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 August 11th, 2025 | 07:15 CEST
Platform strategies are shaking up the biotech market: BioNxt, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Evotec
In biotech, the all-or-nothing principle no longer applies. Instead of offering just one product, the platform economy is becoming the norm in the development of tomorrow's active ingredients. What does this mean? Companies are working together, sharing their technology, and thereby reducing their dependence on individual projects. Since each player can focus on its core competencies, new active ingredients are brought to market faster, and even innovations in niche areas can gain significant traction thanks to strong partners. We explain what platform economics means in the biotech sector and how investors can benefit from it.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on August 11th, 2025 | 07:05 CEST
Concrete 2.0 brings returns to your portfolio – Holcim, Cemex, Argo Graphene Solutions
Better and greener at the same time? Yes, it is possible - with modern building materials! According to a study by the UN Environment Programme, 37% of global CO2 emissions come from the construction industry. At the same time, infrastructure around the world is considered to be in a state of disrepair. Germany alone plans to spend hundreds of billions to tackle the backlog of repairs to bridges, roads, and networks. Innovative building materials are just what is needed. In this article, we highlight current industry trends, explain how additives make building materials both better and greener, and highlight which building material stocks offer the greatest leverage.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on August 8th, 2025 | 07:05 CEST
Thinking locally opens up new possibilities: SAP, Meta Platforms, naoo
Digital communication is bringing the world closer together. Our friends may live all over the world, yet we can still share even the smallest moments with them. Being connected does not just help bridge long distances - it also brings people together in our immediate surroundings. Networks can foster friendships or spark new business opportunities locally as well. Using the business models of SAP, Meta, and naoo, we show how technology is changing things locally and making the world a better place.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on August 7th, 2025 | 07:25 CEST
Hydrogen turnaround? Bad news from Africa: First Hydrogen, thyssenkrupp nucera, BASF
According to a report in Der Spiegel, producing green hydrogen in Africa for export to Europe could be more expensive than previously thought. This is indicated by research conducted by scientists from the Technical University of Munich, Oxford, and ETH Zurich. According to the study, only 2% of around 10,000 sites examined across 31 African countries could produce at competitive costs by 2030. The reason lies in financing. Depending on the country in Africa, financing costs range between 8% and 27%, which is too high to remain competitive. Instead of the planned price guarantees of EUR 3 per kg of hydrogen, the EU would have to guarantee EUR 5 to ensure a reliable flow of hydrogen from Africa to Europe. What does this mean now for the European hydrogen economy?
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on August 7th, 2025 | 07:05 CEST
The most stable trend in the world: Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, Veganz
When market uncertainty makes stability in your portfolio a priority, experienced investors often turn to stocks in the consumer staples or food sectors. However, even the food market is highly competitive—products from the 1980s hardly attract customers today or require constant marketing spending. Instead, growth is now only possible through innovation. Here is how the major food multinationals are responding to tomorrow's trends and why private investors may have a head start on the corporations when it comes to Veganz shares.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on August 6th, 2025 | 07:00 CEST
Penny stocks with multiplier potential: Volkswagen, CATL, Pasinex Resources
The whole world is talking about critical metals. Base metals are falling through the cracks a little in the short term. But it is definitely worth considering base metals like zinc from an investor's perspective. After all, they are called "base" metals because they are urgently needed across many sectors and consumed on a large scale. According to the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), zinc is the fourth most mined metal in the world. What sounds like abundance is not the case. The International Zinc Association reports that annual zinc consumption will increase by around 700,000 tons by 2030. It is questionable whether supply can keep pace. Stocks like Pasinex Resources could benefit from this imbalance thanks to a unique business model.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on August 5th, 2025 | 07:05 CEST
Shocking report in the WSJ – China cuts off the West from antimony: Hensoldt, Covestro, and Antimony Resources
"China is curbing supplies of critical metals to the Western defense industry," headlines the Wall Street Journal in an article published on Sunday. The article highlights several cases in which China has deliberately delayed deliveries of critical metals. Such delays can lead to production losses and hit the industry hard. In addition to rare earths, the article also mentions antimony. According to the article, a shipment of 55 tons of antimony from Australia to Mexico has been held up for three months at the Chinese port of Ningbo – an unprecedented measure that has raised global concern. We explain what antimony is used for and introduce a Canadian antimony company that is gradually coming to the attention of the public.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on August 4th, 2025 | 07:00 CEST
Is this the buying opportunity of the year? Amazon, Bank of America, Almonty Industries
Correction and comeback – on the stock market, this sequence is not always guaranteed. Sometimes a correction is also just the beginning of the end. This is especially true when business models lack substance and visions for the future burst like soap bubbles. However, corrections are often followed by spectacular comebacks that propel stocks into entirely new realms. We show that even stock market veterans like Amazon and Bank of America have tested the nerves of shareholders in the past, and draw parallels with the recent developments at tungsten producer Almonty Industries. Here, too, there are many indications that, in retrospect, the past few days are nothing more than a minor blip on the chart. History has shown that, ultimately, the facts are what truly matter.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on August 1st, 2025 | 07:15 CEST
Auto crisis in Germany – Here is the solution: European Lithium, BMW, and Porsche
Fear is spreading through the German automotive industry. The latest figures from Porsche and BMW have been poor. Sales figures in China are collapsing, and tariffs on exports to the US are eating into profit margins. At the same time, buyers remain cautious when it comes to electric vehicles – whether due to the uncertain economic situation or the lack of convincing models, which are also quite expensive. The fact is that the German auto industry's next steps must be in the right direction. Those who invest in time could benefit in the long term. We explain the role lithium from Europe will play in the future of the automotive industry.
Read
Commented by Nico Popp on August 1st, 2025 | 07:05 CEST
Nickel as a strategic defense metal scarcer than expected: Lockheed Martin, Glencore, and Power Metallic Mines
Nickel is classified as a critical raw material in the EU. Yet many observers still fail to take the tense situation in the nickel market seriously — a major mistake. While there is currently an oversupply of nickel, forecasts are already predicting a future shortage. In addition, nickel comes in different grades. High-purity nickel comes largely from Russia, making supply anything but secure. Nickel is urgently needed for both modern batteries and in the defense sector. We take a look at the nickel market, explain where the metal is urgently needed, and introduce the two notable nickel stocks, Glencore and Power Metallic Mines.
Read