Core Viewpoint - Silver prices have surged to all-time highs alongside gold, driven by both monetary demand and industrial applications [1][2][13] Industry Overview - The rally in silver is supported by its dual role as a monetary metal and its essential use in various industrial applications, including solar panels, electric vehicles, and electronics [2][3] - Silver's unique properties, such as high electrical and thermal conductivity, strong reflectivity, and antimicrobial behavior, make it vital for modern technology [3] Company Summaries First Majestic Silver – AG - Current stock price is $29, operating silver mines in Mexico, and is a high-leverage miner with significant margin improvement potential [5] - Achieved record silver-equivalent output of 15.4 million ounces in 2025, with projected annual earnings growth of 30% to $0.60 per share in the current year and an 85% increase to $1.12 in fiscal 2027 [6] - Stock has increased nearly 80% year-to-date, with substantial EPS revisions across upcoming quarters [7][8] Buenaventura Mining – BVN - Current stock price is $40, a leading miner in Peru with diversified production in gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc [9] - Shares have risen 200% in the last year, with an attractive forward earnings multiple of 11X and high-double digit EPS growth forecasted [9] Fresnillo – FNLPF - Current stock price is $57, recognized as the world's primary silver producer with over 500% stock gain in the last year [11] - Projected FY26 EPS is $2.91, a 708% increase from the previous year, with FY27 EPS expected to reach $3.01, trading at a forward P/E multiple of 18X [12] - Fresnillo has the highest revenue projections among peers, expected to exceed $5 billion annually [12] Market Sentiment - The Zacks Mining-Silver Industry is currently ranked in the top 6% of over 240 Zacks industries, indicating strong market sentiment [13] - The three highlighted stocks are rated with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting their potential for continued growth [13]

A view of First Majestic’s Los Gatos operation in Chihuahua state. Credit: First Majestic Silver.Escalating security risks and a legacy of lengthy project approvals are increasing investor scrutiny of mining exposure to Mexico, TD Cowen says.Recent incidents linked to cartel activity — such as the late January abduction of 10 Vizsla Silver (TSX, NYSE: VZLA) workers and subsequent killing of some of them — underscore the strategic importance of Mexico’s mining industry, particularly for silver, TD Cowen mini ...

Group 1: Market Reactions to AI Concerns - A renewed sell-off in stocks perceived to be at risk from AI disruption has occurred, particularly affecting software and data companies like Workday, Adobe, and Oracle [1] - The FTSE 100 index has seen a decline, with banks and miners contributing to the drop, as anxiety around AI threats influences market sentiment [13][26] - The AI fear trade has extended to various sectors, including delivery and payment stocks, with significant declines in companies like American Express, Mastercard, and Visa [27][28] Group 2: Company-Specific Updates - Oxford BioMedica shares fell 9% despite a robust trading update, as investors awaited news on a potential takeover from EQT [6] - Unite shares dropped over 9% after reporting earnings at the lower end of guidance for 2025, alongside a softer outlook for 2026 [7] - Croda International reported profits at the top end of guidance, with sales for 2025 rising 4.4% to £1.7 billion, and adjusted operating profit increasing 7.9% to £295.3 million [19] Group 3: Economic and Sectoral Implications - A Citrini Research memo outlined a hypothetical scenario where rapid AI disruption could lead to mass unemployment, potentially undermining consumer demand and investment incentives [28][29] - The market is entering a phase where extreme scenarios generate outsized reactions, particularly concerning capital flows within the software-financing ecosystem [29] - Concerns about liquidity mismatches in private credit markets, particularly related to software-backed loans, have emerged, indicating potential vulnerabilities in the financial system [22][24]

Core Viewpoint - Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. has amended the payment schedule for the Potrero Project, allowing for better budget management and project advancement [1][2]. Payment Structure - The original payment of US$750,000 due on February 21, 2026, will now be divided into three equal payments of US$250,000 on February 24, May 24, and August 24, 2026 [1]. Project Development - The company is focused on advancing the El Potrero project, which is located near several operational mines in the Sierra Madre Occidental region of Mexico [2]. - The project features high-grade gold-silver mineralization within a low sulphidation epithermal breccia vein system, with significant exploration potential due to a lack of modern systematic exploration [3]. Infrastructure and Production Potential - A previously operational 100 tpd plant can be refurbished at a low cost to achieve near-term production once permits are secured [4]. - The property is accessible by road and has a power line within three kilometers, facilitating development [4]. Ownership and Financial Strategy - Pinnacle will earn an initial 50% interest upon commencing production, with plans to generate cash flow to increase ownership to 100% subject to a 2% NSR [5]. - This strategy aims to be less dilutive for shareholders compared to financing through equity markets [5]. Company Overview - Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. is focused on developing precious metals projects in the Americas, including the Potrero project and the Argosy Gold Mine in Ontario [6]. - The company is committed to building long-term, sustainable value for shareholders through its experienced management team and quality projects [6].

