For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 4, 2021 – Zacks Equity Research Shares of Thor Industries, Inc. THO as the Bull of the Day, First Solar, Inc. FSLR as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on The Gap, Inc. GPS, The Mosaic Company MOS and Best Buy Co., Inc. BBY.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Thor Industries is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) that makes a wide range of recreational vehicles (RVs). The company manufactures in Indiana and Ohio and sells its products through independent dealers in the U.S. and Canada. 

After doubling from the COVID lows in 2020, the stock traded sideways over the summer after pulling back from highs. However, a recent earnings report helped bring investors back into the stock. Now, the bulls are looking for all-time highs once again.  

About the Company

Thor is headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana and employs over 22,000 people. The company was founded in 1980 and sells travel trailers, motorhomes, caravans, urban vehicles and more.

THO is valued at $6.8 billion and has a Forward PE of 9. The company holds a Zacks Style Score of “A” in Momentum and “B” Value. The stock also pays a 1.3% dividend.

Travel Has Changed

The COVID-19 shutdowns started a movement for consumers to look at different ways to vacation and travel. With hotels closed and airport travel inconvenient, people looked to the old-fashioned camper as an alternative.

Demand for RVs went through the roof, which caused a massive backlog for companies like Thor and Winnebago.

When the vaccines came out, there was the thought that America would be opening up and travel would return to normal. However, the demand for campers, motorhomes and other recreational vehicles never subsided. Earnings and order backlogs from the manufacturers of these products shows us that domestic travel has changed for good.

Earnings Beat

Thor investors are used to beating on EPS, with the recent quarter marking sixth straight earnings surprise to the upside. The company posted a 42% beat on the bottom line, and saw revenues of $3.59B v $3.33B expected.

The order backlog is still huge, up 190% year over year. Gross profit margin was also up big from last year and the company said that demand for their RV products remains robust.  

Management was very positive on the call, making the following comments:

"THOR is carrying great momentum into fiscal year 2022, supported by a number of positive factors. Interest from new RV buyers and order activity continues to be robust across each of our business segments. We have record backlogs supported by North American dealer inventory levels that are 9% lower than the already historically low levels from a year ago and 44% lower than they were two years ago. Dealers remain confident in the long-term outlook for the RV industry and continue to invest in growing their businesses as the industry sees continued buying interest from both the first-time and repeat RV buyers." 

Thor added that that despite the challenging operating environment, the team has overcome the supply chain constraints. They look to grow the dividend, fund strategic opportunities and repurchase shares.

Estimates Rising

The quarter has opened eyes among analysts, which have started to lift estimates drastically. For the current year, analysts have raised estimates from $11.36 to $13.69, a hike of 20%. For the next year, we see a 13% jump, from $12.07 to $13.65.

Analysts are talking price targets higher. Wedbush raised their price target to $140 from $126 and BMO has their target at $166.

The Technical Take

The move lower over the summer broke some moving averages and threatened the $100 level. However, a 61.8% Fibonacci support level just above that $100 mark held up well. With the stock back above moving averages, the chart looks technically bullish.

The next resistance level will be the $140 market, an area where the bears took over back in May. If the bulls can push over $132, we would have $178 Fibonacci targets (161.8%).

In Summary

The RVs are still seeing a lot of demand and the backlog for campers is massive. The company has overcome challenges and proved that the supply chain issues have not gotten in the way of exceeding their numbers.

Look for the momentum to continue into the next year and for things to improve as supply chains get back to normal.

Bear of the Day:

First Solar is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) that is a provider of solar energy solutions. The company specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling solar electric power modules using a proprietary thin-film semiconductor technology. 

First Solar reported a real nice quarter back in July that rallied the stock 30%. However, the supply chain issues are hampering the solar industry and could impact future growth. So, investors should take caution as we head into the next few quarters.

About the Company

First Solar is headquartered in Tempe, AZ and employs over 5,000 people. The company was founded in 1999 and operates in the U.S, Japan, France and other locations internationally.

FSLR is valued at $10 billion and investors should be concerned with the valuation. The company holds a Zacks Style Score of “D” in Value with a PE of 22. At the same time, growth investors applaud the “B” Style Score in Growth.  

Q1 Earnings

Big earnings out in July, with the company seeing Q2 at $0.77 v the $.60 expected. Revenues missed and FY21 guidance was lowered, but revenue guidance was lifted.

The guidance cut was due to freight costs, which continue to move higher.  However, we are also seeing supply chain issues in the industry that could be an issue for further growth. Analysts are noticing and dropping numbers.

Estimates

Over the sixty days, estimates fell lower. For the next quarter, analysts have dropped their numbers to $0.72 from $0.65 For the next year, numbers have fallen from $3.10 to $2.69, or 20%.  

Despite the guidance cut and analyst's dropping expectations, the stock surged, moving from $80 to almost $107.

Supply Chain Issues

The bottlenecks in the supply chain are causing issues for a lot of companies. In the solar industry, the combination of getting materials and rising costs is a recipe for a couple quarters of trouble.

Steel and aluminum costs are key for solar panels and rising costs are a headwind. Despite good demand, these costs will trickle to the bottom line.

Technical Take 

  First Solar was one of the hottest stocks of 2007-08, with the stock shooting from under $50 to over $300 in just a year. However, during the financial crisis, the stock collapsed and never fully recovered.

After years of hanging on around the $50 mark, the stock has finally come back to life, moving over $100 a share. The stock is on the verge of breaking out, the fundamental issues discussed above are bringing in sellers on every move over $100.

The stock fell about 20% on the recent market sell off. Investors defended the 200-day moving average just under the $90 level and they will need to keep that area or the stock will likely fall back to summer support at $80.

In Summary

First Solar has some fundamental issues that will be a risk as they head into the next couple earnings reports. Investors should be on the defense until the supply chain issues can be overcome.

Additional content:

Zacks #1s with Growth AND Value

Whether it’s a business deal, a job, a relationship or your favorite brand of toothpaste at the supermarket; nobody likes to just settle for something. It means we’re accepting less than the best… usually because it’s easy.

And when it comes to investing, it means we’re making less money than we could. If you want to invest in Growth AND Value… you should be able to do it! And Zacks can help.

We’ve got a screen that not only helps you find big growth rates and low valuations, but also adds the power of the Zacks Rank. This screen is ingeniously titled: Growth & Value Plus Zacks Rank #1. Below are three stocks that recently passed the test.

The Gap Inc.

The name of the company may be The Gap, but the real powerhouse these days is Old Navy. And active women’s apparel brand Athleta is also starting to gain some traction. These two brands led to a strong fiscal second quarter performance in late August, which included a raised full-year outlook.

GPS is a premier international specialty retailer with more than 3,800 stores worldwide. It’s four segments are Gap Global, Old Navy Global, Banana Republic Global and Other (which includes the aforementioned Athleta brand). As part of the retail – apparel & shoes space, the company is in the Top 16% of the Zacks Industry Rank. Shares have climbed approximately 14% so far in 2021.

Earnings per share in its fiscal second quarter came to 70 cents, which trounced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by nearly 50%. Net sales of $4.2 billion inched past our expectation of $4.17 billion and jumped 29% year over year. Most impressively though, the result improved 5% over the same time in 2019, which was pre-covid.

Same-store sales were up 3% year over year and a solid 12% from two years ago.

Those annoying Old Navy commercials must really work, because net sales at that segment jumped 21% in the quarter with comps up 18% against 2019. Moving forward, Old Navy has big hopes for its inclusive shopping experience BODEQUALITY, which is part of its Power Plan 2023 for long-term sustainable growth.

Net sales at Athleta soared 35% with comps up 27% from 2019. GPS is also working to transform Banana Republic through various factors including product assortment. Sales were still down in the quarter, but improved from the first quarter 2021.

GPS has worked hard to better its marketing efforts, improve its brand management and enhance its technology. These factors paid off so much that the company raised its full-year outlook. It now expects adjusted EPS of between $2.10 and $2.25 with net sales growing about 30% versus 2020.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this fiscal year (ending January 2022) is now $2.21, which marks a 24.2% improvement over the past 60 days. Next fiscal year (ending January 2023) is now seen at $2.65, an advance of 20.5% over the same amount of time and suggests a year-over-year improvement of 20%.

The Mosaic Company

At a time of artificial intelligence, 5G, the Internet of Things, blockchain and dozens of other technologies; it seems weird that something like fertilizers could be considered “hot”. And yet, this space is in the top 6% of the Zacks Industry Rank, as agriculture trends are expected to be strong moving forward.

One of the biggest names in the space is The Mosaic Company, a leading producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Shares are up over 60% so far this year, and the company expects the second half of 2021 to be one of its best periods in over a decade.

In the second quarter, MOS reported earnings per share of $1.17, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by more than 15%. It was the fifth straight quarter with a positive surprise. The average beat over the past four quarters is just under 43%, but that’s skewed a bit by a triple digit surprise in the fourth quarter.

Net sales of $2.8 billion actually fell a little short of our expectations, but still jumped 37% year over year as stronger pricing offset the lower volumes. Net sales in Phosphates rose 54%, while sales in Potash advanced 19%. Volumes in both segments declined.

Looking forward, MOS sees a $90-$100 per ton improvement in average realized price in the Phosphates segment sequentially in the third quarter, while the Potash segment should have a $25-$35 per ton improvement.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this year is up to $4.86, which has surged 47.7% over the past two months. Expectations for next year are at $4.68, which suggests a year-over-year decline. However, analysts have raised their expectations by approximately 43% in 60 days, so there’s a lot of room for improvement before December 2022 rolls around.

Best Buy

It’s scary to think where this country would’ve been in this pandemic without technology. It allowed millions of people to work from home and students to learn from home during an unprecedented shutdown. We were able to stay in close contact with loved ones in quarantine. And technology provided gaming and streaming options to keep the family occupied so you can have just a few sweet moments of solitude before resuming your government-mandated house arrest with those lovely people.

Throughout all these circumstances, Best Buy was there with the consumer electronics necessary to keep things going when Covid locked things up. The dependence on technology led to 14 straight quarters of positive surprises for the company, including a more than 56% beat in its recently reported fiscal second quarter.

BBY is part of the Retail – Consumer Electronics space, which means it’s in the top 13% of the Zacks Industry Rank. The company has been focused on developing its omni-channel capabilities, improving the supply chain and cost-containment efforts. It’s really been paying off!

Earnings per share reached $2.98 in its fiscal second quarter, which trounced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by more than $1.

Enterprise revenues jumped nearly 20% to $11.85 billion, compared to our expectation of $11.6 billion. Enterprise comp sales increased by the same percentage. Key drivers in the quarter were computing, mobile phones, home theater, appliances and services.

Best of all though, BBY expects continued customer demand and solid momentum. In fact, it now sees enterprise comparable sales increasing between 9% and 11% for fiscal 2022, compared to the previous outlook of 3% to 6%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this fiscal year (ending January 2022) is up to $9.95, which has advanced 16.9% in just two months. The expectation for next year (ending January 2023) is only at $9.54, which is up 9.3% in two months but down year over year. However, there’s plenty of time for that to improve as consumers are unlikely to throw their computers, TVs and gaming systems away in the future.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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Thor Industries, Inc. (THO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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MELBOURNE, October 02, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rio Tinto is supporting iron ore rail car manufacturing in Western Australia with a commitment to use local suppliers to build ore rail cars for its Pilbara mining operations.

A tender will soon be released to the local market for an initial purchase of 50 ore rail cars, followed by an ongoing commitment of 10 ore cars a year for the next five years.

The tender will be released through the Rio Tinto Buy Local portal, a resource dedicated to making local suppliers aware of opportunities to partner with Rio Tinto and be part of our supply chain.

Western Australia has been an important part of Rio Tinto’s history for more than 50 years as the company built a world-class iron ore business. In 2020, the company spent AUD$7.5 billion with more than 2,000 local businesses based in Western Australia.

Rio Tinto is also part of the WA Government’s iron ore rail car action group, launched as part of the WA Recovery Plan to develop a competitive iron ore rail car manufacturing industry in Western Australia.

