HEIDELBERG, Germany, July 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DELPHI Unternehmensberatung Aktiengesellschaft (“DELPHI”) has acquired of 55,500 Common Shares of Rokmaster Resources Corp. (“Company”) (TSX-V: RKR) at C$ 0.50 per Common Share in the public market (“Transaction”) for a total consideration of C$27,750.

DELPHI now has ownership and control of 14,720,500 Common Shares representing approximately 14.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company (calculated on a non-diluted basis immediately after the Transaction) and assuming the exercise of 7,839,427 Warrants of the Company entitling DELPHI to purchase up to an additional 7,839,427 Common Shares, DELPHI has ownership and control of 22,559,927 Common Shares, representing approximately 19.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company (calculated on a partially diluted basis immediately after the Transaction).

Prior to the Transaction, DELPHI had ownership and control of 14,665,000 Common Shares, representing approximately 14.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company (calculated on a non-diluted basis immediately before the Transaction), and assuming the exercise of 7,908,802 Warrants of the Company entitling DELPHI to purchase up to an additional 7,908,802 Common Shares, DELPHI had ownership and control of 22,573,802 Common Shares, representing approximately 19.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company (calculated on a partially diluted basis immediately before the Transaction).

The acquisition was made solely for investment purposes. In accordance with applicable securities laws, DELPHI may, from time to time and at any time, acquire additional Common Shares and/or other equity, debt or other securities or instruments (collectively, “Securities”) of the Company in the open market or otherwise, and DELPHI reserves the right to dispose of any or all of its Securities in the open market or otherwise at any time and from time to time, and to engage in similar transactions with respect to the Securities, the whole depending on market conditions, the business and prospects of the Company and other relevant factors.

DELPHI was incorporated in Germany. DELPHI’s principal business is to invest its own funds.

For further details relating to the acquisition please see the amended Report, which was filed in accordance with applicable securities laws, a copy of which is available under the Company’s profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, or may be obtained from DELPHI Unternehmensberatung Aktiengesellschaft, Wilhelm K. T. Zours (CEO / Member of the Board), +49 6221 649240, info@deutsche-balaton.de.

By Melanie Burton

MELBOURNE, July 6 (Reuters) – Buoyed by a rebound in the price of coal, Australian miners of the resource are dusting off expansion plans and raising capital for new projects and acquisitions.

New Hope Corporation, a major thermal coal producer, raised about A$200 million ($152 million) late last month whose use it said "may include further growth expansion and opportunistic M&A activity."

And Stanmore Resources said last week its majority owner, Singapore-listed Golden Energy and Resources (GEAR), will increase a loan facility to $70 million, partly to help the Australian coal miner advance its Isaac Plains project.

New Hope and Golden Energy are seen by analysts and bankers as potential suitors for some of BHP Group's Australian coal assets, including the Mt. Arthur thermal coal mine and its stake in a steelmaking coal project with Japan's Mitsui . Final bids are due for the assets in coming weeks, which BHP could sell separately or together.

BHP's divestment process is expected to be a good barometer of demand for so-called polluting assets such as coal amid rising pressure from financiers and environmental activists to switch to cleaner energy sources.

But with thermal coal prices rising to record highs and steelmaking coal increasing to two-year peaks, the financing pressure on Australian miners for projects has relaxed a little.

The price rally will allow New Hope to pay down its $440 million debt and restore its balance sheet faster than expected to a net cash position, possibly as soon as this year, analysts said. New Hope made a loss of A$111.6 million in 2020.

"We expect NHC would likely be looking at BHP's assets which the latter is looking to exit including the nearby Mt. Arthur thermal coal mine in the Hunter (Valley)," Citi said in a research note last month.

New Hope's organic growth options have been constrained by fierce local opposition on environmental grounds to its New Acland coal mine expansion, which is awaiting a November court hearing.

Its strong operational skills, low ash Bengalla coal that could improve economics for Mt. Arthur through blending, and improved financial standing would make it a good fit for the BHP asset, bankers and analysts told Reuters.

New Hope and BHP declined to comment.

New Hope has, however, said that any new M&A opportunities must be at the lower end of the cost curve, value-creating from day one and have long term approvals in place. Mt. Arthur's operating licence is set to expire in 2026 although BHP has applied to extend it.

Analysts and bankers value Mt. Arthur anywhere from a negative level to as much as $400 million, due to its $1 billion cost to restore the mine's environment. RBC values the assets jointly at $2.5 billion.

Another prospective bidder for the asset is a coalition of activist investor Elliott and coal miner Peabody, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Elliott did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Peabody declined to comment.

Golden Energy is a likely bidder for the steelmaking coal asset, a source familiar with the matter said, as it opts to diversify away from its thermal coal mines in Indonesia into metallurgical coal. Golden Energy did not respond to a request for comment.

The Australian newspaper previously reported that Indonesia's BUMA was also in the running. BUMA did not respond to a request for comment. ($1 = 1.3177 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

(Bloomberg) —

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. appointed former BHP Group executive Alberto Calderon to its top job, ending a nearly year-long head hunt that’s weighed on the shares of the No. 3 gold producer.

Calderon, a 61-year-old Colombian who once served as a junior minister in a government that fought drug lord Pablo Escobar, will join AngloGold on Sept. 1. The Ivy League economist, who was in the running to become chief executive officer at BHP before the position went to Andrew Mackenzie, served as CEO of Melbourne-based explosives maker Orica Ltd. until February.

AngloGold hasn’t had a permanent CEO since Kelvin Dushnisky’s abrupt departure last September after holding the position for just two years. The Johannesburg-based miner’s shares have underperformed peers in the past year as the CEO hunt dragged on and the company had to suspend operations at a mine in Ghana. While Calderon’s experience lies in industrial metals, coal and oil, his background may help AngloGold to advance its key expansion projects in Colombia.

Read more: CEO Vacuum at AngloGold Turns It Into Worst Mining Stock

“It’s not going to be easy, but I hope I can explain what a world class mining company like AngloGold can do,” Calderon said in a video interview, commenting on his task of getting the Colombian authorities to approve the miner’s Quebradona and Gramalote projects. “I think I have a good chance of persuading them.”

AngloGold’s shares climbed as much as 5.8% in Johannesburg, the most in seven weeks. That pared the stock’s losses over the past 12 months to 42%.

While AngloGold emerged from a mining empire created by Ernest Oppenheimer a century ago, it sold its remaining South African operations last year to focus on more profitable mines elsewhere in Africa, Australia and the Americas. The new CEO may face questions about whether the company could finally move its primary listing from Johannesburg — an idea that’s been bandied about for years.

“It’s not the immediate priority for me but it’s something that in due time the board and myself will consider again and give our views to the market,” Calderon said.

A potential London listing is among the options that Calderon will consider as he tries to close the discount at which AngloGold trades to larger rivals Newmont Corp. and Barrick Gold Corp.

“If we can bring credibility back to our projects, be more predictable in our production and cost focus, if we are seen as the excellent operators that we are, I think we can bring a lot of that discount value back into this company and that’s my plan,” he said.

Calderon will take over from interim CEO Christine Ramon, who will return to her previous position as AngloGold’s chief financial officer. During her time at the helm, Ramon sketched out a plan to expand output at key operations in Tanzania, Ghana and Guinea, while potentially investing more than $2 billion in two new mines in Colombia from 2022.

Leadership Experience

Calderon, who gained experience of South Africa during his time as head of BHP’s aluminum business, was CEO of both Cerrejon Coal Co. and Ecopetrol in his home country of Colombia. Prior to that, he held leadership positions at the International Monetary Fund.

“It’s an excellent appointment, and it removes uncertainties about the leadership crisis,” said Rene Hochreiter, an analyst at Noah Capital Ltd. In Colombia, “he can probably get things done better than say an American or South African,” he said.

Calderon’s six years at Orica coincided with a difficult period for the company. The explosives maker had to contend with a steep rise in the price of natural gas, it’s main input cost, and more recently Orica’s profits hit by the Covid-19 economic slowdown and China’s ban on Australian coal imports. Orica shares fell by more than a third during Calderon’s tenure.

AngloGold joined rivals in increasing its dividend after record gold prices boosted earnings last year, but producers have had to work hard to retain investor interest this year as bullion’s rally sputtered.

The new CEO must also get the company’s key Ghana mine back on track after underground operations at Obuasi were suspended in May following the death of a worker. That setback will curb output this year, just as the mine was ramping up following a $545 million redevelopment.

“We have the right person to lead this company forward and realize its outstanding potential, drawing on his huge leadership experience in the resources sector across a variety of geographies,” said AngloGold Chairman Maria Ramos said in the statement.

What Bloomberg Intelligence Says

“AngloGold’s appointment of experienced mining executive Alberto Calderon as CEO is a good starting point for the company to narrow the valuation gap with many of its gold-mining peers. While the market may take a “wait and see” approach given Calderon’s lack of specific gold-mining background, the combination of his recent Australian-based role and his Colombian heritage fits in well with the geographical spread of AngloGold’s assets and the company’s growth ambitions.”

— Grant Sporre, BI commodities and metals analyst

Click here to read the full research note

(Updates with Bloomberg Intelligence analyst comments in final paragraph)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in CNX Resources Corporation (NYSE:CNX).

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market.

We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise'.

View our latest analysis for CNX Resources

CNX Resources Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by President Nicholas DeIuliis for US$101k worth of shares, at about US$8.47 per share. Even though the purchase was made at a significantly lower price than the recent price (US$13.51), we still think insider buying is a positive. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices.

CNX Resources insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

insider-trading-volumeinsider-trading-volume
insider-trading-volume

CNX Resources is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership of CNX Resources

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 1.0% of CNX Resources shares, worth about US$28m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Do The CNX Resources Insider Transactions Indicate?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded CNX Resources shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Overall we don't see anything to make us think CNX Resources insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. While conducting our analysis, we found that CNX Resources has 1 warning sign and it would be unwise to ignore it.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

In this article, we will be looking at the 11 best materials stocks for 2021. To skip our detailed analysis of these stocks, you can go directly to see the 5 Best Materials Stocks for 2021.

In a time of financial volatility induced by a global pandemic and inflation all but knocking on our doors, as per comments made by the Federal Reserve, one industry has managed to weather the storm and retain its relevance within investor circles: basic materials. According to the Wall Street Journal, in light of inflation concerns, investors have begun racking up their shares in energy and materials stocks as of May 2021, on the expectation that the incoming inflation would accompany financial growth for these stocks. These two groups of stocks were leading the S&P 500's sectors in May, with a 6.9% gain for the materials sector, performing much better than other sectors like technology and other growth stocks which contributed to the 0.4% fall in the US stock index.

