Research from Asian Century Stocks, Asian Century Stocks

Michael Fritzell

Research from Asian Century Stocks

Providing financial journalism in the Asia-Pacific

Asian Century Stocks

Asian Century Stocks is a newsletter providing financial journalism for companies and stocks in the Asia-Pacific. 
The Asian Century Stocks logotype “百” stands for “one hundred” or a “century”. The economic centre of gravity is moving towards Asia. Yet most global investors are missing out.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>
<p>In the past year, cocoa prices have spiked to elevated levels.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The culprit has been heavy rainfall in West Africa, leading to poor cocoa crops.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>There’s nothing suggesting that the tightness in the cocoa market will end anytime soon. </p>
</li>
</ul>



In the past year, cocoa prices have spiked to elevated levels.


The culprit has been heavy rainfall in West Africa, leading to poor cocoa crops.


There’s nothing suggesting that the tightness in the cocoa market will end anytime soon. 



Covering IPOs, Healthcare and Technology Stocks

Andrei Zakharov

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Ibotta, a cashback rewards platform provider, files to list IPO on NYSE. The Denver-based technology company was backed by VC investors, GGV Capital, Walmart and Koch Disruptive Technologies.</li>
<li>Ibotta is a trusted and well-known brand in the cashback space in the United States, and means “I-bought-a”. The company is led by its Founder &amp; CEO, Bryan Leach.</li>
<li>Considering Ibotta's strong and profitable growth, low penetration of the addressable market opportunity, and potential international expansion, they should have a successful IPO.</li>
</ul>


Ibotta, a cashback rewards platform provider, files to list IPO on NYSE. The Denver-based technology company was backed by VC investors, GGV Capital, Walmart and Koch Disruptive Technologies.
Ibotta is a trusted and well-known brand in the cashback space in the United States, and means “I-bought-a”. The company is led by its Founder &amp; CEO, Bryan Leach.
Considering Ibotta's strong and profitable growth, low penetration of the addressable market opportunity, and potential international expansion, they should have a successful IPO.


Ibotta IPO Preview: High-Growth Cashback Unicorn With Robust AI-Powered Capabilities

Independent Research, US Dominant Players, Investment Talk

Investment Talk

Independent Research, US Dominant Players

Investment Talk is for readers who wish to learn about companies that are potentially outside of their own circle of research, as well as those who are longing to become part of a community of like-minded investors and learn more about investment research. I would describe myself as a long-term investor who typically takes a 3Y to 5Y outlook, before reassessing once that period matures. I follow the adage that one should research, reach a conclusion, and then verify and continue to hold so long as the thesis remains intact. My own investing style is one that seeks to find dominant players within their respective market who have shown signs of monopoly or oligopolistic behaviour, unlikely to be disrupted, in tandem with discovering market disruptors who have a high likelihood of disrupting their respective market. Equally (and weighted accordingly) I seek to discover more nuanced, misunderstood, situations with a shorter time frame.

<ul><li>I was today-years-old when I learned that Europe has its own version of the Magnificent 7; the basket of giga-cap US tech companies comprised of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla.</li><li>The GRANOLAS Dubbed the “Granolas” by Goldman Sachs in 2020, this basket was chosen because it echoed themes present amongst the Mag 7 (back then it was just “FAAMG”) .</li><li><p>Namely, they were market leaders in the STOXX 600 Europe Index, they had grown to become an increasingly larger share of the market, and their earnings had far outpaced the broader index.</p><div></div></li></ul>

I was today-years-old when I learned that Europe has its own version of the Magnificent 7; the basket of giga-cap US tech companies comprised of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla.The GRANOLAS Dubbed the “Granolas” by Goldman Sachs in 2020, this basket was chosen because it echoed themes present amongst the Mag 7 (back then it was just “FAAMG”) .Namely, they were market leaders in the STOXX 600 Europe Index, they had grown to become an increasingly larger share of the market, and their earnings had far outpaced the broader index.

