< The 2014 All-Japan Research Team

Ryota Himeno
Barclays
First-place appearances: 0

Total appearances: 3

Analyst debut: 2012

After debuting as a runner-up last year, Barclays researcher Ryota Himeno steps up to third place. His coverage is hailed as being “very detailed, well balanced and efficient,” in the words of one money manager, who adds that Himeno is a persuasive communicator. Logistics giant Kamigumi Co. is one name the analyst has been talking up of late, with an overweight rating. The Hyogo-based operator “faces less cost-pressure risk as a harbor logistics firm than do other logistics companies,” explains Himeno, “such as trucking and [third-party logistics] firms.” Contributing to Kamigumi’s lower-risk profile are its profit margin, which “has stabilized at a high level,” he notes, as well as management’s success in “confronting fuel and vehicle cost pressures.” In addition, Himeno forecasts that the recovery in the shipping industry is likely to attract investors and further support the share price, on which he has set a target of ¥1,100. Kamigumi’s stock was trading at ¥906 in mid-March.