The materials sector has been on a steady rise since the end of 2020, with the sector having gained 16% near the end of last year, performing better than all the other sectors in the S&P 500 index. This trend has continued, as mentioned above, well into 2021, with analysts and investors anticipating that it will continue on this path as the economy gets more revved up. Bloomberg has reported that raw materials account for over half of the 20 best performing exchange-traded products in 2021, while investors allocated about $2.6 billion in May to tracking materials stocks in light of consumer activity and construction surges. Moves by major firms like Aberdeen Standard Investments and Tidal ETF Trust indicating interest in the materials sector is proof that investor circles are fixating on the sector. Aberdeen Standard Investments has filed for two broad commodities ETFs and an industrial metals fund, for instance, while Tidal ETF Trust filed for the SonicShares Global Shipping ETF, as per Bloomberg reports.

Jason Bloom, the head of fixed income and alternatives ETF strategy at Invesco, has commented that higher inflation can be expected in the next 5-10 years, and hence, investors making moves into the materials sector to model their portfolio along safer lines is reasonable. For Bloom, the materials sector serves as a "potent" hedge against inflation. As such, materials sector companies like LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) are gaining an edge in the stock market. Hence, we have compiled a list of the best materials stocks for 2021.

Because of the pandemic, the entire hedge fund industry is feeling the reverberations of the changing financial landscape. Its reputation has been tarnished in the last decade, during which its hedged returns couldn’t keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. On the other hand, Insider Monkey’s research was able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs by more than 124 percentage points since March 2017. Between March 2017 and May 28th, 2021, our monthly newsletter’s stock picks returned 206.8%, vs. 91.0% for the SPY. Our stock picks outperformed the market by more than 115 percentage points (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that significantly underperformed the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017, and they lost 13% through November 16th. That’s why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. You can subscribe to our free newsletter on our homepage to receive our stories in your inbox.

11 Best Materials Stocks for 2021
11 Best Materials Stocks for 2021

Copyright: vyacheslavsvetlichnyy / 123RF Stock Photo

Without further ado, let's look at the 11 best materials stocks for 2021. We chose these stocks based on hedge fund sentiment, fundamentals, future growth catalysts and analysts' ratings.

Best Materials Stocks for 2021

11. Ternium S.A. (NYSE: TX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14

Ternium S.A. (NYSE: TX) is a manufacturer and processor of steel products in Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, the US, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. The company has two segments: Steel and Mining. It ranks 11th on our list of the best materials stocks for 2021.

This April, Ternium S.A. (NYSE: TX) announced its dividend of $2.1, with a forward yield of 5.17%. In the first quarter of 2021, Ternium S.A. (NYSE: TX) had an EPS of $3.07, beating estimates by $0.4. The company's revenue was $3.25 billion, up 43.05% year over year and beating estimates by $54 million, and its gross profit margin is 24.62%. The stock has a forward PE ratio of 4.01 and has gained 32.09% in the past 6 months and year to date.

By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 14 hedge funds held stakes in Ternium S.A. (NYSE: TX) worth roughly $203 million. This is compared to 13 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of roughly $104 million. Like LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), Ternium S.A. (NYSE: TX) is a good materials stocks to invest in.

10. BHP Group (NYSE: BHP)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23

BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) is a natural resources business operating in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, North America, South America, and internationally. The company has four segments: petroleum, copper, iron ore, and coal. It ranks 10th on our list of the best materials stocks for 2021.

This June, BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) announced plans to double its spending on exploration for base metals in the next 5 years, as per Laura Tyler, the Chief Technical Officer for the company in a report by Reuters. Continuing the report, BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) was said to be expected to bring in stronger profits this quarter because of the rise in iron ore prices. Reuters has also reported that BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) is one of two companies offering Samarco a $238 million debtor-in-possession loan to bail the miner out of bankruptcy. In the fiscal second quarter of 2021, BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) had an EPS of $0.38, and its revenue was $7.25 billion, up 7.56% year over year. The company has a gross profit margin of 78.75% and the stock has gained 7.51% in the past 6 months and year to date.

By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 23 hedge funds held stakes in BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) worth roughly $1.35 billion. This is compared to 18 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of roughly $1.21 billion. Like LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) is a good materials stocks to invest in.

Harding Loevner, an investment management firm, mentioned BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) in its first-quarter 2021 investor letter. Here's what they said:

“Our purchase of Australian mining company BHP is an example of a quality company at a moderate valuation that should deliver attractive long-term returns. We believe the market has undervalued its enduring competitive advantage due to its low cost iron and copper mining operations which has allowed the company to deliver consistent profits and cash flows across the inevitable ups and downs of the global metals cycle. While the variability of commodity prices prevents BHP from scoring in the top ranks of measured quality, we are willing to bear some of that uncertainty in return for a more attractive valuation given the company’s strong business fundamentals.”

9. CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24

CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) is a producer and distributor of cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, clinker, and other construction materials across the globe. The company ranks 9th on our list of the best materials stocks for 2021.

This June, CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) raised its FY 2021 EBITDA guidance to $3.1 billion, crossing expectations and in light of rising demand for its products. The company also mentioned that it would be reducing net debt by $2 billion in 2021, through free cash flow generation and other means. It also expects growth investments to add approximately $400 million to its EBITDA by 2023. This May, CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) also announced its partnership with BP to work on net-zero emissions in their production processes and transportation. In the first quarter of 2021, CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) had an EPS of $0.38, beating estimates by $0.34. The company's revenue was $3.41 billion, up 10.56% year over year and beating estimates by $159 million. The company's gross profit margin is 32.5% and its stock has gained 61.82% in the past 6 months and year to date.

By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 24 hedge funds held stakes in CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) worth roughly $471 million. This is compared to 22 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of roughly $455 million. Like LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) is a good materials stocks to invest in.

8. Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25

Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) is a company operating in the mining, exploration, and processing of mineral resources worldwide. It offers aluminum, copper, diamonds, gold, borates, and other minerals, and ranks 8th on our list of the best materials stocks for 2021.

Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) has announced its partnership with Schneider Electric (OTC: SBGSY) to work on a sustainable market ecosystem for both companies. The two are working on reducing their carbon footprint through the deal, and will also be evaluating new opportunities like the efficient production of other materials for renewable technologies. The company has a gross profit margin of 41.92%. The stock has a trailing PE ratio of 13.61 and has gained 6.89% in the past 6 months and year to date.

By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 25 hedge funds held stakes in Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) worth roughly $1.59 billion. This is compared to 26 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of roughly $1.71 billion.

7. MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29

MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) is a company operating in the integrated rare earth mining and processing business. The company owns the Mountain Pass facility in the Western Hemisphere, and it ranks 7th on our list of the best materials stocks for 2021.

On June 30th, Baird initiated its coverage of MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) with an Outperform rating and a $45 price target. The firm referred to the company as a "rare magnetic opportunity," with analyst Ben Kallo commenting that the company's Mountain Pass is a unique asset and MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) deserves a premium valuation. Earlier this June, the Russell 3000 index added MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) while deleting some other basic materials companies. In the first quarter of 2021, MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) had an EPS of $0.13, beating estimates by $0.05. Its revenue was $59.97 million, beating estimates by $15.57 million, and it has a gross profit margin of 59.1%. MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) has gained 29.38% in the past 6 months and year to date.

By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 29 hedge funds held stakes in MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) worth roughly $2.62 billion. This is compared to 32 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of roughly $2.74 billion. Like LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) is a good materials stocks to invest in.

6. Teck Resources Limited (NYSE: TECK)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 30

Teck Resources Limited (NYSE: TECK) explores, acquires, develops, and produces natural resources in Asia, Europe, and North America. The company's segments include Steelmaking Coal, Copper, Zinc, and Energy. It ranks 6th on our list of the best materials stocks for 2021.

This May, Deutsche Bank upgraded Teck Resources Limited (NYSE: TECK) shares to Buy with a $30 price target. Analyst Abhinandan Agarwal commented that the stock's delivery of the QB2 copper project will transform the portfolio and open the path for free cash flow, returns, and lower emissions in production. The analyst has estimated a 45% increase in Teck Resources Limited's (NYSE: TECK) copper equivalent volumes, a development that would make the company's balance sheet more robust. In the first quarter of 2021, Teck Resources Limited (NYSE: TECK) had an EPS of $0.5, missing estimates by -$0.02. The company's revenue was $2.07 billion, up 23.43% year over year but missing estimates by $56.46 million, and its gross profit margin is 17.43%. Teck Resources Limited (NYSE: TECK) has gained 20.14% in the past 6 months and year to date.

By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 30 hedge funds held stakes in Teck Resources Limited (NYSE: TECK) worth roughly $1.07 billion. This is compared to 31 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of roughly $798 million. Like LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), Teck Resources Limited (NYSE: TECK) is a good materials stocks to invest in.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Best Materials Stocks for 2021.

Suggested articles:

Disclosure: None. 11 Best Materials Stocks for 2021 is originally published on Insider Monkey.

BOISE, Idaho, July 05, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Albertsons Companies (NYSE: ACI) announces the removal of certain Signature Café Shredded Roasted Chicken items, due to a recall initiated by Tyson Foods, Inc. The chicken has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Tyson Foods’ recall announcement can be found here.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210705005289/en/

Signature Café Shredded Roasted Chicken (Photo: Business Wire)

The affected Tyson product was produced at one plant located in Dexter, Missouri, between December 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021, and distributed to foodservice and retail customers nationwide and Puerto Rico. They are being recalled as a precaution, due to possible exposure to Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacteria.

Product

Name

Packaging

PLU

Sell-thru Dates

Store

Names

States

Signature

Café

Shredded

Roasted

Chicken

Clear plastic

container, with

Signature Café

logo with the

words Roasted

Shredded

Chicken visible

on the label

2 10288

00000

All dates

through

"Sell-thru

July 7,

2021"

ACME, Safeway

CT, DE, MD, NJ, NY,

PA, VA, Washington

D.C.

Tyson Foods supplied shredded chicken used by Albertsons Companies to produce Signature Café Shredded Roasted Chicken that was available for purchase in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington D.C. from the banners Safeway and Acme. Customers may have purchased the shredded chicken in stores, online for Drive Up and Go or via grocery delivery.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The Signature Café Shredded Chicken is sold in a clear plastic container, labeled, and put out for retail sale in the deli department. The Signature Café logo is visible on the label in the center of the container. The affected product has sell-thru dates through July 7, 2021 and may have been purchased at one of the banners listed above beginning in December 2020.

