SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 7, 2021 / Hagens Berman urges Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ:PLL) investors with significant losses to submit your losses now.

Class Period: Mar. 16, 2018 – July 19, 2021
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Sept. 21, 2021
Visit:www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/PLL
Contact An Attorney Now:PLL@hbsslaw.com
844-916-0895

Piedmont Lithium Inc. (PLL) Securities Fraud Class Action:

The complaint alleges that Defendants misrepresented and concealed material information concerning Piedmont's progress toward obtaining necessary permits and zoning variances to build a large lithium mine in Gaston County, North Carolina.

Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose that Piedmont: (1) has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits, (2) did not inform relevant government authorities of its actual plans, (3) did not file proper applications with state and local authorities, and (4) did not have "strong local government support."

On July 20, 2021, investors began to learn the truth when Reuters reported that (1) Piedmont had not even applied for the necessary mining permit or zoning variances, (2) five of the seven members of the Gaston County's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected, and (3) the relationship between the company and county officials is increasingly strained.

These events sent the price of Piedmont American Depository Shares sharply lower.

Most recently, on Aug. 6, 2021, Reuters reported the Gaston County Commissioners unanimously approved a 60-day mining moratorium and said the company "cannot be trusted" to protect the health, safety, and welfare of citizens. Reuters also reported an outside adviser to the Commissioners informed them that a mine of this size was never anticipated in the development regulations.

"We're focused on investors' losses and proving Piedmont concealed known building permit and zoning risks posed by the Gaston County mine," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Piedmont Lithium and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Piedmont Lithium should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email PLL@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with eight offices in eight cities around the country and over eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw.

Contact:

Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

SOURCE: Hagens Berman

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/663009/PLL-2-WEEK-DEADLINE-ALERT-Hagens-Berman-Alerts-Piedmont-Lithium-PLL-Investors-to-Deadline-in-Securities-Class-Action-Encourages-Investors-with-Losses-to-Contact-Firms-Attorneys-Now

TORONTO, Sept. 7, 2021 /CNW/ – First Cobalt Corp. (TSXV: FCC) (OTCQX: FTSSF) (the "Company") today announced that Kuya Silver Corporation ("Kuya") has given notice of intention to exercise an option to earn a 70% interest in all of First Cobalt's remaining mineral rights in the Canadian Cobalt Camp.

Highlights

• Kuya previously acquired a 100% interest in a property package surrounding the Kerr Lake area (the "Kerr Assets") for $4 million. Kuya also received a six-month option to elect to exercise to earn up to a 70% interest in First Cobalt's remaining Cobalt Camp assets (the "Remaining Assets") for an additional $1 million in cash or Kuya shares

• The option has been exercised by Kuya by issuing 671,141 common shares at a 20-day VWAP of $1.49

• Over a 3-year earn-in period, Kuya will be required to make $1 million in additional payments to First Cobalt and invest $4 million in exploration activities. A $2.5 million milestone payment is triggered upon completion of a maiden mineral resource estimate of at least 10 million silver equivalent ounces on either of the Kerr Assets or the Remaining Assets. The payment increases to $5 million should the resource exceed 25 million silver equivalent ounces

• First Cobalt retains a right to refine base metal concentrates produced at First Cobalt's refinery as well as a back-in right for any discovery of a primary cobalt deposit on the Remaining Assets

Trent Mell, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"This option agreement allows us to focus on our strategy of producing the world's most sustainable battery materials for the EV market. Our primary focus is to commission our Canadian hydrometallurgical refinery in Q4 2022 and advance exploration activities at our Iron Creek cobalt-copper project in Idaho.

"As Kuya builds upon the work we completed in 2017 and 2018, our shareholders will benefit from their success through milestone payments and a 30% interest in the resulting joint venture. The Kuya team's strong technical skills is suited to the style of mineralization in the Cobalt Camp. We are keen to see exploration results in historically underexplored areas of this silver-cobalt district, including known targets such as the Schumann Lake area."

The Cobalt Camp

First Cobalt holds the largest land package in the historic silver-cobalt mining camp of Cobalt, Ontario, with more than 10,000 hectares and several past-producing mines, including some of the region's largest high-grade silver producers. The Company invested $10 million in an extensive exploration program that included creating a proprietary 3D geological model based on digital compilation of historic mine workings, integrated with exploration drilling, geophysical data and surface bedrock geology maps.

Over 600 million ounces of silver and 50 million pounds of cobalt were mined in the district along with copper and nickel over a 60-year period. The Remaining Assets land package is deemed highly prospective for blind mineralization under glacial cover and under the Nipissing Diabase mafic intrusions in a similar geological setting as the Kerr-Crown Reserve-Drummond silver deposits and several other exceptionally high-grade deposits within the Cobalt Camp. Previous drilling and geophysical surveys in the Central Camp area generated broad target areas where silver-cobalt-nickel potential is considered high. Drilling results in the South Camp showed new zones of mineralization occur beyond the previously mined areas.

About Kuya Silver

Kuya Silver is a Canadian–based mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada.

About First Cobalt

First Cobalt's mission is to be the most sustainable producer of battery materials. The Company owns a permitted North American hydrometallurgical refinery, a critical asset in the development and manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles. First Cobalt owns the Iron Creek cobalt-copper project in Idaho, USA as well as several significant cobalt and silver properties in the Canadian Cobalt Camp.

Qualified Person Statement

Dr. Frank Santaguida, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. Dr. Santaguida is employed as Vice President, Exploration for First Cobalt.

On behalf of First Cobalt Corp.

Trent Mell
President & Chief Executive Officer

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects', "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance and opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are set forth in the management discussion and analysis and other disclosures of risk factors for First Cobalt, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although First Cobalt believes that the information and assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, First Cobalt disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE First Cobalt Corp.

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2021/07/c5689.html

PERTH, Australia, Sept. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wyloo Metals Pty Ltd (“Wyloo Metals”) confirms it submitted an Arrangement Agreement to the Board of Noront Resources Ltd (TSXV:NOT) (“Noront”) for consideration on September 3, 2021. In submitting the agreement, Wyloo Metals calls upon the Noront Board to act in the best interest of shareholders and progress the formalization of Wyloo Metals’ superior proposal in line with its fiduciary obligations.

Wyloo Metals restricted on due diligence

Wyloo Metals received a revised confidentiality agreement from the Noront Board on August 31, 2021. Wyloo Metals was surprised to learn that the removal of the standstill provision required the consent of BHP Western Mining Resources International Pty Ltd. (“BHP”). The Noront Board was aware of Wyloo Metals’ objections to the standstill given the adverse and inappropriate restrictions such a provision would place on Wyloo Metals as an existing shareholder. By granting BHP this consent right to control the terms on which Wyloo Metals can access due diligence information, the Noront Board continues to frustrate a clearly superior offer for its shareholders.

While BHP may have consented to the removal of the standstill provision, unfortunately, Wyloo Metals and Noront have been unable to agree on a form of the confidentiality agreement that preserves Wyloo Metals’ unrestricted freedom to communicate directly with shareholders. BHP’s consent continues to be required. Despite this obstacle and its inability to conduct confirmatory due diligence, Wyloo Metals remains committed to delivering the best result for Noront shareholders. While Wyloo Metals’ preference would be to conduct confirmatory diligence as would be customary, rather than subjecting itself to a gag order, Wyloo Metals intends to proceed directly to the finalization of transaction documentation.

Clarification of misleading comments from Noront

Wyloo Metals would like to clarify a misleading comment made by Mr. Alan Coutts, President and CEO of Noront, in an article published by Northern Ontario Business on September 4, 2021. In the article, Mr. Coutts suggests that the inclusion of the standstill provision is to ensure Wyloo Metals does not “go out and buy stock on the market based on what [Wyloo Metals] may or may not see in the data room”. Mr. Coutts and the Noront Board would be fully aware that Wyloo Metals cannot purchase any shares in Noront in the open market without triggering the Shareholder Rights Plan (i.e. poison pill defense), adopted by Noront on May 27, 2021. Rather, the primary purpose of the standstill clause appears to be to prevent Wyloo Metals from submitting an acquisition proposal directly to shareholders, advocating for changes to the Noront Board or publicly communicating directly with Noront shareholders without the approval of the Noront Board. Given the Noront Board’s track record of favoring BHP as a counterparty to a transaction, Wyloo Metals could not accept such a standstill clause.

Head of Wyloo Metals Luca Giacovazzi said, “As we have shown from day one of this process, Wyloo Metals is fully committed to working quickly and collaboratively to formalize a binding superior proposal for the benefit of Noront shareholders. However, we cannot allow our proposal to be subject to inappropriate restrictions from the Noront Board, particularly given that our proposal calls for the Board’s replacement.”

Additional benefits to Noront directors and officers

Wyloo Metals is disappointed by Noront’s continued public support of BHP’s Cdn$0.55 per share offer considering Wyloo Metals has made a clearly superior C$0.70 per share proposal. Wyloo Metals therefore requests that Noront directors and officers disclose the full details any benefits afforded to them by BHP that will not be made available to ordinary shareholders, including any early exercise or vesting of options and/or share rights, change of control payments, future employment opportunities and any other arrangements with BHP.

Wyloo Metals’ proposed Arrangement Agreement does not contemplate the early exercise of options or share awards of Noront directors or officers. Such options and share awards will survive on the same terms and conditions as they would have done prior to the transaction, as specified in Noront’s existing option plan and share award plan.

