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USS Co Ltd (JP:4732)
:4732

USS Co (4732) AI Stock Analysis

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JP:4732

USS Co

(4732)

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Outperform 83 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:83Outperform
Price Target:
¥2,141.00
▲(25.54% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/18/26
Score is driven primarily by excellent financial performance (very strong profitability, minimal leverage, and strong free cash flow). Technicals are supportive with an upward trend, though momentum is somewhat overbought. Valuation is acceptable but not particularly inexpensive, tempering the overall score.
Positive Factors
High profitability margins
USS's TTM net margin (~36.7%) and EBIT margin (~53%) create a durable profitability moat from auction fee economics. These elevated margins generate recurring operating earnings, fund reinvestment into platform services, support shareholder returns, and provide a buffer against cyclical dips in used-car volumes over the next several months.
Conservative balance-sheet leverage
A debt-to-equity ratio near 1% signals very low leverage and ample financial flexibility. This conservative capital structure reduces refinancing and interest-rate risks, enables opportunistic investment in auction infrastructure or strategic M&A, and supports resilience through industry cycles without pressuring operating cash flow.
Strong free cash flow generation
TTM FCF of ~43.4bn (about 89% of net income) shows substantial cash generation from core auction operations. Reliable absolute FCF supports dividends, capex for platform upgrades and ancillary services, and reduces dependence on external funding, underpinning durable capital allocation flexibility over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Historical earnings volatility
Past sharp earnings swings (notably FY2021) indicate USS's results can be sensitive to macro conditions, auction volumes, or one-offs. This structural variability complicates medium-term forecasting, can force more conservative capital allocation, and reduces visibility into sustainable earnings power despite current strong margins.
Operating cash flow lags reported earnings
OCF running at roughly 0.75–0.88x of reported earnings shows cash conversion volatility driven by timing or working-capital dynamics. This reduces predictability of free cash flow availability for buybacks, dividends, or capex in the near term and can necessitate temporary liquidity measures despite strong accounting profits.
Working-capital driven balance-sheet swings
Year-to-year fluctuations in assets and equity point to working-capital sensitivity tied to auction volumes and settlement timing. These swings increase liquidity and forecasting risk, can create transient funding needs, and make short- to medium-term cash planning and covenant management more complex for a low-leverage company.

USS Co (4732) vs. iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)

USS Co Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUSS Co (4732) is a prominent company in the metal recycling and waste management sector, specializing in the collection, processing, and recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The company operates in various segments, including scrap metal trading, environmental services, and resource recovery, providing sustainable solutions for industries and municipalities. USS Co is committed to promoting circular economy practices by transforming waste into valuable resources and offering innovative recycling solutions tailored to customer needs.
How the Company Makes MoneyUSS Co generates revenue primarily through the sale of processed scrap metals to manufacturing and industrial clients, who use these materials as raw inputs for their production processes. The company also earns income from its waste management services, which include collecting and disposing of industrial waste. Additionally, USS Co may have partnerships with local governments and businesses for waste recycling initiatives, providing a steady stream of contracts and agreements that contribute to its earnings. The effectiveness of its operations in sourcing, processing, and selling metal scrap, along with its ability to navigate fluctuating commodity prices, plays a critical role in the company's profitability.

USS Co Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Overall fundamentals are very strong: exceptional profitability (TTM net margin ~36.7%, EBIT margin ~53%), conservatively financed balance sheet (debt-to-equity ~1%), and solid free cash flow generation (TTM FCF ~43.4bn; ~89% of net income). Main risks are historical earnings volatility (FY2021 weakness) and somewhat weaker recent cash conversion vs earnings (OCF ~0.75–0.88x in FY2024–TTM).
Income Statement
92
Very Positive
Profitability is exceptionally strong for the industry, with TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) net margin around 36.7% and very high operating profitability (EBIT margin ~53%). Revenue has expanded steadily across the last several annual periods (2022–2025 annual), and TTM revenue is also up. The main weakness is volatility in earnings quality historically—FY2021 shows a sharp drop in net income and margins versus later years—suggesting results can be sensitive to market conditions or one-offs.
Balance Sheet
94
Very Positive
The balance sheet is conservatively financed, with extremely low leverage (debt-to-equity ~1% in both TTM and the latest annual), giving strong financial flexibility. Returns on equity are solid and improving (about 15.7% in FY2023 to ~18.4% in FY2025 annual and ~20.0% in TTM). A watch item is that equity and assets fluctuate year-to-year (e.g., assets peaked in FY2024–FY2025 annual and are lower in TTM), which may reflect working-capital swings typical for the business.
Cash Flow
86
Very Positive
Cash generation is strong, with TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) free cash flow of ~43.4bn and a sharp TTM free cash flow increase (~28%). Free cash flow tracks net income reasonably well (TTM free cash flow is ~89% of net income; annual periods are typically ~88–94%). The key weakness is that operating cash flow has been somewhat light versus reported earnings in recent periods (about 0.75–0.88x in FY2024–TTM), indicating some working-capital or timing headwinds despite solid absolute cash flow.
BreakdownTTMMar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022Mar 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue110.34B104.02B97.61B88.78B81.48B74.87B
Gross Profit69.19B64.82B59.03B53.64B50.77B46.53B
EBITDA64.29B60.25B53.91B49.80B49.52B22.35B
Net Income40.46B37.64B32.91B30.01B29.75B4.02B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets245.94B267.35B271.56B242.35B229.35B210.70B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments91.48B116.22B112.01B95.69B82.38B70.77B
Total Debt2.36B2.28B2.66B2.42B2.83B3.17B
Total Liabilities46.19B59.99B72.54B48.20B46.88B37.18B
Stockholders Equity196.51B204.20B196.00B191.45B180.34B171.83B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow43.43B35.39B44.48B32.34B34.59B29.42B
Operating Cash Flow47.32B38.16B47.15B36.91B36.63B38.41B
Investing Cash Flow-14.91B-6.00B-2.65B-9.07B-1.34B-9.33B
Financing Cash Flow-41.21B-29.95B-28.19B-17.12B-24.68B-15.04B

