Urea Prices Saw Good Start to 2018
In the week ending January 5, the prices for granular as well as prilled urea were broadly higher week-over-week.
Materials
Correlation Reading of Miners and Funds in the Last 3 Years
During the past year, IamGold has seen the highest correlation to gold, while Eldorado Gold has the lowest correlation.
Reading the Recent Gold-Silver Spread
Among these spreads, the gold-silver spread is the most talked about because it measures the number of silver ounces it takes to buy a single ounce of gold.
Your End-of-2017 Correlation Study of the Major Miners
The PowerShares DB Gold Fund (DGL) and the VanEck Merk Gold Trust (OUNZ) rose 2.2% over the five trading days leading up to December 27, 2017.
Iron Ore: Could China’s Auto Sales Hit a Rough Patch in 2018?
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers originally forecast 5.0% growth in total vehicle sales for 2017.
Albemarle Strengthens Its Leverage Position
At the end of 3Q17, Albemarle (ALB) reported debt of ~$1.8 billion, its lowest point since 2014.
How China’s Steel Prices Can Support Iron Ore in 2018
Due to the government’s efforts to fight pollution in winter months, steel prices in China have hit a nine-year high in the first week of December 2017.
Can China’s Steel Production Pick Up after March 2018 on Pent-Up Demand?
Overall, China’s steel production in 2017 was strong, which was mostly supported by higher steel prices and firm demand.
A Look at the Gold Spreads at the End of 2017
A gold-silver spread of 77.3 suggests that it requires almost 78 ounces of silver to buy a single ounce of gold.
Will Gold Maintain Its Close Correlation to Inflation?
The rise in inflation could be a positive sign for the current scenario.
How the Dollar and Gold Moved in December
Gold and the US dollar are mostly inversely related to each other.
How Steel Companies’ PE Ratios Stack Up
AK Steel (AKS) has the lowest forward PE multiple of 9.7 among our select group of steel stocks.
Will US Natural Gas Futures Start 2018 on a Positive Note?
February US natural gas (UNG) futures contracts were above their 20-day moving averages on December 29, 2017.
Iron Ore Investors Could Anticipate These Factors in 2018
Iron ore prices were tumultuous throughout 2017. There is a 44% difference between the peak of $95 per ton in February and the trough of $53 per ton experienced in July.
Analysts’ Estimates for Agribusiness Companies’ Earnings in 2018
Earnings per share Earlier, we discussed major agribusiness companies’ earnings, which have mostly fallen over the years. In 2018, their earnings are expected to rise. Next-12-month earnings As shown in the above chart, agribusiness companies’ NTM (next-12-month) EPS (earnings per share) are expected to improve year-over-year. FMC’s (FMC) EPS are expected rise 90% to $4.70, Agrium’s […]
Assessing the Shift in CF Industries’ Product Mix
In the earlier part of this series, we discussed how shipments impacted CF Industries’ (CF) sales. From our analysis, it’s clear that a rise in selling prices remains the most important growth catalyst for the company.
Phosphate Prices in 2018
Phosphate prices Earlier in this series, we discussed phosphate prices in 2017 and what has driven prices down recently. We saw that excess capacity pushed down phosphate fertilizer (NANR) prices during the year. In this part, we’ll look at supply and demand trends for phosphate fertilizers in 2018. Supply and demand In 2017, overall global […]
Sherwin-Williams’ Debt at All Time High: Should Investors Worry?
At the end of 3Q17, Sherwin-Williams (SHW) debt was at an all-time high of $11.0 billion.
A Review of Key Agribusiness Companies’ 2017 Sales
Performance comparison In our series Comparative Analysis of Fertilizer Companies’ 3Q17 Earnings, we compared fertilizer companies’ 3Q17 performance. However, as the agriculture business is seasonal, we should also look at annual trends for a complete picture. Year-over-year sales In the above chart, we compare agribusiness companies’ sales over the last 12 months and the year prior. All […]
A Look at GM’s Stock Performance
In this part of our focus on the top 18 cheap S&P 500 stocks, we’ll discuss another six stocks: General Motors (GM), Ford Motor (F), Owens-Illinois (OI), The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (GT), Navient (NAVI), and Brighthouse Financial (BHF).
What Direction Is the Correlation of Miners Headed?
On a year-to-date basis, AngloGold has seen the highest correlation to gold, while Cia De Minas has the lowest year-to-date correlation.
A Quick Look at the Performance of Silver Miners in December 2017
Coeur Mining and Hecla Mining have seen a loss in their prices on a year-to-date basis, falling 17.9% and 24.0%, respectively.
All 4 Precious Metals Rose on December 20, 2017
All four precious metals had an up day on December 20, 2017. Gold increased 0.43% on the day and closed at $1,267.80 per ounce.
Westlake Announces Optional Redemption of Senior Notes
On December 18, 2017, Westlake Chemical (WLK) announced that it had sent notices about the optional redemption of $688 million in senior notes.
PPG Industries Increases Precipitated Silica Product Prices
On December 19, 2017, PPG Industries (PPG) announced that it’s increasing the prices of sodium silicate and all precipitated silica by up to 6%.
