Report
Dave Nicoski ...
  • Ross LaDuke
EUR 232.95 For Business Accounts Only

Int'l Insights: Developed Markets Leadership Chart Book

Europe in focus

The U.S. dollar continues to grind marginally higher, and EM equities have suffered as a result. Meanwhile, RS for the MSCI EAFE index is bottoming when compared to the MSCI EM index, largely due to outperformance in Europe. With developed int'l markets beginning to outperform emerging markets, we recommend adding exposure to the developed int'l space. Below we highlight attractive and actionable themes within developed int'l:

• Europe & Japan: Though this is an all-encompassing bottoms-up chart book for developed ex-U.S., make no mistake, the vast majority of today's buy recommendations hail from Europe. We view this as reinforcing our belief that Europe is bottoming, a viewpoint that remains far from consensus. Within Europe, we put a spotlight on Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40. On the other hand, Japan's TOPIX remains a global laggard. Unsurprisingly, attractive setups are harder to come by within Japan (just two Japanese stocks highlighted in this report)... see chart below and page 2.

• European Sectors: Today's recommendations are primarily from cyclical Sectors, however European Consumer Staples also exhibits bottoming RS. On page 3 we provide a RS analysis of the Sectors that present our favorite opportunities: Technology, Discretionary, Industrials, Transportation, Financials, and Staples.

Outside of the above themes, a bottoms-up approach is required to uncover attractive and actionable stocks. On page 4 we include a table of all stocks highlighted in this report, sorted first by sector and then by country... see page 4.
Underlyings
3i Group plc

3i Group is an investment company with two complementary businesses: Private Equity, which invests in companies with an Enterprise Value of Euro100.0million to Euro500.0 at acquisition in its primary investment markets of northern Europe and North America; as well as Infrastructure, which invests in economic infrastructure and greenfield projects in developed economies, principally in Europe. Co.'s private equity business is focused on three sectors: consumer, industrial and business and technology services. Co. invests primarily in northern Europe and North America.

A2 Milk Company Ltd.

A2 Milk is principally engaged in the commercialization of a2 Milk™ related products as supported by the ownership of intellectual property that enables the identification of cattle for the production of a2 Milk™. Through its associated companies, Co. is also engaged in the distribution and marketing of a2 Milk™ in Australia and Japan and commercialize the sales and licensing rights for the supply, distribution and marketing of a2 Milk™ in the U.S. Co. products are also sold under the Jalna and Fresha Valley brand names. Co. operates predominantly in New Zealand and Australia.

Adecco Group AG

Adecco Group provides human resource services, including temporary staffing, permanent placement, outsourcing, consulting and outplacement. Co. has more than 5,500 branches in over 60 countries and territories. Co.'s Office and Industrial businesses offer a range of general staffing services, including temporary staffing, permanent placement, assessment, training and integrated human resources applications. In addition, Co. operates professional business lines, which include Adecco Finance & Legal, Adecco Engineering & Technical, Adecco Information Technology, Adecco Medical & Science, Adecco Sales, Marketing & Events and Adecco Human Capital Solutions.

AIXTRON SE

Aixtron is a provider of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry. Co.'s technology solutions are used by customers to build components for electronic and opto-electronic applications based on compound, silicon, or organic semiconductor materials. The components are used in displays, signaling, lighting, fiber optic communication systems, wireless and mobile telephony applications, optical and electronic storage devices, computing, as well and other technologies. Co. supplies to customers both full production-scale chemical vapor deposition systems and small scale systems for research and development use.

Allianz SE

Allianz is engaged in the provision of a range of insurance and asset management products and services. Co. has three business segments: Property-Casualty, which provides insurance products to both private and corporate customers, including motor liability and own damage, accident, general liability, fire and property, legal expense, credit and travel insurance; Life/Health, which provides life and health insurance products including annuities, endowment and term insurance, unit-linked and investment-oriented products and private health and supplemental health and long-term care insurance; and Asset Management, which provides institutional and retail asset management products and services.

Amundi SA

Amundi is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, Co. provides advisory and investment management services. Co. provides savings, financial instruments, equity trading, credit activities, and investment solutions for both private individuals and institutional and corporate clients worldwide.

ARB Corporation

ARB is engaged in the design, manufacture, distribution and sale of motor vehicle accessories and light metal engineering works.

ASM International N.V.

