Japanese General Merchandise and Department Stores Stock News

Deutsche Bank recently upgraded SMC Corp’s stock rating to Buy from Hold, highlighting a 5% year-over-year increase in October orders, a strong net cash position, and management’s focus on enhancing cash allocation to boost return on equity. This move points to growing confidence in SMC’s shareholder return potential following a significant valuation correction since its 2024 peak. We’ll explore how SMC’s improved cash return plans could influence the company’s investment narrative going...

Dai Nippon Printing (TSE:7912) just released results for the first half of 2025, highlighting a 4% rise in net sales and a 22% jump in operating income. However, net income fell sharply, raising questions about underlying profitability. See our latest analysis for Dai Nippon Printing. Dai Nippon Printing’s recent update landed as the stock continues its climb, with a 19% year-to-date share price return and a total shareholder return of over 10% for the past year. Momentum appears to be...

PAL GROUP Holdings (TSE:2726) has just seen a major shift at the top, as Chairman and Representative Director Isamu Matsuo is stepping down for health reasons. Hirofumi Kojima, the company’s President, will now serve as Chairman. See our latest analysis for PAL GROUP Holdings. The recent leadership shuffle comes as PAL GROUP Holdings registers a 38.6% year-to-date share price return, underscoring momentum that remains intact despite short-term volatility. Over the past year, long-term holders...

Nichirei (TSE:2871) has just unveiled its latest earnings, revealing steady sales and a boost in profits following an investment security sale and updates to its asset management approach. The company’s decision to adopt a new depreciation method and adjust asset lifespan reflects a focus on sustainable profitability and capital efficiency going forward. See our latest analysis for Nichirei. Nichirei’s recent moves have helped the stock regain momentum, with a 6.4% share price return over the...

ARCS (TSE:9948) has scheduled a board meeting to chart out a new growth investment plan and discuss growth strategies focused on cash allocation. These governance decisions often prompt investors to reconsider the company’s capital priorities and next steps. See our latest analysis for ARCS. ARCS has seen real momentum lately, with a 28.49% year-to-date share price return that stands out for steady gains. The latest board meeting focused on growth strategy comes after a strong 1-year total...

Dai-ichi Life Holdings recently revised its consolidated earnings and dividend forecasts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, now expecting ordinary revenues of ¥10.32 trillion and net income of ¥400 billion. A meaningful increase in consolidated total assets following a completed reinsurance transaction, coupled with higher gains on security sales, has strengthened the company’s financial position and prompted upward revisions in profit and dividend outlooks. We’ll explore how...

On November 13, 2025, GMO Payment Gateway’s board met to consider revising its annual dividend and discussed plans to reduce trading units to enhance stock liquidity. A key insight is the company’s focus on attracting a broader investor base while its subsidiary achieved significant profit growth despite a decline in revenue. We’ll examine how initiatives to boost share liquidity alongside expanding high-margin recurring revenues shape the company’s investment narrative. These 13 companies...

West Japan Railway (TSE:9021) drew investor attention after announcing raised earnings forecasts and a higher dividend outlook for the fiscal year ending March 2026. This signals confidence in stronger-than-expected performance ahead. See our latest analysis for West Japan Railway. West Japan Railway’s recent bump in share price momentum, with an 11.16% year-to-date return, aligns with its upgraded earnings forecast and dividend hike this quarter. The company’s one-year total shareholder...

Earlier this month, Takeda Pharmaceutical announced positive interim results from its Phase 1b study of mezagitamab in IgA nephropathy and confirmed the completion of a pivotal 7-year Phase 3 trial for its dengue vaccine QDENGA, with new data supporting the safety and sustained efficacy of both therapies. These advancements highlight Takeda's progress in developing treatments for high-need diseases and reinforce its ongoing commitment to innovation in rare disease and vaccine research. We'll...

Yamaha Motor (TSE:7272) just introduced two new electric scooters in India: the AEROX E, designed in-house, and the EC-06, co-developed with River Mobility. This reflects Yamaha's push for growth and its premium positioning in India's electric vehicle market. See our latest analysis for Yamaha Motor. Yamaha Motor’s unveiling of new electric scooters comes as the company pushes further into premium EVs and partnerships in Asia, following its recent move to acquire Robotics Plus in New Zealand...

Yokohama Financial Group (TSE:7186) is in the spotlight after revising its earnings and dividend forecasts upward for the fiscal year ending March 2026. The company also introduced a share buyback program, which points to strong management confidence. See our latest analysis for Yokohama Financial Group. The upbeat earnings and dividend guidance, combined with the fresh share buyback, has energized investor sentiment. Yokohama Financial Group’s share price jumped 6.2% today and is now up an...

Keiyo Bank (TSE:8544) held a board meeting on November 10 to approve a share buyback and boost its dividend forecast. Investors are watching these moves as signals of management’s confidence in the bank’s outlook. See our latest analysis for Keiyo Bank. Keiyo Bank’s recent rally has grabbed attention, with the share price up 13.7% over the past month and 82.2% year-to-date. Momentum has clearly accelerated as the bank’s strong financial results and shareholder-focused moves, such as a higher...