Rio Tinto’s commitment to bring ore rail car manufacturing back to WA supports the action group’s vision to develop WA’s ore rail car manufacturing capability and support the State’s economic recovery.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott said: "Building Rio Tinto’s ore rail cars here in WA will support local manufacturing and create jobs for West Australians.

"Rio Tinto is proud to lead the way in building iron ore rail cars in WA, in line with the vision of State Government’s iron ore rail car action group.

"I look forward to partnering with local businesses to support and grow the local manufacturing industry in WA.

"Ore cars are a critical part of our mining operations and building capacity to manufacture ore cars locally in WA will deliver significant benefits for Rio Tinto and the WA economy."

Premier Mark McGowan said: "This is a pleasing outcome and I commend Rio Tinto for taking the first step and committing to our local steel manufacturing industry which will support more jobs for Western Australians.

"Rio Tinto’s commitment is a positive result off the back of the State Government’s independent pre-feasibility study, which identified initiatives for the manufacture, refurbishment and maintenance of iron ore railcar wagons.

"This was about securing an ongoing pipeline of work for the long term manufacture of iron ore wagons and critical rail wagon parts, which will deliver jobs and economic benefit for the State into the future.

"Rio Tinto’s purchase of Western Australian made railcars that will be used right here in our State is something I encourage other iron ore companies operating in WA to get on board with and increase local content and local jobs."

riotinto.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211002005001/en/

Contacts

Please direct all enquiries to Media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, Australia

Jonathan Rose
M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
M +61 436 653 412

Jamie Macdonald
M +61 467 725 51

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited
Level 7, 360 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

Category: Pilbara

TORONTO, Oct. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Red Pine Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: RPX) (“Red Pine” or the “Company”) announces that its Board of Directors has granted an aggregate 100,000 stock options to Rachel Goldman, a recently appointed director of the Company. Each stock option is exercisable into one common share of the Company at a price of $0.61 CAD per common share, with vesting over 36 months, and exercisable for a period of five years from the date of grant. The options are granted pursuant to the Company’s Stock Option Plan and will be subject to applicable regulatory hold periods.

About Red Pine Exploration Inc.

Red Pine Exploration Inc. is a gold exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Company's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "RPX".

The Wawa Gold Project is in the Michipicoten greenstone belt of Ontario, a region that has seen major investment by several producers in the last five years. Its land package hosts numerous historic gold mines and is over 6,800 hectares in size. The Company’s Chairman of the Board is Paul Martin, the former CEO of Detour Gold. The Board has extensive and diverse experience at such entities as Alamos, Barrick, Generation Mining, Detour Gold, in addition to recently appointed Rachel Goldman who holds capital markets expertise and is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. Led by Quentin Yarie, CEO, who has over 25 years of experience in mineral exploration, Red Pine is strengthening its position as a major mineral exploration and development player in the Michipicoten region.

For more information about the Company, visit www.redpineexp.com

Or contact:

Quentin Yarie, President and CEO, (416) 364-7024, qyarie@redpineexp.com

Or

Tara Asfour, Investor Relations Manager, (514) 833-1957 tasfour@redpineexp.com

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

This News Release contains forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Here are five stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today:

Kirby Corporation KEX operates domestic tank barges. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 4.8% downward over the last 30 days.

BHP Group BBL engages in the natural resources business. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 22.9% downward over the last 30 days.

AB Electrolux ELUXY manufactures and sells household appliances. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 4.3% downward over the last 30 days.

TDK Corporation TTDKY manufactures and sells electronic components. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 34.1% downward over the last 30 days.

Weichai Power Co., Ltd. WEICY manufactures and sells diesel engines, automobiles, and other major automobile components. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 8.3% downward over the last 30 days.

View the entire Zacks Rank #5 List.

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Electrolux AB (ELUXY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
BHP Billiton PLC (BBL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Weichai Power Co. (WEICY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Kirby Corporation (KEX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
TDK Corp. (TTDKY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research

After charging to $80 per barrel on Tuesday, oil prices fell back on news of inventory builds and extra supply, and now markets are nervously waiting for the OPEC+ meeting

Oil Prices Today, Friday, October 1st, 2021

As OPEC+ meets once again next Monday, speculation has been rife regarding the oil group’s intentions to bring more crude into the market. Whilst prices are still close to the $80 per barrel mark, with Brent trading around $78 per barrel and WTI trending around $74.5 per barrel, the first US inventory stock build since late July and news of OPEC+ laggards (Russia and Kazakhstan) ramping up supply has provided some downside for prices. At the same time, exorbitantly high gas prices driving gas-to-oil switching in Asia and the US dollar weakening are largely offsetting those factors.

Spot LNG Price Surge Continues.

Increasing purchasing activity in East Asia amid China’s power demand crunch and continuing supply tightness have pushed spot LNG prices to $34.5 per mmBtu in Asia, the highest on record.

Germany Merges Gas Trading Hubs.

Germany launched a nationwide gas trading hub called THE (Trading Hub Europe), having merged two of its hubs – Gaspool and NetConnect – to be able to compete with the Dutch TTF and British NBP.

Embattled and indebted, PEMEX Raises Oilmen Salaries.

Following a series of negotiations with its oil workers union (to which most PEMEX employees belong), the Mexican national oil company indicated it agreed to increase oil workers’ wages by 3.4% and their benefits by 1.76%, despite its debt spiraling out of control.

Albemarle Buys into China’s Processing.

US-based lithium producer Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) agreed to buy China’s Guangxi Tianyuan New Energy Materials for $200 million, a lithium converter that is on the verge of launching its 25,000 tons per annum processing plant, in a bid to increase its foothold in the world’s largest demand center.

Russia’s LUKOIL Wants More Azerbaijan.

Longtime interested in expanding within Azerbaijan, Russia’s largest private oil producer LUKOIL (MCX:LKOH) agreed to buy a 25% stake in the Shallow Water Absheron Peninsula (SWAP) project from BP, only several weeks after the UK-based firm spudded its first exploration well at North Khali.

Wind Blows Again in the North Sea.

Despite European gas prices hitting several consecutive all-time highs and nearing €100 per MWh, coal-fired generation has decreased w-o-w in Germany as wind generation moved back into its normal range, averaging 11 GWh so far this week, a 10% increase year-on-year.

CNOOC to Boost Ownership of Buzios Field.

Brazil’s national oil companyPetrobras (NYSE:PBR) is in talks with China’s CNOOC (HK:0883) for a deal that would see the Chinese firm buy another 5% stake in the Latin American country’s second-largest Buzios field for $2.08 billion.

Guyana Court Sets Exxon Hearing Date.

Guyana’s High court has scheduled a June 2022 hearing dealing with the environmental impact of ExxonMobil’s (NYSE:XOM) production offshore Guyana, with local NGOs claiming the oil industry threatens the rights of locals to a clean environment.

Saudi Aramco Gets Footing in India’s Largest Private Refiner.

Reliance Industries (NSE:RELIANCE), operator of the world’s largest refinery in Jamnagar, India, stated the candidature of Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of Saudi Aramco, meets all regulatory criteria to become independent director, in a move that is seen as a harbinger of Aramco’s buying-in into the Indian firm’s oil-to-chemicals business.

Malaysian LNG Disrupted Again by Fire.

Malaysia’s LNG terminal in Bintulu, wielding 30 million tons of LNG per annum capacity, caught fire this week however the operator Petronas claimed operations were unaffected.

China Asks for More Russian Electricity.

Attesting to China’s ongoing issues with nationwide power cuts, Russian state-owned power company Inter RAO (MCX:IRAO) claimed it had received a request from Chinese authorities to ramp up electricity exports. The current transmission lines could be delivering up to 7 billion KWh.

Rio Tinto Still Not Progressing with Resolution Copper.

The controversial Resolution Project, a prospective copper mine in Arizona to be operated by Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) that could meet 25% of the United States’ total demand for the red metal, has still seen no progress after the company’s CEO failed to meet the head of the San Carlos Apache tribe that opposes it.

Related: The Energy Crisis Is Sending Oil, Gas, And Coal Prices Soaring

BP and ENI Seek $2 Billion for Angola JV.

UK major BP (NYSE:BP) and Italian firm ENI (ETS:ENI) are seeking to raise $2 billion for their oil and gas joint venture in Angola, as both companies seek to spin off carbon-emitting subsidiaries into separate entities.

China Wants More Term LNG Deals with Qatar.

CNOOC (HKG:0883) signed a new supply deal with Qatar’s QP for a period of 15 years starting from January 2022, adding 3.5mtpa LNG to the country’s aggregate contracted volumes

Jamaica Alumina Refinery Out For At Least One Year.

The Jamalco alumina refinery, operated by Noble Group with a production capacity of 1.4 million tons per annum, will not be back until September 2022 on the back of a fire last month, putting additional pressure on aluminum prices.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

• Rapid Demand Recovery Hints At Even Higher Oil Prices
  

• The World’s Fastest-Growing Shale Play Keeps On Breaking Records
  

• OPEC+ Will Be Unwilling And Unable To Stop The Oil Price Rally

Read this article on OilPrice.com

Mosaic cleared a short pause Friday, rallying to just below a record high. In a better market, MOS would have been clearly actionable on Friday. Perhaps the best time to buy MOS would have been Sept. 23, as it flashed multiple early buy signals. Other fertilizer makers look strong.

Whether it’s a business deal, a job, a relationship or your favorite brand of toothpaste at the supermarket; nobody likes to just settle for something. It means we’re accepting less than the best… usually because it’s easy.

And when it comes to investing, it means we’re making less money than we could. If you want to invest in Growth AND Value… you should be able to do it! And Zacks can help.

We’ve got a screen that not only helps you find big growth rates and low valuations, but also adds the power of the Zacks Rank. This screen is ingeniously titled: Growth & Value Plus Zacks Rank #1. Below are three stocks that recently passed the test.

The Gap Inc. GPS

The name of the company may be The Gap Inc. (GPS), but the real powerhouse these days is Old Navy. And active women’s apparel brand Athleta is also starting to gain some traction. These two brands led to a strong fiscal second quarter performance in late August, which included a raised full-year outlook.

GPS is a premier international specialty retailer with more than 3,800 stores worldwide. It’s four segments are Gap Global, Old Navy Global, Banana Republic Global and Other (which includes the aforementioned Athleta brand). As part of the retail – apparel & shoes space, the company is in the Top 16% of the Zacks Industry Rank. Shares have climbed approximately 14% so far in 2021.

Earnings per share in its fiscal second quarter came to 70 cents, which trounced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by nearly 50%. Net sales of $4.2 billion inched past our expectation of $4.17 billion and jumped 29% year over year. Most impressively though, the result improved 5% over the same time in 2019, which was pre-covid.

Same-store sales were up 3% year over year and a solid 12% from two years ago.

Those annoying Old Navy commercials must really work, because net sales at that segment jumped 21% in the quarter with comps up 18% against 2019. Moving forward, Old Navy has big hopes for its inclusive shopping experience BODEQUALITY, which is part of its Power Plan 2023 for long-term sustainable growth.

Net sales at Athleta soared 35% with comps up 27% from 2019. GPS is also working to transform Banana Republic through various factors including product assortment. Sales were still down in the quarter, but improved from the first quarter 2021.

GPS has worked hard to better its marketing efforts, improve its brand management and enhance its technology. These factors paid off so much that the company raised its full-year outlook. It now expects adjusted EPS of between $2.10 and $2.25 with net sales growing about 30% versus 2020.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this fiscal year (ending January 2022) is now $2.21, which marks a 24.2% improvement over the past 60 days. Next fiscal year (ending January 2023) is now seen at $2.65, an advance of 20.5% over the same amount of time and suggests a year-over-year improvement of 20%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Mosaic Company MOS

At a time of artificial intelligence, 5G, the Internet of Things, blockchain and dozens of other technologies; it seems weird that something like fertilizers could be considered “hot”. And yet, this space is in the top 6% of the Zacks Industry Rank, as agriculture trends are expected to be strong moving forward.

