'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>•BEST &amp; WORST 11th AUGUST •</strong></p></div><div>
<p>The 'best' of Tuesday's large-cap announcements came from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiko-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11127:1" rel="noopener">Taiko Pharmaceutical (4574 JP)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yaoko-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1419:1" rel="noopener">,</a> the worst from railway group <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hankyu-hanshin-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13058:1" rel="noopener">Hankyu Hanshin (9042 JP)</a>.  More extensive coverage follows in the <strong>DETAIL</strong> section below.</p>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/152/180/original/2020-08-13_05-28-00.png?1597264094" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="152180"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/152/181/original/2020-08-13_05-28-38.png?1597264139" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="152181"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
<hr>
<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p></div>
<hr>
<div><p><strong>(BACK TO WEAK) PERCENTAGES</strong> -<strong> 63%</strong> of quarterly results, <strong>61%</strong> of annual forecasts/revisions and<strong> 71%</strong> of interim forecasts have negative Scores and 30% of companies reporting lost money for the quarter.</p></div>
<hr>
<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>218 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div>
<div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Results Score:</strong> 28% Positive / 9% Neutral / 63% Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong> -3.8 points</li>
<li>
<strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> -7.2% Quarter YoY / -0.0% Rolling TTM YoY </li>
<li>
<strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> +2.5 ppt</li>
<li>
<strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 30%</li>
</ul></div>
<hr>
<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>80 Annual • 35 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div>
<div><ul>
<li>
<strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 29% Positive / 10% Neutral / 61% Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 23% Positive / 6% Neutral / 71% Negative</li>
<li>
<strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> -7.4 points</li>
</ul></div>
</div>

•BEST &amp; WORST 11th AUGUST •
The 'best' of Tuesday's large-cap announcements came from Taiko Pharmaceutical (4574 JP), the worst from railway group Hankyu Hanshin (9042 JP).  More extensive coverage follows in the DETAIL section below.
Source • Japan Analytics

DAILY STATS

(BACK TO WEAK) PERCENTAGES - 63% of quarterly results, 61% of annual forecasts/revisions and 71% of interim forecasts have negative Scores and 30% of companies reporting lost money for the quarter.

218 Quarterly Results


Results Score: 28% Positive / 9% Neutral / 63% Negative

Average Results Score Change: -3.8 points

Average % Change in Revenue: -7.2% Quarter YoY / -0.0% Rolling TTM YoY 

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: +2.5 ppt

Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 30%


80 Annual • 35 Interim Forecasts/Revisions


Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 29% Positive / 10% Neutral / 61% Negative

Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 23% Positive / 6% Neutral / 71% Negative

Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -7.4 points



🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 12th August - PPI, Toshiba, McDonald's, ENEOS

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Supun Walpola

Equity Analyst

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>A slowdown in the HR Technology business, which operates the two popular employment websites, indeed.com (Indeed) and glassdoor.com (Glassdoor), is one of many risks for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/recruit-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15070:1" rel="noopener">Recruit Holdings (6098 JP)</a> (Recruit) that we have highlighted in our previous notes.</p><p>We expect Recruit’s HR Technology business revenue growth to decrease by around 27%-32% YoY in 1Q FY03/21. Indeed’s web traffic has picked up slightly in 1Q FY03/21, but we believe the impact of this would be offset by a decline in the ARPU, owing to weak recruitment activity by US employers.</p><p>As revenue growth decelerates even faster than before due to the impact of COVID-19, we believe that the HR Technology business should rerate to a reasonable EV/Revenue multiple of 3.5-4.0x, implying a downside of c.10%-14% to the current market price (of ¥3,622 as of July 10, 2020).</p>

A slowdown in the HR Technology business, which operates the two popular employment websites, indeed.com (Indeed) and glassdoor.com (Glassdoor), is one of many risks for Recruit Holdings (6098 JP) (Recruit) that we have highlighted in our previous notes.We expect Recruit’s HR Technology business revenue growth to decrease by around 27%-32% YoY in 1Q FY03/21. Indeed’s web traffic has picked up slightly in 1Q FY03/21, but we believe the impact of this would be offset by a decline in the ARPU, owing to weak recruitment activity by US employers.As revenue growth decelerates even faster than before due to the impact of COVID-19, we believe that the HR Technology business should rerate to a reasonable EV/Revenue multiple of 3.5-4.0x, implying a downside of c.10%-14% to the current market price (of ¥3,622 as of July 10, 2020).

