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 February 25th, 2026 | 07:05 CET
The 'Apple moment' of strategic metals! How Almonty Industries is securing Western sovereignty and emulating Glencore and Rio Tinto
The mining industry is going through a phase that could be described as the 'Apple moment' of strategic metals. Similar to how Apple ushered in a new technological era two decades ago by combining proprietary hardware and closed software architecture, Almonty Industries now occupies a key position for NATO's industrial and military sovereignty. While the public focus has long been on digitalization, critical raw materials are now moving to the center of the geopolitical power architecture. In this context, tungsten has become as indispensable to the modern defense and semiconductor industries as the operating system is to smartphones.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 24th, 2026 | 07:30 CET
Commodity investments: Why Globex Mining is the hidden gem next to Barrick Mining and MP Materials
The global economy is undergoing a fundamental shift from an era of free trade to an era of scarcity. Commodities are no longer mere trade goods, but instruments of national security and expressions of geopolitical power. The US government's announcement that it will create an exclusive commodity trading bloc demonstrates this. At the same time, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has heralded the age of electrification, in which demand for copper, rare earths, lithium, and antimony is rising to historic highs due to the expansion of global data centers for artificial intelligence and the decarbonization of industry. S&P Global forecasts a copper deficit of 10 million tons by 2040. China continues to control over 50% of refined copper production and dominates the supply of 19 out of 20 critical minerals. This concentration is forcing Western countries and investors to rethink their strategies. We present options that have received little attention so far.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 24th, 2026 | 07:10 CET
Securing raw materials in Europe: How Avrupa Minerals, Altius Minerals, and Elemental Royalty Corporation are organizing supply chains
The EU is looking for domestic sources of copper, zinc, and strategic metals to secure its industrial base. Recent analyses by the European Court of Auditors show a dependence on imports for 10 of 26 critical minerals needed for the energy transition and modern defense systems. Despite the Critical Raw Materials Act, which aims to increase domestic production to 10% of demand, auditors identify bottlenecks in the financing and practical implementation of the requirements. At the same time, consultancies such as McKinsey are forecasting a significant increase in demand for materials for the energy transition, with annual growth rates in the single-digit percentage range through 2035. In this environment, specialized players are positioning themselves to provide access to deposits and manage capital risks for investors. We present three companies with a focus on Avrupa Minerals.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 24th, 2026 | 06:55 CET
Silver North Resources: The high-grade bet in the slipstream of giants Hecla Mining and Silvercorp Metals
The silver market is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation that goes far beyond the precious metal's traditional role as a substitute currency. This turning point is characterized by the divergence between robust industrial demand and a geological shortage of high-grade resources. New discoveries in world-class districts are thus becoming rare and sought-after events for investors. These market dynamics are accompanied by technological developments: modern architecture for artificial intelligence, such as Nvidia's Rubin and Blackwell chipsets, have a power consumption of over 1,000 watts and generate enormous demand for silver-based thermal materials. As this silver is permanently withdrawn from the market and the transition in the photovoltaic industry to new N-type cells further fuels consumption, the industry is experiencing its sixth consecutive year of significant supply shortages. After a period of exaggeration with peaks of over USD 120 per ounce, the market has currently consolidated at USD 70 to USD 80. Based on this level, profitable producers and promising exploration bets in North America are becoming interesting again for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 23rd, 2026 | 07:20 CET
New valuation level ahead? How Volatus Aerospace is rising to become a system supplier in the shadow of DroneShield and AgEagle Aerial Systems
The threat to critical infrastructure and national borders is completely reshaping the budgets of Western governments: today's wars are no longer fought with tanks, but with unmanned aerial systems and intelligent surveillance technology. Canada has responded to this reality with a new defense industry strategy that aims to end its dependence on foreign military equipment. The Ottawa government's stated goal is to award 70% of future procurement contracts to domestic companies, thereby creating demand for local producers. In this environment, Volatus Aerospace is transforming itself from a service provider to a systemically important technology producer for national security.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 23rd, 2026 | 07:05 CET
Reserves at their limit: Why Newmont and Barrick Mining depend on developers such as Lahontan Gold
