'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. 

Quantitative Analysis

<p><strong>SHORT-LIVED</strong> - Over the last two weeks, Japanese equities marched back up and then promptly fell back down, losing 1.5% over the period. We remain under the spell of the 'Death Cross' (50-day moving average &lt; 200-day), although, partly thanks to the Bank of Japan, we have danced along the fine line between these two ratios since August.  A decisive breach to the downside is now the most likely outcome and would help bring foreign investors back to a market they have become increasingly less interested in as the year has progressed.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/070/118/original/2018-11-17_10-47-31.png?1542419262" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="70118"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/070/119/original/2018-11-17_10-47-53.png?1542419283" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="70119"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>VOLUME VOLATILITY</strong> - After spiking into the most recent low, volumes have returned to trend levels and will decline further into year-end as is usual.  A <a href="https://www.jpx.co.jp/english/corporate/news/news-releases/0060/b5b4pj000002jlgo-att/01.pdf" target="_blank">malfunction </a>in the TSE trading systems occurred on October 9th and the apportioning of the 'blame' is now the subject of some heated <a href="http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201810190030.html" target="_blank">debate</a> amongst the market participants involved. It is not clear to what extent this event has had any subsequent impact on the activities of the firms involved, and the only remedial action that has been announced to date has been a salary cut and censure for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/11266" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11266:1">Japan Exchange (8697 JP)</a> officials deemed responsible. We would note that, since October 9th, volumes have been more volatile than any other period this year.   </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/070/120/original/2018-11-17_11-00-22.png?1542420041" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="70120"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>FINAL TALLY</strong> - With the exception of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/7591" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7591:1">Tokio Marine (8766 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/631" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:631:1">MS&amp;AD (8725 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/632" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:632:1">Sompo (8630 JP)</a>, all of whom report tomorrow, the quarterly results and revisions 'season' is now complete. As noted <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-autumn-results-revisions-flash-flatlining-weakest-quarter-in-two-years" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:25804">earlier</a>, the most recent quarter was the weakest in two years. TTM Operating Income and Forecast Operating Income are both unchanged from the summer, and Forecast Operating Income is only 0.8% higher than TTM Operating Income -implying a flat second quarter for earnings. The 'gap' between TTM and Forecast Net Income is now -4.8%, implying that there are over ¥2 trillion of extraordinary losses to be booked in the next six months. A 'foretaste' of such write-offs was recently provided by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/16705" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16705:1">Tsukuba Bank (8338 JP)</a>.</p><p><strong>MARKET-IMPLIED 20% FALL IN EARNINGS</strong> - Based on TTM Net Income the market PER is a record-low 13.2x, and the discounting of the coming weaker earnings growth is reasonably well-advanced. A 'normal' earnings multiple is often thought to be 16.7x (being the 'inverse' of a 6% yield). The market-implied decline in future Net Income, using this benchmark,  is 20%, which is equivalent to an aggregate Net Income of ¥38.6t - the level achieved in Summer 2017, or five quarters ago.  </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/070/124/original/2018-11-17_11-48-39.png?1542422946" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="70124"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><div class="content-highlight"><p><strong>OUTLOOK</strong> - Although 58% of companies still have positive Results Scores, only 40% of companies saw a quarter-on-quarter improvement and 40% of revisions scored negatively.  As covered in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-autumn-results-revisions-scores-market-composite-sector-review-slomo-slowdown" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:25923">SloMo Slowdown</a>, we are in a slow-motion bear market that will accelerate in the event of any further Yen strength or erosion of global growth. The downside may be limited by current valuations. However, we have yet to see how far Japanese corporate profits can fall this time. As we noted <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-market-update-oversold-however" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:25370">here</a>, a decisive low has yet to be reached.</p></div>

