CREATE SD HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. FY2026 Q3 Earnings Report

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Executive Summary

For the cumulative period of Q3 2026 FY, Revenue was ¥3,662.2B (YoY +¥267.5B +7.9%), Operating Income was ¥171.1B (YoY +¥6.8B +4.1%), Ordinary Income was ¥180.4B (YoY +¥11.0B +6.4%), and Net Income was ¥122.0B (YoY +¥10.2B +9.1%), achieving year-over-year increases at all profit levels. While revenue maintained steady growth, Operating Margin declined to 4.7% from 4.8% a year earlier (down 0.1pt), indicating that profitability improvements have not kept pace with top-line expansion. Gross margin declined to 25.5% from 26.0% (down 0.5pt), but SG&A ratio improved to 20.8% from 21.1% (improved 0.3pt), with cost efficiency partially offsetting the gross margin drop. At the ordinary income level, non-operating income doubled to ¥13.2B (prior ¥6.6B), supported by increases in interest income and real estate rental income, resulting in an improvement in Ordinary Margin to 4.9% (up 0.1pt). Net margin was maintained at 3.3% year-on-year, and the effective tax rate stood at 32.3%, a normal level.

Drivers of Performance

Revenue rose to ¥3,662.2B (YoY +7.9%). Segment information is not disclosed, citing that the proportion of the Drugstore Business is high and disclosure is of limited materiality, but revenue growth is presumed driven by both existing-store growth and new store openings. Gross margin fell to 25.5% from 26.0% a year earlier, and gross profit was ¥934.2B (prior ¥880.9B), up only +6.0%. Drivers of gross margin decline likely include price competition pressure, product-mix shifts such as dispensing and OTC pharmaceuticals, and higher logistics and procurement costs. SG&A increased to ¥763.1B (prior ¥716.6B, +6.5%), but the SG&A ratio improved to 20.8% from 21.1% (improved 0.3pt), reflecting absorption of fixed costs due to revenue expansion. Major expense items showed salaries and allowances at ¥312.1B (prior ¥287.8B, +8.4%), highlighting notable labor cost growth, while rent was ¥142.8B (prior ¥136.5B, +4.6%) and remained low at 3.9% of sales, indicating strong store efficiency. Depreciation and amortization (recorded in SG&A) was ¥43.5B (prior ¥39.2B), and goodwill amortization was ¥0.8B (prior ¥0.6B), both minor. Operating Income rose to ¥171.1B (+4.1%), a slower increase than revenue growth of +7.9%. Non-operating income doubled to ¥13.2B (prior ¥6.6B), driven by increases in interest income ¥1.7B (prior ¥1.0B) and real estate rental income ¥6.96B (prior ¥2.96B). Non-operating expenses rose to ¥3.9B (prior ¥1.5B), but interest expense was only ¥0.1B, indicating nearly no interest-bearing debt burden. Ordinary Income increased to ¥180.4B (+6.4%), outpacing operating-level growth. Extraordinary items were minor: extraordinary gains ¥0.8B (subsidies ¥0.8B) and extraordinary losses ¥0.9B (loss on disposal of fixed assets ¥0.2B, impairment losses ¥0.8B). Profit before tax was ¥180.3B (+9.3%). After deducting income taxes of ¥58.2B, Net Income was ¥122.0B (+9.1%), achieving a higher growth rate than operating income. In conclusion, this is a revenue- and profit-expansion pattern, but declining gross margin limited operating leverage, and growth in non-operating income supplemented profit growth.

Key Financial Metrics

• Profitability: Operating Margin was 4.7% (down 0.1pt from 4.8% a year earlier). The decline in gross margin (26.0%→25.5%) was partially offset by an improvement in SG&A ratio (21.1%→20.8%), but overall profitability improvement was limited. ROE was 8.2%, remaining roughly flat YoY, comprised of Net Margin 3.3%, Total Asset Turnover 1.52x, and Financial Leverage 1.62x. ROA was 5.1% (Net Income ¥122.0B ÷ Average Total Assets ¥2,400.0B), maintaining a stable level.
• Cash Quality: Interest coverage (Operating Income ¥171.1B ÷ Interest Expense ¥0.1B) is approximately 1,710x, indicating an effectively debt-free position. Accounts payable ¥594.9B exceed inventory ¥449.4B, continuing a procurement-credit funded working capital structure. Accounts payable days are about 60 days (¥594.9B ÷ (¥2,727.9B/365)), accounts receivable days about 18 days (¥179.1B ÷ (¥3,662.2B/365)), and inventory days about 60 days (¥449.4B ÷ (¥2,727.9B/365)), estimating an operating cycle of roughly 18 days, efficiently managed.
• Investment Efficiency: Total asset turnover is 1.52x (Revenue ¥3,662.2B ÷ Average Total Assets ¥2,400.0B), a standard level for retail. Tangible fixed assets were ¥978.4B (prior ¥863.4B, +13.3%), reflecting continued aggressive store investment; land was ¥405.9B (prior ¥330.3B, +22.9%) and buildings ¥509.7B (prior ¥469.7B, +8.5%). Goodwill rose to ¥9.2B (prior ¥2.9B), a 3.2x increase, but at 0.6% of net assets it is negligible and impairment risk is limited.
• Financial Soundness: Equity Ratio was 61.8% (prior 60.3%), improving 1.5pt and remaining stable. Interest-bearing debt totaled ¥16.6B (short-term borrowings ¥11.8B, long-term borrowings ¥3.8B, bonds ¥1.0B; prior nearly zero), still very minor, and net cash is ¥310.8B cash and deposits − ¥16.6B interest-bearing debt = ¥294.2B, ample. D/E ratio is 0.01x, effectively debt-free, indicating very high financial resilience. Current ratio is 126.6% (Current Assets ¥1,036.4B ÷ Current Liabilities ¥818.6B), and Quick ratio is 71.7% (Quick Assets ¥587.0B ÷ Current Liabilities ¥818.6B); short-term liquidity is inventory-dependent but acceptable for retail.

