Since 1975, Lakshmi Mittal has turned ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) into a global steel powerhouse. As a result, he's worth in excess of $45 billion. Actually, as an indication of his power, Mittal is now a board member of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS).
And, no doubt, his dealmaking is likely to continue. In fact, there are reports that ArcelorMittal will make a play for Rio Tinto Group, which is the #2 ore producer in the world. The company is currently ensnared in a hostile takeover from BHP Billiton Ltd. (NYSE: BHP). Basically, ArcelorMittal may make an equity investment, which could exceed $10 billion.
Why? ArcelorMittal needs to find ways to stabilize its raw material supplies. After all, with pricing pressures, it's important to contain things.
Then again, this may ultimately be mostly noise -- to get traders excited. But, in light of ArcelorMittal's global power, investors will definitely listen.
"Global steel producers are thriving, and their stocks are hitting new highs," note Yiannis Mostrous and Roger S. Conrad, who add, "But the best is yet to come."
In the industry-leading Personal Finance, the two advisors explain, "We're still in the early stage of a truly global bull market cycle for steel, and the companies best positioned to take advantage are headed a lot higher." Here, they look at their "Iron Five."
"As is the case with other building blocks of economic growth, steel is enjoying explosive demand from the developing world. And with the world expanding as never before, steel companies are literally selling as fast as they can produce.
"In the August 2007, we highlighted five first-rate global steel producers. Since then, they've returned an average of 67.4%, versus a decline of 3.7% for the S&P 500.
"The Iron Five are five picks that we believe are ripe for even bigger gains. Like the last group, these stocks are often volatile. They're also vulnerable to the possibility of a general stock market slide and most of all to a dip in global demand growth, particularly from China.
"Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) is the only truly global steel manufacturer, operating in 60 countries on five continents," says Gordon Pape.
In his Internet Wealth Builder, he explains, "Like all steel companies, ArcelorMittal would be temporarily affected by a world recession but as a long-term international growth stock for your portfolio, it should be a winner."
"When you read through MT's 2007 annual report, you are left with the impression of a company with an insatiable appetite for growth. In just one year, MT entered into a joint venture deal for a steel mill in Saudi Arabia and built a new steel service centre in Poland.
"It also completed the acquisition of Sicarsta in Mexico, thereby creating that country's largest steel producer; received mining concessions in Senegal and purchased a 77% stake in a German gas distribution company to add to its regional energy network.
"It also bought a 51% stake in one of Turkey's largest steel companies and a 70% position in an Italian steel distributor; bought 100% of an Estonian steel galvanizing line.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Procter & Gamble, Human Genome and Arcelor Mittal were today's noteworthy downgrades:
Deutsche Bank downgraded shares of Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) to Hold from Buy on valuation and their expectation for slowing short-term industry growth, especially in beauty.
Citigroup downgraded Human Genome (NASDAQ:HGSI) to Hold from Buy as they believe giving up Syncria's royalties removes an important value driver for the stock.
HSBC downgraded shares of Arcelor Mittal (NYSE:MT) to Neutral from Overweight on valuation and believes the company needs to raise prices more than costs have risen for iron ore, coking coal and steel scrap.
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
BAE Systems (NASDAQ:BAESY) was cut to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
Merrill downgraded Zoltek (NASDAQ:ZOLT) to Neutral from Buy.
"I've never been a big fan of deep cyclical industries, such as autos, chemicals, and steel; the companies tend to have violent swings in their results as a result of economic cycles," observes Chuck Carlson.
However, says the editor of The DRIP Investor, "Every so often I'm willing to make an exception for a well-run cyclical company. Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) is such a company." Here is his review.
"Arcelor Mittal is the world's number one steel company, with 310,000 employees in more than 60 countries. It has demonstrated the ability to navigate the often-difficult waters of the steel industry.
"For investors who are looking for stocks that should hold up in an inflationary environment, Mittal should be of interest. The company has pricing power -- for example, the company just announced a $100-per-ton price increase on its carbon and high-strength low-alloy plate steel products for all North American orders, effective May 4.
