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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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<ul><li>It was a good week for most global equities, with the MSCI World Index and the S&amp;P 500 gaining 1.77% and 1.57%, respectively.</li><li>However, the small-cap Russell 2000 and the NASDAQ dropped 1.83% and 0.66%, respectively, as investors digested a mixed bag of corporate earnings.</li><li>Cannabis stocks broke a seven-week losing streak and the MSOS ETF surged 6.87% this week.</li></ul>

It was a good week for most global equities, with the MSCI World Index and the S&amp;P 500 gaining 1.77% and 1.57%, respectively.However, the small-cap Russell 2000 and the NASDAQ dropped 1.83% and 0.66%, respectively, as investors digested a mixed bag of corporate earnings.Cannabis stocks broke a seven-week losing streak and the MSOS ETF surged 6.87% this week.

The Highlights : Cannabis News for the Week Ending April 28, 2023

<ul><li>WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with the Russell 2000 appreciating 0.6% and the S&amp;P 500 remaining virtually unchanged at (0.1%), our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks underperformed, declining 0.3%, as lithium stocks led by ALB suffered from Chile’s decision to nationalize its lithium mining industry, once existing contracts with private companies (mainly SQM and ALB) expire.</li><li>SHW exits another paint market. When the company acquired Valspar, it did not only shore up its presence in the North American big-box distribution channel and expand its industrial coatings business, but it also gained exposure to non-North American paint markets, specifically China and Australia.</li><li>SHW divested the Australian business<span style="font-size: var(--content-font-size);"> two years ago and now has also found a buyer (Akzo) for its </span>Chinese paint business<span style="font-size: var(--content-font-size);">, which may have contributed to SHW topping the list of WTR-CMI stocks appreciating last week.</span></li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with the Russell 2000 appreciating 0.6% and the S&amp;P 500 remaining virtually unchanged at (0.1%), our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology stocks underperformed, declining 0.3%, as lithium stocks led by ALB suffered from Chile’s decision to nationalize its lithium mining industry, once existing contracts with private companies (mainly SQM and ALB) expire.SHW exits another paint market. When the company acquired Valspar, it did not only shore up its presence in the North American big-box distribution channel and expand its industrial coatings business, but it also gained exposure to non-North American paint markets, specifically China and Australia.SHW divested the Australian business two years ago and now has also found a buyer (Akzo) for its Chinese paint business, which may have contributed to SHW topping the list of WTR-CMI stocks appreciating last week.

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 21, 2023

<ul><li>Broad equity indexes remained range-bound, as the S&amp;P 500 and the MSCI World Index ended the week -0.06% and +0.07%, respectively.</li><li>The S&amp;P 500 has been stuck between 4,070 and 4,170 for the past three weeks.</li><li>Small caps finished slightly better, with the Russell 2000 up 0.59% from last week.</li></ul>

Broad equity indexes remained range-bound, as the S&amp;P 500 and the MSCI World Index ended the week -0.06% and +0.07%, respectively.The S&amp;P 500 has been stuck between 4,070 and 4,170 for the past three weeks.Small caps finished slightly better, with the Russell 2000 up 0.59% from last week.

The Highlights : Cannabis News for the Week Ending April 21, 2023

<ul><li>WTR Sustainable Index: During the week ended April 21, 2023, the WTR Sustainable Index underperformed the broader market, falling 7.3% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 0.1%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 0.6%), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (down 0.4%). Advanced Transportation Solutions (67.2% of the index) contributed to the index underperformance, falling 10.2%, while Energy Technology (8.3% of the index) was down 4.4% and Industrial Climate and Ag Technology was up 0.5%.</li><li>Valuation: Based on forward 12-month consensus estimates, the current P/E ratio of the WTR Sustainable index is 27.6x versus 18.9x for the S&amp;P 500.</li><li>Consensus estimates changes: During the week ended April 21, 2023, there were four increases (three in Energy Technology, and one in Industrial Climate and Ag Technology) 2022 revenue estimates.</li></ul>

WTR Sustainable Index: During the week ended April 21, 2023, the WTR Sustainable Index underperformed the broader market, falling 7.3% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (down 0.1%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 0.6%), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (down 0.4%). Advanced Transportation Solutions (67.2% of the index) contributed to the index underperformance, falling 10.2%, while Energy Technology (8.3% of the index) was down 4.4% and Industrial Climate and Ag Technology was up 0.5%.Valuation: Based on forward 12-month consensus estimates, the current P/E ratio of the WTR Sustainable index is 27.6x versus 18.9x for the S&amp;P 500.Consensus estimates changes: During the week ended April 21, 2023, there were four increases (three in Energy Technology, and one in Industrial Climate and Ag Technology) 2022 revenue estimates.

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor : Week Ended April 21, 2023

<div><ul><li>WTR Sustainable Index: During the week ended April 14, 2023, the WTR Sustainable Index performed in line with the broader market, rising 1.0% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 0.8%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 1.5%), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (up 0.3%).</li><li>Energy Technology (8.0% of the index) drove the index performance, rising 4.7%, while Advanced Transportation Solutions (69.3% of the index) was up 0.1% and Industrial Climate and Ag Technology was up 2.7%.</li><li>Valuation: Based on forward 12-month consensus estimates, the current P/E ratio of the WTR Sustainable index is 28.5x versus 18.9x for the S&amp;P 500.</li></ul></div>

WTR Sustainable Index: During the week ended April 14, 2023, the WTR Sustainable Index performed in line with the broader market, rising 1.0% W/W versus the S&amp;P 500 Index (up 0.8%), the Russell 2000 Index (up 1.5%), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (up 0.3%).Energy Technology (8.0% of the index) drove the index performance, rising 4.7%, while Advanced Transportation Solutions (69.3% of the index) was up 0.1% and Industrial Climate and Ag Technology was up 2.7%.Valuation: Based on forward 12-month consensus estimates, the current P/E ratio of the WTR Sustainable index is 28.5x versus 18.9x for the S&amp;P 500.

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor : Week Ended April 14, 2023

United States

The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and serves as the foundation for a wide range of investment products. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

S&P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)

The Highlights : Cannabis News for the Week Ending April 28, 2023

It was a good week for most global equities, with the MSCI World Index and the S&P 500 gaining 1.77% and 1.57%, respectively.

Water Tower Research

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 21, 2023

In what was a mixed week for the market, with the Russell 2000 appreciating 0.6% and the S&P 500 remaining virtually unchanged at (0.1%)

Water Tower Research

The Highlights : Cannabis News for the Week Ending April 21, 2023

Broad equity indexes remained range-bound, as the S&P 500 and the MSCI World Index ended the week -0.06% and +0.07%, respectively.

Water Tower Research

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor : Week Ended April 21, 2023

During the week ended April 21, 2023, the WTR Sustainable Index underperformed the broader market, falling 7.3% W/W versus the S&P 500 Index (down...

Water Tower Research

Weekly Sustainable Investing Surveyor : Week Ended April 14, 2023

WTR Sustainable Index: During the week ended April 14, 2023, the WTR Sustainable Index performed in line with the broader market, rising 1.0% W/W...

Water Tower Research