The Signature Café Shredded Chicken being recalled bear the PLU code 2 10288 00000. The PLU code can be found on the bottom of the package below the barcode.

To date, there have not been any reports of Listeria-related illness associated with Signature Café Shredded Chicken.

Consumers with questions can call or text Tyson Foods at 1-855-382-3101. Customer service representatives will be available beginning Sunday through Friday 8am – 5pm CDT. Customers can also contact Albertsons Companies at 1-877-723-3929.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210705005289/en/

Contacts

Tyson Foods
1-855-382-3101

Albertsons Companies
1-877-723-3929.

Investors focused on the Basic Materials space have likely heard of Impala Platinum Holdings (IMPUY), but is the stock performing well in comparison to the rest of its sector peers? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Impala Platinum Holdings is a member of the Basic Materials sector. This group includes 251 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #4. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups is measured, and the sectors are listed from best to worst.

The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. IMPUY is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IMPUY's full-year earnings has moved 6.32% higher within the past quarter. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.

Based on the latest available data, IMPUY has gained about 22.82% so far this year. At the same time, Basic Materials stocks have gained an average of 19.54%. As we can see, Impala Platinum Holdings is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

Looking more specifically, IMPUY belongs to the Mining – Miscellaneous industry, a group that includes 47 individual stocks and currently sits at #106 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 31.07% so far this year, so IMPUY is slightly underperforming its industry this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

IMPUY will likely be looking to continue its solid performance, so investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should continue to pay close attention to the company.

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VANCOUVER, BC, July 2, 2021 /CNW/ – Trading resumes in:

Company: Sparton Resources Inc.

TSX-Venture Symbol: SRI

All Issues: Yes

Resumption (ET): 3:30 PM

IIROC can make a decision to impose a temporary suspension (halt) of trading in a security of a publicly-listed company. Trading halts are implemented to ensure a fair and orderly market. IIROC is the national self-regulatory organization which oversees all investment dealers and trading activity on debt and equity marketplaces in Canada.

SOURCE Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) – Halts/Resumptions

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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2021/02/c4175.html

TORONTO, July 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sparton Resources Inc. (TSXV: SRI) ("Sparton" or the "Company") reported today on a major financing for its minority held subsidiary VRB Energy Inc. (“VRB Energy’). The Company currently owns, through its subsidiary VanSpar Mining Inc., a 9.8% equity interest in VRB Energy”, a leading manufacturer of vanadium flow batteries for large scale energy storage related to clean renewable electricity generation. (See Sparton News Release dated June 30, 2021).

On July 2, 2021 VRB Energy announced an investment of US$24 Million by BCPG PLC (“BCPG”) – a Thailand-based public company and developer and owner of renewable energy projects in the Asia-Pacific region, with 900 megawatts (MW) in operation and a pipeline of over 2,200MW, across Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia.

Investment

The investment will support rollout of VRB Energy’s Gen3 VRB-ESS® product (“Gen3”), expanded manufacturing capacity, and vertical integration of vanadium processing to meet growing global demand. Gen3 development is nearly complete and will be the system for new future VRB Energy sales both domestically in China and internationally.

About BCPG PLC

BCPG Public Company Limited (BCPG), is among Asia-Pacific’s leading companies in renewable energy with solar power, hydropower, wind power and geothermal power businesses in Thailand, Japan, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.

While committed to investing in and operating green power plants, it strives to enhance its business to fulfill consumers’ needs by diversifying into more types of renewable energy and seeking innovative products and services for more sustainable use of energy.

Robert Friedland, Chairman of VRB Energy commented in the VRB Energy news release:

"BCPG is a leader in Asia’s green energy revolution, and this investment reinforces our belief that VRB Energy’s game-changing technology will be a catalyst for integration of massive amounts of renewable energy around the region”.

"Countries around the world are now committed to net-zero carbon solutions, which will require vast capital investment over the next 25 years in energy storage. We're extremely proud to be bringing forward vanadium-based batteries as a key solution for this global transformation,” added Mr. Friedland.

Dr. Mianyan Huang VRB Energy President, further commented: ““In addition to welcoming BCPG as an investor, we are also working with them to add storage to their existing and planned projects to optimize system performance and enhance revenues, as well as to explore other business development opportunities with them in Thailand including localization of manufacturing,”

Mr. Bundit Sapianchai, BCPG CEO, commented: “We have been determined to strengthen our position as a leader in the green energy sector through investment in smart energy solutions, and VRB Energy’s long-duration batteries are a perfect fit to meet increasing demand for renewable energy, grid stability, and microgrid development.”

About VRB Energy

VRB Energy is a fast-growing, privately-held clean technology innovator. The company has developed the most reliable, longest-lasting vanadium flow battery in the world, with more than 40 megawatt-hours installed and in construction worldwide, and more than 800,000 hours of demonstrated performance. The combination of VRB Energy’s proprietary low-cost ion-exchange membrane, long-life electrolyte formulation and innovative flow cell design sets it apart from other providers in the energy storage system (“ESS”) field.

VRB Energy’s vanadium redox battery (VRB®) systems store energy in liquid electrolyte in a patented process based on the reduction and oxidation of ionic forms of the element vanadium. This is a nearly infinitely repeatable process that is safe, reliable, and non-toxic. Components can be nearly 100% recycled at end-of-life, dramatically improving lifecycle economics and environmental benefits compared to lithium-ion and other battery types.

VRB Energy is majority-owned by Ivanhoe Electric (formerly High Powered Exploration), a North American, minerals exploration and development company that also invests in minerals-dependent, high-growth emerging technologies. Ivanhoe Electric is a subsidiary of I-Pulse, a global leader in developing innovative commercial applications for pulsed power technologies that convert small amounts of electrical energy into limitless power to address a broad and growing suite of applications across multiple industrial markets. I-Pulse is a private company with offices in Toulouse, London, Tokyo and Vancouver. For more information on VRB Energy, Ivanhoe Electric and I-Pulse, please visit their websites at www.vrbenergy.com, www.hpxploration.com, and www.ipulse-group.com.

Discussion

This announcement is a major milestone for VRB Energy. “Clearly the recognition of VRB Energy’s superior technology and future capabilities in energy storage by a major player in the renewable energy project field is a significant endorsement and development in its energy storage business”, stated Mr. Lee Barker, Company CEO. “With adequate funding to complete Gen3 development, become vertically integrated regarding vanadium supply, and having a major financial partner requiring its products VRB has made a breakthrough in its business development”.

“Sparton recognizes the efforts and thanks all VRB staff and management in this achievement. Going forward the transaction will allow VRB to focus on the global use of renewable energy systems and the company is expected to be a key player in the ESS business internationally”. “This transaction confirms the Company 9.8% stake in VRB Energy as a valuable core asset”, stated Mr. Barker.

Information regarding the Company’s interest held in VRB Energy is as Follows:

Sparton’s 89.8% owned subsidiary, VanSpar Mining Inc., registered in the British Virgin Islands, owns 9.8% of VRB Energy which is registered in the Cayman Islands, which in turn owns 100% of VRB Energy Systems, registered in China, and is the vanadium flow battery manufacturer. Full information regarding the history of the VRB Energy investment interest held by Sparton is in its various news releases and available at www.sedar.com in its corporate filings.

For more information contact:

A. Lee Barker, M.A Sc., P. Eng.
President and CEO
Tel./Fax: 647-344-7734 or Mobile: 416-716-5762
Email: info@spartonres.ca Website: www.spartonres.ca

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release involves forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, financings and transactions being pursued, and all such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although the Company believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such forward-looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein. We Seek Safe Harbour.

VANCOUVER, BC, July 2, 2021 /CNW/ – The following issues have been halted by IIROC:

Company: Sparton Resources Inc.

TSX-Venture Symbol: SRI

All Issues: Yes

Reason: At the Request of the Company Pending News

Halt Time (ET): 2:18 PM

IIROC can make a decision to impose a temporary suspension (halt) of trading in a security of a publicly-listed company. Trading halts are implemented to ensure a fair and orderly market. IIROC is the national self-regulatory organization which oversees all investment dealers and trading activity on debt and equity marketplaces in Canada.

SOURCE Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) – Halts/Resumptions

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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2021/02/c0052.html

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX: SGQ, HK: 1878) (“SouthGobi” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the voting results of the annual and special meeting of shareholders of the Company (the “Shareholders’ Meeting”) held in Vancouver, Canada on June 29, 2021. At the Meeting, the majority of the Company’s shareholders voted in favour of the following matters as set out in the Company’s management proxy circular dated May 17, 2021 (the “Circular”), a copy of which is available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The voting results are as follows:

Appointment of Auditors – BDO Limited, Hong Kong, was appointed as auditor of the Company to hold office for the ensuring year or until their successors are appointed. The ordinary resolution was passed by a majority of the votes cast by a show of hands.

Total votes in favour:

111,197,956 (100.00%)

Total votes withheld:

0 (0.00%)

Fixing the Number of Directors – The number of directors to be elected at the Meeting was fixed at eight. The ordinary resolution was passed by a majority of the votes cast by a show of hands.

Total votes in favour:

111,197,356 (98.93%)

Total votes against:

1,207,150 (1.07%)

Election of Directors – The eight director nominees set forth in the Company’s Circular were elected as directors to hold office for the ensuing year or until their successors are elected or appointed. The ordinary resolution was passed by a majority of the votes cast by ballot.

Dalanguerban

votes for:
votes withheld:

111,195,698 (99.9980%)
2,258 (0.0020%)

Jianmin Bao

votes for:
votes withheld:

111,194,498 (99.9969%)
3,458 (0.0031%)

Zhiwei Chen

votes for:
votes withheld:

111,193,898 (99.9964%)
4,058 (0.0036%)

Yingbin Ian He

votes for:
votes withheld:

111,193,898 (99.9964%)
4,058 (0.0036%)

Ka Lee Ku

votes for:
votes withheld:

111,195,698 (99.9980%)
2,258 (0.0020%)

Ben Niu

votes for:
votes withheld:

111,195,098 (99.9974%)
2,858 (0.0026%)

Jin Lan Quan

votes for:
votes withheld:

111,197,266 (99.9964%)
690 (0.0006%)

Mao Sun

votes for:
votes withheld:

111,190,266 (99.9994%)
7,690 (0.0069%)

Employees’ and Directors’ Equity Incentive Plan – The Company’s shareholders reconfirmed and approved all the unallocated options, rights or other entitlements under the Company’s Employees’ and Directors’ Equity Incentive Plan and also approved the maximum number of common shares issuable under the Equity Incentive Plan. The ordinary resolution was passed by a majority of the votes cast by ballot.

