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>Shift’s share price has been up by more than 35% YTD driven by improved margins which saw a temporary decline due to Shift’s investment on HR and system reinforcement.</li>
<li>The company’s GPM reached an all-time high in 2QFY08/2025 while OPM has shown significant improvement driven by the company’s changes to recruitment policy that is aligned to utilisation rates.</li>
<li>Though Shift’s top line growth has slowed down, it's not something to worry too much about as its new businesses and large-scale project wins should help revive top line growth.</li>
</ul>


Shift’s share price has been up by more than 35% YTD driven by improved margins which saw a temporary decline due to Shift’s investment on HR and system reinforcement.
The company’s GPM reached an all-time high in 2QFY08/2025 while OPM has shown significant improvement driven by the company’s changes to recruitment policy that is aligned to utilisation rates.
Though Shift’s top line growth has slowed down, it's not something to worry too much about as its new businesses and large-scale project wins should help revive top line growth.


Shift: Shift in Recruitment Policy Supports Margin Recovery; Further Upside

Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas, Azabu Research

Michael Allen

Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas

Azabu Research

Azabu Research is a publishing and consulting firm focused on distressed equities in the Japanese market. We specialize in turnaround strategies, corporate combinations, divestitures, and restructuring.

Publisher of the Tokyo Turnaround Letter, which conducts the most thorough research possible of publicly available information, including forensic tests for fraudulent overstatement of assets and understatement of liabilities, as well as rigorous market and industry analysis to assess the underlying strengths of the company’s products or services, the appropriateness of the company’s turnaround strategy, and the skill of its current management team. The average length of a report exceeds 25 pages of text and tables, excluding any disclosures or executive summaries.

We have more than 30 years of experience in applying this process to distressed equities in Japan. Additionally, subscribers have free access to detailed, yet easily navigated earnings models for the target company as well as the top five comparable companies, and unlimited access to the analyst for follow-up questions.

Azabu Research also conducts be-spoke research on a project basis, and provides consulting services to companies looking to restructure, divest, make acquisitions, go public, or improve investor sentiment toward their stock.

Independent Research and Consulting Firm

<ul>
<li>A massive shortage of IT professionals combined with Shift's overwhelming dominance of the labor market should drive 20% annual revenue growth through 2030. </li>
<li>But Shift missed consensus profitability estimates 3 consecutive quarters, and the share price is down 67% in 12 months, compared to an 18% rise in the median peer. </li>
<li>In our view, a recovery in profitability is already underway, and shares are at least 45% undervalued</li>
</ul>


A massive shortage of IT professionals combined with Shift's overwhelming dominance of the labor market should drive 20% annual revenue growth through 2030. 
But Shift missed consensus profitability estimates 3 consecutive quarters, and the share price is down 67% in 12 months, compared to an 18% rise in the median peer. 
In our view, a recovery in profitability is already underway, and shares are at least 45% undervalued


Shift (3697): Profitability Rebound Underway

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shift-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7266:1" rel="noopener">Shift Inc (3697 JP)</a> is a high-growth stock in the software services, testing, consulting, development business. They have a big specialist TAM ahead of them. </li>
<li>Revenue is up 50-fold in 10 years. OP is up 85-fold in that period. Revenue is guided +17.5% in the year to Aug 2025. OP is guided +28%.</li>
<li>There is an event coming up shortly which could trigger an imminent index inclusion. It's worth a look.</li>
</ul>



Shift Inc (3697 JP) is a high-growth stock in the software services, testing, consulting, development business. They have a big specialist TAM ahead of them. 
Revenue is up 50-fold in 10 years. OP is up 85-fold in that period. Revenue is guided +17.5% in the year to Aug 2025. OP is guided +28%.
There is an event coming up shortly which could trigger an imminent index inclusion. It's worth a look.


