On this day in economic and business history...
Merck (NYSE: MRK ) took its first steps toward pharmaceutical dominance on April 30, 1953, when it merged with Sharp & Dohme, a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Until that time, Merck had been primarily a chemical manufacturer, despite its role in producing the earliest doses of penicillin. Together, the two companies combined for $156 million in sales and $12 million in net income for the 1952 fiscal year, but the new Merck's growth was just beginning -- as was its role in modern pharmaceuticals.
Four years after the merger, Maurice Hilleman joined Merck as its head of virus and cell biology research. In this role, Hilleman would develop so many life-saving vaccines that he was later called "the most successful vaccinologist in history" and was credited with potentially saving more lives than any other scientist of the 20th century. Two of Hilleman's critical vaccine developments while at Merck included one for mumps (now part of the standard MMR vaccine) and one for hepatitis B, the latter of which has reduced the disease's incidence in American children by more than 95%.
Top 5 Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation (MX)
MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation designs and manufactures analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products for high-volume consumer applications. It operates in three segments: Display Solutions, Power Solutions, and Semiconductor Manufacturing Services. The Display Solutions segment offers source and gate drivers, and timing controllers that cover a range of flat panel displays used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), 3D and organic light emitting diode televisions and displays, notebooks, and mobile communications and entertainment devices. The Power Solutions segment develop, manufactures, and markets power management solutions, including metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors, power modules, analog switches, LED drivers, DC-DC converters, voice coil motor drivers, and linear regulators. This segment offers its products for a range of devices, including LCD, LED, 3D televisions, smartphones, mobile phones, desktop PCs, notebooks , tablet PCs, and other consumer electronics, as well as for industrial applications, such as power suppliers, LED lighting, and home appliances. The Semiconductor Manufacturing Services segment manufactures various products comprising display drivers, LED drivers, audio encoding and decoding devices, microcontrollers, touch screen controllers, RF switches, park distance control sensors for automotives, electronic tag memories, and power management semiconductors. This segment offers semiconductor manufacturing services to fabless analog and mixed-signal semiconductor companies. MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation provides its products and services to consumer electronics OEMs, subsystem designers, and contract manufacturers through a direct sales force, as well as through a network of authorized agents and distributors in the United States, Korea, Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Macau. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, consumer gadget chip maker MagnaChip Semiconductor (NYSE: MX ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.
- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Shares of MagnaChip Semiconductor Corp. (MX) �fell 13% to $12.50 on moderate volume after the company said it incorrectly stated revenue and has to restate its financial statements going back to 2011. Also, the company withdrew its guidance for the fourth quarter.
Top Chemical Stocks To Watch For 2014: Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (APD)
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, equipment, and services worldwide. The company?s Merchant Gases segment sells atmospheric gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon; process gases, including hydrogen and helium; and medical and specialty gases for the metal, glass, chemical processing, food processing, healthcare, steel, general manufacturing, and petroleum and natural gas industries. This segment also offers respiratory therapies, home medical equipment, and infusion services primarily in Europe. Its Tonnage Gases segment provides hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and syngas to the energy production and refining, chemical, and metallurgical industries; and produces dinitrotoluene used in the manufacture of a precursor of polyurethane foam. The company?s Electronics and Performance Materials segment offers nitrogen trifluoride, silane, arsine, phosphine, white ammonia, silicon tetra fluoride, carbon tetrafluoride, hexafluoromethane, critical etch gases, and tungsten hexafluoride; and tonnage gases, specialty chemicals, and services and equipment for the manufacture of silicon and compound semiconductors, thin film transistor liquid crystal displays, and photovoltaic devices. This segment also provides performance materials for a range of products, including coatings, inks, adhesives, civil engineering, personal care, institutional and industrial cleaning, mining, oil refining, and polyurethanes. Its Equipment and Energy segment designs and manufactures cryogenic equipment for air separation, hydrocarbon recovery and purification, natural gas liquefaction, and helium distribution; and offers plant design, engineering, procurement, and construction management services for the chemical and petrochemical manufacturing, oil and gas recovery and processing, and steel and primary metals processing industries. The company was founded in 1940 and is based in All entown, Pennsylvania.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Garrett Cook]
Air Products & Chemicals (NYSE: APD) shares were also up, gaining 7.17 percent to $130.32 after the company named Rockwood's Seifi Ghasemi as its new chairman, president and CEO.
