Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

COVID-19 vaccines figure into Biden's recently-announced COVID-19 response plan, though with a clear emphasis on distribution versus development (as was Trump's focus). Biden's prioritisation of vaccine distribution – and the US$25 billion earmarked for it – is a gift for "cold chain" stocks."Cold chain" refers to a complex temperature-controlled supply chain that is mission-critical to the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Critical, because vaccines require consistent ultra-cold storage from manufacture to needle-stick, otherwise those expensive vaccines become medical waste.This Insight looks at cold chain stocks as an investment theme inherent in Biden's COVID-19 plan (see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/biden-covid-19-response-plan-overview-of-its-inherent-investment-themes" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45631" rel="noopener">Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Overview of Its Inherent Investment Themes</a>). Although the cold chain is fragmented and largely privately-held, but there are opportunities in three areas:<ol>
<li>
Freight and Logistics: Most listed companies fall into this category, including both integrated cold chain freight and logistics stocks, as well as niche players in either of freight or logistics.</li>
<li>
Freezer Manufacturers: Ultra-cold freezer boxes and related industrial components of various shapes and sizes are needed for the cold chain to function. Several stocks serve this segment.</li>
<li>
Specialty Chemicals: Dry ice gets all the headlines, as massive amounts are needed but supply is short, but other specialty chemicals and industrial gases are also needed in the cold chain.</li>
</ol>

COVID-19 vaccines figure into Biden's recently-announced COVID-19 response plan, though with a clear emphasis on distribution versus development (as was Trump's focus). Biden's prioritisation of vaccine distribution – and the US$25 billion earmarked for it – is a gift for "cold chain" stocks."Cold chain" refers to a complex temperature-controlled supply chain that is mission-critical to the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Critical, because vaccines require consistent ultra-cold storage from manufacture to needle-stick, otherwise those expensive vaccines become medical waste.This Insight looks at cold chain stocks as an investment theme inherent in Biden's COVID-19 plan (see Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Overview of Its Inherent Investment Themes). Although the cold chain is fragmented and largely privately-held, but there are opportunities in three areas:

Freight and Logistics: Most listed companies fall into this category, including both integrated cold chain freight and logistics stocks, as well as niche players in either of freight or logistics.

Freezer Manufacturers: Ultra-cold freezer boxes and related industrial components of various shapes and sizes are needed for the cold chain to function. Several stocks serve this segment.

Specialty Chemicals: Dry ice gets all the headlines, as massive amounts are needed but supply is short, but other specialty chemicals and industrial gases are also needed in the cold chain.


Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Cold Chain Transportation and Logistics Stocks Benefit

The Biden-Harris administration recently announced four "Day One" priorities, the first of which is their COVID-19 response plan. COVID-19 response is first, because it is a prerequisite to economic recovery, which is the second of their four "Day One" priorities.Several investment themes are inherent in Biden's COVID-19 plan, some more direct and obvious than others. This Insight overviews more significant themes and their most representative stocks, in three sections (the first two will be expanded on in separate upcoming reports):<ol>
<li>
COVID-19 Testing: Testing is the largest, most tangible, nearest-term investment opportunity created by Biden's plan. An estimated US$75-100 billion for testing could be windfall for certain stocks, but not all. Selectivity is key, and timing is critical (related to vaccine development).</li>
<li>
Vaccine Delivery: Biden's plan emphasises vaccine manufacturing and delivery, versus vaccine development (Trump had allocated <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/explaining-operation-warp-speed/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">billions</a> to vaccine development companies). Some might go to big pharma companies for M&amp;D, but most should benefit other "cold chain" stocks.</li>
<li>
PPE Supply/Other: PPE manufacturing, of course, but that is largely old news. I will address it, but do so along with other more interesting collateral themes. For example, retail drugs chains, elder-care, medical technologies, and a few other related industries.</li>
</ol>

The Biden-Harris administration recently announced four "Day One" priorities, the first of which is their COVID-19 response plan. COVID-19 response is first, because it is a prerequisite to economic recovery, which is the second of their four "Day One" priorities.Several investment themes are inherent in Biden's COVID-19 plan, some more direct and obvious than others. This Insight overviews more significant themes and their most representative stocks, in three sections (the first two will be expanded on in separate upcoming reports):

COVID-19 Testing: Testing is the largest, most tangible, nearest-term investment opportunity created by Biden's plan. An estimated US$75-100 billion for testing could be windfall for certain stocks, but not all. Selectivity is key, and timing is critical (related to vaccine development).

