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 January 5th, 2026 | 07:20 CET
Problems at Masan High-Tech Materials, low grades at Xiamen Tungsten: How Almonty is becoming a strategic lifeline for Boeing, Rheinmetall & Co.
In the world of critical metals, a lesson in market power and geopolitical dependence is currently unfolding. Tungsten, which is indispensable for the defense industry, toolmaking, and semiconductor technology due to its extreme hardness and heat resistance, is becoming scarcer and more expensive – prices for APT are expected to reach four-figure territory by 2026. For many years, Chinese market leader Xiamen Tungsten has impressively demonstrated how lucrative the tungsten business can be. However, while Western industrial companies such as Rheinmetall and Boeing are desperately searching for material, it is becoming apparent that existing alternatives in Vietnam, namely Masan High-Tech Materials, cannot fill the gap due to geological limitations. It is precisely into this supply vacuum that Almonty Industries is moving. With the commissioning of the high-grade Sangdong mine in South Korea and the planned expansion in the US, Almonty offers much-needed security of supply and enables investors to participate in the high margins of the sector, but without the geopolitical risk of China and with additional unique advantages.
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Commented by Nico Popp on January 5th, 2026 | 07:05 CET
The Syrah Resources effect: Why Graphano Energy provides the blueprint for Volkswagen's graphite strategy
Graphite is the often-overlooked heavyweight of electromobility. While the world largely focuses on lithium and cobalt, the anode of a lithium-ion battery consists predominantly of graphite by weight. China controls this market almost entirely, which poses massive problems for Western automakers. With its groundbreaking deal with Tesla, Syrah Resources has proven that building a Western supply chain is not only possible but vital for OEMs. Despite current challenges, this development serves as a blueprint for the entire sector. As Volkswagen aggressively searches for raw materials in Canada through its subsidiary PowerCo, Graphano Energy is positioning itself through its activities in Québec as a logical beneficiary of this new geopolitical reality.
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Commented by Nico Popp on December 23rd, 2025 | 07:10 CET
From publisher to data company: Why Aspermont needs to close the valuation gap with Glacier and Informa
There is a clear two-tier society on the stock market when it comes to the valuation of information providers. Traditional media companies that depend on advertising revenue are often traded at low single-digit multiples. Data providers, on the other hand, which retain their customers through subscriptions and proprietary databases, enjoy the high valuations of the tech sector. Aspermont, the Australian market leader for B2B information in the commodities sector, is currently undergoing this lucrative transformation. A look at the competition reveals where the journey could lead. While the Canadian company Glacier Media shows how to profitably combine news and data, the British giant Informa proves that specialized B2B information is a billion-dollar business. Aspermont is currently aggressively adapting these successful models, but is still valued by the market like an old-fashioned newspaper publisher. Yet the Company has long since proven that it can win over wealthy customers in the B2B segment.
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Commented by Nico Popp on December 23rd, 2025 | 07:00 CET
Nickel sulfides: The formula for profitability – why Power Metallic Mines is hot on the heels of Talon Metals and Magna
The nickel market is currently undergoing a split that offers investors clear guidance: while countless projects are failing due to low ore grades, skyrocketing energy costs, or politically unstable locations, a small group of winners is emerging. The formula for success is high-grade sulfide deposits in North America. Companies such as Talon Metals, which became known through a supply deal with Tesla, and Magna Mining in Canada's historic Sudbury Basin have proven that this geological constellation is the key to profitability. Power Metallic Mines is following in their footsteps. With its NISK project in Quebec, the Company has the geological ingredients of the two companies mentioned above, but is trading at a significant discount on the stock market, reflecting the past rather than the potential confirmed by drilling and the entry of several mining billionaires.
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Commented by Nico Popp on December 22nd, 2025 | 07:35 CET
Car wash as a source of revenue: How WashTec combines the business models of Dover and Ecolab
Car washing has traditionally been considered a conservative business - steel, brushes, and water, with no major disruptions, or so people believe. But behind the scenes, a change is taking place that requires a reassessment of the industry. WashTec, the global market leader for car washes based in Augsburg, Germany, is currently shedding its role as a pure machine manufacturer and transforming itself into an integrated high-tech service provider. To understand the potential of this metamorphosis, it is worth looking across the Atlantic. While US industrial giant Dover Corporation demonstrates how lucrative the global scaling of hardware can be, Ecolab provides the blueprint for stable, recurring revenues through chemistry and process optimization. WashTec now combines precisely these strengths - machinery, chemistry, digitalization, and service - under one roof, positioning itself for investors as the industry's overall technological optimizer. We take a look behind the scenes.
