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>Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.'s earnings for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 highlighted several critical facets of the company's recent performance and its outlook.</li><li>The call began with the acknowledgment of substantial challenges faced during 2024, primarily driven by weak demand from key sectors, including automotive and construction, which resulted in the idling of the C6 blast furnace at the Cleveland Works plant.</li><li>The impact of persistently high interest rates and ongoing trade distortions due to overproduction and unfair competition from foreign steel producers also played a significant role in shaping Cleveland-Cliffs' challenging year.</li></ul>

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.'s earnings for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 highlighted several critical facets of the company's recent performance and its outlook.The call began with the acknowledgment of substantial challenges faced during 2024, primarily driven by weak demand from key sectors, including automotive and construction, which resulted in the idling of the C6 blast furnace at the Cleveland Works plant.The impact of persistently high interest rates and ongoing trade distortions due to overproduction and unfair competition from foreign steel producers also played a significant role in shaping Cleveland-Cliffs' challenging year.

Cleveland-Cliffs: Ramping Up Automotive Sector Engagement To Catalyze Top-Line Growth!

Equity, Bottom-up Analyst, Investics Research

Sameer Taneja

Equity, Bottom-up Analyst

Investics Research

It is important to note that the information provided by Investics Research is based on publicly available data and own knowledge, which has been gathered and analyzed from a variety of sources. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information provided, it is not guaranteed to be free from errors or omissions. All forecasts and estimates are based on information that has been obtained from public sources that are considered to be reliable. The sources include but are not limited to, company announcements, exchange filings, presentations, etc. Investics does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the forecasts, estimates, and/or other information.

Equity Bottom-up Research

<ul>
<li>Following our initiation on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mount-gibson-iron-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19043:1" rel="noopener">Mount Gibson Iron (MGX AU)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kumba-iron-ore-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25094:1" rel="noopener">Kumba Iron Ore (KIO SJ)</a>, recently we initiate coverage on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/champion-iron-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19734:1" rel="noopener">Champion Iron (CIA AU)</a>, a pure play with Canadian assets.</li>
<li>Although it is more richly priced than the other two names, it offers a 50% volume expansion opportunity in FY25/26, subject to financing availability. </li>
<li>Trading at 8.6x FY25 (March-end) PE, 4.6x EV-EBITDA, and a 6% dividend yield (subject to capex), this is not our favorite name at the current price due to production uncertainty. </li>
</ul>


Following our initiation on Mount Gibson Iron (MGX AU) and Kumba Iron Ore (KIO SJ), recently we initiate coverage on Champion Iron (CIA AU), a pure play with Canadian assets.
Although it is more richly priced than the other two names, it offers a 50% volume expansion opportunity in FY25/26, subject to financing availability. 
Trading at 8.6x FY25 (March-end) PE, 4.6x EV-EBITDA, and a 6% dividend yield (subject to capex), this is not our favorite name at the current price due to production uncertainty. 


Champion Iron (CIA CN): Another Expansion Iron Ore Pure Play on High-Grade Ore

<ul>
<li>Investics Research will initiate coverage of the materials sector in April 2024, starting with iron ore and then gold, coal, and steel in subsequent months (in that order).</li>
<li>The areas of coverage on asset classes will encompass the underlying commodity and the associated equities. </li>
<li>Areas of differentiation would include in-depth coverage of all equities (small/mid and large cap) and actionable tactical ideas on the commodity.</li>
</ul>


Investics Research will initiate coverage of the materials sector in April 2024, starting with iron ore and then gold, coal, and steel in subsequent months (in that order).
The areas of coverage on asset classes will encompass the underlying commodity and the associated equities. 
Areas of differentiation would include in-depth coverage of all equities (small/mid and large cap) and actionable tactical ideas on the commodity.


Introduction: Initiation of Coverage in the Materials Sector

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>POSCO has signed a strategic partnership with Cleveland-Cliffs. POSCO is likely to invest more than 1 trillion won to purchase at least a 10% stake in Cleveland-Cliffs by early 2026.</li>
<li>Local media have mentioned that POSCO is likely to invest more than 1 trillion won (US700 million) to purchase at least a 10% stake in Cleveland-Cliffs by 2026.</li>
<li>Overall, we believe that a potential US$700 million investment in Cleveland-Cliffs for about 10% stake in the company could have a positive impact on POSCO.</li>
</ul>


POSCO has signed a strategic partnership with Cleveland-Cliffs. POSCO is likely to invest more than 1 trillion won to purchase at least a 10% stake in Cleveland-Cliffs by early 2026.
Local media have mentioned that POSCO is likely to invest more than 1 trillion won (US700 million) to purchase at least a 10% stake in Cleveland-Cliffs by 2026.
Overall, we believe that a potential US$700 million investment in Cleveland-Cliffs for about 10% stake in the company could have a positive impact on POSCO.