Recruit Holdings [Alt Data]: Indeed’s Traffic Picks Up, But Weak Hiring Activity Could Hurt Recruit

<p>We believe it is likely for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/recruit-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15070:1" rel="noopener">Recruit Holdings (6098 JP)</a> to reach its full-year EBITDA guidance for FY03/20. However, we remain bearish, as we expect Recruit to feel the full impact of COVID-19 from 1Q FY03/21 onwards. Both global and domestic labour markets have weakened since March and the demand for online advertising remains low with the disruption of economic activities.</p>

We believe it is likely for Recruit Holdings (6098 JP) to reach its full-year EBITDA guidance for FY03/20. However, we remain bearish, as we expect Recruit to feel the full impact of COVID-19 from 1Q FY03/21 onwards. Both global and domestic labour markets have weakened since March and the demand for online advertising remains low with the disruption of economic activities.

Recruit Holdings: Likely to Reach Full-Year Guidance but Bad News Could Be on the Way

<p>A slowdown in the HR Technology business, which operates two popular employment websites, indeed.com (Indeed) and glassdoor.com (Glassdoor), is one of many risks for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/recruit-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15070:1" rel="noopener">Recruit Holdings (6098 JP)</a> (Recruit) that we have highlighted in our previous notes.</p><p>Our traffic analysis of Indeed and Glassdoor suggests that HR Technology business revenue growth would be around c.17%-22% YoY in 4Q FY03/20. This is lower than 28.7% YoY last quarter and an average of 53.7% YoY over the past 10 quarters.</p>

A slowdown in the HR Technology business, which operates two popular employment websites, indeed.com (Indeed) and glassdoor.com (Glassdoor), is one of many risks for Recruit Holdings (6098 JP) (Recruit) that we have highlighted in our previous notes.Our traffic analysis of Indeed and Glassdoor suggests that HR Technology business revenue growth would be around c.17%-22% YoY in 4Q FY03/20. This is lower than 28.7% YoY last quarter and an average of 53.7% YoY over the past 10 quarters.

Recruit Holdings [Alternative Data]: Indeed Is Flat Even Before COVID-19 Hits

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. 

