L'intérêt à découvert pour Boxlight donne aux investisseurs une idée du degré auquel les investisseurs parient sur la baisse de l'action de Boxlight. Les données sur l'intérêt à découvert sont mises à jour toutes les deux semaines.

Boxlight (NASDAQ:BOXL) Stock, Rapport sur les intérêts à découvert

Boxlight

Boxlight Corp is a technology company that develops, sells, and services interactive solutions predominantly for the education market but also for the corporate and government sectors. The company currently designs, produces, and distributes interactive technologies, including interactive and non-interactive flat panel displays, LED video walls, media players, classroom audio and campus communication, cameras, and other peripherals for the education market and non-interactive solutions including flat panels, LED video walls, and digital signage. The company also distributes science, technology, engineering, and math (or STEM) products, including 3D printing and robotics solutions and a portable science lab.

Boxlight Corporation - Class A Common Stock

Boxlight Corp

lumis Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALMS#NASDAQ">ALMS</a>), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies using a precision approach to optimize clinical outcomes and significantly improve the lives of patients with immune-mediated diseases, today announced that its stockholders voted to approve all proposals required to be approved in connection with the pending merger with ACELYRIN, INC. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLRN#NASDAQ">SLRN</a>) at its Special Meeting of Stockholders.
The final voting results of the Alumis Special Meeting will be reported in a Form 8-K filed by Alumis with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The merger is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, subject to satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions.

News

ALMS

SLRN

Lumis Stockholders Approve All Proposals Required To Be Approved In Connection With Pending Merger With ACELYRIN; Merger Is Expected To Close In Q2 2025

LeddarTech Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDTC#NASDAQ">LDTC</a>) is preparing to release its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, 2025-05-14. Here's a brief overview of what investors should keep in mind before the announcement.
Analysts expect LeddarTech Holdings to report an earnings per share (EPS) of $-0.34.
The announcement from LeddarTech Holdings is eagerly anticipated, with investors seeking news of surpassing estimates and favorable guidance for the next quarter.
It's worth noting for new investors that guidance can be a key determinant of stock price movements.
<h3>Earnings Track Record</h3>
During the last quarter, the company reported an EPS missed by $0.51, leading to a 2.85% increase in the share price on the subsequent day.
Here's a look at LeddarTech Holdings's past performance and the resulting price change:

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Quarter</th>
<th>Q1 2025</th>
<th>Q4 2024</th>
<th>Q3 2024</th>
<th>Q2 2024</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>EPS Estimate</td>
<td>-0.35</td>
<td></td>
<td>-0.26</td>
<td>-0.15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPS Actual</td>
<td>-0.86</td>
<td>-2.72</td>
<td>-0.23</td>
<td>-0.45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Change %</td>
<td>3.0%</td>
<td>-4.0%</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>LeddarTech Holdings Share Price Analysis</h3>
Shares of LeddarTech Holdings were trading at $0.6348 as of May 12. Over the last 52-week period, shares are down 68.26%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are likely bearish going into this earnings release. 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LDTC/earnings">To track all earnings releases for LeddarTech Holdings visit their earnings calendar on our site.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Earnings

LDTC

Earnings Preview: LeddarTech Holdings

GCT Semiconductor Hldgs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GCTS#NYSE">GCTS</a>) is preparing to release its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, 2025-05-14. Here's a brief overview of what investors should keep in mind before the announcement.
Analysts expect GCT Semiconductor Hldgs to report an earnings per share (EPS) of $-0.10.
GCT Semiconductor Hldgs bulls will hope to hear the company announce they've not only beaten that estimate, but also to provide positive guidance, or forecasted growth, for the next quarter.
New investors should note that it is sometimes not an earnings beat or miss that most affects the price of a stock, but the guidance (or forecast).
<h3>Earnings Track Record</h3>
Last quarter the company beat EPS by $0.04, which was followed by a 16.75% drop in the share price the next day.