- [By Rich Duprey]
As mining, metal fabrication, and food industries expand in Chile, the need for industrial gases is growing such that specialty gas maker Air Products� (NYSE: APD ) announced it will build a new facility in Antofagasta as well as�expand the capacity of its Graneros plant south of�Santiago at a cost of more than $15 million.
Top Chemical Stocks To Watch For 2014: Koninklijke DSM NV (RDSMY.PK)
Koninklijke DSM N.V. (DSM), incorporated on December 28, 1966, is engaged in creating products and services in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences. DSM�� products and services are used in a range of markets and applications. End markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrical and electronics, life protection and housing. The activities of DSM are grouped into five clusters: Nutrition, Pharma, Performance Materials, Polymer Intermediates, and Base Chemicals and Materials. In May 2010, Orascom Construction Industries announced that the acquisition of the Company�� agro and melamine businesses has been finalized. DSM completed the disposal of DSM Energie Holding B.V. (DSM Energy) to TAQA Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC on September 30, 2009. In September 2010, the Company acquired Microbia, Inc. from Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In December 2010, the Company completed the sale of DSM Special Products B.V. to Emerald Performance Materials. In February 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of Martek Biosciences Corporation. In May 2011, the Company sold DSM Elastomers to Lanxess AG. In June 2012, the Company acquired Kensey Nash Corporation (Kensey Nash).
Nutrition
The Nutrition cluster comprises DSM Nutritional Products and DSM Food Specialties. The nutrition and food ingredients businesses serve the food, feed, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. DSM holds positions in the markets for ingredients for human and animal nutrition and health. DSM Nutritional Products is the supplier of vitamins, carotenoids, nutritional ingredients, ultra-violet (UV) filters and premixes for human and animal nutrition and health. DSM Nutritional Products is organized around two entities: Animal Nutrition and Health (ANH) and Human Nutrition and Health (HNH). DSM Food Specialties is a global manufacturer of food enzymes, cultures, yeast extracts and other specialty ingredients for the food and b! everage industries.
DSM Food Specialties comprises two business units and an Ingredients Development Unit. Enzymes & Dairy Ingredients supplies a range of food enzymes for applications such as dairy, baking, fruit processing, brewing and wine, starter cultures for cheese and yogurt, preservation solutions for cheese and meat, and tests for the detection of residues of antibiotics in milk. Savoury Ingredients is a major supplier of ingredients for flavorings and flavor enhancers (such as yeast extracts) used in products, such as soups, instant meals, sauces and savory snacks.
Pharma
The Pharma cluster comprises the business groups DSM Pharmaceutical Products (DPP) and DSM Anti-Infectives. DSM is an independent supplier to the pharmaceutical industry. DSM Pharmaceutical Products is a provider of custom contract manufacturing and development services to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.
DSM Pharmaceutical Products consists of three business units: DSM Pharma Chemicals (custom chemical manufacturing services for complex registered intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including DSM Exclusive Synthesis (custom manufacturing services for the crop protection industry), DSM Biologics (biopharmaceutical manufacturing technology and services) and DSM Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (finished-dose-form manufacturing services). DSM BioSolutions focuses on custom manufacturing services based on microbial fermentation. DSM Anti-Infectives holds global leadership positions in penicillin G, penicillin intermediates (6-APA and 7-ADCA), active pharmaceutical ingredients such as semi-synthetic penicillins and semi-synthetic cefalosporins (beta-lactams), and other active ingredients, such as nystatin.
Performance Materials
The Performance Materials cluster comprises the business groups DSM Engineering Plastics, DSM Dyneema and DSM Resins. The products are used in a variety of end-use markets: the au! tomotive ! industry, the aviation industry, the electrical and electronics industry, the sports and leisure industries, the paint and coatings industry and the construction industry.
DSM Engineering Plastics is a global player in polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates and adhesive resins. These materials are used in components for the electrical and electronics, automotive, engineering and packaging industries. DSM produces Dyneema fiber and UD (unidirectional textile sheets) in Heerlen (Netherlands) and in Greenville (North Carolina, United States) through its gel-spinning process. DSM Resins consists of four business units: DSM NeoResins+, DSM Powder Coating Resins, DSM Desotech and DSM Composite Resins.