Total votes in favour:

111,192,088 (98.92%)

Total votes against:

1,212,418 (1.08%)

About SouthGobi
SouthGobi, listed on the Toronto and Hong Kong stock exchanges, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. It also holds the mining licences of its other metallurgical and thermal coal deposits in South Gobi region of Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China.

Contact:

Investor Relations

Office:

+852 2156 1438 (Hong Kong)

+1 604 762 6783 (Canada)

Email: info@southgobi.com

Website: www.southgobi.com

The COVID-19 pandemic made essential goods delivery services like grocery and medicine all the more vital amid social-distancing and home-isolation measures. Last year, when the coronavirus had struck, people were compelled to alter their shopping patterns and remain confined to their residences. Hence, a dramatic shift in demand from in-store to online grocery purchase was seen.

More than a year now since the pandemic had hit the economy, we still believe that online grocery shopping is here to stay even after the risk of infection subsides. Expedited delivery services like doorstep delivery, curbside pickup or buy online and pick up at store will play a key role in gaining a significant market share. Excitingly, customers will prefer online grocery shopping owing to its easy ordering method, contactless and attractive payment schemes, and a safe and convenient delivery system. Also, despite reopening the restaurants, most people may continue to choose eating at home, given rising health consciousness.

No doubt, to make the most of this trend, retailers need to focus on meal kits for dinner and explore more breakfast options as well as concentrate on product packaging and increase product visibility on online platforms. Undeniably, retailers need to make investments to enhance their online platform and upgrade fulfillment center. In fact, players should come up with innovative and cost-efficient technology-driven options to lure customers and resonate well with their demand.

Markedly, the online grocery delivery market has been experiencing solid growth over time. To cash in on the evolving trends, bigwigs like Amazon AMZN, Walmart WMT and Target TGT strongly emphasized on boosting their delivery capabilities with same-day deliveries to offer a seamless shopping experience. Several companies also made strategic agreements including tie-ups with the online delivery platforms DoorDash DASH and Instacart. Moreover, companies like Lyft LYFT and Uber Technologies UBER have been offering on-demand delivery services for essential items. We note that Samokat, Russia’s major grocery-delivery service by orders, looks to tap the booming U.S. market, according to Bloomberg.

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Let’s take a look at the following stocks, which appear well positioned on the back of their concerted efforts. Also, these companies will continue to grab greater share in the thriving grocery delivery services market.

4 Stocks Stealing the Show

Target: This general merchandise retailer is making constant efforts to improvise shopping methods and techniques through miscellaneous channels, and these have been yielding results for a while now. Notably, same-day services (Order Pick Up, Drive Up and Shipt) soared above 90% during the first quarter of fiscal 2021. Sales fulfilled by Shipt were up nearly 86% year over year while the same through Drive-Up surged 123%. Order Pickup rose 52% in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The company also plans to increase the number of fresh, refrigerated and frozen food items under Drive Up and Order Pickup options, nationwide. Management also informed that adult beverages will be available through pick-up and drive-up in more than 1,200 stores and for same-day delivery in excess of 600 stores across the country. Its Essentials and Food & Beverage category is performing well too.

Markedly, Target has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 62.1%, on average. The consensus mark for its current fiscal-year earnings has moved 36.6% north in the past 60 days. An expected long-term earnings growth rate of 13.3% also demonstrates strength. Remarkably, this presently Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock has rallied 102.9% over the course of a year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Walmart: This currently Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company has been gaining from its efforts to boost customers’ shopping experience for sometime now. This omni-channel player is benefiting from higher demand across categories and strength in e-commerce. Management remains encouraged about the improving trends in store transactions and the grocery market share. Strikingly, Walmart is making aggressive efforts to expand in the booming online grocery space, which has been a major contributor to e-commerce sales so far. Notably, the company remains committed to enrich consumer experiences by providing convenient shopping techniques and effortless grocery deliveries. Walmart took robust strides to reinforce its delivery arm, apparent from its investment in DroneUp; partnership with HomeValet; on-demand drone delivery in the United States with Flytrex and Zipline; and a pilot with Cruise to test autonomous grocery delivery through self-driven all-electric cars.

Walmart has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 17.8%, on average. Further, the consensus mark for the company’s current fiscal-year earnings rose 9.8% over the past 60 days. Shares of the company have gained 18.3% in a year. A long-term earnings growth rate of 5.5% appears laudable.

Amazon: The currently Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has a vast global presence, solid Prime membership and robust portfolio. Further, the company is continuously gaining traction from increased online shopping trend. The company has been expanding its grocery delivery capabilities, such as AmazonFresh Pickup and Amazon Go Grocery stores over a period of time. Moreover, the company has been strengthening its last-mile delivery for sometime now. In fact, its Whole Foods Market acquisition helped it fortify its footprint in the physical grocery supermarket space. Further, the company is constantly expanding its grocery business by introducing Amazon Fresh grocery stores, and enhancing delivery and payment schemes including Key In-Garage Grocery Delivery and free, contactless payment. The Key In-Garage Delivery allows Prime members to avail of secure in-garage delivery of grocery orders free from Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh. Further, the company is continuously adding Amazon One, a quick and contactless payment option, at the Whole Foods Market stores.

We note that Amazon has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 180.8%, on average. Further, the consensus mark for the company’s current fiscal-year earnings has been revised 8.3% upward over the past 60 days. Shares of the company have improved 19% in the past year. An expected long-term earnings growth rate of 28% further speaks volumes for the company.

Albertsons Companies ACI: This food and drug company offering grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products plus pharmacy among others is consistently strengthening its grocery delivery capabilities. Recently, the company announced its partnership with DoorDash to boost its on-demand grocery delivery services. Through this collaboration, customers can get products delivered from about 2,000 Albertsons banner stores in the country. This includes Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco and more from the DoorDash marketplace app.

In addition, the Albertsons-DoorDash alliance launched a digital gaming experience for its clients. This will allow them to play and score savings on the future orders. We note that Albertsons remains committed toward digital transformation. Encouragingly, it registered digital sales growth of nearly 258% in fiscal 2020. Markedly, the stock has jumped 24.3% in the past year. Moreover, it delivered an earnings surprise of 50.2% in the last four quarters, on average. This presently Zacks #3 Ranked stock has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12%.

Zacks Names “Single Best Pick to Double”

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

You know this company from its past glory days, but few would expect that it’s poised for a monster turnaround. Fresh from a successful repositioning and flush with A-list celeb endorsements, it could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in a little more than 9 months and Nvidia which boomed +175.9% in one year.

Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>

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Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Target Corporation (TGT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Walmart Inc. (WMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER) : Free Stock Analysis Report

DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Six-Year Charitable Pledge Under New Foundation Drives Long-Term, Sustainable Returns in Tri-State Region

PITTSBURGH, July 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CNX Resources Corp. (NYSE: CNX) today announced that it has established the CNX Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded by CNX Resources, to manage its previously announced $30M community commitment to drive long-term, sustainable return on investment and broaden the path to the middle class throughout the Appalachian region.

"CNX's approach to community investment is directly tied to our unique Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) philosophy," said Nick DeIuliis, President and CEO of CNX Resources. "Tangible, impactful, and local is our brand of ESG, and the Foundation will partner with organizations who match those criteria and are aligned with our objective to make a meaningful impact in our local, underserved communities. We believe our approach to ESG will define effective leadership in this arena for our industry and the regional business community at large."

Managed by internal leaders responsible for execution of the Company's ESG efforts, advised by external community partners, and governed by the CNX board of directors' Environmental, Safety, and Corporate Responsibility Committee, the CNX Foundation will place particular emphasis on social and environmental impact. Through the end of 2027, CNX intends to invest approximately $17.5M in social efforts and $12.5M in environmental efforts and seeks to partner with local communities to take on substantial projects and help solve complex socio-economic issues facing the region. Key areas of focus include food insecurity, children's health and wellness, recidivism and re-entry, the opioid epidemic and its societal impact, career awareness and technical/vocational training, and water quality and safety.

External advisory members of the CNX Foundation Board of Directors include:

  • John Bettis, Bettis Brothers Sand & Gravel and The Bus Stops Here Foundation

  • Jeff Nobers, Executive Director, Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania

  • Brian Jackson, Superintendent, West Greene School District

Brian Aiello, Vice President of External Relations and Human Resources at CNX, will serve as Foundation Chair and Audric Dodds, Director of Community Relations and Strategic Partnerships at CNX, will serve as Executive Director.

Since first announcing the philanthropic commitment in the spring of 2021, CNX has already committed $1.7M to several signature projects, including:

  • $1M for broadband access in rural Greene County, PA;

  • $400,000 for career training for students/graduates of the recently announced regional mentorship academy;

  • $200,000 for the Jerome Bettis Cyber Bus Project to support technology needs in disadvantaged school districts; and

  • $100,000 for House of Life of Pittsburgh for returning citizen re-entry.

The CNX Foundation welcomes organizations within the tri-state region who seek to apply for a grant to complete an application here. Applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. Additional CNX Foundation updates can be found on the Foundation website here.

These investments represent a re-allocation of previously planned expenditures and are expected to generate long-term, sustainable economic returns for the region and the Company by removing barriers to socio-economic diversity and inclusion across the natural gas industry and beyond. The commitment will be effectuated while still allowing the Company to deliver on its previously announced, multi-year free cash flow generation plan.

To learn more about CNX's unique Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) approach, accomplishments, and goals, please visit: https://responsibility.cnx.com/esg-overview.html.

About CNX Resources Corporation:
CNX Resources Corporation (NYSE: CNX) is the premier independent natural gas development, production, and midstream company, with operations centered in the major shale formations of the Appalachian basin. Our vertically integrated model includes transmission, storage, gathering systems, and water infrastructure that support energy development from wellhead to end user. With the benefit of a more than 150-year legacy and a substantial asset base amassed over many generations, the company deploys a strategy focused on responsibly developing its resources to create long term per share value for its shareholders, employees, and the communities where it operates. As of December 31, 2020, CNX had 9.55 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index. Additional information may be found at www.cnx.com.

# # #

CNX Resources Corporation logo (PRNewsfoto/CNX Resources Corporation,CNX...)
CNX Resources Corporation logo (PRNewsfoto/CNX Resources Corporation,CNX…)
CNX Foundation Logo
CNX Foundation Logo
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SOURCE CNX Resources Corporation

Media Reports Highlight Energy Storage Market

TORONTO and ONTARIO, June 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sparton Resources Inc. (TSXV: SRI) ("Sparton" or the "Company") reported today on recent media articles related to large scale energy storage systems (“ESS”) and energy storage technology.

