Nico Popp

27. November 2020 | 10:24 CET | by Nico Popp

Varta, Royal Helium, NEL ASA: After the hype is before the hype

• Investments

The world is facing a whole series of revolutions. Digitalization is changing business models and the way we work and communicate. New energy sources are revolutionizing mobility. Between April and October, Varta's stock posted an impressive performance and generated a return of more than 150%. Recently, however, the share price has come down a little again. Reason enough to put the Company through its paces a little. Varta manufactures micro-batteries, such as those used in hearing aids or other household appliances. By the end of next year, Varta intends to expand its capacities in this area. The Company is also taking a step forward in terms of quality and plans to increase energy density further, and this is how the Company intends to stand out from the cheap competition.

26. November 2020 | 11:36 CET | by Nico Popp

Osino Resources, Barrick Gold, Newmont: So are the doublers in Africa?

• Gold

When it comes to growth, professional investors look to Africa as well as Asia. In 2018 Rwanda and Guinea were the world's fastest-growing economies: the economies of both countries grew by 8.6%. Even countries like Benin, Ethiopia, Gambia or Burkina Faso are still among the top 20 in the world. But what is the reason for high growth in Africa anyway? In addition to a young and rapidly growing population, which drives the domestic market, education from a level of training is also an essential factor. Only in this way can emerging economies also participate in more complex value creation. Legal security and stability are also important factors when foreign investors look to Africa. One country that is considered highly developed and legally secure within Africa is Namibia.

25. November 2020 | 11:44 CET | by Nico Popp

Sartorius, Drägerwerk, Desert Gold: Vaccines for the portfolio

• Investments

The crisis is on the home stretch. Several vaccines have been found and are about to be approved. But it will still take a while before the pandemic is defeated: millions of people need to be vaccinated. Usually, two doses of vaccine are required for this purpose, which must be administered at specific intervals. This Herculean logistical task must succeed in many countries if normality is to be restored. This much seems inevitable: 2021 will still be under the influence of the virus. Corona also leaves its mark on the capital market, whether directly or indirectly.

20. November 2020 | 10:59 CET | by Nico Popp

E.ON, RWE, Defense Metals: Energy investments - from boring to speculative

• Energy

The experts of the investment house Clearbridge Investments report that the world could be facing a phase of economic recovery. Decisive factors for this development could be not only the measures of the central banks but also the investments in infrastructure. As the experts emphasize, investments of USD 100 billion would already create about one million jobs. Moreover, every dollar that is invested will pay off several times over in decades and contribute to growth. In contrast to previous years, not only the classic tech stocks should benefit from this growth, but also traditional sectors such as utilities.

19. November 2020 | 09:27 CET | by Nico Popp

AngloGold Ashanti, Blackrock Gold, Newmont: Investing in gold - but how?

• Gold

Gold investors are in a comfortable situation: The precious metal has lost a little from its highs, but still shows excellent relative strength at the USD 1,900 an ounce mark. Although news of vaccines has taken some pressure off the markets in the short term, the big picture for gold investors remains intact. The crisis of the century requires trillion-dollar measures. This flood of money, in turn, increases the risk of further problems and could drive inflation. Contrary to the opinion of many investors, it is not inflation that drives the gold price, but their expectations. Given the measures already taken and those still in the pipeline by governments and central banks, there is every reason for increased inflationary expectations. But how does an investment in the expected gold boom succeed?

While grandmother still hid bars and coins under the bed, today's investors can resort to gold ETCs. These usually securitize physical gold and can also be held in custody at attractive fees and actively traded. Yield hunters nevertheless prefer to use gold shares. The reason: stocks such as AngloGold Ashanti, Blackrock Gold or Newmont usually offer leverage on the gold price. Depending on how a Company develops, the gold reserves in the ground are also valued.

18. November 2020 | 09:50 CET | by Nico Popp

SIXT, Nikola, Newlox Gold: New ways to higher returns

• Environmental Protection

Successful companies often do things a little differently than their competitors. Sometimes it takes a while for an approach that is ridiculed at the beginning, to be approved, be successful and then copied. SIXT, for example, saw itself as a mobility service provider early on. The car rental Company operates in many areas and also offers leasing and used cars. Although business at the airports has mostly come to a standstill, SIXT is rightly considered flexible enough to be able to meet new requirements. The Company drastically reduced its vehicle fleet after the outbreak of the pandemic. SIXT will continue to invest in digital business models in the future, such as a monthly car subscription. This approach means that the share is now doing comparatively well again after a slump in March. The Company is not a crisis winner, but it does have a future.

