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. In what was a mixed week for the market, with S&amp;P 500 appreciating 0.9% and the Russell 2000 slipping 1.3%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials stocks outperformed both broader indexes by appreciating 1.1%, led by a recovery in prices of lithium stocks, which took a tumble the previous week after the announcement of the Chilean government’s intention to increase its financial participation in large lithium projects in the country.</li><li>Better weather drives stronger planting progress. Following last year’s planting delays caused by unseasonal weather, the 2023 planting season in the US is picking up the pace after a slower start, with both corn and soybean planting well ahead of last year and the five-year average, boding well for North American crop protection and the fertilizer market, at least when it comes to demand.</li><li>Chinese auto sales look to rise. According to the China Automobile Dealers Association, the country should see a 50% surge in Y/Y new passenger vehicle sales in April, following a strong March, compared with the COVID lockdown period a year ago.</li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with S&amp;P 500 appreciating 0.9% and the Russell 2000 slipping 1.3%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials stocks outperformed both broader indexes by appreciating 1.1%, led by a recovery in prices of lithium stocks, which took a tumble the previous week after the announcement of the Chilean government’s intention to increase its financial participation in large lithium projects in the country.Better weather drives stronger planting progress. Following last year’s planting delays caused by unseasonal weather, the 2023 planting season in the US is picking up the pace after a slower start, with both corn and soybean planting well ahead of last year and the five-year average, boding well for North American crop protection and the fertilizer market, at least when it comes to demand.Chinese auto sales look to rise. According to the China Automobile Dealers Association, the country should see a 50% surge in Y/Y new passenger vehicle sales in April, following a strong March, compared with the COVID lockdown period a year ago.

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 28, 2023

<ul><li>WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with the Russell 2000 appreciating 0.6% and the S&amp;P 500 remaining virtually unchanged at (0.1%), our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks underperformed, declining 0.3%, as lithium stocks led by ALB suffered from Chile’s decision to nationalize its lithium mining industry, once existing contracts with private companies (mainly SQM and ALB) expire.</li><li>SHW exits another paint market. When the company acquired Valspar, it did not only shore up its presence in the North American big-box distribution channel and expand its industrial coatings business, but it also gained exposure to non-North American paint markets, specifically China and Australia.</li><li>SHW divested the Australian business two years ago and now has also found a buyer (Akzo) for its Chinese paint business, which may have contributed to SHW topping the list of WTR-CMI stocks appreciating last week.</li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with the Russell 2000 appreciating 0.6% and the S&amp;P 500 remaining virtually unchanged at (0.1%), our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks underperformed, declining 0.3%, as lithium stocks led by ALB suffered from Chile’s decision to nationalize its lithium mining industry, once existing contracts with private companies (mainly SQM and ALB) expire.SHW exits another paint market. When the company acquired Valspar, it did not only shore up its presence in the North American big-box distribution channel and expand its industrial coatings business, but it also gained exposure to non-North American paint markets, specifically China and Australia.SHW divested the Australian business two years ago and now has also found a buyer (Akzo) for its Chinese paint business, which may have contributed to SHW topping the list of WTR-CMI stocks appreciating last week.

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 21, 2023

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>Ecolab delivered a mixed performance in the fourth quarter.</li><li>Organic sales increased by 12%, and sector-wise growth was strong but the company failed to meet the revenue expectations of Wall Street.</li><li>Healthcare & Life Sciences resumed growth and delivered 7% organic growth.</li></ul>

Ecolab delivered a mixed performance in the fourth quarter.Organic sales increased by 12%, and sector-wise growth was strong but the company failed to meet the revenue expectations of Wall Street.Healthcare & Life Sciences resumed growth and delivered 7% organic growth.

Ecolab Inc.: Collaboration With TotalEnergies & Other Drivers

Credit

<ul><li>Ecolab is a major provider of water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services.</li><li>The company has been benefitting from the recent price increases which has resulted in consistent double-digit organic sales growth in recent results.</li><li>They also invested in select breakthrough innovations to help customers save more water, energy, and cost, especially in Europe.</li></ul>

Ecolab is a major provider of water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services.The company has been benefitting from the recent price increases which has resulted in consistent double-digit organic sales growth in recent results.They also invested in select breakthrough innovations to help customers save more water, energy, and cost, especially in Europe.

Ecolab Inc.: Detailed Credit Analysis & Financial Strength Evaluation Report

<ul><li>This is our first report on Ecolab, a major provider of water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services.</li><li>The company delivered a below-par result with revenues just about meeting Wall Street expectations on account of the price increases.</li><li>The company saw overall pricing increasing from 9% to 12% and consistent double-digit organic sales growth of 13%.</li></ul>

This is our first report on Ecolab, a major provider of water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services.The company delivered a below-par result with revenues just about meeting Wall Street expectations on account of the price increases.The company saw overall pricing increasing from 9% to 12% and consistent double-digit organic sales growth of 13%.

Ecolab Inc.: Initiation of Coverage – Business Model & Key Drivers

United States

Ecolab Inc. is a global provider of water, hygiene, and energy technologies and services for customers in foodservice, food processing, hospitality, healthcare, industrial, and oil and gas markets. The Company's services include water treatments, cleaning and sanitizing solutions, pest elimination, and kitchen repair and maintenance services.

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Ecolab Inc (ECL US)

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 28, 2023

WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with S&P 500 appreciating 0.9% and the Russell 2000 slipping 1.3%

Water Tower Research

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 21, 2023

In what was a mixed week for the market, with the Russell 2000 appreciating 0.6% and the S&P 500 remaining virtually unchanged at (0.1%)

Water Tower Research

Ecolab Inc.: Collaboration With TotalEnergies & Other Drivers

Ecolab delivered a mixed performance in the fourth quarter. Organic sales increased by 12%, and sector-wise growth was strong but the company...

Baptista Research

Ecolab Inc.: Detailed Credit Analysis & Financial Strength Evaluation Report

Ecolab is a major provider of water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. The company has been benefitting from the recent...

Baptista Research

Ecolab Inc.: Initiation of Coverage – Business Model & Key Drivers

This is our first report on Ecolab, a major provider of water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. The company delivered a...

Baptista Research

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