ASM International is an equipment supplier mainly to the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Co. designs, manufactures and sells equipment and services to its customers for the production of semiconductor devices, or integrated circuits. Co.'s front-end segment manufactures and sells equipment used in wafer processing, encompassing the fabrication steps in which silicon wafers are layered with semiconductor devices. Co.'s back-end segment manufactures and sells equipment and materials used in assembly and packaging, encompassing the processes in which silicon wafers are separated into individual circuits and subsequently assembled, packaged and tested.

Atlas Copco AB Class A

Atlas Copco provides industrial productivity products and services. Co.'s operations are divided into four business areas: Compressor Technique (provides compressors, vacuum solutions, gas and process compressors and expanders, air and gas treatment equipment and air management systems), Industrial Technique (provides power tools, assembly systems, quality assurance products, software and service through a global network), Mining and Rock Excavation Technique (provides equipment for drilling and rock excavation), and Construction Technique (provides construction and demolition tools, portable compressors, pumps and generators, lighting towers, and compaction and paving equipment).

Bellsystem24 Holdings

BELLSYSTEM24 Holdings is a holding company. Along with its subsidiaries, Co. operates in two business segments. The CRM (customer relationship management) business is engaged in the operation of call centers as well as the provision of customer support, sales support, technical support and business process outsourcing ("BPO") services for client companies through telephone, Web and social medias. It is also involved in the contract research organization ("CRO") business, the BPO business which provides contact center services related to medical and health and the site management organization ("SMO") business The Others segments is engaged in the contents sales and outsourcing businesses.

BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund

BNP Paribas SA Class A

BNP Paribas is engaged in the provision of banking and financial services. Co.'s business activities are divided into two segments: Retail Banking & Services and Corporate and Investment Banking. The Retail Banking and Services business includes domestic markets and international financial services. The Corporate and Institutional Banking comprises of corporate banking, global markets, and securities services. Other activities include principal investments, which related to Co.'s central treasury function, some costs related to crossbusiness projects, the residential mortgage lending business of personal finance, and certain investments.

Brunel International N.V.

Accrued employee expensesBrunel is a global provider of business services that specializes in the flexible placement of professionals in the fields of Engineering, IT, Legal, Finance, Insurance & Banking and Energy. Co. provides such specialists through a range of staffing, project management, recruitment and consultancy services. Co. serves the world market for professional staffing and recruitment services from two main perspectives. On the one hand, Co. aims its services at specific supra-regional business lines. On the other hand, Co. focuses on specific countries such as The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Canada.

Coca-Cola HBC AG

Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Co. produces, sells and distributes an extensive portfolio of non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages. Co.'s business is engaged in producing, selling and distributing non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages under bottlers' agreements with The Coca-Cola Company. In some Territories, Co. also produces, sells, distributes and markets its own brands of juice and Water beverages. In addition, Co. bottles and distributes beer in Bulgaria and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Co. distributes a selected number of third party premium spirit brands in certain central and eastern European operations.

Daimler AG

Daimler provides a range of transportation products, including passenger cars and commercial vehicles, and also financial services. Co. operates in five segments. Mercedes-Benz Cars sells passenger cars and off-road vehicles under the Mercedes-Benz brand and small cars under the smart brand. The Daimler Trucks distributes its trucks (Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, FUSO, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses and BharatBenz). The vans of the Mercedes-Benz Vans segment are sold under the brand name Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner. Daimler Buses sells completely built-up buses (Mercedes-Benz and Setra). The Daimler Financial Services division supports sales of Co.'s automotive brands.

Danone SA

Danone is engaged in activities in the global food and beverages industry. Co. operates in four markets: Fresh Dairy Products (Co. produces and sells yogurts, fermented dairy products and other fresh dairy products); Waters (Co. produces and sells natural waters as well as flavored and vitamin-enriched waters products); Early Life Nutrition (Co. produces baby formula, milk-and fruit-based desserts, cereals, small pots of baby food and ready-made baby food); and Medical Nutrition (Co. develops adult and pediatric clinical nutrition products to be taken orally, or through a catheter in the event of malnutrition related to illness or other causes).

DBS Group Holdings Ltd

DBS Group Holdings is an investment holding, treasury and funding vehicle for itself and its subsidiaries. Co.'s main subsidiary is DBS Bank Ltd, which is engaged in a range of commercial banking and financial services, principally in Asia. Co.'s various business segments are: Consumer Banking/ Wealth Management, which provides individual customers with a range of banking and related financial services; Institutional Banking, which provides financial services and products to institutional clients; as well as Treasury, which provides treasury services to corporations, institutional and private investors, financial institutions and other market participants.