<h3>Market Performance of GCT Semiconductor Hldgs's Stock</h3>
Shares of GCT Semiconductor Hldgs were trading at $1.65 as of May 12. Over the last 52-week period, shares are down 69.66%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are likely unhappy going into this earnings release. 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GCTS/earnings">To track all earnings releases for GCT Semiconductor Hldgs visit their earnings calendar on our site.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

GCTS

Earnings Preview For GCT Semiconductor Hldgs

Chicago Atlantic BDC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LIEN#NASDAQ">LIEN</a>) is set to give its latest quarterly earnings report on Wednesday, 2025-05-14. Here's what investors need to know before the announcement.
Analysts estimate that Chicago Atlantic BDC will report an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.28. 
Anticipation surrounds Chicago Atlantic BDC's announcement, with investors hoping to hear about both surpassing estimates and receiving positive guidance for the next quarter.
New investors should understand that while earnings performance is important, market reactions are often driven by guidance.
<h3>Overview of Past Earnings</h3>
In the previous earnings release, the company beat EPS by $0.06, leading to a 1.26% drop in the share price the following trading session.
Here's a look at Chicago Atlantic BDC's past performance and the resulting price change:

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Quarter</th>
<th>Q4 2024</th>
<th>Q3 2024</th>
<th>Q2 2024</th>
<th>Q1 2024</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>EPS Estimate</td>
<td>0.29</td>
<td>0.2</td>
<td>0.07</td>
<td>0.08</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPS Actual</td>
<td>0.35</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0.21</td>
<td>-0.01</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Change %</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
<td>-3.0%</td>
<td>-0.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747155716_0.png" alt="eps graph" />
<h3>Market Performance of Chicago Atlantic BDC's Stock</h3>
Shares of Chicago Atlantic BDC were trading at $9.98 as of May 12. Over the last 52-week period, shares are down 12.74%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are likely bearish going into this earnings release. 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LIEN/earnings">To track all earnings releases for Chicago Atlantic BDC visit their earnings calendar on our site.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

LIEN

Chicago Atlantic BDC's Earnings Outlook

Okeanis Eco Tankers (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ECO#NYSE">ECO</a>) is gearing up to announce its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, 2025-05-14. Here's a quick overview of what investors should know before the release.
Analysts are estimating that Okeanis Eco Tankers will report an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.24.
The market awaits Okeanis Eco Tankers's announcement, with hopes high for news of surpassing estimates and providing upbeat guidance for the next quarter.
It's important for new investors to understand that guidance can be a significant driver of stock prices.
<h3>Earnings History Snapshot</h3>
The company's EPS beat by $0.19 in the last quarter, leading to a 6.77% drop in the share price on the following day.

<h3>Market Performance of Okeanis Eco Tankers's Stock</h3>
Shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers were trading at $24.28 as of May 12. Over the last 52-week period, shares are down 29.09%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are likely bearish going into this earnings release. 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ECO/earnings">To track all earnings releases for Okeanis Eco Tankers visit their earnings calendar on our site.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

A Glimpse of Okeanis Eco Tankers's Earnings Potential

WIIM

Shares of pharmaceutical stocks are trading lower amid President Trump's drug pricing executive order.

Guidewire Software's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GWRE#NYSE">GWRE</a>) short percent of float has fallen 3.19% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.30 million shares sold short, which is 3.95% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.96 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Guidewire Software Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747155659_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Guidewire Software has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Guidewire Software's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Guidewire Software's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.98%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

GWRE

Looking Into Guidewire Software's Recent Short Interest

Oracle's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) short percent of float has risen 6.02% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 23.26 million shares sold short, which is 1.41% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.76 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Oracle Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747155654_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Oracle has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Oracle's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Oracle's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.73%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

ORCL

What Does the Market Think About Oracle?