Polymer Intermediates
The Polymer Intermediates cluster consists of DSM Fiber Intermediates. DSM Fibre Intermediates produces caprolactam and acrylonitrile, which are raw materials for synthetic fibers and engineering plastics. Other products include ammonium sulfate (a fertilizer), diaminobutane, sodium cyanide and cyclohexanone. DSM�� caprolactam production capacity is more than 600,000 tons per annum.
Base Chemicals and Materials
The Base Chemicals and Materials cluster consists of DSM Agro, DSM Melamine, DSM Elastomers and a number of activities that have been carved out from other clusters. DSM Agro produces fertilizers and is active in Northwestern Europe. DSM Melamine is a producer of melamine, used in wood-based panels and laminates for furniture and flooring. DSM Elastomers manufactures synthetic rubbers (EPDM) for use in cars and other transportation vehicles, white goods, various industrial products and construction materials and as motor-oil additives.
DSM Agro is a producer of ammonia and high-nitrogen fertilizers for grasslands and agricultural crops; products and services for responsible fertilization. DSM Agro sells about 2.4 million tons of fertilizers per year. The Base Chemicals and Materials cluster also includes! several ! activities that have been carved out from other clusters. These include Citric Acid, DSM Special Products and the Maleic Anhydride and derivatives business.
Other activities
Other activities comprise various activities and businesses that do not belong to any of the five reporting clusters. It consists of both operating and service activities and also includes a number of costs that cannot be logically allocated to the clusters. Other activities includes the DSM Innovation Center, DSM Venturing and a number of other activities, such as Sitech Services, EdeA, DSM Insurances and part of the costs of corporate activities. Sitech Services provides technological consultancy, expertise in energy and auxiliary materials, the supply of utilities and human resources.
EdeA VoF owns, operates and maintains most of the production and distribution facilities for utilities (for example steam, power and water) at the Chemelot site in Sittard-Geleen (Netherlands). EdeA VoF is a joint venture with Essent, an energy production and distribution company. DSM�� stake is 50%. DSM retains a limited part of its Property Damage and Business Interruption and Product Liability risks via a captive insurance company. DSM has a share in a limited number of associates.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Markus Aarnio]
BioAmber expects its advanced bio-based specialty chemicals to compete with petrochemical equivalents that are proven in the market and manufactured by established companies, such as Gadiv Petrochemical Industries, Kawasaki Kasei, DSM (RDSMY.PK) and numerous small Chinese producers including Anqing Hexing Chemical, and Anhui Sunsing Chemicals. In addition, BioAmber's products will compete against other companies in the bio-based specialty chemical industry, both early stage companies, such as Genomatica (for bio-based 1,4 BDO) and Myriant Corporation (for bio-succinic acid), and established companies, such as a collaborative venture between DSM and Roquette Frères S.A. and a collaborative venture between BASF (BASFY.PK) and Purac (both for bio-succinic acid).
Top Chemical Stocks To Watch For 2014: Olin Corp (OLN)
Olin Corporation, incorporated on August 13, 1892, is a manufacturer focused in three business segments: Chlor Alkali Products, Chemical Distribution and Winchester. Chlor Alkali Products manufactures and sells chlorine and caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, bleach products and potassium hydroxide. Chemical Distribution manufactures bleach products and distributes caustic soda, bleach products, potassium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. Winchester products include sporting ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges. On August 22, 2012, the Company acquired K. A. Steel Chemicals Inc. (KA Steel). KA Steel is a distributor of caustic soda in North America and manufactures and sells bleach in the Midwest.
The Company's subsidiary, Olin Canada ULC, operates one chlor alkali facility in Becancour, Quebec, which sells chlor alkali-related products within Canada and to the United States and also sells and distributes ammunition within Canada. The Company's subsidiary, Winchester Australia Limited, loads and packs sporting and industrial ammunition in Australia.
