Research from Water Tower Research, Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research

Research from Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

Equity Research Firm

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>WTR-CMI last week. Driven by the recovery in lithium stocks, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials technology stocks rose 1.7% for the week, handily outperforming mostly flattish performance of large cap tech-heavy S&amp;P 500 as well as the broader Russell 2000 indices.</li><li>YTD the WTR-CMI continues to outperform the Russell 2000 (13.6% vs. 9.8%) and on YoY basis our index nearly kept up with S&amp;P 500’s strong 33.8% rise by appreciating 31.1% compared to Russell 2000’s 24.6% improvement.</li><li>Hurricane season kicks into high gear. While the impact of hurricane Helena are still being assessed, Francine’s impact on oil and gas production and barge traffic are already being felt in the markets, with gulf coast oil production down nearly 40% and natural gas production down nearly 50%, with barge fleets staying away from the region until weather settles, which now looks to be delayed due to Helena’s destructive path.</li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. Driven by the recovery in lithium stocks, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials technology stocks rose 1.7% for the week, handily outperforming mostly flattish performance of large cap tech-heavy S&amp;P 500 as well as the broader Russell 2000 indices.YTD the WTR-CMI continues to outperform the Russell 2000 (13.6% vs. 9.8%) and on YoY basis our index nearly kept up with S&amp;P 500’s strong 33.8% rise by appreciating 31.1% compared to Russell 2000’s 24.6% improvement.Hurricane season kicks into high gear. While the impact of hurricane Helena are still being assessed, Francine’s impact on oil and gas production and barge traffic are already being felt in the markets, with gulf coast oil production down nearly 40% and natural gas production down nearly 50%, with barge fleets staying away from the region until weather settles, which now looks to be delayed due to Helena’s destructive path.

Mat-Chem Notes -  Hurricanes, Port Strikes, Geopolitics, and Crosscurrents in EVs

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Back on the 15th August, lithium play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/latin-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8770:1" rel="noopener">Latin Resources (LRS AU)</a> entered into a<a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20240815/pdf/066mpcs6zd41jz.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Scheme</a> with significantly larger peer, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pilbara-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7460:1" rel="noopener">Pilbara Minerals (PLS AU)</a>. Timing appears fortuitous. </li>
<li>PLS is offering 0.07 new PLS shares for each LRS share held.  LRS shareholders will own ~6.4% of the combined entity. LRS' largest shareholder, José Luis Manzano (7.9%), is supportive. </li>
<li>The scrip terms back out an implied price of A$0.20/share or a 67% premium to last close. This is done. And trading accordingly. Expected implementation late November, early December.</li>
</ul>


Back on the 15th August, lithium play Latin Resources (LRS AU) entered into a Scheme with significantly larger peer, Pilbara Minerals (PLS AU). Timing appears fortuitous. 
PLS is offering 0.07 new PLS shares for each LRS share held.  LRS shareholders will own ~6.4% of the combined entity. LRS' largest shareholder, José Luis Manzano (7.9%), is supportive. 
The scrip terms back out an implied price of A$0.20/share or a 67% premium to last close. This is done. And trading accordingly. Expected implementation late November, early December.


Latin Resources (LRS AU)'s Scheme With Pilbara Minerals

<ul><li>WTR-CMI last week. In a down week for the market, with both the S&amp;P 500 and Russell 2000 declining 4.2% and 5.7%, respectively, 29 of the 30 stocks in our WTR-CMI Index likewise saw their prices fall 4.0%, with AVD being the only exception, appreciating 9.1% for the week.</li><li>YTD, the S&amp;P 500, heavily weighted toward tech and internet stocks, has increased 13.4%, while our WTR-CMI Index has increased 7.2%, outperforming the broader Russell 2000’s 3.2% rise, despite lithium stocks’ 50%- plus declines.</li><li>Recycled plastics market gaining acceptance. LYB announced the acquisition of German APK AG, a mechanical plastics recycler to bolster its circular economy and low-carbon credentials, while AVTN launched a pigment additive for plastics used in automotive plications made from recycled tires, as an alternative to carbon black, again aiming at helping its customers reduce their carbon impact while improving its own circular economy efforts.</li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. In a down week for the market, with both the S&amp;P 500 and Russell 2000 declining 4.2% and 5.7%, respectively, 29 of the 30 stocks in our WTR-CMI Index likewise saw their prices fall 4.0%, with AVD being the only exception, appreciating 9.1% for the week.YTD, the S&amp;P 500, heavily weighted toward tech and internet stocks, has increased 13.4%, while our WTR-CMI Index has increased 7.2%, outperforming the broader Russell 2000’s 3.2% rise, despite lithium stocks’ 50%- plus declines.Recycled plastics market gaining acceptance. LYB announced the acquisition of German APK AG, a mechanical plastics recycler to bolster its circular economy and low-carbon credentials, while AVTN launched a pigment additive for plastics used in automotive plications made from recycled tires, as an alternative to carbon black, again aiming at helping its customers reduce their carbon impact while improving its own circular economy efforts.