In the current market session, Conagra Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAG#NYSE">CAG</a>) price is at $23.32, after a 0.04% spike. However, over the past month, the stock decreased by 10.55%, and in the past year, by 24.87%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is undervalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747155652_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>A Look at Conagra Brands P/E Relative to Its Competitors</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
Conagra Brands has a better P/E ratio of 34.28 than the aggregate P/E ratio of 29.61 of the Food Products industry. Ideally, one might believe that Conagra Brands Inc. might perform better in the future than it's industry group, but it's probable that the stock is overvalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747155652_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Intraday Update

Markets

A Look Into Conagra Brands Inc's Price Over Earnings

Johnson &amp; Johnson's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) short percent of float has fallen 5.75% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 19.68 million shares sold short, which is 0.82% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.49 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Johnson &amp; Johnson Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747155649_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Johnson &amp; Johnson has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Johnson &amp; Johnson's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Johnson &amp; Johnson's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.65%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into Johnson & Johnson's Recent Short Interest

Benchmark analyst Mark Zgutowicz maintains Getty Images Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GETY#NYSE">GETY</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $4.5 to $3.5.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

GETY

Benchmark Maintains Buy on Getty Images Holdings, Lowers Price Target to $3.5

JPMorgan&#8217;s Carly Davenport revised her estimates for four major U.S. utilities following <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/62fe1e3886af260001885587/carly-davenport">their first-quarter earnings</a>.
The analyst cited new capital expenditure opportunities tied to load growth, evolving regulatory and legislative developments, and the broader impact of policy uncertainty and macroeconomic conditions.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Duke Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>)</h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Duke Energy maintained a Neutral rating, while raising the price target from $122 to $125.</li>
<li>The Charlotte, North Carolina-based company highlighted an incremental nuclear license renewal at the Oconee plant that it could operate into the 2050s, along with upgrades at existing gas, hydro, and nuclear units to add more than 1 gigawatts of capacity, Davenport stated.</li>
<li>"Duke plans to file a merger application for the DEC and DEP utilities to streamline operations and realize cost efficiencies," she wrote.</li>
<li>The company expects the tariff impact at 1%-3% of its five-year capital plan, the analyst added.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sempra (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SRE#NYSE">SRE</a>)</h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sempra reiterated a Neutral rating, while lifting the price target from $76 to $78.</li>
<li>The San Diego-based company plans to add $12 billion to Oncor's capex plan, Davenport said.</li>
<li>"In California, SDG&amp;E and SoCalGas filed their 2026-2028 cost of capital applications with the CPUC and are anticipating a final decision by the end of 2025 with rates effective by the start of 2026," the analyst wrote.</li>
<li>The company estimates tariff risk as 2%-3% of its base capital plan, given its diverse supply chain, she added.</li>
</ul>
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WEC Energy Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEC#NYSE">WEC</a>)</h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>WEC Energy Maintained a Neutral rating, while raising the price target from $101 to $106.</li>
<li>The Milwaukee-based company is bullish about economic growth in its service territories, "especially around the I-94 corridor," Davenport said.</li>
<li>"The company recently filed a new tariff with regulators in Wisconsin specifically for customers with 500 MW or higher loads," the analyst wrote.</li>
<li>The company estimates a 2-3% cost impact from tariffs, she added.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dominion Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/D#NYSE">D</a>)</h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Dominion Energy reiterated a Neutral rating, while lifting the price target from $60 to $61.</li>
<li>Davenport said the company has 40 gigawatts of data center capacity in its pipeline and has not witnessed any slowdown in demand in its service territory.</li>
<li>"The company's Virginia Biennial Review filing was submitted at the end of 1Q25, and through the filing, D also proposed a new rate structure for high-volume customers (such as data centers)," the analyst wrote.</li>
<li>The Richmond, Virginia-based company indicated that it was difficult to quantify the tariff impact, as it would depend on the rates at the time of delivery, which is uncertain, she added.</li>
</ul>
At the time of publication on Tuesday:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Shares of Duke Energyhad declined by 1.60% to $114.01.</li>
<li>Shares of Semprahad risen by 0.44% to $76.03.</li>
<li>Shares of WEC Energyhad declined by 0.65% to $104.29.</li>
<li>Shares of Dominion Energy had declined by 1.06% to $54.30.</li>
</ul>
Read More: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45311929/plug-power-partners-up-with-basf-will-use-german-companys-purification-tech-to-liquify-hydrogen">Duke Energy&#8217;s Segment Strength Fuels Q1 Beat, Reaffirms Guidance</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Reiteration

