Report
Michael B. Schäfer

ODDO : Glass half full – Volume recovery started after almost 2 years of destocking; China recovery signals underpinning of H2 hopes; we turn more cyclical

As Spring approaches, we see industry-wide destocking coming to an end, emerging recovery trends in China gaining momentum and European spot energy cost relief rolling in, all helping to restore plant utilisation and earnings. We add more cyclicality to our preferred names, upgrading BASF to Outperform (Neutral). Momentum being regained in specialties chemicals distribution triggers our upgrade of IMCD to Outperform (Neutral). ‘From record to record’ remains our mantra at FUCHS. ...
Underlyings
Air Liquide SA

L'Air Liquide is engaged in the market of gases for industry, health and the environment. Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and rare gases make up Co.'s core activities. Co. structures its activities in three segments: Gas and Services, Engineering and Technology, and Other activities. The Gas and Services segment comprises four business lines: Industrial Merchant, Large Industries, Healthcare and Electronics; Engineering and Technology designs, develops and builds industrial gas production plants for Co. and third parties; and the Other Activities segment develops welding and cutting edge technologies, and markets deep-sea diving and swimming equipment to professionals and privates individuals.

Akzo Nobel N.V.

Akzo Nobel N.V. is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, Co. is engaged in the production and marketing of paints, coatings and specialty chemicals. Co. has three segments: Decorative Paints, which supplies products for the professional and do-it-yourself markets, including paints, lacquers and varnishes, as well as products for surface preparation; Performance Coatings, which is divided into the following businesses: Automotive and Aerospace Coatings, Industrial Coatings, Marine and Protective Coatings, and Powder Coatings; and Specialty Chemicals, which are used in products such as ice cream, soups, disinfectants, plastics, soaps, detergents, cosmetics, paper and asphalt.

ARKEMA

Arkema is engaged in the global chemical industry which is a processing industry based on the transformation in one or several stages of raw materials (oil derivatives, gas, minerals, natural products) into more or less complex chemical products, or into plastics obtained by polymerization. In addition, Co. manufactures a wide range of products for other major industries: construction, packaging, chemicals, automotive, electronics, food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, etc. Co. operates in this industrial context with a business portfolio focused on three segments: High Performance Materials, Industrial Specialties, and Coating Solutions.

AZELIS GROUP NV

BASF SE

BASF is a chemical company based in Germany. Co. conducts its operations through five reportable segments: Chemicals, which comprises the Petrochemicals, Monomers and Intermediates divisions; Performance Products, which consists of the Dispersions & Pigments, Care Chemicals, Nutrition & Health and Performance Chemicals divisions; Functional Materials & Solutions, which comprises the Catalysts, Construction Chemicals, Coatings and Performance Materials divisions; Agricultural Solutions, which comprises the Crop Protection division; and Oil & Gas, which is composed of the Oil & Gas division.

Bayer AG

Bayer is a life sciences group based in Germany. Co.'s operations are organized along three divisions: Pharmaceuticals (engaged in prescription pharmaceuticals for cardiology and women's healthcare); Consumer Health (engaged in non-prescription products in dermatology, dietary supplement, analgesic, gastrointestinal, allergy, cold and flu, foot care, sun protection and cardiovascular risk prevention categories); and CropScience (engaged in the development of seeds and plant traits; crop protection; and for gardens, the green industry and non-agricultural pest control). Co. also maintains an Animal Health business unit engaged in the development of products for farm and companion animals.

Brenntag SE

Brenntag is a chemical distributor. Co. provides its customers and suppliers a range of services and global supply chain management as well as a chemical distribution network in Europe, North and Latin America as well as in the Asia Pacific region. Co. manages its business through its regionally structured segments in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Co. provides a range of products as well as services such as just-in-time delivery, product mixing, blending, repackaging, inventory management, drum return handling as well as technical and laboratory services for specialty chemicals.

Covestro AG

Covestro AG is a global supplier of high-tech polymer materials and application solutions developed for these materials. Co. produces precursors for polyurethane foams and the high-performance plastic polycarbonate in addition to raw materials for coatings, adhesives and sealants as well as specialty products, including high-quality films. Other precursors such as chlorine and by-products like styrene are part of Co.'s range of products.

Evonik Industries AG

Steag, through its subsidiaries, is engaged mainly in power generation and related industries. Co.'s business is divided into five units: Power generation, Decentralized Energy Supply, Foreign Power Plants, Gas Distribution, and Coal Trading.

