07 July 2016 Asia Pacific/Japan Equity Research Internet Rakuten (4755 / 4755 JP) Rating NEUTRAL* Price (06 Jul 16, ¥) 1,098 INITIATION Target price (¥) 1,220¹ Chg to TP (%) 11.1 Market cap. (¥ bn) 1,566.09 (US$ 15.46) Initiating at NEUTRAL; waiting for recovery in Enterprise value (¥ bn) 1,735.87 Number of shares (mn) 1,425.66 earnings momentum in domestic e-commerce Free float (%) 55.0 52-week price range 2,082 - 991 ■ Action: We initiate coverage of Rakuten with a NEUTRAL rating and a *Stock ratings are relative to the coverage universe in each target price of ¥1,220 (potential return 11.1%). While we are positive on the analyst's or each team's respective sector. ¹Target price is for 12 months. company’s solid business model, we would need to see a turnaround in domestic e-commerce (EC) earnings to take a more bullish view. Research Analysts Keiichi Yoneshima ■ Investment case: As the top player in the domestic EC market, Rakuten is 81 3 4550 9740 positioned for medium- to long-term growth with a business model that
[email protected] combines financial and Internet services. However, with changes in the competitive environment, three issues cloud near-term earnings visibility: (1) slowing near-term earnings growth amid escalating competition in the domestic EC market, (2) the possibility that the timing of improvement in Rakuten’s growth rate will depend on the strategies of its rivals, and (3) moves by telecom carriers and other major companies to bolster their financial and Internet services.