Industry Analysis evaluates the major industry characteristics that affect investments. Company specific factors drive the performance of individual companies, but macro-economic factors can affect the performance, stock prices, growth rates, and chart movements of any stock, currency, or commodity. All stock traders should review industry research before trading.
Warren Buffett Quote: "When a management with a reputation for brilliance tackles a business with a reputation for bad economics, it is the reputation of the business that remains intact." No matter the quality of your business, industry economics is an important factor in any value investing decision.
Edit / Improve Option? - No Membership Required
WikiWealth supplies the tools to create the highest quality analysis so you can make the best value investing decisions. However, we rely on users to continuously edit and improve this analysis. More minds working on a problem generates better ideas. WikiWealth professionals happily review each edit to ensure consistency and quality. Find an area to improve, click the "improve - edit" link, make your change, then press "SAVE."
Value Investing Importance?
A professional evaluations can cost between $150 to $15,000. In order to understand an investment, traders must research industry margins, stock prices, multiples, news, growth rates, stock chart, and any other relevant measurement to avoid mistakes.
Description: The materials industry includes companies whose sales originate from the mining, acquisition and sale of physical substances for manufacturing-related purposes. Read More.
Profit Analysis: The best way to profit from material stock is to find the most undervalued investments (Wall Street and Main Street buy ratings) during economic recessions. Those investments should be undervalued (see Wall Street on left side), and have high Main Street Common Sense investment ratings (see Main Street on right side). When an economic recovery occurs, material stocks tend to outperform the general stock market, because consumers and businesses must increase their inventories quickly to meet demand for manufactured goods. Consumers and business delayed purchases on items they wanted, but resisted buying during tougher economic times. Eventually, material company investments become overvalued, because profits and stock prices increase past their fair values. During the last stages of an economic business cycle, just before a recession, it is best to sell material stocks, because they are likely to decrease in price the fastest. Expensive (overvalued) stocks with low Main Street Common Sense ratings should be sold at any time to invest in better stocks. Two buys ratings are the best and two sell ratings are the worst possible stock investments.
Inflation Hedge: Changes in commodity prices affect material stocks. When commodity prices are high due to increased demand or lower supply, material stocks increase, because demand for their goods also increases. Inflation occurs when the price of goods and services increases. The price of materials are generally the first inputs into the production of goods, so changes in material prices directly affect the cost of products, which is measured by inflation. Therefore, a good hedge against inflation is to own material stock investments. When inflation increases, so do the profits of material companies, which may have directly contributed to the increase in prices.
Trading Strategy: During economic recessions, consumers tend to cut back on spending to save money. Businesses tend to cut back on investments. Industrial companies make the products bought by consumers and businesses, but to make those products, industrial companies must obtain materials. Less spending on goods decreases material business revenue and eventually decreases stock prices. During economic recoveries, consumers and businesses spend quickly to replace or catch up with quickly increasing demand. Material companies quickly receive orders from industrial companies who need to manufacture new products to meet quickly increasing demand. Higher spending increases material business revenue and eventually increases stock prices. During a longer economic expansion, consumer and business demand increases for material companies, but at a slower pace than during the recovery stage.
1 WikiWealth only uses the largest 30 companies in each industry for the basis of these financial measures. Each statistic is the market weighted average of the 30 companies.
2 Investment potential (margin of safety) is a weighted average of the discounted cash flow (DCF), the enterprise value (EV) market multiple, and the Warren Buffett investment methods.
Major Pork Exporters ► Press "Edit / Improve"
USA Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) The United States (US) has a highly productive, capitalist economy and is the largest and most diverse market in the world. Currency: the US dollar (USD) has the potential to increase in value especially versus the Australian and Canadian dollar because of the significant potential of undervalued companies. Investor Survey: the economic environment is very favorable for long term economic growth due to high scores on economic freedom and economic diversity. Trade: China, Japan, Mexico, and Canada are the top US trading partners, while the leading export and import are electrical machinery and vehicles, respectively. Commodity: The US produces a significant amount of coal and wheat for use at home and as an export. However, the US consumes a larger amount of oil, which contributes to their trade deficit. SWOT Analysis: The leading US strength is its entrepreneurial culture, while the main weakness is high health care cost. Energy independence has the opportunity to propel growth, while the major threat is the housing crisis, which will lower growth. Trading Strategy: An undervalued currency, high investment flow potential and favorable business environment lead to a positive outlook for US investments, which will also benefit from positive international actions.
