Investment Rating - The report indicates that the investment rating for the Korean market is currently underweight, reflecting lower valuations compared to peers and a need for earnings growth to broaden out [14][16]. Core Insights - The Korean market is characterized by its cyclical nature, heavily influenced by both the US and China markets, with a constant coupling and decoupling dynamic [11][32]. - The KOSPI index has shown significant sectoral performance variations, with IT and Financials leading the market, while other sectors like Materials and Consumer Discretionary have underperformed [20][23]. - The report anticipates a gradual recovery in domestic demand starting from the second half of 2025, with an expected GDP growth of 1.1% for the year [33][34]. Summary by Sections Market Performance - The KOSPI has experienced a year-to-date performance of 32.4% in 2025, recovering from a -9.6% performance in 2024 [18][26]. - Foreign investors have been net sellers in 2025 but have shown net buying activity since May [26][29]. Sector Analysis - The IT sector constitutes 36% of the KOSPI index and has performed well with a 32.4% increase year-to-date [20]. - The Financials sector has also shown strong performance, with a year-to-date increase of 49.4% [20]. - In contrast, the Materials sector has seen a decline of 41.2% in 2024, indicating significant volatility [20]. Economic Indicators - The report highlights that Korea continues to trade at lower valuations compared to Japan and China, with a focus on improving return on equity (ROE) [14][16]. - The Bank of Korea has lowered the policy rate to 2.5% and is expected to implement a larger supplementary budget in the second half of 2025 [37][38]. Earnings Growth - Earnings growth needs to broaden out, with the current consensus operating profit growth for the KOSPI at 10.0% for 2025, which is below historical averages [23][44]. - The report notes that consensus earnings are being adjusted down, reflecting a cautious outlook for the upcoming periods [44][46].

Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating to companies such as Caterpillar (CAT), CNH Industrial (CNH), and Cummins (CMI), while some companies like AGCO are rated "Neutral" [5][137]. Core Insights - The report suggests that global equipment markets may bottom in 2025, particularly for agricultural machinery, with a cautious optimism for recovery in truck and construction markets [12][18]. - The "Big Beautiful Bill" is viewed positively for machinery fundamentals, with provisions supporting equipment demand and domestic industrial activity [29][33]. - Tariff impacts are expected to have a significant influence on demand and margins, with potential upside for companies in the second half of 2025 as tariff rates stabilize [21][23]. Key Machinery Themes - Agricultural machinery has outperformed other sectors, attributed to a cycle trough in global demand [6]. - Machinery stocks are currently not pricing in tariff concerns, although demand uncertainty remains prevalent [8]. - The report anticipates a decline in North American large agricultural sales in 2026 due to high new machine prices and elevated used inventories [16]. Construction - The outlook for non-residential construction spending remains stable, supported by mega project backlogs growing at a ~17% CAGR from 2024-2029 [38]. - Contractor profit margins have improved slightly, but project cancellations due to tariffs have increased significantly [45][48]. - The report expects global construction equipment sales volume to bottom in 2025, with a recovery anticipated in 2026 [50]. Mining and Oil & Gas - The mining equipment outlook is stable, with solid expectations for mining capex and miner EBITDA, driven by strong commodity prices [61]. - The oil and gas sector faces challenges with falling crude prices, leading to a weak near-term outlook for upstream spending [67]. NA Rental - The rental equipment market is expected to see steady growth, with total URI rental revenue growth projected at 4.0% in 2025 [73]. - The industry has consolidated, with the top 10 players now accounting for ~40% of the market, leading to better pricing discipline [78]. - NA rental penetration is above pre-pandemic levels, with specialty rental areas identified as key growth opportunities [80]. Ag Equipment - The US grain market is stabilizing but remains relatively depressed, with high new machinery prices impacting farmer sentiment [85][90]. - The report anticipates a slight decline in North American large agricultural sales in 2026, with a potential recovery in 2027 [92]. - Positive trends are noted in Europe and South America, with expectations for growth in agricultural sales in those regions [95][98]. Commercial Vehicles - The commercial vehicle market shows weak freight fundamentals, with spot rates remaining depressed [111]. - Class 8 tractor inventories are in reasonable shape, but overall market conditions suggest a weak outlook [113]. - The report indicates that pre-buying expectations for 2026 may be overly optimistic due to ongoing market weakness [120]. Short Cycle - Industrial PMIs have retreated, indicating a choppy macro backdrop, but there is cautious optimism for recovery in 2026 [126]. - Demand remains stable, but recent order traction may have been influenced by tariff pre-buying [128]. - Companies in the automation space are showing positive forward commentary, indicating potential growth despite uncertainty [131].

