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

<ul>
<li>Key supports are currently being tested at 3900-3910 on the S&amp;P 500, $293 on the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), and $177-178 on the Russell 2000 (IWM).</li>
<li>We see a bounce as possible at these levels, but breaks below these levels would virtually guarantee a test of the YTD lows -- or worse.</li>
<li>WTI crude oil is breaking below the critical $85 support level, confirming a major top in place. The Bloomberg commodity index needs to break $32.50 to confirm a major top.</li>
</ul>


Key supports are currently being tested at 3900-3910 on the S&amp;P 500, $293 on the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), and $177-178 on the Russell 2000 (IWM).
We see a bounce as possible at these levels, but breaks below these levels would virtually guarantee a test of the YTD lows -- or worse.
WTI crude oil is breaking below the critical $85 support level, confirming a major top in place. The Bloomberg commodity index needs to break $32.50 to confirm a major top.


S&P 500 Testing 3900 Support; Commodities, WTI Crude Oil Topping?; Buying Uranium, Ag Equipment

Amid rising Middle East tensions, investors have moved to safe-havens including Treasuries and gold, all while having a muted effect on the US equity market. At this point in time, the rising tensions have done virtually no damage to the bullish trends and indicators that continue to dominate the market. In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Manufacturing, Services, Technology, and Transportation: Aero Defense, Large-Cap, HR &amp; Employment Svcs, Large-Cap, Optical Equipment, and Shipping, Energy

Amid rising Middle East tensions, investors have moved to safe-havens including Treasuries and gold, all while having a muted effect on the US equity market. At this point in time, the rising tensions have done virtually no damage to the bullish trends and indicators that continue to dominate the market. In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Manufacturing, Services, Technology, and Transportation: Aero Defense, Large-Cap, HR &amp; Employment Svcs, Large-Cap, Optical Equipment, and Shipping, Energy

U.S. Equity Strategy: Bullish Outlook Intact

Equity Research Analyst, Maritime sector, Drewry Maritime Financial Research

Ankush Kathuria CFA, FRM

Equity Research Analyst, Maritime sector

Maritime Sector, Equity & Credit Research

Drewry Maritime Financial Research

With no ties to other players in the shipping, finance or banking world, we provide a uniquely impartial view of the markets and companies we cover. Our parent organization, Drewry is a leading independent provider of research services to the maritime and shipping industry, employing over 100 professionals across an international network of offices in London, Delhi, Singapore and Shanghai. Combining our market-leading resources with seasoned sector expertise DFRS offers a highly differentiated and comprehensive range of investment and financial research services to lenders and prospective investors in publicly listed maritime and shipping companies. The full service of reports, supporting resources and sector orientated webinars provides our clients with the most complete picture of the organisations under coverage as is possible. We have been charting and analysing the world’s maritime markets for more than 40 years. This unrivalled intelligence and understanding provides the foundation of our research service. Our analysts have access to one of the most up-to-date, comprehensive and reliable sources of market insight and research data available today. We look at globally listed companies within the following sectors: Port Operators, Container Shipping, Container Manufacturing & Leasing, LNG Shipping, Dry Bulk Shipping and Tanker Shipping. Combine in-depth sector expertise with financial analysis focusing on over 50 stocks globally.

Equity Bottom-Up

Nordic American Tankers / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>
High spot exposure to boost top line in rising market: Nordic American Tankers’ (NAT) fleet realised TCE rate of USD 12,000pd in 3Q18, ~13.2% higher than TCE rate of USD 10,600pd in 3Q17. However, the company’s TCE revenue during 3Q18 declined by a marginal 2% to USD 23.2m on account of a smaller fleet as NAT disposed its older vessels in 2018. Depressed freight rates took a toll on the company’s earnings and NAT reported a net loss of USD 38m during the quarter. However, tanker freight rates saw a rising trend on major trading routes in the beginning of 4Q18. We estimate a TCE revenue and EBITDA of USD 48.4m and USD 25.8m in 4Q18, respectively. NAT’s earnings are expected to remain in red; however, the losses will narrow down to USD 0.4m, compared with the net loss of USD 21.9m in 4Q17. The surge in demolitions in the last 12 months played a key role in the supply-demand dynamics and brought forward the potential recovery in the tanker market. We forecast NAT’s TCE revenue to grow at a CAGR of 21.1% to ~USD 230m in 2021 from an estimate of ~USD 130m in 2018. We expect the adjusted EBITDA to surge from USD 33.2m in 2018 to USD 137.5m in 2021. Consequently, we maintain our Attractive view with a fair value estimate of USD 2.65 per share for NAT’s stock.</li></ul>


High spot exposure to boost top line in rising market: Nordic American Tankers’ (NAT) fleet realised TCE rate of USD 12,000pd in 3Q18, ~13.2% higher than TCE rate of USD 10,600pd in 3Q17. However, the company’s TCE revenue during 3Q18 declined by a marginal 2% to USD 23.2m on account of a smaller fleet as NAT disposed its older vessels in 2018. Depressed freight rates took a toll on the company’s earnings and NAT reported a net loss of USD 38m during the quarter. However, tanker freight rates saw a rising trend on major trading routes in the beginning of 4Q18. We estimate a TCE revenue and EBITDA of USD 48.4m and USD 25.8m in 4Q18, respectively. NAT’s earnings are expected to remain in red; however, the losses will narrow down to USD 0.4m, compared with the net loss of USD 21.9m in 4Q17. The surge in demolitions in the last 12 months played a key role in the supply-demand dynamics and brought forward the potential recovery in the tanker market. We forecast NAT’s TCE revenue to grow at a CAGR of 21.1% to ~USD 230m in 2021 from an estimate of ~USD 130m in 2018. We expect the adjusted EBITDA to surge from USD 33.2m in 2018 to USD 137.5m in 2021. Consequently, we maintain our Attractive view with a fair value estimate of USD 2.65 per share for NAT’s stock.