Canada Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) Canada (CAD) has a capitalist, service-based, economy and is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. The services and materials industry are the two main employers. Currency: the Canadian dollar has the potential to decrease in value especially if export markets for materials do not perform well. Investor Survey: the economic environment is very favorable for long term economic growth due to high scores on economic freedom and SWOT strengths. Trade: China, UK, Japan, Mexico and the US are Canada’s top trading partners, while the leading exports are energy and materials. Commodity: Canada has the capacity to produce a significant amount of crude oil. Other commodities include Uranium, lumber, zinc, and nickel. SWOT Analysis: The Leading Canadian strengths include Canada’s free trade policy, oil reserves, and universal health system. Trading Strategy: An overvalued currency and low investment flow potential are negatives, while the favorable business environment is a significant positive. Canada’s potential is neutral.
Brazil Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) Brazil (BRL) is a member of the BRIC nations and has the largest economy in South America. Brazil has significant agricultural and industrial industries. Currency: the Brazilian currency has the potential to increase in value especially versus many developed market currencies. Brazil has high interest rates, low inflation and positive investment flow potential. Investor Survey: the economic environment is moderate, with low government transparency and high SWOT opportunities. Trade: China, Netherlands, Argentina and USA are the top trading partners. Brazil has significant export capabilities in agriculture and industrial products such as ethanol, sugar, oats, pork, corn, soybean and airplanes. Commodity: A favorable growth environment and car fuel demand create a significant and growing industry for Ethanol. SWOT Analysis: Ethanol is the leading US strength, while education, crime and income inequality are major weaknesses. A recent oil discovery is a major opportunity for Brazil, while the threat of HIV could slow growth and burden the health system. Trading Strategy: An undervalued currency, moderate investment flow potential and positive SWOT opportunities help Brazil, but fundamental weaknesses and government issues hold back Brazil’s potential.
European Union Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) The European Union (EUR) is a single market and currency group of countries, which creates one of the largest and most diverse markets in the world. Currency: The EUR is fairly valued versus other major global currencies. They have a positive investment flow and negative purchase price parity. Investor Survey: the economic environment is favorable for long term economic growth due to favorable scores on government transparency and SWOT opportunities. Trade: Belgium, Hungary, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Norway and Japan are the top trading partners. Commodity: The EU does not produce many commodities, but they import many energy-related commodities from Russia and the Middle East. SWOT Analysis: The leading EU strength is their single currency and internal market, while the main weaknesses include a declining birth rate, labor restrictions and language barriers. New energy proposals have the opportunity to propel growth; there were no major threats to report. Trading Strategy: A moderately-valued currency, high investment flow potential, but low purchase price potential and negative SWOT weaknesses lead to a slightly negative outlook for EU investments.
China Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) China (CNY) is a fast growing communist country with the largest population in the world. Currency: China’s currency is moderately undervalued. Purchase price parity shows that China’s currency is approximately 40% undervalued, however, the other three valuation approaches show that China is fairly valued. Investor Survey: China’s economic environment is very unfavorable for long term economic growth due to the lack of economic freedom, government transparency, and the SWOT analysis. Trade: Indonesia, Pakistan, Norway, Singapore, Europe, the US are the top export partners, while the leading industry is industrial goods, usually for export. Commodity: China produces a significant amount of coal for use at home. The use of coal to provide energy leads to other health related problems. SWOT Analysis: The leading Chinese strength is their cheap labor, while the main weaknesses are political risk and corruption. Renewable energy has the opportunity to propel growth, while general pollution and an aging population could slow growth rates. Trading Strategy: An undervalued currency, average investment flow potential and an unfavorable business environment leads to a neutral outlook for Chinese investments.
