Canaccord Genuity initiates coverage on Atome at 'speculative buy'

"Fertiliser is high-value, strategic, tradeable and fungible, and manufacturing it from electricity, water and air (rather than natural gas) gives a completely different cost, security of supply and sustainability profile," said Canaccord Genuity.

In the short term, it expects the company to progress its lead project in Paraguay to put all of the elements for a final investment decision in place later this year, something the analysts expect to be "a material value realisation" event for Atome.

"We believe its strategy of going downstream to monetise island power opportunities is both highly attractive and likely to be followed by other companies on other electricity-driven projects worldwide," added the Canadian bank.

"We expect the next valuation event to be announcements on offtake and debt on the project, expected 2Q 24. We base our valuation on a risked net asset value, which we believe is the most straightforward approach for development companies."

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com