Deutsche Boerse AG

Deutsche Boerse is a financial services provider. Co.'s segments include Eurex, which comprises areas such as T7 electronic derivatives market trading platform, T7 electronic options trading platform, and Eurex Repo® over-the-counter trading platform; Xetra, which comprises areas such as cash market, the Specialist trading, and Eurex Bonds® OTC trading platform. Clearstream, which comprises custody and settlement services, securities financing services and collateral management, and investment funds services; and Market Data + Services, which comprises areas such as Distribution of licenses for real-time trading and market signals, and development and sales of indices.

Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG

Deutsche Pfandbriefbank is the parent company of Deutsche Pfandbriefbank Group. Through its subsidiaries, Co. is engaged as a bank for real estate finance and public investment finance. Co. structures medium to large financing transactions for real estate investors in office, retail, residential and logistics properties. Co. finances public sector investment in infrastructure projects such as public housing, utilities and waste disposal, health care and nursing care properties, as well as child care and educational facilities. Co. also provides government-backed export finance. Co. operates in Germany, the U.K., France, the Nordic countries as well as Central and Eastern European countries.

Devro PLC

Devro is a manufacturers of collagen products for the food industry. Co.'s collagen casings are used to manufacture a variety of sausages. Co. sells collagen products directly to food manufacturers and, in some markets, local distributors. Co. has three operating segments: Americas, which includes North America and Latin America; Asia-Pacific, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the rest of South East Asia; and Europe, which includes Continental Europe, U.K., Ireland and Africa.

EFG International AG

EFG International is a holding company, engaged in managing private banking and asset management group operating in around 30 locations worldwide. Co. provides private banking, wealth management and asset management services. Co. operates seven business segments: Americas, Asia, United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Switzerland, Investment & Wealth Solutions. Co.'s principal places of business are in Bahamas, Cayman, Channel Islands, Hong Kong, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Euronext NV

Euronext is a cross-border exchange. Co. operates combined regulated markets across Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom (derivatives only). Co. offers a range of integrated services including the listing of financial instruments, trading in securities and derivatives, clearing, netting and settlement, market data dissemination and IT solutions and support. Co.'s customers include listed companies, members, institutional and individual investors who trade on Co. markets, other organizations, notably exchanges that use its technologies and services, and users of the financial and information generated by market activity.

Evotec SE

Evotec is a holding company engaged as a drug discovery solutions company providing drug discovery capabilities to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as to academic institutions. These drug discovery solutions are provided in form of fee-for service work, integrated drug discovery alliances, development partnerships, licensing of drug candidates and consulting arrangements. Co. is primarily involved in the areas of neuroscience, pain, metabolic diseases, oncology and inflammation. Co. provides its drug discovery activities under the banners of EVT Execute, EVT Integrate and EVT Innovate. Co.'s operations are divided into two segments: EVT Execute and EVT Innovate.

EXOR N.V.

First International Bank of Israel Ltd. 5

First International Bank of Israel is engaged in commercial banking, mortgages, various forms of capital market activity, international financial activity, leasing financing, credit card activity and various other financial services in Israel. Co. is also engaged in commercial banking in the U.K. and Switzerland. Co.'s business activities include: Financial intermediation forming the basis for commercial banking; The Bank's nostro investment and management of market and liquidity risks; Commission generating financial and banking services; Investment consultancy and pension consultancy; and Banking operational services in the area of provident fund and mutual fund activity.

Greencore Group Plc

Greencore Group is engaged in convenience food business. Co. provides a range of food to go products supplemented by other chilled, frozen and ambient foods to major retail and food service customers in the U.K. and the U.S. Co.'s operating segments include: Co.'s Convenience Foods segment consist of convenience foods U.K. and convenience foods U.S., which is engaged in the production and sale of convenience food; and Ingredients & Property, which is engaged in the distribution of edible oils and molasses and the management of Co.'s property assets. Co. has seven U.S. convenience foods facilities and 15 U.K. convenience foods facilities.

HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC

InterContinental Hotels Group is a hotel companies. Co.'s hotel brands are InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hualuxe Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, EVEN Hotels, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Holiday Inn Resorts, Candlewood Suites, and Avid Hotels. As of Mar 2 2017, Co.'s had total hotels of 5,348 with 4,433 franchised, 907 managed, eight owned and leased hotels, and 1,655 total hotels in the pipeline.