The Company currently owns, through its subsidiary VanSpar Mining Inc., a 9.8% equity interest in VRB Energy Inc. (“VRB”) a leading manufacturer of vanadium flow batteries for large scale energy storage related to clean renewable electricity generation. (See Sparton News Release dated March 16, 2021).

Possible Ban on Lithium Based Large Scale ESS in China

As reported on June 25, 2021, by the Chinese Media Group “Caixing” and UK based “Energy Storage Publishing”, “China is on the verge of banning the use of second-life lithium-ion batteries in large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) amid a spate of fires this year”.

In January, an explosion at a China recycling plant owned by lithium-ion battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) killed one person and injured 19 more.

In April, two firefighters died when they were putting out a fire in an energy storage power station in Fengtai District of Beijing, according to the China Daily news outlet.

The halt is expected to continue until a “breakthrough in battery consistency management technology and a sound power battery performance testing and evaluation system” is developed” according to Caixing,

The ceasing of lithium secondary battery use follows the National Energy Administration issuance of a draft report entitled ‘Regulations for the Management of New Energy Storage Projects’ on June 22, 2021.

Vanadium flow batteries produced by VRB which are an alternative ESS technology to lithium, are not explosive or a fire hazard, and are fully recyclable.

Please see the link below for his information.

https://www.bestmag.co.uk/content/china-verge-banning-large-scale-esss-using-second-life-lithium-ion-batteries#.YNmRazpx9Pk.twitter

Recent ESS Research Report

On June 21,2021, Fortune Business Insights™ Pvt. Ltd., an Asian based research group, released a comprehensive report (“Battery Energy Storage Market, 2020-2027 by Fortune Business Insight”) mentioning key players in the ESS space and projecting that these companies could generate up to US$19.7 billion of energy storage business by the year 2027. The report also mentions VRB as one of the leading players and comments on the slowdown in the industry due to the Covid 19 pandemic situation which is now easing. The report provides a detailed analysis of several factors such as the key drivers and restraints that will impact ESS growth. Additionally, the report provides insights into the regional analysis that covers different geographic regions, contributing to the growth of the market. It includes the competitive landscape that involves the leading companies and the adoption of strategies to introduce new products, announce partnerships and collaborations that will further contribute to the market growth.

The full report is available at the following link:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/battery-energy-storage-market-100489

Discussion

“These announcements are expected to be very beneficial to VRB’s energy storage business”, stated Lee Barker, Company CEO. “Clearly the safety concerns associated with large scale, lithium-based energy storage installations are now a major concern to the Chinese authorities and are being addressed by the halt in approval of new Li type installations, and the orders to implement new safety regulations for their use”. “The market for large scale ESS is expected to grow rapidly as countries and industrial enterprises begin to focus on the global use of renewable energy systems and VRB is expected to be a key player in the ESS business in China as well internationally going forward”.

There are a growing number of 100MW renewable energy and flow battery projects under development in many provinces in China. Many of these provinces are mandating minimums of 5-20% storage capacity to be integrated with new solar and wind power projects. Vanadium flow batteries have been recommended by the China Central Government as the technology of choice for large scale integrated battery installations.

VRB Energy is now the leading contender for multiple 100 MW-class projects scheduled under China’s infrastructure investment program, which is being accelerated as part of post-COVID economic stimulus. On the international front VRB is in discussions with a number of developers and utilities in the U.S., Australia, and South Africa for large 100 MW-class systems. The energy storage industry and VRB are clearly supporting the ongoing worldwide green energy revolution.

Information regarding the Company’s interest held in VRB is as Follows:

VRB is majority owned by High Power Exploration (“HPX”) which is a subsidiary of I-Pulse, a private innovative technology development company.
Sparton’s 89.8% owned subsidiary, VanSpar Mining Inc., registered in the British Virgin Islands, owns 9.8% of VRB which is registered in the Cayman Islands, which in turn owns 100% of VRB Energy Systems, registered in China, and is the vanadium flow battery manufacturer. Full information regarding the history of the VRB investment interest held by Sparton is in its various news releases and available at www.sedar.com in its corporate filings.

For more information contact:

A. Lee Barker, M.A Sc., P. Eng.
President and CEO
Tel./Fax: 647-344-7734 or Mobile: 416-716-5762
Email: info@spartonres.ca Website: www.spartonres.ca

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release involves forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, financings and transactions being pursued, and all such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although the Company believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such forward-looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein.

We Seek Safe Harbour.

FRIEDENS, Pa., June 30, 2021 /CNW/ – Corsa Coal Corp. (TSXV: CSO) (OTCQX: CRSXF) ("Corsa" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its annual and special meeting of shareholders held earlier today (the "Meeting").

At the Meeting, the following six nominees were re-appointed as directors of the Company (the "Board") to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of the Company's shareholders: John H. Craig, Alan M. De'Ath, Robert Scott, Ronald G. Stovash, Robert C. Sturdivant and Kai Xia. As previously announced by the Company on June 9, 2021, Robert (Bob) J. Schneid was re-appointed as an additional director to the Board immediately following the Meeting. In addition, Coulter & Justus, P.C. was appointed as auditors of the Company. Shareholders also re-approved and ratified the Company's existing second amended and restated stock option plan (the "Option Plan"), in accordance with the requirements of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's management information circular containing additional details surrounding the items of business at the Meeting is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Information about Corsa

Corsa is a coal mining company focused on the production and sales of metallurgical coal, an essential ingredient in the production of steel. Our core business is producing and selling metallurgical coal to domestic and international steel and coke producers in the Atlantic and Pacific basin markets.

The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed on the merits of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Corsa Coal Corp.

CisionCision
Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2021/30/c4753.html

Iron ore prices are currently trending around $220.50 per ton — more than double the last year’s levels. In fact, in June last year, iron ore prices had breached $100 per ton mark for the first time since August 2019 driven by China’s massive infrastructure stimulus amid supply concerns from coronavirus-impacted Brazil. The situation this year has not changed much, with demand-supply imbalance favoring the prices of the steel making ingredient this year as well, leading to a year-to-date gain of 39%.

As of now, prices are being supported by a decline in portside stockpiles in China.. Imported iron ore stocked at Chinese ports declined for four consecutive weeks to 123.95 Mt (million tons) as of Jun 25, 2021 — the lowest level in eight months. On top of this, weekly Australian iron ore shipments have been disappointing through June. Iron ore prices are gaining further thanks to increasing concerns over Brazil’s supply. Brazilian miner, Vale S.A VALE recently announced that it has halted production at its Timbopeba mine and part of its Alegria mine following a warning from an authority about tailings dam risks. The closures will reduce its iron ore output by around 40,000 tons a day.

Meanwhile iron ore demand from China is gaining from rise in infrastructure spending and renewed vigor in manufacturing activity. Despite the China government’s efforts to curb steel output to reduce carbon emissions, demand for iron ore showed resilience as mills that were not subject to output curbs continued to ramp up production. Healthy profit margins buoyed by higher demand and a rally in steel prices have led to a rise in production. Per the World Steel Association, global crude steel production was up 16.5% year over year to 174.4 Mt in May. This was primarily driven by record high production from China on the back of firm domestic demand and healthy margins at mills. Steel production in China, which accounts for more than half of the global steel output, went up 6.6% year over year to 99.5 Mt in May.

Among the other major Asian producers, India witnessed a 46.9% surge in production to 9.2 Mt in May as steel demand is picking up in the country following the resumption of industrial activities with the lifting of lockdowns and restrictions. In North America, crude steel production climbed 47.7% to 10.1 Mt in May with the resumption of operations across major steel-consuming sectors, leading to a recovery in capacity utilization and domestic steel production.

The World Steel Association projects steel demand to grow 5.8% in 2021 and reach 1,874.0 million. China's steel demand is expected to improve 3.0% this year. Further, the ongoing recovery in automotive and constructions sectors across the world will drive demand for steel and thereby for iron ore. In the United States, massive government spending to rebuild infrastructure including railroads, highways and bridges will significantly boost steel demand, thus raising the requirement of more iron ore.

Industry Outperforms S&P 500 & Broader Sector

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Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In tandem with iron ore prices, the Zacks Mining – Iron industry has gained 119.9% in a year’s time, outperforming the S&P 500 and the Basic Materials sector’s rally of 40.4% and 46.7%, respectively.

The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #4, which places it in the top 2% of more than 250 Zacks industries. The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bullish near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

3 Iron Ore Stocks to Scoop Up

We have handpicked three iron mining stocks that are well-poised to ride on the rally in iron ore prices. These stocks have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and have outperformed the S&P 500’s growth in the past year. These also have solid earnings growth projections.

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Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

BHP Group BHP: Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, BHP engages in exploration, development, and production of oil and gas properties; and mining of copper, silver, zinc, molybdenum, uranium, gold, iron ore, and metallurgical and energy coal. The company produced 248 Mt of iron ore in fiscal 2020. BHP anticipates producing between 245 Mt and 255 Mt of iron ore in fiscal 2021. Efforts to make operations more efficient through smart technology adoption across the entire value chain will aid in reducing costs, thereby bolstering the company’s margins. Its focus on lowering debt is also commendable. The company has four major projects under development in petroleum, iron ore and potash, which will drive growth in the long run.

The company has a long-term estimated earnings growth rate of 4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2021 earnings indicates year-over-year improvement of 86.5%. The consensus estimate has moved up 3.8% over the past 30 days. The stock has appreciated 49.5% in the past year. It flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Rio Tinto plc RIO: Headquartered in London, the U.K., Rio Tinto engages in mining of aluminum, silver, molybdenum, copper, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, iron ore, and uranium. The company produced 333.4 Mt of iron ore in 2020. Rio Tinto expects to produce 325 Mt to 340 Mt of iron ore in fiscal 2021. The company boasts a world-class portfolio of high-quality assets and continues to strengthen it by increasing investment in high-value projects to ensure long-term growth. It also remains committed to making its operations as efficient as possible through the use of technology and innovation, including automation. A strong balance sheet and a disciplined capital allocation support its ability to sustain production, increase investment in development projects (in high-return iron ore and copper), while delivering superior returns to shareholders.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2021 earnings indicates year-over-year improvement of around 104%. The consensus estimate has been revised upward by 16% over the past 60 days. The Zacks Ranked #1 stock has gained 53% in a year.

