'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

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE</strong> •</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/098/178/original/2019-09-06_09-42-35.png?1567730614" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="98178"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>INTRODUCTION </strong>- The Relative Price Score (RPS) is a measure of stock price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by comparing the current deviation with the mean absolute deviation of monthly and daily relative share prices. As all companies are thus on a comparable scale, 'Overbought' and 'Oversold' outliers and changes in scoring can reveal short-term and longer-term trading opportunities. Company outlier thresholds are set at<strong> +4</strong> &amp; <strong>-2</strong> and equate to the top and bottom first-to-second percentiles of historical observations from which mean reversion takes a matter of months. RPS outliers with a Score of greater than 10.0 are rare outside of the 2000 tech 'bubble'. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lasertec-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4126:1" rel="noopener">Lasertec (6920 JP)</a> has just joined <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/goldwin-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:410:1" rel="noopener">Goldwin (8111 JP)</a> in being only the second large-cap RPS 'ten-baggers' in the last twenty years. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p><strong>This insight updates our list of Overbought and Oversold companies, reviews the best and worst-performing companies in terms of RPS over the last three months and adds some specific comments on stocks on each category.</strong></p></div><div></div><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/098/046/original/2019-09-05_12-46-46.png?1567655232" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="98046"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>STATISTICS</strong> - Currently, of the 3,706 listed companies for which monthly RPS data is available, 81 companies are 'Overbought', and 133 are 'Oversold' - 2.45% and 3.8%, respectively of the total. For the 737 companies with a market capitalisation of over ¥100b, there are 44 'Overbought' and 37 'Oversold' companies, 6% and 5%, respectively.</p><hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE 'TOPS' •</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/098/055/original/2019-09-05_13-06-30.png?1567656423" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="98055"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>RPS 'TOPS'</strong> - In the last two years, 388 companies have achieved an RPS of '4' or more and the average Overbought 'persistence' is 42 days. 1.26% of the total of 1.94 million traded stock days were by companies with an RPS of over 4. For companies with a market capitalisation higher than ¥100b, the numbers are 95 companies and 74 days - demonstrating the superior persistence of large capitalisation companies in this regard. The chart above highlights the track record of all 95 large caps which are some point were Overbought in the last twenty-four months and illustrates the extreme outlier status of Goldwin and Lasertec.</p><p><strong>RPS NEGATIVE MEAN REVERSION</strong> - Some examples of RPS mean reversion in the last three months have been <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/suzuken-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14996:1" rel="noopener">Suzuken (9987 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/infomart-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1301:1" rel="noopener">Infomart (2492 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nichirei-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7168:1" rel="noopener">Nichirei (2871 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fancl-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15862:1" rel="noopener">Fancl (4921 JP)</a>. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/098/096/original/2019-09-05_16-25-39.png?1567668352" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="98096"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/098/097/original/2019-09-05_16-27-09.png?1567668441" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="98097"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/098/098/original/2019-09-05_16-28-42.png?1567668548" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="98098"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/098/099/original/2019-09-05_16-30-29.png?1567668640" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="98099"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE 'BOTTOMS' •</strong></p><div>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/098/056/original/2019-09-05_13-12-52.png?1567656806" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="98056"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>
</div><p><strong>RPS 'BOTTOMS'</strong> - 259 companies have seen their RPS fall to '-2' or below in the last two years, and the average Oversold 'persistence' is 83 days. 1.46% of the total of 1.94 million traded stock days were by companies with an RPS of less than -2.  For larger capitalisation companies, the numbers are 79 companies and 94 days. The chart above highlights the track record of the 79 large caps which are some point were Oversold in the last twenty-four months and illustrates the strong recovery in the<strong> REITs</strong> Sector and the continuing demise of <strong>Regional Banks</strong>.</p><p><strong>RPS POSITIVE MEAN REVERSION</strong> - Some recent examples of positive RPS mean reversions are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/otsuka-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12292:1" rel="noopener">Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP) </a>and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/line-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22772:1" rel="noopener">LINE (3938 JP)</a>.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/098/100/original/2019-09-05_16-35-47.png?1567668972" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="98100"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/098/102/original/2019-09-05_16-36-50.png?1567669047" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="98102"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p>As we noted in our June <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-relative-price-scores-overbought-oversold-companies-june-2019" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:30393" rel="noopener">Insight: -</a></p><blockquote><p><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/line-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22772:1" rel="noopener">LINE (3938 JP)</a></strong>- Line has performed poorly since being featured in last year's Sohn Conference and has had negative and worsening Operating Income for each of the previous five quarters. Although there is a possibility of a double-bottom RPS 'bounce' and <strong>the company is now the most-Oversold non-financial large-cap over one year,</strong> there are no fundamental reasons to own the shares.   </p></blockquote><p>In the <strong>DETAIL </strong>section below, we list the current<strong> Very Overbought (RPS&gt;5</strong>), <strong>Too-Late-To-Buy (RPS &gt;4&lt;5)</strong> and <strong>Oversold (RPS &lt;-2)</strong> stocks as well as the most substantial three-month positive and negative changes in RPS.</p>

• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE •Source: Japan AnalyticsINTRODUCTION - The Relative Price Score (RPS) is a measure of stock price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by comparing the current deviation with the mean absolute deviation of monthly and daily relative share prices. As all companies are thus on a comparable scale, 'Overbought' and 'Oversold' outliers and changes in scoring can reveal short-term and longer-term trading opportunities. Company outlier thresholds are set at +4 &amp; -2 and equate to the top and bottom first-to-second percentiles of historical observations from which mean reversion takes a matter of months. RPS outliers with a Score of greater than 10.0 are rare outside of the 2000 tech 'bubble'. Lasertec (6920 JP) has just joined Goldwin (8111 JP) in being only the second large-cap RPS 'ten-baggers' in the last twenty years. This insight updates our list of Overbought and Oversold companies, reviews the best and worst-performing companies in terms of RPS over the last three months and adds some specific comments on stocks on each category.Source: Japan AnalyticsSTATISTICS - Currently, of the 3,706 listed companies for which monthly RPS data is available, 81 companies are 'Overbought', and 133 are 'Oversold' - 2.45% and 3.8%, respectively of the total. For the 737 companies with a market capitalisation of over ¥100b, there are 44 'Overbought' and 37 'Oversold' companies, 6% and 5%, respectively.• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE 'TOPS' •Source: Japan AnalyticsRPS 'TOPS' - In the last two years, 388 companies have achieved an RPS of '4' or more and the average Overbought 'persistence' is 42 days. 1.26% of the total of 1.94 million traded stock days were by companies with an RPS of over 4. For companies with a market capitalisation higher than ¥100b, the numbers are 95 companies and 74 days - demonstrating the superior persistence of large capitalisation companies in this regard. The chart above highlights the track record of all 95 large caps which are some point were Overbought in the last twenty-four months and illustrates the extreme outlier status of Goldwin and Lasertec.RPS NEGATIVE MEAN REVERSION - Some examples of RPS mean reversion in the last three months have been Suzuken (9987 JP), Infomart (2492 JP), Nichirei (2871 JP), and Fancl (4921 JP). Source: Japan Analytics• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE 'BOTTOMS' •
Source: Japan Analytics
RPS 'BOTTOMS' - 259 companies have seen their RPS fall to '-2' or below in the last two years, and the average Oversold 'persistence' is 83 days. 1.46% of the total of 1.94 million traded stock days were by companies with an RPS of less than -2.  For larger capitalisation companies, the numbers are 79 companies and 94 days. The chart above highlights the track record of the 79 large caps which are some point were Oversold in the last twenty-four months and illustrates the strong recovery in the REITs Sector and the continuing demise of Regional Banks.RPS POSITIVE MEAN REVERSION - Some recent examples of positive RPS mean reversions are Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP) and LINE (3938 JP).Source: Japan AnalyticsAs we noted in our June Insight: -LINE (3938 JP)- Line has performed poorly since being featured in last year's Sohn Conference and has had negative and worsening Operating Income for each of the previous five quarters. Although there is a possibility of a double-bottom RPS 'bounce' and the company is now the most-Oversold non-financial large-cap over one year, there are no fundamental reasons to own the shares.   In the DETAIL section below, we list the current Very Overbought (RPS&gt;5), Too-Late-To-Buy (RPS &gt;4&lt;5) and Oversold (RPS &lt;-2) stocks as well as the most substantial three-month positive and negative changes in RPS.

🇯🇵 Japan • September Relative Price Scores - Life at the Poles Part 2: Companies

Asia Healthcare Analyst, Pathology Associates Limited

Dion Stéfan Büchner M.D., FCAP

Asia Healthcare Analyst

Pathology Associates Limited

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><strong>Key highlights</strong></p><ul>
<li>While the pharmaceutical segment (~60% of total sales) stayed flat (+1.2% to ¥200b), the Nutraceutical business (~30% of total) grew briskly by 9.1% to ¥94b - resulting in overall sales growth of 1.9% to ¥330b</li>
<li>Within Pharmaceuticals, ramp-up of global products, including Abilify Maintena (+21% to ¥22b), Rexulti (+43% to ¥18b) and Samsca (+37% to ¥23b) coupled with brisk uptake of recent domestic market launches (including E Keppra, Bilano, Abraxane and Takecab) nullified the adverse impact of price reform led decline in the sales of long listed drugs.</li>
<li>As for cost, while Core (pre-exceptional) SG&amp;A expenses increased by 7% to ¥141b, Core R&amp;D expenses increased by 18% to ¥49b (for accelerated progress of key late stage assets)</li>
<li>As a result, Core EBIT and EPS declined ~32% and 20% to ¥27b and ¥46.14 / share respectively</li>
</ul>

