Report
Joel Scheiman ...
  • Pelham Smithers

PSA Today Feb 22: Nikkei slides/Ricoh's impairments/Strong Jan US video game sales/Eyes on Sony at MWC 2018 - Nikkei -1.07%

Japan Market Comment by Pelham Smithers and Joel Scheiman

Nikkei ¥21,736.44(-¥234.37/ -1.07%); Topix ¥1,746.17(-¥15.44 / -0.08%); ¥/$107.47

Tags: : NTT (9432 JP), Seven & I Holdings (3382 JP), Astellas (4503 JP), Toyo Tanso (5310 JP), Ricoh (7752 JP), Coca Cola Bottlers (2579 JP), Coca Cola (KO US), Xerox (XRX US), Seiko Epson (6724 JP), Canon (7751 JP), HP (HPQ US), Kyocera (6971 JP), Fujifilm (4901 JP), Nintendo (7974 JP), Capcom (9697 JP),  Bandai Namco (7832 JP), Square Enix (9684 JP), Samsung (005930 KS), Sony (6758 JP), Apple (AAPL US), Verizon (VZ US), Sprint (S US), T-Mobile (TMUS US), AT&T (T US).

Main Points at a Glance

  • Nikkei slides again
  • Ricoh in asset sale, write-down moves
  • Video game sales in the US up over 50% YoY in Jan
  • Eyes on Sony at MWC2018
Underlyings
Apple Inc

Astellas Pharma Inc.

Astellas Pharma is engaged in the development, research, manufacture, and sale of pharmaceuticals. Co. operates its operation in Japan, Americas, Europe, and Asia/Oceania. Co.'s principal product for the global market include "Xtandi" a therapeutic agent for prostatic cancer, "Eligard" a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist for the treatment of prostate cancer,"Prograf" an immunosuppressant used to prevent rejection in organ transplants, "Vesicare" a treatment for overactive bladder, "Harnal ( "Omnic" in the U.S. and Europe)" an 1 blocking agent for prostatic and urethral smooth muscle, and "Fungurad ("Mycamine" in the U.S. and Europe)" a candin-type antifungal agent.

AT&T Corp.

BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.

Bandai Namco Holdings is a holding company engaged in the planning and execution of medium- and long-term business strategies for the Group. Co. operates in three business segments: toy and hobby, network entertainment, and visual and music production. Co.'s principal products include toys, candy toys, products for vending machines, cards, plastic model kits, apparel, sundries, stationery, home-use video game software, commercial-use video game machines, and prizes for amusement arcade machines, video products, video software and on-demand video distribution. Co. is also involved in the operation of amusement facilities, as well as the transportation and the real estate management services.

Canon Inc.

Canon and its subsidiaries are engaged in the manufacture and sale of office multifunction devices, plain paper copying machines, laser printers, inkjet printers, cameras and lithography equipment. Co. sells its products principally under the Canon brand name and through sales subsidiaries. Each of these subsidiaries is responsible for marketing and distribution to retail dealers in an assigned territory. As of Dec. 31, 2017, Co.'s manufacturing is conducted primarily at 30 plants in Japan and 18 plants overseas. Co. operates its business in four segments: Office Business Unit, Imaging System Business Unit, Medical System Business Unit, and Industry and Others Business Unit.

Capcom Co. Ltd.

Capcom is engaged in the development, manufacture and sales of video games, online games, mobile games and arcade games, as well as the operation of amusement arcades. Co.'s business segments are digital contents, amusement facility and amusement equipment. Co. is engaged in the planning, development, manufacture and sales of home video games, online games and mobile games including "Rockman," "Monster Hunter World" and "Dragons Dogma"; the operation of "Plaza Capcom" amusement facilities in Japan; and the development, production and distribution of arcade games for amusement facilities. Co. is also engaged in the licensing business of game characters and the real estate leasing business.

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Holdings Inc.

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Holdings is a holding company mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of soft drinks and other beverages. Soft Drink segment is engaged in the manufacture and sale of soft drinks and other beverages under the brand names including "Coca-Cola," "Fanta," "Aquarius," "Sokenbicha," "Ayataka," "I LOHAS," and "Georgia," as well as the operation of vending machines; the provision of real estate and insurance agency services; the procurement of raw materials; and the development, maintenance and operation of information systems. Healthcare & Skincare segment manufactures and sells health foods, supplements and cosmetics, and provides investment business.

Coca-Cola HBC AG

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.

HP Inc.

HP is a provider of personal computing and other access devices, imaging and printing products, and related technologies, solutions and services. The company's segments are: Personal Systems, which provides commercial and consumer desktop and notebook personal computers, workstations, thin clients, commercial mobility devices, retail point-of-sale systems, displays and other related accessories, software, support and services; Printing, which provides consumer and commercial printer hardware, supplies, solutions and services, as well as scanning devices; and Corporate Investments, which includes HP Labs and certain business incubation and investment projects.

Kyocera Corporation

Kyocera is engaged in fine ceramic components, electronics devices, equipment, services and networks. As of Mar 31 2018, Co. has 230 subsidiaries and 4 affiliates outside Japan and 23 subsidiaries and 7 affiliates in Japan. Co.'s customers include individuals, corporations, governments and governmental agencies. Co. categorizes its operations into seven reporting segments: Fine Ceramic Parts Group, Semiconductor Parts Group, Applied Ceramic Products Group, Electronic Device Group, Telecommunications Equipment Group, Information Equipment Group, and Others.

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.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone and its subsidiaries conduct the following main business activities: regional communications (domestic intra-prefectural communication services and incidental services), principally operated by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation; long-distance and international communications (domestic inter-prefectural communication services, international communication services and incidental services), principally operated by NTT Communications Corporation; mobile communications, principally operated by NTT DOCOMO, Inc.; and data communications, principally operated by NTT DATA CORPORATION.