13. November 2020 | 12:48 CET | by Nico Popp

EXMceuticals, KWS Saat, Nokia: Talk about crashes and comebacks

• Investments

When the EXMceuticals share was quoted above the 1 EUR mark last summer, the sky hung full of violins for cannabis investors. In North America, the active ingredient was largely liberalized, and in other regions of the world, too, it seemed that cannabis would soon become a medical substance like many others. But at least the hype has died down on the stock market. In the meantime, EXMceuticals shares are trading at just EUR 0.12. What has happened?

12. November 2020 | 09:23 CET | by Nico Popp

Newmont, SolGold, Anglo American: When does the takeover carousel turn?

• Mining

Commodities have been an exciting asset class again for a few months now. Despite the pandemic and the economic setbacks, the prices of commodities such as industrial metals or oil developed positively. The gold sector also picked up significantly, thanks to the support programs of the states, and the measures of the central banks. As the large gold companies, in particular, have shrunk healthily in recent years and worked on their cost structures, the ruble is rolling. Commodity giant Newmont reported a free cash flow of USD 1.3 billion in the third quarter alone, and free funds are also bubbling up at Barrick Gold. In an ordinary world, such figures lead to takeover speculation. But the pandemic is making travel and detailed due diligence on commodity projects difficult.

11. November 2020 | 14:15 CET | by Nico Popp

Tesla, Defense Metals, HelloFresh: Who makes a 468% return?

• Rare Earth Elements

When Tesla advertised its electric sports car around 10 years ago and let journalists drive the chic little vehicle around Germany, the Company was a highly speculative affair. The electric pioneers now have various vehicles on offer and are market leaders in their field. But that does not stop the share from making huge profits: The Tesla share climbed by almost 470% within the past twelve months.

11. November 2020 | 13:36 CET | by Nico Popp

Schoeller-Bleckmann, Scottie Resources, TeamViewer: Current trends investors should be aware of

• Investments

During the great gold rush in the USA and Canada more than 150 years ago, not all fortune seekers profited from the hype surrounding the precious metal. Some made a fortune, and others went away empty-handed. Things went well for shopkeepers along the routes to the west: The gold rush made many wealthy, especially those who had equipment on offer for prospectors. Investors could think similarly regarding the stock of Schoeller-Bleckmann. The Company produces precision parts for the oil and gas industry. Whenever deposits are difficult to reach, oil companies can tap even remote sources with special equipment.

06. November 2020 | 10:15 CET | by Nico Popp

Infineon, dynaCERT, Nemetschek: Where innovations drive the share price

• Innovations

The future is traded on the stock exchange. Those who invest in the right companies can achieve rapid returns. But how do you find out which innovations will cause share prices to rise? Since its IPO shortly before the turn of the millennium, the German chip specialist Infineon has developed into an essential Company in the chip industry. Just a few months ago, Infineon completed the critical acquisition of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, adding areas that are important for the Internet of Things, and other applications related to the new 5G mobile communications standard, to its portfolio.

05. November 2020 | 10:54 CET | by Nico Popp

Vestas Wind Systems, Newlox Gold, Equinor: Where are sustainable returns?

• Environmental Protection

As the experts of the US investment house Western Asset Management recently reported, sustainable investments have a future regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election. "Many international investors have long since declared ESG to be standard. Also, ESG criteria are an effective tool in a holistic investment process and can be used to the benefit of investors," the investment Company said. Companies, too, are increasingly orienting themselves towards ESG criteria and have long been thinking further ahead than until the next quarterly figures. The wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems is a pioneer in the sector. The Danes started back in 1979, and today the Company is the market leader. But is the share also a notable investment?

04. November 2020 | 14:02 CET | by Nico Popp

Bitcoin, BIGG Digital Assets, PayPal: What is the best crypto investment?

• Blockchain

Once the genie is out the bottle, you can't get it back in. It's the same or similar with digitalization. The advantages are so overwhelming that only a few people want to do without it - even if there are disadvantages. When it comes to the electronic transfer of capital, supervisory authorities and public prosecutors point out the dangers of money laundering. Cryptocurrencies are unfortunately the preferred field of activity of criminals. Nevertheless, the price of Bitcoin is currently going through the roof again. The best-known of all cryptocurrencies developed rapidly after the start of the second Corona wave - within a month alone, the replacement currency to the Euro rose by around 25%.