Wyloo Metals notes the lock-up agreements entered into by certain directors and officers of Noront, in support of the BHP offer, assume certain options or share awards exercise earlier than they otherwise would according to Noront’s existing option plan and share award plan. These options and share awards, some of which were issued as recently as April 2021, are not being exercised in the ordinary course of business but as a direct result of the BHP offer. The resulting shares would be tendered in favor of the BHP offer, to the direct financial benefit of the Noront directors and officers that own them. At BHP’s offer price, the gross monetary value of these converted options and share awards is approximately Cdn$10 million dollars and represents a substantial benefit for those Noront directors and officers.

ABOUT WYLOO METALS

Wyloo Metals is the metals and mining subsidiary of Tattarang, one of Australia’s largest private investment groups. Led by a multidisciplinary team of geologists, engineers and financial professionals, Wyloo Metals manages a diverse portfolio of exploration and development projects and cornerstone interests in a number of public and private companies. Wyloo Metals seeks to work closely with all stakeholders to accelerate projects through the development cycle while meeting the highest international environmental, social and governance standards. See more at: www.wyloometals.com.

Wyloo Canada Holdings Pty Ltd (“Wyloo Canada”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Wyloo Metals, currently holds an aggregate of 111,815,458 common shares of Noront, representing approximately 24.4% of the outstanding common shares of Noront. As previously announced on July 23, 2021, Wyloo Metals intends to convert its US$15 million convertible loan (“Convertible Loan”) into common shares of Noront at or before the September 30, 2021 maturity date. At an exchange rate of 0.799 US Dollars per Canadian Dollar¹, Wyloo Canada would acquire an additional 93,847,496 common shares of Noront upon conversion of its Convertible Loan, following which it would hold 205,662,954 common shares of Noront, representing approximately 37.2% of the outstanding common shares of Noront on a partially diluted basis.

Wyloo Canada also holds warrants (“Noront Warrants”) to acquire 1,774,664 common shares of Noront at an exercise price of Cdn$0.35 per share. If the Noront Warrants are also fully exercised, Wyloo Canada would hold 207,437,618 common shares of Noront, representing approximately 37.5% of the outstanding common shares of Noront on a partially diluted basis.

DISCLAIMER

Some of the statements in this press release may be forward looking statements or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. Such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions, future market conditions, unusual catastrophic loss events, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different from those anticipated by such statements. Wyloo Metals does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will Wyloo Metals and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in connection with the information and/or statements in this press release or for any related damages.

This press release is issued pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 – The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, which requires a report to be filed under Noront’s profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) containing additional information with respect to the foregoing matters. A copy of such report may be obtained by contacting Wyloo Metals at info@wyloometals.com. The address of Wyloo Metals is PO Box 3155, Broadway Nedlands, WA 6009 Western Australia.

¹ At September 3, 2021.

Radnor, Pennsylvania–(Newsfile Corp. – September 6, 2021) – The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP reminds investors of Piedmont Lithium Inc. f/k/a Piedmont Lithium Limited (NASDAQ: PLL) ("Piedmont") that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Piedmont on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Piedmont securities between March 16, 2018 and July 19, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period").

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 21, 2021
Website: https://www.ktmc.com/piedmont-lithium-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=Link&utm_campaign=piedmont
Contact: James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453
Toll free (844) 887-9500

Piedmont engages in the exploration and development of resource projects. Throughout the Class Period, Piedmont informed investors regarding its plan for completing necessary permitting and zoning activities required to commence mining and processing operations in North Carolina. The truth began to emerge on July 20, 2021. Before market hours, Reuters published an article entitled "In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors" which reported serious issues regarding Piedmont's regulatory status in North Carolina.

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Piedmont had not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business did not have "strong local government support"; and (5) as a result, the defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

Piedmont investors may, no later than September 21, 2021, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Jr., Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(844) 887-9500 (toll free)
info@ktmc.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/95513

In this article, we discuss the 10 trending stocks on Reddit. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of these stocks, go directly to the 5 Trending Stocks on Reddit.

The finance world has been rocked in recent months by the dramatic influx of retail investors on the marketplace. According to a report by professional services firm Deloitte, the COVID-19 pandemic played a central part in this story, as more than 10 million Americans opened a brokerage account in 2020. In January 2021, at the height of a GameStop short squeeze saga, nearly six million Americans downloaded an online trading application. These retail investors strategize on social media platforms like Reddit.

Reddit forums have thus gained in importance around Wall Street and even hedge funds have started monitoring them to keep abreast of trending stocks. Data intelligence firm Morning Consult revealed in a report last year that individual investors were responsible for more than 20% of all stock trading last year, a value that has more than doubled when compared to ten years ago. The dynamics within the retail investor boom also make for interesting reading. A Charles Schwab survey claims that 50% of all new investors are millennials.

These investors favor pouring money into growth stocks. Some of the top trending stocks on Reddit include Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD), Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY), among others. Robinhood, the most popular stock trading application, has tens of millions of funded accounts, but smaller brokerage firms like Schwab, Vanguard, and Fidelity have also reported a dramatic increase in young users trading through their platforms.

There is little doubt that retail investors have transformed the financial landscape. The entire hedge fund industry is feeling the reverberations of the changing financial landscape. Its reputation has been tarnished in the last decade, during which its hedged returns couldn’t keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. On the other hand, Insider Monkey’s research was able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs by more than 124 percentage points since March 2017. Between March 2017 and 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 115 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.

Image by Sergei Tokmakov Terms.Law from Pixabay

With this context in mind, here is our list of the 10 trending stocks on Reddit. They were picked keeping in mind the hype around the companies on Reddit forum WallStreetBets.

The hedge fund sentiment around the stocks was gauged using data of 873 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey. The list is compiled according to the hedge fund holders in each stock.

The analyst ratings of the companies and their basic business fundamentals are also discussed to provide readers with some more context for their investment decisions.

Trending Stocks on Reddit

10. Tattooed Chef, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTCF)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 7

Tattooed Chef, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTCF) is placed tenth on our list of 10 trending stocks on Reddit. The firm markets plant-based foods and operates from California.

In earnings results for the second quarter, posted on August 12, Tattooed Chef, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTCF) reported a revenue of more than $50 million, up close to 46% compared to the revenue over the same period last year.

At the end of the second quarter of 2021, 7 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $38 million in Tattooed Chef, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTCF), down from 10 in the preceding quarter worth $58 million.

Just like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD), Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY), Tattooed Chef, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTCF) is gaining in popularity on Reddit forums.

9. Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 9

Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) is ranked ninth on our list of 10 trending stocks on Reddit. The firm operates as a resource company and is headquartered in Canada.

On August 30, investment advisory Cowen maintained an Outperform rating on Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) stock and raised the price target to $19 from $17, noting the high pricing of lithium products as a major growth catalyst for the firm.

Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, New York-based investment firm Axel Capital Management is a leading shareholder in Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) with 408,130 shares worth more than $6 million.

Alongside Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD), Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY), Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) is also occupying retail investor interest on Reddit forums.

In its Q1 2021 investor letter, Massif Capital, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

8. McAfee Corp. (NASDAQ: MCFE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

McAfee Corp. (NASDAQ: MCFE) is a California-based integrated security solutions provider. It is placed eighth on our list of 10 trending stocks on Reddit.

On June 17, investment advisory Mizuho kept a Buy rating on McAfee Corp. (NASDAQ: MCFE) stock and raised the price target to $30 from $28, citing appreciation of comp multiples as the reason behind the ratings update.

At the end of the second quarter of 2021, 18 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $125 million in McAfee Corp. (NASDAQ: MCFE), up from 17 in the previous quarter worth $174 million.

In addition to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD), Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY), McAfee Corp. (NASDAQ: MCFE) has been one of the most hyped stocks on Reddit in recent weeks.

7. SmileDirectClub, Inc. (NASDAQ: SDC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19

SmileDirectClub, Inc. (NASDAQ: SDC) is a Tennessee-based oral care company. It is ranked seventh on our list of 10 trending stocks on Reddit.

On August 5, investment advisory Credit Suisse assumed coverage of SmileDirectClub, Inc. (NASDAQ: SDC) stock with an Outperform rating and a price target of $11. Vik Chopra, an analyst at the firm, issued the ratings update.

At the end of the second quarter of 2021, 19 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $135 million in SmileDirectClub, Inc. (NASDAQ: SDC), down from 21 in the preceding quarter worth $177 million.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD), Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY) are some of the trending stocks on Reddit, along with SmileDirectClub, Inc. (NASDAQ: SDC).

6. DTE Energy Company (NYSE: DTE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32

DTE Energy Company (NYSE: DTE) is placed sixth on our list of 10 trending stocks on Reddit. The firm generates and distributes electricity. It is headquartered in Michigan.

On August 5 investment advisory Mizuho maintained a Buy rating on DTE Energy Company (NYSE: DTE) stock and raised the price target to $126 from $123, appreciating the earnings results of the company for the second quarter of 2021.

At the end of the second quarter of 2021, 32 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $469 million in DTE Energy Company (NYSE: DTE), up from 26 in the preceding quarter worth $205 million.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD), Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY) are trending on Reddit, just like DTE Energy Company (NYSE: DTE).

Click to continue reading and see 5 Trending Stocks on Reddit.

Suggested Articles:

• 10 Tech Stocks that Pay Dividends

• 10 Best Gun Stocks to Buy Now

• 10 Best SPACs to Invest In According to Reddit

Disclosure. None. 10 Trending Stocks on Reddit is originally published on Insider Monkey.

The big shareholder groups in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM) have power over the company. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones. We also tend to see lower insider ownership in companies that were previously publicly owned.

With a market capitalization of US$15b, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile is rather large. We'd expect to see institutional investors on the register. Companies of this size are usually well known to retail investors, too. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it seems that institutions own shares in the company. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile.

