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 May 29th, 2026 | 09:10 CEST
Methane Shock in Energy Sector: Schlumberger & Montauk Renewables Under Regulatory Pressure – Zefiro Methane in Unique Position
The US energy sector is facing headwinds: The Inflation Reduction Act calls for imposing draconian fines on methane emissions. Although Donald Trump has suspended the law and is relying on government incentives, this does not change the fact that the industry stands to benefit from the immediate remediation of abandoned drilling sites. At the same time, the European Methane Regulation will extend its strict requirements to all fossil fuel imports into the EU starting in January 2027. American producers must therefore plug methane leaks directly at the source for several reasons. A billion-dollar market is emerging. We explain why Zefiro Methane has positioned itself as a unique beneficiary.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 28th, 2026 | 07:25 CEST
Gold Consolidation in Africa: Barrick Mining and Harmony Gold Under Pressure – North Arrow Minerals Fills the Strategic Niche
Rapidly dwindling mineral reserves, a lack of major discoveries in historically developed areas, and drastically increased geopolitical risks—the situation in the gold industry demands action. Leading companies must realign their portfolios to avoid valuation discounts. The search is on for deposits in stable jurisdictions that can be brought into production quickly with state-of-the-art infrastructure. According to regular analyses by the Fraser Institute, Botswana is emerging as the primary target area in Africa. The junior company North Arrow Minerals is positioning itself in a promising geological niche to systematically define a virtually untouched system with the Kraaipan Gold Project.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 27th, 2026 | 08:00 CEST
Energy Security in Southeast Asia: Import Dependency Weighs on Toyota and Intel — dynaCERT Benefits
The countries of Southeast Asia are under pressure: geopolitical instability in the Middle East, soaring fuel costs, and regulatory requirements for decarbonization are forcing established industrial giants to reevaluate their production sites and supply chains. Vietnam's economy, which recorded robust growth of around 8% last year, is revealing significant vulnerability in the current crisis. Since processed crude oil must be imported almost entirely from Kuwait, transportation disruptions have led to shortages, driving diesel prices up by 70% or more since February. This price shock directly impacts the export-oriented manufacturing industry and also drives up logistics costs. For example, rail transport has become more expensive. Since the power grid also faces significant capacity constraints, agile solution providers offering immediate relief are coming into focus.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 26th, 2026 | 06:50 CEST
Meta and Cameco's Hunger for Uranium—Solutions from Sandstone: Why America's AI Infrastructure Also Depends on American Atomics
AI's energy appetite is enormous—and is reaching its limits in many areas. While the exponential increase in the computing power of AI models is pushing the capacity limits of power grids, the US Department of Energy forecasts that data centers could account for up to 12% of the total grid load in the US by 2030. Since volatile renewable energy sources cannot guarantee the baseload for gigawatt-class data centers, nuclear power is taking center stage. We examine how Meta and others view nuclear energy, the challenges hyperscalers must overcome, and why there are strong arguments for uranium from the US.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 25th, 2026 | 08:25 CEST
M&A Fever in West Africa: Dwindling Reserves Drive Perseus Mining and Barrick Mining – Kobo Resources Gains Momentum
Despite short-term corrections, the gold price remains elevated, leading to consolidation in the West African Gold Belt. Major mining companies are under pressure due to dwindling raw material reserves, rising operating costs, and political friction in traditional jurisdictions. The need to profitably utilize existing infrastructure, such as processing plants, and to extend the life of mines is forcing established players to make changes. In this phase, companies are increasingly seeking high-grade projects for acquisitions to secure their production and withstand growing pressure from well-capitalized Asian competitors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 25th, 2026 | 08:05 CEST
Tungsten Crisis and Only One Solution: Supply Chains of SpaceX and Sandvik Under Pressure – Almonty Industries Perfectly Positioned
