Japan’s Answer to Strategy: Metaplanet Initiated With Buy Rating at Benchmark

5 hours ago 1

Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer initiated coverage of Metaplanet (3350.T) with a buy rating and a ¥2,400 price target, calling the company "Japan's answer to MSTR" due its aggressive bitcoin (BTC) acquisition strategy.

That's about 50% upside from the stock's close of ¥1,650 overnight. ADRs for the shares trade in the U.S. under the MTPLF symbol and closed Friday at $10.36.

Palmer said Metaplanet's “hyper-accumulation” strategy, aiming for 210,000 BTC by 2027, or 1% of total supply, is backed by a unique capital-raising plan that thrives on volatility.

Metaplanet's recently announced '555 Million Plan' would issue 555M moving strike warrants to raise ¥770B ($5.3B) over 6 to 10 months, fueling further bitcoin purchases, Palmer added.

Once a small hotel operator, Metaplanet pivoted in April 2024 to become the nation’s first listed bitcoin treasury play, offering leveraged exposure to Japanese investors facing tax hurdles to direct crypto ownership. The stock has since delivered a staggering 7,742% return, outperforming every other Japanese equity tenfold.

Though Metaplanet trades at a 5.12x premium to net asset value (NAV), Palmer said the valuation is justified by its explosive BTC growth. The company has increased its bitcoin stack by 8,655% since Q3 2024 versus a 263% increase in diluted shares.

The stock rose 11% in overnight trading in Tokyo, closing at Y1,650.

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