View our latest analysis for Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

We can see that Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile. Tianqi Lithium Corporation is currently the company's largest shareholder with 50% of shares outstanding. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 4.4% of common stock, and FMR LLC holds about 2.0% of the company stock.

A more detailed study of the shareholder registry showed us that 2 of the top shareholders have a considerable amount of ownership in the company, via their 54% stake.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our data cannot confirm that board members are holding shares personally. It is unusual not to have at least some personal holdings by board members, so our data might be flawed. A good next step would be to check how much the CEO is paid.

General Public Ownership

With a 22% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Public Company Ownership

It appears to us that public companies own 50% of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile better, we need to consider many other factors. Be aware that Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those makes us a bit uncomfortable…

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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.

Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Anglo American plc (LON:AAL), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

See our latest analysis for Anglo American

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Anglo American

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider James Rutherford for UK£144k worth of shares, at about UK£24.30 per share. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of UK£30.91. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices.

Anglo American insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

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

Insider Ownership

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Anglo American insiders own about UK£109m worth of shares (which is 0.3% of the company). This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Anglo American Insiders?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Anglo American shares in the last quarter. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like Anglo American insiders think the business has merit. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Our analysis shows 2 warning signs for Anglo American (1 is concerning!) and we strongly recommend you look at these before investing.

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

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

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2021 / Levi & Korsinsky, LLP announces that class action lawsuits have commenced on behalf of shareholders of the following publicly-traded companies. Shareholders interested in serving as lead plaintiff have until the deadlines listed to petition the court. Further details about the cases can be found at the links provided. There is no cost or obligation to you.

PLL Shareholders Click Here: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/piedmont-lithium-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19376&wire=1
ARDX Shareholders Click Here: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/ardelyx-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19376&wire=1
LIVE Shareholders Click Here: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/live-ventures-incorporated-loss-submission-form?prid=19376&wire=1

* ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW *

Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ:PLL)

PLL Lawsuit on behalf of: investors who purchased March 16, 2018 – July 19, 2021
Lead Plaintiff Deadline : September 21, 2021
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/piedmont-lithium-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19376&wire=1

According to the filed complaint, during the class period, Piedmont Lithium Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business does not have "strong local government support"; and (5) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

Ardelyx, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARDX)

ARDX Lawsuit on behalf of: investors who purchased August 6, 2020 – July 19, 2021
Lead Plaintiff Deadline : September 28, 2021
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/ardelyx-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19376&wire=1

According to the filed complaint, during the class period, Ardelyx, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: 1) the Company overstated the likelihood that tenapanor would be approved by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"); and 2) Defendants possessed, were in control over, and as a result, knew that the data submitted to support the New Drug Application was insufficient in that it showed a lack of clinical relevance of the drug's treatment effect, making it foreseeably likely that the FDA would not approve the drug.

Live Ventures Incorporated (NASDAQ:LIVE)

LIVE Lawsuit on behalf of: investors who purchased December 28, 2016 – August 3, 2021
Lead Plaintiff Deadline : October 12, 2021
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/live-ventures-incorporated-loss-submission-form?prid=19376&wire=1

According to the filed complaint, during the class period, Live Ventures Incorporated made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: 1) Live's earnings per share for FY 2016 was actually only $6.33 per share; (2) the Company used an artificially low share count to boost the earnings per share by 40%; (3) Live had overstated pretax income for fiscal 2016 by 20% by including $915,500 of "other income" related to certain amendments that were not negotiated until after the close of the fiscal year; (4) Live's acquisition of ApplianceSmart did not close during first quarter 2017; (5) using December 30, 2017 as the "acquisition date" and recognizing income therefrom did not conform to generally accepted accounting principles; (6) by falsely stating that the acquisition closed during the quarter, Live recognized bargain purchase gain, which enabled the Company to report positive net income in what would otherwise have been an unprofitable quarter; (7) between fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2018, Live's CEO received approximately 94% more in compensation than was disclosed to investors; and (8) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

You have until the lead plaintiff deadlines to request that the court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized firm with offices in New York, California, Connecticut, and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise and experience representing investors in securities litigation and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Eduard Korsinsky, Esq.
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
jlevi@levikorsinsky.com
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
www.zlk.com

SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/662836/CLASS-ACTION-UPDATE-for-PLL-ARDX-and-LIVE-Levi-Korsinsky-LLP-Reminds-Investors-of-Class-Actions-on-Behalf-of-Shareholders

RADNOR, Pa., Sept. 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Piedmont Lithium Inc. f/k/a Piedmont Lithium Limited (NASDAQ: PLL) (“Piedmont”) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Piedmont securities between March 16, 2018 and July 19, 2021, inclusive (the “Class Period”).

Deadline Reminder: Investors who purchased or acquired Piedmont securities during the Class Period may, no later than September 21, 2021, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation please contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP: James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453; toll free at (844) 887-9500; via e-mail at info@ktmc.com; or click https://www.ktmc.com/piedmont-lithium-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=Link&utm_campaign=piedmont

Piedmont engages in the exploration and development of resource projects. Piedmont primarily holds a 100% interest in a lithium project covering 2,322 acres in the North Carolina. Throughout the Class Period, Piedmont informed investors regarding its plan for completing necessary permitting and zoning activities required to commence mining and processing operations in North Carolina.

The truth began to emerge on July 20, 2021. Before market hours, Reuters published an article entitled “In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors” which reported the following, in pertinent part, regarding Piedmont’s regulatory issues in North Carolina: (1) Piedmont had not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so; (2) five of the seven members of the county’s board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, said they may block or delay the project; and (3) Piedmont had been set to meet with commissioners in March, but canceled with three days’ notice, further straining the relationship.

Following this news, Piedmont shares fell $12.56 per share over the trading day, or nearly 20%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021.

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Piedmont had not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business did not have “strong local government support”; and (5) as a result, the defendants’ public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

Piedmont investors may, no later than September 21, 2021, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member’s claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Jr., Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(844) 887-9500 (toll free)
info@ktmc.com

(Adds comment from Lithium Americas CEO)

By Ernest Scheyder

Sept 3 (Reuters) – A U.S. federal judge ruled on Friday that Lithium Americas Corp may conduct excavation work at its Thacker Pass lithium mine site in Nevada, denying a request from Native Americans who said the digging would desecrate an area they believe holds ancestral bones and artifacts.

The ruling from Chief Judge Miranda Du was the second victory in recent weeks for the project, which could become the largest U.S. source of lithium, used in electric vehicle batteries.

The court is still considering the broader question of whether former President Donald Trump's administration erred when it approved the project in January. That ruling is expected by early 2022.

Du said the Native Americans did not prove the U.S. government failed to properly consult them during the permitting process. Du in July denied a similar request from environmentalists.

Du said, though, that she was not dismissing all the Native Americans' arguments, but felt bound by existing laws to deny their request.

"This order does not resolve the merits of the tribes' claims," Du said in her 22-page ruling.

Vancouver-based Lithium Americas said it would protect and preserve tribal artifacts.

"We've always been committed to doing this the right way by respecting our neighbors, and we are pleased today's ruling recognizes our efforts," Lithium Americas Chief Executive Jon Evans told Reuters.

No digging can take place until the U.S. Bureau of Land Management issues an Archeological Resources Protection Act permit.

The Burns Paiute Tribe, one of the tribes that brought the lawsuit, noted that the bureau told the court last month that the land holds cultural value for Native Americans.

"If that's the case, well then there's going to be harm if you start digging into the landscape," said Richard Eichstaedt, an attorney for the Burns Paiute.

Representatives for the bureau and two other tribes who sued were not immediately available to comment. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by David Gregorio and Rosalba O'Brien)

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Albemarle (ALB). Shares have added about 11.6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Albemarle due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.

Albemarle’s Earnings Surpass Estimates in Q2, Sales Lag

Albemarle recorded a profit of $424.6 million or $3.62 per share in the second quarter of 2021, up from $85.6 million or 80 cents per share it earned a year ago. The bottom line in the reported quarter includes a gain on the sale of the Fine Chemistry Services business.

Adjusted earnings for the reported quarter were 89 cents per share, up from 86 cents a year ago. It topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 83 cents.

Revenues rose roughly 1% year over year to $773.9 million in the quarter. It missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $787.1 million. The top line was aided by higher sales from the company's Lithium and Bromine business segments.

Segment Highlights

Sales from the Lithium unit rose around 13% year over year to $320.3 million in the reported quarter, aided by higher volumes (up 17%) that more than offset lower pricing. Prices fell 4% due to lower carbonate and technical grade product pricing. Adjusted EBITDA was up roughly 16% year over year to $109.4 million, aided by higher sales.

The Bromine Specialties segment recorded sales of $279.7 million, up around 20% year over year. Sales were supported by higher demand for products across the portfolio and improved volumes and pricing. Adjusted EBITDA was $92.6 million, up around 27% year over year. The company’s cost-savings initiatives and pricing offset higher raw materials costs.

The Catalysts unit recorded revenues of $148.3 million in the reported quarter, down around 25% year over year, hurt by lower volumes. Prices were flat in the quarter. FCC volumes fell modestly, impacted by a change in order patterns from a large North American customer. Adjusted EBITDA was $21.2 million, down roughly 7% year over year, impacted by lower sales.

Financial Position

Albemarle ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of roughly $823.6 million, up around 12% year over year. Long-term debt was $2,043.8 million, down around 35% year over year.

Cash flow from operations was $385.9 million for the six months ended Jun 30, 2021, up around 86% year over year.

Outlook

Moving ahead, Albemarle expects its performance for full-year 2021 to improve modestly on a year-over-year basis on a sustained recovery in global economic activities.