Movers

4 Energy Companies Project Tariff Impact, Analyst Raises Price Targets After Q1 Results

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-13/blackstone-seeks-5-6-billion-to-back-other-private-equity-firms?embedded-checkout=true">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-13/blackstone-seeks-5-6-billion-to-back-other-private-equity-firms?embedded-checkout=true</a>

General

'Blackstone Seeks $5.6B to Back Other Private Equity Firms'- Bloomberg

Benchmark analyst Mark Zgutowicz maintains Global E Online (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLBE#NASDAQ">GLBE</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $61 to $55.

GLBE

Benchmark Maintains Buy on Global E Online, Lowers Price Target to $55

Caterpillar shares are trading higher after Baird upgraded the stock from Neutral to Outperform.

It took more than thirty years, but Japan may finally be on the cusp of a new economic era. After decades of deflation, stagnation, and demographic headwinds, the world&#8217;s third-largest economy is showing real signs of life.
If you&#8217;re still anchored to the &#8220;Lost Decade&#8221; narrative, it&#8217;s time to adjust your compass.
Start with the big picture: inflation in Japan is finally here, and that is a good thing. After years of trying to nudge price levels higher, the Bank of Japan has achieved something that once seemed impossible, a headline inflation rate over 3% and core-core inflation (which strips out food and energy) around 2.8%.
This is not runaway inflation. This is normalization. It is the end of a deflationary mindset that has kept consumers cautious and wages stagnant. Speaking of which, wages are now rising too, thanks to tight labor markets and a shrinking workforce that has finally given employees some bargaining power. Real wage growth is still lagging a bit, but the trajectory is right.
On the monetary policy front, the Bank of Japan made headlines in March 2024 by finally ending its negative interest rate policy. That marked the first rate hike in 17 years and the symbolic end of an era of extraordinary easing. It also marked Japan&#8217;s return to monetary policy normalcy. Gone is the yield curve control regime. In its place is a traditional rate targeting system like those used in the U.S. and Europe. Japan is no longer the outlier. It is rejoining the global financial mainstream.
Even the once anemic GDP growth rate is improving. In 2023, real GDP expanded by 1.9%, with Q4 2024 showing 1.1% year-over-year growth. That may not sound spectacular, but given Japan&#8217;s aging population and past headwinds, it&#8217;s more than respectable.
The trade deficit has also narrowed sharply, with record exports (particularly in autos) and a booming services surplus. Meanwhile, foreign investment income continues to pile up, pushing the current account solidly into surplus territory.
Then there&#8217;s the stock market. Japan&#8217;s equity market has finally caught fire. After languishing for over three decades below its 1989 high, the Nikkei 225 finally eclipsed that peak in 2024, closing in on 42,000 and leading the world in equity performance.
That move wasn&#8217;t driven by speculative mania, but by real earnings growth, aggressive share buybacks, and long-overdue reforms in corporate governance. The Tokyo Stock Exchange has pushed companies to raise ROE and address chronically low price-to-book ratios. Firms are responding. Cross-shareholdings are down, boards are becoming more independent, and management teams are starting to think more like owners.
Foreign investors are noticing too. Warren Buffett made headlines by boosting his stakes in Japan&#8217;s trading houses. Institutions across the globe are following suit, shifting exposure out of China and into Japan. The yen, once battered by interest rate differentials, is now finding its footing as the BoJ lifts off zero.
In KKR&#8217;s 2025 Outlook, they specifically highlight Japan as a key opportunity area: &#8220;We see opportunities in inter-company holdings. There is an accelerating unwind of Japanese strategic holdings within the corporate sector, encouraging a wave of stock buybacks. Additionally, we advocate for more active capital management, including backing companies transitioning from capital-heavy to capital-light models through Private Equity.&#8221;
A stable to strengthening yen, combined with structural reforms and a new era of pricing power, makes for a very interesting setup.
Look, Japan still has challenges. The population is shrinking, productivity growth could be stronger, and public debt remains sky-high. But for once, those aren&#8217;t the only parts of the story. Japan has exited the deflation trap. The stock market is not only alive but leading the pack. Policy is normalizing. Corporate governance is improving. Wages are moving. Investors are finally being rewarded.
