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>Cirrus Logic has had an eventful year so far with solid bolt-on M&A and operating momentum.</li><li>This has been possible through a noteworthy expansion in the product mix and technology of Cirrus Logic.</li><li>Lastly, it is worth highlighting that Cirrus Logic operates with quite a strong balance sheet with more firepower to pursue diversification attempts further.</li></ul>

Cirrus Logic has had an eventful year so far with solid bolt-on M&A and operating momentum.This has been possible through a noteworthy expansion in the product mix and technology of Cirrus Logic.Lastly, it is worth highlighting that Cirrus Logic operates with quite a strong balance sheet with more firepower to pursue diversification attempts further.

Cirrus Logic Inc.: Initiation of Coverage – Heavy Dependence on Apple

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

In our November Strategy book we summarize the basis for our bullish outlook, discuss the deservedly hot topic of value vs. growth. and highlight actionable opportunities within our Manufacturing, Transportation, Materials, Technology, &amp; Consumer Discretionary Sectors.

In our November Strategy book we summarize the basis for our bullish outlook, discuss the deservedly hot topic of value vs. growth. and highlight actionable opportunities within our Manufacturing, Transportation, Materials, Technology, &amp; Consumer Discretionary Sectors.

As we head into Q4 earnings season we remain bullish on the broad market. Our bullish outlook is supported by the themes highlighted in this report.  In addition, we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Discretionary and Technology: Casinos &amp; Gaming, Large-Cap, Semiconductors, Mid-Cap, Semiconductors, Small-Cap, Software, Design Solutions.

As we head into Q4 earnings season we remain bullish on the broad market. Our bullish outlook is supported by the themes highlighted in this report.  In addition, we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Discretionary and Technology: Casinos &amp; Gaming, Large-Cap, Semiconductors, Mid-Cap, Semiconductors, Small-Cap, Software, Design Solutions.

U.S. Equity Strategy: Growth Surging Relative to Value

As we write this, fears of a reprisal attack by Saudi Arabia are being priced into the markets. Oil is surging on the back of the largest ever supply disruption in history.  Investment managers are likely caught on the wrong side of the Energy Sector move and were very underweight as the Sector’s performance has, year-to-date, been nothing but an anchor on performance.  The Energy Sector has underperformed for well over a decade and the sector is at its lowest weighting in the S&amp;P 500 going back to 2005. We are taking this opportunity to upgrade the Energy Sector to a Market Weight from an Underweight as we believe retaliatory action is highly likely.The move to value is a trend that we see likely to continue. Small-caps have also done an about face vs large caps (Russell 2000 vs Russell 1000) after having broken to RS lows not seen since 2009. We believe this will result in a move that would likely take us back up to the top of the range assuming a recession is off the table. In this report, we lay out our complete U.S. equity strategy, and make detailed comments and recommendations on each of our 12 Sectors.

 As we write this, fears of a reprisal attack by Saudi Arabia are being priced into the markets. Oil is surging on the back of the largest ever supply disruption in history.  Investment managers are likely caught on the wrong side of the Energy Sector move and were very underweight as the Sector’s performance has, year-to-date, been nothing but an anchor on performance.  The Energy Sector has underperformed for well over a decade and the sector is at its lowest weighting in the S&amp;P 500 going back to 2005. We are taking this opportunity to upgrade the Energy Sector to a Market Weight from an Underweight as we believe retaliatory action is highly likely.The move to value is a trend that we see likely to continue. Small-caps have also done an about face vs large caps (Russell 2000 vs Russell 1000) after having broken to RS lows not seen since 2009. We believe this will result in a move that would likely take us back up to the top of the range assuming a recession is off the table. In this report, we lay out our complete U.S. equity strategy, and make detailed comments and recommendations on each of our 12 Sectors.

U.S. Equity Strategy: Value and Small-Caps Appear to Be on the Cusp of Major Bullish Moves

Of the ten items highlighted in last week’s Compass that we would like to see in order to turn more bullish, two have happened -- equal-weighted Energy and UK/European Financials are breaking out. This only serves to add to our already positive outlook as U.S. equities are poised to test all-time highs. We are upgrading equal-weight Energy to market weight. Also in today’s report, we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Technology: Large-, Mid-, and Small-Cap Semiconductors.

Of the ten items highlighted in last week’s Compass that we would like to see in order to turn more bullish, two have happened -- equal-weighted Energy and UK/European Financials are breaking out. This only serves to add to our already positive outlook as U.S. equities are poised to test all-time highs. We are upgrading equal-weight Energy to market weight. Also in today’s report, we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Technology: Large-, Mid-, and Small-Cap Semiconductors.

U.S. Equity Strategy: Upgrading Equal-Weight Energy Sector; Semis Are Leading Tech

United States

MA-COM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc. provides high performance analog semiconductor solutions. The Company supplies semiconductors, active and passive components, and sub-assemblies for use in radio frequency, microwave, and millimeter wave applications. MA-COM Technology Solutions serves customers throughout the United States.

MKS Instruments, Inc. develops, manufactures, and supplies instruments and components used to control and analyze gases in semiconductor manufacturing and similar industrial manufacturing processes. The Company's products are used to manufacture flat panel displays, magnetic and optical storage devices and media, solar cells, fiber optic cables, and diamond thin films.

