Equity, Bottom-up Analyst, Investics Research

Sameer Taneja

Equity, Bottom-up Analyst

Investics Research

It is important to note that the information provided by Investics Research is based on publicly available data and own knowledge, which has been gathered and analyzed from a variety of sources. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information provided, it is not guaranteed to be free from errors or omissions. All forecasts and estimates are based on information that has been obtained from public sources that are considered to be reliable. The sources include but are not limited to, company announcements, exchange filings, presentations, etc. Investics does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the forecasts, estimates, and/or other information.

Equity Bottom-up Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Iron ore prices continue to inch lower as import options for China increase. China accounts for 72% of the seaborne market. </li>
<li>For China, imports from Brazil and Australia account for 82% of its overall number.  South Africa and India are 5% but the other category (13%) is now growing. </li>
<li>Can Imports from other regions, such as <strong>Canada, Ukraine, Africa, Iran, and Peru</strong>, increase? Data shows that it is happening. </li>
</ul>


Iron ore prices continue to inch lower as import options for China increase. China accounts for 72% of the seaborne market. 
For China, imports from Brazil and Australia account for 82% of its overall number.  South Africa and India are 5% but the other category (13%) is now growing. 
Can Imports from other regions, such as Canada, Ukraine, Africa, Iran, and Peru, increase? Data shows that it is happening. 


Iron Ore: China Imports From Ukraine, Iran, And Peru Show An Increasing Trend

<ul>
<li>We summarize our gleanings from the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/champion-iron-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19734:1" rel="noopener">Champion Iron (CIA AU)</a> presentation, which captures the cost curve and other interesting details on the DRI market. </li>
<li>After declining below 100 USD/ton for 2 weeks, iron ore prices have slowly inched up towards 100 USD/ton, maintaining their level at the high end of the cost curve. </li>
<li>A 100 USD/ton level bodes well for the cash flows of the larger low-cost players like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vale-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23731:1" rel="noopener">Vale (VALE US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a>. </li>
</ul>


We summarize our gleanings from the Champion Iron (CIA AU) presentation, which captures the cost curve and other interesting details on the DRI market. 
After declining below 100 USD/ton for 2 weeks, iron ore prices have slowly inched up towards 100 USD/ton, maintaining their level at the high end of the cost curve. 
A 100 USD/ton level bodes well for the cash flows of the larger low-cost players like Vale (VALE US), Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU). 


Champion Iron Presentation, Iron Ore Cost Curve, and The Case For Green Steel

Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

<ul><li>Vale S.A.’s first-quarter 2025 earnings report offers a nuanced view of its performance amid dynamic market conditions and strategic initiatives.</li><li>Starting with an increase in iron ore sales by 4% year-on-year to 66 million tons, the company effectively managed its integrated supply chain despite a 4% decrease in production caused by higher rainfall in critical mining regions.</li><li>Vale continues to focus on operational excellence, as evidenced by the S11D project achieving its highest production for the first quarter, driven by asset reliability improvements.</li></ul>

Vale S.A.’s first-quarter 2025 earnings report offers a nuanced view of its performance amid dynamic market conditions and strategic initiatives.Starting with an increase in iron ore sales by 4% year-on-year to 66 million tons, the company effectively managed its integrated supply chain despite a 4% decrease in production caused by higher rainfall in critical mining regions.Vale continues to focus on operational excellence, as evidenced by the S11D project achieving its highest production for the first quarter, driven by asset reliability improvements.

Vale S.A.: Nickel and Base Metals Optimization to Sustain Long-Term Profitability Across Its Nickel Operations!

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a> shareholders will vote on Palliser’s AGM resolution to conduct an independent review on whether the potential unification is in the best interests of shareholders. </li>
<li>Palliser and the Board’s arguments for and against unification focus on five factors: tax costs, post-unification share price, lack of scrip M&amp;A, wastage of franking credits, and shareholder support.</li>
<li>A Grant Thornton report supports unification. The board's case is strong primarily on tax costs, while Palliser's case is strong on post-unification share price, M&amp;A, and franking credits.</li>
</ul>



Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU) shareholders will vote on Palliser’s AGM resolution to conduct an independent review on whether the potential unification is in the best interests of shareholders. 
Palliser and the Board’s arguments for and against unification focus on five factors: tax costs, post-unification share price, lack of scrip M&amp;A, wastage of franking credits, and shareholder support.
A Grant Thornton report supports unification. The board's case is strong primarily on tax costs, while Palliser's case is strong on post-unification share price, M&amp;A, and franking credits.


Rio Tinto (RIO LN/RIO AU): Thinking About Unification

<ul>
<li>Iron ore majors guide flattish growth for 2025, while China continues to have strong iron ore imports (4.2% YoY for CY24), despite weak steel production (-1.1% YoY). </li>
<li>Significant capacity growth commences in CY26 with the ramp-up of <a target="_blank">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)'s </a>Simandou project, equivalent to 6% of global seaborne trade ~100 million tons.  </li>
<li>We believe the iron ore price will be rangebound until 2026 (between 100-120 USD/ton), after which it is highly probable that it will decline to 80-90 USD/ton.</li>
</ul>


Iron ore majors guide flattish growth for 2025, while China continues to have strong iron ore imports (4.2% YoY for CY24), despite weak steel production (-1.1% YoY). 
Significant capacity growth commences in CY26 with the ramp-up of Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)'s Simandou project, equivalent to 6% of global seaborne trade ~100 million tons.  
We believe the iron ore price will be rangebound until 2026 (between 100-120 USD/ton), after which it is highly probable that it will decline to 80-90 USD/ton.


Iron Ore Majors Guidance: Key To Understanding Supply Side in 2025

Brazil

Vale S.A. is a Brazilian multinational corporation primarily engaged in metals and mining. The company is one of the world's largest producers of iron ore and nickel, also extracting copper, manganese, and ferroalloys, along with operating extensive logistics infrastructure. Vale S.A. was founded on June 1, 1942, and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Vale (VALE US)

Iron Ore: China Imports From Ukraine, Iran, And Peru Show An Increasing Trend

We assess the impact of rising exports from geographic destinations other than Australia and Brazil on iron ore, providing data on increases in...

Sameer Taneja

Champion Iron Presentation, Iron Ore Cost Curve, and The Case For Green Steel

We summarize the recent investor presentation made by Champion Iron (CIA AU). There is strong support at the higher end of the cost surve as shown...

Sameer Taneja

Vale S.A.: Nickel and Base Metals Optimization to Sustain Long-Term Profitability Across Its Nickel Operations!

Vale S.A.’s first-quarter 2025 earnings report offers a nuanced view of its performance amid dynamic market conditions and strategic...

Baptista Research

Rio Tinto (RIO LN/RIO AU): Thinking About Unification

A Grant Thornton report supports unification. The board's case is strong primarily on tax costs, while Palliser's case is strong on post...

Arun George

Iron Ore Majors Guidance: Key To Understanding Supply Side in 2025

Our insight summarizes the guidance from iron ore majors and the anticipated impact on prices starting in the calendar year 2026 when Rio Tinto's...

Sameer Taneja

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