★Popular Theme Best 10

1 Semiconductors

2 Space development

3 Artificial intelligence

4 Storage batteries

5 Physical AI

6 Data centers

7 Semiconductor manufacturing equipment

8 Regional banks

9 Drones

10 Quantum computers

In the "Popular Theme Ranking" compiled by Minkabu and Kabutan, "Global Niche" has ranked 12th.

While the Nikkei Stock Average hit record highs during the earnings season, the driving force behind pushing prices to record levels is said to have been massive buying of Japanese stocks by overseas investors. Foreign investors have historically shown a tendency to favor individual stocks with world-class technological and product capabilities, and momentum is building for a re-evaluation of "global niche top" stocks that hold a strong presence in specific fields, which is leading to heightened interest in "Global Niche" as a theme.

For example, NVIDIA , which announced its earnings for the February-April 2026 period in the early morning of the 21st Japan time, continues to show strong growth with net profit reaching $58.321 billion, 3.1 times the previous year's level. The company originally specialized in GPUs (graphics processing semiconductors) for gaming. It is precisely because they have provided unique products that cannot be imitated by other companies that they have become a particularly shining star in the semiconductor industry. Japan also has many global niche companies leading the world in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and materials, with representative examples including Lasertec corporation <6920> in semiconductor mask blank defect inspection equipment lasers and TOKYO OHKA KOGYO CO., LTD. <4186> in semiconductor photoresists. Companies with strengths in global niches play important roles in global supply chains with their high technological capabilities and unique products and services, creating expectations for strong pricing power and opportunities to secure advantageous positions, making it easier to envision scenarios for future growth and stock price appreciation. Such "clarity," so to speak, can be said to have the power to attract global investment capital.

On this day, stocks that were bought included NIPPON KODOSHI CORPORATION <3891> in aluminum electrolytic capacitor separators, Toyo Gosei Co.,Ltd. <4970> in photosensitive materials for semiconductor photoresists, Sodick Co.,Ltd. <6143> in NC electrical discharge machines, Nabtesco Corporation <6268> in precision reduction gears, and Torishima Pump Mfg.Co.,Ltd. <6363> in large pumps for seawater desalination plants.

Source: MINKABU PRESS

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