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 25th, 2020 | 11:44 CET
Sartorius, Drägerwerk, Desert Gold: Vaccines for the portfolio
The crisis is on the home stretch. Several vaccines have been found and are about to be approved. But it will still take a while before the pandemic is defeated: millions of people need to be vaccinated. Usually, two doses of vaccine are required for this purpose, which must be administered at specific intervals. This Herculean logistical task must succeed in many countries if normality is to be restored. This much seems inevitable: 2021 will still be under the influence of the virus. Corona also leaves its mark on the capital market, whether directly or indirectly.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 20th, 2020 | 10:59 CET
E.ON, RWE, Defense Metals: Energy investments - from boring to speculative
The experts of the investment house Clearbridge Investments report that the world could be facing a phase of economic recovery. Decisive factors for this development could be not only the measures of the central banks but also the investments in infrastructure. As the experts emphasize, investments of USD 100 billion would already create about one million jobs. Moreover, every dollar that is invested will pay off several times over in decades and contribute to growth. In contrast to previous years, not only the classic tech stocks should benefit from this growth, but also traditional sectors such as utilities.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 19th, 2020 | 09:27 CET
AngloGold Ashanti, Blackrock Gold, Newmont: Investing in gold - but how?
Gold investors are in a comfortable situation: The precious metal has lost a little from its highs, but still shows excellent relative strength at the USD 1,900 an ounce mark. Although news of vaccines has taken some pressure off the markets in the short term, the big picture for gold investors remains intact. The crisis of the century requires trillion-dollar measures. This flood of money, in turn, increases the risk of further problems and could drive inflation. Contrary to the opinion of many investors, it is not inflation that drives the gold price, but their expectations. Given the measures already taken and those still in the pipeline by governments and central banks, there is every reason for increased inflationary expectations. But how does an investment in the expected gold boom succeed?
While grandmother still hid bars and coins under the bed, today's investors can resort to gold ETCs. These usually securitize physical gold and can also be held in custody at attractive fees and actively traded. Yield hunters nevertheless prefer to use gold shares. The reason: stocks such as AngloGold Ashanti, Blackrock Gold or Newmont usually offer leverage on the gold price. Depending on how a Company develops, the gold reserves in the ground are also valued.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 18th, 2020 | 09:50 CET
SIXT, Nikola, Newlox Gold: New ways to higher returns
Successful companies often do things a little differently than their competitors. Sometimes it takes a while for an approach that is ridiculed at the beginning, to be approved, be successful and then copied. SIXT, for example, saw itself as a mobility service provider early on. The car rental Company operates in many areas and also offers leasing and used cars. Although business at the airports has mostly come to a standstill, SIXT is rightly considered flexible enough to be able to meet new requirements. The Company drastically reduced its vehicle fleet after the outbreak of the pandemic. SIXT will continue to invest in digital business models in the future, such as a monthly car subscription. This approach means that the share is now doing comparatively well again after a slump in March. The Company is not a crisis winner, but it does have a future.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 13th, 2020 | 12:48 CET
EXMceuticals, KWS Saat, Nokia: Talk about crashes and comebacks
When the EXMceuticals share was quoted above the 1 EUR mark last summer, the sky hung full of violins for cannabis investors. In North America, the active ingredient was largely liberalized, and in other regions of the world, too, it seemed that cannabis would soon become a medical substance like many others. But at least the hype has died down on the stock market. In the meantime, EXMceuticals shares are trading at just EUR 0.12. What has happened?
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 12th, 2020 | 09:23 CET
Newmont, SolGold, Anglo American: When does the takeover carousel turn?
Commodities have been an exciting asset class again for a few months now. Despite the pandemic and the economic setbacks, the prices of commodities such as industrial metals or oil developed positively. The gold sector also picked up significantly, thanks to the support programs of the states, and the measures of the central banks. As the large gold companies, in particular, have shrunk healthily in recent years and worked on their cost structures, the ruble is rolling. Commodity giant Newmont reported a free cash flow of USD 1.3 billion in the third quarter alone, and free funds are also bubbling up at Barrick Gold. In an ordinary world, such figures lead to takeover speculation. But the pandemic is making travel and detailed due diligence on commodity projects difficult.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 11th, 2020 | 14:15 CET
Tesla, Defense Metals, HelloFresh: Who makes a 468% return?
When Tesla advertised its electric sports car around 10 years ago and let journalists drive the chic little vehicle around Germany, the Company was a highly speculative affair. The electric pioneers now have various vehicles on offer and are market leaders in their field. But that does not stop the share from making huge profits: The Tesla share climbed by almost 470% within the past twelve months.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 11th, 2020 | 13:36 CET
Schoeller-Bleckmann, Scottie Resources, TeamViewer: Current trends investors should be aware of
During the great gold rush in the USA and Canada more than 150 years ago, not all fortune seekers profited from the hype surrounding the precious metal. Some made a fortune, and others went away empty-handed. Things went well for shopkeepers along the routes to the west: The gold rush made many wealthy, especially those who had equipment on offer for prospectors. Investors could think similarly regarding the stock of Schoeller-Bleckmann. The Company produces precision parts for the oil and gas industry. Whenever deposits are difficult to reach, oil companies can tap even remote sources with special equipment.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 6th, 2020 | 10:15 CET
Infineon, dynaCERT, Nemetschek: Where innovations drive the share price
The future is traded on the stock exchange. Those who invest in the right companies can achieve rapid returns. But how do you find out which innovations will cause share prices to rise? Since its IPO shortly before the turn of the millennium, the German chip specialist Infineon has developed into an essential Company in the chip industry. Just a few months ago, Infineon completed the critical acquisition of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, adding areas that are important for the Internet of Things, and other applications related to the new 5G mobile communications standard, to its portfolio.
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Commented by Nico Popp on November 5th, 2020 | 10:54 CET
Vestas Wind Systems, Newlox Gold, Equinor: Where are sustainable returns?
As the experts of the US investment house Western Asset Management recently reported, sustainable investments have a future regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election. "Many international investors have long since declared ESG to be standard. Also, ESG criteria are an effective tool in a holistic investment process and can be used to the benefit of investors," the investment Company said. Companies, too, are increasingly orienting themselves towards ESG criteria and have long been thinking further ahead than until the next quarterly figures. The wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems is a pioneer in the sector. The Danes started back in 1979, and today the Company is the market leader. But is the share also a notable investment?
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