Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Ezaki Glico (2206): NAVF pushing for aggressive capital reform and governance changes; excess cash and low ROE offer scope for buybacks and re-rating despite near-term earnings pressure.</li>
<li>SMS (2175): Oasis stake plus CEO transition may refocus strategy on margins and capital efficiency; valuation undemanding versus peers, though founder ownership limits activist optionality.</li>
<li>NS United Kaiun (9110): Strong freight markets driving near-term earnings; Zennor stake likely passive, with cyclical upside and future shareholder exits the longer-term catalyst.</li>
</ul>


Ezaki Glico (2206): NAVF pushing for aggressive capital reform and governance changes; excess cash and low ROE offer scope for buybacks and re-rating despite near-term earnings pressure.
SMS (2175): Oasis stake plus CEO transition may refocus strategy on margins and capital efficiency; valuation undemanding versus peers, though founder ownership limits activist optionality.
NS United Kaiun (9110): Strong freight markets driving near-term earnings; Zennor stake likely passive, with cyclical upside and future shareholder exits the longer-term catalyst.


Japan Activism Briefs | Ezaki Glico, SMS, NS United

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

ja research

ja research is an independent research platform focused exclusively on Japanese equities. Leveraging data and graphic analysis provided by Japan Analytics, we provide insights on small and medium-sized companies that have been ignored by the sell-side as well as challenging conventional wisdom on larger companies. We also offer analyst and corporate access, the latter with translation if required. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/083/132/original/2019-03-25_18-58-11.png?1553507902" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="83132"></figure>Source: Japan Analytics
</div>There are currently 241 listed Japanese companies that can be categorised as Internet businesses. Our classification overlaps with the TOPIX-33 Information &amp; Communication sub-Sector but is broader in that it encompasses all companies listed on all sections and exchanges but is also narrower in that we have excluded Telecommunications (including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/315" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1">S</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/315" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1">oftbank Group (9984 JP)</a>) and Information Technology companies. We have adopted a 'quantamental' approach which covers the long-term and current trends for Japan's Internet Sector as a whole, as well as eight sub-Sectors or Peer Groups and the Sectors' leading companies by market capitalisation.  Our focus is exclusively on the locally-listed universe and is based on disclosed financial and market data. We do not provide any forecasts, other than the companies' own forecasts and we do not attempt to make any business model or strategic judgments. Our focus is purely on financial and market performance. We do not cover unlisted and defunct companies such as Livedoor and, therefore, there is implicit survivor bias in the data. The broad themes that are developed in DETAIL below are grouped into six topics as follows: - • SUMMARY •  • FUNDAMENTAL OVERVIEW •  • SCORING - RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS / RELATIVE PRICE •  • RESULTS TRENDS •  • VALUATION • • RECOMMENDATIONS •<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/083/206/original/2019-03-25_17-46-58.png?1553565764" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="83206"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div>OVERVIEW - As will be covered in greater DETAIL below, Japan has failed to evolve a substantial Internet Sector and, in many business models, has been passed by global competitors including in the home market. Although Internet Sector revenues have grown steadily and now account for close to 1% of the total for all listed companies, operating margins have declined by half in the last seven years and are now only four percentage points higher than the market average. Accordingly, as measured by our Results &amp; Revision Score, the Sector is close to a twelve-year low. The market's response is an unchanged Sector weight in the market composite despite the addition of 111 new companies in the last six years, and a Relative Price Score that has moved in a narrow range over that period. The Sector averages disguise the weak business and market performance of a handful of Sector leaders as well as the overvaluation of the Sector's more successful business models, which is partly a result of a lack of alternatives. Despite the world's most significant Internet investor - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/315" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a>'s Vision Fund - being based in Japan, this fund and other global investors in Internet business have been right to give Japan a 'pass'.


Source: Japan Analytics
There are currently 241 listed Japanese companies that can be categorised as Internet businesses. Our classification overlaps with the TOPIX-33 Information &amp; Communication sub-Sector but is broader in that it encompasses all companies listed on all sections and exchanges but is also narrower in that we have excluded Telecommunications (including Softbank Group (9984 JP)) and Information Technology companies. We have adopted a 'quantamental' approach which covers the long-term and current trends for Japan's Internet Sector as a whole, as well as eight sub-Sectors or Peer Groups and the Sectors' leading companies by market capitalisation.  Our focus is exclusively on the locally-listed universe and is based on disclosed financial and market data. We do not provide any forecasts, other than the companies' own forecasts and we do not attempt to make any business model or strategic judgments. Our focus is purely on financial and market performance. We do not cover unlisted and defunct companies such as Livedoor and, therefore, there is implicit survivor bias in the data. The broad themes that are developed in DETAIL below are grouped into six topics as follows: - • SUMMARY •  • FUNDAMENTAL OVERVIEW •  • SCORING - RESULTS &amp; REVISIONS / RELATIVE PRICE •  • RESULTS TRENDS •  • VALUATION • • RECOMMENDATIONS •Source: Japan AnalyticsOVERVIEW - As will be covered in greater DETAIL below, Japan has failed to evolve a substantial Internet Sector and, in many business models, has been passed by global competitors including in the home market. Although Internet Sector revenues have grown steadily and now account for close to 1% of the total for all listed companies, operating margins have declined by half in the last seven years and are now only four percentage points higher than the market average. Accordingly, as measured by our Results &amp; Revision Score, the Sector is close to a twelve-year low. The market's response is an unchanged Sector weight in the market composite despite the addition of 111 new companies in the last six years, and a Relative Price Score that has moved in a narrow range over that period. The Sector averages disguise the weak business and market performance of a handful of Sector leaders as well as the overvaluation of the Sector's more successful business models, which is partly a result of a lack of alternatives. Despite the world's most significant Internet investor - Softbank Group (9984 JP)'s Vision Fund - being based in Japan, this fund and other global investors in Internet business have been right to give Japan a 'pass'. 

