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 May 25th, 2026 | 08:25 CEST
M&A Fever in West Africa: Dwindling Reserves Drive Perseus Mining and Barrick Mining – Kobo Resources Gains Momentum
Despite short-term corrections, the gold price remains elevated, leading to consolidation in the West African Gold Belt. Major mining companies are under pressure due to dwindling raw material reserves, rising operating costs, and political friction in traditional jurisdictions. The need to profitably utilize existing infrastructure, such as processing plants, and to extend the life of mines is forcing established players to make changes. In this phase, companies are increasingly seeking high-grade projects for acquisitions to secure their production and withstand growing pressure from well-capitalized Asian competitors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 25th, 2026 | 08:05 CEST
Tungsten Crisis and Only One Solution: Supply Chains of SpaceX and Sandvik Under Pressure – Almonty Industries Perfectly Positioned
An unprecedented price shock, no meaningful new supply in sight, and continued Chinese export restrictions are forcing Western industry to act in the tungsten market. This year, the price of ammonium paratungstate exploded from USD 920 per metric ton unit (MTU) at the Rotterdam trading hub to well over USD 3,000. With China controlling nearly 80% of global production and the United States set to implement a strict procurement ban on Chinese tungsten for the defence sector starting in 2027, the risk of a serious supply bottleneck is growing. From traditional metal-processing industries and semiconductor manufacturing to aerospace applications, corporations depend on stable supply chains for this essential and virtually irreplaceable metal. In this unique market environment, the US-focused mining company Almonty Industries is building a new, geopolitically independent raw materials empire. The odds are in its favour: Almonty is currently the only producer meaningfully expanding tungsten production capacity.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 22nd, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
Are Dividend Strategies on the Brink? Restructuring Pressure at Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola – Hidden Gem: RE Royalties
Inflationary pressures and geopolitical upheavals are forcing even market leaders in traditional dividend sectors to make structural adjustments. The era of purely volume-driven revenue growth is slowing, which is why companies such as Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble are required to invest heavily to defend their operating margins. In this volatile market environment, investors are increasingly seeking reliable cash flows and stable dividend profiles. While established dividend aristocrats struggle with digital transformation and the divestment of non-core businesses, agile niche providers are moving into focus. The Canadian company RE Royalties applies a low-risk financing model inspired by the mining sector to the renewable energy industry, thereby generating scalable income streams. We explain how the model works and why investors have several good options with RE Royalties.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 22nd, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
Panic in the Steel Sector - Geopolitical Dependencies Threaten Production: Strategic Resources, ArcelorMittal, and thyssenkrupp in Focus
Enormous regulatory pressure to decarbonize, escalating punitive tariffs, and a looming supply shortage of critical alloy metals are driving profound changes in the steel industry. The conversion of traditional blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces powered by electricity poses a challenge for corporations. The recycling of simple steel scrap can cause disruptive copper impurities to accumulate in the melt. The industry urgently requires massive quantities of high-purity pig iron for dilution to continue producing high-quality steel. However, since the supply chains for vanadium, a critical metal for the energy transition and alloys, are almost entirely controlled by autocratic states, Western companies are under pressure to act. Fortunately, the Canadian commodities company Strategic Resources is positioning itself as a supplier from multiple secure jurisdictions.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 21st, 2026 | 07:40 CEST
A Turning Point—But the Right One! Autonomous Warfare Forces Defence Giants to Act: Volatus Aerospace, Palantir, and DroneShield in the Spotlight
Security can no longer be taken for granted in Western democracies, and the geopolitical upheavals of recent years have prompted governments worldwide to act. Yet growing criticism of multi-billion-dollar defence spending often overlooks one key reality: today's investments are largely the consequence of political inaction over the past decade. Against this backdrop, an end to the global security and defence boom is highly unlikely. Modern conflicts can escalate rapidly into asymmetric, software- and drone-driven confrontations, placing increasing pressure on traditional defence contractors to adapt. To compensate for shortcomings in autonomous flight control and AI, established defence contractors are increasingly relying on inorganic growth and turning to technology pioneers. We take a closer look at this rapidly evolving market and present one particularly compelling stock opportunity.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 21st, 2026 | 07:30 CEST
Battery Raw Materials Urgently Needed: Ford and BMW Under Pressure – Analysts Praise Power Metallic Mines
Declining ore grades in established mines, increasing geopolitical tensions, including conflicts and challenging regulatory requirements, are putting the supply of critical battery raw materials under strain, creating significant challenges for the automotive industry. While demand for lithium, nickel, and cobalt continues to rise sharply as electrification progresses, the mining sector is facing a structural productivity crisis. According to analyses by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), mining productivity has halved since the late 1990s. As a result, automakers on both sides of the Atlantic are being forced to strengthen supply chain resilience through direct partnerships and strategic investments in emerging resource projects. The Canadian mining company Power Metallic Mines is positioning itself as a potential key partner in this evolving landscape.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 20th, 2026 | 08:30 CEST
Disruption in the Agricultural Sector: Why Corteva and Deere & Company Are Keeping an Eye on MustGrow Biologics
Created and published on behalf of MustGrow Biologics Corp.
