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 March 2nd, 2026 | 07:30 CET
Great opportunities in Central Africa: DRC Gold, AngloGold Ashanti, and Gold Fields in Focus
We are witnessing a historic rally in the price of gold, which is fundamentally changing both the balance sheets of established corporations and the strategies of emerging explorers. As recent analyses by PwC and McKinsey show, the precious metal has evolved from a pure hedge against inflation to a strategic guarantee of security. Forecasts by leading investment banks Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan suggest that, in the wake of ongoing central bank purchases and currency devaluations, a rapid rise to as much as USD 6,300 per ounce by the end of the year is possible. Experts at State Street Global Advisors also point to the escalating global debt crisis as the primary driver of precious metal prices. In this phase, DRC Gold's realignment marks a decisive turning point in the development of African gold reserves. The company has acquired the option to acquire majority interests in the high-grade Giro and Nizi projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo through a binding agreement. This positions the explorer in the renowned Kilo-Moto greenstone belt in the immediate vicinity of the world-class Kibali mine, which is operated as a joint venture by AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick Mining, and the state-owned company SOKIMO, and allows it to leverage the pull of the industry giants for its own growth.
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Commented by Nico Popp on March 2nd, 2026 | 07:05 CET
Strategic raw materials: How Power Metallic Mines and FPX Nickel secure supply chains and what is important for Mercedes-Benz
The automotive industry is at a critical turning point where the availability of strategic metals is no longer just a question of price, but a basic prerequisite for the transformation to electric mobility. Vehicle manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz are consistently aligning their production with an "electric-only strategy" and placing the upstream value chain for nickel, copper, and platinum group metals at the center of their planning. Securing these essential raw materials must be done under the strictest environmental, social, and ethical criteria in order to optimize the carbon footprint of the high-performance batteries produced and to meet the requirements of investors and regulatory authorities. In this market environment, specific solution providers from Canada are emerging, serving the rapidly growing demand for clean and transparent raw materials with fundamentally different exploration approaches.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 27th, 2026 | 07:35 CET
Dividend powerhouses like Kimberly-Clark and General Mills: How RE Royalties could benefit from AI
When it comes to investing, substance is set to regain importance in 2026, as JPMorgan Asset Management writes in its "2026 Year-Ahead Investment Outlook." The market environment is characterized by geopolitical fragmentation, while at the same time the rise of artificial intelligence is creating new structural demand for decentralized energy solutions. In this context, innovative revenue models such as royalties can form the foundation of a robust dividend portfolio. We present the established consumer goods giants Kimberly-Clark and General Mills, and also discuss innovative financing models in the renewable energy sector, as successfully implemented for years by the still relatively unknown company RE Royalties.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 27th, 2026 | 07:20 CET
Valuation anomaly in the drone sector: Volatus Aerospace scores well compared to Ondas and Unusual Machines
Providers of drone technology are enjoying high demand. In Germany, two startups that did not exist just a few years ago have recently received orders from the German Armed Forces. Analysts describe the current phase as an "unmanned supercycle" – autonomous systems have long been considered indispensable for national security. Reports from institutes such as Fortune Business Insights forecast a market volume for drones of over USD 47 billion in 2026, which is expected to rise to over USD 160 billion by 2034. This increase is driven by an annual growth rate of around 16%, with the defense sector considered the growth engine due to geopolitical tensions. Amid this market development, a detailed valuation comparison reveals a significant discrepancy. It is worth investors taking a closer look.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 27th, 2026 | 07:10 CET
Western antimony axis ensures returns: How Antimony Resources, US Antimony, and Hensoldt are securing defense capabilities
In the current tense geopolitical environment, securing global supply chains for critical minerals has become a matter of national security. Antimony is now at the heart of modern defense technology. With China's dominance in this area remaining unchallenged for decades and the country imposing far-reaching export restrictions, urgent action is needed. The West, led by the US and Canada, is currently building a self-sufficient supply chain, as analysts at the Boston Consulting Group emphasize in their publication on ecosystems in the supply chain for critical minerals. This chain extends from exploration in Canada to industrial scaling in the US to the final production of sensor systems in Europe and other industrialized countries. Antimony Resources, the United States Antimony Corporation, and Hensoldt play a critical role in Western defense. Consulting firms such as PwC have pointed out in their outlook for the current year that massive sums are flowing into the defense sector in North America to secure raw material sovereignty. We explain where the greatest opportunities for investors lie.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 26th, 2026 | 07:40 CET
From penny stock to tech pioneer: How Aspermont is transforming the commodity data market with Rio Tinto – Informa as a role model