30. October 2020 | 13:26 CET | by Nico Popp

Sartorius, Intel, Royal Helium: How investors invest in the future

• Investments

The crisis divides the economy: On the one hand, some industries are forced into change or disappear from the market. On the other hand, there are also winners of the crisis: shares in the healthcare sector profit from the increasing demand for healthcare or laboratory products. Chip manufacturers are happy about full order books and are beneficiaries of the growing digitalization. The megatrend of the past few years has gained additional momentum due to the pandemic.

27. October 2020 | 09:50 CET | by Nico Popp

Deutsche Telekom, Freenet, Upco International: Where telecommunications creates returns

• Telecommunications

If investors were looking for high returns a little more than twenty years ago, they often found them in telecommunications stocks. In addition to the big network operators, such as Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone, the mobile phone stocks of the first hour, such as Nokia and Ericsson, also caused euphoria among investors. The telecommunications sector has become uninteresting for investors. This does not mean telecommunication shares do not play a vital role in the portfolios of investors or that they can even increase the yield noticeably as a speculative addition.

26. October 2020 | 10:17 CET | by Nico Popp

Bechtle, PayPal, wallstreet:online: Which digitisation winner has potential?

• Brokerage

Digital is better! Digitalisation has become a fact of life for all industries. Investments in technology are no longer limited to names like Amazon or Alphabet. Even retail brands such as shoe manufacturer, Crocs are benefiting and offering attractive opportunities to investors: During the lockdown, Crocs were almost able to maintain its sales and thus outperform the competition - why? The Company had invested in its eCommerce strategy early on. A true pioneer when it comes to IT is the expert Bechtle. Whenever Companies or public authorities recognise a need for digitalisation, Bechtle is there to help and support them.

23. October 2020 | 14:36 CET | by Nico Popp

Grenke, Delivery Hero, Desert Gold: Momentum shares on hold

• Investments

There are stocks where there is something in the air. For some of them, the trend is ultimately negative, others never pick up speed, and others just take off. Three of these potential momentum stocks are Grenke, Delivery Hero, and Desert Gold. At Grenke, the eyes of the market are focused on the accusations of balance sheet manipulation. Although the Baden-Baden-based Company has hired external auditors, suspended supervisory board posts, and announced a complete investigation, the share price is still not getting off the ground. For experienced investors, this means that something is coming to a head!

21. October 2020 | 12:08 CET | by Nico Popp

Orange, Total, Osino Resources: How to benefit from growth in Africa?

• Africa

Africa is a booming continent: many raw materials attract investors, and the young population is pushing into future-oriented industries with even better training. It is no wonder that many companies from Europe and North America are also doing profitable business in Africa. Mobile phone provider Orange has recognized that the continent has more to offer than many people still believe. Europe's third-largest telecommunications giant has been making aggressive acquisitions in Africa in recent years. Africa and the Middle East now account for more than 13% of sales. Instead of just telephony, Orange acts as a kind of bank in Africa. Thanks to an app, people can make payments - this is safer and more flexible than cash and is popular with the younger population.

16. October 2020 | 12:19 CET | by Nico Popp

CureVac, BioNTech, Valeo Pharma: Where is there still potential?

• Biotechnology

The race for vaccines against Covid-19 is fierce. Every day there are new water level reports - from setbacks to breakthroughs, everything is there. The Tübingen-based Company CureVac recently started its phase study IIa in Peru and Panama. Around 700 people are taking part in it. The study aims to find suitable dosages for the vaccine. To this end, test persons are vaccinated twice within 28 days. Other competitors, such as BioNTech, are already testing their vaccine on more volunteers. BioNTech recently started its phase III study in South Africa and is testing the vaccine on more than 40,000 people worldwide.

14. October 2020 | 14:04 CET | by Nico Popp

Adyen, Ryanair, dynaCERT: Return on investment thanks to revolutions

• Revolution

Turn an industry upside down and make a fortune? Since Elon Musk, the term "disruption" has become a familiar term among investors. How does one succeed in turning an industry upside down, and how do yesterday's revolutionaries look? Answers to these questions can be in the examples of three companies that could not be more different. After the Munich-based payment service provider Wirecard went bankrupt, many investors are now focusing on the Dutch competitor, Adyen. The payment service provider is digital and platform-independent. As befits an innovative company in the industry, Adyen processes payments mobile and in stores. The Company has had a European banking license since 2017 and has been proliferating the market ever since.

09. October 2020 | 12:12 CET | by Nico Popp

PayPal, Northern Data, BIGG Digital Assets: Who creates a 170% return?

