Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

ROHM COMPANY LIMITED manufactures custom linear integrated circuits and semiconductor devices for use primarily in consumer electronics.  The Company has plants and sales offices worldwide.  Rohm's subsidiaries include Wako Electric and Apollo Electronics.

<ul>
<li>Sales are growing again and the company has turned profitable with capacity utilization up and costs down. Guidance for 2H of FY Mar-26 looks conservative. </li>
<li>Sales of power devices is rising after a long period of weakness, supported by auto, industrial and data center related demand.</li>
<li>Projected valuations are once again reasonable. The share price should continue to trend upwards.</li>
</ul>


Sales are growing again and the company has turned profitable with capacity utilization up and costs down. Guidance for 2H of FY Mar-26 looks conservative. 
Sales of power devices is rising after a long period of weakness, supported by auto, industrial and data center related demand.
Projected valuations are once again reasonable. The share price should continue to trend upwards.


Rohm (6963 JP): Renewed Growth, Conservative Guidance & Reasonable Valuation

IHI Corporation manufactures heavy machinery. The Company produces aircraft jet engines, rocket propulsion systems, and ships for military and commercial use. Ishikawajima-Harima also constructs petroleum refineries and nuclear power plants.

<ul>
<li>Sales and operating profit declined YoY in 1H, but new orders were up 17.5% and the book-to-bill ratio rose from 1.00 to 1.25. anagement has raised full-year guidance.</li>
<li>Aerospace &amp; Defense continue to lead growth, with nuclear energy and Asian EPC making significant contributions to new orders and the restructuring of Industrial Systems &amp; Machinery boosting operating profit.</li>
<li>Share price down 15% in two weeks to 23x FY Mar-26 EPS guidance. Once again a reasonably valued investment in Japan's rising defense budget and corporate restructuring.</li>
</ul>


Sales and operating profit declined YoY in 1H, but new orders were up 17.5% and the book-to-bill ratio rose from 1.00 to 1.25. anagement has raised full-year guidance.
Aerospace &amp; Defense continue to lead growth, with nuclear energy and Asian EPC making significant contributions to new orders and the restructuring of Industrial Systems &amp; Machinery boosting operating profit.
Share price down 15% in two weeks to 23x FY Mar-26 EPS guidance. Once again a reasonably valued investment in Japan's rising defense budget and corporate restructuring.


IHI (7013 JP): Orders and Profits Headed Up, Share Price Down

Hamamatsu Photonics Kk / Equity Bottom-Up

HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K. manufactures electron tubes, semiconductors, and image processors.  The Company's products include photosensitive electronic tubes, optical/image sensors, X-ray related products, laser related products, photodiodes, light-emitting diodes (LED) and video camera used for measuring equipment.

<ul>
<li>Announced last Friday, FY Sep-25 sales and net profit were in line with guidance, but operating profit fell short. On Monday, the shares dropped 4.5%, wiping out a month's gains.</li>
<li>Looking ahead, management expects three years of sales and profit growth as capex declines, depreciation and R&amp;D level off, and the NKT Photonics acquisition approaches breakeven.</li>
<li>In this scenario, semiconductor, bio-medical, defense and quantum computing applications should drive 3-year sales growth of 24% and a 71% increase in net profit, bringing the P/E down to 20X.</li>
</ul>


Announced last Friday, FY Sep-25 sales and net profit were in line with guidance, but operating profit fell short. On Monday, the shares dropped 4.5%, wiping out a month's gains.
Looking ahead, management expects three years of sales and profit growth as capex declines, depreciation and R&amp;D level off, and the NKT Photonics acquisition approaches breakeven.
In this scenario, semiconductor, bio-medical, defense and quantum computing applications should drive 3-year sales growth of 24% and a 71% increase in net profit, bringing the P/E down to 20X.


Hamamatsu Photonics (6965 JP): Capex Peaking, Profits to Rebound

NEC Corporation manufactures and markets computers, telecommunication equipment, electronic devices, semiconductors, and software.  The Company's products include printers, modems, cellular phones, plasma display panels (PDP), network systems, memory, integrated circuits (IC), thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), and printed circuit boards (PCB). NEC operates worldwide.