Chlor Alkali Products
The Company is engaged in the United States chlor alkali industry. Chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen are co-produced commercially by the electrolysis of salt. These co-products are produced simultaneously, and in a fixed ratio of one ton of chlorine to 1.1 tons of caustic soda and 0.03 tons of hydrogen. The Company also manufactures and sells other chlor alkali-related products. These products include chemically processed salt, hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), hydrogen, and potassium hydroxide. The Company refers to these other chlor alkali-related products as co-products. During the year ended December 31, 2012, sales of co-products represented approximately 32% of Chlor Alkali Products' sales.
The Company's chlorine/caustic soda products are used in pulp and paper processing, chemical! manufacturing, water purification, manufacture of vinyl chloride, bleach, swimming pool chemicals and urethane chemicals. Its sodium hypochlorite are used in household cleaners, laundry bleaching, swimming pool sanitizers, semiconductors, water treatment, textiles, pulp and paper, and food processing. Its hydrochloric acid are used in steel, oil and gas, plastics, organic chemical synthesis, water and wastewater treatment, brine treatment, artificial sweeteners, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and ore and mineral processing. Its potassium hydroxide is used in fertilizer manufacturing, soaps, detergents and cleaners, battery manufacturing, food processing chemicals and deicers. Its hydrogen is used in fuel source, hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid.
The Company competes with Dow Chemical Company and the Occidental Chemical Corporation.
Chemical Distribution
The Company's KA Steel comprises the Chemical Distribution segment. KA Steel is a distributor of caustic soda in North America and manufacturers and sells bleach in the Midwest. KA Steel also sells small quantities of potassium hydroxide and maintains infrastructure to be, a distributor of hydrochloric acid.
The Company competes with Univar Inc. and Brenntag AG.
Winchester
Winchester is a developer and manufacturer of small caliber ammunition for sale to domestic and international retailers (commercial customers), law enforcement agencies and domestic and international militaries. The Company's Winchester product line includes gauges and calibers of shotgun shells, rimfire and centerfire ammunition for pistols and rifles, reloading components and industrial cartridges. Its Winchester sporting ammunition, which include shot-shells, small caliber centerfire and rimfire ammunition, are used by hunters and recreational shooters, and law enforcement agencies. Its small caliber military ammunition are used in infantry and mounted weapons. Its industrial products, which i! nclude ei! ght gauge loads & powder-actuated tool loads, are used in maintenance applications in power and concrete industries and powder-actuated tools in construction industry.
The Company competes with Alliant Techsystems Inc. and Remington Arms Company, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Victor Selva]
The company has a current ratio of 17.8% which is higher than the industry mean of 6.55%. Also, it's higher than the one registered by Akzo Nobel NV (AKZOY), Cabot Corporation (CBT) and Olin Corporation (OLN). For investors looking for a higher ROE, PPG Industries Inc. (PPG) could be the option.
- [By Dan Dzombak]
Olin (NYSE: OLN ) is a chemical company that also owns Winchester Ammunition. The company distributes its ammunition under the Super X, Supreme, Supreme Elite, AA, and Winlite brand names, among others. While the company trades at a P/E ratio of 13, Winchester only makes up 20% to 25% of the business, so you are mainly investing in a chemical company. If you are looking for a pure play on firearms, you are better off looking elsewhere.
- [By Johanna Bennett]
Dow isn�� the only chemical play gaining on the news. �Axiall (AXLL) rose 9.3% to $49.58 in Monday market action. Olin (OLN) rose 6.1% to $26.36. And Westlake Chemical (WLK) rose 2.2% to $115.10.
Top Chemical Stocks To Watch For 2014: PetroLogistics LP (PDH)
PetroLogistics LP owns and operates propane dehydrogenation (PDH) facility. The Company is located in the vicinity of the Houston Ship Channel. As of April 23, 2012, the Company had an annual production capacity of approximately 1.45 billion pounds of propylene. Its PDH facility uses a CATOFIN dehydrogenation technology pursuant to a fully-paid license from CB&I Lummus. It derives its sales from three different sources: propylene sales, hydrogen sales, and mixed stream of butane and butylenes (C4 mix stream) and heavier hydrocarbons (C5+ stream) sales.
