Scott Foster

Securities analyst covering electronics, precision equipment & robotics, engineering, construction, transport and other sectors for more than 25 years in Japan and 3 years in Korea. Permanent resident of Japan.

Independent Insight Provider, Japanese equities

Actionable bottom-up long/short Insights on equities

Equity Bottom-Up

SUMCO Corporation manufactures silicon wafers for the semiconductor industry. The Company produces silicon wafers used to produce solar batteries as well as ultra-high purity quartz used to produce vessels for silicon manufacturing process. SUMCO markets its products worldwide.

<ul>
<li>CEO Hashimoto told the <em>Nikkei</em> newspaper that customers are ordering silicon wafers at higher prices before they are made, even as production capacity is being increased.</li>
<li>SEMI and TSMC announcements point to rising wafer demand for at least another two years. SUMCO's expansion plans suggest at least three years.</li>
<li>We continue to recommend buying into the current weakness for the medium to long term.</li>
</ul>

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

SUMCO Corp

SUMCO (3436 JP): CEO Describes Tight Supply, Rising Prices