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)

<div><div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p>WTR-CMI year to date. As we enter the final month of the third quarter, our index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks has underperformed the S&amp;P 500 and the Russell 2000 on both a YTD and Y/Y basis.</p></li><li><p>With most of the margin improvement benefit having played out over the course of 2022 and into 1Q23, stock performance of companies in our sector has been largely driven by market- and industry-specific dynamics and their effects on respective companies.</p></li><li><p>Thus, weaker pricing and customer inventory drawdowns affected the performance of FMC and AVD, which are both down more than 30% YTD. </p></li></ul></div></div></div>

WTR-CMI year to date. As we enter the final month of the third quarter, our index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks has underperformed the S&amp;P 500 and the Russell 2000 on both a YTD and Y/Y basis.With most of the margin improvement benefit having played out over the course of 2022 and into 1Q23, stock performance of companies in our sector has been largely driven by market- and industry-specific dynamics and their effects on respective companies.Thus, weaker pricing and customer inventory drawdowns affected the performance of FMC and AVD, which are both down more than 30% YTD. 

Mat-Chem Notes - For the Week Ended September 1, 2023

<ul><li>The WTR Sustainable Index underperformed the broader market, falling 4.8% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 2.1%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 3.4%), and the Nasdaq Index (down 2.2%).</li><li>Energy Technology (14.7% of the index) contributed to the index’s underperformance, falling 7.3%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (46.6% of the index) was down 2.1%, ClimateTech Mining was down 7.8%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions was down 6.8%.</li><li>Top 10 Performers: LYTS, EOSE, PE, RIDE, PGTK, BWEN, ORGN, SOLO, TGEN, ADSE</li></ul>

The WTR Sustainable Index underperformed the broader market, falling 4.8% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 2.1%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 3.4%), and the Nasdaq Index (down 2.2%).Energy Technology (14.7% of the index) contributed to the index’s underperformance, falling 7.3%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (46.6% of the index) was down 2.1%, ClimateTech Mining was down 7.8%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions was down 6.8%.Top 10 Performers: LYTS, EOSE, PE, RIDE, PGTK, BWEN, ORGN, SOLO, TGEN, ADSE

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended August 18, 2023

<div><ul><li>Electrovaya is a leading manufacturer of safe and long-lasting LIBs with differentiated performance and safety attributes, according to the company.</li><li>Electrovaya has two primary battery platforms: Infinity and SSB. The Infinity battery platform targets commercial vehicles, including lithium-ion e-forklifts, e-buses, and e-trucks.</li><li>This product has been launched commercially through global partners, including Toyota, Raymond, and Walmart. </li></ul></div>

Electrovaya is a leading manufacturer of safe and long-lasting LIBs with differentiated performance and safety attributes, according to the company.Electrovaya has two primary battery platforms: Infinity and SSB. The Infinity battery platform targets commercial vehicles, including lithium-ion e-forklifts, e-buses, and e-trucks.This product has been launched commercially through global partners, including Toyota, Raymond, and Walmart. 

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended August 11, 2023

<ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p>The Fed raised rates 0.25% at the July FOMC meeting on Wednesday, bringing the fed funds rate to 5.25% to 5.50%.</p></li><li><p>Stocks rallied, as investors sense the Fed may be nearing the end of its rate-hike cycle.</p></li><li><p>The S&amp;P 500 gained 1.05%, while the MSCI World Index climbed 0.82%.</p></li></ul>

The Fed raised rates 0.25% at the July FOMC meeting on Wednesday, bringing the fed funds rate to 5.25% to 5.50%.Stocks rallied, as investors sense the Fed may be nearing the end of its rate-hike cycle.The S&amp;P 500 gained 1.05%, while the MSCI World Index climbed 0.82%.

The Highlights - Cannabis News for the Week Ending July 28, 2023

<ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p>WTR-CMI last week. In a flat to down market last week, with S&amp;P 500 holding steady with 0.1% price change and Russell 2000 losing 0.9% of its value, our proprietary WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and material technology companies appreciated 0.5% for the week, led by 8.5% appreciation in ALB, which seemed to pull along other lithium names, including PLL, LAC and LTHM, which all posted 2-4% returns.</p></li><li><p>EAF was the index’s laggard, losing 9.4% of its value, possibly due to continued softness in the iron ore and steel production sectors.</p></li><li><p>EU relooks at GMO crops. Long a bulwark against expansion of GMO crops, the EU is taking another look at the 2001 rules which were a major obstacle to market penetration by genetically modified seeds that provide better yields, higher nutritional value, and require less water and less pesticides to produce.</p></li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. In a flat to down market last week, with S&amp;P 500 holding steady with 0.1% price change and Russell 2000 losing 0.9% of its value, our proprietary WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and material technology companies appreciated 0.5% for the week, led by 8.5% appreciation in ALB, which seemed to pull along other lithium names, including PLL, LAC and LTHM, which all posted 2-4% returns.EAF was the index’s laggard, losing 9.4% of its value, possibly due to continued softness in the iron ore and steel production sectors.EU relooks at GMO crops. Long a bulwark against expansion of GMO crops, the EU is taking another look at the 2001 rules which were a major obstacle to market penetration by genetically modified seeds that provide better yields, higher nutritional value, and require less water and less pesticides to produce.

United States

The Russell 2000 Index is comprised of the smallest 2000 companies in the Russell 3000 Index, representing approximately 8% of the Russell 3000 total market capitalization. The index was developed with a base value of 135.00 as of December 31, 1986.

Russell 2000 Index (RTY INDEX)

Mat-Chem Notes - For the Week Ended September 1, 2023

As we enter the final month of the third quarter, our index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks has underperformed the S&P 500 and the...

Water Tower Research

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended August 18, 2023

The WTR Sustainable Index underperformed the broader market, falling 4.8% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (down 2.1%), the Russell 2000 Index (down...

Water Tower Research

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended August 11, 2023

Electrovaya is a leading manufacturer of safe and long-lasting LIBs with differentiated performance and safety attributes, according to the company.

Water Tower Research

The Highlights - Cannabis News for the Week Ending July 28, 2023

Stocks rallied, as investors sense the Fed may be nearing the end of its rate-hike cycle. The S&P 500 gained 1.05%, while the MSCI World Index...

Water Tower Research

Mat Chem Notes Week Ending July 9, 2023

EAF was the index’s laggard, losing 9.4% of its value, possibly due to continued softness in the iron ore and steel production sectors.

Water Tower Research