Source: http://www.fas.usda.gov/dlp2/circular/2004/04-10LP/porkoverview.html
Major Pork Importers ► Press "Edit / Improve"
USA Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) The United States (US) has a highly productive, capitalist economy and is the largest and most diverse market in the world. Currency: the US dollar (USD) has the potential to increase in value especially versus the Australian and Canadian dollar because of the significant potential of undervalued companies. Investor Survey: the economic environment is very favorable for long term economic growth due to high scores on economic freedom and economic diversity. Trade: China, Japan, Mexico, and Canada are the top US trading partners, while the leading export and import are electrical machinery and vehicles, respectively. Commodity: The US produces a significant amount of coal and wheat for use at home and as an export. However, the US consumes a larger amount of oil, which contributes to their trade deficit. SWOT Analysis: The leading US strength is its entrepreneurial culture, while the main weakness is high health care cost. Energy independence has the opportunity to propel growth, while the major threat is the housing crisis, which will lower growth. Trading Strategy: An undervalued currency, high investment flow potential and favorable business environment lead to a positive outlook for US investments, which will also benefit from positive international actions.
Japan Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) Japan (JPY), the second largest economy in the world, has an industrial, export oriented economy that benefits from its relationship with the USA and proximity to China. Currency: Japan’s currency (the Yen) is overvalued according to investment flow potential, the purchase price parity, and the interest rate parity. Investor Survey: Japan’s economic environment is moderately favorable for long term economic growth due to high scores on economic freedom and government transparency, but low scores on the SWOT Analysis. Trade: Indonesia, China, Singapore, the EU, Korea, and the US are Japan’s top export partners, while the leading industry is industrial manufacturing. Commodity: Japan imports many products because of its lack of arable land and energy resources. SWOT Analysis: The leading Japanese strength is their education system, while the main weakness is a declining birth rate. A major Japanese threat is the continuation of zombie companies. Trading Strategy: An overvalued currency, low investment flow potential and moderate business environment leads to a negative outlook for Japanese investments.
Hong Kong Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) Hong Kong (HKD) has a highly productive, capitalist economy that relies on its trade network and proximity to China. Currency: The Hong Kong dollar is fairly valued with low investment flows and high potential according to the purchase price parity. Investor Survey: Hong Kong’s economic environment is very favorable for long term economic growth due to high scores on economic freedom, government transparency, economic diversity, and the SWOT analysis. Trade: Indonesia, China, Singapore, Korea, and the USA are the top export partners, while the leading industry is industrial goods. Commodity: Hong Kong specializes in the trade of goods. SWOT Analysis: The leading HK strength is their status as a gateway to china, while the main weakness is their lack of arable land. Liquefied natural gas has the opportunity to propel growth, while the risk of a pandemic may lower growth. Trading Strategy: A moderately priced currency, low investment flow potential, but very favorable business environment leads to a positive outlook for Hong Kong investments.
Mexico Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) Mexico (MXN) has a capitalist economy with a fast growing service and industrial base. Currency: the Mexican currency has moderate potential to increase in value per the purchase price parity and interest rate parity analysis. Investor Survey: the economic environment is moderate for long term economic growth. SWOT weaknesses are significantly greater than SWOT strengths, whereas, opportunities are greater than threats. Trade: The US and Canada are the top trading partners, while the leading exports are in the industrial and agricultural sectors. Commodity: Mexico produces crude oil, corn, propane, silver, pork, oats, and chicken for export. SWOT Analysis: Transportation infrastructure and crime are the leading SWOT weaknesses, while tourism and education are the leading SWOT opportunities. Trading Strategy: An undervalued currency, low investment flow potential and unfavorable business environment lead to neutral or negative outlook for Mexican investments.
Russia Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) Russia (RUB) is a resource rich, centralized economy with a large land mass and population. Currency: Russia’s currency is significantly undervalued according to the investment flow analysis, purchase price parity, and interest rate parity. Investor Survey: Russia’s economic environment is very unfavorable. Russia’s economic freedom, government transparency and SWOT analysis scores are very low. Trade: China, and Turkey are Russia’s top export partners, while the leading industry is energy. Commodity: Russia produces a significant amount of natural gas, coal, copper, uranium, palladium, and crude oil. Russia exports many energy products to European Union members. SWOT Analysis: The leading Russian strength is their oil and gas industry, while the main weakness is political risk. Proximity to energy hungry Europe has the opportunity to propel growth, while falling oil prices may lower growth. Trading Strategy: An undervalued currency, high investment flow potential, but unfavorable business environment leads to a neutral outlook for Russian investments.
Source: http://www.fas.usda.gov/dlp2/circular/2004/04-10LP/porkoverview.html
