On May 9, 2025, a total of 458 companies, including major players like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and NTT, are set to announce their earnings results for the fiscal year. This day is significant in the financial calendar, as it marks a crucial point for investors looking to gauge the health of these corporations amidst varying economic conditions.
Among the companies reporting, Meiji Holdings is projected to see a 9.8% increase in recurring profit, indicating strong performance in the food and beverage sector. Asahi Kasei is expected to experience a remarkable 2.1-fold increase in its recurring profit, showcasing robust growth in its operations. Conversely, Nippon Oil anticipates a 3.9% decrease in recurring profit, reflecting challenges in the energy market.
Round One, a popular entertainment and sports complex operator, is also on the list, with expectations of a 3.1% rise in recurring profit. Meanwhile, Iyogin Holdings is forecasted to enjoy a significant 22.9% increase in recurring profit, suggesting a strong financial position moving forward. Other notable mentions include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which is expected to see a 17.4% increase, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which forecasts a staggering 3.1-fold increase in its recurring profit.
However, not all companies are faring well. NTT is projected to face a 13.2% decrease in recurring profit, a concern for stakeholders given the company's size and influence in the telecommunications sector. Kubota, a prominent agricultural machinery manufacturer, is also expected to report an 11.4% decrease in recurring profit for the first quarter, signaling potential difficulties in the agricultural sector.
In the second quarter, Kato Sangyo is anticipated to see a 2.1% decrease in recurring profit, while BrainPad is expected to report a 6.9% increase in the third quarter, highlighting the mixed fortunes of companies across different sectors.
Additionally, Goyo Construction is forecasted to suffer a significant 33.9% decrease in recurring profit, while Nippon Ham anticipates a 6.4% decrease. On the other hand, companies like Matsukiyo Cocokara and Nitto Denko are projected to see increases of 1.2% and 74.3%, respectively, indicating strong performance in retail and manufacturing.
NTT, which recently announced its full-year results for fiscal year 2024 on May 8, reported a revenue of 13 trillion 704.7 billion yen, marking a 2.5% increase compared to the previous year. Despite this increase, the company's operating profit fell by 14.2% to 1 trillion 649.6 billion yen, and EBITDA reached 3 trillion 239.3 billion yen.
The growth in revenue was attributed to increased contributions from the NTT Data Group and NTT Docomo's smartphone business, which collectively added 330.2 billion yen to the previous year's figures. However, this increase was overshadowed by a significant drop in operating profit, which decreased by 273.3 billion yen year-on-year, primarily due to a decline in revenue from mobile and fixed-line communication services.
NTT's president, Akira Shimada, explained that the decrease in profits was partly due to unfulfilled cost adjustments for marketing budgets, which had previously been addressed at the year's end. He noted, "The feelings of employees and shop staff to accomplish our goals have emerged, along with various support from construction companies beyond the schedule. We want to continue these initiatives in 2025." This statement underscores the company's commitment to improving its operational efficiency and service quality.
Furthermore, NTT plans to strengthen its global business by appointing Patrizio Mapelli as a foreign director on June 19, 2025. Shimada emphasized that Mapelli is well-versed in global business dynamics and will be instrumental in overseeing NTT Data's European operations and the overall global business strategy.
In a related development, NTT Data has been actively promoting its new logo, "Dynamic Loop + NTT Data," in blue font since October 2022. This branding initiative aims to create a cohesive identity that resonates in international markets. Shimada remarked, "We want to ensure a unified brand presence, especially when representing ourselves overseas; having a consistent brand is crucial for our global recognition."
As the market awaits the earnings announcements, analysts and investors will be closely monitoring the results from these major corporations. The mixed forecasts highlight a landscape of both opportunities and challenges, reflecting broader economic trends that could influence future performance.
In summary, the earnings reports from these 458 companies will provide critical insights into the current state of various industries in Japan. With expectations ranging from significant profit increases to notable declines, stakeholders will be keen to understand the implications these results will have on the economic outlook and market dynamics moving forward.
