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 June 24th, 2025 | 07:40 CEST
Hydrogen – The new trends: Plug Power, Pure Hydrogen, thyssenkrupp
German industry is set to go green. But once again, reality is proving more complex. In March, Thyssenkrupp withdrew a hydrogen tender because all submitted bids significantly exceeded the assumed cost conditions for hydrogen. So, is the hydrogen hype failing to take hold in the real economy? We take a closer look at the latest developments and explain which companies are now in pole position.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 24th, 2025 | 07:00 CEST
Escalation in the Middle East – Why the US military needs Almonty Industries
Following the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities using bunker-busting weapons, Iran's response, and the very brief ceasefire, the war in the Middle East continues. On Monday night, Israel bombed the entrance to a prison, among other targets, without destroying buildings housing prisoners. In doing so, Israel emphasized that the war is not being waged against the Persian people, but against the theocratic regime of the mullahs. However, a regime change in the theocracy currently appears unlikely. It is far more probable that Iran's revenge will sooner or later also target US soldiers stationed at the numerous bases in the region. Iran's retaliatory strike on Monday evening - in which it gave the US prior warning - is unlikely to be the final escalation following the collapse of the ceasefire. It, therefore, looks as if the US will continue to face military challenges. One company whose products are essential not only for the construction of bunker-busting weapons but also for other types of ammunition and armor could benefit from this scenario: Almonty Industries.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 23rd, 2025 | 07:15 CEST
The next cash cow? Quick profits with NetraMark, Moderna, and BioNTech
Do you remember the vaccine race during the coronavirus pandemic? Back then, the duel between BioNTech and CureVac dominated the stock market. Early investors quickly made a fortune. Now, pandemic winner BioNTech aims to swallow up its Swabian competitor. What does this mean, and where is one of the most fascinating industries headed?
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 23rd, 2025 | 07:00 CEST
This trillion-dollar disruption is also sustainable for your portfolio: Argo Living Soils, Beyond Meat, Heidelberg Materials
Investors have seen it before: ambitious plans and grand revolutions that ultimately come to nothing - at least from an investor's perspective. The best example is the vegan revolution led by Beyond Meat – the Company's share chart certainly leaves a bad taste for any investor. But does that mean investors should be particularly critical of major innovations? We explain which disruptions truly deliver sustainable returns. It is all about sustainable construction - and benefits for all parties involved.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 10th, 2025 | 07:20 CEST
Future market – Worth about USD 50 billion: Illumina, Moderna, PanGenomic Health
Medicine is becoming personal. The era of one-size-fits-all drugs is coming to an end. Experts at BCC Research predict that the market for personalized medicine will grow from USD 54.2 billion in 2023 to USD 100.5 billion by 2028. That represents an annual growth rate of 13.2%. Other analysis firms, such as Grand View Research and Market Research Intellect, confirm this promising outlook for investors. All the more reason to take a closer look at Illumina, Moderna, and PanGenomic Health and explore the opportunities they present for investors.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 10th, 2025 | 07:10 CEST
Great potential for emerging markets in the cloud: Apple, Microsoft, MiMedia
Digital subscriptions are big business: Market researchers, such as the experts at Juniper Research, estimate that digital subscriptions will generate USD 1 trillion in revenue worldwide by 2028. Major tech providers, in particular, have been fully focused on services for several years now. However, in the wake of the big names, smaller companies are also gaining market share. We take a look at Apple, Microsoft, and MiMedia and explain how their shares could perform in the future.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 9th, 2025 | 07:00 CEST
Revolution in the car market: BYD, 123fahrschule, Zoom
The automotive industry has been undergoing change for around ten years. But now, truly profound changes are on the horizon. With the Dolphin Surf, Chinese manufacturer BYD is delivering an electric vehicle for less than EUR 20,000 and, in doing so, redefining what a vehicle needs to have today – which has little to do with the idea that older German customers in particular have of cars. We explain the changes in the automotive industry and show how investors can invest in this transformation.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 6th, 2025 | 07:05 CEST
Hydrogen enters critical phase – New momentum ahead? thyssenkrupp, Plug Power, First Hydrogen
Developments at Thyssenkrupp, which is soon to be restructured as a holding company, show what lies ahead for German industry – the sale of previously important divisions has long been decided. There are several reasons for the radical restructuring in German industry – the energy transition, competition from China and other countries, and new technologies. Hydrogen, in particular, is considered the key to decarbonizing energy-intensive sectors. Experts at Straits Research estimate that the market for green hydrogen could grow from USD 1 billion in 2021 to a whopping USD 72 billion by 2030. That is 55% growth every year. Given these figures, one thing is clear: the cards in the hydrogen economy are being reshuffled – we explain which stocks stand to benefit.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 5th, 2025 | 16:10 CEST
Urgent: NATO approves largest rearmament program since the Cold War - Almonty, Hensoldt, Rheinmetall
The news is a bombshell: In light of an acute threat from Russia, NATO is opening the money floodgates. The most extensive rearmament since 1990 not only provides for a massive increase in conventional military capabilities, but also reveals the dependence of modern armed forces on critical raw materials – especially tungsten. The decision was made during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels and has far-reaching consequences. For investors, but also for all of us.
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Commented by Nico Popp on June 5th, 2025 | 07:00 CEST
These ESG innovations really exist: Bayer, Deere & Company, Argo Living Soils
Sustainability is anything but boring: Companies such as Bayer and Deere & Company are scoring points with technological innovations that are more reminiscent of Elon Musk and SpaceX than specialists in seeds and agricultural machinery. The small Canadian agricultural company Argo Living Soils has even found a solution to completely revolutionize CO2-intensive processes in construction. We present the business models and take a look at the outlook for the three stocks.
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