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (TSE:9101) caught investor attention after revising its earnings guidance downward for the year ending March 2026 and announcing a decrease in both interim and full-year dividends, even though it added a commemorative payment. See our latest analysis for Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha. While the lowered earnings guidance and reduced dividends have put pressure on sentiment, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha’s share price has slipped in 2024. Still, the long-term total...

Resonac Holdings (TSE:4004) just announced Q3 2025 results, highlighting a slight revenue miss against forecasts. The company also reported growth in core operating profit, supported by strong gains in the semiconductor and electronic materials segments. See our latest analysis for Resonac Holdings. Resonac Holdings has attracted attention with its rapid share price momentum, as evidenced by a 68.4% increase over the past 90 days and a total shareholder return of 60.6% over the past year...

Sumco (TSE:3436) has scheduled a board meeting for November 11 to discuss possible revisions to its dividend forecast. Investors are keeping a close watch because any shift in dividend policy can influence expected returns. See our latest analysis for Sumco. Sumco’s announcement about reviewing its dividend forecast has put a spotlight on the stock, which closed at ¥1,304.5 after a volatile stretch. While the recent 1-day share price return jumped 6.4%, momentum has faded over the past month...

Mitsubishi Estate recently completed a significant share buyback program totaling approximately ¥100 billion and raised its second quarter dividend to ¥23 per share, following strong financial results for the second quarter of FY2025. This combination of enhanced shareholder returns and higher operating profits highlights the company’s focus on rewarding investors and strengthening its market position. We’ll explore how Mitsubishi Estate’s completion of a large-scale share buyback shapes its...

Sumitomo Chemical Company (TSE:4005) has drawn attention by raising its full-year earnings guidance and outlining a new joint venture with Samsung Electro-Mechanics to produce Glass Core, a breakthrough material for semiconductor packaging. See our latest analysis for Sumitomo Chemical Company. Momentum has gathered pace for Sumitomo Chemical Company this year, with the stock’s year-to-date share price return now sitting at an impressive 34.67%. This reflects renewed optimism following upbeat...

Asahi Kasei recently announced several product advancements, including plans to showcase new health and pet monitoring sensing technologies at CES 2026 and confirmation of Nefecon’s (marketed as TARPEYO in the U.S.) inclusion in the 2025 global KDIGO guidelines for treating IgA nephropathy. These initiatives underscore Asahi Kasei’s effort to address demographic trends in health and wellness, with innovative solutions targeting both aging populations and the growing market for pet health...

Cosmo Energy Holdings (TSE:5021) held its Q2 2026 earnings call on November 11, 2025. The event drew attention as investors looked for insight into the company’s performance and outlook for the coming quarters. See our latest analysis for Cosmo Energy Holdings. Cosmo Energy Holdings’ latest earnings call appears to have energized investors, with the share price jumping more than 10% in the past week. Looking at the broader picture, momentum has been strong all year, as highlighted by a 1-year...

TKC (TSE:9746) has caught investors’ attention after announcing an 11% rise in turnover for fiscal 2025, along with decisions to increase both its annual and special dividends. See our latest analysis for TKC. TKC’s latest moves, including raising dividends, retiring shares, and publishing strong fiscal guidance, have clearly caught the market’s eye, with the share price up over 10% year-to-date. Despite some recent short-term turbulence, the stock’s five-year total shareholder return of 39%...

Alfresa Holdings (TSE:2784) grabbed investor interest after the company revised its full-year profit guidance sharply upward. This revision was driven by anticipated gains from selling investment securities and a reduction in cross-shareholdings. At the same time, Alfresa announced a higher second quarter dividend. See our latest analysis for Alfresa Holdings. With excitement around the profit outlook and a lifted dividend, Alfresa’s momentum has picked up. This is reflected in a 1-month...

On November 6, 2025, JFE Holdings revised its full-year revenue guidance downward to ¥4.6 trillion and announced lower interim and annual dividends, citing unchanged profit expectations for the year ending March 31, 2026. The decision to reduce both revenue forecasts and dividend payout reflects management's cautious outlook on future business conditions despite stable profit projections. We'll now explore how JFE Holdings' reduced dividend guidance shapes its investment narrative amid a...

Kyocera announced it will showcase its latest technology breakthroughs, including an advanced Underwater Wireless Optical Communication system and a triple lens AI-based high-resolution depth sensor, at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, with exhibits highlighting innovations in mobility, marine ICT, and industrial automation. These product innovations suggest Kyocera is targeting emerging markets in robotics, marine research, and next-generation manufacturing, expanding its reach beyond traditional...

Dexerials (TSE:4980) caught attention after it raised its full-year earnings guidance, citing stronger sales of high value-added products and support from a weaker yen. Investors are now watching closely for next steps. See our latest analysis for Dexerials. Dexerials has seen its momentum accelerate, with a 1-day share price return of nearly 3% and a remarkable 34% jump over the past month alone. Recent news, including renewed earnings guidance, a strategic tech alliance, and a dividend...