One of the biggest names in the space is The Mosaic Company (MOS), a leading producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Shares are up over 60% so far this year, and the company expects the second half of 2021 to be one of its best periods in over a decade.

In the second quarter, MOS reported earnings per share of $1.17, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by more than 15%. It was the fifth straight quarter with a positive surprise. The average beat over the past four quarters is just under 43%, but that’s skewed a bit by a triple digit surprise in the fourth quarter.

Net sales of $2.8 billion actually fell a little short of our expectations, but still jumped 37% year over year as stronger pricing offset the lower volumes. Net sales in Phosphates rose 54%, while sales in Potash advanced 19%. Volumes in both segments declined.

Looking forward, MOS sees a $90-$100 per ton improvement in average realized price in the Phosphates segment sequentially in the third quarter, while the Potash segment should have a $25-$35 per ton improvement.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this year is up to $4.86, which has surged 47.7% over the past two months. Expectations for next year are at $4.68, which suggests a year-over-year decline. However, analysts have raised their expectations by approximately 43% in 60 days, so there’s a lot of room for improvement before December 2022 rolls around.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Best Buy BBY

It’s scary to think where this country would’ve been in this pandemic without technology. It allowed millions of people to work from home and students to learn from home during an unprecedented shutdown. We were able to stay in close contact with loved ones in quarantine. And technology provided gaming and streaming options to keep the family occupied so you can have just a few sweet moments of solitude before resuming your government-mandated house arrest with those lovely people.

Throughout all these circumstances, Best Buy (BBY) was there with the consumer electronics necessary to keep things going when Covid locked things up. The dependence on technology led to 14 straight quarters of positive surprises for the company, including a more than 56% beat in its recently reported fiscal second quarter.

BBY is part of the Retail – Consumer Electronics space, which means it’s in the top 13% of the Zacks Industry Rank. The company has been focused on developing its omni-channel capabilities, improving the supply chain and cost-containment efforts. It’s really been paying off!

Earnings per share reached $2.98 in its fiscal second quarter, which trounced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by more than $1.

Enterprise revenues jumped nearly 20% to $11.85 billion, compared to our expectation of $11.6 billion. Enterprise comp sales increased by the same percentage. Key drivers in the quarter were computing, mobile phones, home theater, appliances and services.

Best of all though, BBY expects continued customer demand and solid momentum. In fact, it now sees enterprise comparable sales increasing between 9% and 11% for fiscal 2022, compared to the previous outlook of 3% to 6%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this fiscal year (ending January 2022) is up to $9.95, which has advanced 16.9% in just two months. The expectation for next year (ending January 2023) is only at $9.54, which is up 9.3% in two months but down year over year. However, there’s plenty of time for that to improve as consumers are unlikely to throw their computers, TVs and gaming systems away in the future.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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Zacks Investment Research

The S&P 500 wrapped up its worst quarter since March 2020 and the first monthly drop since January. After hitting a peak in early September, the U.S. stocks were caught in brutal trading thanks to a string of woes.

These included concerns over accelerating coronavirus infections, renewed inflation fears, signs of a slowdown in China, potential for high corporate tax rates and fading fiscal stimulus. Concerns over the financial contagion of the potential failure of China’s Evergrande property group and the debates over the debt limit in Washington also made investors jittery. But these worries eased with China Evergrande’s deal for some of its looming debt payments as well as the House passing a bill to avert government shutdown.

In the FOMC meeting that concluded on Sep 22, the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled the tapering of bond buying as soon as November, followed by interest rate hikes as early as next year. Meanwhile, Powell warned of higher inflation that will likely remain in the coming months (read: ETFs to Bet On as Fed Turns Hawkish, Signals Tapering).

The benchmark was down 4.8% and is now 5.1% below its all-time high set on Sep. 2. Of the 11 sectors, 10 suffered losses in September, thanks to a 7.4% monthly drop in materials stocks. Energy was the best performer of the month, gaining more than 9%.

Against such a backdrop, the proxy version of the S&P 500 Index, SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY plunged 5% last month. Let’s take a closer look at the fundamentals of SPY and its best stocks:

Inside the SPY

The ETF holds 505 stocks in its basket with each accounting for no more than 6.1% of the assets. This suggests a nice balance across each security and prevents heavy concentration. The fund is widely spread across sectors with information technology, healthcare, consumer discretionary, financials and communication services accounting for a double-digit allocation each. It has AUM of $399.3 billion and charges 9 bps in fees per year (see: all the Large Cap Blend ETFs here).

The product trades in heavy volume of around 54.3 million shares a day on average, ensuring higher liquidity with a tight bid/ask spread, leading to lower trading costs for investors. SPY has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) with a Medium risk outlook. Though most stocks in the fund’s portfolio also plunged last month, we have highlighted six stocks from different sectors that are in deep green and have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold):

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Best-Performing Stocks of SPY

CF Industries Holdings Inc. CF: It is the global leader in transforming natural gas into nitrogen products. The stock rallied 24.6% last month and has an estimated earnings growth rate of 25.2% for this year. It has a Zacks Rank #3 (read: ETFs to Tap on Soaring Natural Gas Price).

SVB Financial Group SIVB: This diversified financial services company offers a diverse set of banking and financial products and services to clients across the United States. The stock has risen 15.6% and has an estimated earnings growth rate of 34.6% for this year. It has a Zacks Rank #3.

Expedia Group Inc. EXPE: It is an online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers through technology with the tools and information they need to efficiently research, plan, book and experience travel. The stock climbed 13.7% last month and has an estimated earnings growth rate of 91.9% for this year. It has a Zacks Rank #3 (read: 5 Top ETF Stories of Nine Months of 2021).

The Mosaic Company MOS: It is one of the world's leading crop nutrition companies with a focus on potash and phosphate, two of three most vital nutrients. It jumped 10.6% in September and has an estimated earnings growth rate of 471.8% for this year. Mosaic has a Zacks Rank #1.

Quanta Services Inc. PWR: This is a leading specialized contracting services company, delivering infrastructure solutions to the electric power, oil and gas and communications industries. It has gained 10.1% and has an estimated earnings growth rate of 19.9% for this year. The stock has a Zacks ETF Rank #2.

Caesars Entertainment Inc. CZR: This casino-entertainment company is engaged in development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. The stock was up 10% last month and has an estimated earnings growth rate of 87.9% for this year. The stock has a Zacks ETF Rank #3.

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Zacks Investment Research

Shares of Lithium Americas (NYSE: LAC) shot up on Thursday, closing the day up 8.9% thanks to an analyst turning bullish about the lithium market and lithium stocks. JPMorgan initiated coverage on Lithium Americas stock with a price target of $28 a share. JPMorgan foresees strong lithium markets over the next decade driven by rising demand and prices, and believes Lithium Americas is well poised to take advantage of that.

MELBOURNE, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Rio Tinto Plc has declared force majeure on some copper cathode contracts after shutting the smelter at its Kennecott mine in the United States following an accident on last week, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

"The work needed to safely restart operations at the smelter is currently being assessed. We are working closely with our customers to minimise any impacts," the spokesperson said in emailed comments.

Rio Tinto said it had declared force majeure on some contracts for copper cathode and acid after the Kennecott smelter was shut due to a release of molten copper on Sept. 21.

Force majeure is triggered when a company cannot meet its contract obligations due to unforeseen circumstances.

Kennecott, in Utah, produced 82,100 tonnes of refined copper in the first half of 2021. (Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

Kraton Corporation KRA has entered into a merger agreement with a South Korean leading petrochemical company, DL Chemical Co., Ltd. (DL Chemical). DL Chemical will acquire 100% of Kraton for $2.5 billion in an all-cash deal.

Kraton’s merger decision is prudent to support its shareholders, as the company had been actively evaluating strategic options to maximize its shareholders' returns. Kraton’s shares have gained 9% since the announcement on Sep 27.

Kraton’s merger decision is a prudent step to support its shareholders as the company had been actively evaluating strategic options for maximizing its shareholders’ returns. The new entity will not only expand Kraton’s global footprint but also create a robust platform to support investments in innovation and increase its sustainable offerings. The deal is likely to close by the end of the first half of 2022.

DL Chemical is a subsidiary of DL Holdings Co., Ltd and has been operating the petrochemical business for 46 years. Last year, Kraton divested its Cariflex business to DL Chemical for $530 million.

Kraton is a leading global producer of specialty polymers and high-value performance products derived from renewable resources. As the largest global provider in the pine chemicals industry, the company's pine-based specialty products are sold to the adhesive, road and construction and tire markets. It produces and sells a broad range of performance chemicals.

Kraton generated revenues of $931 million and net income of $202 million in the first half of 2021. The company is also focused on reducing its debt levels. Its Polymer segment is gaining from the improved sales volume of specialty polymers, driven by demand recovery in consumer durables and automotive applications. Performance products sales volume is gaining from higher sales to the paving and roofing and adhesive applications. Kraton generated revenues of $1.5 billion in 2020.

Kraton is focused on driving its innovation-led growth and encouraging the adoption of sustainable pine chemical solutions by its customers, in order to replace hydrocarbons for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Price Performance

The company’s shares have gained 63.5% so far this year, outperforming the industry’s growth of 0.9%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Kraton currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include The Mosaic Co. MOS, Veritiv Corp. VRTV and Avient Corp. AVNT. While Mosaic and Veritiv sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Avient carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Mosaic has an estimated earnings growth rate of 472.9% for the ongoing year. So far this year, the company’s shares have appreciated 40.1%.

Veritiv has an estimated earnings growth rate of 215% for the current year. The company’s shares have soared 320.1% year to date.

Avient has a projected earnings growth rate of 75% for 2021. The company’s shares have gained 17.7% so far this year.

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Kraton Corporation (KRA) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Veritiv Corporation (VRTV) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Avient Corporation (AVNT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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MELBOURNE, September 29, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rio Tinto has published its first report on progress in improving Communities and Social Performance (CSP) practices, as the company works to rebuild trust and relationships with Traditional Owners following the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters in Western Australia.

As part of efforts to increase transparency in its approach to cultural heritage protection, Rio Tinto has engaged with investors to develop reporting that details the company’s work to improve its CSP practices and outcomes.

The report details progress made to 30 July 2021 in areas such as Traditional Owner partnerships and agreement modernisation in Western Australia; the introduction of new CSP structures and practices across the company; improved governance; and increasing social expertise within the business.

Importantly, it includes direct feedback from Traditional Owner groups regarding commitments made by the company as part of the Board Review of Cultural Heritage Management in August 2020.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said "We are working hard to rebuild trust and meaningful relationships with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people and other Traditional Owners across Australia. We understand this will take time and consistent effort, but our absolute focus is on improving our engagement with Indigenous Peoples and host communities so that we can better understand their priorities and concerns, minimise our impacts, and responsibly manage cultural heritage.

"We thank those Traditional Owners who generously shared their feedback and perspectives. While their insights confirm we have much more to do, feedback like this is vital to shaping relationships that are respectful, genuine and inclusive.

"We know that we cannot change the past. But we can continue to seek out, listen to and respect different voices and perspectives, to ensure that in the future, cultural heritage sites of significance are treated with the care they deserve. And the changes we make should improve, over time, our engagement with Indigenous and First Nations communities in every region where we operate worldwide."

Some of the actions outlined in the report include:

• Ongoing remediation work of the Juukan Gorge in consultation with the PKKP people.

• The commencement of agreement modernisation discussions with ten Pilbara Traditional Owner groups and their representatives.

• A detailed review of heritage sites that Rio Tinto manages in the Pilbara to ensure there are no other sites of exceptional cultural significance within the company’s existing mine plans.

• Building social performance capacity, capability and governance across the company. There are now more than 300 Communities and Social Performance professionals working on 60 sites in 35 countries, up from 250 professionals in 2020.

• Important steps to grow Indigenous leadership to help better understand host communities in the future. This includes a $50 million investment to retain, attract and grow Indigenous professionals and leaders in our Australian business.

• Enhancing cultural awareness training, with all frontline staff undertaking e-learning or face-to-face training with Indigenous Australians.