白银：不可或缺的 AI 金属 [Table_Industry] 有色金属 白银行业深度专题 | [姓名table_Authors] | 电话 | 邮箱 | 登记编号 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 李鹏飞(分析师) | 010-83939783 | lipengfei2@gtht.com | S0880519080003 | | 魏雨迪(分析师) | 021-38674763 | weiyudi@gtht.com | S0880520010002 | | 李阳(分析师) | 021-23185618 | liyang7@gtht.com | S0880525040114 | 本报告导读： 白银两大属性形成强烈共振：商品属性上，白银工业需求占比升至近 60%，新兴领 域成为增长核心；金融属性上，全球流动性宽松环境下，与黄金形成联动，成为资 金避险优选。长期视角看，光伏、新能源汽车、人工智能等领域用银量增加，供需 缺口或将持续存在，为白银价格上涨提供动力。 投资要点： [Table_Report] 相关报告 有色金属《关注企稳后的布局机会》2026.02.09 有色金属《鹰派扰动，价格 ...

Market Performance - European stocks closed positively, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 up by 1.19%, the UK's FTSE 100 climbing 1.23%, Germany's DAX gaining 1.12%, and France's CAC 40 ending 0.81% higher [1][3]. - Defense stocks rose due to an agreement between India and France to strengthen defense and aerospace ties [2]. - Mining and banking sectors also saw significant gains, with notable performances from companies like Antofagasta, which soared nearly 11% [4]. Company Updates - BAE Systems reported a better-than-expected 12% rise in full-year operating profit, leading to a 4% increase in its shares [4]. - In Germany, Rheinmetall climbed more than 5%, and Heidelberg Materials gained about 4.3% [5]. - Bayer's shares fell over 7% due to a proposed $10.5 billion settlement related to litigation over its Roundup weedkiller [6]. Sector Performance - In the UK market, mining companies such as Fresnillo, Anglo American Plc, and Glencore gained between 4.25% and 4.8% [4]. - In France, companies like Thales, ArcelorMittal, and STMicroelectronics saw gains of 2%-5% [7]. - Notable declines were observed in food retailer Carrefour, which slid more than 5% after reporting a decline in operating profit [8]. Economic Indicators - France's inflation eased to the lowest in five years, with the consumer price index rising only 0.3% year-on-year in January [9]. - The EU harmonized inflation softened to 0.4% from 0.7% in December, marking the weakest rate since December 2020 [10]. - In the UK, the consumer price index posted an annual increase of 3% in January, the lowest since March 2025 [12].

Market Overview - Market leadership has broadened with capital flowing into cyclical industrial, materials, and energy-adjacent businesses, indicating a rotation beneath the surface of mega-cap technology dominance [1] - The current environment rewards investors who look beyond obvious names, with Zacks Rank being an effective tool for identifying outperforming stocks [2] Kaiser Aluminum - Kaiser Aluminum benefits from aerospace recovery and industrial demand, operating at the intersection of aerospace, industrial manufacturing, and specialty materials [3] - The aerospace segment is a key driver, with historically elevated aircraft production backlogs supporting demand for high-performance aluminum products [4] - Analyst revisions for Kaiser Aluminum have increased, with current quarter estimates up by over 15% and next year's earnings by 9.3% in the last week, leading to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) rating [7] Forum Energy Technologies - Forum Energy Technologies is positioned well within the global energy investment cycle, providing equipment and technology for oil, gas, and energy infrastructure markets [8] - The current environment is characterized by disciplined production growth and sustained infrastructure investment, favoring service and equipment providers [9] - Earnings outlook for Forum Energy Technologies has improved, with forward estimates strengthening as order activity increases, supporting its top Zacks Rank [10] Fresnillo - Fresnillo is a major player in the precious metals market, benefiting from strong silver and gold prices, with the company being one of the largest primary silver producers [11] - The improving commodity environment has led to stronger earnings expectations, with analyst estimates rising as realized pricing improves [12] - Larger producers like Fresnillo benefit disproportionately from rising metals prices due to their operational scale, allowing for efficient margin gains [13] Investment Opportunities - Kaiser Aluminum, Forum Energy Technologies, and Fresnillo represent diverse opportunities in aerospace recovery, global energy investment, and strength in precious metals, respectively [16] - All three companies currently hold a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) driven by improving earnings outlooks and positive price trends, highlighting strong momentum opportunities outside crowded trades [17]

