Ferrotec Corporation

Mitsui Matsushima Holdings, Ferrotec, Aun, and others hit limit up. Mitsui Matsushima Holdings announced upward revisions to its earnings and dividend forecasts, raising its operating profit for the fiscal year ending March 2027 from 9.7 billion yen to 10 billion yen, net profit from 7.1 billion yen to 8.6 billion yen, and increasing its annual dividend from 74 yen to 130 yen. Ferrotec revised its operating profit forecast for the fiscal year ending December 2026 upward from 38 billion yen to 60 billion yen, driven by increased demand for semiconductor material products and thermomodules for AI data centers. Aun announced the start of operational support for ChatGPT advertising, providing assistance from planning to performance measurement for ad delivery in seven countries including Japan. AI Mechatronics received an order worth approximately 2.5 billion yen for a solder ball mounter system from a major overseas semiconductor manufacturer, with sales to be recorded in the fiscal year ending June 2028. UBS Securities initiated coverage on Tecsend with a buy rating and a target price of 5,300 yen, citing benefits from expanding investment in logic. AZ Maruwa Holdings announced the establishment of a shareholder benefit program and a capital and business alliance with JPYC, while INPEX extended significant gains on the back of higher crude oil prices due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Obic posted a 15.7 percent year-on-year increase in first-quarter operating profit to 24.9 billion yen, but the surprise was limited and gains were capped. Bronco B saw first-half operating profit rise 57.5 percent to 1.93 billion yen and revised its full-year forecast upward, but the market reaction was muted. Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Lab raised its target price on Nihon Dempa Kogyo to 4,100 yen, amid heightened expectations related to generative AI.

The Nikkei Average rebounded on the 23rd, closing 307 yen higher at 66,422 yen. Following Alphabet's increased capital expenditure plans, funds flowed into semiconductor-related stocks, with Advantest and SoftBank Group leading the index higher. Meanwhile, on the Prime Market overall, declining issues outnumbered gainers, as domestic demand sectors weakened amid rising crude oil prices and higher long-term interest rates. Ferrotec, which sharply raised its full-year operating profit forecast, hit its daily limit up with pro-rata allocation, while Cover, which announced the launch of a new game service, plunged on sell-on-the-fact trading. Trading value on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market was approximately 8.56 trillion yen.