Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Last month, Reuters reported that activist-ish investor Value Act Capital Management had bought a stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/recruit-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15070:1" rel="noopener">Recruit Holdings (6098 JP)</a> and separately in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/expedia-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6669:1" rel="noopener">Expedia Group, Inc. (EXPE US)</a>). </li>
<li>It was "revealed" in a letter to its clients. And there were reasons stated why Value Act thought Recruit was worth a lot more than it was trading for. </li>
<li>Today, Recruit announced an on-market buyback for ¥200bn. That's nice. But it is not enormous, and it may signal other info, and it is worth understanding details and context.</li>
</ul>


Last month, Reuters reported that activist-ish investor Value Act Capital Management had bought a stake in Recruit Holdings (6098 JP) and separately in Expedia Group, Inc. (EXPE US)). 
It was "revealed" in a letter to its clients. And there were reasons stated why Value Act thought Recruit was worth a lot more than it was trading for. 
Today, Recruit announced an on-market buyback for ¥200bn. That's nice. But it is not enormous, and it may signal other info, and it is worth understanding details and context.


Recruit (6098 JP) Buyback - It's Big But Not THAT Big; Value Act Effect Vs Corp Selldown Vs Multiple

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.

<ul>
<li>As per Reuters, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1" rel="noopener">Toyota Motor (7203 JP)</a> could look to sell up to 10% of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/denso-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18703:1" rel="noopener">Denso Corp (6902 JP)</a> to raise around US$4.7bn before the end of the year.</li>
<li>Toyota is the company’s largest shareholder and its largest customer.</li>
<li>In this note, we will talk about the deal dynamics.</li>
</ul>


As per Reuters, Toyota Motor (7203 JP) could look to sell up to 10% of Denso Corp (6902 JP) to raise around US$4.7bn before the end of the year.
Toyota is the company’s largest shareholder and its largest customer.
In this note, we will talk about the deal dynamics.


Denso Corp Placement - Possible Placement by Toyota to Raise US$4.7bn

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

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/recruit-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15070:1" rel="noopener">Recruit Holdings (6098 JP)</a> reported 1Q results on Tuesday after market. As expected, topline declined 2.5% YoY falling below consensus. Productivity enhancements supported EBITDA growth.</li>
<li>With gradual cooling of labour markets, the HR Tech segment’s top line growth has declined and Recruit does not expect the segment to see strong growth in FY03/2026E.</li>
<li>Recruit’s share price dropped 4.4% during today’s trade and with further weakening of job markets, we think there is further opportunity to gain on the Short side.</li>
</ul>



Recruit Holdings (6098 JP) reported 1Q results on Tuesday after market. As expected, topline declined 2.5% YoY falling below consensus. Productivity enhancements supported EBITDA growth.
With gradual cooling of labour markets, the HR Tech segment’s top line growth has declined and Recruit does not expect the segment to see strong growth in FY03/2026E.
Recruit’s share price dropped 4.4% during today’s trade and with further weakening of job markets, we think there is further opportunity to gain on the Short side.


Recruit Holdings: 1Q Earnings Is No Surprise but More Downside Ahead

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>As AI shifts from software hype to hardware reality, hyperscalers plan $650–750 billion in 2026 capex for infrastructure, boosting upstream hardware suppliers.</li>
<li>Japan's Nikkei has outperformed globally (+13% YTD vs. Nasdaq's decline), driven by strong gains in materials and semiconductor equipment firms tied to the AI supply chain.</li>
<li>Prime Minister Takaichi's landslide election victory fuels optimism for pro-growth policies; markets reacted positively with equity rallies, yen strength, and falling yields.</li>
</ul>


As AI shifts from software hype to hardware reality, hyperscalers plan $650–750 billion in 2026 capex for infrastructure, boosting upstream hardware suppliers.
Japan's Nikkei has outperformed globally (+13% YTD vs. Nasdaq's decline), driven by strong gains in materials and semiconductor equipment firms tied to the AI supply chain.
Prime Minister Takaichi's landslide election victory fuels optimism for pro-growth policies; markets reacted positively with equity rallies, yen strength, and falling yields.


