Rakuten was reported to be partnering on attack drones for the GSDF. A review of the stock information revealed the listing backgrounds of Rakuten Group and Rakuten Bank, how fractional shares are handled, and whether they pay dividends.
The news reported at the end of summer indicated that Rakuten would partner with Germany's Helsing to develop drones for the defence sector, promoting their use by the GSDF and domestic production in Japan. As discussion spread on social media, the author took another look at Rakuten's stock information.
The listing information for Rakuten Group and Rakuten Bank was reviewed. Rakuten Bank was listed in April 2023, reportedly against a backdrop of fundraising needs amid deteriorating financial conditions at Rakuten Group. At the 4 September close, the share prices were ¥754.4 for Rakuten Group and ¥6,658 for Rakuten Bank, while Rakuten Bank's year-to-date high was ¥9,317.
A question arose over how fractional shares are handled. Neither Rakuten Group nor Rakuten Bank supports fractional shares, and an investigation into the possibility that Rakuten Securities' fractional-share service, “Kabu Mini,” does not apply to its own shares left the reason unclear. Some viewed the share prices as undervalued.
Neither Rakuten Group nor Rakuten Bank pays dividends, but shareholders holding 100 shares or more are eligible for a benefit providing the Rakuten Mobile voice and data plan free of charge. Compared with its rivals, SoftBank offers benefits including Pay-related benefits, and some have pointed out that this could be a factor in deciding whether to buy ahead of the record date.