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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>WTR-CMI last week. In a week when the broad market index (Russell 2000) declined 3.6%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology companies modestly outperformed, dropping 2.3%.</li>
<li>This nonetheless trailed the large-cap S&amp;P 500 index, which lost only 1.8% of its value during the week.</li>
<li>Benefiting from improved investor sentiment on possibly higher summer sales of insecticides, improving automotive and construction markets, and lower raw material costs that we discussed last week, ag-chem and coatings companies led the performance of our index.</li>
</ul>


WTR-CMI last week. In a week when the broad market index (Russell 2000) declined 3.6%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology companies modestly outperformed, dropping 2.3%.
This nonetheless trailed the large-cap S&amp;P 500 index, which lost only 1.8% of its value during the week.
Benefiting from improved investor sentiment on possibly higher summer sales of insecticides, improving automotive and construction markets, and lower raw material costs that we discussed last week, ag-chem and coatings companies led the performance of our index.


Industry Report - Chemicals & Materials Technology

<ul><li>WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with S&amp;P 500 appreciating 0.9% and the Russell 2000 slipping 1.3%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials stocks outperformed both broader indexes by appreciating 1.1%, led by a recovery in prices of lithium stocks, which took a tumble the previous week after the announcement of the Chilean government’s intention to increase its financial participation in large lithium projects in the country.</li><li>Better weather drives stronger planting progress. Following last year’s planting delays caused by unseasonal weather, the 2023 planting season in the US is picking up the pace after a slower start, with both corn and soybean planting well ahead of last year<span style="font-size: var(--content-font-size);"> and the five-year average, boding well for North American crop protection and the fertilizer market, at least when it comes to demand.</span></li><li>Chinese auto sales look to rise. According to the China Automobile Dealers Association, the country should see a 50% surge in Y/Y new passenger vehicle sales<span style="font-size: var(--content-font-size);"> in April, following a strong March, compared with the COVID lockdown period a year ago.</span></li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with S&amp;P 500 appreciating 0.9% and the Russell 2000 slipping 1.3%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials stocks outperformed both broader indexes by appreciating 1.1%, led by a recovery in prices of lithium stocks, which took a tumble the previous week after the announcement of the Chilean government’s intention to increase its financial participation in large lithium projects in the country.Better weather drives stronger planting progress. Following last year’s planting delays caused by unseasonal weather, the 2023 planting season in the US is picking up the pace after a slower start, with both corn and soybean planting well ahead of last year and the five-year average, boding well for North American crop protection and the fertilizer market, at least when it comes to demand.Chinese auto sales look to rise. According to the China Automobile Dealers Association, the country should see a 50% surge in Y/Y new passenger vehicle sales in April, following a strong March, compared with the COVID lockdown period a year ago.

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 28, 2023

United States

Huntsman Corporation manufactures differentiated and commodity chemical products.  The Company markets a broad range of chemical products and formulations to a diversified group of consumer and industrial customers. Huntsman's products are used in a range of applications, including those in adhesives, aerospace, automotive, construction products, and consumer products.

Balchem Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets specialty performance ingredients for the food, feed, and medical sterilization industries. The Company micro-encapsulates performance ingredients, and also repackages and markets specialty gases. Balchem sells its products through its own sales force, independent distributors, and sales agents.

Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. manufactures, markets and distributes coatings systems. The Company offers products and services which includes paint, color matching tools, application technologies, and customer  training and business management systems. Axalta Coating Systems serves automotive, transportation,  general industrial, and architectural and decorative sectors.

Ashland Global Holdings Inc. operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, produces and distributes chemicals and thermoplastic resins. Ashland Global Holdings serves construction, automotive, energy, and pharmaceutical sectors worldwide.

FMC Corp operates as a diversified research company in the chemical industry. The company offers technology solutions for agricultural, industrial, and consumer markets. FMC Corp offer an array of technologies in research and development to improve delivery of medications, enhance foods and beverages, power batteries, protect crop yields, and advance textile manufacturing.

