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/fancl-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15862:1" rel="noopener">Fancl Corp (4921 JP)</a> delivered 3QFY23 results yesterday, which saw revenue and operating profit decrease by 2.5% and 5.0% YoY respectively to ¥28.3bn (consensus ¥29.8bn) and ¥3.1bn (consensus ¥3.4bn).</li>
<li>Cosmetics growth being the main reason for Fancl’s FY+2 EV/OP of 22.4x, recent trends look scary with cosmetics revenue and OP down 24% and 27% respectively from the pre-COVID level.</li>
<li>Therefore, we would look to short Fancl expecting shares to fall around 25-30% in the short term.</li>
</ul>



Fancl Corp (4921 JP) delivered 3QFY23 results yesterday, which saw revenue and operating profit decrease by 2.5% and 5.0% YoY respectively to ¥28.3bn (consensus ¥29.8bn) and ¥3.1bn (consensus ¥3.4bn).
Cosmetics growth being the main reason for Fancl’s FY+2 EV/OP of 22.4x, recent trends look scary with cosmetics revenue and OP down 24% and 27% respectively from the pre-COVID level.
Therefore, we would look to short Fancl expecting shares to fall around 25-30% in the short term.


FANCL: The Flagship FANCL Brand in Trouble

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS.  SPX Pulls Back for 2nd day as Spy Balloons dominate - mkts just stretched;  Google responds to ChatGPT with BARD; Dell cuts headcount as PC struggle continues</li>
<li>JAPAN. NKY Fut flat vs Cash; USDJPY 132.63; Govt denies BOJ-Amamiya claim(really !); Son to skip Softban earnings call; Masa Takafumi wins Grammy with Sakura!</li>
<li>DAILY NUGGET. MHI  formalizes exit from Spacejet. No surprise as it has been on ice for 2 years.   Opportunity to put a positive spin on the $7bn failure.</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS.  SPX Pulls Back for 2nd day as Spy Balloons dominate - mkts just stretched;  Google responds to ChatGPT with BARD; Dell cuts headcount as PC struggle continues
JAPAN. NKY Fut flat vs Cash; USDJPY 132.63; Govt denies BOJ-Amamiya claim(really !); Son to skip Softban earnings call; Masa Takafumi wins Grammy with Sakura!
DAILY NUGGET. MHI  formalizes exit from Spacejet. No surprise as it has been on ice for 2 years.   Opportunity to put a positive spin on the $7bn failure.


Good Morning Japan | Spy Balloons?? SPX Holds; Google Responds with BARD; BOJ AMAMIYA Story Refuted!

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS. Another strong post Fed Day with SPX breaks 4100 level; Slew of big tech after hours: AMZN; Google, AAPL-Mkt doesn't like; Ford, not to be left out, MISSES</li>
<li>JAPAN. NKY Futs +0.5% vs Cash; USDJPY 128.69;  Mgmt Transitions,  Sony and Z-HD make changes; Earnings:  Sony +ve;  -ve Panasonic (but special case); Murata - last of bad news ?</li>
<li>DAILY NUGGETS. Panasonic – Still deciding. Seems we have to wait a bit longer on the impact of the IRA credits.</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS. Another strong post Fed Day with SPX breaks 4100 level; Slew of big tech after hours: AMZN; Google, AAPL-Mkt doesn't like; Ford, not to be left out, MISSES
JAPAN. NKY Futs +0.5% vs Cash; USDJPY 128.69;  Mgmt Transitions,  Sony and Z-HD make changes; Earnings:  Sony +ve;  -ve Panasonic (but special case); Murata - last of bad news ?
DAILY NUGGETS. Panasonic – Still deciding. Seems we have to wait a bit longer on the impact of the IRA credits.


Good Morning Japan | SPX Breakout but After-Hours Earnings Sap FOMO; Sony Beat; Pana-Still Deciding

<ul>
<li>Retail stocks perform well again as China relaxes restrictions on domestic travel</li>
<li>However, it could take a couple of years for international travel to return to previous levels</li>
<li>We believe that most of the catalysts for our bullish stance on this macro call have now played out</li>
</ul>


Retail stocks perform well again as China relaxes restrictions on domestic travel
However, it could take a couple of years for international travel to return to previous levels
We believe that most of the catalysts for our bullish stance on this macro call have now played out


Japan Weekly | Chinese Tourists Stay Close to Home

<ul>
<li>The indication that China is prepared to scrap its strict Zero-COVID policy has gotten <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> going again after an earnings beat in Q3 saw shares climb almost 20%.</li>
<li>Given that the shares have been range bound throughout the COVID crisis, we think Shiseido could reach near the upper limit of the COVID-range in the near-term to around ¥8,000.</li>
<li>Nevertheless, we would approach this trade with caution and only with a short time horizon as we see a lot of downside risks in the medium to long term.</li>
</ul>


The indication that China is prepared to scrap its strict Zero-COVID policy has gotten Shiseido Company (4911 JP) going again after an earnings beat in Q3 saw shares climb almost 20%.
Given that the shares have been range bound throughout the COVID crisis, we think Shiseido could reach near the upper limit of the COVID-range in the near-term to around ¥8,000.
Nevertheless, we would approach this trade with caution and only with a short time horizon as we see a lot of downside risks in the medium to long term.


Shiseido: Outperforms With Relaxation Of China’s COVID Restrictions, Long Term We Are a Bit Cautious

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.

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Shiseido Company (4911 JP)

FANCL: The Flagship FANCL Brand in Trouble

Cosmetics growth being the main reason for Fancl’s lofty FY24 EV/OP of 22.4x, recent trends look quite scary with cosmetics revenue and OP down by...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Good Morning Japan | Spy Balloons?? SPX Holds; Google Responds with BARD; BOJ AMAMIYA Story Refuted!

NKY Fut flat vs Cash; USDJPY 132.63; Govt denies BOJ-Amamiya claim(really !); Son to skip Softban earnings call; Masa Takafumi wins Grammy with...

Mark Chadwick

Good Morning Japan | SPX Breakout but After-Hours Earnings Sap FOMO; Sony Beat; Pana-Still Deciding

NKY Futs indicate +0.5% but are unlikely to be realised as the damper from earnings after hours in the US likely weighs on sentiment. Apple...

Mark Chadwick

Japan Weekly | Chinese Tourists Stay Close to Home

The Japan Weekly discusses those stocks that have performed well (or not) over the past week. This time, we look at the strong performance of...

Mark Chadwick

Shiseido: Outperforms With Relaxation Of China’s COVID Restrictions, Long Term We Are a Bit Cautious

The indication that China is prepared to scrap its strict Zero COVID policy has gotten Shiseido going again after an earnings beat in Q3 saw shares...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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