Group 1: Smith & Wesson Brands - Smith & Wesson Brands is currently trading at $8.66, with a 52-week range of $8.38 to $16.85 and a dividend yield of 6.00% [2] - The company faces significant headwinds, including tariffs and revenue deleveraging, which have negatively impacted margins and led to insufficient income to cover the dividend [2][3] - The payout ratio is projected to exceed 150% by the end of fiscal 2025, raising concerns about the sustainability of the dividend [2][3] - Analysts have a consensus rating of Moderate Buy, but sentiment is declining, and the price target is falling, indicating potential further downside risk [4] Group 2: SunCoke Energy - SunCoke Energy is trading at $8.18, with a 52-week range of $7.47 to $12.82 and a dividend yield of 5.86% [6] - The company has headwinds from weaker coal prices; however, its dividend payment is considered safe due to long-term contracts that guarantee cash flow [6][7] - The payout ratio is expected to be around 70% in 2025, which is sustainable for the business [6] - A recent acquisition of Phoenix Global is anticipated to positively impact revenue and profitability, diversifying SunCoke's business [7] - MarketBeat tracks one analyst rating this stock as a Buy, with a price target over 65% above current trading levels, supported by strong institutional ownership [8] Group 3: Tronox Holdings - Tronox Holdings is trading at $5.67, with a 52-week range of $4.35 to $17.45 and a dividend yield of 8.82% [10] - The company reported a net loss for the previous fiscal year, but analysts believe it is at a turning point due to shifts in demand for TiO2 pigments [10][12] - The consensus rating among eight analysts is Moderate Buy, indicating potential for a 50% upside, with recent upgrades from JPMorgan raising the price target to $7 [11] - Tronox's balance sheet is strong enough to sustain the dividend until business conditions improve, with expectations of positive earnings by the end of the fiscal year [12]

Eleven former executives of companies linked to Miteni are sentenced to a combined 141 years in prison by an Italian court for one of the largest groundwater contaminations of forever chemicals in Europe https://t.co/EGnHrdwcE8 ...

SIKA ACQUIRES RENOWNED CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS COMPANY IN QATAR Sika has acquired Gulf Additive Factory LLC in the State of Qatar. The company manufactures a wide range of construction chemical products and has a strong standing in the fast-growing Qatar construction market. The acquisition strengthens Sika’s foothold in the country and provides exciting opportunities for further expansion. Gulf Additive Factory LLC (GAF) is renowned for its high-quality solutions and profound technical expertise. An extensi ...

Core Insights - BASF SE has launched InVigor Gold, a new solution aimed at enhancing the canola market, particularly in Canada and the United States [1][4] - InVigor Gold is designed to provide heat tolerance, yield stability, and disease resistance, making it suitable for challenging growing conditions [2][7] - The product has demonstrated an 8% yield advantage over traditional canola in trials conducted from 2022 to 2024 [3][7] Product Features - InVigor Gold incorporates LibertyLink herbicide technology, offering pod shatter resistance and strong blackleg disease resistance [2][7] - The innovation is backed by BASF's extensive germplasm and a leading breeding team, ensuring high-quality canola properties [2] Market Position - BASF has a long-standing reputation in the canola seed market, with over 25 years of experience and a robust portfolio of InVigor hybrids [4] - The product is expected to be available in the U.S. by 2027 and in Canada later this decade or early next decade, subject to regulatory approval [4] Stock Performance - BASF's stock (BASFY) has increased by 3.2% over the past year, contrasting with a 20.9% decline in the industry [6]

Rotterdam, The Netherlands (26 June 2025) – IMCD N.V. ("IMCD" or "Company"), a global leading partner for the distribution and formulation of speciality chemicals and ingredients, has announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Trichem Healthcare Private Limited, Trichem Lifesciences Limited and Chemistry & Health FZ LLC. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Mumbai, India, Trichem has built a strong reputation in the healthcare sector, supplying high-quality active pharmaceutical ingredients, pharmac ...

LONDON, June 26, 2025 – Stolt-Nielsen Limited (Oslo Børs: SNI) will host a virtual presentation to discuss the Company’s unaudited results for the second quarter and first half of 2025 on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 15:00 CEST (09:00 EDT, 14:00 BST). The virtual presentation will be hosted by: - Mr. Udo Lange - Chief Executive Officer, Stolt-Nielsen Limited - Mr. Jens F. Grüner-Hegge - Chief Financial Officer, Stolt-Nielsen Limited- Mr. Alex Ng - Vice President Strategy & Business Development, Stolt-Nielsen L ...

