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 first quarter earnings of 2024 revealed a net sales of $1.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $291 million.</li><li>Despite the decline of 47% year-over-year, which was caused largely by reduced prices, the firm experienced volumetric growth led by the energy storage segment.</li><li>The firm also confirmed its ability to navigate the market dynamism and confirmed delivery of over $9 million in productivity and restructuring cost savings, as part of efforts geared towards aligning costs with the current market situation.</li></ul>

Albemarle Corporation's first quarter earnings of 2024 revealed a net sales of $1.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $291 million.Despite the decline of 47% year-over-year, which was caused largely by reduced prices, the firm experienced volumetric growth led by the energy storage segment.The firm also confirmed its ability to navigate the market dynamism and confirmed delivery of over $9 million in productivity and restructuring cost savings, as part of efforts geared towards aligning costs with the current market situation.

Albemarle Corporation: A Tale Of  Expansion of New Facilities and Margin Recovery! - Major Drivers

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a> shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the dual-track bid from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sociedad-quimica-y-minera-de-chile-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27977:1" rel="noopener">Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM US)</a> and Hancock. The scheme offer is A$3.70 per share.</li>
<li>The shares fell 7%, seemingly due to concerns about FIRB approval sparked by FIRB’s request for an extension on 3 April and today’s <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/chinese-miners-in-2-5b-payday-from-australian-lithium-holdings-20240404-p5fhix" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AFR article</a> on China’s Australian lithium holdings. </li>
<li>FIRB approval should be forthcoming due to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tianqi-lithium-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27789:1" rel="noopener">Tianqi Lithium (9696 HK)</a> small indirect interest in Andover, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lithium-power-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:30603:1" rel="noopener">Lithium Power International (LPI AU)</a> precedent, and SQM and Tianqi’s strained relationship. </li>
</ul>



Azure Minerals (AZS AU) shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the dual-track bid from Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM US) and Hancock. The scheme offer is A$3.70 per share.
The shares fell 7%, seemingly due to concerns about FIRB approval sparked by FIRB’s request for an extension on 3 April and today’s AFR article on China’s Australian lithium holdings. 
FIRB approval should be forthcoming due to Tianqi Lithium (9696 HK) small indirect interest in Andover, Lithium Power International (LPI AU) precedent, and SQM and Tianqi’s strained relationship. 


Azure Minerals (AZS AU): FIRB Approval Concerns Are Overdone

Podcast by S&P analysing commodity market trends, Commodities Focus

Commodities Focus

Podcast by S&P analysing commodity market trends

S&P Global Commodity Insights analysis of key news and pricing issues from across the global shipping, natural gas, power, petrochemicals, agriculture, and coal markets.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>Developers scrambled to advertise projects to potential investors in the US between 2021-2023</li><li>Prices for lithium reached all time highs due to impact of COVID on supply chains</li><li>Prices have since plunged nearing a three-year low, causing uncertainty for companies with viable projects and automakers scaling back EV production forecasts</li></ul>This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

Developers scrambled to advertise projects to potential investors in the US between 2021-2023Prices for lithium reached all time highs due to impact of COVID on supply chainsPrices have since plunged nearing a three-year low, causing uncertainty for companies with viable projects and automakers scaling back EV production forecastsThis content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

Lithium producers pump brakes on North American projects amid low prices

<ul><li>Albemarle Corporation's 2023 earnings reported net sales of $9.6 billion, a 31% rise compared to 2022 with volume growth contributing 21% to the increase.</li><li>The energy storage sector delivered 35% volumetric growth.</li><li>The corporation's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for 2023 were $2.8 billion or $3.4 billion, excluding a lower-cost charge recorded in Q4.</li></ul>

Albemarle Corporation's 2023 earnings reported net sales of $9.6 billion, a 31% rise compared to 2022 with volume growth contributing 21% to the increase.The energy storage sector delivered 35% volumetric growth.The corporation's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for 2023 were $2.8 billion or $3.4 billion, excluding a lower-cost charge recorded in Q4.

Albemarle Corporation: Is The EV Demand Actually Flattening & Impacting Their Performance? - Major Drivers

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>JPMorgan is <a href="https://www.afr.com/street-talk/minres-selling-14-5pc-of-azure-minerals-jpm-nabs-trade-20240221-p5f6ta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">placing</a> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mineral-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15103:1" rel="noopener">MinRes (MIN AU)</a>'s 14.5% stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a> at A$3.42/share, a 5% discount to last close and a 7.6% discount to the A$3.70/share Scheme price. </li>
<li>It was reported last month that MinRes, who paid up to ~A$4.00/share for some of its stake, was looking to exit. But cash now vs. ~8% more in two months?</li>
<li>Given the recent rout in lithium and nickel prices, one wonders if a MAC landmine lurks. Or, quite simply, MinRes just needs the cash. Expect Azure to fall tomorrow.</li>
</ul>


JPMorgan is placing MinRes (MIN AU)'s 14.5% stake in Azure Minerals (AZS AU) at A$3.42/share, a 5% discount to last close and a 7.6% discount to the A$3.70/share Scheme price. 
It was reported last month that MinRes, who paid up to ~A$4.00/share for some of its stake, was looking to exit. But cash now vs. ~8% more in two months?
Given the recent rout in lithium and nickel prices, one wonders if a MAC landmine lurks. Or, quite simply, MinRes just needs the cash. Expect Azure to fall tomorrow.


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)

Albemarle Corporation: A Tale Of Expansion of New Facilities and Margin Recovery! - Major Drivers

Albemarle Corporation's first quarter earnings of 2024 revealed a net sales of $1.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $291 million. Despite the...

Baptista Research

Azure Minerals (AZS AU): FIRB Approval Concerns Are Overdone

FIRB approval should be forthcoming due to Tianqi's small indirect interest in Andover, Lithium Power precedent, and SQM and Tianqi’s strained...

Arun George

Lithium producers pump brakes on North American projects amid low prices

Prices have since plunged nearing a three-year low, causing uncertainty for companies with viable projects and automakers scaling back EV...

Commodities Focus

Albemarle Corporation: Is The EV Demand Actually Flattening & Impacting Their Performance? - Major Drivers

Albemarle Corporation's 2023 earnings reported net sales of $9.6 billion, a 31% rise compared to 2022 with volume growth contributing 21% to the...

Baptista Research

Azure (AZS AU): MinRes' Discounted Exit

Azure will fall tomorrow - early investors will take money off the table given this development. But this deal still looks done. Perhaps more so...

David Blennerhassett

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