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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. The third quarter ended on a down note, with the S&amp;P 500 losing 3.7% and the Russell 2000 dropping 2.7%.</li><li>Our WTR-CMI index slightly underperformed the Russell 2000, declining 3.0% for the week. Coincidently, RYAM led the performance of stocks in our index, appreciating 18% last week, as news spread of one of its main competitors in commodity markets announcing the intention to shut down a major wood pulp production plant in the US</li><li>Lithium (LAC and PLL) and ag- chem stocks (FMC and AVD) were the worst performers in our index last week on lower lithium prices and signs of slowing EV demand, and a weaker farmer outlook for 2024/25 season.</li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. The third quarter ended on a down note, with the S&amp;P 500 losing 3.7% and the Russell 2000 dropping 2.7%.Our WTR-CMI index slightly underperformed the Russell 2000, declining 3.0% for the week. Coincidently, RYAM led the performance of stocks in our index, appreciating 18% last week, as news spread of one of its main competitors in commodity markets announcing the intention to shut down a major wood pulp production plant in the USLithium (LAC and PLL) and ag- chem stocks (FMC and AVD) were the worst performers in our index last week on lower lithium prices and signs of slowing EV demand, and a weaker farmer outlook for 2024/25 season.

Mat-Chem Notes For the Week Ended September 29, 2023

<div><div><div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p>WTR-CMI last week. Last week saw the market retrench, with the S&amp;P 500 losing 1.3%, while our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks managed to modestly outperform the broader Russell 2000 index (-3.6%) by declining 3.4%.</p></li><li><p>Only one stock in our index, SXT, managed a positive gain for the week, appreciating 3%. FMC was the worst performer in our index, losing 12.3% of its value on a short seller’s report that the company felt obliged to address.</p></li><li><p>Ag-tech portfolio shuffles continue. Privately held DLF, a global seed company, completed the acquisition of CTVA’s alfalfa seed breeding program, which was announced last month.</p></li></ul></div></div></div></div>

WTR-CMI last week. Last week saw the market retrench, with the S&amp;P 500 losing 1.3%, while our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks managed to modestly outperform the broader Russell 2000 index (-3.6%) by declining 3.4%.Only one stock in our index, SXT, managed a positive gain for the week, appreciating 3%. FMC was the worst performer in our index, losing 12.3% of its value on a short seller’s report that the company felt obliged to address.Ag-tech portfolio shuffles continue. Privately held DLF, a global seed company, completed the acquisition of CTVA’s alfalfa seed breeding program, which was announced last month.

Mat-Chem Notes For the Week Ended September 8, 2023

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<li><span style="font-size: var(--content-font-size);">WTR Sustainable Index: During the week ended July 7, 2023, the WTR Sustainable Index outperformed the broader market, rising 3.3% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 1.2%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 1.3%), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (down 0.9%).</span></li>
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<p>Advanced Transportation Solutions (75.2% of the index) contributed to the index’s outperformance, rising 4.7%, while Energy Technology (6.5% of the index) was up 0.4% and Industrial Climate and Ag Technology was down 0.8%.</p>
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<p>Valuation: Based on forward 12-month consensus estimates, the current P/E ratio of the WTR Sustainable index is 25.3x versus 20.5x for the S&amp;P 500.</p>
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WTR Sustainable Index: During the week ended July 7, 2023, the WTR Sustainable Index outperformed the broader market, rising 3.3% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 1.2%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 1.3%), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (down 0.9%).







Advanced Transportation Solutions (75.2% of the index) contributed to the index’s outperformance, rising 4.7%, while Energy Technology (6.5% of the index) was up 0.4% and Industrial Climate and Ag Technology was down 0.8%.


Valuation: Based on forward 12-month consensus estimates, the current P/E ratio of the WTR Sustainable index is 25.3x versus 20.5x for the S&amp;P 500.



Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor Week Ended July 7, 2023

<ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p>WTR-CMI last week. In an up-week for the market, our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemical and material technology companies appreciated 4.8%, surpassing both the S&amp;P 500 and Russell 2000 returns of 2.3% and 3.7%, respectively.</p></li><li><p>FUL’s 13.2% appreciation led our index, as the company delivered strong margins in 2QFY23 (May- 23) and provided solid EBITDA guidance for the year.</p></li><li><p>The stock was also helped by FUL’s announcement of two bolt- on acquisitions, Adhezion Biomedical, a privately held medical adhesives company, and XCHEM International, a UAE specialty adhesives manufacturer with a strong position in MENA. </p></li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. In an up-week for the market, our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemical and material technology companies appreciated 4.8%, surpassing both the S&amp;P 500 and Russell 2000 returns of 2.3% and 3.7%, respectively.FUL’s 13.2% appreciation led our index, as the company delivered strong margins in 2QFY23 (May- 23) and provided solid EBITDA guidance for the year.The stock was also helped by FUL’s announcement of two bolt- on acquisitions, Adhezion Biomedical, a privately held medical adhesives company, and XCHEM International, a UAE specialty adhesives manufacturer with a strong position in MENA. 

Mat-Chem Notes For the Week Ended June 30, 2023

<ul><li>WTR-CMI last week. As the markets continue to recover from the 2022 doldrums, both the S&amp;P 500 and the Russell 2000 posted weekly gains of 3.1% and 0.5%, respectively.</li><li>Our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks appreciated 1.4% over the last week.</li><li>YTD, our index is up 8.1%, above the Russell 2000’s 7.3% appreciation, but below the large-cap S&amp;P 500’s 15.3% recovery.</li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. As the markets continue to recover from the 2022 doldrums, both the S&amp;P 500 and the Russell 2000 posted weekly gains of 3.1% and 0.5%, respectively.Our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks appreciated 1.4% over the last week.YTD, our index is up 8.1%, above the Russell 2000’s 7.3% appreciation, but below the large-cap S&amp;P 500’s 15.3% recovery.

Mat-Chem Notes For the Week Ended June 16, 2023

United States

GrafTech International Ltd. manufactures and provides natural and synthetic graphite and carbon based products and services. The Company offers graphite electrodes, petroleum needle coke, crystalline form of carbon, and energy solutions for manufacture of steel, aluminum, silicon metal, automotive products, and electronics. GrafTech International serves customers worldwide.

GrafTech International Ltd (EAF US)

Mat-Chem Notes For the Week Ended September 29, 2023

WTR-CMI last week. The third quarter ended on a down note, with the S&P 500 losing 3.7% and the Russell 2000 dropping 2.7%.

Water Tower Research

Mat-Chem Notes For the Week Ended September 8, 2023

Ag-tech portfolio shuffles continue. Privately held DLF, a global seed company, completed the acquisition of CTVA’s alfalfa seed breeding program,...

Water Tower Research

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor Week Ended July 7, 2023

Based on forward 12-month consensus estimates, the current P/E ratio of the WTR Sustainable index is 25.3x versus 20.5x for the S&P 500.

Water Tower Research

Mat-Chem Notes For the Week Ended June 30, 2023

FUL’s 13.2% appreciation led our index, as the company delivered strong margins in 2QFY23 (May- 23) and provided solid EBITDA guidance for the year.

Water Tower Research

Mat-Chem Notes For the Week Ended June 16, 2023

WTR-CMI last week. As the markets continue to recover from the 2022 doldrums, both the S&P 500 and the Russell 2000 posted weekly gains of 3.1% and...

Water Tower Research