这家卖马桶的日企，成了AI概念股？

Core Viewpoint - Toto's stock price surged by 10.09%, marking its largest intraday increase in five years, driven by rising global demand for storage chips and expectations for growth in its lesser-known chip manufacturing materials business [2][4]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Toto's stock performance on Thursday made the ceramic sector the best-performing segment of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with a year-to-date increase of approximately 20% [2]. - The surge coincided with a broader rise in AI-related stocks in the Japanese market, including significant gains for SoftBank Group and Disco, both exceeding 10% [4]. Group 2: Analyst Insights - Goldman Sachs analysts upgraded Toto's rating from neutral to buy, anticipating significant profit growth in its silicon wafer handling tools business due to the tight supply-demand environment in the storage chip industry [6]. - The analysts highlighted that the demand for NAND chip manufacturing equipment, particularly electrostatic chucks, is expected to benefit from the global AI infrastructure development [6]. Group 3: Business Operations - Toto, known for its warm water toilet seats, has been involved in the semiconductor and display supply chain for decades, with its electrostatic chucks contributing up to 42% of total operating profit in emerging business areas for the fiscal year ending March 2025 [7]. - The electrostatic chuck is essential in semiconductor manufacturing, ensuring stable and clean silicon wafers during processes like PVD, CVD, and ETCH, while also providing temperature control [7]. Group 4: Industry Context - The global semiconductor supply shortage is being exacerbated by significant investments from companies like Meta and Amazon in AI service data centers, leading to increased demand for products from companies like Toto [7]. - Japan's strong semiconductor manufacturing background has allowed various companies, including those in non-traditional sectors, to expand into semiconductor-related businesses [8].