New Zealand Professional Investment Services Firm, Forsyth Barr

Forsyth Barr

New Zealand Professional Investment Services Firm

We are proud to be a New Zealand owned firm, with 21 offices throughout the country and over 300 employees. We assist personal, institutional and corporate clients providing a full range of investment services.

Forsyth Barr is a foundation New Zealand Exchange firm (NZX) and accredited market participant. We have been confirmed by the Financial Markets Authority as a Qualifying Financial Entity (QFE).

Research is the cornerstone of our advice. We have one of New Zealand's leading teams of analysts. Our global affiliations ensure comprehensive research coverage of all major investment markets.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>2024 ended with index considerations influencing short-term share prices, such that we have downgraded Contact Energy (CEN) to NEUTRAL and reiterate the buying opportunity in Mercury (MCY).</li>
<li>The likely inclusion of CEN at the expense of MCY in the MSCI Standard Index has seen CEN’s share price pop and MCY's drop.</li>
<li>2024 was dominated by two events that will shape the sector in the years ahead. </li>
</ul>


2024 ended with index considerations influencing short-term share prices, such that we have downgraded Contact Energy (CEN) to NEUTRAL and reiterate the buying opportunity in Mercury (MCY).
The likely inclusion of CEN at the expense of MCY in the MSCI Standard Index has seen CEN’s share price pop and MCY's drop.
2024 was dominated by two events that will shape the sector in the years ahead. 


Power Points Index Opportunities — January 2025

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/contact-energy-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13136:1" rel="noopener">Contact Energy (CEN NZ)</a> has outperformed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mighty-river-power" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9933:1" rel="noopener">Mercury NZ Ltd (MCY NZ)</a> over the last month off the back of expected passive flows in February.</li>
<li>Despite the outperformance, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/contact-energy-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13136:1" rel="noopener">Contact Energy (CEN NZ)</a> trades at a lower forward PE compared to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mighty-river-power" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9933:1" rel="noopener">Mercury NZ Ltd (MCY NZ)</a>, though it does trade at a higher Price to Book. </li>
<li>There could be large passive inflows to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/contact-energy-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13136:1" rel="noopener">Contact Energy (CEN NZ)</a> and large passive outflows from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mighty-river-power" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9933:1" rel="noopener">Mercury NZ Ltd (MCY NZ)</a> in February.</li>
</ul>



Contact Energy (CEN NZ) has outperformed Mercury NZ Ltd (MCY NZ) over the last month off the back of expected passive flows in February.
Despite the outperformance, Contact Energy (CEN NZ) trades at a lower forward PE compared to Mercury NZ Ltd (MCY NZ), though it does trade at a higher Price to Book. 
There could be large passive inflows to Contact Energy (CEN NZ) and large passive outflows from Mercury NZ Ltd (MCY NZ) in February.


NZ: Contact Energy (CEN NZ) Hotter Than Mercury (MCY NZ) As Catalyst Looms

<ul><li>Continued strong hydro inflows and remarkably strong electricity demand growth were the key take outs from November 2024.</li><li>Risks of a repeat of winter 2024 appear low, based on ASX futures prices.</li><li>With Contact Energy’s (CEN) Te Huka geothermal plant starting its month-long reliability run, there is significantly more generation in the market compared to 12 months ago. </li></ul>

Continued strong hydro inflows and remarkably strong electricity demand growth were the key take outs from November 2024.Risks of a repeat of winter 2024 appear low, based on ASX futures prices.With Contact Energy’s (CEN) Te Huka geothermal plant starting its month-long reliability run, there is significantly more generation in the market compared to 12 months ago. 

Power Points - Looking Ahead to the New Year — Dec 2024

<ul><li>October 2024 was another strong hydro inflow month, with lake levels rising well above average, helping to suppress wholesale electricity prices and relieve winter 2025 anxiety.</li><li>Energy Margin analysis indicates Mercury (MCY) had the strongest month operationally of the generator/retailers, with Meridian Energy (MEL) still held back by the high cost hedging it took out.</li><li>With Methanex recommencing operations, November 2024 should be a more representative month for the generator/retailers. </li></ul>

October 2024 was another strong hydro inflow month, with lake levels rising well above average, helping to suppress wholesale electricity prices and relieve winter 2025 anxiety.Energy Margin analysis indicates Mercury (MCY) had the strongest month operationally of the generator/retailers, with Meridian Energy (MEL) still held back by the high cost hedging it took out.With Methanex recommencing operations, November 2024 should be a more representative month for the generator/retailers. 

Power Points - Hydro Recovery Continues — November 2024

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>It's a case of what could have been for Genesis Energy (GNE), with rain coming at a good time for the sector, but a little too early from GNE's perspective.</li><li>The effects of the 4Q24/1Q25 dry period are evident in GNE's 1Q25 operating statistics, with record high thermal fuel costs and a lower gas retail margin impacting profitability.</li><li>It is very hard for thermal generators to make money in the New Zealand market, and 1Q25 is another example of that. </li></ul>

It's a case of what could have been for Genesis Energy (GNE), with rain coming at a good time for the sector, but a little too early from GNE's perspective.The effects of the 4Q24/1Q25 dry period are evident in GNE's 1Q25 operating statistics, with record high thermal fuel costs and a lower gas retail margin impacting profitability.It is very hard for thermal generators to make money in the New Zealand market, and 1Q25 is another example of that. 

Genesis Energy - Dry Spell Upside A Mirage — 1Q25 Op Stats

New Zealand

Genesis Energy Ltd. generates, transports, and retails electricity. The Company owns and operates hydroelectric generating stations to produce electricity, as well as explores natural gas and bottled liquefied petroleum gas.

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Genesis Energy (GNE NZ)

Power Points Index Opportunities — January 2025

2024 ended with index considerations influencing short-term share prices, such that we have downgraded Contact Energy (CEN) to NEUTRAL and...

Forsyth Barr

NZ: Contact Energy (CEN NZ) Hotter Than Mercury (MCY NZ) As Catalyst Looms

Contact Energy has outperformed Mercury NZ over the last couple of months. A major catalyst is the potential migration of the stocks between size...

Brian Freitas

Power Points - Looking Ahead to the New Year — Dec 2024

Continued strong hydro inflows and remarkably strong electricity demand growth were the key take outs from November 2024.

Forsyth Barr

Power Points - Hydro Recovery Continues — November 2024

October 2024 was another strong hydro inflow month, with lake levels rising well above average, helping to suppress wholesale electricity prices...

Forsyth Barr

Genesis Energy - Dry Spell Upside A Mirage — 1Q25 Op Stats

It's a case of what could have been for Genesis Energy (GNE), with rain coming at a good time for the sector, but a little too early...

Forsyth Barr

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