Report

The PSA Japan Research Round-Up for the Week Ending October 5, 2018

v The Weekly Comment

Joel Scheiman reviews the week which after hitting a 27-yr high on Oct 1, has been knocked back by contagion from sliding Asian markets and rising interest rates.

v Reports / Flash Notes Summaries

Stretching the MLCC Market: Implications for the Industry and Murata Mfg (6981 JP)
Does “Murata Good, Skyworks / Avago / Qorvo Better” Still Hold True?
September US Auto Sales – Japan Automakers Underperform on Falling Incentives
Foster Electric (6794 JP) – Company Visit Feedback
Underlyings
FUJIFILM Holdings Corp

FUJIFILM Holdings is a holding company engaged in the manufacture and sale of imaging information products. Co.'s principal businesses are divided into three segments: imagining solution, information solution and document solution. Co.'s principal products and services are color films, digital cameras "FinePix," photofinishing equipment, color paper, as well as chemicals and services for photofinishing; equipment and materials for medical systems and life sciences, equipment and materials for graphic arts, flat panel display materials, recording media and optical devices; office copy machines/MFPs, printers, as well as production systems and services.

Fujitsu Limited

Fujitsu is the parent company of a group engaged in the information and communication technology businesses. Technology Solutions segment provides system integration, application development and integration, system consulting, IT and business process outsourcing services, cloud computing, SAP and Oracle applications services and managed infrastructure services (network and communication, technical and maintenance and service desk services). The segment also offers security platforms, servers, storage systems and software. Ubiquitous Solutions segment offers desktop PCs, notebook PCs, mobile phones and wearable devices. Device Solutions segment offers LSI devices and electronic components.

Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

Honda Motor is the parent company of a group mainly develop, manufacture and distribute motorcycles, automobiles, power products, and also provide financing for the sale of those products. Principal manufacturing facilities are located in Japan, the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Turkey, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Argentina, and Brazil. Co.'s principal business segments are motorcycles, automobiles, financial services, and power products & other business. Co.'s principal automobile products include passenger cars such as "Legend," "Accord," "Inspire," "Civic," "Insight," "City," "Acura RL," "Acura TL," "Acura TSX," and "Acura CSX".

Mazda Motor Corp.

Mazda Motor and its affiliates are mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of passenger and commercial vehicles. Co. provides compact vehicles, sports cars, sedans, mini vans, light cars, commercial vehicles, welfare vehicles and customized vehicles, as well as car accessories. Co.'s principal products are four-wheeled vehicles, gasoline reciprocating engines, diesel engines, and automatic and manual transmissions for vehicles. Co.'s principal brand automobiles include Demio, Axela, Atenza, CX-3, CX-5, CX-8, Roadster, Carol, Flair, Flair Wagon, Scrum Wagon, Bongo, Titan, Familia Van, and Scrum Van/Truck.

Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

Murata Manufacturing is mainly engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of electronic components and modules in Japan, North America and certain other Asian and European countries. Co.'s products are sold mainly to electronics companies for use as components in telecommunication, computer, audio, video, automotive electronics and other electronic products. Co. is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of electronic parts and related products, including components for capacitors and piezoelectric products, as well as modules products; the provision of welfare services, personnel services, education and training services, as well as the leasing and management of real estate.

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

Nintendo is mainly engaged in the development, manufacture, and sale of home-use game hardware/software and peripheral equipment as well as software under the name of "Nintendo DS," "Nintendo 3DS," "Game Boy," "Nintendo 64,"" Game Boy Advance," "Wii," "Nintendo GameCube," "Game Boy Color" and "e-Reader (trading card games)." Co.'s principal software trademarks include "Pokemon," "Super Mario Bros.," "The Legend of Zelda," "STARFOX64" and others. Co. also provides online games and repair services. In addition, Co. is involved in the manufacture and sale of Japanese playing cards called "Karuta," playing cards and board games, as well as the management of intellectual property rights.

Panasonic Corporation

Panasonic offers a range of products, systems and components for consumer, business and industrial use based on electronics and precision technology, expanding to building materials and equipment, and housing business. Co. divides its businesses into five segments: Appliances, Eco Solutions, Connected Solutions, Automotive & Industrial Systems and Other. Co.'s principal products include home appliances such as refrigerators, room air conditioners, washing machines and vacuum cleaners; lighting fixtures and electric lamps, video and audio equipment, electrical components, batteries, semiconductors and optical devices.