J P M O R G A N Global Markets Strategy 05 July 2025 Japan Equity Strategy Last-minute tariff negotiations and Upper House election: What if reciprocal tariffs of 35% take effect? Japanese equities might see a spike in short-term volatility next week, depending on the outcome of US-Japan trade negotiations. With the July 9 negotiation deadline fast approaching, the market expects 8–10 countries to reach an agreement with the US, but if the US and Japan fail to reach a deal and reciprocal tariffs on Japan ar ...

Investment Rating - Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and Cummins Inc. (CMI) are both rated as "Buy" with price targets of $418 and $431 respectively [6][7][14]. Core Insights - The report indicates a positive outlook on the sustainability of data center demand, projecting that CAT and CMI will deliver approximately 6-7 GW of backup generator supply this year, against an incremental data center computing capacity of around 13 GW [3]. - CAT is expected to benefit from turbine prime power sales, with CAT Titan 130 turbines specified in regulatory filings for various projects, potentially generating revenue of approximately $250-300 million based on 15 turbines [3]. - CMI is investing $150 million to expand its machining capacity, while CAT is investing over $700 million to upgrade its facilities, indicating high ROI potential for both companies [3]. Summary by Sections Data Center Demand and Supply - CAT and CMI are projected to supply around 6-7 GW of backup power, with data centers historically seeking to back up over 100% of their power needs [3]. - The estimated backup power requirements for 2025 range from 6.6 GW (50% coverage) to 15 GW (115% coverage) based on 13 GW of net data center additions [3]. Company Investments - CMI's investment of $150 million focuses on expanding machining capacity, while CAT's investment of over $700 million includes productivity improvements and facility upgrades [3]. - The report highlights CAT's emerging opportunity in turbine sales, with specific projects already incorporating CAT turbines [3]. Revenue Projections - The revenue from CAT turbines specified in regulatory filings is estimated to be around $250-300 million based on the number of turbines involved in various projects [3].

$1 Billion Illinois Firm Thrives Thanks To Its Cozy Caterpillar Relationships https://t.co/ADANrQ1ruD https://t.co/6HgVJTFwl0 ...

China’s key construction machinery sales jumped in the first half, indicating improving demand across the economically crucial sector https://t.co/z9vhnCqEXB ...

Summary of J.P. Morgan Japan Equity Strategy Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call primarily discusses the **Japanese corporate sector**, focusing on the findings from the **June BOJ Tankan survey** regarding business sentiment and corporate earnings forecasts. Key Points and Arguments Impact of US Tariffs - The June BOJ Tankan indicates that **US tariffs have not significantly dampened corporate sentiment**, with a business conditions diffusion index (DI) for large manufacturers remaining steady at **13 points**, surpassing the Bloomberg consensus of **10 points** [1][4] - However, corporate earnings forecasts predict a **10% drag on net profit**, particularly affecting the **manufacturing sector**, especially **automobiles** and other processing industries [1][4] Corporate Earnings Forecasts - The FY2025 net profit growth forecast for large enterprises is revised to **-5.3%**, down from **-1.3%** in the March survey, aligning with the broader TSE Prime constituents' forecast of **-5.8%** [1][4] - **Manufacturers** lowered their profit growth forecast to **-9.8%**, while **non-manufacturers** raised theirs to **-0.8%** from **-2.0%** [1][4] Sales and Capital Expenditure (Capex) - Both manufacturers and non-manufacturers have increased their sales forecasts, with capex plans revised sharply upward to **+11.5% YoY** overall for large enterprises, driven by investments in **semiconductors**, **automation**, and **power transmission/distribution** [1][5] - Capex growth for manufacturers is projected at **+14.3%**, while non-manufacturers expect **+9.9%** [5] Foreign Exchange and Inflation Outlook - The corporate forex estimate for FY2025 is set at **¥145/$**, indicating a **4% YoY strengthening of the yen**, which is expected to negatively impact EPS by approximately **2 percentage points** [5][30] - The inflation outlook has slightly decreased, with companies expecting general prices to rise by **2.4%** in one year, down from **2.5%** previously [5][31] Sector-Specific Insights - Business conditions DI worsened in sectors more exposed to US tariffs, such as **automobiles** and **machinery**, while sectors like **materials** (paper & pulp, steel, oil & coal) and **construction** showed improvement [4][5] - The market consensus appears more cautious than company outlooks in sectors like **steel**, **services**, and **paper & pulp**, while being relatively optimistic for **electric & gas utilities**, **real estate**, and **communications** [4][5] Overall Corporate Sentiment - Despite the challenges posed by tariffs, corporate earnings remain resilient, particularly in domestic non-manufacturing sectors, which aligns with the investment strategy focusing on domestic demand sectors and potential upside in **semiconductors** and **machinery** [1][5] Additional Important Information - The report highlights the **limited impact of tariffs** on business conditions, with a flat DI for manufacturers and slight deterioration for non-manufacturers, which was in line with market expectations [4][5] - The report also notes that the **FY2025 TOPIX consensus EPS** has seen downward revisions in overseas demand sectors, particularly **automobiles**, which have been lowered by **18%** over the past three months, yet still shows a modest **+3.3% YoY profit growth forecast** as of end-June [4][5] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of the Japanese corporate sector and its outlook amidst external pressures.