Albemarle Launches New Granite Technology
On December 19, 2017, Albemarle (ALB) announced the launch of its new Granite technology.
These Factors Are Driving Analysts’ Estimates for Newmont Mining
Newmont Mining’s mean consensus revenue for 2017 is $7.3 billion. This implies year-over-year (or YoY) growth of 8.1%.
What Could Boost RPM International’s Fiscal 2Q18 Revenue
Analysts’ revenue expectations As of December 20, 2017, analysts expected RPM International (RPM) to report revenue of $1.3 billion in fiscal 2Q18. The expected revenue represents growth of 6.7% year-over-year. In fiscal 2Q17, RPM reported revenue of $1.2 billion. Between 2012 and 2017, RPM’s second-quarter revenue grew at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of […]
How Newmont Mining Plans to Generate Free Cash Flow in 2018
As NEM’s all-in sustaining costs (or AISC) have fallen 22.0% since 2012, its FCF has improved by $3.60 per share.
Investors Might See a Bump in Newmont’s Costs in 2018 before Improving
Newmont Mining (NEM) is expecting its newest mines to add production at just $750 per ounce.
Aluminum Supply: What Investors Should Watch in 2018
After its split, Alcoa (AA) became a pure-play aluminum producer (S32) (CENX). Like other aluminum producers, Alcoa’s fortunes are tied to metal prices.
Miners: Analyzing Core Indicators for Investors
A brief analysis of mining stocks is crucial when investors are parking their money in the precious metals market, specifically in mining companies.
MAP Prices Remained Strong in Week Ended December 15
MAP (monoammonium phosphate) prices have shown strength in recent weeks, moving higher to peak at $ $403 per metric ton in Brazil.
Where Are Miners’ Correlations with Gold Headed?
In this article, we’ll aim to study the correlations of Yamana Gold (AUY), Pan American Silver (PAAS), Coeur Mining (CDE), and Barrick Gold (ABX) with gold.
Nitrogen Fertilizer Input Cost: Natural Gas Prices Fell Last Week
For the week of December 6–13, 2017, natural gas spot prices at Henry Hub were broadly lower, according to the EIA.
Mosaic: What Analysts Recommend in December
Mosaic (MOS) has had a disappointing year so far compared to PotashCorp (POT) and Agrium (AGU). MOS stock significantly underperformed the S&P 500.
China’s Steel Demand Indicator Slowdown—How Will Iron Ore React?
China’s property sector is one of the most steel-intensive sectors, consuming approximately 50% of overall steel in the country.
How the Federal Reserve’s Rate Hike Affected Precious Metals
Precious metals and miners saw some relief on December 13 after the Fed raised rates as expected. Sibanye Gold (SBGL), Aurico Gold (AUQ), and Goldcorp (GG) rose 3.5%, 3.6%, and 5.8%, respectively.
Digging Deeper into Agriculture Stocks’ Dividend Yields: Part 2
In this part of the series, we’ll look at the dividend yield trends for PotashCorp (POT), Monsanto (MON), Mosaic (MOS), and FMC (FMC).
Screening for Dividend Stocks in the Agriculture Sector
Perhaps dividend yield is one of the most common starting points when screening for dividend stocks.
Why Analysts Are Quickly Raising Huntsman’s Target Prices
The analyst consensus target price for Huntsman is $37.55, which implies a return potential of 20.9%.
Does Vale Deserve a Rerating of Its Valuation Multiple?
Vale’s CFO (chief financial officer) Luciano Siani Pires said during Vale Day on December 6, 2017, that the company deserves a rerating of its valuation.
The Agriculture Industry: Our Top 4 Dividend Stocks
Among the companies that operate within the agriculture sector, FMC (FMC) has outperformed its peers with a total one-year return of 53.2% as of December 11, 2017.
Today’s Correlation Study of Key Mining Stocks with Gold
The Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) and the Sprott Gold Miners (SGDM) have fallen 3.5% and 4.4%, respectively, on a 30-day trailing basis.
The Fertilizer Affordability Index: An Update
Last week, which ended December 8, 2017, saw a slight rise in the Fertilizer Affordability Index issued by Mosaic (MOS).
Tracking Potash Price Movements Last Week
Last week, which ended December 8, 2017, overall potash prices were broadly flat to positive at the four locations we’re covering in this series.
How DAP Prices Performed in Week Ended December 8
Last week, which ended December 8, 2017, was broadly mixed for movements in DAP (diammonium phosphate) prices. Some regions saw weekly gains, and others moved sideways to negative.
How Vale Could Benefit from a Move to Quality in Iron Ore
Vale has changed its product portfolio and quality in iron ore according to market demand. In 2017, it’s more focused on selling high-quality ore.
The Bayer-Monsanto Merger Concerns
Some anti-trust agencies have pushed back their merger approval deadlines over anti-competitive concerns the deal will likely create.
Unexpected Rise in US Natural Gas Inventories
The EIA estimated that US natural gas inventories rose by 2 Bcf (billion cubic feet) to 3,695 Bcf on November 24–December 1, 2017.