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Basic Materials Sector Review: Winning and Losing Stocks

By Stella Mariz

October 10 2011 Tweet Email This

Wall St. Watchdog reveals information about today’s action in the Basic Materials (NYSE:XLB) sector:

Gainers (% price change)

Stillwater Mining Company (NYSE:SWC): The shares closed at $9.17, up $1.02, or 12.52%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $945.26 million. About the company: Stillwater Mining Company explores for, develops, extracts, processes, and refines platinum, palladium, and associated metals from the J-M Reef located in Stillwater and the East Boulder Mine near McLeod, Montana. The Company also recycles automotive catalytic converters in its processing facility in Columbus, Montana.
Mechel OAO (NYSE:MTL): The shares closed at $11.14, up $1.15, or 11.51%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $4.64 billion. About the company: Mechel is a Russian metals and mining company, uniting producers of steel, rolled products, hardware, coal, iron ore concentrate, and nickel. The Company’s products are marketed domestically and internationally.
Chase Corporation (AMEX:CCF): The shares closed at $11.16, up $1.02, or 10.06%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $100.04 million. About the company: Chase Corporation manufactures protective coatings and tape products. The Company’s products consist of insulating and conducting materials, protective pipe coating tapes and other protectants, protectants for highway bridge deck metal surfaces, thermo-electric insulation, and moisture protective coatings. Chase, through its subsidiary, provides circuit board assembly service.
Universal Stainless (NASDAQ:USAP): The shares closed at $31.58, up $2.88, or 10.03%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $215.72 million. About the company: Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. manufactures and markets semifinished and finished specialty steel products, including stainless steel, tool steel, and certain other alloyed steels. The Company’s products are sold to re-rollers, forgers, service centers, and original equipment manufacturers. Universal also provides conversion services on materials supplied by customers.
NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL): The shares closed at $14.45, up $1.31, or 9.97%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $703.18 million. About the company: NL Industries, Inc. is primarily a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, manufactures products that include security products, precision ball bearing slides and ergonomic computer support systems, as well as chemicals such as titanium dioxide pigments.

Losers (% price change)

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co (NYSE:SMG): The shares closed at $45.14, down $1.81, or 3.86%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $2.84 billion. About the company: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company markets branded consumer lawn and garden products, as well as a full range of products for professional horticulture. The Company manufactures and markets fertilizers, pest controls, plant foods, gardening soils, grass seed, and other products in North America and Europe. Scotts Miracle-Gro also provides lawn service in the United States.
Mountain Province (AMEX:MDM): The shares closed at $3.95, down $0.05, or 1.25%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $317.17 million. About the company: Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. explores and develops diamond properties. The Company holds a partial interest in the AK and CJ claims located in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
Mercer International Inc. (NASDAQ:MERC): The shares closed at $7.20, down $0.09, or 1.23%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $410.71 million. About the company: Mercer International Inc. owns and operates market pulp and paper businesses in the southern German states of Saxony and Thuringia. The Company produces softwood kraft pulp, specialty papers, and printing and writing papers.
Alumina Limited (NYSE:AWC): The shares closed at $6.47, down $0.06, or 0.92%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $3.95 billion. About the company: Alumina Limited is an Australian resource company that produces alumina. The Company owns about 40% of Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals through a joint venture with Alcoa.
Owens Corning (NYSE:OC): The shares closed at $22.39, down $0.1, or 0.44%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $2.76 billion. About the company: Owens Corning Inc. offers insulation, roofing, siding, basement and acoustic systems for building and remodeling, composites solutions and asphalt.