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 October 28th, 2026 | 05:42 CET
Climate Protection at Nel and Daimler Truck at a Dead End: Why Hydrogen and Electric Trucks Are Stalling—and How dynaCERT Is Bridging the Gap
The logistics industry is currently facing an existential challenge characterised by sharply rising energy costs. According to the European Commission's Oil Bulletin, the average diesel price across the EU stood at EUR 2.136 per litre in mid-October, almost 40% higher than a year earlier. At the same time, the rollout of zero-emission infrastructure for heavy-duty transport is experiencing significant delays. As a result, solutions that reduce fuel consumption across existing fleets are becoming increasingly important for freight and logistics companies.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 26th, 2026 | 05:43 CET
Lahontan Gold, Kinross Gold and Barrick Mining: Strong Position in Nevada
The gold market is currently experiencing high volatility. The precious metal fell about 6% in a month and recently slipped below USD 4,000 per ounce for the first time since July. The long-term outlook remains robust according to a forecast by Goldman Sachs, with an expected price of USD 5,400 by the end of 2027. Against this backdrop, mining companies in Nevada are repositioning themselves. While established industry heavyweights are optimising their production, developers are advancing their projects towards production. One such company is Lahontan Gold.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 22nd, 2026 | 05:41 CEST
Beyond Coal: Cameco, GE Vernova and NU E Power in Canada's Nuclear Energy Transition
Created and published on behalf of NU E Power Corp.
The Canadian province of Saskatchewan is planning a fundamental restructuring of its energy supply. A government plan presented by Premier Scott Moe at the end of September envisages generating at least 2,600 megawatts (MW) of electricity from nuclear power plants by 2050. Saskatchewan, historically heavily dependent on coal- and gas-fired power generation, cites supply security and affordable electricity as reasons for its shift toward nuclear power. The plan comprises two technical development stages. First, provincial utility SaskPower plans to build small modular reactors (SMRs) near Estevan at the Rafferty Reservoir. Second, large, conventional nuclear reactors with a capacity of over 2,000 MW are to be built in the northwest of the province, with the first potentially coming online in 2042. Established companies such as Cameco and GE Vernova are active in this evolving energy landscape, alongside specialised project developers such as NU E Power.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 21st, 2026 | 18:29 CEST
Almonty Industries: Bank of America sees share price weakness as an opportunity - Catch-up potential in the tungsten market
The European benchmark price for tungsten has risen 176% this year, driven by unexpectedly strong demand from the defence sector and ongoing Chinese export controls. While Almonty Industries shares have recently weakened, security of supply in the West is coming into focus: industry is desperately seeking tungsten. This is precisely where Almonty comes into play as one of the few producers building additional supply capacity over the coming years. Shortly before the first shipment of material from the Sangdong mine in South Korea, a recent Bank of America report with a price target of USD 24.00 highlights the company's key strategic role.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 21st, 2026 | 05:35 CEST
Data as the New Currency: The Strategies of Amazon, Alphabet, Reddit and Aspermont
Data archives are becoming a crucial resource for artificial intelligence. As tech giants compete for exclusive information and publishers explore new ways to monetise online content, specialist data providers are gaining prominence. Alphabet's licensing programmes for news content and the controversial licensing agreements of platforms such as Reddit mark a new phase in the commercial use of digital content. In this environment, Aspermont is positioning itself by transforming its historical mining archive into a data and analytics platform. We examine the latest developments and the opportunities they present.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 21st, 2026 | 05:27 CEST
Newmont's Production Decline and Barrick Mining's African Focus Fuel Interest in DRC Gold
Goldman Sachs analysts expect gold to reach USD 5,400 by the end of 2027, while J.P. Morgan, in a February note, even set a 2027 target of USD 6,300. This environment, coupled with US national debt exceeding USD 40 trillion, is supporting the gold price. At the same time, industry leaders such as Newmont are struggling with declining production volumes. This is forcing major mining companies to realign their strategies on the African continent, where project developers like DRC Gold, with exploration areas in the immediate vicinity, are coming into focus.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 20th, 2026 | 10:04 CEST
Time Limit, Not a Free Pass: What the EU’s Pesticide Decision Means for Bayer, BASF and MustGrow Biologics
Created and Published on Behalf of MustGrow Biologics Corp.
On September 30, 2026, the Council of the European Union took a position against indefinite authorisations for synthetic plant protection products and set a maximum term of 15 years for initial authorisations and 25 years for renewals. The member states intend indefinite approvals to be reserved in future for substances with a proven low risk. The member states aim to reach a provisional agreement with the European Parliament by the end of 2026. Regular reassessment of active substances will therefore remain in place for the agrochemical industry, while biological alternatives gain in importance. We analyse the development and present three companies.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 20th, 2026 | 05:42 CEST
Enel, NextEra Energy and RE Royalties: Solar Power as a Source of Revenue
When energy companies such as Enel acquire solar parks and NextEra Energy expands its portfolio of renewable energy projects, it highlights what these businesses are really focused on: predictable returns from renewable energy assets are in greater demand than ever. RE Royalties' business model is built around precisely this concept. The financier participates in revenues from similar projects without necessarily owning them outright at scale. To fund its growing project pipeline, RE Royalties is currently exploring strategic options, including a potential sale of the business.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 20th, 2026 | 05:33 CEST
Rio Tinto, Glencore, Power Metallic Mines: Copper Offensive Meets Growing Demand for Raw Materials
Created and Published on Behalf of Power Metallic Mines
Electrification and the rapid expansion of grid infrastructure are driving demand for strategic metals needed to support the energy transition. Major banks such as Goldman Sachs expect the copper market to slip into a supply deficit from 2027. While established industry giants such as Rio Tinto and Glencore are investing billions to counter declining ore grades, major mining companies are increasingly looking to promising exploration companies to replenish their project pipelines. In Québec, Power Metallic Mines is positioning itself as a potential supplier to the North American market, with high-grade copper discoveries and an economic assessment now getting underway.
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Commented by Nico Popp on October 16th, 2026 | 05:39 CEST
Aqarios Quantum Technologies, IBM and D-Wave: Who Will Win the Race to Bring Quantum Computing to Industry?
The global race to make quantum computers commercially viable is accelerating. Government bodies and tech giants are investing large sums in the technology. Industry is already seeking quantum-computing-based solutions. A clear divide is emerging in the market: on one side are the builders of extremely expensive computers; on the other, developers of highly specialised software that makes the hardware usable in everyday factory operations. We examine the trend and show which companies could be of interest to investors.
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