The company expects net sales for 2021 to be between $3.2 billion and $3.3 billion. It sees higher Lithium sales and improving trends in Catalysts. However, expectations for the Bromine business are reduced due to an increase in raw material costs and supply chain disruptions.

Moreover, Albemarle now sees adjusted earnings per share for 2021 in the band of $3.35-$3.70, up from its prior view of $3.25 to $3.65.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates review. The consensus estimate has shifted -10.18% due to these changes.

VGM Scores

At this time, Albemarle has a subpar Growth Score of D, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook

Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Albemarle has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

With the business potentially at an important milestone, we thought we'd take a closer look at Piedmont Lithium Inc.'s (ASX:PLL) future prospects. Piedmont Lithium Inc. engages in the exploration and development of resource projects in the United States. The AU$1.3b market-cap company posted a loss in its most recent financial year of US$5.7m and a latest trailing-twelve-month loss of US$7.7m leading to an even wider gap between loss and breakeven. As path to profitability is the topic on Piedmont Lithium's investors mind, we've decided to gauge market sentiment. We've put together a brief outline of industry analyst expectations for the company, its year of breakeven and its implied growth rate.

View our latest analysis for Piedmont Lithium

Consensus from 7 of the Australian Metals and Mining analysts is that Piedmont Lithium is on the verge of breakeven. They expect the company to post a final loss in 2023, before turning a profit of US$93m in 2024. The company is therefore projected to breakeven around 3 years from today. How fast will the company have to grow each year in order to reach the breakeven point by 2024? Working backwards from analyst estimates, it turns out that they expect the company to grow 62% year-on-year, on average, which signals high confidence from analysts. Should the business grow at a slower rate, it will become profitable at a later date than expected.

We're not going to go through company-specific developments for Piedmont Lithium given that this is a high-level summary, however, keep in mind that typically a metal and mining business has lumpy cash flows which are contingent on the natural resource mined and stage at which the company is operating. This means that a high growth rate is not unusual, especially if the company is currently in an investment period.

Before we wrap up, there’s one aspect worth mentioning. The company has managed its capital judiciously, with debt making up 3.4% of equity. This means that it has predominantly funded its operations from equity capital, and its low debt obligation reduces the risk around investing in the loss-making company.

Next Steps:

There are key fundamentals of Piedmont Lithium which are not covered in this article, but we must stress again that this is merely a basic overview. For a more comprehensive look at Piedmont Lithium, take a look at Piedmont Lithium's company page on Simply Wall St. We've also compiled a list of relevant aspects you should further research:

1. Historical Track Record: What has Piedmont Lithium's performance been like over the past? Go into more detail in the past track record analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of our analysis for more clarity.

2. Management Team: An experienced management team on the helm increases our confidence in the business – take a look at who sits on Piedmont Lithium's board and the CEO’s background.

3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

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.

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 3, 2021 / The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that class actions have commenced on behalf of certain shareholders in the following companies. If you suffered a loss you have until the lead plaintiff deadline to request that the court appoint you as lead plaintiff. There will be no obligation or cost to you.

Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ:PLL)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/piedmont-lithium-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19371&wire=1
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 21, 2021
Class Period: March 16, 2018 – July 19, 2021

Allegations against PLL include that: (1) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business does not have "strong local government support"; and (5) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE:PHG)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/koninklijke-philips-n-v-loss-submission-form?prid=19371&wire=1
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 15, 2021
Class Period: February 25, 2020 – June 11, 2021

Allegations against PHG include that: (i) Philips had deficient product manufacturing controls or procedures; (ii) as a result, the Company's Bi-Level PAP and CPAP devices and mechanical ventilators were manufactured using hazardous materials; (iii) accordingly, the Company's sales revenues from the foregoing products were unsustainable; (iv) the foregoing also subjected the Company to a substantial risk of a product recall, in addition to potential legal and/or regulatory action; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

ATI Physical Therapy, Inc. f/k/a Fortress Value Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE:ATIP)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/ati-physical-therapy-inc-f-k-a-fortress-value-acquisition-corp-ii-loss-submission-form?prid=19371&wire=1
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 15, 2021
This lawsuit is on behalf of investors who: (a) purchased or otherwise acquired ATI securities between April 1, 2021 and July 23, 2021, inclusive and/or (b) held FVAC Class A common stock as of May 24, 2021 and were eligible to vote at FVAC's June 15, 2021 special meeting.

Allegations against ATIP include that: (1) ATI was experiencing attrition among its physical therapists; (2) ATI faced increasing competition for clinicians in the labor market; (3) as a result of the foregoing, the Company faced difficulties retaining therapists and incurred increased labor costs; (4) as a result of the labor shortage, the Company would open fewer new clinics; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

To learn more contact Vincent Wong, Esq. either via email vw@wongesq.com or by telephone at 212.425.1140.

Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
Fax. 866.699.3880
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com

SOURCE: The Law Offices of Vincent Wong

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/662813/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-PLL-PHG-ATIP-The-Law-Offices-of-Vincent-Wong-Reminds-Investors-of-Important-Class-Action-Deadlines

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 2, 2021 / Levi & Korsinsky, LLP announces that class action lawsuits have commenced on behalf of shareholders of the following publicly-traded companies. Shareholders interested in serving as lead plaintiff have until the deadlines listed to petition the court. Further details about the cases can be found at the links provided. There is no cost or obligation to you.

PLL Shareholders Click Here: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/piedmont-lithium-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19328&wire=1
OTLY Shareholders Click Here: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/oatly-group-ab-loss-submission-form?prid=19328&wire=1
ARDX Shareholders Click Here: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/ardelyx-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19328&wire=1

* ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW *

Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ:PLL)

PLL Lawsuit on behalf of: investors who purchased March 16, 2018 – July 19, 2021
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 21, 2021
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/piedmont-lithium-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19328&wire=1

According to the filed complaint, during the class period, Piedmont Lithium Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business does not have "strong local government support"; and (5) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

Oatly Group AB (NASDAQ:OTLY)

OTLY Lawsuit on behalf of: investors who purchased May 20, 2021 – July 15, 2021
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 24, 2021
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/oatly-group-ab-loss-submission-form?prid=19328&wire=1

According to the filed complaint, during the class period, Oatly Group AB made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (a) Oatly overinflated its gross margins, revenue, capital expenditure, and market share financial metrics; (b) the Company overstated its sustainability practices and impact; (c) the Company exaggerated its growth in China; and (c) as a result of the foregoing, Oatly's statements about its operations, business, and prospects were misleading during the Class Period.

Ardelyx, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARDX)

ARDX Lawsuit on behalf of: investors who purchased August 6, 2020 – July 19, 2021
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 28, 2021
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/ardelyx-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19328&wire=1

According to the filed complaint, during the class period, Ardelyx, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: 1) the Company overstated the likelihood that tenapanor would be approved by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"); and 2) Defendants possessed, were in control over, and as a result, knew that the data submitted to support the New Drug Application was insufficient in that it showed a lack of clinical relevance of the drug's treatment effect, making it foreseeably likely that the FDA would not approve the drug.

You have until the lead plaintiff deadlines to request that the court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized firm with offices in New York, California, Connecticut, and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise and experience representing investors in securities litigation and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Eduard Korsinsky, Esq.
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
jlevi@levikorsinsky.com
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
www.zlk.com

SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/662659/CLASS-ACTION-UPDATE-for-PLL-OTLY-and-ARDX-Levi-Korsinsky-LLP-Reminds-Investors-of-Class-Actions-on-Behalf-of-Shareholders

NEW YORK, Sept. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, reminds investors that class actions have been commenced on behalf of stockholders of 360 DigiTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: QFIN), Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ: PLL), Iterum Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ITRM), and HyreCar Inc. (NASDAQ: HYRE). Stockholders have until the deadlines below to petition the court to serve as lead plaintiff. Additional information about each case can be found at the link provided.

360 DigiTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: QFIN)

Class Period: April 30, 2020 to July 7, 2021

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 13, 2021

On July 8, 2021, reports circulated on social media to the effect that the Company's core product, the 360 IOU app, had been removed from major app stores. The reports came on the heels of the removal of other companies' apps as Chinese regulators investigated their customer data protection practices.

On this news, 360 DigiTech’s stock price fell $7.12 per share, or 21.48%, to close at $26.02 per share on July 8, 2021.

On July 9, 2021, Seeking Alpha reported that 360 DigiTech confirmed the removal of its 360 IOU app from the Android app store and quoted a Company spokesperson, who disclosed that the Company had “submitted a new rectification plan and stepped up the whole process.”

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company had been collecting personal information in violation of relevant People’s Republic of China laws and regulations; (ii) accordingly, 360 DigiTech was exposed to an increased risk of regulatory scrutiny and/or enforcement action; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

For more information on the 360 DigiTech class action go to: https://bespc.com/cases/QFIN

Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ: PLL)

Class Period: March 16, 2018 and July 19, 2021

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 21, 2021

On July 20, 2021, before market hours, Reuters published an article entitled “In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors.” Among other things, the article reported that “[t]he company […] has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.” The article went on to report that “[f]ive of the seven members of the county’s board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project[.]”

On this news, Piedmont shares fell $12.56 per share over the trading day, or nearly 20%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (ii) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (iii) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (iv) Piedmont and its lithium business does not have “strong governmental support”; and (v) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

For more information on the Piedmont Lithium class action go to: https://bespc.com/cases/PLL

Iterum Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ITRM)

Class Period: November 30, 2020 to July 23, 2021

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 4, 2021

On July 1, 2021, Iterum issued a press release “announc[ing] that the Company received a letter from the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)] stating that, as part of their ongoing review of the [sulopenem New Drug Application “NDA”], the agency has identified deficiencies that preclude the continuation of the discussion of labeling and post marketing requirements/commitments at this time.”