• Payment

We know that the future is digital, especially since the outbreak of Covid-19. While fears about the future prevail in traditional industries, business is going better than ever before for all those who are digital and adaptable. As more and more companies and consumers are realizing this, there is an unprecedented openness to new solutions. The best example is the card reader: just a year ago, it was only available in large chains or at the train station, but today you can pay with a card or smartphone at almost any bakery. One of the beneficiaries of this trend is PayPal.

09. October 2020 | 11:58 CET | by Nico Popp

Barrick Gold, Newmont, Blackrock Gold: Opportunities in the sloping market

• Precious Metals

First the central banks and now possibly a generous new US President Joe Biden - when it comes to reasons for rising prices, market commentators always find an explanation. But one thing is sure: most support measures or capital injections are bought with capital that has either been borrowed or created by central banks. In any case, such measures should also boost the price of gold. Barrick Gold's stock looks back on a successful year and has gained a significant 53% - but how much potential does the gold blue-chip still have after the rise?

07. October 2020 | 11:45 CET | by Nico Popp

Nornickel, Newcrest Mining, Triumph Gold: Which stock benefits from rising gold prices?

• Gold

While the price of gold is slowly but surely picking up speed again, many investors are asking themselves with which share they will best profit, from rising precious metal prices. Many investors initially think of stocks such as Rio Tinto or BHP Billiton - but these companies are virtually not involved in the mining of precious metals. To profit from rising prices, investors must take a closer look. At first glance, Nornickel's stock seems to promise more of an investment in a producer of industrial metals. Still, the company also has many precious metals on offer - platinum and palladium account for more than 40% of the commodities produced. More critical are nickel and copper with a share of almost 50%. Gold and silver are only by-products.

07. October 2020 | 09:19 CET | by Nico Popp

Tesla, Umicore, Almonty: Critical raw materials decide on yield

• Resources

Raw materials are the key to CO2 neutrality. Whether electricity storage, solar plants, or wind turbines - without raw materials, such as nickel or cobalt, many future technologies cannot be implemented. Yet many raw materials are still extracted from the earth in China under dubious conditions, or come from other mining regions where ESG standards do not play an important role. But tomorrow's customers are already calling for better mining conditions today: Tesla boss, Elon Musk, has already publicly advocated that raw materials used by his company should come from good sources. Here could be an opportunity for mining companies operating in mining regions with high environmental standards.

02. October 2020 | 10:50 CET | by Nico Popp

Delivery Hero, PayPal, Wallstreet Online: Which stock hits the spirit of the times?

• Investments

A recent study by the industry association Bitkom showed, even seniors are not averse to ordering online. Specifically, the survey was about food orders on the Internet. Almost a third of the seniors who otherwise order online also come for groceries. To what extent this investigation precisely reflects the truth remains open. But it shows one thing: The world has been changing even more since Corona than it was already. Some companies benefit from it. One example is the Delivery Hero. The company has specialized in selling food online and offers a delivery service. The DAX group is not at all active in Germany, but that does not matter to investors: Over the course of a year, the share went up a whopping 140%. But what about the potential?

01. October 2020 | 13:35 CET | by Nico Popp

Aurelius, Lukoil, SolGold: What do the jacks-of-all-trades on the stock exchange offer?

• Investments

Those who can do a little bit of everything can go far in the professional world. Currently, the discussion about "neo-generalists" is dominating the career pages. In a world of change it is advantageous to be knowledgeable in many varied sectors, but experts criticize half-knowledge and half-baked proposals from the professional jack-of-all-trades. There are companies on the stock exchange that offer a colorful bouquet of activities. Often, the market does not initially assess this adequately. One example is the investment company, Aurelius. Whenever opportunities for acquisitions arise in promising sectors, Aurelius snaps at them. The result is a varied bouquet of investments. Aurelius itself supports the companies and plans to sell them again after successful restructuring. At present, the company has a full exit pipeline, but the market environment seems a little unfavorable given the crisis. However, diversity can pay off here - after all, not all industries are equally affected.

30. September 2020 | 11:45 CET | by Nico Popp

BAT, Barrick Gold, Osino Resources: Supposed political risks, a burden, and an opportunity

• Investments

Businesses, like citizens, operate within the regulatory framework. In this way, the state guarantees peaceful coexistence. But what if the legal framework changes? It is easy for individuals to adapt to new circumstances. It can be more challenging for companies - for example, if a business model is shaken by regulatory requirements. The best example is the tobacco company BAT. Recently, the German Bundesrat cleared the way for a law that further restricts advertising for tobacco products. Even e-cigarettes, celebrated by the industry as a source of hope, will be subject to the likely ban. Cinema advertising, marketing activities, etc will also be restricted in the future.

