Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Hokkoku Financial Holdings / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Japanese banks have been in a relative sweetspot for a couple of years. Higher rates, higher inflation, more FX volatility, better earnings, stronger buybacks. Cross-holding sales up but not spectacular.</li>
<li>The BOJ may raise rates but Trump Tariff retaliation/mitigation is a question. Elections the next two weeks and earnings the 2-3 weeks after that may keep things a question. </li>
<li>But buybacks should pick up. Lots announced in spring end at or before Q1 earnings. And I expect substantial new buybacks to be announced throughout the from Q1 results on.</li>
</ul>


Japanese banks have been in a relative sweetspot for a couple of years. Higher rates, higher inflation, more FX volatility, better earnings, stronger buybacks. Cross-holding sales up but not spectacular.
The BOJ may raise rates but Trump Tariff retaliation/mitigation is a question. Elections the next two weeks and earnings the 2-3 weeks after that may keep things a question. 
But buybacks should pick up. Lots announced in spring end at or before Q1 earnings. And I expect substantial new buybacks to be announced throughout the from Q1 results on.


[Japan Buybacks] - Japan Bank Metrics, Cross-Holdings and Banks Part 1

Global Equities, Multi-Asset PM, Dantes Outlook

Damanick Dantes, CMT

Global Equities, Multi-Asset PM

Dantes Outlook

We invest over a full market cycle, using multi-asset portfolios tailored to each global client, from individuals to family offices.

Built to Endure

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>
Return dispersion among banks is wide enough to select on. Individual outcomes range from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fukui-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9011:1" rel="noopener">Fukui Bank (8362 JP)</a> at +264% to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35638:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Bank (5838 JP)</a> at -23%.</li>
<li>
Leadership is rotating. Money is moving from small cheap regionals back toward larger names.</li>
<li>
We constructed a barbel portfolio. Leg A holds six trend-confirmed momentum leaders. Leg B holds six accelerating laggards.</li>
</ul>



Return dispersion among banks is wide enough to select on. Individual outcomes range from Fukui Bank (8362 JP) at +264% to Rakuten Bank (5838 JP) at -23%.

Leadership is rotating. Money is moving from small cheap regionals back toward larger names.

We constructed a barbel portfolio. Leg A holds six trend-confirmed momentum leaders. Leg B holds six accelerating laggards.


Japanese Banks: Rotating Beneath the Surface

Index Rebal/Special Situations, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Index Rebal/Special Situations

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>JPX-Nikkei 400 is composed of common stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is a free-float-adjusted capped index composed of 400 constituents.</li>
<li>The base date for the August annual review is 30th June 2026. The index review results are expected to be announced on 7th August 2026.</li>
<li>In this insight, we have presented our final expectations for the August 2026 review.</li>
</ul>


JPX-Nikkei 400 is composed of common stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is a free-float-adjusted capped index composed of 400 constituents.
The base date for the August annual review is 30th June 2026. The index review results are expected to be announced on 7th August 2026.
In this insight, we have presented our final expectations for the August 2026 review.


Quiddity JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebal 2026: End-June 2026 Ranks (FINAL EXPECTATIONS)

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>We look at which Japan banks have the most cash which can see a major boost to returns. </li>
<li>Banks with lower margins can see a higher net interest income pick up from rising rates. </li>
<li>Loan growth in Japan has been relatively strong, supportive of rising rates from BOJ.</li>
</ul>


We look at which Japan banks have the most cash which can see a major boost to returns. 
Banks with lower margins can see a higher net interest income pick up from rising rates. 
Loan growth in Japan has been relatively strong, supportive of rising rates from BOJ.


Japan - Rising Rates: Focus On Banks With High Cash And Low Margins

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Following select Japanese bank visits, we reiterate our buys on Resona Holdings, Yokohama Financial and Shizuoka Financial</li>
<li>We are neutral on the Japanese digital banks, although Rakuten Bank is our preferred neutral of the three</li>
<li>The Iran conflict creates increased volatility in markets; although the timing may be in question, we believe that the BoJ remains on the “up escalator” for policy rates</li>
</ul>


Following select Japanese bank visits, we reiterate our buys on Resona Holdings, Yokohama Financial and Shizuoka Financial
We are neutral on the Japanese digital banks, although Rakuten Bank is our preferred neutral of the three
The Iran conflict creates increased volatility in markets; although the timing may be in question, we believe that the BoJ remains on the “up escalator” for policy rates


Japanese Banks – Update on Bigger Cap and Digital Banks

Japan

Rakuten Bank, Ltd. operates as an Internet based bank. The Company provides banking services including deposits, loans, exchange transactions, and other services. Rakuten Bank also provides financial services including investment trusts, securities, credit and cash cards, lottery tickets, and others.

Price Gauge
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Rakuten Bank (5838 JP)

[Japan Buybacks] - Japan Bank Metrics, Cross-Holdings and Banks Part 1

This is the first of several episodes regarding Japanese Banks. I want to make the size palatable and offer base data and framework with which to...

Travis Lundy

Japanese Banks: Rotating Beneath the Surface

Japanese banks are outperforming, although dispersion is wide. There's a rotation between small/large and cheap/expensive, so we built a barbel...

Damanick Dantes, CMT

Quiddity JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebal 2026: End-June 2026 Ranks (FINAL EXPECTATIONS)

There will be 45 ADDs and 39 DELs for the JPX-Nikkei 400 index in August 2026. We correctly predicted 75 of the 84 confirmed index changes (89%...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Japan - Rising Rates: Focus On Banks With High Cash And Low Margins

BOJ to meet 23-24 Jan and likely to raise rates possibly by doubling short-term rates, from 0.25% to 0.50%. There are important implications for...

Daniel Tabbush

Japanese Banks – Update on Bigger Cap and Digital Banks

Reiterating buys on Resona, Yokohama and Shizuoka post selective bank visits, whilst being neutral on digital banks; amid Iran conflict...

Victor Galliano

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

[Japan Buybacks] - Japan Bank Metrics, Cross-Holdings and Banks Part 1

This is the first of several episodes regarding Japanese Banks. I want to make the size palatable and offer base data and framework with which to...

Travis Lundy

Japanese Banks: Rotating Beneath the Surface

Japanese banks are outperforming, although dispersion is wide. There's a rotation between small/large and cheap/expensive, so we built a barbel...

Damanick Dantes, CMT

Quiddity JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebal 2026: End-June 2026 Ranks (FINAL EXPECTATIONS)

There will be 45 ADDs and 39 DELs for the JPX-Nikkei 400 index in August 2026. We correctly predicted 75 of the 84 confirmed index changes (89%...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Japan - Rising Rates: Focus On Banks With High Cash And Low Margins

BOJ to meet 23-24 Jan and likely to raise rates possibly by doubling short-term rates, from 0.25% to 0.50%. There are important implications for...

Daniel Tabbush

Japanese Banks – Update on Bigger Cap and Digital Banks

​Reiterating buys on Resona, Yokohama and Shizuoka post selective bank visits, whilst being neutral on digital banks; amid Iran conflict...

Victor Galliano

Reiterating buys on Resona, Yokohama and Shizuoka post selective bank visits, whilst being neutral on digital banks; amid Iran conflict...