On this news, Iterum’s ordinary share price fell $0.87 per share, or 37.99%, to close at $1.42 per share on July 2, 2021.

Then, on July 26, 2021, Iterum issued a press release announcing that it had received a Complete Response Letter from the FDA for the sulopenem NDA, “provid[ing] that the FDA has completed its review of the NDA and has determined that it cannot approve the NDA in its present form.”

On this news, Iterum’s ordinary share price fell $0.499 per share, or 44.16%, to close at $0.631 per share on July 26, 2021.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the sulopenem (“NDA”) lacked sufficient data to support approval for the treatment of adult women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (“uUTIs”) caused by designated susceptible microorganisms proven or strongly suspected to be non-susceptible to a quinolone; (ii) accordingly, it was unlikely that the FDA would approve the sulopenem NDA in its current form; (iii) defendants downplayed the severity of issued and deficiencies associated with the sulopenem NDA; and (iv) as a result, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

For more information on the Iterum class action go to: https://bespc.com/cases/ITRM

HyreCar Inc. (NASDAQ: HYRE)

Class Period: May 14, 2020 to August 10, 2021

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 26, 2021

On August 10, 2021, HyreCar announced deeply disappointing results for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021 (“Q2 2021”), including net losses of $9.3 million compared to losses of $3.8 million in the same period the prior year. Furthermore, HyreCar’s adjusted EBITDA loss for Q2 2021 was $7.1 million (four times higher than the $1.7 million adjusted EBITDA loss experienced in the second quarter of 2020) and its gross profit for Q2 2021 was just $0.8 million (less than one third HyreCar’s gross profit in the second quarter of 2020), with a gross profit margin of just 24%. Contemporaneously with the release, HyreCar disclosed that HyreCar had incurred skyrocketing costs of revenue during the quarter primarily as a result of significantly higher insurance claims incidence, including claims before March 31, 2021 “in excess of the reserves.” During HyreCar’s earnings call, executives revealed that HyreCar had been forced to revamp its claims processes and procedures and improve its risk price adjustments for policies issued by HyreCar. And when asked whether HyreCar was actually on track to achieve 45% to 50% gross margins in the near term as previously represented, HyreCar’s CFO essentially withdrew this goal, calling it a “shoot for the sky” aim and stating that “shooting for margin upwards of 40%” was more realistic.

On this news, HyreCar’s stock price fell $9.27 per share, nearly 50%, closing at $9.85 per share on August 11, 2021.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and misleading statements and failed to disclose that: (i) HyreCar had materially understated its insurance reserves; (ii) HyreCar had systematically failed to pay valid insurance claims incurred prior to the Class Period; (iii) HyreCar had incurred significant expenses transitioning to its new third-party insurance claims administrator and processing claims incurred from prior periods; (iv) HyreCar had failed to appropriately price risk in its insurance products and was experiencing elevated claims incidence as a result; (v) HyreCar had been forced to dramatically reform its claims underwriting, policies, and procedures in response to unacceptably high claims severity and customer complaints; and (vi) as a result, HyreCar's operations and prospects were misrepresented because HyreCar was not on track to meet the financial estimates provided to investors during the Class Period, and such estimates lacked a reasonable basis in fact, including HyreCar’s purported gross margin, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”), and net loss trajectories.

For more information on the HyreCar class action go to: https://bespc.com/cases/HYRE

About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contact Information:
Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.
Brandon Walker, Esq.
Melissa Fortunato, Esq.
Marion Passmore, Esq.
(212) 355-4648
investigations@bespc.com
www.bespc.com

The fertilizer industry is on a solid footing buoyed by strong global demand and prices for crop nutrients. Strong agricultural market trends, a rally in crop commodity prices and attractive farm economics are spurring demand for fertilizers globally. Demand for fertilizers is also backed by the need to grow the production of grains to address rising consumption. A tight global supply-demand balance is also driving fertilizer prices.

Strong global demand coupled with supply constraints have provided a boost to crop commodity prices. Prices of corn and soybean have rallied to multi-year highs. Higher agricultural commodity prices augur well for crop nutrient demand. Expectations of higher planted corn and soybean acres globally this year on the back of higher crop prices also suggest an uptick in fertilizer demand. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 92.7 million acres of corn planted in the United States for 2021, up 2% from last year. Soybean area planted is projected at 87.6 million acres, up 5% from 2020.

In the United States, healthy farm profits and higher planted acreage are expected to drive demand for fertilizers this year. Farm economics have strengthened in the United States on the back of a spike in crop commodity prices and government support. Solid farm income is likely to incentivize farmers to spend on crop nutrients. Robust grower economics back by strong crop demand are also expected to support demand in other major markets such as Brazil and India.

Meanwhile, phosphate markets are likely to remain robust in the near term 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, higher crop prices and low global inventory levels.

Demand for nitrogen fertilizer also remains healthy in major markets. Higher economic activities have contributed to increased industrial consumption of nitrogen products. Global nitrogen requirement is being driven by demand in North America, India and Brazil. Higher corn acres in the United States are expected to spur nitrogen demand in North America this year. Moreover, demand for urea imports into Brazil and India remains favorable. A tight nitrogen supply and demand balance and a spike in energy prices across Europe and Asia are also likely to support nitrogen prices through the balance of 2021.

Solid Zacks Industry Rank

The Zacks Fertilizers industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #9, which places it in the top 4% of more than 250 Zacks industries. The favorable rank reflects the industry’s strength. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Price Performance

The Zacks Fertilizers industry has outperformed the broader market in a year’s time. While the industry has rallied 50.3%, the S&P 500 has returned 32.5%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

4 Stocks Worth a Wager

The fertilizer industry is riding on the strength in the global agriculture markets. Factors like solid farm income and expectations of increased planted acres are expected to drive demand for fertilizers globally. As such, the time is ripe for the investors to add some fertilizer stocks that offer compelling growth prospects.

Below we highlight four stocks, with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), that are good options for investment right now. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Mosaic Company MOS: The Florida-based company is well positioned to leverage increasing global demand for fertilizers and higher realized prices in its businesses. Strong prices for phosphate and potash should drive its results this year. Actions to improve its operating cost structure through transformation plans are also expected to boost profitability.

The company has expected earnings growth of 450.6% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings for the company has moved up 45.3% in the past 60 days. It beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters at an average of roughly 43%.

Nutrien Ltd. NTR: This Canada-based company is well placed to benefit from solid demand and higher prices for fertilizers, especially potash. It is expected to gain from strong potash sales volumes this year on the back of solid domestic and overseas demand. Nutrien is also poised to gain from acquisitions, cost efficiency and increased adoption of its digital platform. The company also continues to expand its footprint in Brazil through acquisitions, including Tec Agro.

Nutrien has expected earnings growth of 156.1% for the current year. The consensus estimate for earnings for the current year has also been revised 24.6% upward over the last 60 days. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 127.6%, on average.

Intrepid Potash, Inc. IPI: The Colorado-based company is gaining from strong commodity prices and rising potash demand and pricing, which is supporting its margins. A recovery in economic activities and the strength in commodity prices are driving demand for its specialty fertilizer, Trio. Higher prices for potash and Trio are expected to drive its bottom line.

The company has expected earnings growth of 251.3% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for the current year has been revised 147.3% upward over the last 60 days. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 90.5%, on average.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM: The Chile-based company should benefit from being the low-cost producer of potassium chloride, potassium sulfate and potassium nitrate. Moreover, higher demand is expected to boost sales volumes in its specialty plant nutrition business this year. Rising demand is also expected to drive prices of potassium chloride.

The company has expected earnings growth of 46.7% for the current year. The consensus estimate for the current year has been revised 8.3% upward over the last 60 days. The company also has an expected long-term earnings per share growth rate of 32.5%.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (SQM) : Free Stock Analysis Report

The Mosaic Company (MOS) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Intrepid Potash, Inc (IPI) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for FMC (FMC). Shares have lost about 4.3% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is FMC due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

FMC Corp’s Earnings and Revenues Surpass Estimates in Q2

FMC Corp recorded earnings (as reported) of $1.56 per share in second-quarter 2021, up 11% from $1.41 reported a year ago.  

Barring one-time items, adjusted earnings per share were $1.81, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.77.

Revenues were $1,242 million for the quarter, up around 8% from the year-ago quarter. It surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,228 million.

Revenues were driven by a 4% rise in volumes and 4% favorable impact of currencies. The company saw strong volume growth in all regions outside of EMEA on the back of strong underlying business and contribution of new product launches.

Regional Sales Performance

Sales dropped 7% year over year in North America in the quarter, impacted by a shift in volume demand by geography from the company’s global diamide partnerships.

Sales in Latin America went up 15% year over year in the reported quarter on strong demand for insecticide and fungicide, aided by favorable commodity prices, and favorable currency swings.

In EMEA, sales rose 3% year over year as higher demand for diamides and herbicides and favorable currency swings were offset by the impacts of unfavorable weather and discontinued registrations.

Revenues climbed 20% year over year in Asia on the back of strength in the insecticide portfolio, especially in India and Australia, and favorable impact of currencies.

Financials

The company had cash and cash equivalents of $728.5 million at the end of the quarter, up roughly 113% year over year. Long-term debt was $2,630.8 million, down around 13% year over year.

The company repurchased shares worth $25 million in the second quarter.

Guidance

For 2021, FMC continues to expect revenues to be between $4.9 billion and $5.1 billion, indicating a rise of 8% at the midpoint versus 2020. The growth is expected to be driven mainly by volumes and price increases.

The company now envisions adjusted EBITDA of $1.29-$1.35 billion (down from earlier view of $1.32-$1.42 billion) for 2021, indicating a 6% rise at the midpoint versus 2020. The revision reflects continued increase in raw materials, packaging and logistics costs.