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Commented by Nico Popp on December 22nd, 2025 | 07:20 CET
Halo effect in Côte d'Ivoire: How Kobo Resources is maturing into the next big gold story in the shadow of Perseus and the Lundin Group
In the world of geologists and commodity prospectors, there is an unwritten law: the best finds are made in the shadow of existing world-class mines. Geology knows no license boundaries, and where millions of ounces of gold are already being mined, the probability of further discoveries is highest. This phenomenon, known as the "halo effect," is currently playing out in textbook fashion in Côte d'Ivoire. The West African country has become the new darling of international mining capital. While Australian producer Perseus Mining is demonstrating the enormous potential of the soil just a few kilometers away with the Yaouré mine, and Montage Gold is showing how attractive the region is to investors with the entry of the legendary Lundin Group, Kobo Resources is positioning itself right in between. For investors, the small explorer offers a rare opportunity to bet on the same geology and jurisdiction as the billion-dollar corporations, but with significantly more attractive leverage.
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Commented by Nico Popp on December 19th, 2025 | 07:05 CET
The silver bet: Why Fresnillo is investing in Silver Viper – Hecla Mining already expensive
Silver is the metal of the moment. Driven by demand from the photovoltaic industry and its role as a safe haven, gold's little brother is once again becoming the focus of investors. But while established silver producers such as Hecla Mining and Fresnillo are struggling with the challenges of declining ore grades and rising costs, a new dynamic is forming in the second tier. Strategic alliances are being forged to secure the reserves of the future. Particularly exciting is a current constellation in Mexico, where global market leader Fresnillo is entering into an unusually close relationship with explorer Silver Viper Minerals. This move could be interpreted as a covert takeover preparation.
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Commented by Nico Popp on December 18th, 2025 | 07:15 CET
Financial revolution: How BlackRock, Bank of America, and Finexity are leveraging the USD 16 trillion potential of tokenization
When one of the key figures at the world's most powerful financial regulatory authority talks about a historic turning point, Wall Street sits up and takes notice. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins recently described the tokenization of assets as the key market driver for the coming years. This is no longer about speculative cryptocurrencies, but about the digital, legally secure representation of real assets – from real estate and art to government bonds. While US giants such as BlackRock and Bank of America are already pumping billions into this new infrastructure and seeking to divide the market among themselves, a specialized player is positioning itself in Germany that has long since mastered this technology and is making it available to investors: Finexity.
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Commented by Nico Popp on December 18th, 2025 | 07:00 CET
Are Palantir and Meta facing an AI crash? Tailwind from billionaires for Power Metallic Mines
Will the AI bubble burst, or not? NVIDIA's latest figures initially reassured investors last week, but ultimately prompted profit-taking. Palantir and Meta shares are also strongly driven by AI fantasies. At the same time, the costs of AI development and the associated infrastructure are exploding. Some observers already see the early signs of a bubble, as major tech companies continue pouring billions into next-generation AI solutions at a relentless pace. The key question is: How long can this continue? And is there perhaps a sector that could quietly benefit from this dynamic?
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Commented by Nico Popp on December 18th, 2025 | 07:00 CET
Dividend comeback: Why Mercedes-Benz and VW look outdated compared to RE Royalties' model
In a market phase in which interest rates have peaked, and tech stocks are ambitiously valued, investors are once again turning their attention to the oldest source of income in stock market history: dividends. But the hunt for the highest returns often turns out to be a dangerous undertaking, because a high percentage payout is usually not a sign of strength, but a warning signal for falling prices or structural problems. While German automotive giants Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen attract investors with seemingly favorable valuations and generous returns, their business model is facing the most expensive transformation in history. In this environment, RE Royalties, a Canadian niche stock, is coming into focus. Its business model is specifically designed to generate stable cash flows from the megatrend of the energy transition without bearing the operational risks of an industrial group.
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