Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS.  SPX -0.3% and down WoW; Weak Payrolls numbers lead to fall in US 2Yr to 4.95%, USD weakness;  This week - packed schedule with CPI; Watch Bank earnings</li>
<li>JAPAN. NKY Futs flat vs Cash; USDJPY 142.2, on weaker US payrolls;   JP companies struggle to lift ROE due to expanding Equity Base (=more buybacks?); Kishida to reshuffle cabinet</li>
<li>NUGGET. Heat Pumps - A Big Deal for Daikin(6367)/Melco(6503).  A large addressable, and growing market, and great for the environment. Yes, you should get excited!</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS.  SPX -0.3% and down WoW; Weak Payrolls numbers lead to fall in US 2Yr to 4.95%, USD weakness;  This week - packed schedule with CPI; Watch Bank earnings
JAPAN. NKY Futs flat vs Cash; USDJPY 142.2, on weaker US payrolls;   JP companies struggle to lift ROE due to expanding Equity Base (=more buybacks?); Kishida to reshuffle cabinet
NUGGET. Heat Pumps - A Big Deal for Daikin(6367)/Melco(6503).  A large addressable, and growing market, and great for the environment. Yes, you should get excited!


Ohayo Japan | Weak Payrolls=Lower Rates; Weaker USD; NUGGET:Heat Pumps-The Future of Cooling/Heating

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The Nikkei 225 Sep 2023 review has 2 months left of data collection. That means the rankings are quasi-fixed. So then the question is what to do with them.</li>
<li>There is a <a href="https://indexes.nikkei.co.jp/en/nkave/governance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">consultation</a> in progress. You still have one week to respond, but that doesn't change the names. </li>
<li>The top inclusion is the big one in dollar terms but low in liquidity. The next two are likely to be consumer names, and much more impactful. </li>
</ul>


The Nikkei 225 Sep 2023 review has 2 months left of data collection. That means the rankings are quasi-fixed. So then the question is what to do with them.
There is a consultation in progress. You still have one week to respond, but that doesn't change the names. 
The top inclusion is the big one in dollar terms but low in liquidity. The next two are likely to be consumer names, and much more impactful. 


Nikkei 225 Sep 2023 Review - Still Fastie, Nitori, Zozo, and Lasertec as Interesting Names

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. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The 100 Yen shop model looked in danger when inflation began to bite and labour costs surged but the sector continues to expand</li>
<li>Their fixed price model meant there was little leeway to offset higher costs through higher prices but a survey shows 90% of respondents visited a Daiso store recently.</li>
<li>While Daiso has adapted quickly and looks to have a bright future, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seria-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12989:1" rel="noopener">Seria Co Ltd (2782 JP)</a> refuses to adapt and has seen profits plummet.</li>
</ul>


The 100 Yen shop model looked in danger when inflation began to bite and labour costs surged but the sector continues to expand
Their fixed price model meant there was little leeway to offset higher costs through higher prices but a survey shows 90% of respondents visited a Daiso store recently.
While Daiso has adapted quickly and looks to have a bright future, Seria Co Ltd (2782 JP) refuses to adapt and has seen profits plummet.


100 Yen Shops to Hit ¥1 Trillion This Year but Seria's Model Squeezing Profits

<ul>
<li>In May 2022, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yamada-denki-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:641:1" rel="noopener">Yamada Denki (9831 JP)</a> announced a very large buyback. GINORMOUS - in fact - at 23.9% of shares out ex-Treasury if maximum shares were bought.</li>
<li>So far, YDH is 83.5% through, and at the recent pace, they will end it 8 May having bought 183-184mm shares (21.9% of TSO) spending 86.6% of funds allocated.</li>
<li>That's why the announcement lowering the March 2023 div to ¥12/share vs ¥18/share last year was just weird. And bodes badly. We need a lightbulb moment for a lightbulb dilemma.</li>
</ul>


In May 2022, Yamada Denki (9831 JP) announced a very large buyback. GINORMOUS - in fact - at 23.9% of shares out ex-Treasury if maximum shares were bought.
So far, YDH is 83.5% through, and at the recent pace, they will end it 8 May having bought 183-184mm shares (21.9% of TSO) spending 86.6% of funds allocated.
That's why the announcement lowering the March 2023 div to ¥12/share vs ¥18/share last year was just weird. And bodes badly. We need a lightbulb moment for a lightbulb dilemma.


Yamada Denki (9831) Buyback Almost Done and Odd Dividend "Cut", and a Lightbulb Dilemma

<ul>
<li>With 3.5 months left in the dataset, the data is pretty close to settled. The interesting bits are elsewhere. There are three auto DELETEs and two auto ADDs. Maybe.</li>
<li>One auto-ADD is Toshiba, which may have a deal on it. That leaves two to add for sector balance. That could be Nitori (9843 JP) and Zozo (3092 JP).</li>
<li>Friday's move on Fast Retailing brings in the issue of the new capping function. That would be a different US$2bn selldown. Lots of gory details here. </li>
</ul>


With 3.5 months left in the dataset, the data is pretty close to settled. The interesting bits are elsewhere. There are three auto DELETEs and two auto ADDs. Maybe.
One auto-ADD is Toshiba, which may have a deal on it. That leaves two to add for sector balance. That could be Nitori (9843 JP) and Zozo (3092 JP).
Friday's move on Fast Retailing brings in the issue of the new capping function. That would be a different US$2bn selldown. Lots of gory details here. 


Nikkei 225 Sep 2023 Rebalance Gets Interestinger - Possible Fast Retailing Cap and Zozo Stretch

Japan

RYOHIN KEIKAKU CO., LTD. is a retailer and wholesaler of Mujirushi Ryohin brand products, which were originally a generic private-brand product.  The Company's product line includes knitwear, food, and household items

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Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP)

Ohayo Japan | Weak Payrolls=Lower Rates; Weaker USD; NUGGET:Heat Pumps-The Future of Cooling/Heating

Weaker Payrolls drive rates down - a bit; Weaker USD; NKY Futs flat vs Cash; USDJPY 142.2; JP companies struggle to lift ROE due to expanding...

Mark Chadwick

Nikkei 225 Sep 2023 Review - Still Fastie, Nitori, Zozo, and Lasertec as Interesting Names

The Nikkei 225 September 2023 review has two months left in the data set before it is set. It will be tough to change rankings now near the top....

Travis Lundy

100 Yen Shops to Hit ¥1 Trillion This Year but Seria's Model Squeezing Profits

Seria has always extracted the highest profits from the 100 Yen sector even as its larger competitor, Daiso, grew faster. Now, with labour and...

Michael Causton

Yamada Denki (9831) Buyback Almost Done and Odd Dividend "Cut", and a Lightbulb Dilemma

Yamada Denki/Holdings is cheap. It is 8x earnings and 0.55x book. And that is AFTER a GINORMOUS buyback which has been disappointing. Now the...

Travis Lundy

Nikkei 225 Sep 2023 Rebalance Gets Interestinger - Possible Fast Retailing Cap and Zozo Stretch

The Sep 2023 Nikkei 225 Review is changing shape. Toshiba deal is announced, which pushes two of three ADDs outside the top 75 - sector balance...

Travis Lundy

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