Stocks on the move (midday): KUSURI NO AOKI, PRAP Japan, and PILLAR

KUSURI NO AOKI HOLDINGS CO., LTD. <3549> - Surging sharply. After the close on Oct. 1, the company announced consolidated earnings for the first quarter (May 21-Aug. 20) of the fiscal year ending May 2027. Net sales rose 13.8% year-on-year to 159.042 billion yen and operating profit climbed 16.0% to 8.424 billion yen, drawing buying interest on strong performance. KUSURI NO AOKI is expanding its food category by opening more large-format stores and boosting fresh produce expertise. It also opened 21 new drugstores between June and August, advancing its dominant market strategy. Although five stores closed during the period, total drugstores stood at 1,123 as of Aug. 20. Separately, the company released preliminary September sales figures (Aug. 21-Sept. 20). Same-store sales rose 2.4% year-on-year for a third straight month of growth, providing additional support for the stock.

PRAP Japan, Inc. <2449> - Indicated higher on a buy order imbalance. After the close on Oct. 1, the company announced a capital and business alliance with U.S.-based Edelman, one of the world's largest independent PR firms, drawing buying interest. The partnership aims to leverage Edelman's global network, service capabilities, and client support expertise to enhance services for global companies in Japan and Japanese firms expanding overseas. Edelman is set to acquire 935,800 shares held by WPP Group subsidiary Cavendish Square Holding in a negotiated transaction, becoming the top shareholder with a 21.03% voting stake. The acquisition totals about 1.27 billion yen, with execution scheduled for Oct. 30.

PILLAR Corporation <6490> - Rose for an eighth straight session, with its year-to-date high coming into view. SMBC Nikko Securities maintained its "1 (Outperform)" rating on Oct. 1 while raising its price target from 11,400 yen to 14,400 yen. The brokerage expects current demand to remain strong enough to exceed the company's upwardly revised guidance and anticipates record profit driven by a memory cycle recovery and the unwinding of inventory adjustments, driving the stock higher.

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Source: MINKABU PRESS

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