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>Albemarle's results were a major disappointment as the company failed to meet Wall Street's revenue and earnings expectations.</li><li>However, despite the surge in sales, Albemarle's net income witnessed a significant decline of 66%, amounting to approximately $303 million, along with a parallel drop in diluted earnings per share (EPS) to $2.57.</li><li>In this report, we have carried out a fundamental analysis of the historical financial statements of the company.</li></ul>

Albemarle's results were a major disappointment as the company failed to meet Wall Street's revenue and earnings expectations.However, despite the surge in sales, Albemarle's net income witnessed a significant decline of 66%, amounting to approximately $303 million, along with a parallel drop in diluted earnings per share (EPS) to $2.57.In this report, we have carried out a fundamental analysis of the historical financial statements of the company.

Albemarle Corporation: Is The Liontown Acquisition A Potential Game Changer? - Major Drivers

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/allkem-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3572:1" rel="noopener">Allkem Ltd (AKE AU)</a> saw its last day of trading on 21 December. There was large volume at the close as one major index provider gave it the boot. </li>
<li>Another delayed their treatment at the last minute, and eliminated a cross-flow.</li>
<li>But there is still a lot of net buy flow tomorrow (3 Jan) and the next day in the US. Perhaps more than I expected. </li>
</ul>



Allkem Ltd (AKE AU) saw its last day of trading on 21 December. There was large volume at the close as one major index provider gave it the boot. 
Another delayed their treatment at the last minute, and eliminated a cross-flow.
But there is still a lot of net buy flow tomorrow (3 Jan) and the next day in the US. Perhaps more than I expected. 


Allkem + Livent = Arcadium : Updated Expected Index Flows

<ul>
<li>The Allkem/Livent "merger of equals" discussed in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/allkem-livent-ake-au-lthm-us-merger-of-lithium-equals-has-index-surprises" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:101879" rel="noopener">Allkem/Livent (AKE AU | LTHM US) Merger Of Lithium Equals Has Index Surprises</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/allkem-livent-enlarged-charging-unit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:101914" rel="noopener">Allkem/​Livent: Enlarged Charging Unit</a> is on track.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20230928/pdf/05vdp2j4k6sqn9.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As of the end of last month</a>, all approvals are received or are expected to be received. The Scheme Booklet is expected next month. Deal is expected to close end-CY2023.</li>
<li>The deal STILL has interesting side issues with index. Even more interesting than Newcrest/Newmont. This is an update with more detail as we probably have 8-10 weeks left.</li>
</ul>


The Allkem/Livent "merger of equals" discussed in Allkem/Livent (AKE AU | LTHM US) Merger Of Lithium Equals Has Index Surprises and Allkem/​Livent: Enlarged Charging Unit is on track.

As of the end of last month, all approvals are received or are expected to be received. The Scheme Booklet is expected next month. Deal is expected to close end-CY2023.
The deal STILL has interesting side issues with index. Even more interesting than Newcrest/Newmont. This is an update with more detail as we probably have 8-10 weeks left.


Allkem/Livent (AKE AU | LTHM US) Merger Update:  MUCH More Than Meets The Eye

David Blennerhassett

<ul>
<li>Back on the 15th August, lithium play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/latin-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8770:1" rel="noopener">Latin Resources (LRS AU)</a> entered into a<a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20240815/pdf/066mpcs6zd41jz.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Scheme</a> with significantly larger peer, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pilbara-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7460:1" rel="noopener">Pilbara Minerals (PLS AU)</a>. Timing appears fortuitous. </li>
<li>PLS is offering 0.07 new PLS shares for each LRS share held.  LRS shareholders will own ~6.4% of the combined entity. LRS' largest shareholder, José Luis Manzano (7.9%), is supportive. </li>
<li>The scrip terms back out an implied price of A$0.20/share or a 67% premium to last close. This is done. And trading accordingly. Expected implementation late November, early December.</li>
</ul>


Back on the 15th August, lithium play Latin Resources (LRS AU) entered into a Scheme with significantly larger peer, Pilbara Minerals (PLS AU). Timing appears fortuitous. 
PLS is offering 0.07 new PLS shares for each LRS share held.  LRS shareholders will own ~6.4% of the combined entity. LRS' largest shareholder, José Luis Manzano (7.9%), is supportive. 
The scrip terms back out an implied price of A$0.20/share or a 67% premium to last close. This is done. And trading accordingly. Expected implementation late November, early December.