Key highlights
While the pharmaceutical segment (~60% of total sales) stayed flat (+1.2% to ¥200b), the Nutraceutical business (~30% of total) grew briskly by 9.1% to ¥94b - resulting in overall sales growth of 1.9% to ¥330b
Within Pharmaceuticals, ramp-up of global products, including Abilify Maintena (+21% to ¥22b), Rexulti (+43% to ¥18b) and Samsca (+37% to ¥23b) coupled with brisk uptake of recent domestic market launches (including E Keppra, Bilano, Abraxane and Takecab) nullified the adverse impact of price reform led decline in the sales of long listed drugs.
As for cost, while Core (pre-exceptional) SG&amp;A expenses increased by 7% to ¥141b, Core R&amp;D expenses increased by 18% to ¥49b (for accelerated progress of key late stage assets)
As a result, Core EBIT and EPS declined ~32% and 20% to ¥27b and ¥46.14 / share respectively


Otsuka 3Q FY18 (YE Dec'18) Results - First Glance

<p>We reiterate our “Equal-weight” rating on the stock post 1H FY18 (YE Dec-18) earnings</p><p><strong>1H FY18 Result Highlights</strong></p><ul>
<li>Otsuka reported an increase in 1H FY18 sales (+3.9% to ¥3b) due to strong performance of <strong>Abilify Maintena</strong> (+24.6% to ¥41.5b), <strong>Rexulti</strong> (+43.4% to ¥30.6b) and <strong>Samsca</strong> (+34.8% to ¥39.0b).</li>
<li>Increase in reported net profit in 1H FY18 (+50.8% to ¥4b) mainly due to onetime gain (¥18.8b) from consolidation of ReCor Medical Inc. Though this is no surprise as company has already revised 1H guidance.</li>
<li>Company has raised FY12/18 full year OP guidance from ¥140b to ¥145b and increased the projected R&amp;D spend from ¥190b to ¥200b</li>
</ul>

We reiterate our “Equal-weight” rating on the stock post 1H FY18 (YE Dec-18) earnings1H FY18 Result Highlights
Otsuka reported an increase in 1H FY18 sales (+3.9% to ¥3b) due to strong performance of Abilify Maintena (+24.6% to ¥41.5b), Rexulti (+43.4% to ¥30.6b) and Samsca (+34.8% to ¥39.0b).
Increase in reported net profit in 1H FY18 (+50.8% to ¥4b) mainly due to onetime gain (¥18.8b) from consolidation of ReCor Medical Inc. Though this is no surprise as company has already revised 1H guidance.
Company has raised FY12/18 full year OP guidance from ¥140b to ¥145b and increased the projected R&amp;D spend from ¥190b to ¥200b


1H FY18 In Line – Key Drivers Strong but Pipeline Potential Weak

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<p>Last week in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-passive-boj-heading-for-trouble-with-nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:21980">JAPAN PASSIVE:  BOJ Heading For Trouble with Nikkei 225</a> I discussed the BOJ's past and current ETF purchasing selection, ownership, and the expected impact from its purchases going forward. </p><h2>NOT, MAYBE, and LIKELY Problems</h2><p><strong>NOT A PROBLEM:</strong> The fact that the BOJ owned 80.7% of the ETFs outstanding at the end of June.</p><p><strong>MAYBE A PROBLEM:</strong> The fact that BOJ-owned ETFs own 15% or more of 6 names on a look-through basis and more than 10% of 30+ names looks a bit odd.</p><p><strong>LIKELY A PROBLEM:</strong> Based on June month-end prices and the existing program of purchasing ¥5.7 trillion/year of ETFs under the 'regular index' Asset Purchase Plan (ETFs tracking TOPIX, the Nikkei 225, and JPX-Nikkei400 as discussed in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-passive-boj-heading-for-trouble-with-nikkei-225" target="_blank">previous insight</a>), over the next 12 months the BOJ would purchase 16-18% of the remaining real float in Fast Retailing, and even more of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/320" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:320:1">FamilyMart UNY Holdings Co Ltd (8028 JP)</a>, as well as more than 5% of the remaining float of a half dozen other names in its ETF ownership universe.</p><h2>What To Do?</h2><p>The previous insight proposed possible changes to the BOJ's buying patterns and possible changes to the Nikkei 225. This insight delves into the risk metrics of a Nikkei-related trade in greater detail. </p><p>That's a good start. If the BOJ or Nikkei makes changes, there is probably A LOT more to go.</p>