Economic Outlook - The Bank of England is urged to implement quick interest rate cuts to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis and boost consumer spending and business confidence [1][2] - Trade unions support interest rate cuts, citing easing inflation as beneficial for working families, with expectations of further softening due to government support for energy bills and other costs [2] - Firms are looking for inflation easing to be accompanied by measures to reduce business costs, such as business rates reform, to stimulate economic growth [3] Inflation and Interest Rates - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has dropped to 3.0%, the lowest level in nearly a year, indicating potential for interest rate cuts by the Bank of England [25][28] - Analysts predict a 25 basis point cut in interest rates at the next Bank of England meeting, with further cuts anticipated if inflation continues to decline [19][21][20] - Despite the drop in headline inflation, services inflation remains sticky, suggesting caution from the Monetary Policy Committee [22] Market Performance - The FTSE 100 index has reached new record highs, driven by gains in sectors such as mining, defense, and banking [6][15][28] - BAE Systems has reported a 10% increase in sales to £30.7 billion and a record order book of £83.6 billion, reflecting strong demand in the defense sector [23][10] - Glencore's revenue for 2025 increased by 7% to $247.54 billion, with adjusted EBIT falling less than expected, indicating resilience in the mining sector [16][17] Company-Specific Developments - BAE Systems has increased its dividend by 10% and expects sales growth of 7-9% for the current year, supported by rising global defense spending [23][13] - Glencore's performance improved significantly in the second half of the year, aided by stronger metals prices and higher copper output [17] - BAE's free cash flow is projected to exceed £1.3 billion, contributing to a reduction in net debt by 22% [13][24]

Economic Overview - The UK unemployment rate has risen to 5.2%, the highest level in nearly five years, indicating a potential upward trend in joblessness [14] - Average weekly earnings growth has decreased to 4.2%, down from 4.6% in November, which is below market expectations [14] - The jobs market is showing signs of distress, with private sector wages not keeping pace with inflation for the first time in two and a half years [1][2] Labor Market Insights - The single month jobless rate is currently at 5.4%, with expectations that it could climb higher as redundancies are anticipated [2] - The number of payrolled employees fell by 11,000 month-to-month in January, following a drop of 6,000 in December, which was better than the consensus forecast of a 20,000 decline [15] - Youth unemployment has reached a new high of 16.1%, highlighting ongoing challenges in the labor market [3] Company Performance - Antofagasta reported a 53% increase in pre-tax profits, with earnings per share more than doubling, driven by higher copper prices and disciplined cost control [3] - The final dividend declared by Antofagasta was 48 cents, lower than the consensus estimate of 56.5 cents, while revenue of $8.6 billion was in line with forecasts [4] - InterContinental Hotels announced a 10% increase in its dividend and a $950 million share buyback following a year of record hotel openings [9] Market Reactions - The FTSE 100 opened higher, gaining 39 points, with companies previously affected by the 'AI scare trade' leading the way [7] - Miners, including Antofagasta and Fresnillo, were among the main fallers as copper and precious metals prices declined [8] - The pound has weakened by 0.5% against the dollar, influenced by rising unemployment and softer wage growth, which have increased the likelihood of a Bank of England rate cut [12]

The iShares MSCI Global Silver and Metals Miners ETF (NYSEMKT:SLVP) and the Sprott Gold Miners ETF (NYSEMKT:SGDM) both offer targeted exposure to precious metals miners, but they take distinct approaches. SLVP tracks global companies heavily involved in silver and metals mining, while SGDM zeroes in on U.S. and Canadian gold producers. This comparison looks at cost, performance, risk, sector tilts, and liquidity to help investors assess which fund may better match their portfolio needs. Snapshot (cost & ...