Report
Dave Nicoski ...
  • Ross LaDuke
EUR 47.39 For Business Accounts Only

Vermilion Compass: Weekly Equity Strategy

SPX Bull Trap Setting Up?

The S&P 500 (SPX) is approaching 5783, which is the upper-end of an important target/resistance area we have discussed for over a month (5670-5783). Using the 2007 SPX topping analog which has tracked the current market almost perfectly, it would suggest a 2% or less move above the prior all-time high set in July at 5670 before topping, which is where we get the 5783 number... see chart below. We acknowledge that the SPX is technically "breaking out" to all-time highs which is bullish at face value, but time and time again we have seen bull or bear traps or false breakouts/breakdowns at major market turning points, which would be confirmed on a break below 5670. As long as the SPX does not have a weekly close above 5783 we continue to recommend reducing risk and shifting to defensives, and this is the ideal time to do so as the election nears. We remain neutral on the SPX, preferring to sell near 5783 resistance and buy near 5100-5200 support until there is a break in either direction.

2000 and 2007 Topping Analogs. We continue to keep a close eye on April 2000 and August 2007 topping analogs which have tracked this current consolidation phase quite well -- not to mention the similar backdrops to today that includes a new Fed cutting cycle, recession indicators going off (Sahm rule and Schannep Recession Indicator), the yield curve un-inverting, and defensive Sectors outperforming... see chart below. What it will ultimately come down to in terms of SPX continuing higher or suffering a larger correction, is whether or not this rate cutting cycle is accompanied by a recession. Rate of change recession indicators such as the Sahm rule and Schannep Recession Indicator recently moved even deeper into "recession zone," but most economic data remains non-recessionary on an absolute basis. We continue to be open-minded either way.
Keeping an Open Mind. While market dynamics are still mixed, we are seeing some improvement, which is generally to be expected as investors turn increasingly bullish with the SPX breaking to new highs. For example, select defensive Sectors display mild RS deterioration (Staples and Health Care), while others have continued to outperform (Utilities, Real Estate, and Telecom). Other areas of improvement include U.S. high yield spreads and bond market volatility (MOVE index) approaching 2.5-year lows and a handful of indexes/Sectors breaking out to new highs (SPX, IPO, XLC, XLY, XLB, and XLI). Of course, that means many are not breaking out to new highs (QQQ, SMH, XLK, IGV, ARKW, VXF, IJH, IJR, IWM, XRT, XBI, PSCH, KBE, XTN, and EEM, among others). Another concern is that WTI crude oil remains below $72-73 resistance... see pages 2-4.
Underlyings
AECOM

AECOM designs, builds, finances and operates infrastructure assets for governments, businesses and organizations. The company provides: planning, consulting, architectural and engineering design services to commercial and government clients in transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, water and government markets; construction services, including building construction and energy, infrastructure and industrial construction; as well as program and facilities management and maintenance, training, logistics, consulting, technical assistance, and systems integration and information technology services, for agencies of the United States government and for other national governments.

Alamos Gold Inc.

Alamos Gold is engaged in the exploration, mine development, and the mining and extraction of precious metals, primarily gold. Co.'s s primary asset is the Mulatos Mine and holds the mineral rights to the Salamandra group of concessions in the State of Sonora, Mexico, which includes several known satellite gold occurrences.

ARCADIS N.V.

Argan Inc.

Argan is a holding company. The company conducts operations through its subsidiaries: Gemma Power Systems, LLC, which is an engineering, procurement and construction contractor; Atlantic Projects Company Limited, which provides turbine, boiler and rotating equipment installation, commissioning and outage services; The Roberts Company, Inc., which provides on-site services that support maintenance, shutdowns and emergency mobilizations for industrial plants in the southern region of the U.S.; and Southern Maryland Cable, Inc., which conducts business as SMC Infrastructure Solutions, and provides technology wiring and utility construction solutions to customers in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S.

B2Gold Corp.

B2Gold is a Vancouver-based gold producer with three operating mines (two in Nicaragua and one in the Philippines), a fourth mine which has entered into the commissioning and testing phase in Namibia and a portfolio of development and exploration assets in Mali, Colombia, Burkina Faso and Nicaragua. Co.'s reportable operating segments include its mining operations and development projects. The Other Mineral Properties segment consists of Co.'s interests in mineral properties which are at various stages of exploration. The Corporate and Other segment includes corporate operations and the Bellavista property in Costa Rica which is classified as held for sale.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Barrick Gold is engaged in the production and sale of gold, as well as related activities such as exploration and mine development. Co. also produces copper and hold interests in oil and gas properties located in Canada. Co.'s mining operations are concentrated in three regional business units: North America, South America and Australia Pacific. Co. also hold a 73.9% equity interest in African Barrick Gold plc that owns gold mines and exploration properties in Africa. Co.'s copper business unit contains producing copper mines located in Chile and Zambia; and a mine under construction located in Saudi Arabia.

BWX Technologies Inc.