• Progressing the establishment of an Australian Advisory Group to help better manage policies and positions that are important to Indigenous Australians and the business; and

• A commitment to work with Traditional Owner groups to co-design and implement leading practice cultural heritage management.

Rio Tinto will integrate further reporting into its full-year reporting suite, complemented by additional disclosures where appropriate. Further consultation with a broad range of investors and other stakeholders will continue to assist in developing these disclosures.

The full report is available here https://www.riotinto.com/invest/reports.

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Steve Allen, Rio Tinto’s Group Company Secretary.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210929005992/en/

Contacts

Please direct all enquiries to
media.enquiries@riotinto.com
Media Relations, UK
Illtud Harri
M +44 7920 503 600

David Outhwaite
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas
Matthew Klar
T +1 514 608 4429

Investor Relations, UK
Menno Sanderse
M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington
M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever
M +44 7788 967 877

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Media Relations, Australia
Jonathan Rose
M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, Australia
Natalie Worley
M +61 409 210 462

Amar Jambaa
M +61 472 865 948

Rio Tinto Limited
Level 7, 360 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

Category: GENERAL

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Search Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMY | OTCQB: SHCMF) (“Search” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that approximately 80 tonnes of bulk sample material is being prepared at our facilities in St. Lewis, NL to be delivered to our testing partner SGS Canada (Lakefield), ON. The bulk sample from our Critical Rare Earth Element District in SE Labrador will consist of 40 tonnes each from our Deep Fox resource and from our Foxtrot resource. The bulk sample will be used to scale up our successful bench scale results using Low Intensity Magnetic Separation (“LIMS”) along with Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separation process (“WHIMS”) to produce a Rare Earth Element concentrate for further testing of the Direct Extraction Process. (see Search Minerals news release dated April 12, 2021).

The use of magnetic separation for rare earth ore processing is uniquely suited to our deposits in SE Labrador. The 80 tonnes bulk sample is expected to demonstrate that a continuous process involving crushing, grinding, and magnetic separation (LIMS and WHIMS) can treat large samples of mineralization from Foxtrot and Deep Fox and achieve the potential recoveries and quality of concentrates suggested by the small scale testing.

The magnetic pilot plant testing is the first phase of a four phase sequentially planned program.

The four phases are outlined below with the ultimate goal of producing Neodymium metal. Search is working with our testing and government partners to finalize proposals and potential co-funding for the four-phase program.

PHASE 1 Magnetic Separation (SGS Canada)

• 80 t of Deep Fox and Foxtrot material

  • Stage 1 – the material will be crushed and ground to 270 mesh particle size;

  • Stage 2 – the material goes through Low Intensity Magnetic Separation (LIMS), which will capture the highly magnetic magnetite, to produce an enriched iron concentrate, suitable for sale;

  • Stage 3 – the remaining material will be processed through a Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separation (WHIMS), to produce an enriched REE concentrate to be further processed using our patented Direct Extraction technology (Phase 2). Approximately 21 tonnes of concentrate should be produced;

  • Stage 4 – the balance of the material will be stored for future testing for Zirconium and Hafnium recovery and waste characterization for environmental permitting.

PHASE 2 Direct Extraction

• 21 tonnes of magnetic concentrate, expected from Phase 1, will be processed through a Demonstration Plant operation to produce a concentrated mixed rare earth carbonate containing an expected 0.7 tonnes of REE’s for refining and separation into individual oxides.

PHASE 3 Rare Earth Separation

• The mixed rare earth carbonate from Phase 3 will be processed in a solvent extraction pilot plant to produce individual oxides of the magnet making elements Neodymium and Praseodymium.

PHASE 4 Rare Earth Metal Production

• A large sample of Neodymium oxide from Phase 3 will be processed to Neodymium metal of suitable quality and quantity to qualify for the production of Neodymium based magnets.

Greg Andrews, President/CEO states: “We are excited to complete our processing flowsheet from mining to magnet making metals as part of our ‘Sprint to Production’. The advantage of including the magnetic separation process is expected to be a smaller footprint for our Direct Extraction processing facility with lower capital and operating costs. The flowsheet also provides for a potential revenue stream for iron concentrate and zircon concentrate. The mining and production of a rare earth concentrate by WHIMS magnetic separation can be set up at each resource and the higher-grade concentrate transported to a centrally located Direct Extraction process plant with access to a deep water port, chemical and reagent supply, technical work force and shipping routes for finished products.”

Dr. David Dreisinger added: “Our physical separation and chemical processing will each produce a dry-stackable waste residue, which is an important design philosophy Search has maintained with the changed flowsheet. The volume of material being treated by our Direct Extraction Process will be reduced by over 70%, which will greatly reduce the size of facility, with an associated reduction in reagents and other operating costs.”

Search is following the COVID protocols which are currently in place within the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador to ensure the safety of our employees and the communities where we work.

Qualified Persons:

Dr. David Dreisinger, Ph.D., P.Eng, is the Company’s Vice President, Metallurgy, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101) who has supervised the preparation of and approved the technical information reported herein. The company will endeavour to meet high standards of integrity, transparency, and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological and assay (e.g., REE) data.

About Search Minerals Inc.

Led by a proven management team and board of directors, Search is focused on finding and developing Critical Rare Earths Elements (CREE), Zirconium (Zr) and Hafnium (Hf) resources within the emerging Port Hope Simpson – St. Lewis CREE District of South East Labrador. The Company controls a belt 63 km long and 2 km wide and is road accessible, on tidewater, and located within 3 local communities. Search has completed a preliminary economic assessment report for FOXTROT, and a resource estimate for DEEP FOX. Search is also working on three exploration prospects along the belt which include: FOX MEADOW, SILVER FOX and AWESOME FOX.

Search has continued to optimize our patented Direct Extraction Process technology with the generous support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and from the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency. We have completed two pilot plant operations and produced highly purified mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate and mixed REO concentrate for separation and refining.

For further information, please contact:

Greg Andrews
President and CEO
Tel: 604-998-3432
E-mail: info@searchminerals.ca

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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding “Forward-Looking” Statements:

Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. "Forward-looking information" in this news release includes information about the Company’s proposed exploration programs described herein, and other forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the inability to obtain the necessary resources to complete the exploration programs and poor exploration results.

The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made assumptions about the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, and that the Company will receive all required regulatory approvals.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, unless and until required by applicable securities laws. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

(Adds details from interview)

By Ernest Scheyder

Sept 29 (Reuters) – A key Native American leader in Arizona declined to meet Rio Tinto Plc's chief executive this week, the latest roadblock in the mining giant's search for a "win-win" compromise to build its controversial Resolution Copper project.

The visit from Rio's Jakob Stausholm to the state underscores Resolution's importance to the Anglo-Australian company, which has spent more than $2 billion on the project in the past decade but has yet to produce any copper, the red metal used in electric vehicles and other electronics.

Rio hopes the mine will eventually produce more than 40 billion pounds of copper. First, it must win approval from the San Carlos Apache tribe, an unlikely prospect as Chairman Terry Rambler and other tribal leaders have long signaled that their opposition centers on religious concerns and cannot be assuaged by economic incentives.

Stausholm, in his first visit to Arizona since becoming CEO in January, said he is hopeful the two sides can reach an agreement that will allow the project to go ahead.

"We're trying to find a win-win. I do think that's in everyone's interest. But I reckon that we still have work to do," Stausholm told Reuters in a video interview on Wednesday from Phoenix, the state's capital.

"If we haven't explained ourselves well enough, then we need to explain ourselves better."

The complex debate is a harbinger of land battles to come as the United States aims to build more EVs, which use twice as much copper as vehicles with internal combustion engines. The Resolution mine could meet about 25% of projected U.S. demand for the metal.

The Arizona dispute centers on Oak Flat Campground, which the San Carlos Apache consider home to deities. The underground mine would cause a crater that would swallow the site.

U.S. President Joe Biden – who received a critical endorsement from the San Carlos Apache during his presidential bid – put the project temporarily on hold in March.

A bill under consideration in the U.S. Congress would undo 2014 legislation that approved a land transfer to give Rio access to the copper deposit.

Stausholm said he tried unsuccessfully to meet with Rambler during his Arizona visit. Rambler told Reuters he would rather spend his time lobbying Congress to block the land transfer.

"If they wanted to meet they should have met way before anything was done" in 2014, Rambler said. "My focus now is on changing that law."

WHEN TO TALK?

The two sides disagree about how and when to negotiate. Whereas Rambler and other Native American leaders said the proper time for consultation was in 2014, Stausholm said he sees that process just beginning.

"You can only get communities comfortable if they really understand, if they feel we're transparent," said Stausholm, an accountant by training from Denmark who previously worked for shipping giant Maersk and Royal Dutch Shell .

Stausholm declined to say whether Rio could eventually walk away from the project, though he acknowledged the company wants tribal consent.

"The first stage is dialogue, and that's why I'm putting myself here in Arizona," he said. "You can't conclude anything at this point in time."

Stausholm hinted that changes were possible to the mine's design plan that might make it palatable to Native Americans, though he declined to be specific. "We have to get through the dialogue and find out what the pressure points are," he said.

Stausholm added that Rio would smelt any copper produced at the mine inside the United States. Opponents have said they fear Rio would export the copper for use by China or another nation.

BHP, which is a minority partner in the project, was not immediately available to comment.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder in Houston; additional reporting by Clara Denina in London and Melanie Burton in Melbourne; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 29, 2021 / The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) plans to release 2021 third quarter earnings results on Monday, November 1, 2021 after the market close of the New York Stock Exchange. The company will issue a news wire alert when the earnings materials are publicly available on the company's website.

The company's disclosure process will be consistent with the prior quarter and conducted as follows:

• Earnings materials posted to the website after close on November 1 will include earnings commentary, performance data and the full earnings release at https://investors.mosaicco.com/financials/quarterly-results.

• Market update slides will be posted to https://investors.mosaicco.com/market-education.

• The company will accept emailed questions until 6:30 p.m. Eastern, November 1, following the release. Questions to be addressed by the leadership team can be submitted to investor@mosaicco.com.

• On Tuesday, November 2, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, the company will provide brief prepared remarks and address the questions submitted via email. For the remainder of the hour, phone lines will be opened to allow for additional questions. A webcast of the conference call can be accessed by visiting Mosaic's website. An audio replay of the call will be available on the website for up to one year from the time of the earnings call.

• The conference call details are as follows:

About The Mosaic Company
The Mosaic Company is one of the world's leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Mosaic is a single source provider of phosphates and potash fertilizers and feed ingredients for the global agriculture industry. More information on the company is available at www.mosaicco.com.

Contacts:

The Mosaic Company
Media:
Ben Pratt, 813-775-4206
benjamin.pratt@mosaicco.com
or
Investors:
Paul Massoud, 813-775-4260
investor@mosaicco.com

SOURCE: The Mosaic Company

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/666104/Mosaic-Announces-2021-Third-Quarter-Earnings-Release

TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 29, 2021 / The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) plans to release 2021 third quarter earnings results on Monday, November 1, 2021 after the market close of the New York Stock Exchange. The company will issue a news wire alert when the earnings materials are publicly available on the company's website.

The company's disclosure process will be consistent with the prior quarter and conducted as follows:

• Earnings materials posted to the website after close on November 1 will include earnings commentary, performance data and the full earnings release at https://investors.mosaicco.com/financials/quarterly-results.

• Market update slides will be posted to https://investors.mosaicco.com/market-education.

• The company will accept emailed questions until 6:30 p.m. Eastern, November 1, following the release. Questions to be addressed by the leadership team can be submitted to investor@mosaicco.com.

• On Tuesday, November 2, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, the company will provide brief prepared remarks and address the questions submitted via email. For the remainder of the hour, phone lines will be opened to allow for additional questions. A webcast of the conference call can be accessed by visiting Mosaic's website. An audio replay of the call will be available on the website for up to one year from the time of the earnings call.

• The conference call details are as follows:

About The Mosaic Company
The Mosaic Company is one of the world's leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Mosaic is a single source provider of phosphates and potash fertilizers and feed ingredients for the global agriculture industry. More information on the company is available at www.mosaicco.com.