Japan Strategy Weekly | The Global Hardware Store for the AI Era

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, DZT Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

DZT Research

DZT Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of May 22nd. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD28,591m.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top/bottom net long/short of margin trading by value, net margin buy as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight net margin buy/sell changes in Kioxia, Fujikura, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, SoftBank, Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial, Advantest, Fast Retailing, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, Furukawa Electric, Mizuho Financial.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of May 22nd. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD28,591m.
We tabulate league tables for top/bottom net long/short of margin trading by value, net margin buy as multiple of ADT.
We highlight net margin buy/sell changes in Kioxia, Fujikura, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, SoftBank, Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial, Advantest, Fast Retailing, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, Furukawa Electric, Mizuho Financial.


JPX Margin Trading Weekly (May 22nd): Kioxia, Fujikura, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, SoftBank

Japan

Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd. operates information providing services in human resource, housing, bridal, travel, restaurants, beauty, automobiles, and education and more. The company also operate staffing services and advertising business.

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Recruit Holdings (6098 JP)

Recruit (6098 JP) Buyback - It's Big But Not THAT Big; Value Act Effect Vs Corp Selldown Vs Multiple

Recruit has announced a ¥200bn buyback. Last year's market buyback was ¥150bn. This is NOT "Value Act Effect" but it may be taken as such. That...

Travis Lundy

Denso Corp Placement - Possible Placement by Toyota to Raise US$4.7bn

As per Reuters, Toyota Motor (7203 JP) could look to sell up to 10% of Denso Corp (6902 JP) to raise around US$4.7bn before the end of the year.

Sumeet Singh

Recruit Holdings: 1Q Earnings Is No Surprise but More Downside Ahead

Recruit's 1Q earnings were no surprise to us with decline in top line growth. Cost controls have supported margins. The slowdown in the US labor...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Japan Strategy Weekly | The Global Hardware Store for the AI Era

Hyperscalers plan massive capex for AI infrastructure, boosting hardware suppliers; Nikkei outperforms on strong gains in AI supply chain, &...

Mark Chadwick

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (May 22nd): Kioxia, Fujikura, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, SoftBank

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Kioxia (285A JP), Fujikura (5803 JP), Mitsubishi UFJ Financial...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Recruit (6098 JP) Buyback - It's Big But Not THAT Big; Value Act Effect Vs Corp Selldown Vs Multiple

Recruit has announced a ¥200bn buyback. Last year's market buyback was ¥150bn. This is NOT "Value Act Effect" but it may be taken as such. That...

Travis Lundy

Denso Corp Placement - Possible Placement by Toyota to Raise US$4.7bn

As per Reuters, Toyota Motor (7203 JP) could look to sell up to 10% of Denso Corp (6902 JP) to raise around US$4.7bn before the end of the year.

Sumeet Singh

Recruit Holdings: 1Q Earnings Is No Surprise but More Downside Ahead

​Recruit's 1Q earnings were no surprise to us with decline in top line growth. Cost controls have supported margins. The slowdown in the US labor...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Japan Strategy Weekly | The Global Hardware Store for the AI Era

​Hyperscalers plan massive capex for AI infrastructure, boosting hardware suppliers; Nikkei outperforms on strong gains in AI supply chain, &...

Mark Chadwick

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (May 22nd): Kioxia, Fujikura, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, SoftBank

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Kioxia (285A JP), Fujikura (5803 JP), Mitsubishi UFJ Financial...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Recruit's 1Q earnings were no surprise to us with decline in top line growth. Cost controls have supported margins. The slowdown in the US labor...

Hyperscalers plan massive capex for AI infrastructure, boosting hardware suppliers; Nikkei outperforms on strong gains in AI supply chain, &...