FUCHS PETROLUB SE

H&R GMBH & CO KGAA

H&R GmbH & Co KGaA is a Germany-based developer and manufacturer of crude oil-based chemical and pharmaceutical products and precision plastic components. It operates through three segments: Chemical-Pharmaceutical Raw Materials Refining (ChemPharm Refining), Chemical-Pharmaceutical Raw Materials Sales (ChemPharm Sales) and Plastics. The ChemPharm Refining segment comprises two refineries in Germany, which produce plasticizers, paraffins, white oils and base oils; the ChemPharm Sales segment includes production and distribution sites worldwide and its main products are label-free plasticizers for the tire industry, as well as paraffins for various applications, and the Plastics segment produces precision plastic parts and molding tools to manufacture precision plastic parts.

IMCD N.V.

IMCD Group is a specialty chemicals group based in the Netherlands. Co. is engaged in the sale, marketing and distribution of specialty chemicals and food ingredients globally. Co.'s business groups are Detergents, Pharma, Personal Care, Coatings, Food & Nutrition, Lubricants, Synthesis, Plastics and others. Co.'s product offering includes additives, antioxidants, extracts, preservatives, acids, lubricants, oils, softeners, wax, components for oral, topical and vaccine drug formulations, fragrances, pigments, solvents, resins, flavors, herbs and spices, surface active agents, and fillers, among others. Co. maintains offices and warehouses in Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, the USA and Brazil.

K+S AG

K+S is engaged in the chemical sector. Co. has three business segments. The Potash and Magnesium Products segment combines the production and marketing of potash fertilizers and fertilizer specialities as well as potash and magnesium compounds for technical, industrial and pharmaceutical applications. The Salt segment encompasses the production and marketing of food grade salt, industrial salt and salt for chemical use, de-icing salt and sodium chloride brine. The Complementary Activities segment bundles together recycling activities and waste disposal or reutilisation in potash and rock salt mines as well as catsan® granulation.

KONINKLIJKE DSM N.V.

KWS SAAT SE & Co KGaA

KWS SAAT is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, Co. is engaged in developing, producing and distributing seed for agriculture. Co.'s operational business is divided into three segments: corn, which is engaged in the production and distribution activities of corn for grain and silage corn, oil and field seed; sugarbeet, which is engaged in the multiplication, processing and distribution activities for sugarbeet seed, as well as Co.'s seed potato business; and cereals, which is engaged in the production and distribution of hybrid rye, wheat and barley, as well as oil and field seed.

LANXESS AG

Lanxess is a management holding company, engaged in chemicals enterprise with a portfolio ranging from polymers to industrial, specialty and fine chemicals. Co. has three segments, which comprise 14 business units. Co.'s Performance Polymers segments include five units, Butyl Rubber, Performance Butadiene Rubbers, Keltan Elastomers, High Performance Elastomers, and High Performance Materials. Advanced Intermediates segments include two units, Advanced Industrial Intermediates, and Saltigo. Performance Chemicals segments, include seven units, Material Protection Products, Inorganic Pigments, Functional Chemicals, Leather, Rhein Chemie, Rubber Chemicals, and Liquid Purification Technologies.

LINDE PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

Solvay SA

Solvay is engaged in chemical and plastic businesses worldwide. Co. offers chemical products such as advanced materials, barium strontium, calcium chloride, caustic soda, chlorinated products, fluor, peroxygen products, polyglycerols, precipitated calcium carbonate, soda ash, and sodium bicarbonate. It also provides specialty polymers, such as Spire ultra polymers, Solviva biomaterials, and sulfone polymers. Co. structures its activities around five operating segments: Advanced Formulations, Advanced Materials, Performance Chemicals, Functional Polymers and Corporate & Business Services, each with its own specific business model and each comprised of Global Business Units (GBUs).

Symrise AG

Symrise AG develops, produces, and sells fragrances and flavors as well as active ingredients for the cosmetics industry. Co. operates in two main business segments: The Scent & Care segment, which develops, produces and sells fragrances, cosmetic ingredients, aroma molecules and mint aromas and also develops specific application processes for such substances; and The Flavor & Nutrition segment, which develops, produces and sells flavors that are used by customers in the production of food products (savory and sweet food products as well as dairy products) and beverages.

Wacker Chemie AG

Wacker Chemie is active in chemical products. Co. operates in five divisions: Wacker Silicones, which provides products ranging from silicone fluids and emulsions, resins, elastomers and sealants, to silanes and pyrogenic silica grades; Wacker Polymers, which manufactures binders and polymeric additives (such as dispersible polymer powders and dispersions); Wacker Biosolutions, which supplies customized biotech and catalog products for the fine-chemical sector; Wacker Polysilicon, which produces hyperpure polysilicon for the semiconductor, electronics and above all, solar sectors; and Siltronic, which supplies semiconductor manufacturers with silicon wafers.

Provider
Oddo BHF
Oddo BHF

​Oddo Securities provides securities brokerage and research services. The company offers equity, economic, and derivatives research and credit analysis services. It focuses on insurance, automotive, building materials, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, information technology, and agri-food industries.

Analysts
Michael B. Schäfer

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