TOKYO — Japan’s major trading houses are aiming for double-digit returns on equity (ROE) by revising their portfolios to raise profitability and distributing cash to shareholders, putting their targets for capital efficiency above the national average of 9.7%.
Mitsubishi Corp., Itochu, Mitsui & Co., Sumitomo Corp. and Marubeni held earnings conferences this month, each stressing their efforts to improve profitability and promising shareholder returns. The five trading houses have been attracting market attention since Warren Buffett-led Berkshire Hathaway disclosed its investments in them in 2020.