Ricoh Company Ltd.

Ricoh is engaged in the development, manufacture, sale and service of office equipment and printing equipment. Office Printing segment offers multifunctional printers, copiers, laser printers, digital duplicators, wide format printers, facsimile, scanners and related parts and supplies. Office Service segment offers PCs, servers, network equipment, projectors and unified communication systems for video/web conferencing. Commercial Printing segment offers cut sheet printers, continuous feed printers, related parts and supplies. Industrial Printing segment offers inkjet heads, imaging systems and industrial printers. Thermal Media segment offers thermal paper and thermal transfer ribbons.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Samsung Electronics is engaged in the manufacture and sale of electronic goods, communication products, semiconductors, telecommunication equipment, home appliances and other similar products. Co.'s products are mobile phones, MP3 Players, DVD players, video equipment, including Blu-Ray, TVs and VCRs; household appliances, including microwave ovens, refrigerators, home air conditioners, washing machines, ultrasonic humidifiers, dehumidifiers, vacuum cleaners and other small electrical goods; audio equipment, including semiconductors, information systems, and computers; miscellaneous parts; other products, including automatic vending machines, refrigerated display cases and electric tools.

Seiko Epson Corp.

Seiko Epson and its affiliates are mainly engaged in the development, manufacture, sale and provision services of information-related equipment, devices and precision products, sensing and industrial solutions, and others. Co.'s principal products include inkjet printers, page printers, color image scanners, serial impact dot matrix printers, POS system products, inkjet label printers, 3LCD projectors, high-temperature polysilicon TFT panels, label printers, smart glasses, personal computers, crystal units, quartz sensors, CMOS LSIs, watches and movements, metal powders, surface finishing, industrial robots, IC handlers, industrial inkjet printing systems, sensing systems and others.

Seven & I Holdings Co. Ltd.

Seven & i Holdings is a holding company mainly engaged in the retail business. Co.'s business segments are convenience stores, superstores, department stores, food services, finance related, mail order & e-business and others. Co. is engaged in the operation of direct and franchise convenience stores called "7- Eleven." As of Feb 28 2018, Co. maintains total of 20,260 convenience stores throughout Japan. Co. is also engaged in the operation of supermarkets, specialty stores, full-service and fast food restaurants, meal provision service business to company cafeterias, hospitals and schools, banking and credit card services, leasing business, as well as the provision of IT business.

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.

Sprint Corp.

Sprint is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the company is a communications company providing wireless and wireline communications products and services to consumers, businesses, government subscribers, and resellers. The company has two segments: Wireless, which provides wireless services on a postpaid and prepaid payment basis to retail subscribers and also on a wholesale basis, including the sale of wireless services that utilize the company's network but are sold under the wholesaler's brand; and Wireline, which provides a suite of wireline communication services to other communications companies and targeted business customers, as well as voice, data and internet protocol communication services.

Square Enix Holdings Co. Ltd.

Square Enix Holdings is a holding company that is mainly engaged in the entertainment industry. Co., through its subsidiaries, operates in four business segments. The Digital Entertainment business is engaged in the design, development, sale, licensed sale and operation of digital entertainment contents focusing on computer games. The Amusement segment is engaged in the operation of amusement facilities, the design, development, manufacture, sale and rental of amusement equipment. The Publishing segment is involved in the publication of comic magazines, books and game related books. The Rights Property segment is involved design, production, sale and grant of secondary works.

T-Mobile US Inc.

T-Mobile US provides mobile communications services, including voice, messaging and data, under its brands, T-Mobile and Metro? by T-Mobile, in the United States, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. The company provides mobile communications services using its 4G Long-Term Evolution network and its 5G technology network. The company also provides various wireless devices, including handsets, tablets and other mobile communication devices, and accessories for sale, as well as financing through Equipment Installment Plans and leasing through JUMP! On Demand?. The company provides reinsurance for handset insurance policies and extended warranty contracts offered to its mobile communications customers.

Toyo Tanso

Toyo Tanso is mainly engaged in the manufacture, process and sale of isotropic graphite, and specialized carbon products as well as composite materials made from carbon and ceramic. Co.'s principal products include crucibles and heaters for single-crystal growing furnaces, susceptors for MOCVD systems, boats for LPE systems, continuous casting dies, EDM electrodes, electrodes for ion implantation equipment, cores for high-temperature gas reactors, rocket parts, and parts for CT scans; bearing and seals for pumps and compressors, pantograph sliders, automotive parts, and carbon brushes for vacuum cleaners and electric power tools; and susceptors for Si-Epi equipment and MOCVD systems.

Verizon Communications Inc.

Verizon Communications is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides communications, information and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses and governmental agencies. The company has two reportable segments, Verizon Consumer Group (Consumer) and Verizon Business Group (Business). The company's Consumer segment provides consumer-focused wireless and wireline communications services and products under the Verizon brand and through wholesale and other arrangements. The company's Business segment provides, among others, wireless and wireline communications services and products, video and data services, corporate networking solutions, security and managed network services.

Xerox Holdings Corporation

Xerox is a provider of digital print technology and intelligent work solutions. The company operates in three main areas: Intelligent Workplace Services, which includes a continuum of solutions and services consisting of managed print services, industry digital solutions, personalization and communication software, content management solutions, and digitization services; Workplace Solutions, which is made up of two product groups, Entry and Mid-Range, which share common technology, manufacturing and product platforms; and Production Solutions, which enable full-color, on-demand printing of a range of applications, including variable data for personalized content and one-to-one marketing.

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

Pelham Smithers

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