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

After having gone ex-dividend, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fortescue-metals-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41:1" rel="noopener">Fortescue Metals (FMG AU)</a> now presents a short-term opportunity. Last month due to its strong results, it declared a fully franked interim dividend of $1.47 per share, up a massive 93.4% on the prior corresponding period. Based on the Fortescue share price at Friday’s close, this interim dividend represents a 6% yield. We think Fortescue presents an opportunity for a quick trade, given that iron ore prices are likely to hold for the short-term due to:<ul>
<li>Supply Issues out of Australia.</li>
<li>Mill Margins in China inflecting into positive territory.</li>
<li>Steel production levels are recovering in countries ex-China, for example, India and Brazil.</li>
</ul>With iron ore prices hovering at 160$-170$/ton, Fortescue can potentially achieve free cash flows of 16-18% and dividend yields of 13-14%, assuming 60% payout ratios.<table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 42pt;">Ore Px USD/ton</td>
<td style="width: 50pt;">Div Yield (%)</td>
<td style="width: 57pt;">FCF Yield (%)</td>
<td style="width: 44pt;">EV-EBITDA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>60</td>
<td>2%</td>
<td>-1%</td>
<td>22.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>70</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td>1%</td>
<td>16.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>80</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>3%</td>
<td>13.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>90</td>
<td>5%</td>
<td>4%</td>
<td>11.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>100</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>6%</td>
<td>9.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>110</td>
<td>7%</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>8.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>120</td>
<td>8%</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>7.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>130</td>
<td>9%</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>6.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>140</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>6.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>150</td>
<td>11%</td>
<td>15%</td>
<td>5.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>160</td>
<td>13%</td>
<td>16%</td>
<td>5.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>170</td>
<td>14%</td>
<td>18%</td>
<td>4.8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>Source: Company filings, internal estimates

After having gone ex-dividend, Fortescue Metals (FMG AU) now presents a short-term opportunity. Last month due to its strong results, it declared a fully franked interim dividend of $1.47 per share, up a massive 93.4% on the prior corresponding period. Based on the Fortescue share price at Friday’s close, this interim dividend represents a 6% yield. We think Fortescue presents an opportunity for a quick trade, given that iron ore prices are likely to hold for the short-term due to:
Supply Issues out of Australia.
Mill Margins in China inflecting into positive territory.
Steel production levels are recovering in countries ex-China, for example, India and Brazil.
With iron ore prices hovering at 160$-170$/ton, Fortescue can potentially achieve free cash flows of 16-18% and dividend yields of 13-14%, assuming 60% payout ratios.








Ore Px USD/ton
Div Yield (%)
FCF Yield (%)
EV-EBITDA


60
2%
-1%
22.0


70
3%
1%
16.7


80
4%
3%
13.4


90
5%
4%
11.2


100
6%
6%
9.6


110
7%
8%
8.4


120
8%
10%
7.5


130
9%
11%
6.7


140
10%
13%
6.1


150
11%
15%
5.6


160
13%
16%
5.1


170
14%
18%
4.8


Source: Company filings, internal estimates

Fortescue, Short-Term Upside After Going Ex-Dividend

We believe the time has come to take money off the table for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fortescue-metals-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41:1" rel="noopener">Fortescue Metals (FMG AU)</a> as iron ore prices are likely to correct sharply in the near-term. From its peak of 174$/ton, iron ore prices have corrected nearly 13% and are now at 151$/ton. <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/186/102/original/image_51647481031612174374116.png?1612174374" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="186102"></figure>Source: SGX, BloombergWhile the company's results have been excellent, and its balance sheet is in great shape, and on spot prices, the company is very cheap at 3.4x EV-EBITDA FY21. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fortescue-metals-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41:1" rel="noopener">Fortescue Metals (FMG AU)</a> share price will trade with iron ore prices as the correlation there is very strong.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/186/104/original/image_18778125341612175002564.png?1612175003" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="186104"></figure>Source: SGX, BloombergWe think taking money off the table and waiting for the dust to settle on iron ore prices will be a good approach to playing <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fortescue-metals-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41:1" rel="noopener">Fortescue Metals (FMG AU)</a>. We see iron ore prices dip to the 120-130$/ton levels in the short-term.

We believe the time has come to take money off the table for Fortescue Metals (FMG AU) as iron ore prices are likely to correct sharply in the near-term. From its peak of 174$/ton, iron ore prices have corrected nearly 13% and are now at 151$/ton. Source: SGX, BloombergWhile the company's results have been excellent, and its balance sheet is in great shape, and on spot prices, the company is very cheap at 3.4x EV-EBITDA FY21. Fortescue Metals (FMG AU) share price will trade with iron ore prices as the correlation there is very strong.Source: SGX, BloombergWe think taking money off the table and waiting for the dust to settle on iron ore prices will be a good approach to playing Fortescue Metals (FMG AU). We see iron ore prices dip to the 120-130$/ton levels in the short-term.

