At home in Southern Germany, the passionate stock exchange expert has been accompanying the capital markets for about twenty years. With a soft spot for smaller companies, he is constantly on the lookout for exciting investment stories. That it depends thereby less on large names, but on the future potential and whether the market also recognizes these perspectives, was one of its first learnings at the stock exchange.
On these pages, Nico examines current events at listed companies and takes a closer look at companies that are traded under the radar of the market, in addition to well-known securities.
In order to be able to take advantage of speculative opportunities on the stock exchange, Nico not only focuses on a balanced asset allocation of defensive and opportunity-oriented securities, but also on an intact risk management. "In addition to position size and entry in several tranches, investors should also develop a sense of timing and get to know a stock better before investing," says the columnist.
Commented by Nico Popp
Commented by Nico Popp on April 20th, 2026 | 08:20 CEST
Energy Infrastructure as a Profit Driver: Market Leaders RWE, E.ON, and the Yield Booster RE Royalties
Driven by decarbonization, digitalization, and the extremely high energy demands of data centers for AI applications, electricity is becoming more than ever the most important pillar of the modern world. Current studies underscore the need for the energy industry to rethink its approach. According to the Boston Consulting Group, investments totaling around EUR 860 billion will be required in Germany alone by 2030 to meet climate targets. This amounts to approximately EUR 100 billion per year, nearly half of which is attributable to the energy sector. This massive investment volume clearly shows that the government cannot shoulder these tasks alone and that private capital is essential to achieve these ambitious goals. At the same time, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that global electricity demand will rise by more than 3.5% annually through 2030. The AI boom is primarily responsible for this. Utility companies and renewable energy projects are likely to benefit. Investors in this sector can choose between major utilities like RWE, grid operators like E.ON, or specialized financiers like RE Royalties. Here is an overview.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 20th, 2026 | 08:00 CEST
The Uranium Renaissance: Cameco, Rio Tinto, and the Hidden Gem Stallion Uranium
For several years now, the energy market has been undergoing a transformation known as the second nuclear renaissance. Driven by the rapidly rising demand for electricity for artificial intelligence (AI) and the associated data center infrastructure, as well as climate goals, nuclear power has become an indispensable pillar of the global baseload supply. According to reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA), nuclear power already reached record levels last year. But nuclear energy requires uranium as fuel. In a market environment characterized by a long-term supply gap, investors are increasingly seeing opportunities at the beginning of the value chain. While established industry giants like Cameco are operating at full capacity in the Canadian Athabasca Basin, more diversified mining groups such as Rio Tinto are once again placing greater emphasis on the strategic importance of uranium. At the same time, the exploration company Stallion Uranium is positioning itself in a promising mining region, offering investors the chance to participate in the new uranium cycle from the very beginning.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 17th, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
The Antimony Crisis: Antimony Resources at the Heart of Western Supply Security – How Lockheed Martin and Rio Tinto Are Responding
Shiny, silvery antimony has become a central element of the Western security architecture. China's export restrictions, which culminated in a targeted export ban on the US in 2024, forced Western supply chains to realign. Securing domestic supplies has thus become imperative, overshadowing short-term cost considerations. While defense giants like Lockheed Martin are desperately searching for reliable sources to maintain production of modern defense systems and mining companies like Rio Tinto are investing in processing capacity, specialized antimony companies are coming into focus. Antimony Resources is advancing the development of the Bald Hill project in New Brunswick, which is considered one of the most significant future antimony sources in North America. The company offers investors direct access to a market where small companies are becoming indispensable partners to industry, presenting significant opportunities for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 17th, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
Tungsten in Focus: Almonty's Strategic Position and the Battle for Western Resource Sovereignty – Implications for SpaceX and Sandvik
Wars and the shifting of power blocs are driving major changes across many industries. Technological breakthroughs and visionary ideas are already beginning to take shape. In this context, the element tungsten is becoming increasingly important. With the highest melting point of any metal at 3,422 °C, a density nearly equal to that of gold, and exceptional hardness, this material is largely irreplaceable in metalworking, the defense industry, semiconductor manufacturing, and, more recently, nuclear fusion. For a long time, the global market for tungsten was dominated by China, which controlled over 80% of mine production and nearly 70% of processing capacity. But this era ended abruptly when the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced strict export controls on 25 strategic metals, including tungsten, in February of last year. At the same time, the so-called REEShore Act came into effect in the US, strictly prohibiting the use of Chinese tungsten in military equipment starting in 2027. In its report "Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025," the International Energy Agency (IEA) rightly emphasizes that it is crucial to closely monitor such concentrated supply chains for the sake of global security and defense capabilities.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 16th, 2026 | 07:10 CEST
The Crisis as a Wake-up Call: dynaCERT, Hapag-Lloyd, and Brookfield at the Forefront of Decarbonization
The state of the global economy, caught between wars and an energy price shock, is forcing industry and the logistics sector to take immediate action. As energy prices rise, stricter climate protection regulations are also demanding a shift away from fossil fuels. In this market environment, major shipping companies like Hapag-Lloyd are seeking solutions that take effect immediately to reduce their fleets' fuel consumption without lengthy retrofits. In the aviation sector, too, discussions are already underway about canceling flights or using only modern aircraft with lower fuel consumption. While the economy struggles with these conditions, well-capitalized financial market players like Brookfield Asset Management are investing heavily in the industry's transformation. As a developer of a bridging technology, dynaCERT offers an immediately available retrofit solution for diesel engines with its innovative HydraGEN approach, which directly reduces fuel consumption and improves the emissions balance. Since this business model is perfectly suited to the current times, it is worth taking a detailed look at the industry and the company.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 15th, 2026 | 08:00 CEST