Contacts:

The Mosaic Company
Media:
Ben Pratt, 813-775-4206
benjamin.pratt@mosaicco.com
or
Investors:
Paul Massoud, 813-775-4260
investor@mosaicco.com

SOURCE: The Mosaic Company

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/666104/Mosaic-Announces-2021-Third-Quarter-Earnings-Release

In this article, we discuss the 10 best international stocks in 2021. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of these stocks, go directly to the 5 Best International Stocks in 2021.

Diversifying your stock portfolio by increasing exposure to international companies working in high-growth areas is perhaps one of the best ways to hedge against risks, according to analysts. According to a study by consulting firm McKinsey & Company published in March 2021, the Mega 25 companies generated a collective market-capitalization growth of over $5.8 trillion. The Mega 25 includes international stocks such as Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE: TSM), and Sea Limited (NYSE: SE).

Furthermore, during the fourth quarter of 2020, international stocks began to gain traction in the global stock market propelled by anticipation for COVID-19 vaccinations. The international vaccine-manufacturing stocks are likely to have benefited most from the fast-growing biotech sector. German biotech firm BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) has gained 258%, year-to-date. On the other hand, shares of British vaccine maker AstraZeneca PLS (NASDAQ: AZN) increased 16% year-to-date.

Our Methodology

With this context in mind, here is our list of the 10 best international stocks in 2021. Most of these companies are headquartered outside of the United States and operate internationally. These stocks were selected based on their basic business fundamentals, hedge fund sentiment, and analyst ratings. The stocks were chosen and ranked based on the number of hedge fund holdings as of the end of the second quarter of 2021, based on our data of 873 hedge funds.

Why use hedge fund sentiment to choose stocks? Insider Monkey’s research was able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs. Between March 2017 and July 2021, our monthly newsletter’s stock picks returned 186.1%, vs. 100.1% for the SPY. Our stock picks outperformed the market by more than 86 percentage points (see the details here). 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 International Stocks in 2021

10. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 12

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) is a Japan-based multinational automotive manufacturer that produces vehicles under five brands, namely Lexus, Ranz, Hino, Daihatsu, and Toyota. Toyota ranks tenth on the list of the best international stocks in 2021.

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) markets vehicles in over 170 countries worldwide with manufacturing plants located in Europe, Africa, Asia & Middle East, Oceania, North America, and Japan. The company was founded in 1937 and started publicly trading in the NYSE in September 1999.

In April 2021, Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) signed a definitive agreement to acquire the self-driving division of ride-hailing company Lyft for $550 million. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021.

On March 30th, Citi analyst Arifumi Yoshida resumed coverage on Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) with a Buy rating. The analyst mentioned the company can deliver a 10% operating margin over fiscal 2022.

The company has a market cap of $278.79 billion and currently offers a dividend yield of 2.58%. In the fiscal fourth quarter of 2021, Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) reported revenue of $69.44 billion.

Just like Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM), BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX), AstraZeneca PLS (NASDAQ:AZN), and Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) is one of the best international stocks in 2021.

9. BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20

BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) markets active immunotherapies for the treatment of diseases and it ranks ninth on the list of 10 best international stocks in 2021.

On August 31, the price target of BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) was raised to $300 from $111 with a Neutral rating from UBS analyst Eliana Merle. The analyst believes BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) plays a key role in the rollout of COVID vaccines.

The company has a market cap of $83.67 billion. In the second quarter of 2021, BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) reported an adjusted EPS of $12.64, beating estimates by $3.68. The company’s revenue in the second quarter of 2021 came in at $6.23 billion, beating estimates by $2.35 billion.

Baron Funds mentioned BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) in its Q2 2021 investor letter:

8. Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE: RIO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21

Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE: RIO) is an Australian metals and mining corporation based in London that ranks eighth on the list of 10 best international stocks in 2021. The global mining giant operates in over 35 countries worldwide with most of its assets strategically located in Australia, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.

This August, Wells Fargo analyst Edward Kelly upgraded Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE: RIO) to a Buy rating from a Neutral rating with a $105.77 per share price target. Kelly believes that RIO has a compelling FCF outlook.

The company has a market cap of $122.21 billion and currently offers a dividend yield of 9.01%.

Just like Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM), BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX), AstraZeneca PLS (NASDAQ:AZN), and Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE: RIO) is one of the best international stocks in 2021.

7. Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26

Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) is a multinational consumer electronics manufacturer based in Finland. The company specializes in telecommunications, information technology, and electronics. Nokia Corporation has operations in over 130 countries. Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) ranks seventh on the list of 10 best international stocks in 2021.

Recently, Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) released its Nokia 5.3, an Android phone made in India. The smartphone has a 64MP quad-camera and provides 2 days of battery life with one charge.

On August 3, Societe Generale analyst Aleksander Peterc raised the price target of Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) to $7.81 from $6.27 per share and kept His Buy rating on the stock.

The company has a market cap of $29.33 billion. In the second quarter of 2021, Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) reported an EPS of $0.11, beating estimated by $0.05. The company reported second-quarter revenue of $6.32 billion, beating estimates by $193.68 million.

6. Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) is a hydrocarbon exploration company based in Canada and it ranks sixth on the list of 10 best international stocks in 2021. The company is the largest producer of oil and gas in Alberta with reserves in the Arctic and off the East Coast.

This August 6, TD Securities raised the price target of Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) to $43.71 per share from $41.33 per share and kept its Buy rating on the stock.

The company has a market cap of $39.49 billion and currently offers a dividend yield of 4.51%. In the second quarter of 2021, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) reported an EPS of $0.99, beating estimates by $0.23. Following solid quarterly results, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) reported its expected FY2021 capital of $3.2 billion with a 1,225,000 BOD/d production.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best International Stocks In 2021.

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Disclosure. None. 10 Best International Stocks In 2021 is originally published on Insider Monkey.

Exploration and Resource Expansion Drilling Planned

Figure 1

Macusani Project Location Map with new target areas

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Lithium Corp. (“American Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSX-V:LI | OTCQB:LIACF | Frankfurt:5LA1) is pleased to announce positive prospecting, mapping and sampling results from the Company’s Macusani Uranium Project (“Macusani”), located in the Puno region in southeastern Peru, and to provide an update on upcoming drilling plans for the project.

Highlights:

• 2021 radiometric prospecting and sampling work has identified possible extensions to five existing uranium deposits and three new anomalies for drill testing (see Figure 1 – Macusani Project Location Map with new target areas highlighted, below);

• Results include over 90 grab sample with grades ranging from a low of of 6.3 ppm U to a high of 377,400 ppm U (44.5% U₃O₈) with all samples averaging 18,270 ppm U (2.15% U₃O₈) ¹;

• Drilling is planned at Macusani to expand existing uranium resources and to test for new deposits.

• Permitting process, including environmental permits and community access agreements have been filed, with drilling anticipated to commence once exploration permit issued: and

Dr. Laurence Stefan, COO of American Lithium, states, “The results of the radiometric prospecting and sampling program continue to confirm the exciting potential for further resource expansion at Macusani, which is currently one of the largest undeveloped uranium projects globally. Our uranium mineral concessions cover the majority of the entire Macusani Uranium District, which contains all known uranium resources in Peru. We look forward to drill testing multiple targets starting next month.”

About Macusani Uranium Project:
Macusani is a low-capex, large-scale pre-development stage uranium project containing significant measured, indicated and inferred uranium resources, and has an NPV_(8%) of $603.1 million, IRR of 40.6% and a 1.8-year payback (all after-tax @ $50/lb U₃O₈ selling price).^{2, 3} The Macusani project has a large resource base with Indicated resources of 95.19 M tonnes grading 248 ppm U₃O₈, containing 51.9 M lbs U₃O₈ and Inferred Resources of 130.02 M tonnes grading 251 ppm U₃O₈, containing 72.1 M lbs U₃O₈. Macusani is located approximately 25 kilometres away from the Company’s Falchani Lithium deposit.

Notes
¹ Grab samples are selective, and the selected nature of such sampling does not necessarily reflect potential uranium contents expected from future drill testing, but they do indicate the presence of uranium mineralization and mineralizing systems in the surface rocks collected.

² "Macusani Project, Macusani, Peru, NI 43-101 Report – Preliminary Economic Assessment” prepared by Mr. Michael Short and Mr. Thomas Apelt, of GBM Minerals Engineering Consultants Limited; Mr. David Young, of The Mineral Corporation; and Mr. Mark Mounde, of Wardell Armstrong International Limited dated January 12, 2016.

³ Readers are cautioned that the PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty the results of the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Additional work is required to upgrade the mineral resources to mineral reserves. In addition, the mineral resource estimates could be materially affected by environmental, geotechnical, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant factors, including the title to the 32 affected concessions that impact approximately 30% of the uranium mineral resources at Macusani. See below “Cautionary Note Regarding Macusani Concessions.”

A map accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1501f936-a07c-464c-a30a-3605908446b9

Details:
Recently completed radiometric prospecting, mapping and sampling work successfully generated additional drill target areas on Macusani. This work has been integrated with previous exploration results completed earlier in 2021 to form the basis of the upcoming diamond drill program, expected to commence in October, subject to permitting being finalized.

The exploration work completed this season consisted of ~12,000 radiometric scintillometer station readings coupled with the collection of over 90 outcrop sample stations with associated geological observations. Radiometric prospecting was completed using SAIC Exploranium GS-135 Plus hand-held spectrometers with sample station results recorded as counts per second (CPS) and map coordinates recorded using handheld GPS. Additional site, soil and rock observations are also recorded at prospected sites. Radiometric stations were completed initially on an approximately (~) 100 m by 100 m grid, which was tightened to ~50 m by 50 m and further, to ~25 m by 25 m when anomalous radioactivity was encountered to delineated fracture and disseminated uranium mineralization zones and trends.

CPS measurements from hand-held spectrometers and scintillometers measure radioactivity of certain decay products of uranium, thorium and potassium, and are not necessarily a direct indication of uranium contents. However, experience and previous equilibrium and geochemical reconciliation work completed over the past 16-year history of the Macusani conclude that CPS measurements from radiometric prospecting can provide an indication of uranium mineralization with no thorium and minimal potassium interference. Background radioactivity of the host rhyolite volcanic flows is usually <200 CPS. Over 90 grab samples were collected from surface outcrop or sub-crop buried under thin soil cover from prospected areas on the Macusani. Most sample sites had indications of radiometric or visible uranium mineralization, with attempts to collect a representative sample of the observed outcrop/sub-crop, however, the selected nature of such sampling does not necessarily reflect potential uranium contents expected from future drill testing, but they do indicate the presence of uranium mineralization and mineralizing systems in the surface rocks collected.

The samples range in uranium contents from a low of 6.3 ppm U to a high of 377,400 ppm U (44.5% U₃O₈). The average of all samples collected and analyzed is 18,270 ppm U (2.15% U₃O₈).

Uranium mineralization identified along fractures and disseminated within the host rhyolite matrix were collected using geological hammers with samples up to several kilograms placed in sealed bags for shipping to analytical labs in Lima. Sample site map coordinates are recorded using hand-help GPS, radiometric measurements recorded using handheld spectrometers as described previously, above, sites and samples are described and photographed by Company geologists.

The results of radiometric prospecting, mapping and sampling reveal several positive trends in the mineralized areas highlighted by the red stars in Figure 1.

Quality Assurance, Quality Control (“QA/QC”) and Data Verification
Radiometric prospecting is completed in a grid-pattern using SAIC Exploranium GS-135 Plus hand-held spectrometers (maximum reading ~65,600) with periodic sample station results recorded as CPS. The reader is cautioned that CPS measurements from hand-held spectrometers and scintillometers measure radioactivity of certain decay products of uranium, thorium and potassium, and are not necessarily a direct indication of uranium contents.

