Axiom: Stay Away From Mining Stocks

It may still be too early to be bullish on metals and mining stocks. Axiom analyst Gordon Johnson believes that the Federal Reserve’s hawkish commentary last week will trigger another leg down for a number of global metals, mining and mining equipment stocks.

According to Johnson, the biggest pressure on these stocks will come from China, where Axiom is predicting significant further devaluation of the yuan.

Johnson also predicts a softening in China property prices in coming months. April’s numbers were mostly positive on a year-over-year and month-over-month basis, but Johnson points out that they were more mixed than in previous months.

“Of course, w/ loans for real estate dev in Apr. reined in from multi-yr. highs seen n Mar. + the fact that home prices increases continue to accumulate to tier-1 cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, & Senzen), yet the 3 provinces that contain these cities were just 13.9% of total Apr. sales + gov’t curbs in Shenzen still taking hold, we expect prices to cool & do not see a material resurgence in iron ore/steel demand,” Johnson explains.

Related Link: Gold Crushed After Hawkish Fed Comments

Axiom maintains Sell ratings on the following stocks:

Rio Tinto plc (ADR) RIO
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc CLF
Joy Global Inc. JOY
United States Steel Corporation X
United Rentals, Inc. URI
Caterpillar Inc. CAT
GATX Corporation GMT
Trinity Industries Inc TRN

Disclosure: the author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.