🇯🇵 Japan • Internet Sector Review - 'Japan Passing'

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

MSCI Emerging Markets Index / Technical Analysis

Global markets have deteriorated considerably over the past couple weeks. The MSCI EM index has decisively broken down below the 60,000 major support level we identified as support, and the MSCI ACWI ETF has broken below its 200-day MA, leading us to believe additional consolidation is likely.

Global markets have deteriorated considerably over the past couple weeks. The MSCI EM index has decisively broken down below the 60,000 major support level we identified as support, and the MSCI ACWI ETF has broken below its 200-day MA, leading us to believe additional consolidation is likely. 

EM and ACWI Showing Decisive Breakdowns - Metals & Miners Still Attractive

Making sense of the Global Market, Euromonitor International Ltd.

Yu Mitsuhashi

Making sense of the Global Market

Euromonitor International Ltd.

We are a global market research company focused on industries, countries, economies and consumers worldwide. Our cross-country comparable research helps your organisation identify opportunities and develop growth strategies in countries and regions across the globe. With offices around the world, 1,200 analysts in 100 countries and market research on every key trend and driver, we give you powerful access to the real story behind consumer change.

In this second of a series of articles examining the FashionTech scene in Japan, Euromonitor International looks at Japanese FashionTech companies operating in BtoC areas, particularly via sharing economy and personalisation. For the first article, please click <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/can-tech-save-the-declining-japanese-apparel-industry-fashiontech-series-1-3" target="_blank">here</a>.

In this second of a series of articles examining the FashionTech scene in Japan, Euromonitor International looks at Japanese FashionTech companies operating in BtoC areas, particularly via sharing economy and personalisation. For the first article, please click here.

Can Tech Save The Declining Japanese Apparel Industry? Fashion-Tech Series (2/3)

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/medical-data-vision-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8367:1" rel="noopener">Medical Data Vision (3902 JP)</a> has recommended a tender offer from Nippon Life at JPY1,693, a 212.4% premium to the last close.</li>
<li>The substantial takeover premium reflects the outcome of an auction and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sbi-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10928:1" rel="noopener">SBI Holdings (8473 JP)</a> willingness to share TOB tax benefits with minority shareholders. </li>
<li>The substantial takeover premium also ensures that this is a done deal. The tender closes on 3 February, with payment commencing from 9 February. </li>
</ul>



Medical Data Vision (3902 JP) has recommended a tender offer from Nippon Life at JPY1,693, a 212.4% premium to the last close.
The substantial takeover premium reflects the outcome of an auction and SBI Holdings (8473 JP) willingness to share TOB tax benefits with minority shareholders. 
The substantial takeover premium also ensures that this is a done deal. The tender closes on 3 February, with payment commencing from 9 February. 


Medical Data Vision (3902 JP): Nippon Life’s Tender Offer at JPY1,693 (3x Last Close)

Japan

SMS CO.,LTD. is a website operator regarding elderly care.  On its websites, the company provides a variety of information contents related to employment placements for senior care assistants and doctors, as well as medical and nursing qualifications.

Price Gauge
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Sms Co Ltd (2175 JP)

Japan Activism Briefs | Ezaki Glico, SMS, NS United

NAVF pushing for capital reform & governance changes, SMS may refocus strategy on margins, NS United Kaiun benefiting from strong freight markets.

Mark Chadwick

🇯🇵 Japan • Internet Sector Review - 'Japan Passing'

There are currently 241 listed Japanese companies that can be categorised as Internet businesses. Our classification overlaps with the TOPIX-33...

Campbell Gunn

EM and ACWI Showing Decisive Breakdowns - Metals & Miners Still Attractive

Global markets have deteriorated considerably over the past couple weeks. The MSCI EM index has decisively broken down below the 60,000 major...

Vermilion Research

Can Tech Save The Declining Japanese Apparel Industry? Fashion-Tech Series (2/3)

In this second of a series of articles examining the FashionTech scene in Japan, Euromonitor International looks at Japanese FashionTech companies...

Euromonitor International Ltd.

Medical Data Vision (3902 JP): Nippon Life’s Tender Offer at JPY1,693 (3x Last Close)

The substantial takeover premium reflects the outcome of an auction and SBI Holdings' willingness to share TOB tax benefits with minority...

Arun George

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japan Activism Briefs | Ezaki Glico, SMS, NS United

​NAVF pushing for capital reform & governance changes, SMS may refocus strategy on margins, NS United Kaiun benefiting from strong freight markets.

Mark Chadwick

🇯🇵 Japan • Internet Sector Review - 'Japan Passing'

There are currently 241 listed Japanese companies that can be categorised as Internet businesses. Our classification overlaps with the TOPIX-33...

Campbell Gunn

EM and ACWI Showing Decisive Breakdowns - Metals & Miners Still Attractive

Global markets have deteriorated considerably over the past couple weeks. The MSCI EM index has decisively broken down below the 60,000 major...

Vermilion Research

Can Tech Save The Declining Japanese Apparel Industry? Fashion-Tech Series (2/3)

In this second of a series of articles examining the FashionTech scene in Japan, Euromonitor International looks at Japanese FashionTech companies...

Euromonitor International Ltd.

Medical Data Vision (3902 JP): Nippon Life’s Tender Offer at JPY1,693 (3x Last Close)

The substantial takeover premium reflects the outcome of an auction and SBI Holdings' willingness to share TOB tax benefits with minority...

Arun George

NAVF pushing for capital reform & governance changes, SMS may refocus strategy on margins, NS United Kaiun benefiting from strong freight markets.