SHIFT (3697) The Next - Potential Big Index Add

<ul>
<li>Shift reported a 95% increase in OP, to ¥3.2bn, compared to consensus estimate of ¥2.6bn on January 14 after the close.</li>
<li>Just under 5 months ago, we suggested the stock was about 45% undervalued. It is up 40%.</li>
<li>We still expect 20% annual growth through 2030. This is no longer a turnaround stock, but now one of the most solid growth stocks in the market.</li>
</ul>


Shift reported a 95% increase in OP, to ¥3.2bn, compared to consensus estimate of ¥2.6bn on January 14 after the close.
Just under 5 months ago, we suggested the stock was about 45% undervalued. It is up 40%.
We still expect 20% annual growth through 2030. This is no longer a turnaround stock, but now one of the most solid growth stocks in the market.


Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>The March 2025 Nikkei 225 review came out with a sparse set of changes. That gives us hints for the September 2025 review.</li>
<li>For the moment, that leads me to believe we get ONE ADD and ONE DELETE though up to three of each is possible.</li>
<li>For now, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a> capping is off, but there's an ad hoc coming in late Q3 or early Q4 and the Sony Financial spinoff to look forward to.</li>
</ul>


The March 2025 Nikkei 225 review came out with a sparse set of changes. That gives us hints for the September 2025 review.
For the moment, that leads me to believe we get ONE ADD and ONE DELETE though up to three of each is possible.
For now, Fast Retailing (9983 JP) capping is off, but there's an ad hoc coming in late Q3 or early Q4 and the Sony Financial spinoff to look forward to.


[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep25 Rebal: One ADD/DEL? Kokusai a Question, but 2 Ad Hoc Events Coming

Japan

SHIFT Inc. offers information technology outsourcing services. The Company provides outsourcing software testing services to corporations and individual clients. SHIFT also provides software solutions and consulting services, as well as educational classes and programs.

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Shift Inc (3697 JP)

Shift: Shift in Recruitment Policy Supports Margin Recovery; Further Upside

Shift's share price up 35% YTD due to improved margins after a temporary decline due to HR and system investments. The company has aligned its...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Shift (3697): Profitability Rebound Underway

Japan's massive shortage of IT professionals and Shift's dominance of the IT labor market should sustain 20% annual sales growth. Profit could grow...

Michael Allen

SHIFT (3697) The Next - Potential Big Index Add

SHIFT has gone through earnings, surprised to the upside, and is up 10% since when I wrote. The 15:1 stock split which a) makes the Nikkei 225...

Travis Lundy

Shift Beats Q1 Consensus by 30%

Shift's impressive 95% increase in operating profit exceeded expectations, with the stock now up 40% and poised for continued 20% annual growth...

Michael Allen

[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep25 Rebal: One ADD/DEL? Kokusai a Question, but 2 Ad Hoc Events Coming

The Nikkei 225 Sep rebal has just 0.6% of its data window left. Rankings are basically fixed. Fastie capping depends on next 6wks. I see 1 Add/Del;...

Travis Lundy

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Shift: Shift in Recruitment Policy Supports Margin Recovery; Further Upside

​Shift's share price up 35% YTD due to improved margins after a temporary decline due to HR and system investments. The company has aligned its...

Shifara Samsudeen, FCMA, CGMA

Shift (3697): Profitability Rebound Underway

Japan's massive shortage of IT professionals and Shift's dominance of the IT labor market should sustain 20% annual sales growth. Profit could grow...

Michael Allen

SHIFT (3697) The Next - Potential Big Index Add

SHIFT has gone through earnings, surprised to the upside, and is up 10% since when I wrote. The 15:1 stock split which a) makes the Nikkei 225...

Travis Lundy

Shift Beats Q1 Consensus by 30%

​Shift's impressive 95% increase in operating profit exceeded expectations, with the stock now up 40% and poised for continued 20% annual growth...

Michael Allen

[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep25 Rebal: One ADD/DEL? Kokusai a Question, but 2 Ad Hoc Events Coming

The Nikkei 225 Sep rebal has just 0.6% of its data window left. Rankings are basically fixed. Fastie capping depends on next 6wks. I see 1 Add/Del;...

Travis Lundy

Shift's share price up 35% YTD due to improved margins after a temporary decline due to HR and system investments. The company has aligned its...

Shift's impressive 95% increase in operating profit exceeded expectations, with the stock now up 40% and poised for continued 20% annual growth...