Daily Brief Equity Bottom-Up: Softbank Group: Performance Powered by OpenAI. Exits NVIDIA and more

• Softbank Group (9984 JP)  reported a record H1 net income of ¥2.9 trillion, driven principally by a USD 14.6 billion fair-value gain from its OpenAI investment and Rights to invest.
• The Group fully exited its USD 2.9 billion NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US) stake in October, realizing gross gains of USD 2.9 billion on sale proceeds of USD 5.8 billion.
• It also sold partial stakes in T-Mobile for USD 9.2 billion and Deutsche Telekom for USD 2.4 billion even as it raised its investment target in OpenAI to USD34.7 Bn.

• Introducing the all new Adobe Acrobat Studio with AI powered PDF spaces
• Fairlife milk, a phenomenon in the dairy industry, known for being healthier and having longer shelf life
• Protein craze in the beverage industry, highlighted by Fairlife and other protein drinks at Starbucks

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• In this insight, we provide reasoning behind the clear recent outperformance of Korean preferred shares versus common shares.
• Among the 10 pairs, nine of them have preferred shares outperforming common shares in the past five days.
• One of the main reasons why the preferred shares have recently outperformed their common counterparts is because of the expectation of the higher probability of lowering tax on dividends.

• We like GDS holdings, a high-beta play on Asia data center market, on the back of strong AI and hyperscale cloud infra growth across Asia
• GDS is a high beta play through 3 ways:  flexible capital deployment, high velocity AI growth, as well as diversification
• We think AI growth and utilization may surprise on the upside.  Also, establishment of a C-REIT platform will enable asset recycling at a high multiple

• FMC is a global leader in the crop protection market, with a strong, patent-protected portfolio, particularly in high-value insecticides. The company’s pure-play focus on agricultural sciences distinguishes it from more diversified peers.
• The company is currently navigating a severe industry-wide downturn caused by unprecedented inventory destocking in key channels, which has significantly impacted recent revenue and profitability. This cyclical headwind is masking underlying end-user demand.
• Management has initiated a strategic growth plan and restructuring program aimed at navigating the current challenges, driving cost savings, and capitalizing on the eventual market normalization. Future growth is expected to be driven by new product launches from its R&D pipeline and expansion in its Plant Health (biologicals) business.

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• Sprouts Farmers Market released a set of financial results for the third quarter of 2025 that presents a mixed picture for current and potential investors.
• The company reported total sales of $2.2 billion, marking a 13% increase compared to the same quarter in the prior year.
• Comparable store sales rose by 5.9%, indicating growth despite challenging market conditions.

• World Bank debarred TARIL from participating in its funded projects following old Nigerian contract issues; the company contests it.
• The incident has raised governance questions and led to an exaggerated stock sell-off, despite immaterial financial exposure and reaffirmed guidance. 
• Debarment is isolated and non-material. Execution delays are transitory. Strong order book, backward integration, and FY26 guidance make TARIL attractive on dips.

• Monolithic Power Systems Inc. (“the company”) in its third quarter of 2025, reported a banner quarter, achieving record revenue levels of $737.2 million, marking sequential growth of 10.9% and an 18.9% increase from the same period in the prior year.
• This outcome underscores the efficacy of their diversified market approach and strategic innovations aimed at addressing specific customer needs across a variety of segments.
• On a positive note, the company has demonstrated a robust capacity for growth, amplified by its successful penetration into multiple market segments.

• Takamiya (hereafter, the Company) is a leading manufacturer of temporary equipment used at construction sites, with its business centered on the next-generation scaffolding system Iq System, launched in 2014.
• Its vision is to become the industry’s first scaffolding platform company, shifting from a flow-based to a stock-based business centered on the Takamiya Platform, with the aim of establishing a new profit structure and strengthening the balance sheet.
• Construction investment continues to trend upward, and construction volume among the Company’s customers remains resilient.

• ABCL’s Q2 FY26 lending portfolio surged 29% YoY, driven by Housing Finance and secured MSME loans, while the firm deployed Generative AI across its flagship digital platforms.
• Robust asset growth and an improving credit profile (Gross Stage 2 & 3 down 121 bps YoY in NBFC), but consolidated PAT growth was constrained by rising interest costs.
• The One ABC’ digital ecosystem and high-growth segments position ABCL for enhanced return ratios, meriting a closer look at its valuation discount relative to pure-play NBFC peers.