23. September 2020 | 14:13 CET | by Nico Popp

Deutsche Bank, Daimler, Triumph Gold: What about these fallen angels?

• Investments

When investigative journalists immerse themselves in the world of business, the name of Deutsche Bank is mentioned more and more often. Despite countless legal disputes and fines in recent years, the news flow does not end, the latest accusations being activities that observers call money laundering. The documentation surrounding the business relationship between Donald Trump and Deutsche Bank has cast what was once the world's largest financial institution, in a bad light. Although Trump had owed money to one department of the bank for a long time, another department of the bank lent money to the then dazzling real estate mogul to pay off his debts. Many investors would certainly not have thought that such a transaction, based on the principle of right pocket to left pocket would be possible at all. Deutsche Bank rejected a comment on the above-mentioned incident concerning banking secrecy.

18. September 2020 | 09:00 CET | by Nico Popp

BHP Group, Newcrest Mining, SolGold: Getting bogged down or putting all your eggs in one basket

• Gold

When it comes to investing in commodity companies, the BHP Group is a household name. The British company is active worldwide, mining coal, iron ore, copper and other commodities and has long been considered a solid dividend earner. But recently the company has disappointed: Special effects put pressure on profits, unrest in Chile made life difficult for BHP and the Corona pandemic also left its mark: the bottom line at the end of the financial year at the end of June was a profit of no less than EUR 6.75 billion. While the mood among investors was not particularly good, BHP cut its dividend by around ten percent, thus spoiling shareholders’ sentiment even further. On a year-on-year basis, the share price fell by around 1.4%. In view of the good performance of copper following the outbreak of the pandemic, this is too little for many investors.

11. September 2020 | 10:50 CET | by Nico Popp

Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold, Blackrock Gold: Eat and be eaten

• Gold

Major gold producers are shining with fundamental data. This increases the scope for important acquisitions. At the same time, young companies are attracting attention. Is a wave of takeovers following?

Gold has become a serious alternative for many investors. Even investment professionals, who until now have tended to focus on bonds, are now adding precious metals to their portfolios. Due to high liquidity and certain investment guidelines among professional investors, equities are also increasingly becoming the focus of attention. But not all shares are the same - investors should not blindly buy everything that has "gold" or "mining" in its name.

10. September 2020 | 07:06 CET | by Nico Popp

AngloGold Ashanti, Newmont, Velocity Minerals: Where does price potential slumber?

• Gold

While the German government is thinking about softening the insolvency law even longer than expected and thus keeping many ailing companies alive, central banks make no secret of continuing the path of cheap money they embarked on immediately after the outbreak of the Corona pandemic. As a first reaction, the prices of gold and companies related to the mining of gold climbed significantly. Currently the prices have come back somewhat. Since the basic fundamental situation around the precious metal is still intact, the current phase should be seen in retrospect as a pause for breath. Reason enough to take a closer look at three companies from the gold sector.

08. September 2020 | 07:09 CET | by Nico Popp

Barrick Gold, Gazprom, Scottie Resources: Who convinces the market?

• Investments

To be noticed by the market, it takes more than just a big name. Learn how investors can invest in a phase of global money flood.

Still completely on the low in March, commodity stocks have been developing a strong dynamic for months. The reason: despite the pandemic, demand for copper and even crude oil has not slumped significantly. In the case of gold, demand is even rising continuously. This is due to the measures taken by governments and central banks to combat the crisis. As was the case during the great financial crisis, state institutions are supporting the markets with liquidity. This drives not only gold and other precious metals but also other commodities. But how should investors invest in this market environment?

04. September 2020 | 09:48 CET | by Nico Popp

Moderna, Evotec or Valeo Pharma: Who has the game changer?

• Covid-19

The pandemic is driving the markets. But sometimes investors either come too late or bet on the wrong horse. In the analysis, three stocks for which investors hope for the game changer. The fact that the search for a cure for Covid-19 is making high waves on the stock market is shown by stocks like Moderna. Despite the current price correction, the biotech company from the USA achieves an annual performance of a massive 280%. The reason for this soaring performance is easy to find: Moderna is researching a Corona vaccine and has already reported promising interim results. Among other things, the EU has already secured several million vaccine doses in the event of a successful clinical approval procedure.