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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>Heavy lithium. Halfway through the year, the S&amp;P 500 has appreciated 15.4% YTD, driven by the strong performance of the Magnificent Seven, even as the remaining 490+ companies saw their stock prices move more in line with the Russell 2000, which itself posted an 7.8% gain YTD.</li><li>Over the same timeframe, the WTR-CMI Index delivered a disappointing 4.4% gain under the weight of lithium and graphite companies losing 36-62% of their value due to collapsing lithium and synthetic graphite prices, driven by slower growth of EVs and steel production and liquidation of excess inventories by customers, built over the course of 2022-23.</li><li>Sticky costs remain as pricing power wanes. Over the course of 2022-23, many companies experiencing a rapid rise in raw material costs, driven by higher petrochemical prices and rising costs of transportation and logistics aggressively raised prices in an attempt to preserve profits, if not profit margins. </li></ul>

Heavy lithium. Halfway through the year, the S&amp;P 500 has appreciated 15.4% YTD, driven by the strong performance of the Magnificent Seven, even as the remaining 490+ companies saw their stock prices move more in line with the Russell 2000, which itself posted an 7.8% gain YTD.Over the same timeframe, the WTR-CMI Index delivered a disappointing 4.4% gain under the weight of lithium and graphite companies losing 36-62% of their value due to collapsing lithium and synthetic graphite prices, driven by slower growth of EVs and steel production and liquidation of excess inventories by customers, built over the course of 2022-23.Sticky costs remain as pricing power wanes. Over the course of 2022-23, many companies experiencing a rapid rise in raw material costs, driven by higher petrochemical prices and rising costs of transportation and logistics aggressively raised prices in an attempt to preserve profits, if not profit margins. 

Mat-Chem Notes - Between a Rock and a Hard Place - 2H24 Outlook

<ul><li>The WTR Sustainable Index was down 3.6% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 2.0%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 1.7%) and the Nasdaq Index (down 4.0%).</li><li>Energy Technology (14.4% of the index) was down 8.1%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (59.6% of the index) was down 1.7%, ClimateTech Mining was down 7.0%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (20.7% of index) was down 6.0%.</li><li>Top 10 Performers: ARVL, ZAPP, NAAS, VMC, PEGY, QS, LCID, OUST, EVGO, COMM</li></ul>

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 3.6% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 2.0%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 1.7%) and the Nasdaq Index (down 4.0%).Energy Technology (14.4% of the index) was down 8.1%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (59.6% of the index) was down 1.7%, ClimateTech Mining was down 7.0%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (20.7% of index) was down 6.0%.Top 10 Performers: ARVL, ZAPP, NAAS, VMC, PEGY, QS, LCID, OUST, EVGO, COMM

Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Focus on Westwater Resources, Inc. (WWR)

<ul><li>The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) has underperformed the S&amp;P500 and Russell 2000 indices during 2024 (Fig 1).</li><li>The S&amp;P 500 has gained ~18%, outpacing the ~8% rise in the XLE and the ~6% rise in the Russell 2000.</li><li>The XLE’s 1H24 performance likely reflects oil prices trading in the $75 - $80/bbl band for much of the first six months of 2024 and natural gas prices which were negatively impacted by mild winter weather. </li></ul>

The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) has underperformed the S&amp;P500 and Russell 2000 indices during 2024 (Fig 1).The S&amp;P 500 has gained ~18%, outpacing the ~8% rise in the XLE and the ~6% rise in the Russell 2000.The XLE’s 1H24 performance likely reflects oil prices trading in the $75 - $80/bbl band for much of the first six months of 2024 and natural gas prices which were negatively impacted by mild winter weather. 

US Oil & Gas - Seeking a Balance Between Growth and Capital Returns to Shareholders

<ul><li>The WTR Sustainable Index was down 0.8% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 0.6%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 0.8%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 0.2%).</li><li>Energy Technology (14.5% of the index) was down by 3.0%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (60.3% of the index) was up by 0.2%, ClimateTech Mining was down 5.3%, andAdvanced Transportation Solutions (19.6% of index) was down 2.6%.</li><li>Top 10 Performers: NRM, VIHD, OESX, FNI, DCFC, PNPN, SMR, LICY, ASYS, PSIX</li></ul>

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 0.8% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 0.6%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 0.8%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 0.2%).Energy Technology (14.5% of the index) was down by 3.0%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (60.3% of the index) was up by 0.2%, ClimateTech Mining was down 5.3%, andAdvanced Transportation Solutions (19.6% of index) was down 2.6%.Top 10 Performers: NRM, VIHD, OESX, FNI, DCFC, PNPN, SMR, LICY, ASYS, PSIX

Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Focus on Spruce Power Holding Corporation (SPRU)

<ul><li>The WTR Sustainable Index was up 0.3% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (flat), the Russell 2000 Index (down 1.2%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 1.4%).</li><li>Energy Technology (14.3% of the index) was up by 11.0%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (59.4% of the index) was up by 0.8%, ClimateTech Mining was down 6.0%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (20.3% of index) was down 6.7%.</li><li>Top 10 Performers: VIEW, PEV, PEGY, LIDR, BRDS, VIHD, ARVL, CPWHF, BE, NXT</li></ul>

The WTR Sustainable Index was up 0.3% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (flat), the Russell 2000 Index (down 1.2%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 1.4%).Energy Technology (14.3% of the index) was up by 11.0%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (59.4% of the index) was up by 0.8%, ClimateTech Mining was down 6.0%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (20.3% of index) was down 6.7%.Top 10 Performers: VIEW, PEV, PEGY, LIDR, BRDS, VIHD, ARVL, CPWHF, BE, NXT

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended May 24, 2024

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 - Between a Rock and a Hard Place - 2H24 Outlook

Over the same timeframe, the WTR-CMI Index delivered a disappointing 4.4% gain under the weight of lithium and graphite companies losing 36-62% of...

Water Tower Research

Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Focus on Westwater Resources, Inc. (WWR)

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 3.6% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (down 2.0%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 1.7%) and the Nasdaq Index (down 4.0%).

Water Tower Research

US Oil & Gas - Seeking a Balance Between Growth and Capital Returns to Shareholders

The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) has underperformed the S&P500 and Russell 2000 indices during 2024. The S&P 500 has gained ~18%, outpacing...

Water Tower Research

Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Focus on Spruce Power Holding Corporation (SPRU)

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 0.8% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (up 0.6%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 0.8%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 0.2%).

Water Tower Research

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Week Ended May 24, 2024

The WTR Sustainable Index was up 0.3% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (flat), the Russell 2000 Index (down 1.2%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 1.4%).

Water Tower Research