Rambus Inc. designs, develops, licenses, and markets high-speed chip-to-chip interface technology to enhance the performance and cost-effectiveness of consumer electronics, computer systems, and other electronic systems.  The Company licenses semiconductor companies to manufacture and sell memory and logic ICs incorporating Rambus interface technology.

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation designs, develops, and markets high speed programmable logic devices.  The Company's products provide electronic systems customers with quickly designed, easily configured components.  Lattice markets its products to original equipment manufacturers of communication, computing, industrial, and military systems.

Onto Innovation Inc. provides process control solutions and inspection systems. The Company offers solutions which primarily used in the fabrication of semiconductors and other solid-state devices, as well as industrial and scientific applications. Onto Innovation serves customers in the United States.

Amkor Technology, Inc. provides semiconductor packaging and test services.  The Company offers deep submicron wafer fabrication, wafer probe testing, integrated circuit packaging assembly and design, final testing, reliability testing, burn-in, and electrical characterization.

Impinj, Inc. provides radio-frequency identification solutions for identifying, locating, and authenticating items. The Company offers radio chips, gateways, readers and antennas, and software. Impinj serves customers worldwide.

Axcelis Technologies, Inc. manufactures components for the semiconductor industry. The Company designs, manufactures and services ion implantation, dry strip, thermal processing and curing equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductor chips. Axcelis Technologies sells their products to semiconductor chip manufacturers worldwide.

Diodes Incorporated manufactures and supplies discrete, logic, and analog semiconductor devices to consumers in the electronics, computing, industrial, communications, and automotive markets. The Company's products include diodes, transistors, MOSFETs, single gate logic, LED drivers, and USB switches.

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. manufactures power conversion, solar inverters and control systems used in plasma-based thin film production equipment. The Company's systems are integrated in semiconductor, data storage, flat panel display, and other industrial manufacturing equipment that use gaseous  plasmas to depositor etch thin film layers on materials such as silicon and glass.

SUMCO Corporation manufactures silicon wafers for the semiconductor industry. The Company produces silicon wafers used to produce solar batteries as well as ultra-high purity quartz used to produce vessels for silicon manufacturing process. SUMCO markets its products worldwide.

eMemory Technology, Inc. develops and provides logic non-volatile memory (LogicNVM) technology. The company licenses its intellectual property to semiconductor foundries, integrated devices manufacturers (IDMs), and fabless design houses around the world.

ROHM COMPANY LIMITED manufactures custom linear integrated circuits and semiconductor devices for use primarily in consumer electronics.  The Company has plants and sales offices worldwide.  Rohm's subsidiaries include Wako Electric and Apollo Electronics.

Nanya Technology Corp. manufactures and markets dynamic random access memories (DRAMs).  The Company sells its products in Taiwan and exports worldwide.

Sanan Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. operates in the business of researching, producing and selling of LED epitaxial wafers and wafers.

SCREEN Holdings Co Ltd.  manufactures and sell semiconductors, FPD devices, commercial printing and printed circuit boards(PCB). The company also provides additional services for its products.

King Yuan Electronics Co., Ltd. provides integrated circuit (IC) testing services to semiconductor manufacturers.  The Company tests the logic, memory, and burn-in functions of ICs.  King Yuan also specializes in IC reeling, packaging, and wafer grinding.

Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co., Ltd. manufactures discrete semiconductor devices. The Company's main products are High Voltage Diode, Silicon Rectifier Diode, Silicon Bridge Rectifier, MWO High Voltage Silicon Diode and special High Voltage Silicon Diode .

Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor (002129 CH)

Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited manufactures semiconductors on 200mm wafers for specialty applications. The Company's products are used in the consumer electronic, communication, computing and industrial, and automotive industries.

TongFu Microelectronics Co., Ltd. manufactures integrated chips. The Company provides assembling and testing service for memory, microprocessor, micro-controller, hybrid circuit, analog circuit, and other related services throughout China.

Cirrus Logic, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company that develops audio and voice IC and software solutions for mobile communications, automotive entertainment, and consumer audio applications. Cirrus Logic is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

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Cirrus Logic (CRUS US)

Cirrus Logic Inc.: Initiation of Coverage – Heavy Dependence on Apple

Cirrus Logic has had an eventful year so far with solid bolt-on M&A and operating momentum. This has been possible through a noteworthy...

Baptista Research

U.S. Equity Strategy: Remain Bullish

In our November Strategy book we summarize the basis for our bullish outlook, discuss the deservedly hot topic of value vs. growth. and highlight...

Vermilion Research

U.S. Equity Strategy: Growth Surging Relative to Value

As we head into Q4 earnings season we remain bullish on the broad market. Our bullish outlook is supported by the themes highlighted in this...

Vermilion Research

U.S. Equity Strategy: Value and Small-Caps Appear to Be on the Cusp of Major Bullish Moves

As we write this, fears of a reprisal attack by Saudi Arabia are being priced into the markets. Oil is surging on the back of the largest ever...

Vermilion Research

U.S. Equity Strategy: Upgrading Equal-Weight Energy Sector; Semis Are Leading Tech

Of the ten items highlighted in last week’s Compass that we would like to see in order to turn more bullish, two have happened -- equal-weighted...

Vermilion Research

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