Core Insights - LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) has licensed four essential technologies to SHCCIG Yulin Chemical Co., Ltd. for a new petrochemical facility in Yulin City, China, which includes Spheripol and Spherizone technologies for polypropylene plants, Hostalen Advanced Cascade Process for a high-density polyethylene plant, and Lupotech T technology for a vinyl acetate copolymer plant [1][8] Technology and Production - The technology package will enable SHCCIG Yulin Chemical to produce high-performance polypropylene and polyethylene products, as well as vinyl acetate copolymer materials for renewable energy applications, particularly photovoltaic encapsulants [2] - Spheripol is recognized as the leading polypropylene processing technology with over 33 million tons of licensed capacity, and the latest fifth-generation Spheripol technology enhances operating efficiency [3] - The Spherizone multi-zone circulating reactor provides a platform for producing polypropylene products with improved characteristics, with LyondellBasell having licensed over 10 million tons of the Spherizone process globally [4][8] Market Performance and Outlook - LYB stock has experienced a decline of 40.1% over the past year, compared to a 24.2% decline in the industry [5] - For the second quarter, the company expects improved seasonal demand across most business segments, with easing U.S. natural gas and ethane feedstock prices, and lower crude oil costs benefiting operations in Europe and Asia [6] - Oxyfuels margins are anticipated to rise due to widening gasoline crack spreads during the summer driving season, and ongoing capacity reductions in Europe are expected to improve the regional supply-demand balance [6]

Core Viewpoint - Apollo has agreed to sell its interest in MAFTEC Group Co., Ltd., a leader in ultra-high temperature heat insulating solutions, to funds managed by Advantage Partners, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2025 [1][5]. Company Overview - MAFTEC was established from the separation of Mitsubishi Chemical's Thermal and Emission Control Materials business, which Apollo acquired in March 2022 [2]. - Apollo played a crucial role in MAFTEC's product development and market establishment, contributing to significant EBITDA growth over the past three years [2][3]. Management Insights - Tetsuji Okamoto from Apollo expressed pride in MAFTEC's achievements and confidence in its long-term growth potential, highlighting the company's innovative material processing technology [3]. - Kosuke Matsuzaki, CEO of MAFTEC, acknowledged Apollo's support in executing the company's standalone strategy and expressed optimism about future collaboration with Advantage Partners [4]. Investment Strategy - The investment in MAFTEC reflects Apollo's strategy as a solution provider and strategic partner to leading Japanese conglomerates, with previous investments including Panasonic Automotive Systems and Altemira [4].

Core Insights - The global Sulfolane market is projected to grow from USD 150-280 million in 2024, with a CAGR of 3.5%-5.5% from 2025 to 2030, driven by demand in semiconductor and battery applications [3][9]. Industry Overview - Sulfolane is a polar organic solvent known for its high thermal stability and excellent solvency, widely used in semiconductor cleaning, electrolyte formulations, and aromatic hydrocarbon extraction [2]. - The industry focuses on high-purity solvents for advanced applications, driven by demand in electronics, energy storage, and petrochemicals [2]. Regional Analysis - North America is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.3%-5.3%, led by the U.S. semiconductor and petrochemical sectors [8]. - Europe is projected to achieve a CAGR of 3.0%-5.0%, with Germany emphasizing sustainable solvents for battery applications [8]. - Asia Pacific is anticipated to record the highest growth at 4.0%-6.0%, driven by semiconductor and battery industries in China, Japan, and South Korea [8]. - The Rest of the World, particularly Brazil, is expected to grow at 2.8%-4.8%, focusing on petrochemical applications [8]. Application Analysis - Semiconductor cleaning solvent applications are estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.0%-6.0%, driven by sulfolane's use in wafer cleaning [8]. - Electrolyte solvent applications are projected to expand at 3.8%-5.8%, supported by innovations in lithium-ion batteries [8]. - Solvent for removal of benzene/toluene/xylene applications are expected to grow at 3.5%-5.5%, as sulfolane extracts aromatics in refineries [8]. Key Market Players - Chevron Phillips Chemical is a leader in sulfolane production, known for advanced solvent technologies [8]. - Sumitomo Seika specializes in sulfolane for semiconductor cleaning, emphasizing high-purity formulations [8]. - Liaoyang Liaodong Fine Chemical Co. Ltd focuses on scalable production capabilities for electrolyte solvents [8]. - The Sulfolane Company provides specialized solvent solutions for battery applications [8]. - Liaoning Guanghua Chemical emphasizes cost-competitive solutions for aromatic extraction [8]. Market Opportunities and Challenges - Rising demand for semiconductors and advancements in lithium-ion battery electrolytes enhance market growth [9]. - Emerging markets in Asia Pacific offer expansion opportunities due to electronics growth [9]. - High production costs and regulatory scrutiny on chemical solvents present challenges to market scalability [9].

Chemicals: Specialty, Commodity, Agricultural, and Paper & Packaging North America Equity Research 20 June 2025 J P M O R G A N Lithium May China Export/Import Data Jeffrey J. Zekauskas AC (1-212) 622-6644 jeffrey.zekauskas@jpmorgan.com Katie Zhang (1-212) 622-3262 katie.zhang@jpmchase.com Silke Kueck (1-212) 622-6503 silke.x.kueck@jpmorgan.com Lydia Huang (1-212) 622-0086 lydia.huang@jpmorgan.com J.P. Morgan Securities LLC {[{xTcfaSlj-ZSQMv-ljRpIM5Uga-4kBPAT_ahKYJjGBc6uIT3IvliwlA}]} • Lithium hydroxide exp ...