Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

U.S. President-Elect Joe Biden recently announced four "Day One" priorities for his administration. The first of those priorities is an aggressive seven-point COVID-19 response plan, the first point of which is COVID-19 testing. Testing is Biden's near-term focus, and testing stocks stand to gain.As noted in <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>, testing stocks represent the largest, most tangible, and nearest-term investment opportunity amongst the various themes inherent in Biden's COVID-19 plan (summarised in the Insight linked to above).Don't just back up the truck, however. The plan could be boon for testing stocks,  but it is harldy a "rising tide lifts all boats" scenario. It creates a window of upside for some of testing stocks, though not all, and it's a brief window replete with nuances and caveats. Selectivity and timing are key.This Insight presents an investment thesis for the COVID-19 testing stock theme, specifically vis-à-vis the details of the plan. It consists of two phases (time horizons), and two types of stocks:<ol>
<li>
Nearer-Term: Focus on diagnostic (versus antibody) testing stocks, especially those whose tests have fit best with Biden's "rapid deployment, rapid results" testing strategy. For example, rapid antigent tests, others with fast time-to-results, point-of-care and at-home collection, etc.</li>
<li>
Medium-Term: COVID-19 vaccine progress is a major catalyst for this theme. Vaccines will not end testing altogether (at least not soon), but as mass-vaccination becomes more reality than a dream, it would be wise to shift out of from diagnostic stocks into antibody testing stocks.</li>
</ol>

U.S. President-Elect Joe Biden recently announced four "Day One" priorities for his administration. The first of those priorities is an aggressive seven-point COVID-19 response plan, the first point of which is COVID-19 testing. Testing is Biden's near-term focus, and testing stocks stand to gain.As noted in Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Overview of Its Inherent Investment Themes, testing stocks represent the largest, most tangible, and nearest-term investment opportunity amongst the various themes inherent in Biden's COVID-19 plan (summarised in the Insight linked to above).Don't just back up the truck, however. The plan could be boon for testing stocks,  but it is harldy a "rising tide lifts all boats" scenario. It creates a window of upside for some of testing stocks, though not all, and it's a brief window replete with nuances and caveats. Selectivity and timing are key.This Insight presents an investment thesis for the COVID-19 testing stock theme, specifically vis-à-vis the details of the plan. It consists of two phases (time horizons), and two types of stocks:

Nearer-Term: Focus on diagnostic (versus antibody) testing stocks, especially those whose tests have fit best with Biden's "rapid deployment, rapid results" testing strategy. For example, rapid antigent tests, others with fast time-to-results, point-of-care and at-home collection, etc.

Medium-Term: COVID-19 vaccine progress is a major catalyst for this theme. Vaccines will not end testing altogether (at least not soon), but as mass-vaccination becomes more reality than a dream, it would be wise to shift out of from diagnostic stocks into antibody testing stocks.


Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Its Largest Near-Term Opportunity Is In Testing Stocks

IPO and L/S equity, 2015 Starmine top stock picker, Global Equity Research Ltd

Rickin Thakrar

IPO and L/S equity, 2015 Starmine top stock picker

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/qiagen-nv" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26865:1" rel="noopener">QIAGEN NV (QIA GY)</a> shares have gone from strength to strength with the stock trading above terms and then receiving a bump bid late last week. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/thermo-fisher-scientific-inc-49322cfa-b354-4c3d-ac3b-f4e91aead32b" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26834:1" rel="noopener">Thermo Fisher (TMO UN)</a> raised its bid on Qiagen by 900 million euros (1bn USD) to 43 euros per share. This represents a c10% increase in the bid price. In addition, Thermo Fisher has reduced the minimum acceptance threshold to 66.67% of outstanding ordinary share capital from 75%, while extending the deal deadline by two weeks until August 10. Prominent hedge fund Davidson Kempner said it would still reject the offer and noted a price of between 48-52 euros would be appropriate. (Source: Reuters)  Indeed, Qiagen, a biotech company that makes products related to coronavirus testing, has seen a swelling of demand for its products and also recently upgraded its earnings forecasts. We give our updated view on Qiagen below the fold. Our previous positive research on the deal can be viewed here:<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/feedback-from-qiagen-ir-regarding-thermo-fisher-deal" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:37771" rel="noopener">Feedback from Qiagen IR Regarding Thermo Fisher Deal</a> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/thermofisher-bids-for-qiagen-a-covid-19-pivot" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:37556" rel="noopener">Thermofisher Bids for Qiagen - A COVID-19 Pivot?</a>

QIAGEN NV (QIA GY) shares have gone from strength to strength with the stock trading above terms and then receiving a bump bid late last week. Thermo Fisher (TMO UN) raised its bid on Qiagen by 900 million euros (1bn USD) to 43 euros per share. This represents a c10% increase in the bid price. In addition, Thermo Fisher has reduced the minimum acceptance threshold to 66.67% of outstanding ordinary share capital from 75%, while extending the deal deadline by two weeks until August 10. Prominent hedge fund Davidson Kempner said it would still reject the offer and noted a price of between 48-52 euros would be appropriate. (Source: Reuters)  Indeed, Qiagen, a biotech company that makes products related to coronavirus testing, has seen a swelling of demand for its products and also recently upgraded its earnings forecasts. We give our updated view on Qiagen below the fold. Our previous positive research on the deal can be viewed here:Feedback from Qiagen IR Regarding Thermo Fisher Deal Thermofisher Bids for Qiagen - A COVID-19 Pivot? 