Managing Director

Elan Gore

TMI Data Science

TMI Data Science utilizes Natural Language Processing to build custom leading indicators using unstructured data sourced from the global financial, trade & traditional media.  Our proprietary software, TMI Machine, is a text-mining platform designed with the buy-side & capital markets professional in mind, text-mining the global media to discern and quantify nuanced qualitative shifts in press coverage as they apply to macroeconomics, equity indexes/ETFs, commodities, currencies, fixed income & individual equities.  TMI provides custom leading indicators and systematic trading strategies, operating at the nexus of linguistics & statistics drawing on vast experience in investment banking and hedge fund settings in senior quantitative and fundamental roles.  

TMI Data Science was founded by Elan Gore, an award-winning Senior Global Basic Materials Equity Analyst & China Economist with 15 years of experience in North American hedge funds & institutional managers; and Alessandro Porrino, Ph.D., an Algorithmic Trading Analyst and Programmer with 10 years of front-office experience ranging from complex FX option pricing to auto-hedging strategies at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Standard Chartered.  Mr. Gore holds an MBA in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business, and Mr. Porrino holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Brunel University London.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Last month our text-mined indicators pointed to a year-end surge in raw materials restocking coupled with an extraordinary spike in general reporting on price increases globally</li>
<li>With a seasonal slowdown ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday and mobility restrictions, the restocking has faded; buildups in iron ore, steel and zinc inventories confirm a pause in momentum</li>
<li>Despite crowded positioning, copper maintained low beta to mining equities with a single-digit correction vs. the equities correcting closer to -10%; so far both remain near 50DMAs</li>
<li>Our text-mined copper sentiment indicator peaked at a multi-year high of +4.2x STDEVs on January 2, pulling back in recent weeks closer to neutral readings; however sharp, attribution finds the pullback is still primarily associated with pre-LNY seasonal slowdown and the relatively firm USD (as conviction levels on structural copper tightness remain high amid lean inventories)</li>
<li>Lithium sentiment stands out in the YTD, improving to +2x STDEVs on the lithium carbonate spot recovery and improving EV data points</li>
<li>Iron ore and steel diffusion indices have been dropping sharply in the YTD on falling utilization, building inventories and compressing mill margins, finally down to outright negative territory on first signs of vol in iron ore this week</li>
</ul><div class="content-highlight">TMI Data Science utilizes Natural Language Processing to build custom leading indicators using unstructured data sourced from the global financial, trade &amp; traditional media. Our proprietary tool text-mines the global media to discern and quantify nuanced qualitative shifts in press coverage as they apply to macroeconomics, equity indexes/ETFs, commodities, currencies, fixed income &amp; individual equities. </div>


Last month our text-mined indicators pointed to a year-end surge in raw materials restocking coupled with an extraordinary spike in general reporting on price increases globally
With a seasonal slowdown ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday and mobility restrictions, the restocking has faded; buildups in iron ore, steel and zinc inventories confirm a pause in momentum
Despite crowded positioning, copper maintained low beta to mining equities with a single-digit correction vs. the equities correcting closer to -10%; so far both remain near 50DMAs
Our text-mined copper sentiment indicator peaked at a multi-year high of +4.2x STDEVs on January 2, pulling back in recent weeks closer to neutral readings; however sharp, attribution finds the pullback is still primarily associated with pre-LNY seasonal slowdown and the relatively firm USD (as conviction levels on structural copper tightness remain high amid lean inventories)
Lithium sentiment stands out in the YTD, improving to +2x STDEVs on the lithium carbonate spot recovery and improving EV data points
Iron ore and steel diffusion indices have been dropping sharply in the YTD on falling utilization, building inventories and compressing mill margins, finally down to outright negative territory on first signs of vol in iron ore this week
TMI Data Science utilizes Natural Language Processing to build custom leading indicators using unstructured data sourced from the global financial, trade &amp; traditional media. Our proprietary tool text-mines the global media to discern and quantify nuanced qualitative shifts in press coverage as they apply to macroeconomics, equity indexes/ETFs, commodities, currencies, fixed income &amp; individual equities. 

TMI Snapshot:  Metals Points - Restocking Pauses, Copper Sentiment Pulls Back from Extremes

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

The number of major country indexes showing major bullish inflections continues to grow. Broad commodities (Bloomberg Commodity index) also display a bullish reversal topside a 12.5-year downtrend. This type of evidence helps affirm our bullish outlook and suggests higher prices are ahead. Continue to add exposure on pullbacks.

