Equity Analyst

Steve Zhou, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shiseido-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5718:1" rel="noopener">Shiseido Company (4911 JP)</a> reported 4Q23 results last week.  Overall, operating profit of Y40bn in FY23 was Y5bn higher than previous company guidance of Y35bn.</li>
<li>However, Shiseido's China business weakened materially in 4Q23, and 2024/25 guidance seems a bit light. </li>
<li>I believe FY24 should not be used as a base for valuation because the nuclear wastewater impact is likely to linger a while longer during FY24. </li>
</ul>



Shiseido Company (4911 JP) reported 4Q23 results last week.  Overall, operating profit of Y40bn in FY23 was Y5bn higher than previous company guidance of Y35bn.
However, Shiseido's China business weakened materially in 4Q23, and 2024/25 guidance seems a bit light. 
I believe FY24 should not be used as a base for valuation because the nuclear wastewater impact is likely to linger a while longer during FY24. 


Shiseido (4911 JP):  Japan On Track While China Was Weak

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shiseido-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5718:1" rel="noopener">Shiseido Company (4911 JP)</a> relies heavily on Japan and China, each making up over one quarter of sales. </li>
<li>The long thesis is simple - I expect improvement in both regions in the near future, and the valuation is very attractive.</li>
<li>Blackstone just announced a potential bid for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/l-occitane-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6772:1" rel="noopener">L'Occitane (973 HK)</a>, which I have written extensively about.  We could potentially see a pickup in interest in the sector.</li>
</ul>



Shiseido Company (4911 JP) relies heavily on Japan and China, each making up over one quarter of sales. 
The long thesis is simple - I expect improvement in both regions in the near future, and the valuation is very attractive.
Blackstone just announced a potential bid for L'Occitane (973 HK), which I have written extensively about.  We could potentially see a pickup in interest in the sector.


Shiseido (4911 JP):  This Fallen Angel Is Fixable

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>Giant Biogene was listed in Hong Kong IPO in 2022. It has done well since and is now trading 45% above its IPO price, but its still cheap.</li>
<li>GB is a leader in the bioactive ingredient-based professional skin treatment product industry in China.</li>
<li>In this note, we will talk about the company’s past performance and future prospects.</li>
</ul>


Giant Biogene was listed in Hong Kong IPO in 2022. It has done well since and is now trading 45% above its IPO price, but its still cheap.
GB is a leader in the bioactive ingredient-based professional skin treatment product industry in China.
In this note, we will talk about the company’s past performance and future prospects.


2024 High Conviction - Giant Biogene - Growth Rate Keeps Moving Higher

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/l-occitane-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6772:1" rel="noopener">L'Occitane (973 HK)</a> announced after market close yesterday that the controlling shareholder has terminated the potential general offer. </li>
<li>Shares trade at a significant discount to global cosmetics peers and its own historical trading range, while brands' growth momentum remain intact. </li>
<li>Take advantage of any potential significant sell-down caused by the drop of the privatization attempt. </li>
</ul>



L'Occitane (973 HK) announced after market close yesterday that the controlling shareholder has terminated the potential general offer. 
Shares trade at a significant discount to global cosmetics peers and its own historical trading range, while brands' growth momentum remain intact. 
Take advantage of any potential significant sell-down caused by the drop of the privatization attempt. 


L'Occitane (973 HK):  Underlying Fundamentals Intact

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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.

<ul>
<li>Despite expected increased demand from returning Asian tourists, Japanese cosmetics companies have been hesitant to revise their 2H 2023 inbound demand projections.</li>
<li>We are long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kose-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18009:1" rel="noopener">Kose Corp (4922 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shiseido-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5718:1" rel="noopener">Shiseido Company (4911 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pola-orbis-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2287:1" rel="noopener">Pola Orbis Holdings (4927 JP)</a>, as consensus estimates look extra cautious and reasonable and appealing FY+2 valuation multiples.</li>
<li>We view the risk of Chinese consumers boycotting Japanese cosmetics due to Fukushima wastewater release as relatively low.</li>
</ul>


Despite expected increased demand from returning Asian tourists, Japanese cosmetics companies have been hesitant to revise their 2H 2023 inbound demand projections.
We are long Kose Corp (4922 JP), Shiseido Company (4911 JP), and Pola Orbis Holdings (4927 JP), as consensus estimates look extra cautious and reasonable and appealing FY+2 valuation multiples.
We view the risk of Chinese consumers boycotting Japanese cosmetics due to Fukushima wastewater release as relatively low.


Japanese Cosmetics Ready to Blossom with Asian Visitors

Japan

Shiseido Company, Limited manufactures cosmetic and toiletry products. The Company offers an array of makeup and skin-care products, toiletries, beauty salon, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, and fine chemicals.

Shiseido Company (4911 JP)

Shiseido (4911 JP): Japan On Track While China Was Weak

Shiseido Company reported higher operating profit in FY23 than expected, but China business weakened in 4Q23 and 2024/25 guidance is cautious due...

Steve Zhou, CFA

Shiseido (4911 JP): This Fallen Angel Is Fixable

Shiseido heavily relies on Japan and China for sales, and with expected improvements in these regions, the company's attractive valuation makes it...

Steve Zhou, CFA

2024 High Conviction - Giant Biogene - Growth Rate Keeps Moving Higher

Giant Biogene was listed in Hong Kong IPO in 2022. It has done well since and is now trading 45% above its IPO price, but its still cheap.

Sumeet Singh

L'Occitane (973 HK): Underlying Fundamentals Intact

L'Occitane (973 HK)'s controlling shareholder terminates potential privatization offer, but the company's growth prospects remain strong. Take...

Steve Zhou, CFA

Japanese Cosmetics Ready to Blossom with Asian Visitors

Japanese cosmetics companies were hesitant to revise their inbound demand projections despite expected increased demand from returning Asian...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Shiseido (4911 JP): Japan On Track While China Was Weak

​Shiseido Company reported higher operating profit in FY23 than expected, but China business weakened in 4Q23 and 2024/25 guidance is cautious due...

Steve Zhou, CFA

Shiseido (4911 JP): This Fallen Angel Is Fixable

​Shiseido heavily relies on Japan and China for sales, and with expected improvements in these regions, the company's attractive valuation makes it...

Steve Zhou, CFA

2024 High Conviction - Giant Biogene - Growth Rate Keeps Moving Higher

Giant Biogene was listed in Hong Kong IPO in 2022. It has done well since and is now trading 45% above its IPO price, but its still cheap.

Sumeet Singh

L'Occitane (973 HK): Underlying Fundamentals Intact

​L'Occitane (973 HK)'s controlling shareholder terminates potential privatization offer, but the company's growth prospects remain strong. Take...

Steve Zhou, CFA

Japanese Cosmetics Ready to Blossom with Asian Visitors

​Japanese cosmetics companies were hesitant to revise their inbound demand projections despite expected increased demand from returning Asian...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Shiseido Company reported higher operating profit in FY23 than expected, but China business weakened in 4Q23 and 2024/25 guidance is cautious due...

Shiseido heavily relies on Japan and China for sales, and with expected improvements in these regions, the company's attractive valuation makes it...

L'Occitane (973 HK)'s controlling shareholder terminates potential privatization offer, but the company's growth prospects remain strong. Take...

Japanese cosmetics companies were hesitant to revise their inbound demand projections despite expected increased demand from returning Asian...