Cash Flow Analysis

Operating cash flow benefited from inventory decreasing ¥7.2B from ¥456.6B to ¥449.4B, indicating inventory normalization. Accounts payable decreased ¥2.7B from ¥597.6B to ¥594.9B, so cash generation from supplier terms was limited. Accounts receivable increased ¥4.0B from ¥175.1B to ¥179.1B, modestly pressuring working capital due to revenue growth. Cash and deposits decreased ¥66.7B from ¥377.5B to ¥310.8B, suggesting allocation toward fixed asset investment and new M&A. Tangible fixed assets increased ¥115.0B from ¥863.4B to ¥978.4B, reflecting continued active investment in new store openings and renovations. Intangible fixed assets rose ¥5.5B from ¥9.4B to ¥14.9B, indicating system investments and customer-related asset accumulation. Goodwill increased ¥6.3B from ¥2.9B to ¥9.2B, implying small-scale M&A activity, but scale is minimal at 0.6% of net assets and financial impact is minor. Rent burden is suppressed at 3.9% of sales, and fixed-cost cash outflows are well controlled. With negligible extraordinary items, recurring cash generation appears to be stably linked to Operating Income growth.

Quality of Earnings

Of Ordinary Income ¥180.4B, Operating Income ¥171.1B accounts for 94.8%, indicating high dependency on core operations. Non-operating income ¥13.2B (0.36% of sales) comprised interest income ¥1.7B, real estate rental income ¥6.96B, and other ¥4.5B; rental income doubled from ¥2.96B to ¥6.96B, suggesting effective utilization of idle assets and expanded tenant income from stores. Non-operating expenses ¥3.9B comprised interest expense ¥0.1B, rental expenses ¥3.2B, and other ¥0.6B, and correspond to costs related to rental income, yielding a net contribution of approximately ¥3.8B. Extraordinary items were negligible: extraordinary gains ¥0.8B (subsidies ¥0.8B) and extraordinary losses ¥0.9B (loss on disposal of fixed assets ¥0.2B, impairment losses ¥0.8B), meaning the bulk of Net Income ¥122.0B is generated from recurring operations. Comprehensive income was ¥121.2B, nearly identical to Net Income ¥122.0B, with valuation difference on available-for-sale securities ¥0.1B and actuarial gains/losses -¥0.9B; adjustments from other comprehensive income were small at -¥0.9B, indicating limited accounting distortions. The effective tax rate was 32.3% (Income Taxes ¥58.2B ÷ Profit before tax ¥180.3B), a normal level with no notable tax anomalies. From an accrual standpoint, Operating Income ¥171.1B saw only minor working capital fluctuations, suggesting good cash conversion of earnings. Overall, there are few transitory factors or accounting distortions, and the company has a core, sustainable earnings structure centered on its main business.

Forecasts & Guidance

Full Year / FY forecasts are maintained at Revenue ¥4,915.0B (YoY +7.5%), Operating Income ¥241.0B (YoY +6.5%), Ordinary Income ¥249.0B (YoY +6.3%), and Net Income ¥163.0B. Progress rates at the cumulative Q3 point are: Revenue 74.5% (¥3,662.2B ÷ ¥4,915.0B), Operating Income 71.0% (¥171.1B ÷ ¥241.0B), Ordinary Income 72.5% (¥180.4B ÷ ¥249.0B), and Net Income 74.9% (¥122.0B ÷ ¥163.0B). Revenue and Net Income have roughly reached the standard 75% progress, but Operating Income lags standard by -4.0pt and Ordinary Income lags by -2.5pt. The operating income shortfall is likely due to gross margin decline (Q3 cumulative 25.5%, with an assumption of improvement for the full year) and the front-loading of SG&A (notably personnel and promotion expenses). Q4 is expected to benefit from seasonal demand such as hay fever season; if unit prices, product mix, and cost control improve, achieving full-year targets is feasible. Forecast EPS is ¥252.31, and forecast dividend is ¥45.0 (including interim dividend already paid ¥34.0), with a Full Year payout ratio of about 17.8%, maintaining a conservative stance.