Vaccine Delivery: Biden's plan emphasises vaccine manufacturing and delivery, versus vaccine development (Trump had allocated billions to vaccine development companies). Some might go to big pharma companies for M&amp;D, but most should benefit other "cold chain" stocks.

PPE Supply/Other: PPE manufacturing, of course, but that is largely old news. I will address it, but do so along with other more interesting collateral themes. For example, retail drugs chains, elder-care, medical technologies, and a few other related industries.


Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Overview of Its Inherent Investment Themes

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

While Tech continues to plot higher, still mocking reversion-to-the-mean forces, sector leadership is broadening into value segments. Two stand out: Energy and Materials. Both exhibit timely technicals, and we expect both to yield relative outperformance in 2018. Overweight. In today’s report we highlight actionable names within global the Energy and Materials sectors.

While Tech continues to plot higher, still mocking reversion-to-the-mean forces, sector leadership is broadening into value segments. Two stand out: Energy and Materials. Both exhibit timely technicals, and we expect both to yield relative outperformance in 2018. Overweight. In today’s report we highlight actionable names within global the Energy and Materials sectors.

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>On May 1, the TSE designated <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-water-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18073:1" rel="noopener">Air Water Inc (4088 JP)</a> a Security on Special Alert. This is a relatively new designation category with big impact. </li>
<li>This happens when the TSE deems the Company violated terms of the Code of Corporate Conduct. This was something of a known known. </li>
<li>This triggers index deletions in the very near-term. The stock reacted badly on Friday, but big picture the stock is cheap. </li>
</ul>


On May 1, the TSE designated Air Water Inc (4088 JP) a Security on Special Alert. This is a relatively new designation category with big impact. 
This happens when the TSE deems the Company violated terms of the Code of Corporate Conduct. This was something of a known known. 
This triggers index deletions in the very near-term. The stock reacted badly on Friday, but big picture the stock is cheap. 


[Quiddity Index] Air Water (4088) Accounting SNAFUs Mean Big Index Deletion Imminent

Information Technology Consultant

Ishita Jain

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Electric vehicles (“EVs”) have been around for some time now in various shapes and forms. While they have always held immense promise, mass adoption has eluded the industry. As more carmakers jump onto the bandwagon, it is worthwhile exploring the opportunities and circumstances that may finally see a trend towards mass adoption. The purpose of this insight is to shed some light on the hype around EVs, the trends in costs of EVs and investment avenues.

Electric vehicles (“EVs”) have been around for some time now in various shapes and forms. While they have always held immense promise, mass adoption has eluded the industry. As more carmakers jump onto the bandwagon, it is worthwhile exploring the opportunities and circumstances that may finally see a trend towards mass adoption. The purpose of this insight is to shed some light on the hype around EVs, the trends in costs of EVs and investment avenues.

Germany

Linde Aktiengesellschaft operates as an gas engineering company. The Company supplies industrial, process, and speciality gases, as well as offers compressed, liquefied gases, and chemicals for steel production, chemical processing, environmental protection, and welding industries. Linde serves clients worldwide.

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

Linde (LINU GR)

Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Cold Chain Transportation and Logistics Stocks Benefit

Biden's COVID-19 response plan earmarks US$25 billion to vaccines, but with a twist. His emphasis is vaccine distribution, not development. That...

Kyle Rudden

Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Overview of Its Inherent Investment Themes

Biden's recently-announced COVID-19 response plan suggests a number of investment themes. This Insight overviews the more significant of those...

Kyle Rudden

Look to Commodity Sectors for Leadership

While Tech continues to plot higher, still mocking reversion-to-the-mean forces, sector leadership is broadening into value segments. Two...

Vermilion Research

[Quiddity Index] Air Water (4088) Accounting SNAFUs Mean Big Index Deletion Imminent

Air Water had a multi-year run where inappropriate accounting was implemented and seemingly approved. It's bad. Thankfully it's a small portion of...

Travis Lundy

Investing in Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (“EVs”) have been around for some time now in various shapes and forms. While they have always held immense promise, mass...

Ishita Jain

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)