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.

Intesa Sanpaolo is a commercial bank. Co. is engaged in lending and deposit collection operations in Italy and associated financial services, serving Households, Personal, Small Business, Private and Small and Medium Enterprise customers. Co. provides medium-term credit, leasing, factoring and agribusiness (Mediocredito Italiano), consumer credit (Intesa Sanpaolo Personal Finance), management of electronic payments (Setefi), and trust services (Sirefid). Co. has approximately 4,300 branches, including Retail and Business branches, distributed broadly throughout Italy. At Dec 31 2014, Co. had total assets of Euro646.43 billion.

Investor AB Class B

Investor AB is an industrial holding company. Through its subsidiaries, Co. invests in companies and industries. Co.'s holdings are divided into two business areas: Core Investments and Financial Investments. Core Investments consists of listed holdings, in which Co. is a major owner, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Financial Investments consists of Co.'s investments in EQT and Investor Growth Capital, its partner-owned investments and other investments and activities.

KBC Ancora SCA

KBC Ancora's principal activity is the maintenance and management of its shareholding in KBC Group with a view to ensuring, in collaboration with Cera, MRBB and the Other Permanent Shareholders, the shareholder stability and continuity of KBC Group. Co.'s assets consist almost entirely of this participating interest in KBC Group. Thus its recurrent income consists principally of the dividend it receives from its participating interest in KBC Group.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is a manufacturer and retailer of luxury goods. Co. offers champagne and wines, cognac and spirits, fashion and leather goods, perfumes and cosmetics, watches and jewelery; and is engaged in selective retailing. Its operations are organized along five business segments: Wine and Spirits, Fashion and Leather Goods, Perfumes and Cosmetics, Watches and Jewelery, and Selective Retailing. Co. is also engaged in other activities (Media with Les Echos group, La Samaritaine and Luxury yacht with Royal Van Lent). Some of Co.'s brands are Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Donna Karan, Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, Parfums Givenchy, and TAG Heuer.

Mainfreight Ltd.

Mainfreight is engaged in the global supply chain logistics. As of Mar 31 2015, Co. had business operating in 242 branches in 20 countries around the world. Co. operates in the domestic supply chain (moving and storing freight within countries) and air and ocean freight industries (moving freight between countries). New Zealand, Australia, The Americas and Europe are each reported to management as one segment as the businesses there perform both domestic and air and ocean services.

Orsted

Orsted is a renewable energy company based in Denmark. Co. is engaged in developing a renewables portfolio based on competences in offshore wind, bioenergy, and energy solutions. Co. is active in deploying offshore wind and converting existing coal- and gas-fired power stations to sustainable biomass, providing a heat and power supply which is both green and flexible. Co. divides its operations into four businesses: Wind Power, Bioenergy & Thermal Power, and Distribution & Customer Solutions. The Bioenergy & Thermal Power and Distribution & Customer Solutions businesses jointly constitute Co.'s Danish utility business. Co. maintains activities primarily in Northwestern Europe.

Paragon Banking Group PLC

Paragon Banking Group is a financial services business. Co.'s operation are managed in three lending divisions, Mortgages, which provides first and second charge mortgage products with buy-to-let mortgage finance for landlords operating in the U.K.'s Private Rented Sector; Commercial Lending, which provides motor and asset lease products to consumer, Small Medium Enterprise and corporate customers, focusing on assets and underserved markets; and Idem Capital, which is a consumer debt purchaser, acquiring and servicing loan portfolios, including first and second mortgages as well as unsecured loan assets.

Poste Italiane SpA

Poste Italiane SpA is an Italy-based postal services provider. The Company offers mail collection and delivery, printed matter and parcels, telegrams, express mail and online services. It is engaged in financial and payment services, including post office current and savings accounts, post office interest-bearing bonds, national and international money orders and currency exchange services. The Company's activities are divided into four operating segments. The Postal Service and Commercial Service includes correspondence, express delivery, logistics, parcel and philately. The Financial Service combines the activities of banking services. The Insurance Service includes the activities of Poste Assicura SpA, Poste Vita SpA and its subsidiaries. The Other Service includes the activities of Poste Mobile SpA and the Consortium for the phone services of Mobile Phone ScpA. The main shareholder of the Company is the Italian government.

