3 stocks, 3 megatrends: The growth secret of Heidelberger Druck, Volatus Aerospace, and D-Wave Quantum

Heidelberger Druck – Setting a strategic course as a defense supplier

Heidelberger Druck has made a dynamic start to the new 2025/26 fiscal year. Revenue rose by 16% to EUR 466 million in the first quarter, driven in particular by Europe and Asia. The adjusted EBITDA margin improved significantly to 4.4%, compared with -2.3% in the previous year, reflecting the initial effects of cost-cutting measures. With order intake of EUR 559 million, despite the strong prior-year comparison due to the drupa trade fair, the Company has a solid basis for the full year. The forecast of EUR 2.35 billion in revenue and an EBITDA margin of up to 8% was confirmed. The operating loss after taxes was significantly reduced to EUR -11 million.

At the end of July, Heidelberger Druck marked its entry into a new business segment with a letter of intent for a system partnership with defense specialist VINCORION. Heidelberger Druck will develop and manufacture energy control and distribution systems for military applications. The Company scores highly with its high level of vertical integration, scalability, and reliable "Made in Germany" quality at its Wiesloch site. The aim is to establish itself as a reliable Tier 2/3 supplier and strengthen Europe's technological leadership in this field. In the long term, Heidelberger Druck sees revenue potential in the triple-digit million range here.

A recent study by DHBW and Heidelberger Druck dated August 5 underscores the megatrend of "paperization." The replacement of plastic with paper packaging is gaining massive momentum, driven by new EU regulations (PPWR) and changing consumer behavior. Challenges remain in barrier coatings and costs. The Company is working on solutions as a system integrator. A cooperation with chemical specialist Solenis aims to integrate economical inline coatings into existing printing processes on Boardmaster machines. This should make paper packaging competitive for further applications and support growth in this core segment. The prospect of two growing business areas is driving the share price, which is currently available for EUR 2.16.

Volatus Aerospace – Drone specialist with a clear course

Volatus Aerospace has developed from a regional player into an established name in North America's drone landscape in recent years. The Canadian company is consistently focusing on growth, with around half of this growth being organic and the other half through targeted acquisitions. A total of 18 acquisitions, most recently Drone Delivery Canada, have sharpened the portfolio. Today, Volatus offers complete solutions worldwide, from pure aerial reconnaissance and freight services to AI-supported inspections, for example, for pipelines or energy plants. Its focus markets are public safety, critical infrastructure, energy, and, increasingly, defense. This strategic breadth makes the business model robust.

Unlike some of its competitors, who rely on their own closed systems, Volatus takes a technologically flexible approach. At the heart of the Company is a powerful operations center near Toronto, from which drones can be remotely controlled across continents, far beyond visual range. Here, external and proprietary technologies are combined to create customized solutions for customers. The offering is complemented by the Company's own "Volatus Academy," which provides training for beginners and professionals in the field of drones and remote sensing. This openness to different platforms and focus on integration depth are clear advantages in a dynamic market.

Financially, the Company is showing momentum. While revenue was around USD 660,000 in 2021, management is already targeting CAD 50 million for 2025. The drivers are increasingly recurring service revenues from long-term contracts, for example, with energy suppliers. Gross margins rose from 24% to an impressive 35%. Following the integration of Drone Delivery Canada, synergies were also realized, leading to significant savings. The Company recently secured around CAD 4.2 million in fresh capital through a private placement. This will be used specifically to expand the defense business, increase the drone fleet to meet strong demand, and for general corporate purposes. In line with this, on August 5, the Company announced another ISR drone order worth approximately CAD 1 million from a NATO partner country. The share price is trading at CAD 0.53, above the issue price of the last private placement, which was carried out at CAD 0.52.

D-Wave Quantum - Focus on growth and technology

D-Wave Quantum posted strong growth in the second quarter. Revenue rose 42% to USD 3.1 million, driven by increased demand for quantum solutions. Gross profit also grew 42%, while the gross margin remained stable at around 64%. Noteworthy is the record liquidity, with over USD 819 million currently in the coffers, fueled by a successful capital increase of over USD 400 million. These funds will be used specifically for acquisitions and growth investments, such as research and geographic expansion.

The Company recently launched its most powerful quantum computer to date: Advantage2. The system combines energy efficiency with increased computing power, ideal for complex optimization problems and advanced material simulations. At the same time, D-Wave is driving forward the integration of quantum computing and artificial intelligence. A new open-source toolkit enables developers to seamlessly integrate quantum processors into AI models (such as PyTorch). Initial pilot projects, for example, with Japan Tobacco, show promising acceleration effects over traditional methods.

International collaborations are strengthening the Company's market presence. A memorandum with South Korea's Yonsei University and the city of Incheon aims to promote joint research and the development of a local Advantage2 system. Technically, D-Wave is investing heavily in advanced cryogenic packaging, a key to scaling quantum processors. Through partnerships, such as with NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, and its own manufacturing expertise, the Company aims to expand its technology leadership in superconducting systems and achieve higher qubit numbers in the long term. The stock, which has rallied since the beginning of November 2024, currently costs USD 16.90.

Despite market volatility, true innovation leaders in megatrends offer above-average return potential. Heidelberger Druck is pushing ahead with promising diversification by entering the defense supply market and offering solutions for sustainable paper packaging. Volatus Aerospace impresses with scalable complete drone solutions for security and infrastructure as well as growing, profitable service contracts. D-Wave Quantum is consolidating its technology leadership in usable quantum computing with new systems, AI integration, and strategic partnerships. Each company addresses a promising growth market with clear positioning and operational progress, making them interesting candidates for risk-aware growth portfolios.