Softbank Corp printed a strong set of results with total revenue beating by 3.3%, largely led by growth across the board and earnings beat on EBIT strength from Consumer and Enterprise. The company upgraded its FY25 guidance slightly, and highlighted a change in customer acquisition policy. Our assessment of the results below.
Due an investigation into its subsidiaries, KDDI results were restated and may be subject to further revision. Based on the results of the investigation, final corrected results will be reported by end March 2026. We comment on current preliminary results. On that basis, KDDI had a good quarter. Total Revenue and EBIT accelerated and were up 4.6% and 8.6% respectively. Softbank Corp remains our preferred pick in Japan, followed by KDDI and NTT.
NTT's 3Q results largely improved. Key points to note is the continued recovery in ARPU in mobile, and continued revenue recovery in the Global Solutions and Regional business. However, mobile marketing spend has dented profitability again, with management revising guidance for full year 2025 across the board downwards. We continue to be Buyers but prefer KDDI and SB (our top pick among the 3 Japanese incumbents).
2025 was another tougher year for the Japanese incumbents; with KDDI and SoftBank rising modestly and NTT flat, but all (including Rakuten) underperforming a strong Nikkei. This despite prices rising in Mobile. We think the sector is modestly undervalued and will grind higher with EPS. SoftBank remains our top pick.
KDDI posted better trends following a modest Q1. Revenue was 1% ahead while EBIT inflected to growth. Management has also given more clarity on the EBIT growth going into 2H, expecting a 10% growth based on its unchanged guidance which is in line with consensus. Softbank Corp remains our preferred pick in Japan, followed by KDDI and NTT.
Softbank Corp printed a strong set of results with revenue beating by over 1%, led by growth across the board and earnings beat on EBIT strength from Consumer, Financials and Media & EC. The company has also outlined better than expected revenue target for both Enterprise and Distribution. Interim dividends remained unchanged from last year. Our assessment of the results below.
For almost three years the Nikkei 225 has been tracking its performance from the 2003~5 bull market, albeit at levels some 3.3x higher In this report, Pelham Smithers discusses the similarities and asks three key questions: (1) Can we continue to track 2005 through the rest of the year; (2) Whatever happens in Q4, should we fear or be hopeful for 2026? And (3) Who are the upcoming winners and losers.
The most recent quarterly earnings for the system integrators highlighted the sustained increase in spending by Japanese financial institutions over recent quarters, as they seek to improve products and services amid a shift in interest rates and the introduction of tax-exempt investment accounts, and as interest in digital currencies grows. Analyst Lindsay Whipp reviews some of the DX spending undertaken by Japan’s banking industry and highlights beneficiaries'.
Intel and SoftBank announced yesterday evening that SoftBank will acquire $2bn of newly issued Intel shares. At the same time reports of the U.S. government taking a direct stake in Intel are becoming more tangible. Please see the link below for our take.
Revenue trends were steady as the softer mobile growth was offset by improvement in non-mobile. Softbank remained the outperformer, but this has already been baked in as expectations for Group revenue are sitting ahead of guidance by 3%.
NTT printed a rather soft set of Q1 results as Mobile was weaker and Global Solutions was impacted by FX weakness in its Overseas arm. The recovery in Regional Communications offered some encouragement and is likely to remain so as the firm transits from Copper to Fibre over the long run.
Softbank Corp reported a relatively in-line topline and EBITDA whilst headline EBIT was 4% ahead of expectations. Trends in mobile service revenue slowed with continued momentum in net additions (in particular Y!Mobile) offsetting the marginal decline in mobile ARPU.
Q1 results were a touch softer than expected as trends in Business moderated. Tone remains encouraging for mobile to further accelerate in the second half as the impact of new mobile plans and price increase begin to flow through. Guidance remains unchanged. We continue to see good upside surprise in Mobile and stay Buyers with a ¥3,150 price target.
Japan’s mobile sector accelerated again in Q4 and we think is heading to above inflation. With both KDDI and DCM recently announcing price increases the environment is increasingly benign and should be helped by NTT’s recent acquisition of SBI Sumishin Net Bank. Our recent trip to Japan highlighted how positive the environment is; NTT stays our preferred pick, with KDDI closely behind.
As has been widely rumoured, NTT has offered to acquire up to 66% of SBI Sumishin Bank (7163-JP), in a bid to strengthen its financial services offering. The offer price (¥3,615) represents a 10% premium to yesterday’s price, but actually around 10% below today’s closing price.
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