Data is the raw material for tomorrow's decisions. In an economy where algorithms and large language models (LLMs) rely on verified and structured information, access to high-quality archives determines competitiveness. Aspermont has recognized this need and is transforming itself from a traditional media company into a technology company in the field of data intelligence. With a cumulative brand archive covering over 200 years of mining history, the company has a comprehensive data set on the global commodities industry. With its Mining IQ platform, Aspermont is digitizing this historical knowledge and structuring it for AI applications. This realignment completes the company's fourth phase of technological development, which builds on 180 years of print publications and the digital media and content-as-a-service models. The quality of the data is ensured by more than 100 specialist journalists and analysts who provide qualitative input for the platform.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 26th, 2026 | 07:15 CET
Opportunities thanks to industrial transformation: The closed value chain of CHAR Technologies, PyroGenesis, and BASF
When it comes to the climate-neutral transformation of industry, the current phase marks the transition from strategic planning to operational implementation for many companies. According to recent publications by McKinsey and the International Energy Agency (IEA), about half of the required reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 depends on the provision of alternative heat sources for the production of basic industrial materials such as steel, cement, and chemicals. The regulatory framework in Europe and North America is defined by the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and stricter standards for the circular economy, which increases the financial pressure on CO2-intensive processes. In this environment, the thermal decomposition of organic materials in the absence of oxygen, known as pyrolysis, is becoming increasingly popular as a means of recovering energy from waste streams and utilizing them as carbon sinks. CHAR Technologies, PyroGenesis, and BASF play an important role in this context, ranging from decentralized waste recovery to specialized plant engineering and industrial applications.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 26th, 2026 | 07:05 CET
Hydrogen transition: How dynaCERT, Plug Power, and Ballard Power Systems are decarbonizing the transportation sector
The market for hydrogen-powered logistics is set to reach a volume of USD 32.47 billion in 2026 and is expected to grow to USD 204.9 billion by the end of the decade. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that global demand for hydrogen was nearly 100 million tons last year, but less than 1% of that came from low-emission sources. In the US, tariffs on electrolysers and fuel cells, ranging from 10% to 30%, are forcing the industry to build local supply chains. In Europe, the REPowerEU plan, together with the EU hydrogen strategy, creates a stable framework for investment in infrastructure. However, an immediate and comprehensive replacement of the global heavy-duty fleet with completely emission-free vehicles would be difficult to achieve and also economically nonsensical. Instead, companies are preparing to retrofit existing fleets or promote the hydrogen transition in other ways.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 25th, 2026 | 08:20 CET
Nuclear comeback offers opportunities: Standard Uranium, Cameco, and Denison Mines dominate the Athabasca Basin
As the world experiences a return to nuclear power, Canada's Athabasca Basin in the province of Saskatchewan is becoming more than ever the strategic heart of global uranium supply. Reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA) officially herald the "age of electrification," in which nuclear energy is transforming from a transitional solution to an indispensable pillar—thanks to climate neutrality. This development is driven by the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence and modern IT infrastructure. Studies by McKinsey and the IEA consistently show that the electricity demand of global data centers is expected to triple by 2030. In view of these fundamental market dynamics, analysts at the World Nuclear Association (WNA) have set the ambitious goal of significantly expanding global nuclear capacity over the next 25 years. In this environment, Standard Uranium is positioning itself as one of the most active and precise explorers, using technologically advanced methods to identify undiscovered corridors in the shadows of industry giants. The company operates in close proximity to the big players and offers investors maximum leverage on the price of uranium in the safest and richest uranium region in the world.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 25th, 2026 | 07:15 CET
Seizing Defense Billions Now: How NEO Battery Materials Could Enhance Systems from Rheinmetall and Hensoldt
The world's security architecture is no longer what it once was: the future of defense is autonomous, networked, and energy-hungry. Military superiority is no longer determined primarily by the sheer number of deployed units, but by the synergy of autonomous mobility, sensor intelligence, and the corresponding energy capacities. In this environment, players such as Rheinmetall are equipping the next generation of military equipment with autonomous vehicles and drones. At the same time, Hensoldt is providing the necessary intelligence for today's battlefield through high-performance sensor technology and AI-supported radar systems such as the TRML-4D. According to reports from platforms such as Radartutorial.eu, these systems are capable of detecting up to 1,500 targets simultaneously within a radius of 250 km and processing data in fractions of a second. In the field of power supply for unmanned aerial systems, the Canadian-South Korean company NEO Battery Materials is positioning itself to drive a potential breakthrough.
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