Vale: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-based Vale produces and sells iron ore and iron ore pellets for use as raw materials in steelmaking in Brazil and internationally. The company produced 300 Mt of iron ore in 2020. Backed by the start-up of new iron ore assets, the company expects to achieve 350 Mt capacity by 2021-end and 400 Mt per year by the end of 2022. It remains committed to introducing more high-quality ore in the market. Vale’s efforts to improve productivity and cut costs will aid margins. Further, investment in growth projects and efforts to lower debt will benefit it.

The company has a long-term estimated earnings growth rate of 32.4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2021 earnings suggests year-over-year growth of around 154%. The consensus estimate has moved north by 27% over the past 60 days. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.1%, on average. In a year’s time, the stock has gained 122%. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.

+1,500% Growth: One of 2021’s Most Exciting Investment Opportunities

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BOISE, Idaho, June 29, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Albertsons Companies (NYSE: ACI) announces removal of certain Waterfront Bistro shrimp cocktail rings with sauce, in cooperation with supplier Avanti Frozen Foods Pvt. Ltd.’s recall. The shrimp has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Avanti Frozen Foods' recall announcement can be found here.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210628005853/en/

Waterfront Bistro Shrimp Cocktail Ring (Photo: Business Wire)

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The 16-ounce Waterfront Bistro shrimp cocktail ring with sauce was supplied by Avanti Frozen Foods and was available for purchase in California, New Mexico and Texas from the following store banners: Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, United, Amigos, Market Street and Albertsons Market. Customers may have purchased the shrimp in stores, online for Drive Up and Go or grocery delivery.

The Waterfront Bistro shrimp cocktail ring comes in a 16-ounce container and includes a 4-ounce container of cocktail sauce. This is sold frozen. The round plastic container is clear on the top with a black bottom. The Waterfront Bistro logo is visible on the label in the center of the container which describes the product as cooked in shell, deveined shrimp cocktail with sauce. The affected product has a best before date of 10/30/2022 or 10/31/2022 and may have been purchased at one of the banners listed above beginning in January 2021.

The Waterfront Bistro shrimp cocktail rings being recalled bear the UPC code 21130 12627. The UPC code can be found on the bottom of the package below the barcode. Products not bearing best before dates of 10/30/2022 or 10/31/2022 are not affected by, or involved in, this recall.

To date there have not been any reports of Salmonella-related illness associated with Waterfront Bistro shrimp cocktail rings.

The potential for contamination was identified by the FDA based on its prior testing of frozen cooked shrimp imported by Avanti Frozen Foods that was found to contain Salmonella. Avanti Frozen Foods did not distribute and destroyed that prior shipment found to be violative. The company has taken preventative steps to eliminate the potential for future contamination.

Customers who have purchased this product are asked to discard or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions may contact Relish Foods Inc., the broker for Avanti Frozen Foods, at 1-888-200-4883. Customers can also contact Albertsons Companies at 1-877-723-3929.

Product Recall Details:

Product

Name

Packaging

UPC

Best

Before

Lot Code

Store Names

States

Waterfront Bistro Shrimp Cocktail w/Sauce

Sold frozen in a clear plastic package in the meat and seafood department

21130 12627

10/30/2022 and 10/31/2022

20305, 20306

Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, United, Amigos, Market Street, Albertsons Market

California, New Mexico and Texas

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210628005853/en/

Contacts

Relish Foods Inc.
1-888-200-4883

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Melior Resources Inc. (TSXV: “MLR”) (“Melior” or the “Company”) refers to its press release of April 28, 2021 regarding the Default Notice received from Pala Investments Ltd (“Pala”) and the subsequent Standstill Agreement entered into with Pala.

The Company announces that it has today entered into a further standstill amending agreement with Pala pursuant to which Pala has agreed to extend the standstill period until September 30, 2021.

Furthermore, Melior has also today entered into a further amended demand promissory note (the “Amended Promissory Note”) with Pala extending the maturity of the loan from June 30, 2021 to September 30, 2021. All other terms of the Amended Promissory Note remain unchanged.

MELIOR RESOURCES INC.
Martyn Buttenshaw
Interim Chief Executive Officer
+41 41 560 9070
info@meliorresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.

Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

Zacks has developed the innovative Style Scores system to highlight stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will be interested in stocks with great grades in the "Value" category. When paired with a high Zacks Rank, "A" grades in the Value category are among the strongest value stocks on the market today.

One company to watch right now is ANGLO AMER ADR (NGLOY). NGLOY is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), as well as a Value grade of A. The stock holds a P/E ratio of 6.24, while its industry has an average P/E of 7.48. Over the past year, NGLOY's Forward P/E has been as high as 12.90 and as low as 5.75, with a median of 8.42.

We should also highlight that NGLOY has a P/B ratio of 1.70. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks solid versus its industry's average P/B of 3.22. Over the past 12 months, NGLOY's P/B has been as high as 2.04 and as low as 1.03, with a median of 1.49.

These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that ANGLO AMER ADR is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, NGLOY feels like a great value stock at the moment.

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Investors interested in stocks from the Mining – Miscellaneous sector have probably already heard of Billiton (BBL) and BHP (BHP). But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.

Billiton and BHP are both sporting a Zacks Rank of # 1 (Strong Buy) right now. This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that these stocks have improving earnings outlooks. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.

Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

BBL currently has a forward P/E ratio of 8.98, while BHP has a forward P/E of 10.96. We also note that BBL has a PEG ratio of 2.17. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. BHP currently has a PEG ratio of 2.64.

Another notable valuation metric for BBL is its P/B ratio of 1.19. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, BHP has a P/B of 2.25.

These are just a few of the metrics contributing to BBL's Value grade of A and BHP's Value grade of D.

Both BBL and BHP are impressive stocks with solid earnings outlooks, but based on these valuation figures, we feel that BBL is the superior value option right now.

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On average, over time, stock markets tend to rise higher. This makes investing attractive. But if when you choose to buy stocks, some of them will be below average performers. Over the last year the Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) share price is up 30%, but that's less than the broader market return. Note that businesses generally develop over the long term, so the returns over the last year might not reflect a long term trend.

View our latest analysis for Albertsons Companies

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Albertsons Companies was able to grow EPS by 87% in the last twelve months. This EPS growth is significantly higher than the 30% increase in the share price. So it seems like the market has cooled on Albertsons Companies, despite the growth. Interesting.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

earnings-per-share-growthearnings-per-share-growth
earnings-per-share-growth

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. This free interactive report on Albertsons Companies' earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Albertsons Companies, it has a TSR of 32% for the last year. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

We're happy to report that Albertsons Companies are up 32% over the year (even including dividends). The bad news is that's no better than the average market return, which was roughly 48%. The last three months haven't been so kind to Albertsons Companies, with the share price gaining just 2.9%. It seems likely the market is waiting on fundamental developments with the business before pushing the share price higher (or lower). While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Albertsons Companies you should know about.

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.

Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being undervalued by the market at large.

Zacks has developed the innovative Style Scores system to highlight stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will be interested in stocks with great grades in the "Value" category. When paired with a high Zacks Rank, "A" grades in the Value category are among the strongest value stocks on the market today.

One company value investors might notice is Billiton (BBL). BBL is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), as well as an A grade for Value. The stock is trading with a P/E ratio of 6.73, which compares to its industry's average of 7.35. BBL's Forward P/E has been as high as 14.06 and as low as 6.45, with a median of 10.47, all within the past year.

Investors should also recognize that BBL has a P/B ratio of 1.16. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. BBL's current P/B looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/B of 3.16. Within the past 52 weeks, BBL's P/B has been as high as 1.32 and as low as 0.78, with a median of 1.07.

These are just a handful of the figures considered in Billiton's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that BBL is an impressive value stock right now.

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Vivek Sankaran was just 10 months into his tenure as president and CEO of Albertsons Companies when the pandemic hit. While other CEOs were trying to figure out how to shift their teams to remote work, Sankaran had to focus on developing systems to keep the company's grocery stores and supermarkets, located in 34 states and the District of Columbia, safe, stocked, and open.

Albertsons’ brands include grocery stores Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, and many others.

"We focused first on the safety of our people. I obsessed about it even before the CDC would come out with the recommendations," Sankaran says, adding that it took almost six weeks before the government issued some safety guidelines.

Sankaran joined Fortune’s Alan Murray and Ellen McGirt for Leadership Next, a podcast about the changing rules of business leadership.

"What we found is when people felt safe operating and working in our stores, they made our customers feel safe," he says.

And by focusing first on employee safety, Sankaran says the company could then move forward with a sense of purpose that included feeding the communities that they operate in.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia–(Newsfile Corp. – June 24, 2021) – Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd. (TSXV: GMG) ("GMG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will join the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre ("CRC") for Battery Electrolytes along with various organizations and universities. The CRC's objective is to develop advanced electrolyte systems that improve battery performance. The project will run over a period of 4 years with GMG providing a source of graphene and personnel time to the project.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8082/88531_graphene1enhanced.jpg

GMG's Chief Scientific Officer Dr Ashok Nanjundan said, "This is another exciting energy storage development project showcasing the potential uses of GMG's graphene for the further development of various existing battery technologies."

The CRC brings together almost 60 industry participants, including eight universities, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, and Federal and State Governments. A six-year research and development program will target all segments of the battery value chain to deliver commercially proprietary outcomes to accelerate industry expansion and grow a vibrant, emerging battery sector. With approximately A$130 million cash and in-kind contributions, the CRC is focused on Australia as a leader in battery industries that seeks to create a new generation of highly skilled workers equipped to deliver energy materials of the future.

About Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre

The Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre is enabling the growth of battery industries to power Australia's future. It brings together industry, researchers, governments, and the community to ensure Australia plays a leading role in the global battery revolution.

The CRC is critical in making Australia's industries more competitive by harnessing the research skills and industry expertise required to create new economic opportunities.

For further information: https://fbicrc.com.au/

About GMG

GMG is an Australian based clean-tech disruptive company listed on the TSXV (TSXV: GMG) that produces graphene and hydrogen by cracking methane (natural gas) instead of mining graphite. By using the company's proprietary process, GMG can produce high quality, low cost, scalable, 'tuneable' and no/low contaminant graphene – enabling demonstrated cost and environmental improvements in a number of world-scale planet-friendly/clean-tech applications. Using this low input cost source of graphene, the Company is developing value-added products that target the massive energy efficiency and energy storage markets.

The Company is also pursuing additional opportunities for GMG Graphene, including developing next-generation batteries, collaborating with world-leading universities in Australia, and investigating the opportunity to enhance the performance of lube oil, biodiesel and diesel fuels.