Moreover, FMC now expects adjusted earnings per share for 2021 in the range of $6.54 to $6.94 (down from $6.70-$7.40 expected earlier), reflecting an increase of 9% at the midpoint compared with 2020.

Free cash flow for 2021 is now projected to be $480-$570 million, indicating a 4% year-over-year decline.

The company also expects to buyback $350-$450 million shares in 2021.

For third-quarter 2021, revenues are projected in the band of $1.13-$1.22 billion, reflecting an increase of 8% at the midpoint compared with the prior-year quarter. Adjusted earnings are forecast in the range of $1.23-$1.39 per share, representing an increase of 7% at the midpoint compared with the prior-year quarter.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates review. The consensus estimate has shifted -21.65% due to these changes.

VGM Scores

Currently, FMC has a nice Growth Score of B, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook

Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. It's no surprise FMC has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
FMC Corporation (FMC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research

Albemarle is the first lithium producer to begin the independent assessment, leading the way for transparency in lithium extraction operations

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), a leader in the global specialty chemicals industry and in lithium extraction and production, announced today that it has commenced an independent, third-party assessment using the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance's (IRMA) Standard for Responsible Mining at the company's lithium brine extraction site, the Salar Plant, located in Northern Chile in the Salar de Atacama.

IRMA is globally considered the most comprehensive and rigorous certification standard for assurance of responsible mining. The organization specifies objectives and requirements with the greatest depth, breadth, and specificity for environmentally and socially responsible mining practices.

Albemarle's third-party audit makes the company the first global lithium producer to commence such an assessment using the rigorous IRMA Standard. ERM Certification and Verification Services (ERM CVS), an IRMA-approved certification body, is executing the audit, which includes a desk review followed by an onsite audit. Onsite auditors will interview mine management, department staff, mine workers and external community stakeholders; review relevant data and documents; develop corrective action items, and publicly disclose the audit summary. Once the process has been completed, a full report will be published on IRMA's website for public access.

Prior to beginning the independent audit with ERM CVS, Albemarle was the first lithium producer to complete and submit IRMA's self-assessment process at the Salar Plant in February 2021. The third-party assessment covers 26 areas, including water management, human rights, greenhouse gas emissions, fair labor, and terms of work.

"How we produce lithium in the Salar de Atacama is as important as how much lithium we produce. We are committed to operating transparently and growing responsibly as part of a sustainable supply chain that helps our customers reach their sustainability goals," said Ellen Lenny-Pessagno, Albemarle's Vice President of Lithium Sustainability. "This third-party audit process will help us not only better understand how we can continue to improve our sustainability efforts, but also assure our customers and communities that we will always do what is right."

"We appreciate Albemarle's leadership in initiating such a rigorous review and encourage the various stakeholders to share their perspectives with the auditors," said Aimee Boulanger, IRMA's Executive Director. "This is an opportunity to further protect this fragile region's communities and the environment on which they depend, and for the market to value that effort."

Albemarle shareholders, customers, employees, and the public can visit the Mines Under Assessment page of IRMA's website for updated information on the company's third-party audit. For more information about IRMA, please refer to www.responsiblemining.net.

Albemarle's Sustainable Commitments in Chile
Albemarle's freshwater rights at the Salar make up 0.5%, or less than 23.5 liters per second (L/s), of the total freshwater rights in the Salar de Atacama basin. Of those rights, the company uses only 9 L/s for its camp, producing potassium chloride, and rinsing equipment. The company uses no fresh water in its brine extraction and concentration process.

The company recently committed to reducing the intensity of freshwater use by 25% by 2030 in areas of high and extremely high-water risk as defined by the World Resources Institute, which includes the Antofagasta region. To that end, Albemarle has invested $100 million in a thermal evaporator at its La Negra operation to increase conversion capacity without a corresponding increase in freshwater use. No other lithium manufacturer is currently utilizing this technology. La Negra is not included in this IRMA third-party audit as the current standard only covers the mine site, not stand-alone mineral processing facilities, and IRMA's draft Mineral Processing Standard has not yet been finalized.

Albemarle also shares 3.5% of revenues from its Chilean operations with local indigenous communities that are part of the Council of Atacameño Peoples, through a historic agreement signed in 2016. These 18 communities are responsible for selecting and implementing the projects to be funded by these Albemarle resources. To date, communities have built new and expanded water systems locally; constructed a wastewater treatment plant; built two photovoltaic plants; installed photovoltaic panels on homes; reduced reliance on diesel generators, and provided more than 500 scholarships. Lastly, five communities are in the process of building or have completed community centers.

About Albemarle
Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) is a global specialty chemicals company with leading positions in lithium, bromine, and catalysts. We think beyond business-as-usual to power the potential of companies in many of the world's largest and most critical industries, such as energy, electronics, and transportation. We actively pursue a sustainable approach to managing our diverse global footprint of world-class resources. In conjunction with our highly experienced and talented global teams, our deep-seated values, and our collaborative customer relationships, we create value-added and performance-based solutions that enable a safer and more sustainable future.

We regularly post information to www.albemarle.com, including notification of events, news, financial performance, investor presentations and webcasts, non-GAAP reconciliations, SEC filings and other information regarding our company, its businesses, and the markets it serves.

About IRMA
IRMA envisions a world where the mining industry respects the human rights and aspirations of affected communities; provides safe, healthy, and supportive workplaces; minimizes harm to the environment, and leaves positive legacies. IRMA offers objective, independent third-party verification of industrial-scale mine sites against a comprehensive definition of responsible mining agreed to through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder process. This definition, which forms the basis of IRMA's Standard for Responsible Mining, covers the full range of issues related to the impacts of mining.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/albemarle-begins-third-party-audit-in-chile-using-irmas-standard-for-responsible-mining-301368673.html

SOURCE Albemarle Corporation

Lithium supplies could remain constrained through 2025.

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 2, 2021 / The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that class actions have commenced on behalf of certain shareholders in the following companies. If you suffered a loss you have until the lead plaintiff deadline to request that the court appoint you as lead plaintiff. There will be no obligation or cost to you.

Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ:PLL)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/piedmont-lithium-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19279&wire=1
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 21, 2021
Class Period: March 16, 2018 – July 19, 2021

Allegations against PLL include that: (1) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business does not have "strong local government support"; and (5) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

Live Ventures Incorporated (NASDAQ:LIVE)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/live-ventures-incorporated-loss-submission-form?prid=19279&wire=1
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 12, 2021
Class Period: December 28, 2016 – August 3, 2021

Allegations against LIVE include that: 1) Live's earnings per share for FY 2016 was actually only $6.33 per share; (2) the Company used an artificially low share count to boost the earnings per share by 40%; (3) Live had overstated pretax income for fiscal 2016 by 20% by including $915,500 of "other income" related to certain amendments that were not negotiated until after the close of the fiscal year; (4) Live's acquisition of ApplianceSmart did not close during first quarter 2017; (5) using December 30, 2017 as the "acquisition date" and recognizing income therefrom did not conform to generally accepted accounting principles; (6) by falsely stating that the acquisition closed during the quarter, Live recognized bargain purchase gain, which enabled the Company to report positive net income in what would otherwise have been an unprofitable quarter; (7) between fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2018, Live's CEO received approximately 94% more in compensation than was disclosed to investors; and (8) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Sesen Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:SESN)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/sesen-bio-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19279&wire=1
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 18, 2021
Class Period: December 21, 2020 – August 17, 2021

Allegations against SESN include that: (1) Sesen Bio's clinical trial for its cancer treatment product, Vicineum, had more than 2,000 violations of trial protocol, including 215 classified as "major"; (2) three of Sesen Bio's clinical investigators were found guilty of "serious noncompliance," including "back-dating data"; (3) Sesen Bio had submitted the tainted data in connection with the Biologics License Application ("BLA") for Vicineum; (4) Sesen Bio's clinical trials showed that Vicineum leaked out into the body, leading to side effects including liver failure and liver toxicity, and increasing the risks for fatal, drug-induced liver injury; (5) as a result of the foregoing, the Company's BLA for Vicineum was not likely to be approved; (6) as a result of the foregoing, there was a reasonable likelihood that Sesen Bio would be required to conduct additional trials to support the efficacy and safety of Vicineum; and (7) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

To learn more contact Vincent Wong, Esq. either via email vw@wongesq.com or by telephone at 212.425.1140.

Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
Fax. 866.699.3880
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com

SOURCE: The Law Offices of Vincent Wong

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/662503/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-PLL-LIVE-SESN-The-Law-Offices-of-Vincent-Wong-Reminds-Investors-of-Important-Class-Action-Deadlines

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – September 1, 2021) – Millennial Lithium Corp. (TSXV: ML) (FSE: A3N2) (OTCQB: MLNLF) ("Millennial" or the "Company") and Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. (HK: 1772) (OTCQX: GNENF) ("Ganfeng") announced on July 16, 2021 that they had entered into a definitive arrangement agreement dated July 16, 2021 pursuant to which Ganfeng, through a British Columbia subsidiary, will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Millennial (each, a "Common Share") by way of a plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement"). On August 27, 2021, Millennial announced it had received an interim order of the British Columbia Supreme Court authorizing and approving various matters in connection with the Arrangement under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act including the holding of a special meeting (the "Meeting") to approve the Arrangement.

Millennial is pleased to announce that is has filed, and completed mailing of, its management information circular and related Meeting and proxy materials for the Meeting.

Details of the Meeting and the Arrangement can be found in Millennial's management information circular filed on Millennial's issuer profile at www.sedar.com as well as in previous news releases of Millennial.

