Elliott Just Raised Its Stake in Toyota Industries by More Than 60%. Is There a Case for Retail Investors to Buy the Little-Known Stock in 2026 Too?

Core Viewpoint - The AI-focused themes are expected to remain prominent in 2026, with Toyota Industries (TYIDY) identified as a potential investment opportunity due to its recent performance and privatization bid [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Toyota Industries is headquartered in Kariya-shi, Japan, and manufactures textile machinery, materials handling equipment, automobiles, and automobile parts, with significant markets in Japan, the United States, and Europe [3]. - For the fiscal year 2025, Toyota Industries reported revenue of 4,084 billion yen and a profit of 262.3 billion yen [3]. Group 2: Recent Developments - In June 2025, Toyota Group announced a 4.7 trillion-yen ($30 billion) deal to take Toyota Industries private, which has led to a 40.5% increase in TYIDY stock for the year [2][4]. - Elliott Investment Management increased its stake in Toyota Industries from 3.26% in September to 5.01% in December, indicating growing interest from activist investors [2]. Group 3: Market Reactions and Valuation - Following the announcement of the privatization bid, Toyota Industries shares initially fell by 13%, reflecting market disappointment regarding the deal's value [5]. - Arun George, a global equity research analyst, noted that the offer price was below the midpoint of the valuation range provided by independent financial advisers, suggesting the offer may be unattractive [5]. - Zennor Asset Management highlighted that Toyota Industries has substantial real estate assets valued at 1.5 trillion yen, which could support a higher deal value [6].