For further information, please contact:

– Craig Nicol, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Company at craig.nicol@graphenemg.com, +61 415 445 223

– Leo Karabelas at Focus Communications, info@fcir.ca , +1 647 689 6041

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements relating to: the deployment of the Company's resources, including its personnel; goals, outcomes and results of the activities of the CRC; and the intention of the Company to research, develop and produce certain products. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding the accuracy of the Company's cost and timing expectations, and the Company's continued participation with the CRC. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's final long form non-offering prospectus dated March 31, 2021 available for review on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict. Such risk factors may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including, assumptions regarding the Company's ability to research, develop and test its products within anticipated timelines, and that results of testing and development data will be consistent with anticipated results and estimates. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88531

By Jeff Lewis

TORONTO (Reuters) – BHP Group plans to almost double exploration spending for base metals within five years, its Chief Technical Officer Laura Tyler said on Wednesday, after shifting its exploration headquarters to Canada.

The world's biggest listed miner is expected to log bumper profits in August on booming prices for iron ore, but the pipeline for new projects is thin.

BHP's board is expected to make a call on its Jansen potash project in Canada as the miner looks to raise its exposure to new economy minerals including copper and nickel, seen as cornerstones of the world’s transition towards cleaner energy.

"Over the years we believe we have spent less than we should be spending on exploration," Tyler told Reuters in an interview.

Global exploration spending for base metals will nearly double within five years from the current annual $70 million to $80 million, she said, excluding outlays for early-entry joint ventures.

"So we are significantly increasing the amount we're spending just as our base load," she said.

BHP in March said it would move its head office for global exploration to Toronto from Santiago, Chile.

"That allows us almost to be closer to the action," she said.

The miner has partnered with junior Midland Exploration to explore for nickel in the Nunavik region of northern Quebec.

It also has a joint venture on copper concessions in Ecuador with Vancouver-based Luminex Resources Corp and holds a 12.3% stake in London-listed Solgold, whose Cascabel-Alpala copper-gold project in Ecuador is expected to start production in 2025.

(Reporting by Jeff Lewis; editing by Richard Pullin)

Copper Up

Copper UpCopper Up
Copper Up
Copper Up

TORONTO, June 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSXV: TVC) Three Valley Copper, formerly SRHI Inc. (“Three Valley” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it will participate in PI Financial’s “Copper Up” Virtual Conference on June 24th. Michael Staresinic, CEO, will present at 1:20pm ET on Thursday, June 24th during the session entitled “Focus on Navigating Geopolitical Risks in South America”. The conference will feature leading copper developers and explorers advancing projects in North and South America. Expect the conference to address typical political and technical risks facing today’s copper-focused developers/explorers, rather than your average investor pitch. Those wishing to participate in the conference can register here.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/261f0415-b43e-46d8-9046-29c6f6130005

About PI Financial

PI Financial Corp. (PI) is a leading, independent investment dealer which provides a full range of investment products and services for individual, corporate and institutional investors.

Founded in 1982, PI has become one of Canada’s largest independent dealers with over 300 employees from Toronto west to its headquarters in Vancouver, BC.

About Three Valley Copper

Three Valley Copper, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is focused on growing copper production from, and further exploration of, its primary asset, Minera Tres Valles. Located in Salamanca, Chile, MTV is 90.3% owned by the Company and MTV's main assets are the Minera Tres Valles mining complex and its 46,000 hectares of exploratory lands. For more information about the Company, please visit www.threevalleycopper.com.

For further information:

Michael Staresinic
Chief Executive Officer
T: (416) 943-7107
E: mstaresinic@threevalleycopper.com

Renmark Financial Communications Inc.
Joshua Lavers: jlavers@renmarkfinancial.com
T: (416) 644-2020 or (212) 812-7680
www.renmarkfinancial.com

Source: Three Valley Copper.

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The world is undergoing green energy revolution and the automobile industry is leaving no stone unturned to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) development, which is the driving force toward this clean energy revolution. As consumers get more environment conscious with each passing day, EV industry prospects are only expected to blossom in the coming years. While lithium seems to be the metal that is grabbing most eyeballs amid this e-mobility push, one should not underestimate the role of copper in sustainable energy-efficient transportation.

Copper’s Critical Role in EV Tech

The red metal is an essential component in EVs, and is used in electric motors, batteries, inverters and wiring. Also, the EV charging infrastructure is largely based on copper-based technologies. Copper is a key component of charging infrastructure and is found in cables, transformers and wiring to the electric panel.

Importantly, usage of copper in EVs is up to 4 times more than in the conventional cars. Per the Copper Development Association Inc., traditional cars have 18-49 pounds of copper, hybrid EVs contain approximately 85 pounds and plug-in hybrid EVs use 132 pounds. While battery BEVs contain 183 pounds, a hybrid electric bus and a battery electric bus contain 196 and 814 pounds of copper, respectively.

EV Industry on Fire, Copper Prospects Rosy

With rising awareness about greenhouse gases and their effect on global climate, several companies are aiming to reach carbon neutrality in the near term and the number of EV model launches is rapidly increasing. China, Europe, United Kingdom, France, Germany, the United States and other countries are laying out ambitious targets to phase out gas-powered vehicles. Per Deloitte projections, worldwide EV sales are set to see a CAGR of 29% over the next decade. Market Research Future expects the global EV market to reach $893.5 billion by 2027, representing a CAGR of 21.6% over 2021-2027 timeframe. The Boston Consulting Group projects EVs to more or less account for a third of the global auto industry by 2025, and more than 50% by 2030, indicating a massive jump from 2.6% in 2019.

Amid rising popularity of EVs, the demand for copper is likely to jump. Per the International Energy Agency, clean energy technologies will account for around 45% of copper demand in 2040, higher than 24% in 2020. Per Fastmarkets MB, adoption of EV vehicles will see global refined copper demand rise by 21% per year until 2030, reaching around 2.5 million tons in 2030. The International Copper Association estimates the EV boom to lift copper demand in green vehicles from 185,000 tons in 2017 to 1.74 million tons by 2027. Wood Mackenzie estimates that the growth in EV charging portals will result in the consumption of more than 250% more copper than the 2019 levels.

Stocks to Keep a Tab On

With copper being a key component powering EVs, here are some copper stocks that should be on your watchlist.

FreeportMcMoRan Inc. FCX: This Phoenix-based miner is expected to gain from progress in exploration activities that will boost production capacity. The company will benefit from the ongoing large-scale concentrator expansion project at Cerro Verde that will provide incremental annual production of around 600 million pounds of copper and 15 million pounds of molybdenum. It recently completed the Lone Star copper leach project and is on track to produce around 200 million pounds of copper annually. Efforts to cut costs and debt levels appear encouraging. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and has a long-term expected EPS growth rate of 28.7%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Southern Copper Corporation SCCO: This Mexico-based mining company has the largest copper reserves in the industry and operates high-quality, world-class assets in investment grade countries, such as Mexico and Peru. It has growth projects on track that will help achieve its target of producing 1.9 million tons of copper production by 2028.Backed by its commitment to increase low-cost production and growth investments, the company is well poised to continue delivering enhanced performance. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a long-term expected EPS growth rate of 18.7%.

BHP Group BHP: Headquartered in Melbourne, this natural resources firm is engaged in the production of petroleum, copper, iron, and coal. The firm owns a copper mine in Chile and South Australia.  In 2020, BHP produced around 1.7 million tons of copper. The company is expanding its mine at Spence in Chile, extending its life for another 50 years. It has also boosted exploration spending for more copper from all over the world.  Efforts to make operations more efficient through smart technology adoption across the entire value chain will continue to aid in reducing costs, thereby bolstering the company’s margins. It currently has a Zacks Rank #1 and a long-term expected EPS growth rate of 4.1%.

Teck Resources TECK: Vancouver-based Teck is a significant copper producer in the Americas, with four operating mines in Canada, Chile and Peru, and copper development projects in North and South America. The firm’s Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 (QB2) copper project surpassed the half-way point in April. Once completed, QB2 will transform the company’s copper business, making it a major global copper producer. The company anticipates to produce 275,000-290,000 tons of copper in 2021, higher than 257,500 tons in 2020. Carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), the company has a long-term expected EPS growth rate of 20.2%.

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FreeportMcMoRan Inc. (FCX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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In this article, we discuss the 10 best nickel stocks to buy now. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of these stocks, go directly to the 5 Best Nickel Stocks to Buy Now.

The demand for nickel has been rising in the past few years as it becomes important to the electric vehicle industry. Nickel, previously used as a corrosion resistant material by the steel industry, has exploded in value with the mass production of cheap electronic devices, most of which make use of the metal in manufacturing. According to Research and Markets, the global production of the metal is expected to cross 2.76 million tons within the next two years. This represents a compound annual growth rate of close to 3% for the nickel industry.

A few mining companies poised to use the high demand for the precious metal to their advantage in the near future include Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE), the Brazilian mining firm, BHP Group (NYSE: BHP), the Australian global resources company, and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), the United Kingdom-based multinational metals corporation. On April 26, Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE) posted earnings per share of $1.09 for the first quarter of 2021, beating market predictions by $0.06. The company is also considering a spinoff of its base metals division.

Meanwhile, BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) has also been enjoying a stellar start to the new year. On May 18, CEO Mike Henry spoke at a mining conference and said that the future outlook for commodities was compelling as the COVID-19 stimulus packages of the government helped lift the demand for raw materials for an extended period of time. Henry also outlined that the industry was evolving to the advantage of BHP, which had close to 25% of its mining portfolio in futuristic commodities like nickel and copper.

Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), the second-largest mining firm in the world, has also been adapting to changes in the mining sector by engaging in projects that make the firm more environmentally stable in the long-term. As one of the largest nickel producers, the company feels it has a responsibility to the clean energy industry to develop a sustainable market ecosystem. In this regard, the firm has recently pledged to stop using hydrogen in aluminum refining in order to cut down on emissions.

The demand for nickel has been a source of disruption in the mining industry that is usually reliant on other precious metals for revenue. Larger market forces have been reshaping entire industries in the past few years. The entire hedge fund industry is feeling the reverberations of the changing financial landscape. Its reputation has been tarnished in the last decade, during which its hedged returns couldn’t keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. On the other hand, Insider Monkey’s research was able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs by more than 124 percentage points since March 2017. Between March 2017 and February 26th 2021 our monthly newsletter’s stock picks returned 197.2%, vs. 72.4% for the SPY. Our stock picks outperformed the market by more than 124 percentage points (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that significantly underperformed the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 and they lost 13% through November 16th. That’s why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. You can subscribe to our free newsletter on our homepage to receive our stories in your inbox.