NewMarket Corporation develops, manufactures, and blends fuel and lubricant additives marketed worldwide to refiners and others who sell petroleum products. The Company's products are used in transportation and industrial equipment.

H.B. Fuller Company manufactures and markets adhesives, sealants, coatings, paints, and other specialty chemical products worldwide.  The Company's products are sold in countries that include North America, Europe, Latin America, the Asia Pacific region, India, the Middle East and Africa.

Cabot Corporation has businesses in chemicals, performance materials, and specialty fluids.  The Company manufactures and sells carbon black, fumed silica, plastics, ink jet colorants, tantalum, niobium, and germanium.  Cabot's specialty fluids business produces and markets cesium formate as a drilling and completion fluid for use in oil and gas well operations.

Olin Corporation manufactures chemicals and ammunition products. The Company manufactures and sells chlorine, caustic soda, sodium hydrosulfite, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, sodium chlorate, bleach products, and potassium hydroxide. Olin also manufactures products that include sporting ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and industrial cartridges.

Element Solutions Inc operates as a specialty chemicals company. The Company manufactures and supplies specialty chemicals used by the electronics, metal and plastic plating, graphic arts, and offshore oil production and drilling industries. Element Solutions serves customers worldwide.

Orica Limited is a diversified manufacturing company.  The Company produces industrial and specialty chemicals, polyethylene, surface coatings for vehicles, food and beverage flavoring and fragrances, packaging and appliances. The Company also supplies explosive and blasting services to the mining, quarrying and construction industries.

Resonac Holdings Corporation manufactures and distributes chemical products. The Company produces synthetic resins, petrochemical products, inorganics, and other related products. Resonac Holdings also produces ceramics, metals, carbon, electronic materials, and other products.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. manufactures and markets a variety of chemical products. The Company's products include ethylene, propylene and other petrochemicals, basic chemicals, synthetic resins, and fine chemicals.  The Company operates worldwide.

Zhejiang Huafeng Spandex Co., Ltd. manufactures and markets spandex products.

Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd. produces a variety of chemical products, ranging from basic chemicals to functional chemical products.  The Company also manufactures agrochemicals and pharmaceutical products.

TongKun Group Co., Ltd. develops, produces and sells polyester and Terylene filament.  The Company also invests in real estate, finance, business trade and education businesses.

Berger Paints India Limited manufactures and distributes paints, enamels, varnishes, and synthetic resins. The Company's products are used in home, office, factory, interiors, exteriors, metal, wood, plastic, and others.

Sichuan Tianqi Lithium Industries, Inc. develops, manufactures and sells lithium products.  The Company's products include industrial lithium carbonate, battery lithium carbonate, lithium chloride, and lithium hydroxide.

The Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited manufactures petrochemicals and fertilisers.  The Group's products include Ammonia, Sulphuric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Ammonium, Urea, Caprolactam, Nitric Acid and Soda Ash.

Deepak Nitrite Limited manufactures chemicals and fertilizers. The Company's products include sodium nitrite/nitrate, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, and Hydroxylamine Sulphate.  Deepak Nitrite's other two divisions manufacture dyes & dyestuffs and nitro aromatics.

Valvoline Inc. manufactures and distributes automotive lubricants and chemicals. The Company offers motor oil, additives, antifreeze, brake fluid, and grease products. Valvoline also owns the oil change and express care chains of car repair centers.

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Valvoline (VVV US)

Industry Report - Chemicals & Materials Technology

In a week when the broad market index (Russell 2000) declined 3.6%, our WTR-CMI index of 30 chemicals and materials technology companies modestly...

Water Tower Research

Mat-Chem Notes : For the Week Ended April 28, 2023

WTR-CMI last week. In what was a mixed week for the market, with S&P 500 appreciating 0.9% and the Russell 2000 slipping 1.3%

Water Tower Research

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