POSCO: Signs a Strategic Partnership with Cleveland-Cliffs

Global Materials | Industrials | Commodities

Rahul Jain

Commodities

<ul>
<li>Commodity trends remain bifurcated: gold, copper, and uranium are surging, while iron ore, and coal struggle under oversupply and weak demand.</li>
<li>Top picks: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zijin-mining-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24628:1" rel="noopener">Zijin Mining Group (601899 CH)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shandong-gold-mining-co-ltd-4527fb98-bb5d-4d74-91fe-66f9c0224eb3" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27455:1" rel="noopener">Shandong Gold Mining (1787 HK)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jsw-steel-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18561:1" rel="noopener">JSW Steel Ltd (JSTL IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lloyds-metals-energy-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15467:1" rel="noopener">Lloyds Metals &amp; Energy (LYDM IN)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/paladin-energy-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10117:1" rel="noopener">Paladin Energy (PDN AU)</a> </li>
<li>Top shorts: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hindalco-industries-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18490:1" rel="noopener">Hindalco Industries (HNDL IN)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-steel-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:961:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Steel Corporation (5401 JP)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/coal-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9117:1" rel="noopener">Coal India Ltd (COAL IN)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-steel-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20934:1" rel="noopener">Tata Steel Ltd (TATA IN)</a> </li>
</ul>


Commodity trends remain bifurcated: gold, copper, and uranium are surging, while iron ore, and coal struggle under oversupply and weak demand.
Top picks: Zijin Mining Group (601899 CH)Shandong Gold Mining (1787 HK)JSW Steel Ltd (JSTL IN), Lloyds Metals &amp; Energy (LYDM IN) , Paladin Energy (PDN AU) 
Top shorts: Hindalco Industries (HNDL IN) , Nippon Steel Corporation (5401 JP)Coal India Ltd (COAL IN)Tata Steel Ltd (TATA IN) 


Global Metals & Mining Playbook – July 2025

United States

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is an American iron ore mining company. The Company supplies iron ore pellets, lumps and fines to blast furnaces in the global steel industry. Cliffs is in the process of expanding its customer base to Electric Arc Furnaces.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (CLF US)

Cleveland-Cliffs: Ramping Up Automotive Sector Engagement To Catalyze Top-Line Growth!

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.'s earnings for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 highlighted several critical facets of the company's recent performance...

Baptista Research

Champion Iron (CIA CN): Another Expansion Iron Ore Pure Play on High-Grade Ore

We further expand our coverage in iron ore names by initiating on Champion Iron (CIA AU). With exposure to high-grade Fe ore at 65%, this could be...

Sameer Taneja

Introduction: Initiation of Coverage in the Materials Sector

We provide readers with an introduction to our initiation on commodities. We also provide a rationale as to how our coverage will be comprehensive...

Sameer Taneja

POSCO: Signs a Strategic Partnership with Cleveland-Cliffs

POSCO has signed a strategic partnership with Cleveland-Cliffs. POSCO is likely to invest more than 1 trillion won to purchase at least a 10% stake...

Douglas Kim

Global Metals & Mining Playbook – July 2025

Commodity trends show gold, copper, and uranium surging, while iron ore and coal struggle. Top picks include Zijin Mining Group, Shandong Gold...

Rahul Jain

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Cleveland-Cliffs: Ramping Up Automotive Sector Engagement To Catalyze Top-Line Growth!

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.'s earnings for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 highlighted several critical facets of the company's recent performance...

Baptista Research

Champion Iron (CIA CN): Another Expansion Iron Ore Pure Play on High-Grade Ore

We further expand our coverage in iron ore names by initiating on Champion Iron (CIA AU). With exposure to high-grade Fe ore at 65%, this could be...

Sameer Taneja

Introduction: Initiation of Coverage in the Materials Sector

We provide readers with an introduction to our initiation on commodities. We also provide a rationale as to how our coverage will be comprehensive...

Sameer Taneja

POSCO: Signs a Strategic Partnership with Cleveland-Cliffs

POSCO has signed a strategic partnership with Cleveland-Cliffs. POSCO is likely to invest more than 1 trillion won to purchase at least a 10% stake...

Douglas Kim

Global Metals & Mining Playbook – July 2025

​Commodity trends show gold, copper, and uranium surging, while iron ore and coal struggle. Top picks include Zijin Mining Group, Shandong Gold...

Rahul Jain

Commodity trends show gold, copper, and uranium surging, while iron ore and coal struggle. Top picks include Zijin Mining Group, Shandong Gold...