SHORT-LIVED - Over the last two weeks, Japanese equities marched back up and then promptly fell back down, losing 1.5% over the period. We remain under the spell of the 'Death Cross' (50-day moving average &lt; 200-day), although, partly thanks to the Bank of Japan, we have danced along the fine line between these two ratios since August.  A decisive breach to the downside is now the most likely outcome and would help bring foreign investors back to a market they have become increasingly less interested in as the year has progressed.Source: Japan AnalyticsVOLUME VOLATILITY - After spiking into the most recent low, volumes have returned to trend levels and will decline further into year-end as is usual.  A malfunction in the TSE trading systems occurred on October 9th and the apportioning of the 'blame' is now the subject of some heated debate amongst the market participants involved. It is not clear to what extent this event has had any subsequent impact on the activities of the firms involved, and the only remedial action that has been announced to date has been a salary cut and censure for the Japan Exchange (8697 JP) officials deemed responsible. We would note that, since October 9th, volumes have been more volatile than any other period this year.   Source: Japan AnalyticsFINAL TALLY - With the exception of Tokio Marine (8766 JP), MS&amp;AD (8725 JP) and Sompo (8630 JP), all of whom report tomorrow, the quarterly results and revisions 'season' is now complete. As noted earlier, the most recent quarter was the weakest in two years. TTM Operating Income and Forecast Operating Income are both unchanged from the summer, and Forecast Operating Income is only 0.8% higher than TTM Operating Income -implying a flat second quarter for earnings. The 'gap' between TTM and Forecast Net Income is now -4.8%, implying that there are over ¥2 trillion of extraordinary losses to be booked in the next six months. A 'foretaste' of such write-offs was recently provided by Tsukuba Bank (8338 JP).MARKET-IMPLIED 20% FALL IN EARNINGS - Based on TTM Net Income the market PER is a record-low 13.2x, and the discounting of the coming weaker earnings growth is reasonably well-advanced. A 'normal' earnings multiple is often thought to be 16.7x (being the 'inverse' of a 6% yield). The market-implied decline in future Net Income, using this benchmark,  is 20%, which is equivalent to an aggregate Net Income of ¥38.6t - the level achieved in Summer 2017, or five quarters ago.  Source: Japan AnalyticsOUTLOOK - Although 58% of companies still have positive Results Scores, only 40% of companies saw a quarter-on-quarter improvement and 40% of revisions scored negatively.  As covered in SloMo Slowdown, we are in a slow-motion bear market that will accelerate in the event of any further Yen strength or erosion of global growth. The downside may be limited by current valuations. However, we have yet to see how far Japanese corporate profits can fall this time. As we noted here, a decisive low has yet to be reached.

Japan Fortnightly Update: Watch Out Below

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul class="">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/14750" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14750:1">Rizap (2928 JP)</a> is an opportunistic business, starting out in health foods and gyms, and then acquiring its way to a significant share of the fashion and lifestyle business.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
</li>
<li>If its forecasts are right, by the end of this year it will have increased sales 10-fold in five years, while also extracting value from chains like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/13185" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13185:1">JeansMate Corp (7448 JP)</a> that had lain dormant for decades.</li>
<li>At the same time, it is showing signs of exploiting the growing convergence of the fashion and sports markets through a manufacturing-to-retail business.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
</li>
<li>Given sports fashion is both the most buoyant and most profitable mass market fashion category right now, this is a compelling strategy – if Rizap can implement it well.</li>
<li>This post focuses on the lifestyle businesses of Rizap. For more on the gym and body management side, please see these useful posts by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rizap-offering-some-colour-on-this-fad-nomenon-and-mio-s-diet-and-health-advice-you-never-wanted" target="_blank">Mio Kato at Lightstream</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rizap-group-placement-a-less-known-name-with-sales-to-double-in-three-years" target="_blank">Ke Yan</a>.</li>
</ul>



Rizap (2928 JP) is an opportunistic business, starting out in health foods and gyms, and then acquiring its way to a significant share of the fashion and lifestyle business. 

If its forecasts are right, by the end of this year it will have increased sales 10-fold in five years, while also extracting value from chains like JeansMate Corp (7448 JP) that had lain dormant for decades.
At the same time, it is showing signs of exploiting the growing convergence of the fashion and sports markets through a manufacturing-to-retail business. 

Given sports fashion is both the most buoyant and most profitable mass market fashion category right now, this is a compelling strategy – if Rizap can implement it well.
This post focuses on the lifestyle businesses of Rizap. For more on the gym and body management side, please see these useful posts by Mio Kato at Lightstream and Ke Yan.


Rizap: 10-Fold Growth in Five Years and More to Come

Japan

WonderCorporation operates entertainment retail stores that sell video game software, music CDs, books, and cosmetics.  The Company also operates cellular phone retail stores.

Wondercorp (3344 JP)

Japan Fortnightly Update: Watch Out Below

SHORT-LIVED - Over the last two weeks, Japanese equities marched back up and then promptly fell back down, losing 1.5% over the period. We remain...

Campbell Gunn

Rizap: 10-Fold Growth in Five Years and More to Come

Rizap (2928 JP) is an opportunistic business, starting out in health foods and gyms, and then acquiring its way to a significant share of the...

Michael Causton