< The 2016 All-Japan Research Team

Total Appearances: 3

Analyst Debut: 2014

Daiwa Securities Group’s Junya Ayada advances from third place to second, winning plaudits from one investor for his “thorough industrial knowledge and helpful insights on company strategies.” The “valuation skills” he exhibits in his reporting on 11 Japanese consumer electronics companies stand out as particularly valuable for another fund manager. Ayada is monitoring the U.S. and Chinese economies as he tracks end demand for consumer-related products. Given maturing smartphone markets, he advises, “this year will be the phase to see how the sector’s next drivers will be launched.” His focus over a mid- to long term is on virtual reality and entertainment streaming networks, as well as sensing devices for automobiles and the so-called Internet of Things. Citing these drivers, the 38-year-old analyst recommends that clients buy shares of Sony Corp. The Tokyo-headquartered conglomerate’s PlayStation platform has a fast-growing online subscription service, he explains, in addition to a music segment that is recovering thanks to expansion of its streaming services and a semiconductors business with cutting-edge imaging sensors that are used in cameras, cell phones and, increasingly, for automotive and IoT purposes. He also likes Casio Computer Co., maker of the globally known watches, and estimates that the Tokyo-based multinational “can grow with volume and an average selling price hike in timepieces — notably in both developed and emerging markets.”