Coming in at No. 9 on our list of top materials companies in 2012 is a giant in the commodities space. When investing in a company, one aspect to look at is whether anyone is replicating the company's business model. Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW) is certainly a company that stands out in this regard. Being the global leader in silver streaming, and really the pioneer of this business model on this large of a scale, has helped Silver Wheaton establish relationships with some of the world's top miners.
Over the past year, the company has treated its shareholders to tremendous gains when compared with the S&P 500. To find out what it was that helped the company achieve its 24% appreciation, check out the following video, in which Fool analyst Taylor Muckerman provides some perspective on 2012 and where he thinks the company is likely to head in 2013.