Qiagen/Thermo Fisher: Qiagen Gets a Bump – Is It Enough to Satisfy Shareholders?

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

Despite the bulls still being in control, we have several ongoing concerns and we cannot rule out the potential for a pullback. Below we highlight developments that are inconsistent with a major bottom in equities that suggests the broad equity market is not yet out of the woods.  In fact, during today's action, the 2760 support level on the S&amp;P 500 briefly held but ultimately gave way. With the SPX holding below 2760 today, we are looking for downside targets of 2650 first, and then potentially 2470 if that fails to hold.

Despite the bulls still being in control, we have several ongoing concerns and we cannot rule out the potential for a pullback. Below we highlight developments that are inconsistent with a major bottom in equities that suggests the broad equity market is not yet out of the woods.  In fact, during today's action, the 2760 support level on the S&amp;P 500 briefly held but ultimately gave way. With the SPX holding below 2760 today, we are looking for downside targets of 2650 first, and then potentially 2470 if that fails to hold.

U.S. Equity Strategy: Several Indicators Suggest a Pullback Likely

S&amp;P 500 Potential Support Levels. Current logical support levels we are monitoring include the December 2018 low of 2,346 and prior resistance in 2015-2016 at 2,130-2,200. The 2,346 level would make a lot of sense, however there is nothing that says we can’t be down 35% (coinciding with the 2,130-2,200 level) or more from the highs. Ultimately, COVID-19 is holding the market hostage and it likely will stay that way until the virus spread diminishes.

S&amp;P 500 Potential Support Levels. Current logical support levels we are monitoring include the December 2018 low of 2,346 and prior resistance in 2015-2016 at 2,130-2,200. The 2,346 level would make a lot of sense, however there is nothing that says we can’t be down 35% (coinciding with the 2,130-2,200 level) or more from the highs. Ultimately, COVID-19 is holding the market hostage and it likely will stay that way until the virus spread diminishes.

S&P 500 Technical Appraisal and Support Levels

Major indexes broke below the key support levels we were watching on the Nasdaq Composite (8,264), S&amp;P 500 (2,855), DJI (24,681) and Russell 2000 (1,448), ushering-in additional downside. We view these levels as logical areas of potential short-term resistance moving forward.   In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Health Care and Services: Pharmaceuticals, Mega- &amp; Large-Cap , Biotech , Diagnostic &amp; Test Products, Diagnostic &amp; Test Services, and Education Svcs., China

Major indexes broke below the key support levels we were watching on the Nasdaq Composite (8,264), S&amp;P 500 (2,855), DJI (24,681) and Russell 2000 (1,448), ushering-in additional downside. We view these levels as logical areas of potential short-term resistance moving forward.   In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Health Care and Services: Pharmaceuticals, Mega- &amp; Large-Cap , Biotech , Diagnostic &amp; Test Products, Diagnostic &amp; Test Services, and Education Svcs., China

United States

Luminex Corporation develops, manufactures and markets biological testing technologies with applications throughout the clinical diagnostic and life science industries. The Company's open-architecture technologies enable large numbers of biological tests (bioassays) to be conducted and analyzed quickly and accurately.

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Luminex Corp (LMNX US)

Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Its Largest Near-Term Opportunity Is In Testing Stocks

COVID-19 testing stocks represent the largest, most tangible, and nearest-term investment opportunity inherent in Biden's recently-announced COVID...

Kyle Rudden

Qiagen/Thermo Fisher: Qiagen Gets a Bump – Is It Enough to Satisfy Shareholders?

QIAGEN NV (QIA GY) shares have gone from strength to strength with the stock trading above terms and then receiving a bump bid late last week....

Rickin Thakrar

U.S. Equity Strategy: Several Indicators Suggest a Pullback Likely

Despite the bulls still being in control, we have several ongoing concerns and we cannot rule out the potential for a pullback. Below we highlight...

Vermilion Research

S&P 500 Technical Appraisal and Support Levels

S&P 500 Potential Support Levels. Current logical support levels we are monitoring include the December 2018 low of 2,346 and prior resistance...

Vermilion Research

S&P 500: Long-Term Oversold

Major indexes broke below the key support levels we were watching on the Nasdaq Composite (8,264), S&P 500 (2,855), DJI (24,681) and Russell...

Vermilion Research

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