Best Nickel Stocks to Buy NowBest Nickel Stocks to Buy Now
Best Nickel Stocks to Buy Now

Image by Tshekiso Tebalo from Pixabay

With this context in mind, here is our list of the 10 best nickel stocks to buy now. These were selected keeping in mind their relevance to the nickel industry, hedge fund sentiment, and the business fundamentals driving the earnings of each company.

Best Nickel Stocks to Buy Now

10. PolyMet Mining Corp. (NYSE: PLM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A

PolyMet Mining Corp. (NYSE: PLM) is a mining company with interests in copper, nickel, cobalt, gold, silver, and platinum, among other metals. It is placed tenth on our list of 10 best nickel stocks to buy now. The stock has offered investors returns exceeding 29% over the course of the past four weeks. One of the top projects of the firm is the NorthMet, a polymetallic project located in Minnesota and covering an area of more than 4,000 hectares. Copper-nickel mines are part of the natural resource project.

In February, PolyMet Mining Corp. (NYSE: PLM) stock jumped to a six-month high, climbing 16% in a single day as the top court in Minnesota ruled in favor of the firm in a case involving a clean air permit issued to the firm by the pollution agency of the state.

Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, New York-based investment firm Renaissance Technologies is a leading shareholder in PolyMet Mining Corp. (NYSE: PLM) with 304,746 shares worth more than $963,000.

Just like Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE), BHP Group (NYSE: BHP), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), PolyMet Mining Corp. (NYSE: PLM) is one of the best nickel stocks to buy now.

9. Haynes International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAYN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 11

Haynes International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAYN) is a company that makes and sells nickel and cobalt-based alloys. These are corrosion resistant and are used in jet engines, gas turbines, and industrial heating equipment, among other places. The firm is ranked ninth on our list of 10 best nickel stocks to buy now. The company’s shares have returned 60% to investors over the course of the past year. Haynes has a market capitalization of just under $500 million and posted over $380 million in revenue last year.

Haynes International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAYN) is one of the best options on the market when it comes to dividend payments. On April 29, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share, in line with previous. The forward yield was more than 3%.

At the end of the first quarter of 2021, 11 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $56 million in Haynes International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAYN), down from 13 the preceding quarter worth $42 million.

Just like Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE), BHP Group (NYSE: BHP), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), Haynes International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAYN) is one of the best nickel stocks to buy now.

8. Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE: SBSW)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16

Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE: SBSW) is a South African mining company that focuses on precious metals. The company produces gold, nickel, copper, chrome, and other metals. The firm has mining interests in Africa and South America. The company has seen profits soar in recent weeks as the prices of basic materials rise and demand for nickel, used in premier electronic products, rises. It is placed eighth on our list of 10 best nickel stocks to buy now. The stock has returned 106% to investors over the past twelve months..

On June 1, Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE: SBSW) stock soared by close to 7% after the company announced a share buyback program to repurchase 5% of ordinary stock till April next year, affirming that the buyback would not impact dividend payments for shareholders.

Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, Connecticut-based investment firm AQR Capital Management is a leading shareholder in Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE: SBSW) with 5.2 million shares worth more than $93 million.

Just like Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE), BHP Group (NYSE: BHP), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE: SBSW) is one of the best nickel stocks to buy now.

In its Q1 2021 investor letter, Desert Lion Capital, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE: SBSW) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“Sibanye is a South African gold and platinum group metals (“PGM”) producer with mines in South Africa and the U.S. Established in 2012, it has since become one of South Africa’s largest gold producers and the largest PGM producer in the world. Sibanye also operate a PGM recycling facility and own a majority interest in DRDGOLD, a specialist in the recovery of gold and other precious metals from open pit tailings.

The investment thesis incorporates the following logic:

If central banks globally are going to continue printing money unabated, precious metals prices should rise.

The drive for cleaner and greener is accelerating. The market for platinum, palladium and rhodium is structurally attractive.

The company is generally mischaracterized. Ask around, and one will find that most people still refer to Sibanye as “a South African gold miner” with “lots of debt from that Stillwater acquisition.”

It is not quick and easy to ramp up PGM supply in response to higher demand and prices. Favorable supply-demand characteristics will likely remain favorable for longer.

Bad capital allocation decisions, corporate excesses, and resultant tarnished reputations from the previous boom period are still fresh in the minds of most mining executives. Neal Froneman has proven himself a disciplined capital allocator. His approach to capital allocation is straightforward: deploy capital at expected returns that enhances value to shareholders or distribute it via dividends and buybacks.

The company is debt-free and generating heaps of cash.

The valuation is cheap. At current metal prices, Sibanye is trading at about 5 times after-tax cash profits.

Sibanye is effectively a call option on a potential commodity super cycle. In the meantime, the value of our “option” is unlikely to deteriorate as we are rewarded with healthy dividend flows.”

7. Materion Corporation (NYSE: MTRN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17

Materion Corporation (NYSE: MTRN) is ranked seventh on our list of 10 best nickel stocks to buy now. The company’s shares have returned 36% to investors over the past year. The firm makes and sells advanced engineering materials. These are used in making semiconductors, as well as in products used by the aerospace and defense industries. The company is famous for the production of copper and nickel in a variety of forms, including plate, bar, wire, rod, and others.

On April 29, Materion Corporation (NYSE: MTRN) posted earnings for the first quarter of 2021, reporting earnings per share of $0.82, beating market predictions by $0.22. The revenue for the first three months of 2021 was $354 million, up more than 27% year-on-year.

Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, New York-based investment firm Renaissance Technologies is a leading shareholder in Materion Corporation (NYSE: MTRN) with 421,511 shares worth more than $27 million.

Just like Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE), BHP Group (NYSE: BHP), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), Materion Corporation (NYSE: MTRN) is one of the best nickel stocks to buy now.

6. Mechel PAO (NYSE: MTL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 3

Mechel PAO (NYSE: MTL) is a Russian mining company that has stakes in the power and steel businesses as well. It is placed sixth on our list of 10 best nickel stocks to buy now. The stock has returned 20% to investors over the past twelve months. The company is one of the top suppliers of nickel to the Russian government through the Southern Urals Nickel Plant. This nickel is used for defense needs when countries in the West refuse to export nickel to the Russian Federation.

In quarterly earnings results, posted on May 20, Mechel PAO (NYSE: MTL) reported a revenue of RUB76 billion for the first quarter of 2021, up close to 13% compared to the revenue for the first three months of last year.

At the end of the first quarter of 2021, 3 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $3 million in Mechel PAO (NYSE: MTL), down from 4 in the previous quarter worth $2.8 million.

Just like Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE), BHP Group (NYSE: BHP), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), Mechel PAO (NYSE: MTL) is one of the best nickel stocks to buy now.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best Nickel Stocks to Buy Now.

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Disclose. None. 10 Best Nickel Stocks to Buy Now is originally published on Insider Monkey.

Taking the next significant step toward mining automation, Rio Tinto plc Plc RIO in partnership with Caterpillar Inc. CAT will deploy the world’s first fully autonomous water truck at its $2.6 billion Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. Water spraying is a vital part of mining operations and this new technology will enhance productivity by enabling digital tracking of water consumption, while cutting down water wastage. This marks a significant step in Rio Tinto’s mine automation and digitalization program, and Caterpillar’s efforts in developing autonomous solutions for customers.

The water trucks with 160,000-litre tank capacity have intelligent on-board system, which on detecting dry and dusty conditions on site will trigger the application of water. When a refill is required, the trucks are programed to self-drive to the water stand, park and top-up, and return to the field. Caterpillar’s three water trucks will join Gudai-Darri’s fleet of Caterpillar heavy mobile equipment including autonomous haul trucks and production drills. Rio Tinto intends to make Gudai-Darri one of the world’s most technologically advanced mines. Construction at Gudai-Darri continues to progress with production ramp-up on track for early 2022. Once completed, the mine will have an annual capacity of 43 million tons.

Notably, Rio Tinto’s existing Autonomous Haulage System has improved safety by reducing the risks associated with operators working around heavy machinery. Rio Tinto and other miners are increasingly relying on autonomous systems for haulage and drilling. With the help of technology and automation, miners are bringing radical changes to mining operations to increase productivity, reduce cost and improve frontline safety. The companies are investing in digital initiatives like AI, cloud computing and advanced analytics.

Brazilian miner, Vale S.A VALE has been increasingly embracing the use of robotics and automation. For instance, at its Brucutu Mine, the entire fleet is autonomous, and recently it reached a record of physical use of that fleet. The autonomous operation test for trucks at the Carajás mine in Pará has already begun and implementation is planned for the second quarter of 2021. The company has expanded the use of 25 to 40 autonomous trucks at major underground mines in Sudbury. It is also preparing the infrastructure to enable autonomous underground operation in the Voisey’s Bay and Thompson expansion. Vale recently announced that it will be able to resume operations at its Timbopeba iron ore dry processing plant in the coming months thanks to the use of an unmanned train.

BHP Group BHP has been operating a fully-autonomous truck fleet at its Western Australian Jimblebar mine since 2017. The site is now one of the safest operations in its portfolio, with significant events involving trucks at Jimblebar having dropped by more than 90% since the introduction of autonomous haulage. Following its success, BHP announced it would implement an autonomous fleet at its Goonyella Riverside coal mine in Queensland in late 2019. The transition to an autonomous fleet of up to 86 trucks over the next two years is underway and will involve more than 40,000 hours of training delivered to the Goonyella team to develop the competencies required for autonomous operations. Separately, BHP has announced that it will introduce 20 autonomous trucks at its Newman East (Eastern Ridge) mine in Western Australia by the end of this year.

Capitalizing on this increasing demand, the largest global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, Caterpillar is enhancing its autonomous capabilities and bringing innovative products into markets that provide it with a competitive edge in mining. Recently speaking at Bernstein 37th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference, Caterpillar’s CEO Jim Umpleby pointed toward a “long healthy cycle” in mining and strong commodity prices. Umpleby also highlighted that the energy transition has immense potential for Caterpillar in the long haul. The intensifying global focus on shifting from fossil fuels to zero emissions will require huge amount of commodities. This is a win-win situation for both miners and mining equipment makers.

BHP currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while VALE, Rio Tinto and Caterpillar carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BHP’s fiscal 2021 earnings suggests year-over-year growth of 84%. The stock has gained 43% in the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Rio Tinto’s fiscal 2021 earnings indicates year-over-year improvement of 41%. The stock has surged 46% in the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vale’s fiscal 2021 earnings suggests year-over-year growth of 138%. The stock has soared 110% in the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Caterpillar’s fiscal 2021 earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 46%. The stock has appreciated 69.5% in the past year.

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5 Stocks Set to Double

Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.

Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>

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Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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