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/035/original/2020-03-15_07-07-04.png?1584223644" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123035"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>RELATIVE VALUE</strong> - Since the recent peak of December 17th, the TOPIX Index has fallen by 28% in 56 trading days. The<strong> -0.57% daily average rate of decline</strong> over the last three months has only been exceeded on 32 of the 10,142 days since March 1979, eight of which occurred in 1990, with the balance in 2008. From the January 23rd 2018 peak of 1,911, the index has fallen by 34% and is within 3% of our target (expressed in terms of Total Market Value ex REITs) outlined in our <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-market-update-opportunity-knocks" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:37049" rel="noopener">Opportunity Knocks?</a> Insight published on 1st March. The market is also within 5% of the TOPIX low of 1,196 of 12th February 2016, which we expect will provide some short-term support. Although Japan and many other developed world economies are now in recession, markets do not fall in a straight line forever. <strong>Japanese equities now offer attractive relative value and should outperform over the coming months.</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/034/original/2020-03-15_06-53-01.png?1584222882" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123034"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/036/original/2020-03-15_07-18-49.png?1584224347" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123036"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/037/original/2020-03-15_07-23-55.png?1584224666" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123037"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>IT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME</strong> - Most bear markets in Japan have coincided with periods of Yen strength, including the 29% 2015/16 decline when the currency strengthened by 19%. Repeating the rate of decline analysis above, in US dollar terms there have only been <strong>four days in the last twenty-eight years</strong> with worse 56-day rates of decline - all in October 2008. <strong>All four days provided fearless investors with excellent medium-term gains.</strong> Although this increase in market volatility may be less welcome for international investors in Japanese equities, the impact of the <em>Covid-19 recession</em> on the Japanese economy will be more muted. Also, the 48% collapse in the oil price year-to-date will help offset the negative impact of the October 2019 increase in the consumption tax and the decline in export sales in Europe. Lastly, we would suggest that the much-derided net cash that Japanese corporates 'hoard' for rainy days such as these, should delay the need for increases in credit lines. Our recent series of Insights on<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-who-s-swimming-naked-part-2-altman-z-score" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:37316" rel="noopener"> Who’s Swimming Naked?</a> cover those companies to which this does not apply. <strong>Overall</strong>, <strong>for Japan at least, it is different this time.</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/039/original/File%202020-03-15%203%2024%2020.jpeg?1584225464" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123039"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/040/original/File%202020-03-15%203%2026%2031.jpeg?1584225508" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123040"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/041/original/File%202020-03-15%207%2044%2021.jpeg?1584225894" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123041"></figure><p></p><div class="content-caption">Source • Max Roser, Hannah Ritchie and Esteban Ortiz-Ospina (2020) - "Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) – Research and Statistics". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus' [Online Resource]</div><p><strong>CONTAINING COVID</strong> - According to <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the peerless <strong>Global Change Data Lab</strong> at Oxford University, Japan has, (except for the unfortunate passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess cruise ship), managed to contain Covid-19 better than any other large nation. While, there is some scepticism that this outcome could be a result of under-testing to avoid cancellation of the Olympic Games; nevertheless, the recorded cases fatality rate in a country with an above-average age profile is surprisingly low.  Currently, the daily increase in active Covid-19 cases in Japan is less than one hundred and was only seventeen on March 15th. The cumulative number of confirmed Covid-19 fatalities is 24, of which two occurred yesterday. The confirmed number of cases per 100,000 population is 0.65, which compares with 19.5 in South Korea, 16.5 in Italy and 12 in Iran. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/123/038/original/2020-03-15_07-34-05.png?1584225268" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="123038"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • oann.com</div><p><strong>KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON -</strong> Last night's press conference by Prime Minister Abe was in stark contrast to the sombre tone to those of Prime Minister Johnson of the United Kingdom and the tragicomic ramblings of the US President. Having received the legislative powers to declare a state of emergency, Abe declined at this stage to invoke any social restrictions beyond the already-announced school closures. As in the UK, sporting authorities are cancelling events or holding them <em>sine populo</em>. Japan's long obsession with cleanliness, the culture of bowing as a greeting and readiness to conform have served to 'flatten the curve'. The increased focus on such practices has also resulted in a very low incidence of seasonal influenza this year. Japan also has significantly lower levels of air pollution compared to China, Iran and northern Italy, a  factor that has become a factor in fatality rates, especially amongst the elderly. Although internal travel and restaurant patronage have sharply declined in Japan, shops are open and are well-stocked (except for now-rationed paper products) and 'free movement' with slightly-greater-than-normal social distancing is the norm. Whatever the motivations may be regarding the Olympics and Abe's legacy, Japan is unwilling to force the economy into the economic depression that would be the result of prolonged lockdown. </p><p><strong>A COVID-19 WORLD</strong> - This 'keep-calm-carry-on' model of a Covid-19-prevalent world (as is also seen in Singapore and Taiwan) will eventually have to be applied globally. These countries rapid transition to the new 'Covid-19 world' should result in better short-term outcomes for these economies.  The UK is currently being criticised for attempting to follow a version of this model, and may eventually have to go against the advice of its epidemiologists. Fortunately, for now, the general public are giving the UK government the benefit of the doubt. There will be a sharp divergence in the medium-term economic outlooks for countries taking these two 'paths' with those that are over-reacting paying a heavy price. While this does not bode well for the Eurozone, East Asia, including Japan, should emerge in better shape in this new 'viral' world.      </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> section below, we shall review a number of our favourite market indicators, recent sector performance and make some recommendations as to how to harness this<strong> once-in-a-decade</strong> opportunity to buy high-quality Japanese companies at attractive prices.</p></div>