The number of major country indexes showing major bullish inflections continues to grow. Broad commodities (Bloomberg Commodity index) also display a bullish reversal topside a 12.5-year downtrend. This type of evidence helps affirm our bullish outlook and suggests higher prices are ahead. Continue to add exposure on pullbacks.

Long-Term Bullish Inflections For Hang Seng, DAX, MSCI EM, & Bloomberg Commodity Index

The ascent of the iron ore price was temporarily halted by rhetoric from the Chinese government.  Two key incidents that spooked the market were:<ul>
<li>The Dalian Commodity Exchange ( DCE) capped the trading volumes on the 21st of December for non-brokerage trading participants. The DCE tightened its limits on opening futures positions to 2,000 lots a day for non-brokerage traders from the 22nd of December – further reducing it from a limit of 5,000 lots imposed on December 9, just six days after limits were set at 10,000 lots.</li>
<li>The sentiment was further dampened due to the MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) calling on the steel sector to “resolutely” cut crude steel output and ensure an annual drop in 2021.</li>
</ul>We believe that fundamental data and liquidity will be the key factors in deciding the iron ore price direction, so the iron ore price has not been badly affected by this newsflow.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/181/205/original/image_28844845831609973883598.png?1609973887" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="181205"></figure>Source: SGX, Bloomberg<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fortescue-metals-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41:1" rel="noopener">Fortescue Metals (FMG AU)</a>  continues to be our best play in the iron ore space and commands an upside of another 25-30% in the near term as the market continues to digest higher iron ore prices for the near-term. In our insight, on the 4th of December 2020, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/fortescue-metals-more-upside-in-the-near-term" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:46020" rel="noopener">Fortescue Metals: More Upside In the Near Term</a>, we elaborate on our rationale for being long. At 140$/ton iron ore price ( Vs. current prices of 165$/ton), Fortescue has a 12% FCF yield. We believe that there could at least be a 10% dividend yield for shareholders.  If iron ore prices hold at 165$/ton spot for longer, the free cash flow yield increases to 15.5%!The risk to our call is :<ol>
<li>Sudden and drastic tightening by the Chinese economy on its property and infrastructure sectors.</li>
<li>The coronavirus resulting in increased lockdowns stalling global steel production from improving.</li>
</ol>You can refer to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/fortescue-metals-15-dividend-yield-buybacks-china-stimulus" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:37317" rel="noopener">Fortescue Metals 15% Dividend Yield/Buybacks + China Stimulus</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/fortescue-metals-group-slight-hiccup-from-china-but-thesis-intact" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43782" rel="noopener">Fortescue Metals Group: Slight Hiccup from China but Thesis Intact</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/fortescue-metals-iron-ore-stronger-for-longer" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43095" rel="noopener">Fortescue Metals: Iron Ore Stronger for Longer</a> for more information.

The ascent of the iron ore price was temporarily halted by rhetoric from the Chinese government.  Two key incidents that spooked the market were:
The Dalian Commodity Exchange ( DCE) capped the trading volumes on the 21st of December for non-brokerage trading participants. The DCE tightened its limits on opening futures positions to 2,000 lots a day for non-brokerage traders from the 22nd of December – further reducing it from a limit of 5,000 lots imposed on December 9, just six days after limits were set at 10,000 lots.
The sentiment was further dampened due to the MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) calling on the steel sector to “resolutely” cut crude steel output and ensure an annual drop in 2021.
We believe that fundamental data and liquidity will be the key factors in deciding the iron ore price direction, so the iron ore price has not been badly affected by this newsflow.Source: SGX, BloombergFortescue Metals (FMG AU)  continues to be our best play in the iron ore space and commands an upside of another 25-30% in the near term as the market continues to digest higher iron ore prices for the near-term. In our insight, on the 4th of December 2020, Fortescue Metals: More Upside In the Near Term, we elaborate on our rationale for being long. At 140$/ton iron ore price ( Vs. current prices of 165$/ton), Fortescue has a 12% FCF yield. We believe that there could at least be a 10% dividend yield for shareholders.  If iron ore prices hold at 165$/ton spot for longer, the free cash flow yield increases to 15.5%!The risk to our call is :
Sudden and drastic tightening by the Chinese economy on its property and infrastructure sectors.
The coronavirus resulting in increased lockdowns stalling global steel production from improving.
You can refer to Fortescue Metals 15% Dividend Yield/Buybacks + China Stimulus, Fortescue Metals Group: Slight Hiccup from China but Thesis Intact, Fortescue Metals: Iron Ore Stronger for Longer for more information.

Australia

Newcrest Mining Limited is a gold mining, exploration and production company. The Company is geographically focused in Australia, the Pacific region and Asia. Newcrest Mining operates projects within six provinces in four countries, focusing on the Cadia East and Lihir MOPU expansion projects and the Wafi Golpu and Namosi greenfield projects.

