I got this pdf from a smith barney friend today. I erased the 4 0f 6 pages of "disclosure" statements......here's the meat of the pdf....FWIW. - JT
CITIGROUP PORTFOLIO STRATEGIST February 23, 2006 See Appendix A-1 for Analyst Certification and Important Disclosures. Chemicals = P.J. Juvekar = Ethanol — An Antidote to America’s Oil Addiction? _ We have written a 30-page report exploring the technology and opportunities behind ethanol and biodiesel and their impact on the chemical industry. We think Monsanto will be the biggest beneficiary, and it remains our U.S. Top Pick for 2006. _ Ethanol demand is projected to increase from 4 billion gallons today to 8 billion gallons by 2012. The powerful momentum behind this growth leads us to believe it could be a “game changer” in energy markets. Ethanol Is a Potential Game Changer for Our Names Is ethanol the antidote for America’s “oil addiction”? If not an antidote, at least it is a “nicotine patch” to help kick the habit. We list our key takeaways below. Ethanol Demand Set to Surge to 8 from 4 Billion Gallons — Based on the recent energy bill mandate and our own analysis, we estimate that U.S. ethanol consumption is likely to surge to 8 from 4 billion gallons in the 2006–12 period. E85, the 85% ethanol blend, is already offered at 556 U.S. gas stations, mostly in corn-growing states. An increasing number of car models are offering the ability to use an ethanol/traditional gasoline flexible fuel combination. The powerful farm lobby and existing U.S. agricultural subsidies also seem likely to ensure ethanol growth. There is also set to be a huge build-out in ethanol production capacity over the next few years, to 6.4 from 3.6 billion gallons. Finally, the desire to curb U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil as a matter of national security is likely to play a critical role in ethanol growth that should not be understated. Currently, the U.S. imports roughly 6% of the gasoline it uses. Roughly half of that could be replaced with ethanol, according to our economists. More Auto Companies Are Offering Flexible Fuel Models — We are hearing increased buzz about ethanol as a primary fuel source (in addition to its use as an oxygenate). As of 2003, the last year for which data are available, the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition estimated that more than 2 million flexible fuel vehicles had been sold in the United States. E85 vehicles (those that can run on 85% ethanol blends, traditional gasoline, or a combination) are now offered by the Big 3 auto manufacturers, as well as by many international auto manufacturers. Indeed, 2005 was a year in which many of these vehicles made the transition to become household names. Figure 1. Projected Ethanol Demand Growth (millions of gallons) - 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 198519861987 1988 1989199019911992 199319941995 199619971998 19992000 2001 2002 20032004 2005E 2006E 2007E 2008E 2009E 2010E 2011E 2012E Source: Renewable Fuels Association and Citigroup Investment Research Figure 2. Ethanol (E85) Models, Light Duty Vehicles Daimler Chrylser General Motors - Chevrolet Dodge Caravan Avalanche Dodge Durango Impala Dodge Grand Caravan Monte Carlo Dodge Ram Pickup Silverado Dodge Stratus Suburban Ford Tahoe Crown Victoria F-150 General Motors - GMC Grand Marquis Yukon Lincoln Town Car Yukon XL Taurus Taurus Wagon Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center Brazil Has “Scored the First Goal” in Ethanol — Brazil stands out as a model for ethanol production and usage, with more than 20% of its transport fuel market derived from ethanol, compared with a global average of just 1%. Brazilian ethanol is produced from sugarcane, which can be converted to ethanol for about $1 per gallon (30% more cheaply than converting ethanol from corn). There is currently no ethanol trade between the U.S. and Brazil, but if U.S. trade restrictions change, there could clearly be U.S. import demand. Citigroup Research is a division of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (the "Firm"), which does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the Firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision. Non-US research analysts who have prepared this report, and who may be associated persons of the member or member organization, are not registered/qualified as research analysts with the NYSE and/or NASD, but instead have satisfied the registration/qualification requirements or other research-related standards of a non-US jurisdiction. Customers of the Firm in the United States can receive independent, third-party research on the company or companies covered in this report, at no cost to them, where such research is available. Customers can access this independent