BWX Technologies is a manufacturer of nuclear components, a developer of nuclear technologies and a service provider. The company operates three segments: Nuclear Operations Group, which engineers, designs and manufactures precision naval nuclear components, reactors and nuclear fuel for the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration's Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program; Nuclear Services Group, which provides services including nuclear materials processing and management and operating services; and Nuclear Power Group, which designs and manufactures commercial nuclear steam generators, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, reactor components and other auxiliary equipment.

Construction Partners

Construction Partners is a holding company. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, the company provides a variety of products and services to infrastructure projects, with a focus on highways, roads, bridges, airports, and commercial and residential sites. The company's primary operations consist of manufacturing and distributing hot mix asphalt (HMA), paving activities, including the construction of roadway base layers and application of asphalt pavement, site development, including the installation of utility and drainage systems, mining aggregates, such as sand and gravel, that are used as raw materials in the production of HMA, and distributing liquid asphalt cement in connection with HMA production.

Dycom Industries Inc.

Dycom Industries is a provider of specialty contracting services. The company supplies telecommunications providers with a portfolio of specialty services, including program management; planning; engineering and design; aerial, underground, and wireless construction; maintenance; and fulfillment services for telecommunications providers. Additionally, the company provides underground facility locating services for various utilities, including telecommunications providers, and other construction and maintenance services for electric and gas utilities. The company supplies the labor, tools, and equipment necessary to provide these services to its customers.

Eldorado Gold Corporation

Eldorado Gold is engaged in the exploration, development, mining and production of gold and other mining resources in Brazil, China, Turkey and Greece.

EMCOR GROUP

EMCOR Group is an electrical and mechanical construction and facilities services firm. In addition, the company provides building services and industrial services. The company's services are provided to its customers through its operating subsidiaries and joint venture entities. The company engages in providing construction services relating to electrical and mechanical systems in various types of facilities and in providing various services relating to the operation, maintenance and management of facilities. The company also provides its construction services indirectly by acting as a subcontractor to general contractors, systems suppliers, construction managers, developers, property managers and other subcontractors.

Endeavour Silver Corp.

Endeavour Silver is engaged in silver mining in Mexico and related activities including acquisition, exploration, development, extraction, processing, refining and reclamation. Co. is also engaged in exploration activities in Chile. Co. has three operating mining segments, GuanacevA, Bolanitos and El Cubo, which are located in Mexico as well as Exploration and Corporate segments. The Exploration segment consists of projects in the exploration and evaluation phases in Mexico and Chile.

Fluor Corporation

Fluor is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides engineering, procurement, construction, fabrication and modularization, operations, maintenance and asset integrity, as well as project management services. The company serves a set of industries including oil and gas, chemicals and petrochemicals, mining and metals, transportation, power, life sciences and manufacturing. The company is also a service provider to the U.S. federal government and governments abroad; and it performs operations, maintenance and asset integrity activities for industrial clients. The company has four segments: Energy & Chemicals; Mining, Industrial, Infrastructure & Power; Diversified Services; and Government.

Granite Construction Incorporated

Granite Construction is a holding company, which delivers infrastructure solutions for public and private clients. The company's segments are: Transportation, which focuses on construction and rehabilitation of roads, pavement preservation, bridges, rail lines, airports and marine ports; Water, which focuses on water-related construction and water management solutions; Specialty, which focuses on construction of various complex projects including infrastructure/site development, mining, public safety, tunnel and power projects; and Materials, which focuses on production of aggregates, asphalt and construction related materials as well as proprietary sanitary and storm water rehabilitation products.

IAMGOLD Corporation

IAMGold is engaged in the exploration for, development and operation of gold mining properties, and the operation of a niobium mine.

IES Holdings Inc.

IES Holdings is a holding company. The company has four business segments: Commercial & Industrial, which provides electrical and mechanical design, construction, and maintenance services to the commercial and industrial markets in various regional markets and nationwide in certain areas such as the power infrastructure market; Communications, which provides technology infrastructure services to corporations and independent businesses; Infrastructure Solutions, which provides electro-mechanical solutions for industrial operations; and Residential, which provides electrical installation services for single-family housing and multi-family apartment complexes.

Jaguar Mining Inc.

Jaguar Mining Inc. (Jaguar) is a gold mining company engaged in acquisition, exploration, development and operation of gold producing properties in Brazil. The Company holds mineral concessions comprising approximately 54,000 hectares in the Iron Quadrangle mining district of Brazil. Its projects include Turmalina, Caete and Paciencia. It holds mineral concessions totaling over 140,332 hectares in the State of Maranhao and over 34,855 hectares in the State of Ceara. Its property portfolio also includes Gurupi Project and Pedra Branca Project. The Paciencia mining complex is located approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Belo Horizonte. The Pedra Branca Project is located in the State of Ceara in northeastern Brazil. The Gurupi Project is located in the state of Maranhao Brazil. The Caete mining complex is located in the state of Minas Gerais Brazil. The Turmalina mining complex is located in the Conceicao do Para municipality in the state of Minas Gerais.