High energy prices, soil degradation, and consumer preference for organic products—the growing pressure on traditional agricultural chemicals poses an existential challenge to established market leaders. Those who do not embrace biological alternatives now risk falling behind due to growing regulatory requirements and increasing resistance. Driven by historically high energy prices, which make the production of conventional fertilizers more expensive, agricultural businesses are facing cost pressures. This economic predicament is becoming a catalyst for innovation: major corporations are investing billions in digital solutions and biologically active ingredients. We shed light on this trend and introduce exciting companies.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 20th, 2026 | 08:00 CEST
The Defence and Commodities Crisis: Lockheed Martin, Glencore, and Antimony Resources' Unique Opportunity
Created and published on behalf of Antimony Resources Corp.
Export restrictions and skyrocketing commodity prices – the shifting geopolitical availability of strategic metals is posing challenges for the Western defence industry. While raw material procurement was for decades merely a logistical task within the framework of a functioning globalized economy, secure access to conflict-free deposits now determines the defence capabilities of Western nations. The significance of this structural shift is particularly evident in the case of antimony, an indispensable key component for civilian technologies and defence equipment. Since the United States has no domestic antimony production, the development of new mining projects in stable North American jurisdictions is of the utmost importance. In this market environment, the Canadian mining company Antimony Resources is coming into the spotlight of global defence and raw materials corporations.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 19th, 2026 | 07:30 CEST
Bottlenecks in the Hydrogen Network: What Linde and BASF Could Learn from A.H.T. Syngas
The "green" transformation of the European chemical industry is in danger of failing. Although the Federal Network Agency approved the German core hydrogen network—which is set to grow gradually to 9,040 km of hydrogen pipelines between 2025 and 2032—the actual rollout of this critical hydrogen route is not proceeding as planned. Without the rapid expansion of key hydrogen pipelines, the industry's transformation goals are virtually unattainable. While the infrastructure is slow in coming, regulatory pressure continues to intensify under the European RED III Directive. As delays mount in large-scale infrastructure projects, energy-intensive industrial companies are increasingly being forced to explore alternative solutions. Decentralized solutions are emerging as viable options. One company that could attract growing attention from both industry players and investors is A.H.T. Syngas.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 19th, 2026 | 07:05 CEST
Supply Chain Collapse in Battery Raw Materials: Why Panasonic, Porsche, and Others Are Increasingly Dependent on HPQ Silicon's Silicon Technology
While the majority of investors are still focused on fluctuating energy prices, experienced investors have long been positioning themselves in the niche market of advanced silicon anodes. The reason is clear: traditional graphite anodes are reaching their performance and capacity limits in electric vehicles—particularly in the premium segment. Anyone aiming to enable driving ranges of well over 500 km combined with ultra-fast charging for spontaneous long-distance travel will ultimately have to rely on a shift in cell chemistry toward high-purity silicon. However, since the industrial-scale production of this raw material relies on an extremely energy-intensive, environmentally harmful supply chain that is almost entirely controlled by China, global market leaders like Panasonic are under pressure to reorganize their supply chains. This is precisely where the innovative company HPQ Silicon could become highly relevant.
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