About Millennial

To find out more about Millennial Lithium Corp. please contact Investor Relations at (604) 662-8184 or email info@millenniallithium.com.

About Ganfeng

Ganfeng is one of the largest producers of lithium. Ganfeng's operations are vertically integrated, encompassing all critical stages of the value chain, including upstream lithium extraction, midstream lithium compounds and metals processing, downstream lithium battery production and recycling. Ganfeng has comprehensive product offerings split into five major categories of more than 40 lithium compounds and metals products.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Farhad Abasov"
President CEO and Director

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.

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the Arrangement, including statements with respect to the benefits of the Arrangement to the Shareholders, the anticipated Meeting date and mailing of the information circular in respect of the Meeting, timing for completion of the Arrangement and receiving the required regulatory and court approvals, Ganfeng's expectations in respect of the Pastos Grandes Project, the accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates at the Pastos Grandes Project and future plans and objectives of Ganfeng. The Company's current plans, expectations and intentions with respect to development of its business and of the Pastos Grandes Project may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of Covid-19 pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions on its ability to secure further financing or funding of the Pastos Grandes Project. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR
DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/95279

(Bloomberg) — Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. announced a fourfold increase in its dividend after surging platinum-group metals prices yielded a record profit.

Implats, as the Johannesburg-based producer is known, follows Anglo American Platinum Ltd. and Sibanye Stillwater Ltd. in boosting payouts to investors. The final dividend of 9.8 billion rand ($680 million), or 12 rand a share, brings the total payout for the year through June to 22 rand. That’s the equivalent of about 50% of free cash flow.

The payout completes a turnaround for Implats, which just two years ago was on the verge of cutting more than 10,000 jobs and closing some operations. Supply shortfalls for both rhodium and palladium are continuing to buoy prices, even as automakers, the largest consumers of the metals, slow down some operations due to shortages of semi-conductors.

“The medium-term automotive demand outlook for PGMs remains robust, with tightening emissions standards and rising production volumes from a Covid-19-depressed base, likely to support firm demand through the middle of the decade,” Implats said Thursday in a statement.

The palladium supply deficit may persist until around 2025 and thereafter prices could soften to about $1,500 an ounce, Chief Executive Officer Nico Muller said on a conference call. The CEO forecasts platinum to rise to $2,500 to $2,700 an ounce from 2025, while rhodium may hover at $15,000 to $20,000 an ounce over the coming year as supplies remain tight.

Profit in the year almost tripled to 47 billion rand, Implats said. The company said its board has approved a one-time employee award of 1.1 billion rand. Implats shares fell as much as 7.3% in Johannesburg.

Implats is studying plans to refurbish an old base metals refinery in Zimbabwe to ease bottlenecks at its main plant in South Africa. The additional processing capacity could also help lift the company’s nickel and copper output, and make it easier to participate in new projects in southern Africa, Muller said.

(Updates with comments on palladium from fifth paragraph)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 1, 2021 / The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that class actions have commenced on behalf of certain shareholders in the following companies. If you suffered a loss you have until the lead plaintiff deadline to request that the court appoint you as lead plaintiff. There will be no obligation or cost to you.

James River Group Holdings, Ltd. (NASDAQ:JRVR)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/james-river-group-holdings-ltd-loss-submission-form?prid=19273&wire=1
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 7, 2021
Class Period: August 1, 2019 – May 5, 2021

Allegations against JRVR include that: (1) James River had not adequately reserved for its Uber policies; (2) James River was using an incorrect methodology for setting reserves that materially understated the Company's true exposure to Uber claims; (3) as a result, James River was forced to increase its unfavorable reserves in subsequent quarters even after cancelling the Uber policies; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' statements about James River's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and/or misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ:PLL)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/piedmont-lithium-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=19273&wire=1
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 21, 2021
Class Period: March 16, 2018 – July 19, 2021

Allegations against PLL include that: (1) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business does not have "strong local government support"; and (5) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

Live Ventures Incorporated (NASDAQ:LIVE)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/live-ventures-incorporated-loss-submission-form?prid=19273&wire=1
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 12, 2021
Class Period: December 28, 2016 – August 3, 2021

Allegations against LIVE include that: 1) Live's earnings per share for FY 2016 was actually only $6.33 per share; (2) the Company used an artificially low share count to boost the earnings per share by 40%; (3) Live had overstated pretax income for fiscal 2016 by 20% by including $915,500 of "other income" related to certain amendments that were not negotiated until after the close of the fiscal year; (4) Live's acquisition of ApplianceSmart did not close during first quarter 2017; (5) using December 30, 2017 as the "acquisition date" and recognizing income therefrom did not conform to generally accepted accounting principles; (6) by falsely stating that the acquisition closed during the quarter, Live recognized bargain purchase gain, which enabled the Company to report positive net income in what would otherwise have been an unprofitable quarter; (7) between fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2018, Live's CEO received approximately 94% more in compensation than was disclosed to investors; and (8) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

To learn more contact Vincent Wong, Esq. either via email vw@wongesq.com or by telephone at 212.425.1140.

Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
Fax. 866.699.3880
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com

SOURCE: The Law Offices of Vincent Wong

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/662478/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-JRVR-PLL-LIVE-The-Law-Offices-of-Vincent-Wong-Reminds-Investors-of-Important-Class-Action-Deadlines

NEW YORK, Sept. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP reminds investors that securities class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of stockholders of Stable Road Acquisition Corp., CorMedix Inc., Piedmont Lithium Inc. f/k/a Piedmont Lithium Limited, and Activision Blizzard. Investors have until the deadlines below to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuits. Additional information about each case can be found at the links provided below.

Stable Road Acquisition Corp. (“Stable Road” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: MNTS)

Class Period: October 7, 2020 to July 13, 2021
Pending Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 13, 2021

The lawsuits allege that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants misrepresented and failed to disclose adverse facts about Momentus’ business, operations, and prospects and Stable Road’s due diligence activities in connection with the merger, which were known to Defendants or recklessly disregarded by them, as follows: (a) Momentus’ 2019 test of its key technology, a water plasma thruster, had failed to meet Momentus’ own public and internal pre-launch criteria for success, and was conducted on a prototype that was not designed to generate commercially significant amounts of thrust; (b) the U.S. government had conveyed that it considered Momentus’ former CEO, Kokorich, a national security threat, which jeopardized Kokorich’s continued leadership of Momentus and Momentus’ launch schedule and business prospects; (c) consequently, the revenue projections and business and operational plans provided to investors regarding Momentus and the commercial viability and timeline of its products were materially false and misleading and lacked a reasonable basis in fact; and (d) Stable Road had failed to conduct appropriate due diligence of Momentus and its business operations and Defendants had materially misrepresented the due diligence activities being conducted by Stable Road executives and its sponsor in connection with the merger.

For additional information on the Stable Road lawsuits please visit this website.

CorMedix Inc. (“CorMedix” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CRMD)

Class Period: July 8, 2020 to May 13, 2021
Pending Court: U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 20, 2021

The lawsuit alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors the following: (1) deficiencies existed with respect to DefenCath’s manufacturing process and/or at the facility responsible for manufacturing DefenCath; (2) in light of the foregoing deficiencies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) was unlikely to approve the DefenCath New Drug Application (“NDA”) for catheter-related bloodstream infections in its present form; (3) Defendants had downplayed the true scope of the deficiencies with DefenCath’s manufacturing process and/or at the facility responsible for manufacturing DefenCath; and (4) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

For additional information on the CorMedix lawsuit please visit this website.

Piedmont Lithium Inc. f/k/a Piedmont Lithium Limited (“Piedmont” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PLL)

Class Period: March 16, 2018 to July 19, 2021
Pending Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 21, 2021

The lawsuit alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business do not have strong local government support; and (5) as a result, Defendants’ statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

For additional information on the Piedmont lawsuit please visit this website.

Activision Blizzard, Inc. (“Activision Blizzard” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ATVI)

Class Period: August 4, 2016 to July 27, 2021
Pending Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 4, 2021

The lawsuit alleges throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Activision Blizzard discriminated against women and minority employees; (2) Activision Blizzard fostered a pervasive “frat boy” workplace culture that continues to thrive; (3) numerous complaints about unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation were made to human resources personnel and executives which went unaddressed; (4) the pervasive culture of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation would result in serious impairments to Activision Blizzard’s operations; (5) as a result of the foregoing, the Company was at greater risk of regulatory and legal scrutiny and enforcement, including that which would have a material adverse effect; (6) Activision Blizzard failed to inform shareholders that California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing had been investigating Activision Blizzard for harassment and discrimination; and (7) as a result, Defendants’ statements about Activision Blizzard’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

For additional information on the Activision Blizzard lawsuit please visit this website.

About Kirby McInerney LLP:

Kirby McInerney is a New York-based plaintiffs’ law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation. The firm’s efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney’s website: www.kmllp.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Contacts
Kirby McInerney LLP
Thomas W. Elrod, Esq.,
(212) 371-6600
investigations@kmllp.com
www.kmllp.com

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

MONTREAL, Sept. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SIRIOS RESOURCES INC. (TSX-V: SOI) announced that it has closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement, for aggregate gross proceeds of $787,472. In connection with the offering, the Sirios issued 6,562,266 common Flow-Through shares of the share capital of the Corporation at a price of $0.12 per Flow-Through Share.

The gross proceeds from the sale of the Flow-Through Shares will be used by the Corporation to incur eligible “Canadian exploration expenses” related to the Cheechoo, Aquilon and Maskwa gold projects of the Corporation located in Eeyou Istchee Baie James in the province of Quebec.