Shareholder Returns

An interim dividend of ¥45.0 was paid at the end of Q2 (the full-year dividend forecast is ¥45.0). Based on Full Year Net Income forecast ¥163.0B and shares outstanding (excluding treasury stock) 64.6 million shares, forecast EPS is ¥252.31 and payout ratio is about 17.8% (¥45.0 ÷ ¥252.31), staying low. On a Q3 cumulative Net Income base of ¥122.0B, the implied payout ratio is approximately 24.6% (interim dividend ¥45.0 × 64.6 million shares ÷ ¥122.0B), reflecting a conservative return policy. No share buyback has been disclosed; shareholder returns are limited to dividends. With cash and deposits ¥310.8B and net cash ¥294.2B, ample liquidity and negligible interest-bearing debt support dividend sustainability. Given the Net Income growth trend (+9.1%) and stable cash generation, there is sufficient scope for medium-term dividend increases, but management appears to prioritize growth investments (new store openings, system investment, etc.) at this time.

Risk Factors

1. Gross Margin Decline Risk: Gross margin is 25.5%, down 0.5pt from 26.0% a year earlier, and profitability is pressured by intensified price competition, product-mix changes including dispensing and OTC pharmaceuticals, and rising logistics/procurement costs. Although Operating Margin 4.7% exceeds the industry median 3.9%, further gross margin erosion would directly worsen operating profitability, making price strategy and product-mix optimization urgent.
2. Inventory Liquidation Risk: Inventory is ¥449.4B with turnover days around 60; seasonal items (hay fever and cold medicines) introduce risk of increased markdowns. Delays in improving inventory efficiency could further depress gross margin.
3. Labor Cost Inflation Risk: Salaries and allowances rose +8.4% YoY, outpacing revenue growth +7.9%, with wage pressures and labor shortages becoming apparent. Although SG&A ratio improved by 0.3pt, continued labor cost growth could weaken operating leverage.

Industry Benchmark (Reference; Company Estimate)

• Industry Position (reference; company estimate): Compared to the retail industry median for Q3 2025, Operating Margin 4.7% exceeds the industry median 3.9% by 0.8pt, indicating relatively strong profitability. Net Margin 3.3% is 1.1pt above the industry median 2.2%, placing core earnings power among the top in the industry. Equity Ratio 61.8% exceeds the industry median 56.8% by 5.0pt, demonstrating materially stronger financial soundness than peers. ROE 8.2% surpasses the industry median 2.9% by 5.3pt, showing superior capital efficiency. Total asset turnover 1.52x substantially exceeds the industry median 0.95x, highlighting high asset efficiency as a retail company. Revenue growth +7.9% outpaces the industry median +3.0% by 4.9pt, placing top-line expansion near the top in the industry. Inventory turnover days at roughly 60 days are well below the industry median 96 days, indicating strong inventory efficiency. Current ratio 126.6% is below the industry median 193.0%, reflecting a working capital financing model via accounts payable, which is typical for retail and within acceptable bounds. Overall, the company outperforms industry averages in profitability, capital efficiency, and financial soundness, balancing top-line growth and efficient management.

Key Points in the Results

1. Balance between top-line growth and profitability: While maintaining solid revenue growth of +7.9%, gross margin declined by 0.5pt and Operating Margin remained at 4.7%, limiting profitability improvement. Product-mix optimization and cost containment in Q4 will be key to meeting full-year targets.
2. Strong virtually debt-free financial base and investment capacity: Interest-bearing debt ¥16.6B, net cash ¥294.2B, and interest coverage about 1,710x indicate an effectively debt-free position and extremely high financial resilience. Tangible fixed assets +13.3% and land +22.9% reflect continued aggressive store investment, with sufficient funds available for growth investment. With a payout ratio of 17.8% remaining conservative, medium-term dividend increases are possible.
3. M&A and asset-efficiency improvement: Goodwill rose from ¥2.9B to ¥9.2B (+¥6.3B, +212%), implying small-scale M&A activity, but goodwill/net assets is only 0.6%, so impairment risk is limited. Total asset turnover 1.52x far exceeds the industry median 0.95x, and high asset efficiency is a source of competitive advantage.

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This report is an earnings analysis document automatically generated by AI analyzing XBRL financial statement data. It is not a recommendation to invest in any particular security. Industry benchmarks are reference information compiled by the Company based on public financial statement data. Investment decisions are your responsibility; please consult a professional as necessary before making any investment decision.

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