Outcrop grab samples are collected from exposed outcrop, with samples placed in sealed bags and shipped to Certimin’s sample analytical laboratory in Lima for sample preparation, processing and ICP-MS/OES multi-element analysis. Where Uranium contents exceed 10,000 ppm U (max detection limits for ICP technique), the original sample solutions are diluted and re-analyzed using the same ICP-MS methods. Certimin is an ISO 9000 certified assay laboratory. The selected grab samples are not necessarily representative of the grades of mineralization hosted on the property. The Company’s Qualified Person, Mr. Ted O’Connor, has verified the data disclosed, including radiometric prospecting and outcrop sampling procedures and analytical data. The QA/QC program is designed to include a comprehensive analytical quality assurance and control routine comprising the systematic use of Company inserted standards, blanks and field duplicate samples, and internal laboratory standards.

Qualified Person
Mr. Ted O’Connor, P.Geo., a Director of American Lithium, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About American Lithium
American Lithium, a member of the TSX Venture 50, is actively engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of lithium projects within mining-friendly jurisdictions throughout the Americas. The Company is currently focused on enabling the shift to the new energy paradigm through the continued exploration and development of its strategically located TLC lithium claystone project in the richly mineralized Esmeralda lithium district in Nevada as well as continuing to advance its Falchani lithium and Macusani uranium development projects in southeastern Peru. Both Falchani and Macusani have been through preliminary economic assessments, exhibit strong additional exploration potential and are situated near significant infrastructure.

The TSX Venture 50 is a ranking of the top performers in each of 5 industry sectors in the TSX Venture Exchange over the last year.

For more information, please contact the Company at info@americanlithiumcorp.com or visit our website at www.americanlithiumcorp.com for project update videos and related background information.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of American Lithium Corp.

“Simon Clarke”

CEO & Director

Tel: 604 428 6128

For further information, please contact:

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 press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information
This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the plans, objectives and advancement of the TLC, Falchani and Macusani (the “Projects”), exploration drilling plans, in-fill and expansion drilling plans, results of exploration and development plans, expansion of resources and testing of new deposits, environmental and social community permitting, completion of an updated PEA, including the timing thereof, and any other statements regarding the business plans, expectations and objectives of American Lithium. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", “indicate”, “scheduled”, “target”, “goal”, “potential”, “subject”, “efforts”, “option” and similar words, or the negative connotations thereof, referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management are not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Although American Lithium believes that the current opinions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available at the time, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since American Lithium can provide no assurance that such opinions and expectations will prove to be correct. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to: American Lithium’s ability to achieve its stated goals, including the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Plateau Energy Metals Inc. (“Plateau”); the estimated costs associated with the advancement of the Projects; risks and uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and the extent and manner to which measures taken by governments and their agencies, American Lithium or others to attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19 could affect American Lithium, which could have a material adverse impact on many aspects of American Lithium’s businesses including but not limited to: the ability to access mineral properties for indeterminate amounts of time, the health of the employees or consultants resulting in delays or diminished capacity, social or political instability in Peru which in turn could impact American Lithium’s ability to maintain the continuity of its business operating requirements, may result in the reduced availability or failures of various local administration and critical infrastructure, reduced demand for American Lithium’s potential products, availability of materials, global travel restrictions, and the availability of insurance and the associated costs; risks related to the certainty of title to the properties of American Lithium, including the status of the “Precautionary Measures” filed by American Lithium’s subsidiary Macusani Yellowcake S.A.C. (“Macusani”), the outcome of the administrative process, the judicial process, and any and all future remedies pursued by American Lithium and its subsidiary Macusani to resolve the title for 32 of its concessions; risks regarding the ongoing Ontario Securities Commission regulatory proceedings; the ongoing ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including but not limited to local communities and all levels of government; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that any future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with our expectations; risks that permits will not be obtained as planned or delays in obtaining permits; mining and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes (including work stoppages, strikes and loss of personnel) or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; risks related to commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; risks related to foreign operations; the cyclical nature of the industry in which American Lithium operates; risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms or delays in obtaining governmental approvals; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the uncertain global economic environment and the effects upon the global market generally, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic measures taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19, any of which could continue to negatively affect global financial markets, including the trading price of American Lithium’s shares and could negatively affect American Lithium’s ability to raise capital and may also result in additional and unknown risks or liabilities to American Lithium. Other risks and uncertainties related to prospects, properties and business strategy of American Lithium are identified in the “Risk Factors” section of American Lithium’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis filed on June 25, 2021, and in recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. American Lithium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Cautionary Note Regarding Macusani Concessions
Thirty-two of the 151 concessions held by American Lithium’s subsidiary Macusani, are currently subject to Administrative and Judicial processes (together, the “Processes”) in Peru to overturn resolutions issued by INGEMMET and the Mining Council of MINEM in February 2019 and July 2019, respectively, which declared Macusani’s title to the 32 of the concessions invalid due to late receipt of the annual validity payment. Macusani successfully applied for injunctive relief on 32 concessions in a Court in Lima, Peru, and the grant of the Precautionary Measures (Medida Cautelar) has restored the title, rights and validity of those 32 concessions to Macusani until a final decision is obtained in at the last stage of the judicial process. If American Lithium’s subsidiary Macusani does not obtain a successful resolution of Processes, Macusani’s title to the concessions could be revoked.

The Mosaic Company's MOS shares have gained 21.1% over the past three months. The company has also outperformed its industry’s rise of 7.7% over the same time frame. Moreover, it has topped the S&P 500’s 4.1% rise over the same period.

Let’s take a look into the factors behind this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock’s price appreciation.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What’s Aiding MOS?

Mosaic is benefiting from higher prices and demand for phosphate and potash. Higher agricultural commodity prices and attractive farm economics are driving demand for fertilizers globally. Global phosphate markets remain robust on solid demand and pricing dynamics. Tight availability along with firm demand is driving up phosphate prices globally. Potash prices have also strengthened on the back of robust global demand, aided by strong grower economics and higher crop prices.

The company, in its second-quarter call, said that it expects strong agricultural trends to continue through the second half of 2021, driving demand for fertilizers. Grower economics remain attractive in most global growing regions on strong crop demand, affordable inputs and favorable weather, Mosaic noted.

Mosaic is also taking actions to reduce costs amid a still-challenging operating environment. Its actions to improve its operating cost structure through transformation plans are expected to boost profitability. Transformational savings are also expected to drive margins in its Mosaic Fertilizantes segment.

The company, in August, also announced that its board has approved a new $1 billion share buyback authorization. This replaces the earlier authorization which had $700 million of the original $1.5 billion remaining.

The company noted that this share repurchase authorization reflects its ongoing commitment to balanced capital allocation. The successful transformation of business has allowed it to invest in growth, strengthen the balance sheet and return capital to shareholders. With an improving cost position and balance sheet, the company is well-poised for the future.

Earnings estimates for Mosaic have also been going up over the past two months. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2021 has increased 45.3%. The consensus estimate for third-quarter 2021 has also been revised 80.6% upward over the same time frame.

The Mosaic Company Price and Consensus

The Mosaic Company price-consensus-chart | The Mosaic Company Quote

Stocks to Consider

Other top-ranked stocks worth considering in the basic materials space include Nutrien Ltd. NTR, United States Steel Corporation X and AdvanSix Inc. ASIX, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Nutrien has an expected earnings growth rate of 166.7% for the current year. The stock has also rallied around 72% over a year.

U.S. Steel has a projected earnings growth rate of 382.9% for the current year. The company’s shares have shot up around 210% in a year.

AdvanSix has a projected earnings growth rate of 160.4% for the current year. The company’s shares have surged around 218% in a year.

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United States Steel Corporation (X) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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AdvanSix Inc. (ASIX) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 28, 2021 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. WST, The Mosaic Company MOS, AutoZone, Inc. AZO, O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. ORLY and Ulta Beauty, Inc. ULTA.

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

S&P 500's Broad-Based Rally YTD: 5 Top Picks

U.S. stock markets have performed better than expected so far this year with just four days of trading left in the third quarter. Despite the meltdown in September, most of the stock indexes are currently at a level well above the average estimations of the market analysts at the beginning of the year. The trend is likely to continue in the fourth quarter despite the threat of the Delta variant and higher inflationary pressure.

S&P 500 – The Best Performer YTD

Year to date (YTD), the S&P 500 Index — popularly known as the market's benchmark — has rallied 18.6% while the Dow and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 13.7% and 16.8%, respectively. The small-cap-centric Russell 2000 advanced 13.8% and the mid-cap-specific S&P 400 appreciated 17%.

The S&P 500 registered an all-time high of 4,545.85 on Sep 2. However, owing to the market's meltdown this month, the benchmark is currently trading at 2% below its all-time high. Nevertheless, the index has regained momentum, finishing the last three trading sessions in positive territory. Moreover, the S&P 500 has seen a broad-based rally so far in 2021 with all its 11 sectors currently in the green.

At its current level of 4,455.48, the S&P 500 is well above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages of 4,439.43 and 4,120.53, respectively. In financial literature, the 50-day moving average line is generally recognized as the short-term trend setter, while the 200-day moving average is considered a long-term trend setter.

Furthermore, it is widely believed in the technical analysis space that whenever the 50-day moving average line surges ahead of the 200-day moving average line, a long-term uptrend for the index becomes a strong possibility.

Future Catalysts

The Wall Street rally continued in the first two months of third-quarter 2021 before suffering a big blow in September. However, U.S. stock markets rebounded impressively in the last three trading sessions and recouped a large part of the losses it suffered in September.

In his statement after the conclusion of the two-day FOMC meeting on Sep 22, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said, "If progress continues broadly as expected, the Committee judges that a moderation in the pace of asset purchases may soon be warranted." However, the impact of tapering seems to have been already factored in market valuations.

U.S. corporate profits are likely to remain solid in the third quarter after skyrocketing in the first two quarters of 2021. Per our current projection, total earnings of the S&P 500 Index are expected to jump 26% year over year on 13.7% higher revenues. For 2021, total earnings of the S&P 500 Index are currently forecast to soar 42.5% year over year on 13.4% higher revenues.  

On Aug 24, the House of Representatives advanced a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. On Sep 26, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the bill is expected to be passed this week. On Aug 10, the U.S. Senate had passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill of $550 billion in addition to the previously approved funds of $450 billion for five years.

Total spending may go up to $1.2 trillion if the plan is extended to eight years. Infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, passenger rails, airports, drinking water, and waste-water systems, high-speed Internet, and climate-related infrastructure should benefit.

Our Top Picks

We have narrowed down our search to five large-cap (market capital > $10 billion) S&P 500 stocks that have strong growth potential for the rest of 2021. These stocks have seen positive earnings estimate revisions in the past 30 days indicating that the market is expecting companies to do good business in the near term.  

Moreover, these stocks have provided double-digit returns in the past three months compared with the benchmark's return of a mere 4.1%. Finally, each of our picks carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

West Pharmaceutical Services manufactures and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the United States, Europe and internationally. It operates through two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products.

The company's high-value products continue to drive higher gross and operating margins. Additionally, it continued to see strong uptake of HVP components, which include Westar, FluroTec, Envision and NovaPure offerings along with Daikyo's Crystal Zenith.

The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 72.7% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 2.8% over the past 30 days. The stock price has jumped 25.8% in the past three months.

The Mosaic Co. produces and markets concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients in North America and internationally. It operates through three segments: Phosphates, Potash, and Mosaic Fertilizantes.

Demand for phosphate and potash in North America remains strong in 2021. Strong grower economics and crop commodity prices are driving fertilizer demand globally. The company should also gain from higher prices. The acquisition of Vale Fertilizantes is also expected to deliver significant synergies. Mosaic is also expected to benefit from its cost-reduction initiatives.

The company has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has improved 3.8% over the past 30 days. The stock price has climbed 17.8% in the past three months.

AutoZone is one of the leading specialty retailers and distributors of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. It operates in the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) retail, Do-It-for-Me (DIFM) auto parts and products markets.

AutoZone's high-quality products, store-expansion initiatives and omni-channel efforts to improve customer shopping experience are boosting the company's market share. This retailer of automotive aftermarket parts has been generating record revenues for 23 consecutive years and the trend is expected to continue. The ramp up of e-commerce efforts is aiding AutoZone's top-line growth.