<ul>
<li>NEC and Siemens plan to develop an automated robot teaching system for faster set-up and more efficient operation of production lines incorporating multiple robots.</li>
<li>NEC's FY Mar-26 guidance raised on strong 1H results. BluStellar, which includes digital twins for robot teaching, grew faster than expected.  </li>
<li>Aerospace/Defense led sales growth and followed BluStellar in operating profit. Improving product mix and rising Japanese defense budget point to growing long-term potential.</li>
</ul>


NEC and Siemens plan to develop an automated robot teaching system for faster set-up and more efficient operation of production lines incorporating multiple robots.
NEC's FY Mar-26 guidance raised on strong 1H results. BluStellar, which includes digital twins for robot teaching, grew faster than expected.  
Aerospace/Defense led sales growth and followed BluStellar in operating profit. Improving product mix and rising Japanese defense budget point to growing long-term potential.


NEC (6701 JP): Tie-Up with Siemens Adds to Growth Potential

<ul>
<li>New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aims to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP this fiscal year, two years ahead of the original schedule.</li>
<li>Takaichi also wants to accelerate investment in advanced defense technologies. IHI, which recently signed an agreement with ICEYE to build earth observations satellites, should be among the beneficiaries.</li>
<li>IHI's sales and profit comparisons should turn positive during FY Mar-26. A 7-for-1 stock split effective October 1, 2025, makes the shares more attractive to retail investors. </li>
</ul>


New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aims to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP this fiscal year, two years ahead of the original schedule.
Takaichi also wants to accelerate investment in advanced defense technologies. IHI, which recently signed an agreement with ICEYE to build earth observations satellites, should be among the beneficiaries.
IHI's sales and profit comparisons should turn positive during FY Mar-26. A 7-for-1 stock split effective October 1, 2025, makes the shares more attractive to retail investors. 


IHI (7013 JP): SAR Satellite Deal Adds to Takaichi Trade

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.

Scott Foster
Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities
• LightStream Research

Rohm (6963 JP): Renewed Growth, Conservative Guidance & Reasonable Valuation

Rohm has pulled itself out of the red and appears to be low-balling 2H guidance. Power device sales for auto, industrial and data center use are...

Scott Foster

Hamamatsu Photonics (6965 JP): Capex Peaking, Profits to Rebound

High growth in capital spending is ending and depreciation should follow. Growth in R&D and SGA expenses is also scheduled to drop sharply, while...

Scott Foster

NEC (6701 JP): Tie-Up with Siemens Adds to Growth Potential

Collaboration with Siemens in industrial robot motion control and rising Japanese defense spending under Prime Minister Takaichi should boost NEC's...

Scott Foster

IHI (7013 JP): SAR Satellite Deal Adds to Takaichi Trade

Japanese defense spending should rise more rapidly under PM Takaichi. That plus a satellite deal with ICEYE should provide new impetus for IHI,...

Scott Foster

Rohm (6963 JP): Renewed Growth, Conservative Guidance & Reasonable Valuation

Rohm has pulled itself out of the red and appears to be low-balling 2H guidance. Power device sales for auto, industrial and data center use are...

Scott Foster

IHI (7013 JP): Orders and Profits Headed Up, Share Price Down

Down 15% in the recent market sell-off, IHI is again an attractive play on Japan's rising defense spending and the company's own restructuring....

Scott Foster

Hamamatsu Photonics (6965 JP): Capex Peaking, Profits to Rebound

High growth in capital spending is ending and depreciation should follow. Growth in R&D and SGA expenses is also scheduled to drop sharply, while...

Scott Foster

NEC (6701 JP): Tie-Up with Siemens Adds to Growth Potential

Collaboration with Siemens in industrial robot motion control and rising Japanese defense spending under Prime Minister Takaichi should boost NEC's...

Scott Foster

IHI (7013 JP): SAR Satellite Deal Adds to Takaichi Trade

Japanese defense spending should rise more rapidly under PM Takaichi. That plus a satellite deal with ICEYE should provide new impetus for IHI,...

Scott Foster