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 July 3rd, 2025 | 07:45 CEST
Explosive atmosphere in the lithium triangle – Europe stands to benefit: Albemarle, European Lithium, Mercedes-Benz
Electric vehicles need lithium. However, it is not that easy to obtain. According to a report in Die Welt, two companies from China and Russia are currently encountering difficulties in Bolivia. The reason: indigenous peoples have launched a wave of protests and are doing everything they can to prevent lithium mining in the country. Germany had already failed with a similar initiative in Bolivia. The indigenous peoples along the border with Argentina see themselves as the sole and rightful owners of the "white gold." As a result, the "lithium triangle" between Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile, which is home to more than half of the world's lithium reserves, is increasingly becoming a no-go area for companies. We explain the alternatives available and who stands to benefit the most.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 3rd, 2025 | 07:15 CEST
Microcap revolutionizes the building materials industry: Does Argo Living Soils hold the key to billion-dollar revenues?
Sustainable construction has been a growing trend for some time. As early as the late 1970s, regulations in Germany required builders to insulate properties according to specific standards. Since then, standards have continued to rise steadily. In some cases, this has become a cost issue – especially when older buildings must be brought up to modern energy efficiency standards. For some time now, the focus has also shifted to the building materials themselves. Materials such as cement and concrete are considered particularly energy-intensive and therefore anything but CO2-neutral. This is precisely where innovative technology comes in. A billion-dollar market is emerging.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 3rd, 2025 | 07:00 CEST
Unparalleled expertise in tungsten: Why Almonty Industries is in pole position
For around ten years, Almonty Industries has been synonymous with tungsten sourced from geopolitically stable regions. In just a few weeks, the massive Sangdong mine in South Korea will go into production, making the world significantly less dependent on tungsten from China. The market is rewarding this – Almonty's share price is now approximately 300% higher than it was six months ago. But outstanding mining projects, good timing, and even a bit of luck are not enough to explain Almonty's unique market position: the Company has a wealth of experience and know-how that is unmatched - and in the case of tungsten, which is considered challenging to mine and process, this will continue to make the difference for many years to come.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 2nd, 2025 | 07:05 CEST
Is there a credit crunch coming? Alarm signals in the SME sector: Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Globex Mining
German SMEs are under pressure, struggling with the weight of the economic crisis, regulations and requirements, as well as increasingly poor financing conditions. According to Creditreform, German SMEs currently have little confidence in Germany as a business location. This mistrust is supported by a growing number of payment defaults. 11.2% of companies surveyed by Creditreform recently reported bad debt losses exceeding 1% of their turnover. Resourceful investors are already taking precautions.
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Commented by Nico Popp on July 1st, 2025 | 07:00 CEST
Disruption! Everything is changing: BioNxt Solutions, BioNTech, Bio-Rad Laboratories
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic changed many things. True to the motto "just do it," companies like BioNTech have put their faith in mRNA technology—and within months, success followed, along with billions in revenue. Today, there are once again innovations with the potential to turn small companies into major cash cows. We explain what innovative healthcare companies BioNxt Solutions, BioNTech, and Bio-Rad Laboratories are currently working on and what potential this offers investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 30th, 2025 | 07:40 CEST
Everything is going electric – and this detail could make investors wealthy: Power Metallic Mines, Rio Tinto, Freeport-McMoRan
The future is electric – heating systems and vehicles are already running on electricity today. Those with their own rooftop solar panels welcome this shift, as solar energy becomes essentially free after the initial investment. But this transition also requires massive investment. Experts at EY report that global electrification will require 115% more copper to be mined over the next thirty years than has been mined in all of human history. The scale of the challenge is, therefore, enormous. Making copper mining sustainable is even more so. But there are solutions.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 26th, 2025 | 07:05 CEST
Decoding the Code of Life – What comes next? Illumina, PanGenomic Health, Moderna
Genetic information is the blueprint of life. Even today, genome sequencing enables us to gain insights that can extend our lives. This is especially true when we can identify certain predispositions to diseases in advance and respond with a healthy lifestyle. Numerous business models are currently emerging around this technology. Some of these are very capital-intensive. Others leverage existing research and artificial intelligence, making them incredibly smart opportunities for investors.
We provide an overview.
Commented by Nico Popp on June 25th, 2025 | 07:15 CEST
New trends in aerospace are driving growth: Volatus Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Boeing
The new global security situation shows that military potential can secure peace. Even if staunch pacifists proclaim the opposite, the latest measures taken by Israel and the US against Iran have demonstrated that decisive action pays off – the mullah state's nuclear program appears to have been significantly delayed, at the very least. Military innovations have been particularly significant in the aerospace sector in recent years. However, many formerly purely military approaches are also proving their worth in civilian applications. We take a look at Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Volatus Aerospace, highlight their innovations, and venture a look at how their shares are likely to perform.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 25th, 2025 | 07:05 CEST
The economy is becoming sustainable – and the stock market is delighted: dynaCERT, Siemens, Shell
ESG criteria have become established across all industries. The prevailing principle in today's business world is that even producers of fossil energy must take action to become more sustainable. This principle is known as "Best-in-Class" and ensures that every industry makes the most of its opportunities to move toward greater sustainability. We present three exciting sustainable business models - Shell, Siemens, and dynaCERT - and explain where opportunities may lie for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 24th, 2025 | 07:40 CEST
Hydrogen – The new trends: Plug Power, Pure Hydrogen, thyssenkrupp
German industry is set to go green. But once again, reality is proving more complex. In March, Thyssenkrupp withdrew a hydrogen tender because all submitted bids significantly exceeded the assumed cost conditions for hydrogen. So, is the hydrogen hype failing to take hold in the real economy? We take a closer look at the latest developments and explain which companies are now in pole position.
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