The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 1% for the current year (ending August 2022). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has improved 3.4% over the past 30 days. The stock price has risen 13.2% in the past three months.

O'Reilly Automotive operates as a retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories in the United States. The specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts is poised to benefit from store openings and distribution centers in profitable regions.

The company has a competitive edge due to a dual market strategy by serving the Do-it-Yourself and Do-it-for-Me customers. A customer-centric business model and the growing demand for high-quality auto parts are likely to boost O'Reilly's prospects.

The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 17.5% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has improved 0.1% over the past 30 days. The stock price has appreciated 11.4% in the past three months.

Ulta Beauty operates as a retailer of beauty products in the United States. The company has been seeing market share gains in major beauty categories for a while now, with skincare standing out. Its foremost priority is to strengthen its omnichannel business and explore the potential of both physical and digital facets.

The company has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year (ending January 2022). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 9.8% over the past 30 days. The stock price has advanced 11.3% in the past three months.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in Reward Minerals Ltd's (ASX:RWD) instance, it's good news for shareholders.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

See our latest analysis for Reward Minerals

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Reward Minerals

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Executive Director Michael Ruane bought AU$434k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.14 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$0.14). Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. We note that Michael Ruane was both the biggest buyer and the biggest seller.

Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid AU$740k for 18.93m shares. But insiders sold 3.06m shares worth AU$430k. Overall, Reward Minerals insiders were net buyers during the last year. They paid about AU$0.039 on average. We don't deny that it is nice to see insiders buying stock in the company. However, you should keep in mind that they bought when the share price was meaningfully below today's levels. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

Reward Minerals is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Insiders at Reward Minerals Have Bought Stock Recently

Over the last three months, we've seen a bit of insider buying at Reward Minerals. Executive Director Michael Ruane bought AU$52k worth of shares in that time. It's great to see that insiders are only buying, not selling. However, in this case the amount invested recently is quite small.

Insider Ownership of Reward Minerals

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It appears that Reward Minerals insiders own 32% of the company, worth about AU$8.8m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Reward Minerals Tell Us?

The recent insider purchase is heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. But on the other hand, the company made a loss during the last year, which makes us a little cautious. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest Reward Minerals insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Our analysis shows 5 warning signs for Reward Minerals (2 don't sit too well with us!) and we strongly recommend you look at these before investing.

Of course Reward Minerals may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality 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. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. 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.

The Basic Materials group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Is The Mosaic (MOS) one of those stocks right now? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Basic Materials peers, we might be able to answer that question.

The Mosaic is one of 249 individual stocks in the Basic Materials sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #10 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.

The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. MOS is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MOS's full-year earnings has moved 54.49% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

Based on the latest available data, MOS has gained about 55.85% so far this year. At the same time, Basic Materials stocks have gained an average of 4.38%. As we can see, The Mosaic is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

Looking more specifically, MOS belongs to the Fertilizers industry, which includes 7 individual stocks and currently sits at #14 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 25.54% so far this year, so MOS is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

Investors in the Basic Materials sector will want to keep a close eye on MOS as it attempts to continue its solid performance.

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Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Mosaic (MOS), which currently has a Momentum Style Score of B. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Mosaic currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?

In order to see if MOS is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this fertilizer maker holds up.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.

For MOS, shares are up 6.69% over the past week while the Zacks Fertilizers industry is up 2.65% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 9.83% compares favorably with the industry's 2.88% performance as well.

Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Shares of Mosaic have increased 14.06% over the past quarter, and have gained 92.9% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.82% and 39.12%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of MOS's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now, MOS is averaging 3,226,042 shares for the last 20 days.

Earnings Outlook

The Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with MOS.

Over the past two months, 5 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost MOS's consensus estimate, increasing from $3.29 to $4.86 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 6 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom Line

Given these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that MOS is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of B. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep Mosaic on your short list.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Search Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMY | OTCQB: SHCMF) (“Search” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has commissioned a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA 2022”) report on the combined Deep Fox/Fox Trot project with a target date of completion of Q1 2022.

The completion of an updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource estimates for Deep Fox and Foxtrot and completion of PEA 2022 are important next steps as the Company accelerates its “Sprint to Production”. The PEA 2022 will also provide our environmental consultants the essential information required to update and submit the new plan for the Environmental Impact Statement. We have been completing some baseline studies this year, which will form part of our submission.

The PEA 2022 will benefit from the following improvements.

1) Increased Material from Deep Fox Resource

• PEA 2022 will incorporate the results of the 7000 m drilling program completed at Deep Fox in 2021.

• The combination of the Deep Fox and Foxtrot resources will potentially allow for an increase in production rate to 2,000 tonnes per day compared to the 2016 PEA (PEA 2016) on Foxtrot alone.

• Assays from Deep Fox have shown higher grades of the key rare earth elements used in the permanent magnet market (Neodymium, Praseodymium, Dysprosium and Terbium) as compared to Foxtrot.

2) Metallurgical Process Optimization

• The optimization of the Direct Extraction Process in two pilot plant programs has resulted in increased recoveries on our key elements (Nd, Pr, Dy, Tb).

• The introduction of magnetic separation into the mineral processing flowsheet will:

(1) produce an iron ore concentrate by-product,
(2) concentrate the rare earths in 15-27% of the ore mass, resulting in a smaller extraction plant and,
(3) open the possibility of making a zirconium/hafnium by-product.

• Produce a mixed rare earth carbonate to supply the separation facility.

• New grinding and magnetic beneficiation added to the flowsheet to optimize capital and operating costs.

3) Rare Earth Element Price Increases

• Rare earth prices have increased significantly over the past year, and the upward trending price escalations are expected to continue.

• Current and future price projections (Adamas Intelligence) will form the basis for the PEA economic analysis.

Greg Andrews, President/CEO stated: “We are focused on delivering PEA 2022. Our exploration and metallurgical teams have made significant advances since PEA 2016 and we are excited to capture these benefits in our new economic evaluation. We are expecting a significant increase in the annual gross revenue, with the potentially increased production rate, higher grades and improved recovery rates from our patented Direct Extraction technology. We continue to optimize our processing flowsheet with magnetic concentration of rare earth minerals providing a reduced feed stream to our Direct Extraction process. As a result of the smaller treatment rate of the concentrate, we are anticipating capital and operating cost reductions with the new flowsheet.”

Andrews added: “Search is well positioned to take advantage of the market focus on critical material supply. The need for rare earth elements for magnet making is expected to increase dramatically, mainly driven by the auto industry movement to electric vehicles using magnetic drives and the increasing pace of renewable energy generation. Search raised $ 2.52M in flow through funds for exploration in Labrador in 2021 along with over $ 2.2M in hard dollar private placements. Additional funds are also being received from the exercise of warrants and options, and support from government grants. The Company is funded to complete our PEA 2022.”

Search is following the COVID protocols which are currently in place within the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador to ensure the safety of our employees and the communities where we work.

Qualified Persons:

Dr. David Dreisinger, Ph.D., P.Eng, is the Company’s Vice President, Metallurgy, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101) who has supervised the preparation of and approved the technical information reported herein. The company will endeavour to meet high standards of integrity, transparency, and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological and assay (e.g., REE) data.

About Search Minerals Inc.

Led by a proven management team and board of directors, Search is focused on finding and developing Critical Rare Earths Elements (CREE), Zirconium (Zr) and Hafnium (Hf) resources within the emerging Port Hope Simpson – St. Lewis CREE District of South East Labrador. The Company controls a belt 63 km long and 2 km wide and is road accessible, on tidewater, and located within 3 local communities. Search has completed a preliminary economic assessment report for FOXTROT, and a resource estimate for DEEP FOX. Search is also working on three exploration prospects along the belt which include: FOX MEADOW, SILVER FOX and AWESOME FOX.

Search has continued to optimize our patented Direct Extraction Process technology with the generous support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and from the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency. We have completed two pilot plant operations and produced highly purified mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate and mixed REO concentrate for separation and refining.

For further information, please contact:

Greg Andrews
President and CEO
Tel: 604-998-3432
E-mail: info@searchminerals.ca

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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding “Forward-Looking” Statements:

Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. "Forward-looking information" in this news release includes information about the Company’s proposed exploration programs described herein, and other forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the inability to obtain the necessary resources to complete the exploration programs and poor exploration results.

The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made assumptions about the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, and that the Company will receive all required regulatory approvals.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, unless and until required by applicable securities laws. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

(Reuters) – Rio Tinto and Canadian union Unifor have reached a labour agreement in principle for the global miner's operations in the western Canadian province of British Columbia, the company said on Sunday.

The agreement comes after weeks of second-round talks between the two parties after the first round of negotiations over proposed changes to workers' retirement benefits and unresolved grievances had failed to go through in July.

Unifor, which represents about 900 workers at the miner's aluminium smelting plant in Kitimat and power generating facility in Kemano, had started a strike action at BC Works in July after the failed first round of talks.

"Both parties are satisfied that the proposed agreement will provide a foundation for respect in the workplace and underpin a competitive and sustainable future for BC Works," Rio Tinto said in a statement on its website on Sunday.

Both parties, however, refrained from revealing the details of the agreement until Unifor presented the proposed deal to its members and sought a ratification vote, which is expected to be conducted in the coming days, Rio added.

(Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

(Bloomberg) — In the Outback’s blistering-hot mining sites, the hours are long and the flies relentless. Now, in a bid to attract skilled workers and overcome a labor supply crunch, Australia’s iron ore companies are turning to Olympic-sized swimming pools, virtual golf arcades and fine dining.

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When production starts at Mineral Resources Ltd.’s Ashburton iron ore hub around mid-2023, staff will be offered what it calls resort-style accommodation twice the size of the industry average, featuring a queen-sized bed, kitchen and lounge areas. And to overcome the strains of working remotely, a full-time mental health consultant will be on hand.

“We want to figure out how to make sure we keep the people that are working for us with us until they retire,” the company’s chief executive, Chris Ellison, said.

Meanwhile, the mining giants are also upping their game. BHP Group’s South Flank, which started production in June, features a worker village with a pool, tennis and squash courts, an indoor golf range and a range of bars and restaurants.

And Rio Tinto Group is seeking workers for its $2.6 billion Gudai-Darri project, due to start early next year, promising them comfortable living and high-speed connectivity at a site where workers will “genuinely respect each other.”

It’s a far cry from the industry’s traditional image of so-called fly-in, fly-out workers — flown in to work at mines in the desert for weeks at a time — being offered accommodation in sites resembling testosterone-fueled, heavy-drinking boot-camps, and sleeping in tiny rooms known as dongas after grueling 12-hour shifts.

The industry is also trying to clean up its sites after coming under attack due to sexual harassment claims made by women. BHP fired dozens of workers after it verified the claims, including substantiated allegations of rape. Rio also responded with steps to improve safety for female workers at its mines, including a buddy system, greater supervision and training, shorter rosters and a four-drink daily limit on alcohol consumption. BHP also has a four-drink cut-off at its sites.

“We’re trying to soften the sites down to attract a more diverse workforce,” Ellison said.

Read: Mining Giants Face a Sexual Harassment Reckoning as BHP Fires 48

Mining companies know the ability to attract workers to their sites, and then keep them, is crucial. Despite an historic crash in iron ore prices this week to a 16-month low of $90, major miners like BHP and Rio still profit given their cost of production can be less than $20 per ton.

They’re also used to volatile prices swings, so their hunt for talent is unlikely to change for now. Iron ore is responsible for about a third of Australia’s export revenue, or a record A$152 billion ($110 billion) in the year to June 30. while the industry employs around 280,000 people.

A recent report showed Western Australia’s resources industry needs to attract as many as 40,000 extra workers over the next two years or risk delays and potential postponement of some A$140 billion in projects. That challenge has been further complicated by the state’s border closures to keep out Covid-19, while workers are also often headhunted to work in high-skilled industries such as tech and finance, despite being offered wages around double the national average at the mines.

