Columnists Share Techniques for Utilizing Shikiho on Shikiho Online
Fujikawa herself has reported that since adopting this reading method, her stock investment performance has significantly improved. This has led to her impressive record of never experiencing an annual loss since she began investing in stocks in 2009, even after facing several major market declines.
The Quarterly Journal is worth reading continuously.
However, it likely requires considerable time and perseverance to read through all of this.
“When you approach it with the mindset of ‘I have to find a stock that will definitely make me money!’ and read with that level of intensity, it can lead to frustration. I think it’s better to relax and take a casual look; that way, you’re more likely to stick with it in the long run.
Shikiho is published four times a year, but it’s common for people to only buy the summer issue released in June. This is because it is the first issue after the final results of the March fiscal year companies, which make up about 70% of listed companies, so the previous year’s performance and the current and next year’s forecasts are updated. In fact, it seems that the summer issue has the highest sales.
However, only reading once a year would be a waste. The value of Shikiho increases when you read it continuously.
For stock investing, the key is tracking changes in earnings forecasts, and to do that, you need to keep reading. It’s not uncommon for the reporters’ intentions embedded in the article sections to become clear in the next issue or the ones that follow. Once you reach that point, reading will become enjoyable.”
Finding “Monthly Pix” issues that even beginners can easily imitate
For Shikiho beginners, another practical reading method has been suggested. Each page features a monthly stock price chart for the company at the top. One approach is to quickly check just the stock price charts.
“There are companies where the stock price has been declining with a series of down days or has remained flat, but in the last month’s chart, there’s a single up day.
This means that in the final month, the stock price at the end of the month is higher than at the beginning.
Based on my experience, when the last monthly chart shows a single up day, what I call a ‘monthly pop,’ it often indicates the start of a rising market.”
When Fujikawa flips through Shikiho and spots a monthly pop, she checks the article section and earnings to consider it as a potential investment target.
Treasured issues lie in the fall issue.
Moreover, while the summer issue sells the most, the fall issue, released in September, tends to sell the least, likely as a reaction to that. However, Fujikawa emphasizes that the fall issue is the most useful for stock investment.
“The fall issue is published after the first quarter results of companies with a March fiscal year have been revealed for the April to June period.
In fact, the first quarter results are significant because companies that have upwardly revised their earnings at this stage are likely to continue doing so for the full year.
Companies that succeed in their start dash can maintain their momentum throughout the year. The fall issue makes it easier to find companies whose performance has not yet been reflected in their stock prices.”
One of the features of Shikiho is that it covers all listed stocks. Even for companies that receive little news coverage, the responsible reporters make predictions about their performance.
“One of the attractions of Shikiho is that it allows you to learn about companies you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to know about.”
Fujikawa picked three notable stocks from the fall issue, which is said to contain hidden treasure stocks. Detailed explanations can be read in the paid version of [FRIDAY Subscription].
Interview and text： Kenji Matsuoka
After working as a money writer and financial planner/market analyst for a securities company, Matsuoka became independent in 1996. He writes articles on finance and asset management mainly for business and economic magazines. Author of "A Textbook for the First Year of Robo-Advisor Investing" and "Understanding with Rich Illustrations! Cashless Payments for the Absolute Benefit of Cashless Payments".