After hitting a one-year low of $48.07 last February, the stock hit a one-year high of $83.88 in October. MT opened this morning at $75.95. So far today the stock has hit a low of $75.72 and a high of $76.63. As of 11:05, MT is trading at $76.21, up $1.34 (1.8%). The chart for MT looks neutral and improving.
For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a June bull-put credit spread below the $55 range. A bull-put credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of put options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make a 9.9% return in just four months as long as MT is above $55 at June expiration. Arcelor Mittal would have to fall by more than 27% before we would start to lose money.
MT hasn't been below $55 since August and has shown support around $71 recently. This position could be risky if the worldwide demand for steel slows, but even if this happens, our trade might be protected by the strong support the stock might find around $60, where it bounced last month
DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in MT.
Happy Thanksgiving from the BloggingStocks staff and contributors! Here are some leading financial stories around the world today:
Stocks plunge in China China's Shanghai Composite Index sank 4.41 percent Thursday to fall below 5,000 -- 18.2 percent off its peak of 6,092 in mid-October -- adding evidence of an end to the China bubble. Shares of PetroChina (NYSE: PTR), the world's largest oil company, fell 4.6 percent to 35.11 yuan.
ArcelorMittal takes charge in China ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT), the world's leading steelmaker, is taking a controlling 73 percent stake in China Oriental Group Co. Earlier this month, ArcelorMittal bought a 28% stake in the iron and steel maker for $647 million. The Luxembourg-based company also disclosed plans for steel plants in India's Jharkhand and Orissa states.
Air France-KLM's Q2 profits soar Air France-KLM (NYSE: AKH) on Thursday posted second-quarter profit of $1.1 billion, nearly double the $539.7 million reported in the same period last year. The top European airline also said it had not dismissed the possibility of offers for Italy's Alitalia or Spain's Iberia airlines.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: WellCare Health, Beacon Power, Tuesday Morning, West Pharmaceutical Services and Vectren were today's noteworthy upgrades:
Jefferies upgraded shares of WellCare Health (NYSE: WCG) to Buy from Hold, as they believe the investigation could most likely result in fines as opposed to the loss of contracts with the company's government customers.
Merriman raised its rating on Beacon Power (NASDAQ: BCON) to Buy from Neutral, as they believe the company is well-positioned for significant penetration of the growing frequency regulation markets.
Piper upgraded shares of Tuesday Morning (NASDAQ: TUES) to Outperform from Market Perform as they believe the company's sales and margins trends are stabilizing.
Citigroup upgraded shares of Vectren (NYSE: VVC) to Buy from Hold, as they believe 2008 will be an inflection point with the share issuance and rate relief aiding earnings.
OTHER UPGRADES:
Goldman added Roche (OTC: RHHBY) to its Conviction Buy List.
Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at McAdams, Wright.
Thomas Weisel upgraded MasterCard (NYSE: MA) to Market Weight from Underweight.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Apollo Group, Zoran, AmSurg Corp, Apple and Tribune Co were today's noteworthy upgrades:
Baird upgraded shares of Apollo Group (NASDAQ: APOL) to Outperform from Neutral based on positive enrollment and revenue trends, margin improvement, and a strategic international announcement.
CIBC upped its rating on Zoran Corporation (NASDAQ: ZRAN) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer following strong Q3 results and guidance.
Jefferies upgraded shares of AmSurg Corp (NASDAQ: AMSG) to Buy from Hold as they believe the new CEO is preparing to drive earnings growth through acquisitions.
ThinkEquity continues to expect Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) to outpace the industry in growth. The firm upgraded shares to Buy from Accumulate.
Barrington upgraded shares of Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB) to Market Perform from Underperform on valuation, as they believe the current price significantly discounts the risks of the going private transaction getting done.
According to the Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column, Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR) is struggling due to competitors' pricing, safer cars, and a struggling economy, to name a few factors.
The Financial Times reported that General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) will decide whether to sell its 80% stake in NBC Universal after the Beijing Olympics in August 2008, according to sources.
