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 November 19th, 2025 | 07:30 CET
Attention Labor Market Data! Will gold soon take off? Kobo Resources, Barrick Mining, Mercedes-Benz
In Germany, fear has been spreading across many industries for months: How many jobs are still at risk? Concerns are growing, especially among suppliers to the automotive industry in the southwest, where Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and other industrial giants are struggling with the market environment and their own structural weaknesses. Recent signs also suggest a potential economic slowdown in the US. So far, these developments have not impacted the markets; on the contrary, the probability of a US interest rate cut in December has recently declined significantly. If the labor market data published at the end of the week is poor, this could change abruptly – potentially supporting a renewed rally in gold.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 19th, 2025 | 07:10 CET
Hydrogen revolution! Will there now be a flood of matches? thyssenkrupp nucera, Linde, First Hydrogen
The European hydrogen market is gaining momentum. With the new Hydrogen Mechanism, the EU is launching a matchmaking platform to connect green hydrogen supply with demand. The initiative aims to accelerate the market's development. In the future, several rounds of tenders will take place each year via an IT platform to bring hydrogen producers and consumers together. Companies such as First Hydrogen expressly welcome this development.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 19th, 2025 | 06:00 CET
New developments in drones – Is a growth spurt on the horizon? NEO Battery Materials, LG Chem, Albemarle
The war in Ukraine has triggered a boom in micro drones – and with it, a surge in demand for specialized battery technology. Ukrainian forces are increasingly relying on swarms of low-cost mini drones to counter larger unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), such as Iranian Shahed drones. Several trends are emerging here for investors: demand for high-performance small drone batteries is soaring, while stable supply chains free of geopolitical risks are becoming more critical than ever. This is precisely where the up-and-coming company NEO Battery Materials comes into play.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 18th, 2025 | 07:00 CET
Defense stocks catching their second wind: Almonty, Boeing, Rheinmetall
The question of European security has fallen somewhat out of focus on the stock market - shares in companies such as Rheinmetall and Almonty have fallen from their highs. But just because other topics are currently dominating the media, that does not mean that defense-related stocks do not have a promising future ahead of them. We take a look at three companies in the sector and explain what kind of potential investors can expect today.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 17th, 2025 | 07:05 CET
Takeover fever among juniors: Formation Metals, Barrick Mining, and Gold Fields
The price of gold has reached new record highs this year, climbing above USD 4,000 per ounce. This rally is increasingly attracting new groups of investors - not only institutional players but also private investors who until recently focused mainly on tech stocks. In this environment, junior mining companies with promising projects are moving sharply into the spotlight. These juniors, smaller exploration companies without their own production, are widely regarded as the key discoverers of new deposits. In fact, according to asset manager VanEck, between 60 and 70% of all significant gold discoveries originate from junior explorers. Sufficiently capitalized juniors with promising deposits are therefore in strong demand. They offer established producers an efficient way to replenish reserves without carrying out years of costly exploration themselves. One example of such a company is Formation Metals.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 10th, 2025 | 07:25 CET
Moat investments combine opportunity and stability: Almonty, Anglo American, Dowa Holdings
Investing in successful companies is one thing, but investing in companies that will continue to generate substantial returns for years to come is another. Whenever business models are so robust that competitors have little chance of catching up, investors are presented with enormous long-term opportunities. Today, we present business models that are unique and virtually impossible to replicate, including the technologically advanced tungsten producer Almonty Industries, high-tech innovator Anglo American, and raw materials visionary Dowa Holdings.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 10th, 2025 | 07:10 CET
Patient well-being as the key to returns: Oramed Pharmaceuticals, Roche, BioNxt
Higher, faster, further – constant progress is not only important in sports. The economy and science are also all about continuous innovation and improvement. Biotechnology combines both areas. We show how new, patient-centered approaches can capture market share and also create added value for investors. To this end, we take a look at the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, show how the Israeli biotech company Oramed has learned from setbacks, and how BioNxt Solutions is securing promising patents with innovative dosage forms.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 3rd, 2025 | 07:20 CET
Food innovations that spark the imagination: Planethic Group, Danone, Kerry Group
People will always eat and drink - or will they? This old saying is only partially true today. More and more people are paying close attention to what they eat. Instead of letting brand recognition or price dictate their choices when shopping, consumers have been embracing the trend of mindful eating for years, paying particular attention to healthy nutrition and their own well-being. In addition, food has become a way for individuals to express their identity and stand out from others. Ultimately, this is creating a fragmented market catering to diverse interests, which also offers significant opportunities for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 3rd, 2025 | 07:10 CET
Trade war over? Not at all! Here is what's happening now with Graphano Energy, Porsche, and Volkswagen
The US and China have agreed to a kind of truce in their trade conflict. China's export restrictions on metals, which were only announced in October, have been lifted. In return, China will purchase agricultural products from the US, and the agreement will be renegotiated in a year's time. What US President Donald Trump is selling as a major victory is, at best, a temporary ceasefire. The past few weeks have shown that the preliminary agreement will change little for Western industrial companies: they have gained time and must make good use of it.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 3rd, 2025 | 06:55 CET
Commodity-based investments without the boredom: Globex Mining, Royal Gold, Mercedes-Benz
The agreement in the trade dispute between the US and China is increasingly being seen for what it is – a temporary pause in escalation. The fact that negotiations are set to resume after a year and that China is only lifting the most recent trade restrictions shows that the era of globalization will not return. Going forward, China and the US will continue to monitor each other closely and try to secure the best deal for themselves. This carries the potential for further escalation. One collateral damage is already evident in the automotive industry. Here is why there are currently many arguments in favor of crisis-driven investments in the commodities sector.
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