Aoyama Trading outlines strategic turnaround, profit growth plan

Aoyama Trading is implementing a new management system and strategic initiatives to achieve its Mid-Term Management Plan targets for FY3/2027. The company announced a 3-for-1 common share split, effective March 31, 2026, to improve share liquidity and expand its investor base. It also plans to acquire up to 1.4 million treasury shares, valued at up to 3 bn yen, between November 12, 2025, and March 24, 2026. This is part of a broader shareholder return policy targeting a consolidated dividend payout ratio of 70% or a dividend on equity ratio (DOE) of 3%, whichever is higher.

For the first half of FY3/2026, consolidated net sales reached 81.9 bn yen, a decrease of 2.9 bn yen from the plan, primarily due to struggles in the business wear segment. Despite this, consolidated operating income was 70 m yen and net income was -800 m yen, both exceeding the plan due to improved gross profit margins and efficient SG&A expenses. The company also launched “Minna-no-suit” as a strategic product to address declining customer numbers and opened a new “AO+ (Aoyama Plus)” concept store in Tokyo in October 2025, targeting Generation Z with digital technology. The full-year forecast for FY3/2026 projects net sales of 197.0 bn yen and an operating income of 14.0 bn yen.