Prudential plc

Prudential is a parent holding company. Co., together with its subsidiaries, is an international financial services group with its principal operations in Asia, the U.S. and the U.K. In Asia, Co. has operations in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other markets. In the U.S., Co.'s principal subsidiary is Jackson National Life Insurance Company. In the U.K., Co. operates through its subsidiaries, primarily The Prudential Assurance Company Limited and M&G Investment Management Limited. Co. provides a range of retail financial products and services and asset management services throughout these territories.

PUMA SE

Puma and its subsidiaries are engaged in the development and sale of a broad range of sports and sports lifestyle products, including footwear, apparel and accessories. Product management, design, development and category-specific marketing have been combined under six separate Business Units. The Business Units Teamsport, Running, Training & Fitness, and Golf represent Co.'s performance business, while Lifestyle and Motorsports, Fundamentals as well as Accessories & Licensing constitute the lifestyle business.

Pushpay Holdings

Pushpay is engaged in the provision of a platform for mobile commerce and electronic payments, text messaging servicing and tools for merchants to engage with consumers primarily in New Zealand and the U.S. Co. operates in two operating segments: text messaging segment and mobile payment solutions segment. The text messaging segment involves integrating text messaging with core business applications using a SMS gateway and facilitates personalized communication and other mobile commerce experiences; and the mobile payment solutions segment involves operating in the U.S. faith market delivering mobile payment solutions between consumers and merchants using software and applications.

Randstad NV

Randstad is a global staffing and recruitment company, providing various solutions in the human resources (HR) services space. Co.'s services include regular temporary staffing and permanent placement of candidates. In addition, Co. provides several other HR solutions, such as Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), Managed Services Programs (MSP), payroll services, and outplacement. Co. provides four distinct service concepts: Staffing, Inhouse Services, Professionals and HR Solutions.

Real Matters

Real Matters is engaged in network management services provider for the mortgage lending and insurance industries. Co.s' platform combines its proprietary technology and network management capabilities with field agents to create an efficient marketplace for the provision of mortgage lending and insurance industry services. Clients include mortgage lenders in the United State and some insurance companies in North America. Co. is a independent provider of residential real estate appraisals to the mortgage market and a independent provider of title and mortgage closing services in the United States.

Safran S.A.

Safran designs, develops and manufactures high technology electronics through three businesses: Aerospace, Defense and Security. Aerospace includes Aerospace Propulsion (propulsion systems for commercial aircraft, military transport, training and combat aircraft, rocket engines, civil and military helicopters) and Aircraft Equipment (mechanical, hydromechanical and electromechanical equipment); Defense (optronic, avionic and electronic systems); and Security (biometric technologies for fingerprint, iris and face recognition, identity management products, access management and transaction security, including tomographic systems for detection of dangerous or illicit substances in baggage).

Schroders PLC

Schroders is a global asset and wealth manager. Co. manages assets on behalf of institutional and retail investors, financial institutions and individuals. Co. has three business segments: Asset Management, which comprises investment management including advisory services, equity products, fixed income securities, multi-asset investments, real estate and alternative asset classes; Wealth Management, which comprises investment management, wealth planning and banking services provided to individuals and charities; and Group, which comprises Co.'s investment capital and treasury management activities. As of Dec 31 2016, Co. had a total of £386.00 billion of assets under management.

Sixt SE

Sixt is a parent company that acts as the holding company. Through its subsidiary, Co. is an international provider of mobility services. With its Vehicle Rental and Leasing Business Units Co. provides its customers tailor-made products that provide mobility of a few minutes to several years. In the Vehicle Rental Business Unit Co. has a network of stations with an almost worldwide presence through its own rental offices as well as through cooperation with franchisees and cooperation partners. Through its Leasing Business Unit Co. is a non-bank, vendor-neutral leasing companies. In addition, Co.'s franchisees and cooperation partners provides lease financing and services.

Soitec SA

Soitec is a manufacturer of silicon and integrated circuits. Co. offers products based on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI), which serves to support the manufacturing of more energy-efficient integrated circuits. Co.'s operations can be divided into three divisions: Electronics, Solar Energy and Lighting. The Electronics division manufactures and sells substrates and components intended for the microelectronics industry; the Solar Energy division manufactures and sells photovoltaic modules, designs and constructs turnkey projects, and operates photovoltaic power plants; and the Lighting division isolates resources to develop materials designed for the production of light emitting diodes.

