Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a> is currently trading 20% below the bottom end of the long term trend channel.</li>
<li>With consensus FY+2 EBITDA at ¥309.8bn, Rakuten’s current EV/EBITDA is at an all-time low of 1.7x compared to the historical median and peak of 9.0x and 16.1x respectively.</li>
<li>Based on the consensus FY+2 EBITDA and EV trend, we feel the fair valuation of Rakuten could be somewhere around ¥3,000bn EV.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) is currently trading 20% below the bottom end of the long term trend channel.
With consensus FY+2 EBITDA at ¥309.8bn, Rakuten’s current EV/EBITDA is at an all-time low of 1.7x compared to the historical median and peak of 9.0x and 16.1x respectively.
Based on the consensus FY+2 EBITDA and EV trend, we feel the fair valuation of Rakuten could be somewhere around ¥3,000bn EV.


Rakuten: At a New Forward EV/EBITDA Bottom

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

SBI Sumishin Net Bank  / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>SBI Sumishin Net Bank (SSNB) will be looking to raise around US$1.1bn in its upcoming IPO.</li>
<li>SSNB is a Japanese digital bank set up as a 50-50 joint venture between Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Japan’s largest trust bank, and SBI Group, a financial services firm. </li>
<li>The deal, if successful, would be Japan’s first online-only bank to go public. In this note we will talk about the not so positive aspects of the deal.</li>
</ul>


SBI Sumishin Net Bank (SSNB) will be looking to raise around US$1.1bn in its upcoming IPO.
SSNB is a Japanese digital bank set up as a 50-50 joint venture between Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Japan’s largest trust bank, and SBI Group, a financial services firm. 
The deal, if successful, would be Japan’s first online-only bank to go public. In this note we will talk about the not so positive aspects of the deal.


SBI Sumishin Net Bank Pre-IPO - The Negatives - It’s Not Really a Digital Lender

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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Analysts are expecting cashless payments in Japan for 2021 to show further accelerated growth in the use of mobile payment apps.</li>
<li>Surveys suggest consumers rapidly increased their use of mobile payments and are even expressing frustration when the service is unavailable. </li>
<li>PayPay is utterly dominant with nearly 50% share based on survey responses. We expect consolidation below from NTT, Mercari, Rakuten and KDDI.</li>
</ul>


Analysts are expecting cashless payments in Japan for 2021 to show further accelerated growth in the use of mobile payment apps.
Surveys suggest consumers rapidly increased their use of mobile payments and are even expressing frustration when the service is unavailable. 
PayPay is utterly dominant with nearly 50% share based on survey responses. We expect consolidation below from NTT, Mercari, Rakuten and KDDI.


Growth in Cashless Payments Surges in Japan – PayPay Totally Dominant

<ul>
<li>SBI Sumishin Net Bank (SSNB) will be looking to raise around US$1.1bn in its upcoming IPO.</li>
<li>SSNB is a Japanese digital bank set up as a 50-50 joint venture between Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Japan’s largest trust bank, and SBI Group, a financial services firm. </li>
<li>The deal, if successful, would be Japan’s first online-only bank to go public. In this note we will talk about the positive aspects of the deal.</li>
</ul>


SBI Sumishin Net Bank (SSNB) will be looking to raise around US$1.1bn in its upcoming IPO.
SSNB is a Japanese digital bank set up as a 50-50 joint venture between Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Japan’s largest trust bank, and SBI Group, a financial services firm. 
The deal, if successful, would be Japan’s first online-only bank to go public. In this note we will talk about the positive aspects of the deal.


SBI Sumishin Net Bank Pre-IPO - The Positives - Past Growth Has Been Decent

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

<ul>
<li>The core eCommerce and Fintech segments posted good results for the quarter but that will certainly get lost in the discussion on mobile</li>
<li>Mobile operating losses exceeded $1bn in Q4 and whilst management is guiding to losses bottoming out in Q1 22, the magnitude of improvements remains undefined</li>
<li>Rakuten Mobile capex is on par with incumbents and will remain unchanged in FY22</li>
</ul>


The core eCommerce and Fintech segments posted good results for the quarter but that will certainly get lost in the discussion on mobile
Mobile operating losses exceeded $1bn in Q4 and whilst management is guiding to losses bottoming out in Q1 22, the magnitude of improvements remains undefined
Rakuten Mobile capex is on par with incumbents and will remain unchanged in FY22


Rakuten (Neutral) - Q4 21 Results Reaction: Hard to Look past Mobile Losses

Japan

Rakuten Group, Inc. provides Internet services. The Company offers Internet finance services which including "Rakuten Card" and "Rakuten Bank". Rakuten Group also provides digital content services including electronic book services.

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Rakuten (4755 JP)

Rakuten: At a New Forward EV/EBITDA Bottom

After falling 6% following Q4 earnings and 39% since March 2021 to ¥945 per share, Rakuten seems an attractive bet on the long side in the Japanese...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

SBI Sumishin Net Bank Pre-IPO - The Negatives - It’s Not Really a Digital Lender

SBI Sumishin Net Bank (SSNB) will be looking to raise around US$1.1bn in its upcoming IPO. In this note, we talk about the not so positive aspects...

Sumeet Singh

Growth in Cashless Payments Surges in Japan – PayPay Totally Dominant

Japan is shifting from 80-90% cash retail transactions to 40-50% cashless in the blink of an eye. Softbank/Z HD dominates with nearly 50% share and...

Michael Causton

SBI Sumishin Net Bank Pre-IPO - The Positives - Past Growth Has Been Decent

SBI Sumishin Net Bank (SSNB) will be looking to raise around US$1.1bn in its upcoming IPO. It will be the first digital bank listing in Japan.

Sumeet Singh

Rakuten (Neutral) - Q4 21 Results Reaction: Hard to Look past Mobile Losses

Rakuten’s mobile business is losing a billion dollars per quarter and capital spending is higher than incumbents. That is going to obscure solid...

Kirk Boodry

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