Latin Resources (LRS AU)'s Scheme With Pilbara Minerals

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 last week. In a down week for the market, with both the S&amp;P 500 and Russell 2000 declining 4.2% and 5.7%, respectively, 29 of the 30 stocks in our WTR-CMI Index likewise saw their prices fall 4.0%, with AVD being the only exception, appreciating 9.1% for the week.</li><li>YTD, the S&amp;P 500, heavily weighted toward tech and internet stocks, has increased 13.4%, while our WTR-CMI Index has increased 7.2%, outperforming the broader Russell 2000’s 3.2% rise, despite lithium stocks’ 50%- plus declines.</li><li>Recycled plastics market gaining acceptance. LYB announced the acquisition of German APK AG, a mechanical plastics recycler to bolster its circular economy and low-carbon credentials, while AVTN launched a pigment additive for plastics used in automotive plications made from recycled tires, as an alternative to carbon black, again aiming at helping its customers reduce their carbon impact while improving its own circular economy efforts.</li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. In a down week for the market, with both the S&amp;P 500 and Russell 2000 declining 4.2% and 5.7%, respectively, 29 of the 30 stocks in our WTR-CMI Index likewise saw their prices fall 4.0%, with AVD being the only exception, appreciating 9.1% for the week.YTD, the S&amp;P 500, heavily weighted toward tech and internet stocks, has increased 13.4%, while our WTR-CMI Index has increased 7.2%, outperforming the broader Russell 2000’s 3.2% rise, despite lithium stocks’ 50%- plus declines.Recycled plastics market gaining acceptance. LYB announced the acquisition of German APK AG, a mechanical plastics recycler to bolster its circular economy and low-carbon credentials, while AVTN launched a pigment additive for plastics used in automotive plications made from recycled tires, as an alternative to carbon black, again aiming at helping its customers reduce their carbon impact while improving its own circular economy efforts.

Mat-Chem Notes - Weakness of Industrial, Ag, and EV Markets Leaves Few Options

United States

Albemarle Corporation produces specialty and fine chemicals.  The Company's chemicals are additives to or intermediates for plastics, polymers and elastomers, cleaning products, agricultural compounds, pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals, drilling compounds, and biocides.  Albemarle produces the majority of its products in the United States.

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Albemarle Corp (ALB US)

Albemarle Corporation: Is The Liontown Acquisition A Potential Game Changer? - Major Drivers

Albemarle's results were a major disappointment as the company failed to meet Wall Street's revenue and earnings expectations. However, despite...

Baptista Research

Allkem + Livent = Arcadium : Updated Expected Index Flows

Flows for Livent-become-Arcadium Lithium over the next 3 days are relatively prodigious. This comes from upweights in US indices not matched by...

Travis Lundy

Allkem/Livent (AKE AU | LTHM US) Merger Update: MUCH More Than Meets The Eye

The Allkem/Livent Shareholder Meetings take place 19 Dec. If agreed, this deal gets done quickly. Then we have index fun. The price of lithium...

Travis Lundy

Latin Resources (LRS AU)'s Scheme With Pilbara Minerals

Trading tight to terms Take down borrow cheaply on PLS, should the spread widen. Elsewhere, Liontown is trading at A$0.67/share vs. Albemarle's...

David Blennerhassett

Mat-Chem Notes - Weakness of Industrial, Ag, and EV Markets Leaves Few Options

YTD, the S&P 500, heavily weighted toward tech and internet stocks, has increased 13.4%, while our WTR-CMI Index has increased 7.2%, outperforming...

Water Tower Research

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