KR Shipbuilding; CPSP Countdown, JPM Energy Conf on AI Power, AI in Motion; Physical AI & Robotic, HMC Labor Strike?/Toyota Production Cut: APAC Industrial & Auto Sector Specialist Sales Commentary Auto & EV - Equipment - Machinery - F&IC - AGD

Research evidence excerpt

KR Shipbuilding; CPSP Countdown, JPM Energy Conf on AI Power, AI in Motion; Physical AI & Robotic, HMC Labor Strike?/Toyota Production Cut: APAC Industrial & Auto Sector Specialist Sales Commentary Auto & EV - Equipment - Machinery - F&IC - AGD

strengthens. Execution is now key, with buyers prioritizing integration speed, reliability, and ROI

tied to plant KPIs, while AI is simplifying engineering and deployment. Physical AI is becoming real in factories and

warehouses, but trust and governance still gate scale, and success requires coordination across robotics, controls, vision, and

hardware. Automation is increasingly seen as a hedge against labor shortages and supply chain risk, with policy support

reinforcing its strategic importance.

• Data center growth is a major driver, pulling demand across power, cooling, and industrial supply chains, and the risk

of underestimating demand now outweighs over-investment. While humanoids drew attention, the near-term opportunity is

mainstream AI-enabled automation, with humanoids a longer-term option. The sector is at a favorable inflection, with a short-

cycle rebound and structural tailwinds from robotics, AI, and data center buildouts, and operational discipline and

transformation are set to compound earnings through the upcycle.

• Asian Investor Feedback: Physical AI in FA was a hot topic among Asian industrial investors, with Fanuc and Yaskawa seen

as the two leaders, while humanoid robotics is viewed as a long-term option with multiple positive catalysts ahead—including

key Chinese humanoid robotics IPOs, Teslabot launch events, and factory adoption in 2027. While general investors remain

constructive on key Japan FA names (Fanuc/Yaskawa), discussions has shifted on valuation, as most key names trade above

35X P/E.