research at smithbarney.com (for retail clients) or http:// www.citigroupgeo.com (for institutional clients) or can call (866) 836-9542 to request a copy of this research. This article is excerpted from our weekly, Portfolio Strategist, February 23, 2006 Insights Industry CITIGROUP PORTFOLIO STRATEGIST February 23, 2006 See Appendix A-1 for Analyst Certification and Important Disclosures. Figure 3. Projected Ethanol Demand Growth (millions of gallons) 2 00 4 2 0 05 E 2 0 0 6 E 2 0 07 E 2 0 0 8 E 2 0 09 E 2 0 1 0 E 2 0 11 E 2 0 1 2 E E t h an ol p ro d uc t i o n ( m m g a l) 3 ,4 1 0 3 , 9 0 0 4 ,0 0 0 4 , 7 0 0 5 ,4 00 6 , 1 0 0 6 ,8 00 7 , 4 0 0 7 ,5 00 C o r n / E t h a n o l C o n v e r s i o n F a c t o r 2 .7 1 2 .8 0 2 .8 0 2 .8 0 2 .8 0 2 .8 0 2 .8 0 2 .8 0 2 .8 0 C o r n u s a g e ( m m b u s h e l s ) 1 , 2 6 0 1 ,3 9 3 1 , 4 2 9 1 ,6 79 1 , 9 2 9 2 ,1 79 2 , 4 2 9 2 ,6 43 2 , 6 7 9 A t C u r r e n t Y i e l d L e v e ls A s s u m e d Y i e l d ( b u s h e l s / a c r e ) 1 4 8 1 4 8 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 E t h a n o l C o r n A c r e a g e ( m i l l io n s ) 8 . 5 1 9 . 4 1 9 . 5 2 1 1 . 1 9 1 2 . 8 6 1 4 . 5 2 1 6 . 1 9 1 7 . 6 2 1 7 . 8 6 T o t a l U S C o r n A c r e a g e 8 1 8 1 8 1 82 82 82 83 83 83 E t h a no l % o f U S C o r n A c r e a g e 1 1 % 1 2 % 1 2 % 1 4 % 1 6 % 1 8 % 2 0 % 2 1 % 2 2 % A t E n h an c e d Y i e l d L e v e l s A s s u m e d Y i e l d ( b u s h e l s / a c r e ) 1 4 8 1 4 8 1 5 0 1 5 5 1 6 0 1 6 5 1 7 0 1 7 5 1 7 5 E t h a n o l C o r n A c r e a g e ( m i l l io n s ) 8 . 5 1 9 . 4 1 9 . 5 2 1 0 . 8 3 1 2 . 0 5 1 3 . 2 0 1 4 . 2 9 1 5 . 1 0 1 5 . 3 1 T o t a l U S C o r n A c r e a g e 8 1 8 1 8 1 82 82 82 83 83 83 E t h a no l % o f U S C o r n A c r e a g e 1 1 % 1 2 % 1 2 % 1 3 % 1 5 % 1 6 % 1 7 % 1 8 % 1 8 % Source: Citigroup Investment Research, Renewable Fuels Association, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Impact on the Corn Market and Agriculture Companies — The proposed ethanol growth would translate into roughly 10 million acres of corn being used for ethanol today rising to roughly 18 million acres in 2012, out of a total 83 million acres of planted corn. We think this growth will arise from switching soybean acreage to corn and from increased yield as a result of new biotech technologies such as double and triple-stacked corn, as well as from corn with high starch content (which is good for fermenting into ethanol). The beneficiaries include corn seed companies that have a strong biotech effort: Monsanto (MON–$82.52; 1M; Target Price $90), DuPont (DD–$40.99; 1M; Target Price $49), and, to a smaller extent, Dow Chemical (DOW– $42.82; 2M; Target Price $51). Monsanto, rated remains our Top Pick in Agriculture. Monsanto has a high-lysine corn hybrid, which imparts a higher starch content that is then converted to ethanol. Additionally, Monsanto’s prime focus is on yield-enhancing technologies to elevate corn production. As a result of this biotech revolution, corn yields have risen to roughly 150 bushels per acre in 2005 from 125 bushels per acre in 1996. Figure 4. U.S. Corn Yields (bushels per acre) 120 130 140 150 160 170 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005E Actual Yields Trendline Source: Citigroup Investment Research and USDA Products such as Roundup Ready Corn Root Worm traits boosted yields by as much as 30 bushels per acre during last year’s drought in Illinois. DuPont has a high-starch hybrid that is already commercial, as well as two ethanol-related biotech traits in its R&D pipeline, although both are in their infancy. One is in the early development phase (three to six years away) and the other is in discovery (six to 13 years away). MTBE and Ethanol: Chicken or Egg? — Currently, 20 states have imparted full or partial methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) bans. Initially, we expect that the phaseout of MTBE by these states will accelerate the use of ethanol. However, not all MTBE will be replaced specifically by ethanol, as companies like Lyondell and Huntsman are working on alternate products like ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) and iso-octene to replace MTBE. But, as alternative fuels like ethanol become popular, we think they will accelerate the eventual demise of MTBE. The MTBE saga has continued for much longer than we had anticipated, but now political and environmental momentum are gathering against it. Commercially, some refiners, such as Valero, have already announced that they will stop using MTBE in reformulated gasoline. Figure 5. State MTBE Bans Source: Citigroup Investment Research and American Coalition for Ethanol — February 15, 2006 This article is excerpted from our weekly, Portfolio Strategist, February 23, 2006 |