In today’s briefing:
- The Key to Revitalizing Existing TSE Growth Companies Is Whether They Can Expect Growth Through M&A
- Top 10 Korean Stock Picks and Key Catalysts Bi-Weekly (26 September to 10 October 2025)
- (Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Kangji Medical, Jinke Smart Services, Soft99, Mandom, Paramount Bed
- Costco Wholesale Corp.: Warehouse Expansion & International Growth to Maintain A Robust Physical Presence In Key Markets Across The Globe!
- AutoZone Inc.: Store Network Expansion Strategy to Strengthen Distribution & Capitalizing On Market Opportunities!
- O’Reilly Automotive Leaves Autozone In The Dust—The Valuation Gap Explained!
- KB Home: An Insight Into its Optimized Asset Mix, Pricing Strategy & Other Major Drivers!
- CarMax’s Digital Overhaul – Can Website Visits Finally Turn Into Big Sales?
- Carter’s Inc – Carter’s Poison Pill: How RWWM’s 17% Stake Triggered A Major Defense Strategy!
The Key to Revitalizing Existing TSE Growth Companies Is Whether They Can Expect Growth Through M&A
- The reason why IPOs tend to become the goal is that many IPOs are conducted for purposes other than company growth after IPOs.
- In order to correct the notion that “IPO is the goal,” there are expectations for the revitalization of the market for trading unlisted shares and M&A of unlisted companies.
- With the entry of unlisted stock funds, trading in privately-held stocks will become active, and if M&A for growth and management changes take place, the quality of IPOs will improve.
Top 10 Korean Stock Picks and Key Catalysts Bi-Weekly (26 September to 10 October 2025)
- In this insight, we provide the top 10 stock picks and key catalysts in the Korean stock market for the next two weeks (26 September to 10 October 2025).
- Top 10 picks in this bi-weekly include S&T Dynamics, Samsung Electronics, KT&G, Samsung Life Insurance, Hana Financial, Hyundai Elevator, SK Inc, Lotte Tour Development, Naver, and Douzone Bizon.
- There have been some signs of shipbuilding and shipping services related stocks (such as HMM, SK Oceanplant, and HJ Shipbuilding) experiencing some weakness in the past couple of weeks.
(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: Kangji Medical, Jinke Smart Services, Soft99, Mandom, Paramount Bed
- I tally 39 – mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac – arb transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma.
- One new deal was discussed on Smartkarma this week: Paramount Bed Holdings Co Lt (7817 JP).
- Key updates/news took place on PointsBet (PBH AU), Oneconnect (6638 HK), Kangji Medical Instrument (9997 HK), Jinke Smart Services (9666 HK), Soft99 Corp (4464 JP), and Mandom Corp (4917 JP).
Costco Wholesale Corp.: Warehouse Expansion & International Growth to Maintain A Robust Physical Presence In Key Markets Across The Globe!
- Costco Wholesale Corporation delivered a mixed fourth quarter for fiscal year 2025, showcasing both strengths and areas of challenge.
- The company reported an increase in net sales and income, driven by strong ecommerce growth and expansion in warehouse locations.
- However, higher employee wages and lower member renewal rates presented challenges.
AutoZone Inc.: Store Network Expansion Strategy to Strengthen Distribution & Capitalizing On Market Opportunities!
- AutoZone reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, showcasing a mixed performance amidst challenging economic conditions and competitive pressures.
- Total sales for the quarter reached $6.2 billion, reflecting a modest 0.6% growth compared to the previous 17-week quarter.
- On a 16-week basis, however, sales grew 6.9%, indicating a robust underlying performance once the extra week from last year is adjusted for.
O’Reilly Automotive Leaves Autozone In The Dust—The Valuation Gap Explained!
- O’Reilly Automotive has been one of the top-performing retail stocks in 2025, rising over 30% yearto-date and recently trading at $103.47.
- While this rally might make the stock appear expensive relative to peers such as AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, and Genuine Parts, a closer look at the company’s fundamentals justifies its elevated valuation.
- Sales are projected to grow more than 6% annually over the next two years—significantly ahead of peers struggling with stagnation or outright declines.
KB Home: An Insight Into its Optimized Asset Mix, Pricing Strategy & Other Major Drivers!
- KB Home’s third quarter financial results for fiscal year 2025 reflect a nuanced picture of its current market position, with both strengths and challenges evident.
- From a financial standpoint, the company managed to deliver over $1.6 billion in total revenues, a figure that met or exceeded its own guidance across key operational metrics.
- This solid performance translates into a diluted earnings per share of $1.61 and an impressive gross margin of 18.9%, excluding inventory-related charges — both of which underscore the company’s ability to effectively manage costs and drive profitability amidst changing market conditions.
CarMax’s Digital Overhaul – Can Website Visits Finally Turn Into Big Sales?
- CarMax’s second quarter results for fiscal year 2026 reveal a mixed performance in a challenging market.
- The company reported total sales of $6.6 billion, down 6% compared to the previous year, mainly due to lower volume.
- Retail unit sales declined by 5.4%, while used unit comps fell by 6.3%.
Carter’s Inc – Carter’s Poison Pill: How RWWM’s 17% Stake Triggered A Major Defense Strategy!
- Carter’s Inc. has taken an aggressive step to safeguard its future against an unapproved takeover after hedge fund Roseman Wagner Wealth Management (RWWM) accumulated a 16.86% stake in the company.
- This strategic move comes in the form of a “poison pill” or shareholder rights plan, a mechanism commonly used to defend against hostile takeovers.
- The decision to adopt this poison pill follows RWWM’s rapid stock accumulation, which potentially signals a corporate raid or takeover attempt.
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