Earlier in 2026, ULVAC reported that orders for its continuous vacuum melting furnaces for rare-earth magnets are expected to roughly triple year on year, driven mainly by magnet manufacturers in Europe and North America building supply chains outside China.
To capture this shift and reduce supply risk, ULVAC is adding a new production system in Japan, creating a dual-site furnace supply structure alongside its existing Chinese facility and placing itself at the center of emerging rare-earth...
NGK Corporation recently reported full-year results for the period ended March 31, 2026, with sales of ¥670,125 million and net income of ¥59,936 million, and held a board meeting on April 30, 2026 to review the results of its share repurchase program.
An interesting aspect of this update is the combination of solid reported earnings per share of about ¥206 and active capital management through the acquisition of its own shares.
With these earnings figures and the share buyback review in...
Earnings snapshot and why this matters for NEC shareholders
NEC (TSE:6701) has drawn fresh attention after reporting full year results to 31 March 2026, with sales of ¥3,582,733 million and net income of ¥270,228 million, alongside higher basic and diluted EPS from continuing operations.
For existing and potential shareholders, these figures give an updated view of how NEC is converting its information technology and social infrastructure business into earnings, and how each share is...
Kyowa Kirin (TSE:4151) has dosed the first patient in a Japanese Phase 2 registrational trial of ziftomenib for relapsed or refractory NPM1 mutated acute myeloid leukemia, following the drug’s prior U.S. approval.
See our latest analysis for Kyowa Kirin.
The first patient dosing in Japan comes after a busy period for Kyowa Kirin, with conference appearances and product progress coinciding with a 12% one year total shareholder return, even as the 30 day share price return of a 7.94% decline...
In April 2026, SoftBank Corp. and TOPPAN Holdings announced they had jointly developed an ultra-light, durable wing skin and stratosphere-simulating test method for solar HAPS aircraft, targeting commercial deployment on SoftBank’s HTA-type HAPS from 2029.
This collaboration strengthens SoftBank’s push into stratospheric “base stations in the sky,” potentially broadening its future communications infrastructure beyond traditional ground networks and satellites.
Next, we’ll explore how this...
What recent returns say about Bridgestone stock
Bridgestone (TSE:5108) has had a mixed run recently, with a 1 day return of 1.04% decline, about 1.64% decline over the past week, and roughly 2.65% decline over the past month.
Over the past 3 months the stock shows about 7.29% decline, and year to date it is down roughly 8.47%, set against a 1 year total return of 11.21%.
See our latest analysis for Bridgestone.
At a share price of ¥3,231.0, Bridgestone’s recent negative short term share price...
Hokkaido Electric Power Company, Incorporated held a board meeting on April 28, 2026 to consider a notice regarding an increase in the year-end dividend from surplus.
This focus on dividend policy is material for investors because shifts in payout decisions can reshape how the company’s capital allocation priorities are perceived.
We will now examine how the potential year-end dividend increase could influence Hokkaido Electric Power’s broader investment narrative and appeal.
We've uncovered...
On April 27, 2026, Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd. reported full-year results for the period ended March 31, 2026, posting sales of ¥115,116 million and net income of ¥9,899 million, alongside basic earnings per share of ¥123.15 and diluted earnings per share of ¥122.28.
At the same board meeting, the company moved to consider revising its dividend forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, highlighting how earnings outcomes may influence its future shareholder payout policy.
With the...
How Mizuho Financial Group stock has been moving
Mizuho Financial Group (TSE:8411) shares have seen mixed returns recently, with a 0.3% decline over the past day, a 4.3% gain over the past week, and a small loss across the past 3 months.
Over longer periods, the stock shows a 14.1% gain year to date. It has also delivered a very large 3 year and 5 year total return multiple, while the past year total return is around 100%.
See our latest analysis for Mizuho Financial Group.
For context,...
Why Advantest’s latest earnings matter for shareholders
Advantest (TSE:6857) just reported full year sales of ¥1,128,610 million and net income of ¥375,353 million for the period to March 2026, alongside fresh product and partnership updates tied to AI and high performance computing.
See our latest analysis for Advantest.
Despite a 1-day share price return of 1.57% decline and a 7-day share price return of 5.52% decline, Advantest’s 30-day share price return of 31.67% and very large 1-year...
Canon Marketing Japan (TSE:8060) is back on investors’ radar after its Q1 2026 results, reporting higher sales, net income, and earnings per share, along with full year guidance and dividend plans for 2026.
See our latest analysis for Canon Marketing Japan.
The stock’s 1 day share price return of 1.45% came after the Q1 earnings release. The 30 day and 90 day share price returns of 5.04% and 7.63% point to building momentum on top of a 47.45% 1 year total shareholder return.
If Canon...
Why the Afeela 1 decision matters for Sony Group (TSE:6758) shareholders
Sony Group (TSE:6758) and Honda have scrapped plans for the Afeela 1 electric vehicle, shifting their joint venture toward non EV products that could reuse developed technologies such as AI assistants and audio systems.
See our latest analysis for Sony Group.
At a share price of ¥3,127.0, Sony Group has a 1-day share price return of 0.45%, but weaker recent momentum with a 30-day share price return showing a 6.07%...
KDDI (TSE:9433) received a compliance and governance improvement order from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
The exchange also issued a listing rule violation penalty related to KDDI's governance and compliance practices.
KDDI issued a public apology and stated it will strengthen governance and introduce measures to prevent a repeat of the issue.
KDDI, a major Japanese telecom operator, sits at the center of mobile, broadband, and enterprise connectivity, where reliability and regulatory...
DENSO, ticker TSE:6902, is reportedly considering withdrawing its acquisition proposal for power semiconductor maker ROHM.
The potential withdrawal follows ROHM’s move to explore an integration with Toshiba and Mitsubishi Electric.
This development affects earlier expectations around consolidation in Japan’s power semiconductor sector.
DENSO is a major auto parts supplier with a growing focus on power semiconductors, which are used in electric vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems...
If you are wondering whether Mazda Motor's current share price still offers value, it helps to step back and look at what the recent returns and fundamentals are really telling you.
The stock last closed at ¥1,008.5, with a 1.5% decline over the past week and a 3.5% decline over the past month, while still showing a 21.4% return over the past year and 40.4% over five years.
Recent coverage has focused on Mazda Motor's share price performance over different time frames, highlighting the...
Nissan Motor cancelled plans for two electric SUVs in the U.S., shifting its North American product roadmap.
The company plans to refocus its regional manufacturing toward hybrids and adjust to slower EV adoption.
This change affects Nissan’s future product mix, plant utilization, and EV positioning in the U.S. market.
Nissan Motor (TSE:7201) is making this shift while its share price stands at ¥350.7 and its longer term returns remain mixed. The stock is down 27.6% over 3 years and 33.1%...