日本今年同样未能幸免于全球性的极端高温。据气象局自1898年以来的记录，今年7月的平均气温创下了历史新高。气象局预测，从9月到11月，全国的高温趋势将持续，预示着未来几个月这一现象可能会继续。Extreme weather conditions severely undermined the appeal of outdoor amusement parks, dealing a significant blow to the operator of Tokyo Disneyland, Oriental Land Corp's stock price.
According to the financial news app, extreme weather conditions, including heatwaves and heavy rain, severely impacted the attractiveness of outdoor amusement parks, causing a substantial hit to the stock price of The Oriental Land Corp (ADR) (OLCLY.US), the operator of Tokyo Disneyland. This summer, due to scorching heat and frequent rainfall, the number of visitors sharply decreased, leading to a 25% decline in the company's stock price for the year and ranking among the bottom seven on the Nikkei 225 index.
Meanwhile, in July, the number of overseas visitors to Japan reached a new historical high, but with extreme weather changes, tourists shifted their preferences towards indoor activities. Companies offering indoor entertainment benefitted from this shift with increased visitor numbers, profits, and stock prices. For example, Sanrio Co., the owner of the Hello Kitty brand, operates two indoor theme parks, with their stock price surging by 93% this year. Additionally, Round One Corp., operating chain air-conditioned amusement centers offering bowling alleys and video games, also saw a rise in stock price by 56%.
Japan also did not escape from the global extreme heatwave this year. According to records from the Meteorological Agency since 1898, the average temperature in July hit a record high. The agency predicts that the high-temperature trend will continue nationwide from September to November, indicating that this phenomenon may persist in the coming months.
Analyst Norikazu Shimizu from IwaiCosmo Securities pointed out: "If there is a risk of heatstroke, especially with children at home, it is best to stay indoors. In extremely hot weather, people naturally avoid going outdoors."
Oriental Land Corp anticipates a decline in revenue for the first half of the year ending in September, attributing it to the continuous high temperatures and heavy rains leading to a decrease in visitors. The stock price of Fuji Kyuko Co., Ltd., which operates the roller coaster theme park Fuji-Q Highland, has also fallen by 38% year to date in 2024.
In contrast, due to attracting a large number of visitors from South Korea, China Taiwan, and mainland China, Sanrio Co. experienced an increase in customer numbers. The company's first quarter profits and full-year performance exceeded analyst expectations.
Shimizu of IwaiCosmo believes if the heatwaves persist, the trend of people shifting from outdoor to indoor entertainment will become more pronounced, potentially further impacting the performance and stock prices of related companies.