Core Insights - The industrial sector has shown resilience in 2025, with two major companies increasing their dividends and another likely to follow suit [1][2] Group 1: Sector Performance - As of June 20, the S&P 500 industrials sector is the best-performing sector, with a total return of approximately 8.4%, outperforming utilities by around 1% [2] - In contrast, the overall S&P 500 has a total return of less than 2% [2] Group 2: Dividend Increases - Delta Air Lines (DAL) announced a 25% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising it to $0.1875 per share, resulting in an annual dividend of $0.75 and a yield of nearly 1.6% [5][6] - Caterpillar (CAT) raised its quarterly dividend by 7% to $1.51 per share, marking 31 consecutive years of dividend increases, with an expected annual payout of $6.04 and a yield of just under 1.7% [9][10] - Airbus Group has not officially declared a dividend increase but has raised its payout ratio range to 50%, suggesting potential future increases [12][13][14] Group 3: Market Position and Analyst Sentiment - Delta Air Lines is the most valuable stock in the passenger airlines industry, with a market capitalization of approximately $31 billion [5] - Caterpillar is valued at around $170 billion, making it the most valuable U.S. stock in the machinery industry [9] - Airbus is one of the world's five largest stocks in the aerospace and defense industry, indicating its significant market position [12]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Volvo CE, indicating confidence in its growth potential within the machinery sector [27]. Core Insights - Domestic demand for trucks is accelerating, while construction machinery demand is moderating due to factors such as replacement policies and seasonal effects [2][3]. - The growth for construction machinery may have peaked in Q1 2025, with a notable slowdown observed in recent months [3][6]. - Sany expects a 20% year-on-year growth in domestic demand for excavators for the full year, despite a challenging competitive landscape [10][12]. - The electrification of machinery is gaining traction, with significant implications for exports, particularly to Europe [14][16]. Summary by Sections Domestic Demand - There is a divergence in domestic demand, with trucks experiencing growth while construction machinery sales are moderating due to replacement policies and seasonal factors [2][3]. - Sany reported a moderation in machine fleet operating rates and utilization hours, indicating a slowdown in demand [6]. Exports - Demand for exports is stronger in Southeast Asia and Africa, while the CIS region shows weakness [9]. - Sany's excavator export volume increased by 16% year-on-year in the first five months of 2025, with a focus on Asia and Africa [12][13]. Technology and Electrification - The focus on electrification is rising, with Chinese OEMs aiming to penetrate European markets, which are more challenging under traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) standards [14][16]. - Weichai and Sinotruk anticipate a ceiling for electrification penetration in heavy-duty trucks at 25-30% due to infrastructure constraints [16]. Competitive Landscape - Pricing pressure has resurfaced in the industry, particularly for large-sized machines and electrified heavy-duty trucks (eHDTs) [17][18]. - The emergence of a "shared excavators" business model is noted, contributing to monthly sales volume but not considered real demand [20].

Investment Rating - The report provides an "Overweight" (OW) rating for several companies, indicating a positive outlook for their performance in the market [9][13]. Core Insights - The report highlights opportunities arising from the trade war and China's stimulus measures in the near term [5]. - Medium-term growth is expected to be driven by the "China+1" strategy, post-war reconstruction, and advancements in robotics [6]. - Long-term stability is supported by structural growth drivers within the industry [7]. Company Summaries - Shenzhen Inovance is positioned to benefit from the industrial automation (IA) cycle inflection [9]. - Weichai Power is anticipated to experience growth as China's heavy-duty truck (HDT) market enters an upcycle [9]. - Evergreen Marine is expected to gain from supply chain adjustments [9]. - SANY and XCMG are set to benefit from increasing demand for construction machinery [9]. - Sanhua and Leader Drive are identified as key players in the humanoid robot sector [9]. - C SF Holdings and ICT are likely to benefit from further supply chain adjustments [9]. - Weichai's market share in large-bore engines is projected to grow significantly [9]. - TTI is sustaining growth through innovation and a shift towards cordless tools [9]. - CRRC is benefiting from high-speed train demand and the phase-out of diesel engines [9]. - ST Engineering is expanding internationally amid geopolitical tensions [9].