An unprecedented price shock, no meaningful new supply in sight, and continued Chinese export restrictions are forcing Western industry to act in the tungsten market. This year, the price of ammonium paratungstate exploded from USD 920 per metric ton unit (MTU) at the Rotterdam trading hub to well over USD 3,000. With China controlling nearly 80% of global production and the United States set to implement a strict procurement ban on Chinese tungsten for the defence sector starting in 2027, the risk of a serious supply bottleneck is growing. From traditional metal-processing industries and semiconductor manufacturing to aerospace applications, corporations depend on stable supply chains for this essential and virtually irreplaceable metal. In this unique market environment, the US-focused mining company Almonty Industries is building a new, geopolitically independent raw materials empire. The odds are in its favour: Almonty is currently the only producer meaningfully expanding tungsten production capacity.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 22nd, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
Are Dividend Strategies on the Brink? Restructuring Pressure at Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola – Hidden Gem: RE Royalties
Inflationary pressures and geopolitical upheavals are forcing even market leaders in traditional dividend sectors to make structural adjustments. The era of purely volume-driven revenue growth is slowing, which is why companies such as Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble are required to invest heavily to defend their operating margins. In this volatile market environment, investors are increasingly seeking reliable cash flows and stable dividend profiles. While established dividend aristocrats struggle with digital transformation and the divestment of non-core businesses, agile niche providers are moving into focus. The Canadian company RE Royalties applies a low-risk financing model inspired by the mining sector to the renewable energy industry, thereby generating scalable income streams. We explain how the model works and why investors have several good options with RE Royalties.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 22nd, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
Panic in the Steel Sector - Geopolitical Dependencies Threaten Production: Strategic Resources, ArcelorMittal, and thyssenkrupp in Focus
Enormous regulatory pressure to decarbonize, escalating punitive tariffs, and a looming supply shortage of critical alloy metals are driving profound changes in the steel industry. The conversion of traditional blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces powered by electricity poses a challenge for corporations. The recycling of simple steel scrap can cause disruptive copper impurities to accumulate in the melt. The industry urgently requires massive quantities of high-purity pig iron for dilution to continue producing high-quality steel. However, since the supply chains for vanadium, a critical metal for the energy transition and alloys, are almost entirely controlled by autocratic states, Western companies are under pressure to act. Fortunately, the Canadian commodities company Strategic Resources is positioning itself as a supplier from multiple secure jurisdictions.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 21st, 2026 | 07:40 CEST
A Turning Point—But the Right One! Autonomous Warfare Forces Defence Giants to Act: Volatus Aerospace, Palantir, and DroneShield in the Spotlight
Security can no longer be taken for granted in Western democracies, and the geopolitical upheavals of recent years have prompted governments worldwide to act. Yet growing criticism of multi-billion-dollar defence spending often overlooks one key reality: today's investments are largely the consequence of political inaction over the past decade. Against this backdrop, an end to the global security and defence boom is highly unlikely. Modern conflicts can escalate rapidly into asymmetric, software- and drone-driven confrontations, placing increasing pressure on traditional defence contractors to adapt. To compensate for shortcomings in autonomous flight control and AI, established defence contractors are increasingly relying on inorganic growth and turning to technology pioneers. We take a closer look at this rapidly evolving market and present one particularly compelling stock opportunity.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 21st, 2026 | 07:30 CEST
Battery Raw Materials Urgently Needed: Ford and BMW Under Pressure – Analysts Praise Power Metallic Mines
Declining ore grades in established mines, increasing geopolitical tensions, including conflicts and challenging regulatory requirements, are putting the supply of critical battery raw materials under strain, creating significant challenges for the automotive industry. While demand for lithium, nickel, and cobalt continues to rise sharply as electrification progresses, the mining sector is facing a structural productivity crisis. According to analyses by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), mining productivity has halved since the late 1990s. As a result, automakers on both sides of the Atlantic are being forced to strengthen supply chain resilience through direct partnerships and strategic investments in emerging resource projects. The Canadian mining company Power Metallic Mines is positioning itself as a potential key partner in this evolving landscape.
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