Daily Brief Japan: ABC Mart, Fast Retailing, Yoshinoya Holdings, TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX, Relo Group, Shin Pro Maint, Tokai Holdings, Creek & River, EJ Holdings Inc and more

• Context: The ABC Mart (2670 JP) vs. Fast Retailing (9983 JP) price-ratio has deviated more than three standard deviations from its one-year average, presenting a potential relative value opportunity.
• Highlights: Going long ABC Mart (2670 JP) and short Fast Retailing (9983 JP) targets an 11% return. Both companies reported very recently.
• Why Read: Essential for quantitative traders seeking mean-reversion opportunities, with detailed execution framework, risk management protocols, and historical simulation showing the statistical basis for this relative value play.

• Tadashi Yanai has finally achieved one of his many long-term ambitions: surpassing ¥1 trillion in sales in the home market. 
• This, after exceeding ¥3 trillion globally for the first time but his goal of ¥10 trillion remains outstanding.  Whether a mostly single-brand company can achieve such volume is debatable.
• Yanai is rebuilding GU in the hopes of creating a second brand – while at last admitting failure with his old French acquisitions.

• FY02/26 forecast revised upward: revenue JPY225.0bn (+9.8% YoY), operating profit JPY8.2bn (+12.2% YoY), net income JPY4.8bn (+26.2% YoY).
• 1H sales rose 11.3% YoY, driven by product initiatives, new stores, and price revisions; profit margin improved.
• Overseas sales declined 1.7% YoY due to exchange rates; segment profit fell 4.8% YoY from higher labor costs.

• Even as more companies shifted to cash flow-focused management, their cash reserves remained stubbornly high, and few announced cash allocation policies. Finally, cash reserves began to decline—driven by TSE’s request.
• ROE and P/B of companies that disclosed in response to TSE’s request haven’t improved. Consequently, the strategic intent behind share buybacks appears weak and isn’t being well received by investors.
• The decision to veer away from increasing cash reserves is the first step. How long will it take before the next move emerges to improve capital profitability and generate value?

Key points (machine generated)

• Relo Group aims for an operating profit of 50 billion yen by March 2029 under its ‘Fourth Olympic Strategy’.
• The company supports non-core business operations for SMEs and large corporations, focusing on employee benefits.
• Relo Group’s business model includes BtoB outsourcing services and BtoC rental management in major cities.

This article is sourced from an online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only.

• Revenue increased 17.0% YoY to JPY15.4bn, driven by strong Emergency and Preventive Maintenance Services performance.
• Operating profit rose 25.6% YoY to JPY1.2bn, with an OPM increase of 0.5pp YoY to 7.5%.
• Shin Maint Holdings expanded market share by acquiring new customers and projects from competitors, enhancing sales activities.

Key points (machine generated)

• TOKAI Holdings Corporation reported record Q1 FY3/26 results with net sales of ¥58,128 million and operating profit of ¥3,941 million.
• Growth was driven by the energy business, supported by a customer base of approximately 3.44 million and favorable market conditions.
• For FY3/26, the company projects net sales of ¥253,000 million and operating profit of ¥17,500 million, with a focus on a 40-50% dividend payout ratio.

This article is sourced from an online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only.

• Sales increased by JPY2.3bn (+8.7% YoY), with growth in Creative (Japan) and Medical Staffing segments, despite operating profit decline.
• Progress toward FY02/26 forecast: 46.8% sales, 42.8% operating profit, 42.2% recurring profit, 69.2% net income achieved.
• CRES segment sales were JPY411mn (20x YoY), with an operating loss of JPY467mn, reflecting new subsidiary performance.

• E-J Holdings reported Q1 FY05/26 revenue of JPY4.3bn, a 39.1% YoY increase, with operating loss of JPY1.5bn.
• Orders received totaled JPY11.8bn, a 31.5% YoY increase, due to Tokyo Soil Research Co., Ltd. consolidation.
• Losses at all profit levels due to government-related revenue concentration in Q4 and consistent fixed costs.