Vermilion Compass: Weekly Equity Strategy

Are the Lows "In" for this Pullback? While we are not yet out of the woods, we continue to see evidence that suggests the lows may be "in" for this pullback. Last week (4/23/24 Compass) we discussed the possibility that further downside was limited on the S&P 500 due to a multitude of reasons (SPX had simply filled 2/22/24 gap support that we had been discussing since late-February, Russell 2000 and Equal-Weighted S&P 500 were holding above key supports, short-term oversold conditions, subdued ...

Yara International ASA: 2 directors

Two Directors at Yara International ASA bought/maiden bought 2,337 shares at between 315.000NOK and 316.600NOK. The significance rating of the trade was 54/100. Is that information sufficient for you to make an investment decision? This report gives details of those trades and adds context and analysis to them such that you can judge whether these trading decisions are ones worth following. Included in the report is a detailed share price chart which plots discretionary trades by all the compa...

It does not add up - Down to HOLD (Buy)

Price headwinds stronger than expected. Slashing estimates for 2024-26e. ~7% ATRoCE suggests EV/CE ~1x is fair - HOLD (Buy) TP 325.

Yara (Buy, TP: NOK425.00) - Q1 disappoints the market

While the Q1 results disappointed the market, we consider a ~USD70m–120m EBITDA miss to be within a normal standard deviation and have made only minor estimate changes. Yara’s share price in dollar terms (USD29) is among its lowest since 2010, yet consensus earnings forecasts are at normalised levels. We believe this reflects investor fears it will act irrationally with its capex (NIBD/EBITDA of 2.3x does not give it the muscle to carry out the announced blue ammonia investments). While we hear ...

EBITDA 15% below cons

Norsk Hydro (Sell, TP: NOK50.00) - Q1 slightly on the soft side

Q1 EBITDA was c2% below consensus, with a somewhat soft mix, as Extrusions and Aluminium Metal, the two largest segments, were below forecasts. We have increased our 2024e EPS by 7% on the USD2,600/t spot aluminium price, and 2025–2026e by 2% on the Q1 results. We are 30% below consensus 2025e EBITDA; we do not see enough demand to raise aluminium prices above the marginal producer’s cost, as the price appreciation in recent weeks suggests. We still expect aluminium prices to decline with lower ...

Demand growing faster than supply - BUY

Q1'24 EBITDA of NOK 5.4bn, '24e-'26e EBIT up 2-3% post report. Market tightening rapidly in Q1 - demand up 5%, supply up 3%. Reiterate BUY — TP NOK 75.

EBITDA 2% below on higher cost

Yara (Buy, TP: NOK425.00) - Record-low entry point

Yara’s share price of USD31 is among its lowest in US dollars since 2010, at the same time as its earnings forecast is at normalised levels. We believe this reflects investor concerns that it will act irrationally with its capex. These concerns appear overdone, as in our view Yara has been clear that the industry should cut its carbon emissions long-term, but that it will not go on alone and make unprofitable investments. We find the 2024e P/E of 9x attractive and reiterate our BUY and NOK425 ta...

Norsk Hydro (Sell, TP: NOK50.00) - 30% below 2025e EPS consensus

We expect aluminium prices to come down with falling global energy prices, and reiterate our SELL and NOK50 target price. We are 30% below consensus on 2025e EBITDA; we do not see large enough demand to raise aluminium prices above the marginal producer’s cost, as suggested by the price appreciation in recent weeks, we believe. We expect Q1 EBITDA of NOK6.2bn (results due at 7:00 CET on 24 April), driven by high hydropower production volumes in the quarter. We have reduced our 2025–2026e EPS by ...