Japanese Equity Specialist, Ortus Advisors

Andrew Jackson

Japanese Equity Specialist

Ortus Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

Kawasaki Heavy Industries / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Expect continued buying in defense related, as well as banks and life insurance, renewable energy, rails, and medical IT plays with Shigeru Ishiba at the helm. </li>
<li>The Market will be quick to rotate out of names which spiked into Friday's close on expectation for a Sanae Takaichi win in the LDP election.  </li>
<li>Ishiba has been a vocal critic of Abenomics, and his potential policies aimed at higher taxes for investment incomes and capital gains are set to weigh on the Japanese market. </li>
</ul>


Expect continued buying in defense related, as well as banks and life insurance, renewable energy, rails, and medical IT plays with Shigeru Ishiba at the helm. 
The Market will be quick to rotate out of names which spiked into Friday's close on expectation for a Sanae Takaichi win in the LDP election.  
Ishiba has been a vocal critic of Abenomics, and his potential policies aimed at higher taxes for investment incomes and capital gains are set to weigh on the Japanese market. 


Best Outright and Pair Trades for an Ishiba-Led LDP

Smartkarma AI Primers, Smartkarma

αSK Primers

Smartkarma AI Primers

Smartkarma

Smartkarma unites the fragmented investment industry, connecting institutional investors, independent research providers, and corporates within a single network.

Research Reinvented

Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
 <li>TEPCO remains fundamentally shaped by the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, with massive, ongoing decommissioning and compensation liabilities that represent the primary risk and a significant drain on capital. The company's financial stability is intrinsically linked to Japanese government support and its ability to manage these costs.</li>
 <li>The restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa (K-K) nuclear power plant is the single most critical catalyst for improving profitability. Successful operation of even one reactor significantly reduces reliance on expensive imported fossil fuels, directly boosting earnings and cash flow.</li>
 <li>Aligned with Japan's national energy policy, TEPCO is pursuing a dual strategy of investing heavily in renewable energy, particularly offshore wind and grid modernization, while also working to bring its nuclear assets back online. This positions the company as a central player in Japan's energy transition, albeit one with significant legacy burdens.</li>
</ul>This content is AI-generated and displayed for general informational purposes only. Please verify independently before use.


  TEPCO remains fundamentally shaped by the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, with massive, ongoing decommissioning and compensation liabilities that represent the primary risk and a significant drain on capital. The company's financial stability is intrinsically linked to Japanese government support and its ability to manage these costs.
  The restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa (K-K) nuclear power plant is the single most critical catalyst for improving profitability. Successful operation of even one reactor significantly reduces reliance on expensive imported fossil fuels, directly boosting earnings and cash flow.
  Aligned with Japan's national energy policy, TEPCO is pursuing a dual strategy of investing heavily in renewable energy, particularly offshore wind and grid modernization, while also working to bring its nuclear assets back online. This positions the company as a central player in Japan's energy transition, albeit one with significant legacy burdens.
This content is AI-generated and displayed for general informational purposes only. Please verify independently before use.

Primer: Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) (9501 JP) - Aug 2026

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>There are 14 Japanese stocks at risk of being deleted from global passive portfolios in February. The number will be smaller depending on the day of the review period chosen.</li>
<li>Selling from passive trackers will range from US$176m-354m and the impact ranges from 3.1-18.4 days of ADV. Short interest has increased in nearly all stocks over the last 4 weeks.</li>
<li>The forecast deletes have underperformed the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-stock-exchange-tokyo-price-index-topix" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22910:1" rel="noopener">TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX</a> on average over the last 1-3 months, while there has been marginal outperformance over the last week or two.</li>
</ul>


There are 14 Japanese stocks at risk of being deleted from global passive portfolios in February. The number will be smaller depending on the day of the review period chosen.
Selling from passive trackers will range from US$176m-354m and the impact ranges from 3.1-18.4 days of ADV. Short interest has increased in nearly all stocks over the last 4 weeks.
The forecast deletes have underperformed the TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX on average over the last 1-3 months, while there has been marginal outperformance over the last week or two.