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd

Shin-Etsu Chemical is mainly engaged in the manufacturing and sales of polyvinyl chloride and organic chemicals, silicon, functional chemicals, semiconductor silicon, electronic and functional materials, and others. Co.'s principal products include polyvinyl chloride, caustic soda products, methanol, chloromethane, silicon products, cellulose derivatives, silicon metal, poval (polyvinyl alcohol), synthetic pheromones, semiconductor silicon products, rare earth magnets, encapsulation materials, photoresists, photomask blanks, synthetic quartz products, epoxy molding compounds, pellicles, and resin processed products. Co. is also engaged in the export of plant equipment and others.

SoftBank Group Corp.

SoftBank Group is a holding company. Domestic Telecommunications business provides mobile communication services, mobile devices, broadband services to retail customers, and telecom services to corporate customers in Japan. Sprint business provides mobile communication services and fixed-line telecommunication services in the U.S. Yahoo Japan business operates Internet-based advertising and e-commerce business. Distribution business distributes mobile devices overseas, and sells software and mobile device accessories in Japan. ARM business designs microprocessor intellectual property and related technology. SoftBank Vision Fund & Delta Fund business is engaged in the investment activities.

Sony Corporation

Sony is engaged in the development, design, production, manufacture, offer and sale of various kinds of electronic equipment, instruments and devices for consumer, professional and industrial markets such as network services, game hardware and software, televisions, audio and video recorders and players, still and video cameras, mobile phones, and semiconductors. Co. is engaged in the development, production, manufacture, and distribution of recorded music and the management and licensing of the words and music of songs as well as the production and distribution of animation titles. Co. is also engaged in the production, acquisition and distribution of motion pictures and television.

TDK Corporation

TDK is a manufacturer of recording media, ferrite products and recording device products, and a producer of inductor, ceramic capacitor, magnet, HDD head and other components. Co.'s principal business segments are passive components, sensor application products, magnetic application products, film application products and others. Co.'s principal products include ceramic capacitors, aluminum electrolytic capacitors, film capacitors, inductive devices, high-frequency components, piezoelectric materials and circuit protection components, sensors, HDD head suspension, recording devices, power supplies and magnets, and mechatronics.

Toyota Industries Corp.

Toyota Industries is mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of automobiles, industrial vehicles and textile machinery, as well as logistics business. Co. operates in three business segments: automobile, industrial vehicle and textile machinery. The Automobile segment manufactures and sells automobiles, engines and compressors for automotive air-conditioners, foundry pieces and electronic equipment. The Industrial Vehicle segment provides forklift trucks, warehouse equipment, automatic warehouse, vehicles for high-place work. The Textile Machinery segment offers weaving machines and spinning machines, as well as yarn quality measurement equipment and cotton grading equipment.

Toyota Motor Corp.

Toyota Motor is an automobile manufacturer. Co. is primarily engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of sedans, minivans, compact cars, sport-utility vehicles, trucks and related parts and accessories throughout the world. Co. provides financing, vehicle and equipment leasing and certain other financial services primarily to its dealers and their customers to support the sales of vehicles and other products manufactured by Co. Co.'s principal business segments are automotive operations, financial services operations and other operations. Co. sells its vehicles in approximately 190 countries and regions, and markets for its automobiles in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia.

Provider
Pelham Smithers Associates Ltd
Pelham Smithers Associates Ltd

Founded in 2009, Pelham Smithers Associates (PSA) provides market intelligence on Asian technology, focusing in particular on Japan. The industries covered by our team of specialists are: consumer electronics, telecomms, pharmaceuticals, internet, electronic parts and materials, automotive technology, retail and capital goods. 

PSA produces both company and sector reports. The focus of PSA’s research is to identify winners and losers as new technologies impact the top and bottom lines of corporations. Critical to our research is the clear explanation of how these new technologies work and how they impact companies and industries. 

The founding partners have worked closely together for twenty years and the team has more than doubled in size since 2012. 

Analysts
Joel Scheiman

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