AEON FS <8570>: 1,235 yen (-28 yen)

Continued decline. The company announced its first-half results the previous day, with operating profit at 27.1 billion yen, up 33.8% year-on-year. However, the profit for the 6-8 month period at 11.9 billion yen, up 7.2%, suggests a slight slowdown compared to the 15.2 billion yen, up 65.9% in the first quarter. Expectations of excessive performance surpassing seem to be slightly receding. In the domestic business, the impact of rising interest rates has caused a decrease in debt liquidity gains, leading to a downturn. Accumulation of operating receivables, including an increase in revolving credit balances, appears to be progressing smoothly.

AEON Delight <9787>: 4,280 yen (+260 yen)

Significant increase. The company announced its first-half earnings the previous day, reporting an operating profit of 7.62 billion yen, up 4.8% year-on-year. This marks a turnaround from a 5.2% decrease in the first quarter to an increase. The expansion of market share within customers, development of new customers, and the promotion of price revision seem to be paying off. The full-year forecast remains at 16 billion yen, a 5.0% increase from the previous year. In addition, a medium-term plan has been announced, aiming for an operating profit of 17 billion yen for the fiscal year ending in February 2027. As part of shareholder returns, they are considering a dividend payout ratio of 50% and actively considering implementing share buybacks.

Renova <9519>: 907 yen (-27 yen)

Significant decline. SMBC Nikko Securities continues its investment rating of "2", but has lowered the target stock price from 2,850 yen to 1,100 yen. They have reduced their performance forecast due to delays in the operation of biomass power plants, the impact of soaring biomass fuel prices, dilution from third-party allotment of shares to Tokyo Gas, and a reassessment of growth potential. The forecasted operating profit for the fiscal year ending in March 2025 has been revised down from the previous estimate of 14.9 billion yen to 1.9 billion yen, falling below the consensus of around 5.5 billion yen.

INPEX <1605>: 2,098.5 yen (-74.5 yen)

Marked decline. Today, petroleum-related stocks, including the company, are among the top decliners. The NY crude oil futures market fell significantly, with WTI futures for November down 3.6% from the previous day. Concerns over reduced demand in china and the US EIA lowering the outlook for oil prices are being noted, with profit-taking sell-offs apparently gathering. Furthermore, there are emerging views on movements towards a ceasefire in Lebanon amid the situation in the Middle East.

Warabe Nichiyo <2918>: 2,094 yen (-236 yen)

Significant continued decline. The previous day, the first-half financial results were announced, with operating profit at 4.26 billion yen, a 5.2% decrease from the same period last year, landing in line with the original plan. On the other hand, the full-year forecast has been revised downward from the previous 4.5 billion yen to 3.6 billion yen, a 43.6% decrease from the previous year. In the domestic food-related business, sales of rice products are below plan, and this trend is expected to continue in the second half. Additionally, the initial deficit of the newly established Iruma factory appears to be larger than expected.

VIS <130A>: 1,254 yen (+215 yen)

Marked increase. English company Liverpool ChiroChem (LCC) has announced that it has agreed to partner with RNA in a joint drug discovery business for small molecule pharmaceuticals. They aim to combine LCC's chemical drug platform with Veritas In Silico's drug discovery platform "ibVIS" to create cutting-edge assets (fragmented compounds) targeting undisclosed mRNA targets at the world's latest and highest level.

Kaonabi <4435>: 2,255 yen (+224 yen)

Rebounding significantly after 3 days. The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has announced the introduction of the talent management system "Kaonavi." The purpose is to achieve talent management such as activating communication within the ministry through sharing staff profiles, visualizing abilities and skills, inheriting knowledge, and supporting the construction of career paths for staff. Kaonavi is a system that centrally manages and visualizes human resource information such as employees' faces, names, experiences, evaluations, and skills.

Applics <3727>: 183 yen (+44 yen)

Temporarily hit the daily price limit. The year-end dividend forecast for the fiscal year ending December 24 has been revised from the previous non-payment to undecided (the previous year-end actual results were non-payment). It is planned to implement the first dividend after passing the resolution at the regular shareholders' meeting scheduled for March 25 and disclosed on August 13. However, this time, the company has decided to set the target dividend payout ratio at 30% as a reference to the trends and initiatives regarding dividends of listed companies. The specific details are currently under consideration, and we will promptly inform you once they are finalized.