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.

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Thematic (Sector/Industry)

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<li>WTR-CMI last week. In a week when the broad market index (Russell 2000) declined 3.6%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology companies modestly outperformed, dropping 2.3%.</li>
<li>This nonetheless trailed the large-cap S&amp;P 500 index, which lost only 1.8% of its value during the week.</li>
<li>Benefiting from improved investor sentiment on possibly higher summer sales of insecticides, improving automotive and construction markets, and lower raw material costs that we discussed last week, ag-chem and coatings companies led the performance of our index.</li>
</ul>


WTR-CMI last week. In a week when the broad market index (Russell 2000) declined 3.6%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology companies modestly outperformed, dropping 2.3%.
This nonetheless trailed the large-cap S&amp;P 500 index, which lost only 1.8% of its value during the week.
Benefiting from improved investor sentiment on possibly higher summer sales of insecticides, improving automotive and construction markets, and lower raw material costs that we discussed last week, ag-chem and coatings companies led the performance of our index.


Industry Report - Chemicals & Materials Technology

<ul><li>WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with S&amp;P 500 appreciating 0.9% and the Russell 2000 slipping 1.3%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials stocks outperformed both broader indexes by appreciating 1.1%, led by a recovery in prices of lithium stocks, which took a tumble the previous week after the announcement of the Chilean government’s intention to increase its financial participation in large lithium projects in the country.</li><li>Better weather drives stronger planting progress. Following last year’s planting delays caused by unseasonal weather, the 2023 planting season in the US is picking up the pace after a slower start, with both corn and soybean planting well ahead of last year<span style="font-size: var(--content-font-size);"> and the five-year average, boding well for North American crop protection and the fertilizer market, at least when it comes to demand.</span></li><li>Chinese auto sales look to rise. According to the China Automobile Dealers Association, the country should see a 50% surge in Y/Y new passenger vehicle sales<span style="font-size: var(--content-font-size);"> in April, following a strong March, compared with the COVID lockdown period a year ago.</span></li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with S&amp;P 500 appreciating 0.9% and the Russell 2000 slipping 1.3%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials stocks outperformed both broader indexes by appreciating 1.1%, led by a recovery in prices of lithium stocks, which took a tumble the previous week after the announcement of the Chilean government’s intention to increase its financial participation in large lithium projects in the country.Better weather drives stronger planting progress. Following last year’s planting delays caused by unseasonal weather, the 2023 planting season in the US is picking up the pace after a slower start, with both corn and soybean planting well ahead of last year and the five-year average, boding well for North American crop protection and the fertilizer market, at least when it comes to demand.Chinese auto sales look to rise. According to the China Automobile Dealers Association, the country should see a 50% surge in Y/Y new passenger vehicle sales in April, following a strong March, compared with the COVID lockdown period a year ago.

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 28, 2023

High Quality Stock Setups, Weekly Stock Bull Finder

Weekly Stock Bull Finder

High Quality Stock Setups

Finding high potential stock setups on quality companies

<ul><li>Earnings Season Thus Far- Meanwhile Mixed Economic Messages Earnings season picks up this week with the technology heavyweights like Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are all set to report their results.</li><li>During the upcoming week, 180 S&amp;P 500 companies (including 14 Dow 30 components) are scheduled to report results for the first quarter.</li><li>Overall, 18% of the companies in the S&amp;P 500 have reported actual results for Q1 2023 to date.</li></ul>

Earnings Season Thus Far- Meanwhile Mixed Economic Messages Earnings season picks up this week with the technology heavyweights like Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are all set to report their results.During the upcoming week, 180 S&amp;P 500 companies (including 14 Dow 30 components) are scheduled to report results for the first quarter.Overall, 18% of the companies in the S&amp;P 500 have reported actual results for Q1 2023 to date.

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Valvoline's third-quarter results for fiscal 2025 reveal a mixed performance with a blend of positive outcomes and strategic challenges.</li><li>The company reported a strong increase in system-wide sales, rising by 10% to $890 million, and an adjusted EBITDA growth of 12%, reflecting solid financial health despite refranchising impacts.</li><li>Same-store sales demonstrated a growth of 4.9%, with 46 new stores added during the quarter, indicating successful expansion efforts and underlying customer resilience.</li></ul>

Valvoline's third-quarter results for fiscal 2025 reveal a mixed performance with a blend of positive outcomes and strategic challenges.The company reported a strong increase in system-wide sales, rising by 10% to $890 million, and an adjusted EBITDA growth of 12%, reflecting solid financial health despite refranchising impacts.Same-store sales demonstrated a growth of 4.9%, with 46 new stores added during the quarter, indicating successful expansion efforts and underlying customer resilience.

Valvoline Inc.: Premiumization of Products to Capture A Larger Share Of The Growing High-Value Automotive Maintenance Segment!

<ul><li>Valvoline reported its second-quarter 2025 financial results, providing a mixed picture of its current standing and projections.</li><li>The company experienced an 11% increase in system-wide sales to $826 million, driven by a 5.8% same-store sales growth and an expansion of its store network by 8% over the previous year.</li><li>Total net sales saw an increase of 11% to $403 million, adjusted for refranchising impacts.</li></ul>

Valvoline reported its second-quarter 2025 financial results, providing a mixed picture of its current standing and projections.The company experienced an 11% increase in system-wide sales to $826 million, driven by a 5.8% same-store sales growth and an expansion of its store network by 8% over the previous year.Total net sales saw an increase of 11% to $403 million, adjusted for refranchising impacts.

Valvoline Inc.: Igniting Growth With Aggressive Franchise Expansion & Market Penetration!

United States

Valvoline Inc. manufactures and distributes automotive lubricants and chemicals. The Company offers motor oil, additives, antifreeze, brake fluid, and grease products. Valvoline also owns the oil change and express care chains of car repair centers.

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Valvoline (VVV US)

Industry Report - Chemicals & Materials Technology

In a week when the broad market index (Russell 2000) declined 3.6%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology companies modestly...

Water Tower Research

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 28, 2023

WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with S&P 500 appreciating 0.9% and the Russell 2000 slipping 1.3%

Water Tower Research

Weekly Stock Bullfinder - Week of 4/24

During the upcoming week, 180 S&P 500 companies (including 14 Dow 30 components) are scheduled to report results for the first quarter.

Weekly Stock Bull Finder

Valvoline Inc.: Igniting Growth With Aggressive Franchise Expansion & Market Penetration!

Valvoline reported its second-quarter 2025 financial results, providing a mixed picture of its current standing and projections. The company...

Baptista Research

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Industry Report - Chemicals & Materials Technology

In a week when the broad market index (Russell 2000) declined 3.6%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology companies modestly...

Water Tower Research

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 28, 2023

WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with S&P 500 appreciating 0.9% and the Russell 2000 slipping 1.3%

Water Tower Research

Weekly Stock Bullfinder - Week of 4/24

During the upcoming week, 180 S&P 500 companies (including 14 Dow 30 components) are scheduled to report results for the first quarter.

Weekly Stock Bull Finder

Valvoline Inc.: Premiumization of Products to Capture A Larger Share Of The Growing High-Value Automotive Maintenance Segment!

Valvoline's third-quarter results for fiscal 2025 reveal a mixed performance with a blend of positive outcomes and strategic challenges. The...

Baptista Research

Valvoline Inc.: Igniting Growth With Aggressive Franchise Expansion & Market Penetration!

Valvoline reported its second-quarter 2025 financial results, providing a mixed picture of its current standing and projections. The company...

Baptista Research