Tenaris (NYSE: TS), the maker of steel pipes for oil and gas exploration, has ruled out any possible sale of itself to ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) , the world's biggest steel producer, reported the Financial Times.
OTHER PAPERS:
The New York Post reported that UBS AG (NYSE: UBS) has fired David Martin, its head of interest-rate trading, and James Stehli, the head of its collateralized debt obligation unit, due to the fallout from the mortgage meltdown.
BP PLC (NYSE: BP) CEO Tony Hayward will today unveil plans to reduce bureaucracy and duplication of management at the oil giant, reported the Telegraph.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Monster Worldwide, Business Objects, Arcelor Mittal, Walgreen and Sealy Corp were today's noteworthy downgrades:
Wachovia downgraded shares of Monster Worldwide (NASDAQ: MNST) to Market Perform from Outperform citing increased risk of an economic slowdown and execution issues in its N.A. Careers segment.
Credit Suisse downgraded shares of Business Objects (NASDAQ: BOBJ) to Neutral from Outperform on valuation with shares above their $46 target.
Banc of America downgraded Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) to Neutral from Buy on valuation. The firm also downgraded Walgreen (WAG) to Sell from Buy, as they see further downside following the Q4 miss and believes the problems in Q4 are company-specific and not industry-wide.
Citigroup downgraded shares of Sealy Corporation (NYSE: ZZ) to Sell from Hold following the Q3 results, as they believe Sealy faces increased competitive pressures at the high end of the market where the best margins are derived.
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
Goldman Sachs removed Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) and Nucor (NYSE: NUE) from its Conviction Buy List.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Genentech, HSBC Holdings, Suntech Power, SunPower and Force Protection were today's noteworthy initiations:
UBS is positive on Genentech Inc's (NYSE: DNA) leading industry franchises and potential upside from development projects and started shares with a Buy rating and $101 target.
HSBC Holdings (NYSE: HBC) was assumed with a Reduce rating at WestLB, as the firm believes subprime concerns may hold back shares in the near-term.
Jefferies initiated shares of SunTech Power Holdings (NYSE: STP) with a Buy rating and $45 target. The firm believes the company is positioned to beat 2007 and 2008 expectations by ramping manufacturing capacity and production faster than expected.
Jefferies also resumed coverage of SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR) with a Hold rating and $90 target, citing valuation, but believes the stock's higher multiple is justified given the company's superior growth potential.
Force Protection Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) was initiated with a Market Perform rating and Friedman Billings, as they believe near-term production expectations are too high given emerging DOD funding issues.
OTHER INITIATIONS:
Lehman started shares of Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) with an Overweight rating.
Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) implied volatility of 39 above 26-week average of 34.
MT, a global steel producer, with a market cap of $82 billion, closed at $59.60. Bank of America said on 8/23 that the company is "well positioned for Long Term value creation; initiate with a Buy." MT overall option implied volatility of 39 is above its 26-week average of 34 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.
Nucor Corp. (NYSE: NUE) implied volatility of 39 above 26-week average of 34.
NUE is engaged in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products. NUE closed at $51.53. Merrill Lynch upgraded NUE to Buy from Neutral reports DJ. NUE over all option implied volatility of 39 is above its 26-week average of 34 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risks.
Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.
Cleveland Cliffs (NYSE: CLF) July implied volatility at 45 on report of Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) interest. CLF, a producer of iron ore pellets, is recently up $2.83 to $79.28. CLF has a market cap of $3.2 billion. AMM.com reported MT is pursuing a deal for CLF. CLF July option implied volatility of 43 is above its 26-week average of 35 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.
Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) option volatility is flat on renewed Speculation. CRM, an on demand customer relationship management applications company, is recently up .73 to $46.28 on renewed takeover speculation. Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG)has been frequently mentioned as interested in CRM. The Cowen Group reiterated is Neutral rating on CRM. CRM July option implied volatility of 39 is near its 26-week average of 42 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional risk.
Since 1975, Lakshmi Mittal has turned ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) into a global steel powerhouse. As a result, he's worth in excess of $45 billion. Actually, as an indication of his power, Mittal is now a board member of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS). 
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