The price of gold is hitting new highs, driven by global debt of over USD 340 trillion and the devaluation of fiat currencies. Analysts at JPMorgan forecast an average gold price of USD 5,055 per ounce by the end of 2026. In this market environment, gold mine operators are seeing revenue and EBITDA growth. Nevertheless, producers face a massive problem: they are extracting the precious metal faster than they can discover new deposits. The procurement of new resources in reliable jurisdictions has become a matter of operational survival for players in industry. We present a promising stock that aims to make great strides in 2026.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 20th, 2026 | 07:25 CET
Agricultural revolution breaks the billion-dollar barrier: Why MustGrow Biologics, Bayer, and Bioceres Crop Solutions are ending the era of chemicals
The agricultural industry is currently transitioning from toxic chemicals to high-performance biologics. In this market environment, various players are positioning themselves with complementary strategies to capture the gigantic market for sustainable crop protection, which is expected to generate billions of dollars in revenue in the future. The ongoing deterioration of farmland and increasingly restrictive regulations are forcing farmers and corporations alike to rethink their approaches. It is no longer just about purely ecological ideals, but about food for humanity. Established agricultural giants and innovative technology companies are working feverishly to secure yields without further depleting nature. In this race, clear winners are emerging who are laying the foundation for the agriculture of the future and offering investors unprecedented opportunities. MustGrow Biologics is an exciting candidate.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 20th, 2026 | 07:15 CET
Uranium scarcity meets AI boom: Why Cameco, Perpetua Resources, and American Atomics are the real winners of this decade
The energy industry is undergoing radical change, driven largely by the exponentially growing energy appetite of tech giants and artificial intelligence. Current market analyses by Goldman Sachs Research expect the electricity demand of data centers to increase by a staggering 165% by 2030. This surge in demand for carbon-free base load electricity has triggered a veritable nuclear renaissance. While industry giants such as Cameco are impressively demonstrating in this environment that control over the entire fuel cycle is the key to enormous company valuations in the uranium sector, the example of Perpetua Resources shows another significant trend. Securing critical raw materials on American soil is no longer purely an economic decision, but has become a fundamental issue of national security. It is precisely in this force field of market power and geopolitical resilience that American Atomics is positioning itself as an up-and-coming innovator.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 19th, 2026 | 07:55 CET
Energy transition 2.0: Why CHAR Technologies is thinking much further ahead than Enviva and why Plug Power is still dreaming
The global energy market has learned its lesson - electrons alone cannot save heavy industry. While wind turbines and solar parks are making power grids greener, steelmakers and gas suppliers face a physical dilemma: they need carbon molecules – just "green" ones. In this gigantic market for sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, former biomass giant Enviva has already proven that wood is a suitable energy source. But while Enviva has only burned pellets, CHAR Technologies is igniting the next stage of evolution. With their high-temperature pyrolysis (HTP) process, the Canadians are transforming simple biomass not only into heat, but into two high-value industrial products: biochar for the steel industry and renewable natural gas (RNG) for the grid. CHAR is thus delivering exactly the solution that visionaries like Plug Power are striving for with hydrogen, but can often only achieve with billions in investment in new infrastructure. CHAR Technologies uses the existing gas grid and earns money from day one.
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Commented by Nico Popp on February 19th, 2026 | 07:25 CET
The molecular revolution: Why A.H.T. Syngas wins where BASF invests billions and EQTEC paves the way
While policymakers preach electrification, practitioners in heavy industry know that process heat and chemical raw materials require molecules. This is where synthesis gas (syngas), an old acquaintance, is celebrating a spectacular renaissance. Syngas is the backbone of modern chemistry, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide without which neither fertilizers, plastics, nor synthetic fuels could exist. Market forecasts from research firms like MarketsandMarkets and Grand View Research paint a similar picture: the global syngas market is expected to grow at high single- to double-digit rates through 2030, expanding from several dozen billion US dollars today to a significantly larger market. Three parallel developments are currently taking place in this gigantic growth market. While chemical giant BASF validates the demand and EQTEC proves the large-scale feasibility, German technology specialist A.H.T. Syngas Technology (A.H.T.) is disrupting decentralized applications. We analyze the market and the key players.
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