Contracted Propylene Sales
The Company has propylene sales contracts with The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Total Petrochemicals USA, Inc. (Total), and INEOS Olefins and Polymers USA (INEOS), each of which use the propylene it supplies in the acrylic acid, polypropylene and acrylonitrile plants. Effective January 1, 2012, it added BASF Corporation (BASF) and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LyondellBasell) as additional contracted customers. It delivers propylene to these customers through its integrated pipeline system, which connects its facility to the Dow and Total plants and the LyondellBasell system, and through interconnected third-party pipelines, which connect its facility to INEOS and BASF and to other potential propylene customers.
Spot-Market Propylene Sales
Through the Company�� integrated pipeline system, the Company accesses other consumers of propylene, which it is able to supply on a spot basis with its excess production capacity. It manages its contract and spot portfolio.
Hydrogen Gas Sales
As part of the PDH process, the Company produces commercial quantities of hydrogen. Hydrogen is consumed in refinery processes, including fuel desulphurization.
C4 Mix/C5+ Streams Sales
The Company produces commercial quantities of C4 mix/C5+ streams. It sells the C4 mix stream to specialty chemical consumers or refiners and these customers tran! sport the purchased volumes from its facility by truck. The C5+ stream, which is heavy in aromatics, is transported by its pipeline to a Kinder Morgan terminal, and then sold to Texas Aromatics for use in the chemical or gasoline markets.
The Company competes with Enterprise, Chevron Phillips, ExxonMobil Chemical, Shell Chemical, Flint Hills and the Williams Companies.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Travis Hoium]
What: Shares of propane company PetroLogistics (NYSE: PDH ) fell as much as 10% today after reporting earnings.
So what: Sales dropped 18% from a year ago to $159.4 million but the company swung to a net income of $41.4 million. On an adjusted basis net income fell from $64.4 million a year ago to $37.8 million in the second quarter. �
Top Chemical Stocks To Watch For 2014: American Soil Technologies Inc (SOYL)
American Soil Technologies, Inc., incorporated on January 09, 1997, develop, manufacture on an outsourced basis and market advanced products that decrease the need for water and improves the soil in the Green Industry consisting of agriculture, turf and horticulture. The Company manufactures three products: Agriblend, a soil amendment developed for agriculture; Soil Medic, a slow release liquid fertilizer, and NutrimoistL, developed for homes, parks, golf courses and other turf related applications. The Company markets its products primarily in the United States.
The Company owns a wholly owned subsidiary, Smart World Organics, Inc. (Smart World). Smart World provides organic and sustainable fertilizers to commercial and residential customers worldwide. Smart World also provides custom-formulated products built to suit unusual growing conditions and environments. The product line includes homogenized fertilizers, non-toxic insect controls, plant protectants, seed, soil and silage inoculants.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
What�� the Catch With SOHM Inc? According to various disclosures, transactions of $1.5k and $15k have or will occur to mention SOHM Inc in various investment newsletters. Last Thursday, SOHM Inc announced it had launched a unique protein supplement I-Prolec��in India. The press release says this supplement will help people who have protein deficiency as well as athlete and sports persons who have need of extra proteins. Otherwise and back in June, SOHM Inc announced the financial results for the fiscal first quarter where revenue came in at $1,005,410 verses revenue of $375,741 for the same quarter of 2012. Not mentioned in the press release was a net loss of $236k along with net losses of $259k, $213k and $267k for the past four reported quarters. At the end of March, SOHM Inc had $138k in cash to cover $1,697k in current liabilities and $2,956k in long-term debt. Those full financials are not exactly great, but they are also not exactly terrible if the income statement�� top line continues to grow and the company turns a profit.
American Soil Technologies, Inc. (OTCMKTS: SOYL) Has Been Very QuietSmall cap American Soil Technologies engages in developing, marketing and selling polymer and other soil amendments to the agricultural turf and horticulture industries primarily in the United States. The company�� principal products include Agriblend, a soil amendment for agriculture; Soil Medic, a slow release liquid fertilizer for homes, parks, golf courses, and other turf related applications; and The Agro Tower for vertical farming. American Soil Technologies also provides homogenized fertilizers, non-toxic insect controls, plant protectants, seeds and soil and silage inoculants to commercial and residential customers worldwide. On Friday, American Soil Technologies fell 9.52% to $0.0770 for a market cap of $5.24 million plus SOYL is up 1,141.9% over the past year and up 28.3% over the past five years according to Googl
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