member of more positive value or quality screens, as a result of this realignment.

14-stocks appear in our Q3 2019 screen, down from 19 and 26 in Q2 and Q1 2019 respectively. Of the new list, 7 stocks are new to the list. On a geographical basis, Singapore remains absent from the screen for the fifth quarter running, whilst New Zealand has not presented any names for the second quarter running.

Whilst our screen highlights a decreased pool of candidates, the level of risk remains relatively static within the small-mid cap universe, there have been several revealing data points in this quarters screen, which suggest investors need to pay attention to the Asian markets.


Screening the Silkroad: Small-Mid Cap High-Risk Names to Avoid: Q3 2019

Japan

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. provides marine transportation, warehousing, and cargo handling services.  The Company operates container ship, specialized carrier, oil tankers, and ferry.  Items transported include coal, iron ore, grain, logs, aluminum, cement, industrial salt, copper ore, wood chips, paper products, chemical products, gasoline and other petroleum products, LPG, and other cargoes.

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Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (9104 JP)

Screening the Silk Road: Q2 2020 Small-Mid Cap High Risk Names to Avoid

Deteriorating credit metrics continue to support our view that the level of risk is increasing within the small-mid cap universe. Our screen...

David Lepper

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Who’s Swimming Naked? > Part 3: Cumulative Cash Flow

CUMULATIVE CASH FLOWS - In this third and final of our series on Japanese companies that might be compromised as the Covid-19 recession unfolds, ...

Campbell Gunn

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Containers & Air Cargo: For Most Box Carriers, Profitability Likely Already Peaked

In H119, container shipping rates in the key Transpacific Eastbound tradelane held up well despite tepid demand, as fleet expansion in most of 2019...

Daniel Hellberg

Screening the Silk Road: Small-Mid Cap High Risk Names to Avoid: Q4 2019

* Our Q3-2019 Small-Mid Cap High-Risk list of stocks ( Screening the Silkroad: Small-Mid Cap High-Risk Names to Avoid: Q3 2019 ) produced a market...

David Lepper

Screening the Silkroad: Small-Mid Cap High-Risk Names to Avoid: Q3 2019

Reduced List, but significant all the same OurQ2-2019 Small-Mid Cap High-Risk list of stocks (Screening the Silkroad: Small-Mid Cap High-Risk...

David Lepper

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52-week Range

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