For Mineral Resources, it’s not only about attracting and keeping the best workers: Ellison says it’s just as important to provide a safe and comfortable environment which supports the mental well-being of employees. The company is breaking the mold by planning to build accommodation to suit couples and families, seeking to get them to permanently reside and play an active part in the local community.

Still, the bulk of Western Australia’s mining-site workforce is destined to remain tied to their homes and families based hundreds of miles away, and from whom they need to remain physically distanced from for sometimes weeks at a time. Mineral Resources’ head of mental health, Chris Harris, said fly-in, fly-out workers suffered twice as much psychological distress as other Australian workers.

“Some of those challenges are just the nature of sector,” Harris said. “The question is: how do we support people to navigate those challenges?”

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©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

(Bloomberg) — In the Outback’s blistering-hot mining sites, the hours are long and the flies relentless. Now, in a bid to attract skilled workers and overcome a labor supply crunch, Australia’s iron ore companies are turning to Olympic-sized swimming pools, virtual golf arcades and fine dining.

Most Read from Bloomberg

• How Los Angeles Became the City of Dingbats

• School Reopenings Falter as U.S. Kids Near 1 Million Covid Cases

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• In Paris, the Wrapped Arc de Triomphe Is a Polarizing Package

• Istanbul Turns Taps on Old Fountains, Joining Global Push for Free Drinks

When production starts at Mineral Resources Ltd.’s Ashburton iron ore hub around mid-2023, staff will be offered what it calls resort-style accommodation twice the size of the industry average, featuring a queen-sized bed, kitchen and lounge areas. And to overcome the strains of working remotely, a full-time mental health consultant will be on hand.

“We want to figure out how to make sure we keep the people that are working for us with us until they retire,” the company’s chief executive, Chris Ellison, said.

Meanwhile, the mining giants are also upping their game. BHP Group’s South Flank, which started production in June, features a worker village with a pool, tennis and squash courts, an indoor golf range and a range of bars and restaurants.

And Rio Tinto Group is seeking workers for its $2.6 billion Gudai-Darri project, due to start early next year, promising them comfortable living and high-speed connectivity at a site where workers will “genuinely respect each other.”

It’s a far cry from the industry’s traditional image of so-called fly-in, fly-out workers — flown in to work at mines in the desert for weeks at a time — being offered accommodation in sites resembling testosterone-fueled, heavy-drinking boot-camps, and sleeping in tiny rooms known as dongas after grueling 12-hour shifts.

The industry is also trying to clean up its sites after coming under attack due to sexual harassment claims made by women. BHP fired dozens of workers after it verified the claims, including substantiated allegations of rape. Rio also responded with steps to improve safety for female workers at its mines, including a buddy system, greater supervision and training, shorter rosters and a four-drink daily limit on alcohol consumption. BHP also has a four-drink cut-off at its sites.

“We’re trying to soften the sites down to attract a more diverse workforce,” Ellison said.

Read: Mining Giants Face a Sexual Harassment Reckoning as BHP Fires 48

Mining companies know the ability to attract workers to their sites, and then keep them, is crucial. Despite an historic crash in iron ore prices this week to a 16-month low of $90, major miners like BHP and Rio still profit given their cost of production can be less than $20 per ton.

They’re also used to volatile prices swings, so their hunt for talent is unlikely to change for now. Iron ore is responsible for about a third of Australia’s export revenue, or a record A$152 billion ($110 billion) in the year to June 30. while the industry employs around 280,000 people.

A recent report showed Western Australia’s resources industry needs to attract as many as 40,000 extra workers over the next two years or risk delays and potential postponement of some A$140 billion in projects. That challenge has been further complicated by the state’s border closures to keep out Covid-19, while workers are also often headhunted to work in high-skilled industries such as tech and finance, despite being offered wages around double the national average at the mines.

For Mineral Resources, it’s not only about attracting and keeping the best workers: Ellison says it’s just as important to provide a safe and comfortable environment which supports the mental well-being of employees. The company is breaking the mold by planning to build accommodation to suit couples and families, seeking to get them to permanently reside and play an active part in the local community.

Still, the bulk of Western Australia’s mining-site workforce is destined to remain tied to their homes and families based hundreds of miles away, and from whom they need to remain physically distanced from for sometimes weeks at a time. Mineral Resources’ head of mental health, Chris Harris, said fly-in, fly-out workers suffered twice as much psychological distress as other Australian workers.

“Some of those challenges are just the nature of sector,” Harris said. “The question is: how do we support people to navigate those challenges?”

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

• A Tiny Piece of Plastic Is Helping Farmers Use Far Less Water

• Evergrande Debt Crisis Is Financial Stress Test No One Wanted

• The Energy Future Needs Cleaner Batteries

• Microsoft and an Army of Tiny Telecoms Are Part of a Plan to Wire Rural America

• In Amazon’s Flagship Fulfillment Center, the Machines Run the Show

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

The net worth of American households reached a fresh all-time high in the second quarter of 2021 supported by a faster-than-expected recovery of the U.S. economy from the pandemic-led devastations. On Sep 23, Fed reported that household net worth surged $5.85 trillion or 4.3% in second-quarter 2021 from the first quarter to reach $141.7 trillion.

Year over year, the net worth of Americans jumped 19.6% as second-quarter 2020 was fully affected by the global outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. The value of equities increased nearly $3.5 trillion while the value of real estate held by households rose around $1.2 trillion.

The U.S. economy grew 6.5% in the second quarter buoyed by a robust economic recovery. In absolute term, U.S. GDP in second-quarter 2021 came in at $19.4 trillion, exceeding $19.2 trillion recorded in fourth-quarter 2019, the last quarter before the global outbreak of coronavirus.

Reasons for Surging Household Net Worth

A sharp reduction in new coronavirus cases, nationwide COVID-19 vaccination and the gradual removal of economic and other day-to-day restrictions have resulted in a faster-than-expected reopening of the U.S. economy.

Moreover, a massive $1.9 trillion fiscal stimulus injected by the Biden Administration in March and the continuation of easy monetary policies by the Fed, keeping the benchmark lending rate near zero and buying bonds of $120 billion per month helped in the U.S. economy's recovery and enhanced the household net worth.

The U.S. stock market ended the second quarter of 2021 on a high note. The three major stock indexes — the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite — rallied 4.6%, 8.2% and 9.5%, respectively. Moreover, the small-cap specific Russell 2000 advanced 4.1% and the mid-cap centric S&P 400 gained 3.3%. All these reflect a broad-based rally in second-quarter 2021.

On the other hand, the housing market has remained robust primarily due to record-low mortgage rates. The Fed adopted an ultra-dovish monetary stance and reduced the benchmark interest rate to as low as 0-0.25% in March 2020. The low rate of market interest rate significantly reduced mortgage rates, enabling consumers to buy houses. The strong demand has strengthened the real estate sector.

Momentum Likely to Continue

The Wall Street rally continued in the first two months of third-quarter 2021 before suffering a big blow in September. However, U.S. stock markets rebounded impressively in the last two trading sessions and recouped a large part of the loss it suffered in September. The Dow and the S&P 500 recorded their best two consecutive day rally since July and the Nasdaq Composite registered the best two successive day rally since August.

In his statement after the conclusion of the two-day FOMC meeting on Sep 22, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said “If progress continues broadly as expected, the Committee judges that a moderation in the pace of asset purchases may soon be warranted.” However, the impact of tapering seems already factored in market valuations.

Finally, on Aug 24, the House of Representatives advanced a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. On Aug 10, the U.S. Senate had passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill of $550 billion in addition to the previously approved funds of $450 billion for five years.

Total spending may go up to $1.2 trillion if the plan is extended to eight years. Infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, passenger rails, airports, drinking water and waste-water systems, high-speed Internet, and climate-related infrastructure should benefit.

Our Top Picks

We have narrowed down our search to five large-cap (market capital > $10 billion) stocks have given double-digit returns in the past three months with more upside potential for the rest of 2021. These stocks have seen solid earnings estimation revisions in the last 30 days. Finally, each of our picks carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The chart below shows the price performance of our five picks in the past three months.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. REGN is benefiting from strong demand for Eylea and Dupixent. Continued growth in Eylea and Dupixent through further penetration in existing indications and a promising late-stage pipeline aid its prospects. The approval of Libtayo in the lucrative indication of NSCLC and BCC should also boost sales.

This Zacks Rank #1 company has an expected earnings growth rate of 90% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings improved 1.5% over the last 7 days. The stock price has jumped 17.5% in the past three months.

Continental Resources Inc. CLR explores, develops and produces crude oil and natural gas primarily in the north, south, and east regions of the United States. It sells crude oil and natural gas production to energy marketing companies, crude oil refining companies, and natural gas gathering and processing companies. Continental Resources has a premier position in the Bakken area.

The company has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings improved 5.3% over the last 30 days. The stock price has climbed 12.5% in the past three months.

O'Reilly Automotive Inc. ORLY operates as a retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories in the United States. The specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts is poised to benefit from store openings and distribution centers in profitable regions.

The company has a competitive edge due to a dual market strategy by serving the Do-it-Yourself and Do-it-for-Me customers. A customer-centric business model and the growing demand for high-quality auto parts are likely to boost O’Reilly’s prospects.

The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 17.5% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings improved 0.1% over the last 30 days. The stock price has appreciated 12.4% in the past three months.

Darling Ingredients Inc. DAR develops, produces, and sells natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients. It operates through three segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients, and Fuel Ingredients.

The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 90.3% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year improved 3% over the last 30 days. The stock price has surged 12.3% in the past three months.

The Mosaic Co. MOS produces and markets concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients in North America and internationally. It operates through three segments: Phosphates, Potash, and Mosaic Fertilizantes.

Demand for phosphate and potash in North America remains strong in 2021. Strong grower economics and crop commodity prices are driving fertilizer demand globally. The company should also gain from higher prices. The acquisition of Vale Fertilizantes is also expected to deliver significant synergies. Mosaic is also expected to benefit from its cost-reduction initiatives.

The company has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings improved 3.8% over the last 30 days. The stock price has advanced 12.1% in the past three months.

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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Zacks Investment Research

The major global iron-ore producers— BHP Group Vale and Rio Tinto —look appealing after the recent sharp declines in their stock prices because they are now discounting lower commodity prices. The stocks are discounting an iron-ore price of $86.37 a metric ton, against the current spot price of $107 a ton, Chris LaFemina, a Jefferies analyst, says in a note titled “What Iron Price is Priced In.” “If the reality in China is a soft landing in which the government manages the Evergrande collapse without causing contagion, these shares are undervalued and would likely outperform,” he wrote.

If we want to find a potential multi-bagger, often there are underlying trends that can provide clues. Ideally, a business will show two trends; firstly a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an increasing amount of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. So when we looked at the ROCE trend of BHP Group (ASX:BHP) we really liked what we saw.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it?

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on BHP Group is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets – Current Liabilities)

0.32 = US$30b ÷ (US$109b – US$16b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2021).

Thus, BHP Group has an ROCE of 32%. In absolute terms that's a great return and it's even better than the Metals and Mining industry average of 9.8%.

View our latest analysis for BHP Group

In the above chart we have measured BHP Group's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us

BHP Group is showing promise given that its ROCE is trending up and to the right. More specifically, while the company has kept capital employed relatively flat over the last five years, the ROCE has climbed 619% in that same time. So it's likely that the business is now reaping the full benefits of its past investments, since the capital employed hasn't changed considerably. It's worth looking deeper into this though because while it's great that the business is more efficient, it might also mean that going forward the areas to invest internally for the organic growth are lacking.

In Conclusion…

As discussed above, BHP Group appears to be getting more proficient at generating returns since capital employed has remained flat but earnings (before interest and tax) are up. And a remarkable 138% total return over the last five years tells us that investors are expecting more good things to come in the future. So given the stock has proven it has promising trends, it's worth researching the company further to see if these trends are likely to persist.

BHP Group does come with some risks though, we found 4 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 1 of those is concerning…

BHP Group is not the only stock earning high returns. If you'd like to see more, check out our free list of companies earning high returns on equity with solid fundamentals.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. 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.

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