< The 2016 All-Japan Research Team
Shiro Sakamaki
Daiwa Securities Group
First-Place Appearances: 0
Total Appearances: 5
Analyst Debut: 2012
For a third year running, Shiro Sakamaki of Daiwa Securities Group captures second-place honors. His coverage universe is holding steady, as he continues to supply investment ratings on 12 Japanese auto parts companies and forecasts for 21 names overall. One preferred name in that group is Aisin Seiki Co., whose components subsidiary manufactures a range of products for auto bodies, brakes and chassis, drive-trains, engines and information and navigation systems. Sakamaki, 39, upgraded the Aichi-based company’s shares from neutral to outperform last April, deeming that business “poised for higher shipments to automakers.” Specifically, he foresees heavy demand for its automatic transmissions from not only established customers such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen but also newer clients, including BMW and Peugeot. In addition, Aisin Seiki is well positioned to benefit from further reorganization of Toyota’s supply chain, the researcher advises, and its shares are undervalued compared with those of competitors worldwide. As of mid-March the stock was trading at ¥4,300, up just 1.5 percent since he raised his rating yet ahead of the domestic sector by 16.7 percentage points and its global peers by 14.3 percentage points. He believes that a price of ¥4,800 is justified. Sakamaki “has been very helpful on explaining the dynamics and main drivers of stocks in this industry,” one money manager offers. “He’s especially good on the competitive landscape, particularly how new technologies contribute to the differentiation among suppliers.”