Mat-Chem Notes - Weakness of Industrial, Ag, and EV Markets Leaves Few Options

Founder & Head of Research, Fortress Hill Advisors

Alex Ng

Founder & Head of Research

Fortress Hill Advisors

Founded in Hong Kong in 2019, Fortress Hill Advisor seeks to provide premium economic and financial researches.

Premium Economic & Investment Research

<ul>
<li>Recent improvements in solar and battery technologies have been driven by advances in materials science, manufacturing techniques, and system efficiency.</li>
<li>Solid-State batteries replace the liquid electrolyte in traditional lithium-ion batteries with a solid electrolyte, energy density, and charging speeds. They are seen as a game-changer, especially for electric vehicles.</li>
<li>Both solar and battery technologies are becoming cheaper, making renewable energy more accessible and economically viable.</li>
</ul>


Recent improvements in solar and battery technologies have been driven by advances in materials science, manufacturing techniques, and system efficiency.
Solid-State batteries replace the liquid electrolyte in traditional lithium-ion batteries with a solid electrolyte, energy density, and charging speeds. They are seen as a game-changer, especially for electric vehicles.
Both solar and battery technologies are becoming cheaper, making renewable energy more accessible and economically viable.


Improvement in Solar and Battery Technology

Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Albemarle Corporation's Q2 2024 earnings reveal a mix of operational successes and challenges reflective of the broader industry landscape.</li><li>During the quarter, the company reported net sales of $1.4 billion, a substantial decrease from $2.4 billion a year prior, primarily due to decreased pricing.</li><li>The loss attributable to Albemarle stood at $188 million, reflecting a significant downturn from profitability, with a diluted loss per share of $1.96.</li></ul>

Albemarle Corporation's Q2 2024 earnings reveal a mix of operational successes and challenges reflective of the broader industry landscape.During the quarter, the company reported net sales of $1.4 billion, a substantial decrease from $2.4 billion a year prior, primarily due to decreased pricing.The loss attributable to Albemarle stood at $188 million, reflecting a significant downturn from profitability, with a diluted loss per share of $1.96.

Albemarle Corporation: These Are The 7 Factors Driving Our 'Buy' Rating! - Financial Forecasts

United States

Albemarle Corporation produces specialty and fine chemicals.  The Company's chemicals are additives to or intermediates for plastics, polymers and elastomers, cleaning products, agricultural compounds, pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals, drilling compounds, and biocides.  Albemarle produces the majority of its products in the United States.

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Albemarle Corp (ALB US)

Mat-Chem Notes - Hurricanes, Port Strikes, Geopolitics, and Crosscurrents in EVs

Driven by the recovery in lithium stocks, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials technology stocks rose 1.7% for the week

Water Tower Research

Latin Resources (LRS AU)'s Scheme With Pilbara Minerals

Trading tight to terms Take down borrow cheaply on PLS, should the spread widen. Elsewhere, Liontown is trading at A$0.67/share vs. Albemarle's...

David Blennerhassett

Mat-Chem Notes - Weakness of Industrial, Ag, and EV Markets Leaves Few Options

YTD, the S&P 500, heavily weighted toward tech and internet stocks, has increased 13.4%, while our WTR-CMI Index has increased 7.2%, outperforming...

Water Tower Research

Improvement in Solar and Battery Technology

Advances in materials science and manufacturing are driving improvements in solar and battery technologies, making renewable energy more...

Alex Ng

Albemarle Corporation: These Are The 7 Factors Driving Our 'Buy' Rating! - Financial Forecasts

Albemarle Corporation's Q2 2024 earnings reveal a mix of operational successes and challenges reflective of the broader industry landscape. During...

Baptista Research

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

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Mat-Chem Notes - Hurricanes, Port Strikes, Geopolitics, and Crosscurrents in EVs

Driven by the recovery in lithium stocks, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials technology stocks rose 1.7% for the week

Water Tower Research

Latin Resources (LRS AU)'s Scheme With Pilbara Minerals

Trading tight to terms Take down borrow cheaply on PLS, should the spread widen. Elsewhere, Liontown is trading at A$0.67/share vs. Albemarle's...

David Blennerhassett

Mat-Chem Notes - Weakness of Industrial, Ag, and EV Markets Leaves Few Options

YTD, the S&P 500, heavily weighted toward tech and internet stocks, has increased 13.4%, while our WTR-CMI Index has increased 7.2%, outperforming...

Water Tower Research

Improvement in Solar and Battery Technology

​Advances in materials science and manufacturing are driving improvements in solar and battery technologies, making renewable energy more...

Alex Ng

Albemarle Corporation: These Are The 7 Factors Driving Our 'Buy' Rating! - Financial Forecasts

Albemarle Corporation's Q2 2024 earnings reveal a mix of operational successes and challenges reflective of the broader industry landscape. During...

Baptista Research

Advances in materials science and manufacturing are driving improvements in solar and battery technologies, making renewable energy more...