Hoya Corporation (7741.T)

(A Top Pick Nov. 21'17, Up 3%) Semiconductor masks, hard disk platters, and health sciences – eye glass lenses and endoscopes. Unfortunately there was a material change that caused him to sell the stock shortly after they recommended it. The FDA is concerned about the sterilization of endoscopes. It is unsure what the market share will be after they have launched.

(Past Top Pick, Oct. 24, 2017, Up 1%) They have two large healthcare businesses, producing endoscopes and eyeglass lenses. They also make photomasks for lithography and hard-disc platters. He's owned it for many years, but hard disc production slowed, so he exited 12 months ago.

(A Top Pick June 19, 2017. Down 1%). He sold it some time ago. Their hard disk platter business started to slow down. There may be some disruptive new technologies for endoscopy coming in that may disrupt their medical business over the long term.

(A Top Pick June 19/17. Up 1%.) He was involved in this for a very long time, but just exited recently after their most recent quarter. It’s the world's low-cost producer of eyeglass lenses and one of the largest producers. Exited this, because they had a very strong year in their semiconductor related businesses. As the IT part of the business slows down, the market doesn't want to pay for healthcare businesses.

The world’s low-cost producer of eyeglass lenses. Thinks this will benefit from the merger of Luxottica/Essilor merger, because he thinks the market share will be in play. They made them at very low cost in Thailand. The Thailand floods hit them, so they built the 2^nd plant in the Philippines, an extremely low-cost place to make things. Very high-quality products made in a low-cost environment. This is also a monopoly producer of glass substrate for hard disks, and believes they dominate 2.5”. There are still 3.5” platters to be converted to glass, which is a huge opportunity. Dividend yield of 1.3%. (Analysts’ price target is ¥6,530.)

The world’s low-cost producer of eyeglass lenses. They make them in Thailand and the Philippines. Also, one of the largest producers of endoscopes. Minimally invasive is where medicine is going. Had a business that was flat that was making hard disk platters. When you make them out of glass, you can put more into the casing, which increases capacity. They also make photo masks. (Analysts’ price target is ¥6289.)

The low-cost producer in the world of eyeglass lenses, and probably tied for #1 or #2 in the production of endoscopes. Technically, this makes them a healthcare company. In those parts of the world where the population is growing, there are more people that need vision correction. Dividend yield of 1.3%. (Analysts’ price target is ¥6,100.)