Fize Holdings ＜9325＞ is a subsidiary of AZ-COM Maruwa HD ＜9090＞, whose main force is operation services that perform consolidated outsourcing of warehouse operations, etc.

Operation services (63.4% compared to sales for the 1st quarter of the fiscal year ending 25/3) and transport services (same 28.3%) are core businesses, and the international logistics service business (same 2.2%) and information systems business (same 6.1%) are also being developed. Operation services provide contract business (warehouse operation agency business), temporary staffing business, and warehouse business to perform in-warehouse operations to customers, and transport services provide actual transportation, ride-hailing platform services, and last mile to perform transportation between locations. The number of trading companies in the ride-hailing platform business is 3,175, with an average daily matching of 590 units. Major online shopping companies are the main customers, accounting for about 60% of total sales.

Sales for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending 25/3 reached 7,233 million yen (up 20.4% from the same period last year), and operating profit landed at 239 million yen (up 2.2% from the same period). Existing logistics center operation contract operations (temporary staffing, contracting, 3PL) remained steady as operation services, and warehouse operations for home appliance specialty stores and online shopping center operations related to consumer transactions, etc. established in the previous fiscal year also continued to operate stably. Also, in transport services, the number of ride-hailing platform trading companies and contracts have increased, and it seems that they are also working on the acquisition of new projects for inter-site transportation (trunk line transportation) in the area of actual transportation, and expansion of contract operations for last mile delivery operations such as EC product delivery to home appliance specialty stores and productivity improvements. The full-year earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending 25/3 anticipates sales of 31,769 million yen (up 15.4% from the previous fiscal year) and operating profit of 1,541 million yen (up 16.8% from the same period). Note that business results tend to be biased towards the second and third quarters of the busy season.

While the tough business environment continues, such as rising fares due to the effects of the “2024 problem” and the shortage of human resources for drivers becoming serious, in addition to analyzing data collected with AI drive recorders, improving safety quality and optimizing transportation and delivery, they are also negotiating price revisions with customers to cover rising payment fares, fuel prices, and labor costs. The company has disclosed its medium-term management plan, and it is assumed that double-digit growth will continue with an average growth rate of 18% in sales and 19% in operating profit, and it will also focus on investing in human capital and logistics DX, which are the pillars of growth in order to achieve a long-term vision. We are preparing to open an in-house warehouse of approximately 33,000 square meters in Ome City, Tokyo, and it is scheduled to be put into operation around spring 2025. We have 6 warehouses operated in-house, with a total of 23,448 tsubo, and if we add the approximately 33,000 tsubo warehouse area of this project, it is expected to be over 56,000 tsubo. In addition to securing investment funds necessary for sustainable growth, such as opening warehouses and future M&A, it is planned to continue implementing stable dividends for shareholder returns, and 30% is used as a guide for future dividend payout ratios. Long-term vision While we are aiming to achieve sales of 100 billion yen and operating profit of 5 billion yen, I would like to keep an eye on whether solid growth can be achieved in the medium to long term along with customer expansion.