< The 2015 All-Japan Research Team

2015-04-tom-johnson-all-japan-research-team-hiroshi-saji.jpg

Hiroshi Saji
Mizuho Securities Group
First-place appearances: 1

Total appearances: 15

Team debut: 2001

Although he falls from second place to the No. 3 position he held in 2013 and 2012, Mizuho Securities Group’s Hiroshi Saji maintains an avid following. One portfolio manager lauds his strong knowledge in all subsegments, “starting from upstream commodities food companies to downstream restaurants and take-away food makers.” Another fan praises his ability to balance multiple objectives: “While he diligently analyzes fundamentals, including cost structures and the industry competition landscape, he is fully aware of stock drivers. He therefore is capable of providing services to both long- and short-term investors professionally.” Saji, 47, covers 25 Japanese beverages, food and tobacco companies and is cautiously positive on the sector. “Some good news has already priced in under recent strong share price performance,” he says. Indeed, the stocks leaped 43.2 percent during the 12 months through last March, outpeforming the domestic broad market by 9.1 percentage points. For the year ahead the researcher sees “accelerated growth overseas, increase of shareholder returns and deregulation of food labeling as catalysts.”