Last week in JAPAN PASSIVE:  BOJ Heading For Trouble with Nikkei 225 I discussed the BOJ's past and current ETF purchasing selection, ownership, and the expected impact from its purchases going forward. NOT, MAYBE, and LIKELY ProblemsNOT A PROBLEM: The fact that the BOJ owned 80.7% of the ETFs outstanding at the end of June.MAYBE A PROBLEM: The fact that BOJ-owned ETFs own 15% or more of 6 names on a look-through basis and more than 10% of 30+ names looks a bit odd.LIKELY A PROBLEM: Based on June month-end prices and the existing program of purchasing ¥5.7 trillion/year of ETFs under the 'regular index' Asset Purchase Plan (ETFs tracking TOPIX, the Nikkei 225, and JPX-Nikkei400 as discussed in the previous insight), over the next 12 months the BOJ would purchase 16-18% of the remaining real float in Fast Retailing, and even more of FamilyMart UNY Holdings Co Ltd (8028 JP), as well as more than 5% of the remaining float of a half dozen other names in its ETF ownership universe.What To Do?The previous insight proposed possible changes to the BOJ's buying patterns and possible changes to the Nikkei 225. This insight delves into the risk metrics of a Nikkei-related trade in greater detail. That's a good start. If the BOJ or Nikkei makes changes, there is probably A LOT more to go.

JAPAN PASSIVE:  The Nikkei 225 Baskets if BOJ Changes

Japan TMT Analyst

Pelham Smithers

Market Intel on Asian Tech with a Japan focus

Pelham Smithers Associates

Founded in 2009, Pelham Smithers Associates (PSA) provides market intelligence on Asian technology, focusing in particular on Japan. The industries covered by our team of specialists are: consumer electronics, telecomms, pharmaceuticals, internet, electronic parts and materials, automotive technology, retail and capital goods. 

Research is provided by the following:
Pelham Smithers: Macro, consumer electronics, telecoms & pharma
Joel Scheiman: Electronics materials / components
Julie Boote: Autos
Will Nestuk: Capital goods, machinery & transportation equipment parts
Thao Nguyen: eCommerce, internet content, marketing & advertising

<p>As a defensive sector, Japan’s pharmaceutical sector has had an up-and-down time of it during the Abe era. In the early days of Abenomics, the sector was a serial underperformer, as there were high hopes that Abenomics would soon pull Japan out of its deflationary slump. However, even as early as 4Q 2013, misgivings were beginning to emerge (primarily then around the forthcoming consumption tax hike) and the sector went into a long period of outperformance, which ended in June 2016 with “Kuroda…</p>

As a defensive sector, Japan’s pharmaceutical sector has had an up-and-down time of it during the Abe era. In the early days of Abenomics, the sector was a serial underperformer, as there were high hopes that Abenomics would soon pull Japan out of its deflationary slump. However, even as early as 4Q 2013, misgivings were beginning to emerge (primarily then around the forthcoming consumption tax hike) and the sector went into a long period of outperformance, which ended in June 2016 with “Kuroda…

Opportunities in The (Overpriced) Japan Pharma Sector

Japan

Otsuka Holdings Co Ltd is a pharmaceutical company. The Company manufactures, sells, imports and exports pharmaceutical products, clinical testing, and medical equipment for intractable diseases.

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Otsuka Holdings (4578 JT)

🇯🇵 Japan • September Relative Price Scores - Life at the Poles Part 2: Companies

• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE •INTRODUCTION - The Relative Price Score (RPS) is a measure of stock price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by...

Campbell Gunn

Otsuka 3Q FY18 (YE Dec'18) Results - First Glance

Key highlights While the pharmaceutical segment (~60% of total sales) stayed flat (+1.2% to ¥200b), the Nutraceutical business (~30% of total) grew...

Dion Stéfan Büchner M.D., FCAP

1H FY18 In Line – Key Drivers Strong but Pipeline Potential Weak

We reiterate our “Equal-weight” rating on the stock post 1H FY18 (YE Dec-18) earnings1H FY18 Result Highlights Otsuka reported an increase in 1H...

Dion Stéfan Büchner M.D., FCAP

JAPAN PASSIVE: The Nikkei 225 Baskets if BOJ Changes

Last week in JAPAN PASSIVE: BOJ Heading For Trouble with Nikkei 225 I discussed the BOJ's past and current ETF purchasing selection, ownership,...

Travis Lundy

Opportunities in The (Overpriced) Japan Pharma Sector

As a defensive sector, Japan’s pharmaceutical sector has had an up-and-down time of it during the Abe era. In the early days of Abenomics, the...

Pelham Smithers Associates

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