Northern Star Resources Ltd manufactures precious metals. The Company provides mining and production of gold. Northern Star Resources serves customers in Australia and North America.

South32 Limited operates as a diversified metals and mining company. The Company produces alumina, aluminum, coal, manganese, nickel, silver, lead, and zinc. South32 conducts business globally.

Glencore plc is a diversified natural resources company. The Company operates in three groups, metals and minerals, energy products, and agricultural products. Glencore offers its products and services around the world.

BlueScope Steel Limited supplies steel products and solutions. The Company manufactures steel slabs, plates, hot and cold rolled coils, and coated and painted strip products for building and construction, automotive, whitegoods, and manufacturing applications. BlueScope Steel serves customers in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

OZ Minerals Ltd. is an Australian based mining company with a focus on copper. The Company owns and operates the Prominent Hill copper-gold mine and the Carrapateena copper-gold project located in South Australia and has a number of equity interests in listed resource companies.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd. is a mineral exploration company. The Company owns mineral tenements in the west Pilbara region of Western Australia where it explores for iron ore, gold and base metals, particularly copper and nickel.

Yancoal Australia Limited provides coal mining services. The Company mines, processes, and sells pure-coal, metallurgical coal, and more. Yancoal Australia also exports its products.

MMG Limited is a mid-tier global resources company which explores, develops and mines base metal projects around the world.  The Company currently owns and operates the Century, Golden Grove and Rosebery mines in Australia, the Kinsevere mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the LXML Sepon mine in Laos.

Evolution Mining Ltd is a gold exploration company with operations in Western Australia. The Company owns the gold mines -Cracow, Edna May, Mt Rawdon, and Pajingo - and the Mt Carlton development project.

POSCO Holdings Inc. manufactures and distributes steel products. The Company produces crude steel, hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel, stainless steel, steel plates, wire rods, galvanized steel, electrical steel, and other related products. POSCO Holdings markets its products worldwide.

JFE Holdings, Inc. is a holding company which was established through the merger of NKK Corp and Kawasaki Steel Corp.  The Company manages and conducts its subsidiaries' business, which is steel production and integrated engineering services.

Vedanta Limited mines, produces, and exports base metals. The Company mines and distributes metals such as zinc, iron ore, copper, silver, and aluminium, as well as operates power plants. Vedanta markets its products worldwide.

Glencore Plc is a diversified natural resources company. The Company operates in three groups: Metals and Minerals, Energy Products, and Agricultural Products. Glencore Plc offers its products and services around the world.

Nippon Steel Corp is an integrated steel maker. The Company produces various types of steel products used for industrial machinery & equipment and exports them worldwide.  Nippon Steel provides plant construction and urban development and also develops new businesses such as chemicals, ceramics, electronic equipment and information & communication systems.

China Steel Corporation manufactures and markets a variety of steel products. The main products are hot rolled coils and sheets, cold rolled coils and sheets, wire rods, steel plates, and steel bars.

China Hongqiao Group Ltd. manufactures aluminum products. The Company's aluminum products consist of molten aluminum alloy, aluminum alloy ingots and aluminum busbars.

Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. manufactures and markets a variety of iron and steel products including cold rolled plates and coils, hot rolled plates and coils, seamless steel tubes, high-speed wire rods, and steel billets.  The company also operates in related energy production businesses.

Nucor Corporation manufactures steel products.  The Company's products include carbon and alloy steel, steel joists, steel deck, cold finished steel, steel grinding balls, steel bearing products, and metal buildingsystems. Nucor also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and HBI/DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap.

Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd., through its subsidiaries, explores, mines, produces, refines, and sells gold and other mineral resources in China.

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. explores for and produces iron ore. The Company conducts business worldwide.

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52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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Fortescue Metals (FMG AU)

Fortescue, Short-Term Upside After Going Ex-Dividend

We highlight an opportunity to trade Fortescue which at the current iron ore spot price has a 17% Free Cash Flow Yield and 14% dividend yield. We...

Sameer Taneja

Fortescue: Take Money off the Table

This insight elaborates on why taking money off the table on Fortescue metals is prudent. It also provides a short-term view of the iron ore price...

Sameer Taneja

TMI Snapshot: Metals Points - Restocking Pauses, Copper Sentiment Pulls Back from Extremes

The year-end restocking trade has faded into the Lunar New Year, dragging on the reflation trade. Lithium sentiment is the only standout this...

Elan Gore

Long-Term Bullish Inflections For Hang Seng, DAX, MSCI EM, & Bloomberg Commodity Index

The number of major country indexes showing major bullish inflections continues to grow. Broad commodities also breaking a 12.5-year downtrend....

Vermilion Research

Fortescue: Stay for More Upside

This insight provides a positive directional view on Fortescue based on iron ore prices being stronger for longer. With a free cash flow yield of...

Sameer Taneja

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