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

<ul>
<li>There is more optimism about headline inflation but for the average Japanese consumer, there are major concerns given the 9% spike in food inflation.</li>
<li>Surveys suggest that households reduced shopping frequency for daily needs consumer goods by about 10% in the first nine months of 2023 alone.</li>
<li>Retailers, meanwhile, are taking steps to reduce prices where they can, creating a widening gap between retailers with the capacity to lower prices and those that can't.</li>
</ul>


There is more optimism about headline inflation but for the average Japanese consumer, there are major concerns given the 9% spike in food inflation.
Surveys suggest that households reduced shopping frequency for daily needs consumer goods by about 10% in the first nine months of 2023 alone.
Retailers, meanwhile, are taking steps to reduce prices where they can, creating a widening gap between retailers with the capacity to lower prices and those that can't.


Inflation Still a Drag on Japanese Consumer Confidence

<ul>
<li>The so-called 2024 problem will cause significant disruption to logistics in Japan, including potentially higher costs for major firms like Yamato and Sagawa.</li>
<li>Already, companies that move product by road, and particularly those working in e-commerce, are working hard to come up with solutions to reduce the impact of the new rules.</li>
<li>For the better-resourced businesses, this could lead to more efficient supply-chains in the long run, creating more efficiencies within Japanese consumer markets.</li>
</ul>


The so-called 2024 problem will cause significant disruption to logistics in Japan, including potentially higher costs for major firms like Yamato and Sagawa.
Already, companies that move product by road, and particularly those working in e-commerce, are working hard to come up with solutions to reduce the impact of the new rules.
For the better-resourced businesses, this could lead to more efficient supply-chains in the long run, creating more efficiencies within Japanese consumer markets.


Solving the 2024 Logistics Problem Key to Japan Consumer Market Efficiency

Switzerland

Nestle SA is a multinational packaged food company that manufactures and markets a wide range of food products. The Company's product line includes milk, chocolate, confectionery, bottled water, coffee, creamer, food seasoning and pet foods.

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Nestle SA (NESN VX)

The cocoa question

In the past year, cocoa prices have spiked to elevated levels. The culprit has been heavy rainfall in West Africa, leading to poor cocoa crops.

Asian Century Stocks

Ibotta IPO Preview: High-Growth Cashback Unicorn With Robust AI-Powered Capabilities

Ibotta, a high-growth technology unicorn in the cashback space, files to go public. After strong market debut of Reddit and Astera Labs, Ibotta...

Andrei Zakharov

Europe's Magnificent Eleven

The GRANOLAS Dubbed the “Granolas” by Goldman Sachs in 2020, this basket was chosen because it echoed themes present amongst the Mag 7 (back then...

Investment Talk

Inflation Still a Drag on Japanese Consumer Confidence

A 9% increase in food inflation has Japanese consumers worried, leading to reduced shopping frequency. Retailers are trying to lower prices,...

Michael Causton

Solving the 2024 Logistics Problem Key to Japan Consumer Market Efficiency

The 2024 problem in Japan will disrupt logistics, increasing costs for major firms but they are finding solutions to minimize the impact and...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

The cocoa question

In the past year, cocoa prices have spiked to elevated levels. The culprit has been heavy rainfall in West Africa, leading to poor cocoa crops.

Asian Century Stocks

Ibotta IPO Preview: High-Growth Cashback Unicorn With Robust AI-Powered Capabilities

Ibotta, a high-growth technology unicorn in the cashback space, files to go public. After strong market debut of Reddit and Astera Labs, Ibotta...

Andrei Zakharov

Europe's Magnificent Eleven

The GRANOLAS Dubbed the “Granolas” by Goldman Sachs in 2020, this basket was chosen because it echoed themes present amongst the Mag 7 (back then...

Investment Talk

Inflation Still a Drag on Japanese Consumer Confidence

A 9% increase in food inflation has Japanese consumers worried, leading to reduced shopping frequency. Retailers are trying to lower prices,...

Michael Causton

Solving the 2024 Logistics Problem Key to Japan Consumer Market Efficiency

​The 2024 problem in Japan will disrupt logistics, increasing costs for major firms but they are finding solutions to minimize the impact and...

Michael Causton

The 2024 problem in Japan will disrupt logistics, increasing costs for major firms but they are finding solutions to minimize the impact and...