Finder’s fees totalling $14,000 were paid to finders in connection with this offering. The Flow-Through Shares issued pursuant to this offering are subject to a restricted hold period ending on January 1^st, 2022. The offering remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Depending on market conditions, the Corporation may decide to proceed with the closing of additional tranches of the private placement.

Each Flow-Through Share will qualify as a “flow-through share” within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the Taxation Act (Québec). The Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2021.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Sirios Resources Inc.
Pioneer in the discovery of significant gold deposits in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada. Sirios Resources Inc. focuses its work mainly on its Cheechoo gold discovery, while actively exploring the high auriferous potential of its other properties.

Visit our website at www.sirios.com or contact:
Dominique Doucet, President, Eng.
514-918-2867
ddoucet@sirios.com

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

Forward-Looking Statements
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to, those relating to the intended use of proceeds of the Offering, the renunciation of the eligible “Canadian exploration expenses” by the Corporation in favour of the subscribers no later than December 31, 2021, the closing of any additional tranches to the private placement, the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange in connection with the Offering, the development of the Cheechoo, Aquilon and Maskwa projects and, generally, the above “About Sirios Resources Inc.” paragraph which essentially describes the Corporation’s outlook, constitute “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and future events, could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in the Corporation’s disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s endeavors to develop the Cheechoo, Aquilon and Maskwa projects and, more generally, its expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators of Canada. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Piedmont Lithium Inc. (“Piedmont” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PLL). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Piedmont and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

In 2020, Piedmont signed a deal to supply Tesla Inc. with lithium sourced from its deposits in North Carolina. Then, on July 20, 2021, Reuters reported that Piedmont “has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.” Reuters further reported that “[f]ive of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected.”

On this news, Piedmont’s stock price fell $12.56 per share, or 19.91%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980

VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 1, 2021 /CNW/ – Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) is pleased to announce that is has engaged Niigaani Drilling to complete a drill program at the Company's Georgia Lake lithium project in Ontario. The objective of the program is to confirm the delineated mineral resource, forming the basis for a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS").

The program is targeting a total of 7,800 metres over five (5) deposits: Main Zone North, Main Zone South West, Conway, Harricana and Line 60. As disclosed in a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") with an effective date of March 15, 2021, the Georgia Lake property hosts mineral resources as follows:

Bob MacDonald, General Manager of the Georgia Lake Lithium Project: "We are pleased with the progress at the Georgia Lake Project in the first half of 2021 and have commenced a Pre-Feasibility Study which is expected to be concluded in Q1 2022. We have engaged Niigaani Drilling to complete our 2021 drill programme with the focus on upgrading our confidence in the 5 main pegmatite dykes hosting spodumene in our northern land package. We are continuing to take all the necessary steps to advance the Georgia Lake Project."

Dirk Harbecke, Rock Tech CEO: "We are excited about the progress we are making and are pleased to have Niigaani Drilling on this project. We are on time to achieve our goal to deliver our first battery-grade lithium hydroxide in 2024 and be part of the electric revolution that will transform the mobility sector in the coming decade."

Furthermore, the Company announces that it has granted 475,000 stock options to directors and employees of the Company. The stock options have an exercise price of $5.05 and will expire on September 1, 2023.

The scientific and technical disclosure included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Robert MacDonald, P.Eng., General Manager of the Georgia Lake Lithium Project, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Dirk Harbecke"
Dirk Harbecke
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

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

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward‐looking statements". Forward‐looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward‐looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward‐looking statements.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rock-tech-engages-niigaani-drilling-mobilizes-drill-rig-to-georgia-lake-301367355.html

SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2021/01/c5233.html

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 31, 2021 /CNW/ – Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") is pleased to announce it has engaged Evercore Group L.L.C. ("Evercore") to act as the Company's financial and capital markets advisor.

"We are excited to work with Evercore as we realize our ambition of becoming a leading lithium hydroxide producer in multiple jurisdictions," said Dirk Harbecke, Rock Tech's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Evercore's global reach and sector experience will be a valuable asset to our management team as we advance our projects around the world."

Evercore will provide advisory services in connection with evaluating strategic and financial alternatives and will earn and be paid fees contingent upon the completion of any related transactions.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Dirk Harbecke"
Dirk Harbecke
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

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

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward–looking statements". Forward–looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward–looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward–looking statements.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rock-tech-engages-evercore-as-financial-and-capital-markets-advisor-301365889.html

SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2021/31/c7179.html

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 31, 2021 / WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Piedmont Lithium Inc. f/k/a/ Piedmont Lithium Limited (NASDAQ:PLL, PLLL) between March 16, 2018 and July 19, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important September 21, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action commenced by the firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Piedmont securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Piedmont class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2124.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 21, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont, and its lithium business, does not have "strong local government support"; and (5) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Piedmont class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2124.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE: Rosen Law Firm PA

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/662274/PLL-LOSS-ALERT-ROSEN-A-LEADING-INVESTOR-RIGHTS-LAW-FIRM-Encourages-Piedmont-Lithium-Investors-with-LARGE-LOSSES-to-Secure-Counsel-Before-Important-Deadline-in-Securities-Class-Action–PLL-PLLL

TORONTO, Aug. 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Noront Resources Ltd. ("Noront" or the "Company") (TSXV: NOT) acknowledges receipt on August 30, 2021 of a non-binding letter from Wyloo Metals ("Wyloo"). The letter describes Wyloo's interest in potentially acquiring all of the common shares of Noront that Wyloo does not currently own, subject to a number of conditions, including due diligence, and negotiating and executing a definitive arrangement agreement.

Responding to the Wyloo Proposal

Noront is party to a July 27, 2021 support agreement with BHP Western Mining Resources International Pty Ltd ("BHP") and its parent, BHP Lonsdale Investments Pty Ltd (the "Support Agreement"), under which Noront agreed to support an offer by BHP to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Noront that BHP does not already own (the "BHP Offer"). As is customary, the Support Agreement defines the circumstances in which Noront is permitted to engage with, and provide confidential information to, another party that makes a proposal to acquire the common shares of Noront.

At this point, Wyloo's publicly-announced interest in Noront is not an offer, rather it is a non-binding proposal to the Noront Board of Directors that is conditional on completion of due diligence by Wyloo and negotiation and execution of a definitive arrangement agreement. Wyloo has not entered into any binding agreement with Noront in respect of a proposed transaction, nor has it made a formal offer to the Company’s shareholders, and there can be no assurance that a transaction will crystalize from the Wyloo proposal.

Pursuant to the Support Agreement, Noront is permitted to engage with, and provide confidential information to, Wyloo only if Wyloo executes a confidentiality agreement with Noront on terms no less favourable to Noront than the terms contained in Noront's confidentiality agreement with BHP. As previously noted, prior to entering into the Support Agreement Wyloo was given the same opportunity to conduct due diligence but refused to sign a standard confidentiality agreement, typical for transactions of this nature. The confidentiality agreement was consistent with the agreement executed by BHP.

BHP has agreed to waive the requirement under the Support Agreement that a confidentiality agreement with Wyloo include a standstill so that the Company can provide confidential information to Wyloo on a no-standstill basis. Noront appreciates BHP agreeing to waive its strict contractual rights in the interests of the shareholders of Noront.

Noront CEO, Alan Coutts, commented: "With BHP's consent, Noront intends to provide Wyloo with a confidentiality agreement in the same form as Noront's confidentiality agreement with BHP, but without the customary standstill provision. This will allow Wyloo to complete the due diligence that Wyloo claims is required, and to decide whether or not to make a binding offer to acquire the common shares of Noront that Wyloo does not already own."

Noront reminds shareholders that Wyloo has never made a binding offer to acquire the common shares of Noront, and that no such offer may ever be made by Wyloo. The only binding offer available to shareholders is BHP's offer of C$0.55 cash per Noront share, which the Board of Directors of Noront continues to support.

Board Recommendation

The Board of Directors of Noront affirms its support of the BHP Offer and continues to recommend shareholders accept the BHP Offer. The Board of Directors of Noront, acting on the recommendation of the Special Committee, and after evaluating the BHP Offer in consultation with Noront’s legal and financial advisors, has determined that the BHP Offer is fair, from a financial point of view, to Noront shareholders and in the best interests of Noront and its shareholders.

Minimum Tender Condition

Wyloo’s support of the transaction is not required in order for the BHP Offer to be successful. The minimum tender condition for the BHP Offer is that more than 50% of the shares not owned by BHP be tendered to the BHP Offer, and this condition can be satisfied regardless of whether Wyloo tenders its Noront shares. Shareholders wishing to receive the C$0.55 per Noront share in cash offered by BHP can and should tender to the BHP Offer.

About Noront Resources

Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on the development of its high-grade Eagle’s Nest nickel, copper, platinum and palladium deposit and the world class chromite deposits including Blackbird, Black Thor, and Big Daddy, all of which are located in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario in an emerging metals camp known as the Ring of Fire. www.norontresources.com

Contact Information

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information and statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Wyloo proposal; the BHP Offer; and the intentions of Wyloo to make a binding offer to acquire Noront (if at all).

Although Noront believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, such information and statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements. Material factors or assumptions that were applied in formulating the forward-looking information contained herein include, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of the Special Committee of Noront as of the date hereof. Noront cautions that the foregoing list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Noront, BHP, BHP Lonsdale Investments Pty Ltd or Wyloo, and there is no assurance that they will prove correct. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Noront will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences for, or effects on, Noront or its future results and performance.

Forward-looking information and statements in this news release are based on Noront's beliefs and opinions at the time the statements are made, and there should be no expectation that these forward-looking statements will be updated or supplemented as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, and Noront disavows and disclaims any obligation to do so except as required by applicable law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Noront.

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