Kioxia Holdings <285A> extended its winning streak to a fifth consecutive session, defying broader profit-taking in the semiconductor sector. While major peers faced selling pressure, Kioxia maintained upward momentum on institutional buying. Speculation that South Korea's Samsung Electronics could face a strike over union wage demands has sparked supply concerns, potentially driving up memory prices. As a leading NAND flash producer, Kioxia is seen as a primary beneficiary of any supply tightening. Demand for SSD-focused NAND is already at elevated levels, fueled by AI data center needs, drawing capital to the stock on expectations of a highly profitable cycle. The prospect of a Samsung strike is further amplifying bullish sentiment, with investors betting Kioxia will reap additional windfall gains.

ExaWizards <4259> surged after the AI solution and DX consulting provider issued a strong outlook following the market close on May 12. Driven by robust demand for generative AI and AI agent services, the company projects operating profit of 2,300 million yen for the fiscal year ending March 2027, a 44% year-on-year jump and a new record high. Investor interest was further galvanized by the announcement of an inaugural annual dividend of 5 yen.

Tokyo Energy & Systems <1945> accelerated to new highs, extending a steep recovery trend supported by its five-day moving average. Following the market close on May 12, the company reported that operating profit for the fiscal year ended March 2026 jumped 78% to 4,737 million yen. For the fiscal year ending March 2027, it projects a further 54% increase to 7,300 million yen, marking an 11-year high. Earnings are underpinned by robust capital investment in decarbonization and power projects related to nuclear energy and AI data centers. The company also plans to raise its annual dividend for a seventh consecutive year to 77 yen, up 14 yen from the prior year.

AOKI Holdings <8214> rebounded sharply from recent lows after announcing its fiscal 2027 guidance on May 12. The company expects operating profit to rise 6.2% year-on-year to 18,000 million yen on revenue of 200,000 million yen, up 2.8%. Investors cheered a planned annual dividend of 90 yen, a 10 yen increase from the previous year. AOKI aims to counter rising costs through strict expense control while continuing planned store openings and renovations to adapt to shifting market environments.

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Source: MINKABU PRESS

*Translated by generative AI. Click here for the original article.