Source • Japan AnalyticsRELATIVE VALUE - Since the recent peak of December 17th, the TOPIX Index has fallen by 28% in 56 trading days. The -0.57% daily average rate of decline over the last three months has only been exceeded on 32 of the 10,142 days since March 1979, eight of which occurred in 1990, with the balance in 2008. From the January 23rd 2018 peak of 1,911, the index has fallen by 34% and is within 3% of our target (expressed in terms of Total Market Value ex REITs) outlined in our Opportunity Knocks? Insight published on 1st March. The market is also within 5% of the TOPIX low of 1,196 of 12th February 2016, which we expect will provide some short-term support. Although Japan and many other developed world economies are now in recession, markets do not fall in a straight line forever. Japanese equities now offer attractive relative value and should outperform over the coming months.Source • Japan AnalyticsIT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME - Most bear markets in Japan have coincided with periods of Yen strength, including the 29% 2015/16 decline when the currency strengthened by 19%. Repeating the rate of decline analysis above, in US dollar terms there have only been four days in the last twenty-eight years with worse 56-day rates of decline - all in October 2008. All four days provided fearless investors with excellent medium-term gains. Although this increase in market volatility may be less welcome for international investors in Japanese equities, the impact of the Covid-19 recession on the Japanese economy will be more muted. Also, the 48% collapse in the oil price year-to-date will help offset the negative impact of the October 2019 increase in the consumption tax and the decline in export sales in Europe. Lastly, we would suggest that the much-derided net cash that Japanese corporates 'hoard' for rainy days such as these, should delay the need for increases in credit lines. Our recent series of Insights on Who’s Swimming Naked? cover those companies to which this does not apply. Overall, for Japan at least, it is different this time.Source • Max Roser, Hannah Ritchie and Esteban Ortiz-Ospina (2020) - "Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) – Research and Statistics". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus' [Online Resource]CONTAINING COVID - According to data from the peerless Global Change Data Lab at Oxford University, Japan has, (except for the unfortunate passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess cruise ship), managed to contain Covid-19 better than any other large nation. While, there is some scepticism that this outcome could be a result of under-testing to avoid cancellation of the Olympic Games; nevertheless, the recorded cases fatality rate in a country with an above-average age profile is surprisingly low.  Currently, the daily increase in active Covid-19 cases in Japan is less than one hundred and was only seventeen on March 15th. The cumulative number of confirmed Covid-19 fatalities is 24, of which two occurred yesterday. The confirmed number of cases per 100,000 population is 0.65, which compares with 19.5 in South Korea, 16.5 in Italy and 12 in Iran. Source • oann.comKEEP CALM AND CARRY ON - Last night's press conference by Prime Minister Abe was in stark contrast to the sombre tone to those of Prime Minister Johnson of the United Kingdom and the tragicomic ramblings of the US President. Having received the legislative powers to declare a state of emergency, Abe declined at this stage to invoke any social restrictions beyond the already-announced school closures. As in the UK, sporting authorities are cancelling events or holding them sine populo. Japan's long obsession with cleanliness, the culture of bowing as a greeting and readiness to conform have served to 'flatten the curve'. The increased focus on such practices has also resulted in a very low incidence of seasonal influenza this year. Japan also has significantly lower levels of air pollution compared to China, Iran and northern Italy, a  factor that has become a factor in fatality rates, especially amongst the elderly. Although internal travel and restaurant patronage have sharply declined in Japan, shops are open and are well-stocked (except for now-rationed paper products) and 'free movement' with slightly-greater-than-normal social distancing is the norm. Whatever the motivations may be regarding the Olympics and Abe's legacy, Japan is unwilling to force the economy into the economic depression that would be the result of prolonged lockdown. A COVID-19 WORLD - This 'keep-calm-carry-on' model of a Covid-19-prevalent world (as is also seen in Singapore and Taiwan) will eventually have to be applied globally. These countries rapid transition to the new 'Covid-19 world' should result in better short-term outcomes for these economies.  The UK is currently being criticised for attempting to follow a version of this model, and may eventually have to go against the advice of its epidemiologists. Fortunately, for now, the general public are giving the UK government the benefit of the doubt. There will be a sharp divergence in the medium-term economic outlooks for countries taking these two 'paths' with those that are over-reacting paying a heavy price. While this does not bode well for the Eurozone, East Asia, including Japan, should emerge in better shape in this new 'viral' world.      In the DETAIL section below, we shall review a number of our favourite market indicators, recent sector performance and make some recommendations as to how to harness this once-in-a-decade opportunity to buy high-quality Japanese companies at attractive prices.

🇯🇵 JAPAN MARKET UPDATE • Relative Value: Short-Term Buy On Japanese Equities

Japan

Persol Holdings Co., Ltd. provides human resource solutions to a wide variety of customers worldwide. The Company's main operations include temporary staffing services, contract services, and employment services. Temp Holdings also provides outsourcing services and employment support services for job seekers.

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Persol Holdings (2181 JP)

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 12th August - PPI, Toshiba, McDonald's, ENEOS

•BEST & WORST 11th AUGUST • The 'best' of Tuesday's large-cap announcements came from Taiko Pharmaceutical (4574 JP), the worst from railway...

Campbell Gunn

Recruit Holdings [Alt Data]: Indeed’s Traffic Picks Up, But Weak Hiring Activity Could Hurt Recruit

A slowdown in the HR Technology business, which operates the two popular employment websites, indeed.com (Indeed) and glassdoor.com (Glassdoor), is...

Supun Walpola

Recruit Holdings: Likely to Reach Full-Year Guidance but Bad News Could Be on the Way

We believe it is likely for Recruit Holdings (6098 JP) to reach its full-year EBITDA guidance for FY03/20. However, we remain bearish, as we expect...

Supun Walpola

Recruit Holdings [Alternative Data]: Indeed Is Flat Even Before COVID-19 Hits

A slowdown in the HR Technology business, which operates two popular employment websites, indeed.com (Indeed) and glassdoor.com (Glassdoor), is one...

Supun Walpola

🇯🇵 JAPAN MARKET UPDATE • Relative Value: Short-Term Buy On Japanese Equities

RELATIVE VALUE - Since the recent peak of December 17th, the TOPIX Index has fallen by 28% in 56 trading days. The -0.57% daily average rate of...

Campbell Gunn

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