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)

<ul><li>WTR-CMI in 2024. Last year was difficult for specialty chemicals and materials stocks, with our WTR-CMI Index posting a rather modest 5% gain for the year, affected by &gt;40% Y/Y declines in lithium stocks.</li><li>The index’s performance was well off the pace of the Russell 2000 and S&amp;P 500, which posted returns of 10.8% and 24%, respectively, driven by the extraordinary gains of the “magnificent seven” tech and media stocks.</li><li>On a positive note, RYAM’s stock price nearly doubled during the year, driven by an improving pricing environment, better sales mix, and cost containment efforts, as well as the ramp-up of the company’s Biomaterials business. </li></ul>

WTR-CMI in 2024. Last year was difficult for specialty chemicals and materials stocks, with our WTR-CMI Index posting a rather modest 5% gain for the year, affected by &gt;40% Y/Y declines in lithium stocks.The index’s performance was well off the pace of the Russell 2000 and S&amp;P 500, which posted returns of 10.8% and 24%, respectively, driven by the extraordinary gains of the “magnificent seven” tech and media stocks.On a positive note, RYAM’s stock price nearly doubled during the year, driven by an improving pricing environment, better sales mix, and cost containment efforts, as well as the ramp-up of the company’s Biomaterials business. 

Mat-Chem Notes - Looking Ahead by Looking Back at 2024

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>The WTR Sustainable Index was down 1.3% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 0.6%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 2.6%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 0.7%).</li><li>Energy Technology (13.4% of the index) was down 4.1%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (48.4% of the index) was down 1.0%, ClimateTech Mining was up 0.2%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (20.7% of index) was down 1.6%.</li><li>Top 10 Performers: DCFC, GWTI, AMMP, AVL, LOOP, INVZ, WAVE, REE, SPI, PNPN</li></ul>

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 1.3% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 0.6%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 2.6%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 0.7%).Energy Technology (13.4% of the index) was down 4.1%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (48.4% of the index) was down 1.0%, ClimateTech Mining was up 0.2%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (20.7% of index) was down 1.6%.Top 10 Performers: DCFC, GWTI, AMMP, AVL, LOOP, INVZ, WAVE, REE, SPI, PNPN

Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Focus on NextDecade Corporation (NEXT)

<ul><li>The WTR Sustainable Index was down 4.5% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 2.1%), the cex (down 4.0%) and the Nasdaq Index (up 5.7%).</li><li>Energy Technology (13.5% of the index) was down 1.6%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (48.3% of the index) was down 3.8%, ClimateTech Mining was down 3.4%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (20.6% of index) was down 5.5%.</li><li>Top 10 Performers: GRB, BE, WKHS, MULN, LILM, HLGN, FGPHF, AMPS, NEOV, NOVA</li></ul>

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 4.5% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 2.1%), the cex (down 4.0%) and the Nasdaq Index (up 5.7%).Energy Technology (13.5% of the index) was down 1.6%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (48.3% of the index) was down 3.8%, ClimateTech Mining was down 3.4%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (20.6% of index) was down 5.5%.Top 10 Performers: GRB, BE, WKHS, MULN, LILM, HLGN, FGPHF, AMPS, NEOV, NOVA

Sustainable Investing Surveyor Focus on REX American Resources Corp. (REX)

<ul><li>WTR-CMI this week. In a tough week for the market, the WTR- CMI Index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials technology stocks dipped 0.6%, while the large-cap heavy S&amp;P 500 declined 1.4%, with the Russell 2000 inching up 0.1%.</li><li>Strong rebounds in NGVT, ECVT, LAC, PLL, and AXTA nearly offset sharp declines in EAF, CMP, and HXL. YTD, our index is slightly outperforming the Russell 2000, increasing 10.4% versus the broader index’s 9.0% improvement, although both trail the S&amp;P 500’s 20.1% increase.</li><li>On a Y/Y basis, the WTR-CMI Index has narrowed the performance gap with the S&amp;P 500, improving 32.9% versus the large-cap index’s 35.2% appreciation, with the Russell 2000 bringing up the rear with a 32.4% rebound.</li></ul>

WTR-CMI this week. In a tough week for the market, the WTR- CMI Index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials technology stocks dipped 0.6%, while the large-cap heavy S&amp;P 500 declined 1.4%, with the Russell 2000 inching up 0.1%.Strong rebounds in NGVT, ECVT, LAC, PLL, and AXTA nearly offset sharp declines in EAF, CMP, and HXL. YTD, our index is slightly outperforming the Russell 2000, increasing 10.4% versus the broader index’s 9.0% improvement, although both trail the S&amp;P 500’s 20.1% increase.On a Y/Y basis, the WTR-CMI Index has narrowed the performance gap with the S&amp;P 500, improving 32.9% versus the large-cap index’s 35.2% appreciation, with the Russell 2000 bringing up the rear with a 32.4% rebound.

Mat-Chem Notes - Supply-Demand Balancing Act and Geopolitics of Energy Transition

<ul><li>The WTR Sustainable Index was up 2.2% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 1.4%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 2.1%) and the Nasdaq Index (up 1.4%).</li><li>Energy Technology (13.5% of the index) was up 0.7%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (47.4% of the index) was up 2.2%, ClimateTech Mining was up 2.1%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (20.0% of index) was up 3.6%.</li><li>Top 10 Performers: REE, NGPHF, LICY, SUNW, MVST, FTCI, ENG, GCEH, ORGN, IPWR</li></ul>

The WTR Sustainable Index was up 2.2% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 1.4%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 2.1%) and the Nasdaq Index (up 1.4%).Energy Technology (13.5% of the index) was up 0.7%, while Industrial Climate and Ag Technology (47.4% of the index) was up 2.2%, ClimateTech Mining was up 2.1%, and Advanced Transportation Solutions (20.0% of index) was up 3.6%.Top 10 Performers: REE, NGPHF, LICY, SUNW, MVST, FTCI, ENG, GCEH, ORGN, IPWR

Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Focus on Alto Ingredients, Inc. (ALTO)

United States

The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and serves as the foundation for a wide range of investment products. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

S&P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)

Mat-Chem Notes - Looking Ahead by Looking Back at 2024

Last year was difficult for specialty chemicals and materials stocks, with our WTR-CMI Index posting a rather modest 5% gain for the year, affected...

Water Tower Research

Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Focus on NextDecade Corporation (NEXT)

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 1.3% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (down 0.6%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 2.6%), and the Nasdaq Index (up 0.7%).

Water Tower Research

Sustainable Investing Surveyor Focus on REX American Resources Corp. (REX)

The WTR Sustainable Index was down 4.5% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (down 2.1%), the Russell 2000 Index (down 4.0%) and the Nasdaq Index (up 5.7%).

Water Tower Research

Mat-Chem Notes - Supply-Demand Balancing Act and Geopolitics of Energy Transition

In a tough week for the market, the WTR- CMI Index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials technology stocks dipped 0.6%, while the large-cap heavy...

Water Tower Research

Sustainable Investing Surveyor - Focus on Alto Ingredients, Inc. (ALTO)

The WTR Sustainable Index was up 2.2% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (up 1.4%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 2.1%) and the Nasdaq Index (up 1.4%).

Water Tower Research