USS Co Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price1705.50
Price Trends
50DMA
1765.27
Positive
100DMA
1738.45
Positive
200DMA
1691.30
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
41.22
Negative
RSI
71.27
Negative
STOCH
82.61
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For JP:4732, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 1705.5 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1811.90, below the 50-day MA of 1765.27, and above the 200-day MA of 1691.30, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 41.22 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 71.27 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 82.61 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for JP:4732.

USS Co Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
83
Outperform
¥877.93B22.0219.13%2.64%7.58%15.12%
76
Outperform
¥28.66B11.794.79%-6.89%-50.31%
70
Outperform
¥153.82B12.082.82%11.66%-7.47%
63
Neutral
¥68.05B11.944.49%8.56%-13.47%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
61
Neutral
¥298.91B23.851.24%21.79%9.89%
48
Neutral
¥4.94B-18.451.08%-2.36%-1738.42%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
JP:4732
USS Co
1,902.50
552.39
40.91%
JP:3186
Nextage Co., Ltd.
3,855.00
2,374.45
160.38%
JP:7593
VT Holdings Co., Ltd.
574.00
87.78
18.05%
JP:7599
IDOM Inc.
1,532.00
449.08
41.47%
JP:7602
Carchs Holdings Co., Ltd.
239.00
101.00
73.19%
JP:8291
Nissan Tokyo Sales Holdings Co., Ltd.
547.00
96.31
21.37%

USS Co Corporate Events

USS Raises Earnings and Dividend Forecasts on Strong Auction Performance
Feb 10, 2026

USS Co., Ltd. has raised its full-year consolidated earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, after stronger-than-expected performance in the first nine months. Favorable market conditions and robust sales activities drove higher numbers of consigned vehicles and contract completions, lifting expected net sales and profits slightly above the prior outlook.

Reflecting the improved earnings, USS also increased its year-end dividend forecast from 26.20 yen to 26.60 yen per share, keeping its consolidated dividend payout ratio at or above 60%. The move aligns with the company’s broader shareholder return policy targeting at least a 60% dividend payout and a total payout ratio of at least 100% over three years from FY3/2026 to FY3/2028.

The most recent analyst rating on (JP:4732) stock is a Buy with a Yen1898.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on USS Co stock, see the JP:4732 Stock Forecast page.

USS Co. Lifts Profit, Dividend Outlook on Strong Nine-Month Results
Feb 10, 2026

USS Co., Ltd. reported consolidated net sales of ¥82.97 billion for the nine months ended December 31, 2025, up 8.2% year on year, with operating profit rising 10.2% to ¥43.90 billion and profit attributable to owners of parent climbing 10.2% to ¥30.43 billion. Basic earnings per share increased to ¥65.25 as the company maintained a high equity-to-asset ratio of 79.7% despite a reduction in total assets, while also revising upward its dividend and full-year earnings forecasts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, signaling confidence in continued profit growth.

The company now expects full-year net sales of ¥111.9 billion, operating profit of ¥58.0 billion, and profit attributable to owners of parent of ¥40.0 billion, representing mid–single-digit to high–single-digit growth rates compared with the prior year. USS has also raised its annual dividend forecast to ¥51.80 per share, including a higher interim dividend, suggesting a shareholder-friendly capital allocation stance supported by robust profitability and an ongoing reduction in shares outstanding through treasury stock management.

The most recent analyst rating on (JP:4732) stock is a Buy with a Yen1898.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on USS Co stock, see the JP:4732 Stock Forecast page.

USS Co. Posts Solid Growth in Used Car Auction Volumes
Jan 6, 2026

USS Co., Ltd. reported higher activity in its used car auction business for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, with consigned vehicles up 3.0% and contracted vehicles up 9.7% year-on-year, while the contract completion rate rose to 67.7% from 63.6%. For the first nine months of the fiscal year, consigned vehicles increased 11.3% and contracted vehicles grew 9.2% versus the prior-year period, although the overall contract completion rate edged down to 66.3% from 67.5%, suggesting solid volume growth across its auction platform even as conversion efficiency slightly softened over the longer period.

The most recent analyst rating on (JP:4732) stock is a Buy with a Yen1898.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on USS Co stock, see the JP:4732 Stock Forecast page.

USS Co. Finalizes Adjustment of Japanese ASR Share Repurchase
Dec 24, 2025

USS Co., Ltd. has finalized the adjustment phase of its previously announced facility share repurchase program structured as a Japanese accelerated share repurchase (ASR), in coordination with SMBC Nikko Securities. SMBC Nikko exercised the 22nd Series Warrants and waived the 23rd Series Warrants, resulting in a substantive buyback of 9,319,500 shares at a total purchase price of ¥15,999,982,050, with the number of shares determined by the average volume-weighted average price over the specified period. The transaction confirms the final size and pricing of USS’s share repurchase, bringing clarity and completion to the capital management initiative and signaling continued focus on shareholder returns through disciplined buyback execution.

The most recent analyst rating on (JP:4732) stock is a Buy with a Yen1898.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on USS Co stock, see the JP:4732 Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 18, 2026