飞翔的荷兰人：日本：日元、企业改革、收益、本地投资者

Investment Rating - The report maintains an underweight rating on Japanese equities within the Asian context [6]. Core Insights - Japanese equities have rebounded 20% since the sharp decline following "Liberation Day" on April 2, 2024, primarily driven by foreign investors who purchased a net USD 17 billion in Japanese stocks during this period [2][9]. - The report identifies four key catalysts affecting the market: the Yen, corporate governance, earnings growth, and local investors [10]. Summary by Sections Yen - The USDJPY exchange rate remains a significant driver for Japanese equities, despite a weakening historical correlation. The JPY has appreciated 9% year-to-date, negatively impacting exporters [3][27]. Corporate Governance - Improvements in corporate governance are noted, with a 70% increase in stock buybacks in 2024 and a decline in average strategic shareholdings from 13.5% in 2015 to 8.4% in FY23. However, the report suggests that the impact on profitability will take time, and ROE still lags behind other major markets [4][18][21]. Earnings Growth - Earnings growth expectations for 2025 have been revised down from 10% to 7%, with consensus forecasts for both export-oriented and domestic sectors being cut. The cautious outlook is reflected in the Q1 2025 earnings season [5][61]. Local Investors - Local investors are currently under-invested in equities, with over half of household financial assets in cash. A mere 1 percentage point shift from cash to equities could result in USD 220 billion flowing into the market. There are signs of increasing interest in equities among households, particularly following the expansion of the Nippon Individual Savings Account (NISA) program [6][46][50].