Mark Chadwick

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">A wrong hire, skills mismatch, and inadequate training equals low efficiency and lost productivity. Companies pay a significant price for not correctly managing talent. It does not stop there. Low transparency, missed opportunities, and weak management lead to frustration and dissatisfaction for employees. The result is a lack of motivation and employee exits. Both companies and employees suffer when talent is not </span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">adequately managed</span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">. Companies can scarcely afford to lose or </span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">misallocate</span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"> the right people as the costs are enormous - lost productivity, lost business, and a dysfunctional environment that hurts from the top to bottom line. Talent management plays a critical role in the modern company, and in many cases, it can mean the difference between a successful culture and going out of business. Enter <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kaonavi-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29703:1" rel="noopener">Kaonavi Inc (4435 JP)</a> </span></p>
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<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">In May, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that more than 95% of the company’s workforce was working remotely and that it planned to ensure employees could continue to do so on a long-term basis. Google workers will stay remote until summer 2021. Many others made similar announcements. </span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span></p>
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<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">This would have been unthinkable even a decade ago, but cloud-based platforms are enabling employees to work from anywhere, on any device. Companies must now deploy systems rapidly, in a cost-effective and scalable manner to adapt to this new worldview. </span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span></p>
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<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/teamspirit-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29704:1" rel="noopener">TeamSpirit Inc (4397 JP)</a> ’s</span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"> workforce management platform helps Japanese companies to support telework, not only an essential way of working following the outbreak of COVID-19, but also a necessity as companies shift to a hybrid workforce. </span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span></p>
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<p><strong> <span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Recent FY8/20 numbers (13 October)</span> </strong></p>
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<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Q4 revenue +25% YoY to ¥654m (slowed from 38% YoY in Q3)</span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span></p>
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<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Gross margin 60%</span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span></p>
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<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Annual Recurring Revenue +32% to ¥2.2b</span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span></p>
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<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Number of active licenses rose 41% to 269,000</span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> <br></span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Number of client companies 1,409 (+14% YoY; +2% QoQ)</span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span></p>
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<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Covid had a negative impact on the business. The inflow of leads slowed due to the cancellation of promotional events. On boarding was delayed as customer struggled with the unfamiliarity of telework, with small businesses in particular slowing in terms of </span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">licenses</span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"> added.</span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"> </span><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The company guided for 29% revenue growth in FY8/21</span><span data-ccp-props='{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}'> </span></p>
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<p><span xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The stock has corrected by around 20% in the week following full year earnings and is worth looking at for long-term growth investors.</span></p>
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Joe Jasper

Vermilion Research

Technical Analysis

<p>The S&amp;P 500 remains just short of formidable resistance at its 200-day MA. Yet, there are signs of continued breadth improvement.  Technology in particular continues to top our Sector RSR rankings, fueled by strengthening price and RS action for semiconductors, semi-suppliers, and numerous Software groups. Last week we upgraded our weighting for Technology and its strength continues to broaden out. In this week's report we highlight a number of actionable Technology stocks across our various Groups.</p>

<p>We continue to view the market as healthy in terms of breadth, although rotations are occurring at the margin which warrant minor tweaks to our overall theme of continued consolidation and heightened volatility. Also within our May Equity Strategy, we highlight opportunities within the Technology (Overweight), Financial (Overweight), and Energy (Market weight) Sectors.</p>

United States

The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. designs, develops, and markets unified HCM SaaS solutions for businesses. The Company's solutions provide businesses with cloud-based functionality to manage the employment life cycle. It's Web-based features include HR, payroll, benefits management, talent management, time management, reporting/business intelligence, and role-based access.

Ultimate Software Group - ULTI US

Description