Nordic American Tankers: Market Recovery on Horizon; Higher Pay-Outs to Support Stock

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The crude tanker market remained weak in the initial nine months of 2018 as vessel earnings remained below breakeven across vessel classes. However, elevated scrapping activity during the year kept a check on fleet growth, and vessel earnings improved in the fourth quarter of 2018. Unlike others, the stocks of Frontline and DHT Holdings generated an overall return of 20.5% and 9.2% in 2018, respectively. The stocks moved on anticipated lines following our upgrade in August 2018. Few stocks such as Frontline and DHT Holdings crossed our fair value estimate. However, all stocks plunged in December 2018 due to the sell-off pressure on New York exchanges.The tanker market has bottomed out in 2018, and we expect a gradual recovery over the next three years as a higher number of demolitions will facilitate market re-balancing by limiting the supply side growth. We expect the stocks to gradually follow the upward trajectory in the second half of 2019 given the optimistic outlook and hence, have awarded ‘Attractive’ rating to tanker stocks under our coverage.

The crude tanker market remained weak in the initial nine months of 2018 as vessel earnings remained below breakeven across vessel classes. However, elevated scrapping activity during the year kept a check on fleet growth, and vessel earnings improved in the fourth quarter of 2018. Unlike others, the stocks of Frontline and DHT Holdings generated an overall return of 20.5% and 9.2% in 2018, respectively. The stocks moved on anticipated lines following our upgrade in August 2018. Few stocks such as Frontline and DHT Holdings crossed our fair value estimate. However, all stocks plunged in December 2018 due to the sell-off pressure on New York exchanges.The tanker market has bottomed out in 2018, and we expect a gradual recovery over the next three years as a higher number of demolitions will facilitate market re-balancing by limiting the supply side growth. We expect the stocks to gradually follow the upward trajectory in the second half of 2019 given the optimistic outlook and hence, have awarded ‘Attractive’ rating to tanker stocks under our coverage.

Tanker Shipping - 2019Gradual Recovery on Horizon

Transport Sector, China and Asia-focused Research

Charles De Trenck

Event-Driven

Tanker shares probably showed up on many aggressive investor stock screens in the last couple of days. But the trade has been on a couple of times recently. And just about came back to its recent starting point a few days ago, in some cases. That is how steep some of the sell-offs were. But the overall original trade probably started when oil made its big decline. We can delineate the trades pretty clearly, while also observing some names that have moved quickly against those still languishing somewhat. We look at some recent performances, better versus weaker trades.

Tanker shares probably showed up on many aggressive investor stock screens in the last couple of days. But the trade has been on a couple of times recently. And just about came back to its recent starting point a few days ago, in some cases. That is how steep some of the sell-offs were. But the overall original trade probably started when oil made its big decline. We can delineate the trades pretty clearly, while also observing some names that have moved quickly against those still languishing somewhat. We look at some recent performances, better versus weaker trades.

Ongoing Coverage: Tankers in Sweet Spot of Negative Correlation to Oil... Share Rebounds

United States

Nordic American Tankers Limited is a shipping company that owns and charters Suezmax tankers for oil transportation.  The Company's ships are all active in the spot freight market.

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Nordic American Tankers (NAT US)

S&P 500 Testing 3900 Support; Commodities, WTI Crude Oil Topping?; Buying Uranium, Ag Equipment

Key supports are currently being tested at 3900-3910 on $SPX, $293 on the $QQQ $NDX, and $177-178 on the $IWM. WTI crude oil is breaking below $85;...

Vermilion Research

U.S. Equity Strategy: Bullish Outlook Intact

Amid rising Middle East tensions, investors have moved to safe-havens including Treasuries and gold, all while having a muted effect on the US...

Vermilion Research

Nordic American Tankers: Market Recovery on Horizon; Higher Pay-Outs to Support Stock

High spot exposure to boost top line in rising market: Nordic American Tankers’ (NAT) fleet realised TCE rate of USD 12,000pd in 3Q18, ~13.2%...

Drewry Maritime Financial Research

Tanker Shipping - 2019Gradual Recovery on Horizon

The crude tanker market remained weak in the initial nine months of 2018 as vessel earnings remained below breakeven across vessel classes....

Drewry Maritime Financial Research

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

S&P 500 Testing 3900 Support; Commodities, WTI Crude Oil Topping?; Buying Uranium, Ag Equipment

Key supports are currently being tested at 3900-3910 on $SPX, $293 on the $QQQ $NDX, and $177-178 on the $IWM. WTI crude oil is breaking below $85;...

Vermilion Research

U.S. Equity Strategy: Bullish Outlook Intact

Amid rising Middle East tensions, investors have moved to safe-havens including Treasuries and gold, all while having a muted effect on the US...

Vermilion Research

Nordic American Tankers: Market Recovery on Horizon; Higher Pay-Outs to Support Stock

High spot exposure to boost top line in rising market: Nordic American Tankers’ (NAT) fleet realised TCE rate of USD 12,000pd in 3Q18, ~13.2%...

Drewry Maritime Financial Research

Tanker Shipping - 2019Gradual Recovery on Horizon

The crude tanker market remained weak in the initial nine months of 2018 as vessel earnings remained below breakeven across vessel classes....

Drewry Maritime Financial Research

Ongoing Coverage: Tankers in Sweet Spot of Negative Correlation to Oil... Share Rebounds

Tanker shares probably showed up on many aggressive investor stock screens in the last couple of days. But the trade has been on a couple of times...

Charles De Trenck