Innovator Combines the Expertise of DroneShield and Dufour Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace as a Fully Integrated Drone Service Provider
The aviation industry is undergoing what is arguably its most radical transformation since the introduction of jet engines: autonomous flight is gaining importance in both the military and civilian sectors. Yet the market is hungry for comprehensive solutions that seamlessly integrate flight operations, specialized hardware, and robust security systems. Leading this development are three companies: Dufour Aerospace, a pioneer in highly efficient tilt-wing aircraft; DroneShield, the market leader in drone defense; and Volatus Aerospace, which is making a name for itself as a strategic systems integrator. Opportunities are emerging for investors. Volatus Aerospace, in particular, stands out by combining the commercial use of drones with security technology, thereby paving the way for scalable, autonomous aviation. Major corporations such as Rheinmetall have also recently invested heavily in drone technology and are likely exploring potential acquisition targets.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 14th, 2026 | 07:25 CEST
Europe's Path to Raw Materials Sovereignty: Key Roles for Lundin Mining, Boliden, and Avrupa Minerals
Due to geopolitical developments, Europe is more compelled than ever to reduce its dependence on global supply chains by increasing its own production of base metals. With the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), the European Union (EU) has set ambitious targets to produce at least 10% of its strategic raw material needs domestically and process 40% itself by 2030. This urgency is underscored by forecasts from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and McKinsey, which expect a significant supply deficit of up to 30% for copper by 2035. According to experts, this deficit is driven by the global energy transition and the construction of data centers for artificial intelligence. According to analyses by S&P Global, the transformation requires not only capital but also a radical reorientation of industrial policy away from global just-in-time supply chains toward resilient, domestic clusters. In this complex landscape, the value chain is being reshaped, with companies such as Lundin Mining, Boliden, and Avrupa Minerals each occupying specific segments. We outline companies and business models and discuss opportunities for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 14th, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
Opportunities from the Agricultural Transition: Bayer, Sumitomo, and MustGrow Biologics
Conventional agriculture must rethink its approach: Chemical pesticides are to be reduced and replaced with biological alternatives. Strict regulations, such as the European Union's (EU) Farm-to-Fork Strategy, make this path irreversible and call for a 50% reduction in chemical risks associated with pesticides by 2030. While corporations like Bayer are restructuring their portfolios to be more environmentally friendly, global trading companies like Sumitomo are securing access to novel technologies. A key player in the agricultural transition is the innovative company MustGrow Biologics, which has developed natural plant protection products based on mustard seeds that effectively combat pests in the soil without causing long-term harm to the environment.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 13th, 2026 | 07:10 CEST
Opportunities in West Africa: Barrick Mining and B2Gold Resume Investment – Desert Gold on the Verge of a Breakthrough
The gold industry in West Africa is largely characterized by consolidation along the Senegal-Mali Shear Zone (SMSZ), with securing economically viable reserves being the top priority for producers in an environment of high gold prices. According to forecasts by PwC consultants, this focus by the mining industry is making a decisive contribution to the economic stability of the entire region. While industry leaders such as Barrick Mining are ramping up production at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex following the resolution of regulatory disputes and forecasting production of up to 290,000 ounces for 2026, B2Gold is focusing on optimizing the massive Fekola complex. B2Gold plans total production of up to 970,000 ounces of gold for the current year and is investing heavily in regional exploration to extend the life of its core African assets. These investments demonstrate that the region is promising and that past country risks have receded into the background. In the immediate vicinity of well-known mines, Desert Gold is developing the SMSZ project, which, with resources of 1.3 million ounces of gold, represents one of the largest undeveloped land packages in the region. With the planned launch of a modular gravity plant this coming summer, the company is preparing for the transition to a junior producer. For this reason, Desert Gold offers a highly attractive prospect for investors: At a time when the major players are investing again, Desert could take off on its own or become a takeover target. Investors who position themselves in time are likely to benefit from this momentum.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 10th, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
Gold Renaissance in Nevada: Nevada Gold Mines, Kinross Gold, and Takeover Candidate Lahontan Gold
Gold has shown increased volatility in recent weeks, while geopolitical developments continue to shape capital allocation across the sector. In response, producers are increasingly focusing on politically stable regions where existing infrastructure offers cost advantages. According to the Fraser Institute, Nevada remains one of the most attractive regions globally for mining investment. While industry leaders such as Nevada Gold Mines are setting standards through optimizations at their large-scale mines and corporations like Kinross Gold are actively searching for new resources in the Walker-Lane trend to replace their dwindling reserves, junior explorers offer a unique opportunity. The up-and-coming company Lahontan Gold operates the Santa Fe project, a former producing mine that recently made headlines with strong drill results. Thanks to a combination of existing permits and its location in one of the world's most productive gold regions, the company's flagship project aligns closely with the acquisition criteria of larger producers.
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