Bottom line: Japan isn&#8217;t the basket case it used to be. It&#8217;s becoming a compelling story again—one that belongs in any serious global investor&#8217;s playbook. If you&#8217;re looking for value, reform, and upside, it might be time to look East. Japan is back in the game.
Okay. Melvin, we get it.
Can we move on now?
No.
No, we cannot.
There is every reason to believe that after 15 years of US markets flying high and long periods of Japan underperforming, we may see a reversal of fortune.
It is time to look outside the United States for high return opportunities.
Let&#8217;s start with the five trading companies Buffett has been buying and suggested last week that Berkshire will own for at least 50 years.
They are ITOCHU (Ticker: ITOCY), Marubeni (Ticker: MARUY), Mitsubishi (Ticker: MSBHF), Mitsui (Ticker: MTSFY), and Sumitomo (Ticker: SSUMY).
These companies are in a wide range of businesses including finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, food, and textiles.
They are cheap based on both earnings and assets and have attractive dividend yields.
The other stock that seems like a layup from here is Kansai Electric (KAEPY). Kansai is the second largest industrial region of Japan and contains the metropolitan region of Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, which is the second largest in Japan.
Looking beyond the headlines, Kansai Electric Power stands as a textbook example of how traditional utilities can transform themselves into multi-dimensional businesses that weather economic cycles better than their one-trick-pony counterparts.
As Japan&#8217;s second-largest electric utility serving the industrial heartland of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, Kansai Electric has been quietly building a business model that extends far beyond simply keeping the lights on. While Wall Street and financial media remain fixated on flashier tech names, real value investors understand that essential services with diversified revenue streams often deliver steadier returns.
Kansai operates through four distinct segments &#8211; energy, power transmission, IT/telecommunications, and lifestyle solutions &#8211; creating multiple paths to profitability regardless of economic conditions.
Their telecom operations under the &#8220;eo Hikari&#8221; brand and &#8220;mineo&#8221; mobile business represent the kind of steady cash flow businesses value investors prize.
What particularly catches my attention is their international expansion strategy. Unlike companies rushing into fashionable markets, Kansai made calculated moves, starting with hydro projects in the Philippines and recently taking a significant 49% stake in a German offshore wind project. This methodical approach to capital allocation, putting money to work in undervalued assets with predictable returns, is reminiscent of Buffett and Munger in their heyday.
On the energy technology front, they&#8217;re investing $7 billion to expand renewable capacity. Their research focuses on practical technologies like carbon capture, small modular reactors, and grid optimization. They are not chasing headline-grabbing moonshots that rarely deliver returns.
Perhaps most interesting is their hydrogen and ammonia strategy, targeting 30% of Japan&#8217;s hydrogen supply chain by 2050. While everyone else is busy chasing the latest AI startup, Kansai is quietly positioning itself in infrastructure that will be essential regardless of which way the technological winds blow.
Compared to US utility companies, shares of Kansai Electric are cheap. The stock is currently trading at 64% of tangible book value and less than 5 times free cash flow.
The yield is currently about 3%.
We are not done with Japan yet. There are still plenty of smaller cap companies that are worth exploring as we look for alternatives to the potential lost decade here in the US.

Opinion

ITOCY

MARUY

MSBHF

MTSFY

SSUMY

Under the Radar: From Deflation to Dividend Machines — Japan's Market Turns a Corner

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B of A Securities analyst Jeffrey Spector maintains Extra Space Storage (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXR#NYSE">EXR</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $155 to $161.

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Murphy USA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MUSA#NYSE">MUSA</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 11.23% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 21.91%. Currently, Murphy USA has a market capitalization of $8.70 billion. 
Buying $1000 In MUSA: If an investor had bought $1000 of MUSA stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $7,305.16 today based on a price of $439.48 for MUSA at the time of writing.
<h3>Murphy USA's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747155115_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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