Kinross Gold Corporation

Kinross Gold is engaged in the mining and processing of gold and, as a by-product, silver ore and the exploration for, and the acquisition of, gold bearing properties in the Americas, the Russian Federation, West Africa and worldwide. As of Dec 31 2013, Co.'s proven mineral reserves for gold and silver were 1,122 ounces and 1,179 ounces respectively.7,883 7,883 7,883

MasTec Inc.

MasTec is an infrastructure construction company operating mainly throughout North America across a range of industries. The company's segments include: Communications, which performs engineering, construction, maintenance and customer fulfillment activities related to communications infrastructure; Oil and Gas, which performs engineering, construction and maintenance services on oil and natural gas pipelines and processing facilities; Electrical Transmission, which performs engineering, construction and maintenance of electrical transmission lines and substations; and Power Generation and Industrial, which performs installation and construction of power facilities.

New Gold Inc.

New Gold is a gold producer engaged in gold mining and related activities including acquisition, exploration, extraction, processing and reclamation.

Newmont Corporation

Newmont is primarily a gold producer with operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia and Ghana. The company is also engaged in the production of copper, silver, lead and zinc. The company's operations are organized in five geographic regions; North America, South America, Australia, Africa and Nevada.

NovaGold Resources Inc.

NovaGold Resources is a mineral exploration company engaged in the exploration and development of gold and copper mineral properties. Co.'s primary focus is on the Donlin Gold project in Alaska. The Donlin Gold project is owned and operated by Donlin Gold LLC, a limited liability company that is owned equally by wholly owned subsidiaries of Co. and Barrick Gold Corporation. Co. also has an interest in the Galore Creek copper-gold-silver project in British Columbia, Canada. The Galore Creek project is held by a partnership owned equally by NOVAGOLD Canada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Co., and by Teck Resources Limited.

Primoris Services Corporation

Primoris Services, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of construction, fabrication, maintenance, replacement, and engineering services to main public and private utilities, petrochemical companies, energy companies, municipalities, state departments of transportation and other customers. The company installs, replaces, repairs and rehabilitates natural gas, refined product, water and wastewater pipeline systems; large diameter gas and liquid pipeline facilities; electric utility systems; and heavy civil projects, earthwork and site development. The company also constructs mechanical facilities and other structures. Finally, the company provides process and product engineering services.

ROYAL GOLD INC

Royal Gold acquires and manages precious metal streams, royalties and similar interests. The company acquires existing stream and royalty interests or finances projects that are in production or in the development stage in exchange for stream or royalty interests. A metal stream is a purchase agreement that provides, in exchange for an upfront deposit payment, the right to purchase all or a portion of one or more metals produced from a mine, at a price determined for the life of the transaction by the purchase agreement. Royalties are non-operating interests in mining projects that provide the right to a portion of revenue or metals produced from the project after deducting specified costs, if any.

Seabridge Gold

Seabridge Gold is a development stage company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of gold properties located in North America.

Sterling Construction Company Inc.

Sterling Construction is a construction company that focuses in heavy civil construction and infrastructure rehabilitation as well as residential construction projects. The company operates primarily in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas and Utah, as well as other states. The company's heavy civil construction projects include highways, roads, bridges, airfields, ports, light rail, water, wastewater and storm drainage systems, foundations for multi-family homes, commercial concrete projects and parking structures. Residential construction projects include concrete foundations for single-family homes.

Taseko Mines Limited

Taseko Mines is engaged in the exploration, acquisition, development and sale of gold copper, molybdenum, niobium and other related mines within the province of British Columbia, Canada.

Tutor Perini Corporation

Tutor Perini is a construction company. The company operates in three segments: Civil, which focuses on public works construction and the replacement and reconstruction of infrastructure; Building, which provides services to various building markets for private and public works customers, including hospitality and gaming, transportation, health care, commercial offices, sports and entertainment, education, correctional facilities, biotech and pharmaceutical, among others; and Specialty Contractors, which focuses on electrical, mechanical, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, fire protection systems and pneumatically placed concrete for civil and building construction projects.

Vista Gold Corp.

Vista Gold and its subsidiaries operate in the gold mining industry. Co. is focused on the evaluation, acquisition, exploration and advancement of gold exploration and potential development projects. Co.'s principal asset is its 100.0% owned Mt. Todd gold project in the Northern Territory, Australia. Co. also holds 4.2% of the outstanding common shares in the capital of Midas Gold Corp., non-core projects in Mexico, and royalty interests in Indonesia and the U.S.

Willdan Group

Willdan Group is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the company is a provider of technical and consulting services to utilities, private industry, and public agencies of government. The company provides services in two segments: Energy, which services include surveys, program design, master planning, benchmarking analyses, design engineering, construction management, performance contracting, installation, alternative financing, and measurement and verification services; and Engineering and Consulting, which provides civil engineering-related construction management, building and safety, city engineering, city planning, geotechnical, and other engineering consulting services to the company's clients.

WORLDWIDE RESOURCES CORP

Worldwide Resources is focused on identifying and acquiring base and precious metal assets in mining friendly jurisdictions. The Horden Lake Copper Project is an advanced exploration stage deposit located on the Canadian Shield near James Bay, Quebec.

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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