Gavekal Capital: Knowledge Leaders: Swiss Materials Stocks

Friday, January 17, 2014

Knowledge Leaders: Swiss Materials Stocks

Materials was the second worst performing sector over the last year in the MSCI Europe:

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Swiss materials companies, however, have managed somewhat more respectable performance over the same time period:

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When we look at the individual companies on a long term, relative strength basis, some positive (or potentially positive) patterns emerge.
Holcim's stock price is nestled comfortably in a multi-year base of support:

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Syngenta seems to be re-testing support levels that go back to late 2010-- will it rally back above the 45-degree bullish support line?

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EMS-Chemie continues in a steady, structural uptrend:

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In a pattern somewhat similar to that of Syngenta, Givaudan's stock took a quick peek above resistance and appears to be verifying support:

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Finally, in what is arguably the most attractive point-and-figure formation among its Swiss Materials peers, the chart for Sika Inhaber shows its price making a definitive breakout above the resistance established two years ago:

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Perhaps the outperformance of the Swiss stocks has something to do with their average investment in R&D (as a percent of sales) of 4.5%?  The corresponding figure for all of MSCI Europe Materials companies is just 1.3%.

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