Japan: Last Look at Potential Passive Selling in February

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>Lixil increased operating profit by 15.7% YoY, to ¥20.6bn, compared to consensus estimates for an 18% decline. The stock trades at 80% of book value.</li>
<li>TEPCO earned ¥112bn compared to a consensus forecast of a ¥3bn loss. It trades at 35% of book value.</li>
<li>Lasertec increased EBIT by 122% to ¥47.7bn compared to consensus estimates for ¥27bn, and the stock trading at the lowest multiples relative to Topix in seven years.  </li>
</ul>


Lixil increased operating profit by 15.7% YoY, to ¥20.6bn, compared to consensus estimates for an 18% decline. The stock trades at 80% of book value.
TEPCO earned ¥112bn compared to a consensus forecast of a ¥3bn loss. It trades at 35% of book value.
Lasertec increased EBIT by 122% to ¥47.7bn compared to consensus estimates for ¥27bn, and the stock trading at the lowest multiples relative to Topix in seven years.  


Unloved Japan Round-Up: Some Massive Results Surprises

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-electric-power-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15457:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) (9501 JP)</a> trade is to short or long-sell into exuberance. Shorts should wait until the pump exhausts itself (or appears to).</li>
<li>At 0.34x forward P/B, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/swire-pacific-ltd-cl-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10433:1" rel="noopener">Swire Pacific (19 HK)</a> is cheap. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/swire-properties-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5775:1" rel="noopener">Swire Properties (1972 HK)</a> at 0.33x is also inexpensive. But HK IP drags. Ger exposure to the stub.</li>
<li>Elliott sees <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsui-o-s-k-lines-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20717:1" rel="noopener">Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (9104 JP)</a> as undervalued. Best to be long than short on an outright basis, but there is not a lot of detail out there yet.</li>
</ul>


The Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) (9501 JP) trade is to short or long-sell into exuberance. Shorts should wait until the pump exhausts itself (or appears to).
At 0.34x forward P/B, Swire Pacific (19 HK) is cheap. Swire Properties (1972 HK) at 0.33x is also inexpensive. But HK IP drags. Ger exposure to the stub.
Elliott sees Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (9104 JP) as undervalued. Best to be long than short on an outright basis, but there is not a lot of detail out there yet.


Last Week In Event SPACE: TEPCO, Swire, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. CK Hutchison

Japan

Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated generates, transmits, and distributes electricity.  The Company uses hydroelectric, thermal, and nuclear power sources.  Tokyo Electric Power distributes electricity in the Kanto area, which includes the Tokyo metro area, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures.

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Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) (9501 JP)

Best Outright and Pair Trades for an Ishiba-Led LDP

How to position in Japanese equities after the surprise win by Shigeru Ishiba over Sanae Takaichi in Friday's LDP election.

Andrew Jackson

Primer: Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) (9501 JP) - Aug 2026

TEPCO remains fundamentally shaped by the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, with massive, ongoing decommissioning and compensation...

αSK Primers

Japan: Last Look at Potential Passive Selling in February

Tomorrow is going to be a huge volume day in Japan as the global index rebalances. Kokusai Electric has bounced as expected and there could be more...

Brian Freitas

Unloved Japan Round-Up: Some Massive Results Surprises

Lixil, TEPCO, and Lasertec all outperformed consensus estimates with strong operating profits and low stock valuations relative to book value and...

Michael Allen

Last Week In Event SPACE: TEPCO, Swire, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. CK Hutchison

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett

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Best Outright and Pair Trades for an Ishiba-Led LDP

How to position in Japanese equities after the surprise win by Shigeru Ishiba over Sanae Takaichi in Friday's LDP election.

Andrew Jackson

Primer: Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) (9501 JP) - Aug 2026

TEPCO remains fundamentally shaped by the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, with massive, ongoing decommissioning and compensation...

αSK Primers

Japan: Last Look at Potential Passive Selling in February

Tomorrow is going to be a huge volume day in Japan as the global index rebalances. Kokusai Electric has bounced as expected and there could be more...

Brian Freitas

Unloved Japan Round-Up: Some Massive Results Surprises

​Lixil, TEPCO, and Lasertec all outperformed consensus estimates with strong operating profits and low stock valuations relative to book value and...

Michael Allen

Last Week In Event SPACE: TEPCO, Swire, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. CK Hutchison

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett

Lixil, TEPCO, and Lasertec all outperformed consensus estimates with strong operating profits and low stock valuations relative to book value and...