< The 2016 All-Japan Research Team
Daisaku Masuno
Nomura
First-Place Appearances: 9
Total Appearances: 14
Analyst Debut: 2003
Extending his winning streak to an eighth year, Nomura’s Daisaku Masuno is “the most trusted analyst in this sector,” one portfolio manager declares. Particularly valuable, a second client offers, are his “frequent updates, accurate forecasts and logical responses.” Masuno, 51, monitors 11 domestic stocks. “We regard Japanese telecommunications carriers as a promising sector for 2016 based on considerable share price upside,” he reports. “All the major carriers have distinctive medium-term growth strategies, and we look for stable earnings growth and favorable shareholder returns.” Tokyo-based Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., a global competitor and industry leader across many telecom service segments, has been the researcher’s top pick since January 2015. “We expect healthy earnings at NTT, owing to cost reductions from fiber-to-the-home wholesaling at the fixed-line business, and increased communications revenues and lower overheads at the mobile business,” explains Masuno. “Management also has made a commitment to a proactive stance on shareholder returns in its medium-term plan, thus making shareholder returns also a key focus point going forward.” As of the middle of last month, NTT’s stock was trading at ¥4,815, having gained 57.9 percent since his recommendation and outpaced its domestic peers by 46.6 percentage points.