SPIE SA

Spie is a provider of electrical engineering and IT services and an infrastructure and building contractor. Co. helps to design, finance, manage and implement an array of projects ranging from high-speed TGV and conventional rail lines to metros and light rail systems. In addition, Co. offers telecom and information network services. Through the Commercial Segment, Co. is engaged in construction and renovation projects. Co. also offers wired building services as well as multi-disciplinary industrial maintenance and facilities management solutions.

Standard Chartered PLC

Standard Chartered is a holding company and an international banking group that serves people and companies across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Co. comprises a network of more than 1,026 branches and outlets in 63 markets. Co.'s segments are: Corporate & Institutional Banking, which supports transaction banking, corporate finance, financial markets and borrowing needs; Private Banking, which provides a range of investment, credit and wealth planning solutions; Commercial Banking, which provides a range of international financial solutions; Retail Banking, which provides digital banking services. At Dec 31 2017, Co. had total assets of US$663.50 billion and deposits of US$30.94 billion.

STMicroelectronics NV

STMicroelectronics is a global independent semiconductor company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductor integrated circuits (“ICs”) and discrete devices. Co. offers a diversified product portfolio and develops products for a wide range of market applications, including automotive products, computer peripherals, telecommunications systems, consumer products, industrial automation and control systems. Within its diversified portfolio, Co. is focused on developing products that leverage its technological strengths in creating customized, system-level solutions with digital and mixed-signal content.

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson Class B

Ericsson provides communications technology and services. Co.'s services, software and infrastructure – especially in mobility, broadband and the cloud – enable the telecom industry and other sectors to do business, increase efficiency, improve the user experience and capture new opportunities. Co. has more than 110,000 professionals and customers in more than 180 countries. Co. provides support for networks with more than 2.5 billion subscribers. Co.'s core business areas are called Radio, Core and Transmission and Telecom Services. Co. divides its operations into three business segments: Networks, Global Services and Support Solutions.

THQ Nordic AB

THQ Nordic AB Formerly known as THQ Nordic GmbH. THQ Nordic AB is a Sweden-based company engaged in the computer games development. The Company focuses on acquiring, developing and publishing personal computer (PC) and console games for Xbox and PlayStation platforms. The Company's game portfolio consists of owned franchises intellectual property (IP) and published titles, including Darksiders, MX vs. ATV, Red Faction, SpellForce, Titan Quest and The Guild, among others. It offers games through various distribution channels, including digital platforms, such as Stream, PlayStation Store and Xbox Live; marketing via social media, such as Facebook and YouTube; gaming conventions, and global retailers, such as Walmart, Gamestop and Amazon. Its subsidiaries comprise THQ Nordic GmbH, We Sing Company Holding AB, Pieces Interactive AB, Experiment 101 AB and THQ Nordic Mobile AB, among others.

VAT Group AG

VAT Group AG is a Switzerland-based company engaged in the manufacture of industrial valves. The Company focuses on designing and producing vacuum valves for semiconductor, display and solar panel manufacturing, as well as for a range of industry and research applications. Its activities are divided into three business areas: Valves, Global Services and Industry. The Valves division provides isolation, control and transfer valves used in vacuum-based manufacturing processes. The Global Services area offers advisory and after sales services, such as trainings, equipment repair and overhaul, valve upgrade and spare parts sale. The Industry segment manufactures and markets welded bellows, machine parts, mechanical components and assemblies. The Company operates worldwide.

VERBUND AG Class A

Verbund is a public utility company engaged in the generation and transmission of electricity from subsidiaries' hydro and thermal power stations located throughout Austria. Through its subsidiaries, Co. is involved in the planning and construction of water systems, hydroelectric power plants, river structures, sewage disposal systems, and high voltage transmission towers and lines. Co. generates, trades and sells electrical energy to power exchange buyers, traders, energy supply companies and industrial companies as well as households and commercial customers.

Provider
Vermilion Research
Vermilion Research

Vermilion Research delivers timely, actionable, and unique research inputs to professional investors. Our research strategists highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various proprietary technical indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. We believe our research methodology, which is not limited by industry sector or market capitalization, enables us to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing all actively traded stocks into coherent sectors, then into logical industry groups. We then apply our proprietary relative strength tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sectors or groups, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. Vermilion offers U.S. and global equity market research products. Vermilion’s research team, which has received numerous awards and accolades, has a combined 70 year of experience in the analysis of investment securities.

Analysts
Dave Nicoski

Ross LaDuke

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