Daimler, Daimler Trucks, Ayurcann, TUI: Great yield gifts in the Advent season!

Daimler AG - Daimler Trucks goes public today

The stock market waited a long time for the big event at Daimler AG. Daimler's truck division is now an independent company after the spin-off and the entry into the commercial register. As the physical spin-off in a ratio of 2:1 should have been technically completed overnight, Daimler Truck AG can be listed for the first time today.

At a capital markets day in the fall, the commercial vehicle manufacturer reiterated its goal of a group-wide double-digit return by 2025 under good market conditions and broke down the figures for the individual regions. For the US and Canada, the most profitable markets, the Company is aiming for an adjusted return on sales of 12%, Mercedes-Benz Trucks in Europe 10% and Truck Asia 9%. Most recently, Trucks in Europe had the lowest margin of the three regions at 4.5%; for the pandemic-hit bus business, the target is 7.5%. In Germany, the Company competes directly with VW subsidiary Traton, which combines MAN and Scania.

In the Daimler Group, passenger cars and trucks & buses will be separated in the future. After the truck IPO, the remaining Daimler AG will be renamed Mercedes-Benz Group AG in February. Don't be alarmed; today, a DAX test run with a temporary 41 values ​​enables index ETFs to readjust their weightings.

Daimler shares did splendidly in the run-up to the split. It is one of the DAX winners of 2021, with a share price performance of 49% plus a dividend of EUR 2.34. A nice St. Nicholas present for shareholders; the appreciation should continue after the split.

Ayurcann - Good crop results in the last 3 months

We switch segments now from the cutting-edge automotive industry to the diversified cannabis industry. There we meet Ayurcann Holdings Corp., a leading provider of so-called post-harvest solutions. The Company specializes in the provision and development of customized processes, focusing on pharmaceutical and beneficial products made from the hemp plant for adults. Ayurcann is also a specialist in medical preparations and primarily addresses B2B customers.

Ayurcann is counting on the gradual opening of markets, some of which are heavily regulated, and sees definite opportunities for the political climate in Europe to prevail in favor of hemp healing approaches. With the plans of the new traffic light coalition, the chances are also not bad in Brussels for a general release of the hemp plant under certain quality and due diligence obligations.

Figures for the last 9 months have now been released. Ayurcann achieved net sales of USD 1.9 million, an increase of 137% YOY. Gross profit developed from USD 169,000 to USD 931,000, a good fivefold increase with a 49% margin. Ayurcann completed the Phase 2 expansion of its new Pickering facility, increasing extraction capacity to 300,000 kg of input biomass and up to 3 million filling and co-packing capacity for cannabis products. The Company's extraction service provides a go-to-market strategy for licensed producers from Canada. Inventory increased to approximately 300 kg of raw THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) distillate and isolate in pharmaceutical-grade for use in Cannabis 2.0 and 3.0 products available for its co-manufacturing and white label partnerships.

Ayurcann Holdings is expanding into various recreational markets and is currently shipping its cannabis 2.0 products across Canada. Key products include Fuego brand vapes and Vida brand tinctures shipped to New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. Additional orders will be placed to Manitoba, Ontario and Alberta in the coming quarters, with contracts already made. Ayurcann is currently proving a solid beat, but the stock is still relatively undiscovered with a valuation of around CAD 16 million. One should put a few pieces under the Christmas tree because the AYUR share is not expensive and is operationally profitable for several quarters already compared to many established companies.

TUI - This could be the hit for 2022

It is not just vacationers who are thinking about next year's travel options. At TUI AG, there have been historic changes in the group's lineup over the past 2 years. Most recently, for example, the previously independent airlines have been brought together under one roof. Online bookings were dramatically increased, and significant savings have been made in the distribution area. Today, TUI is no longer primarily dependent on the travel agency business, and the Company has digitized itself and become more weatherproof.

Nevertheless, high debt and a low equity ratio are depressing the mood. The second Corona year has brought another billion-dollar loss for the world's largest travel group. Thanks to recent strong booking figures, however, CEO Fritz Joussen ventured an optimistic forecast when presenting the 2021 annual financial statements: "We expect a return to a booking level for summer 2022 and the peak travel season roughly like before Corona 2019."

Overall, however, the manager did not rule out another capital increase, as TUI could need the money to repay billions in state aid. The Hanover-based company raised only EUR 1.1 billion in the fall with another capital increase. Revenue plunged by around 40% to EUR 4.7 billion in 2021, after the winter half-year 2019/2020 had hardly been affected by Corona. The bottom line was now a shortfall of almost EUR 2.5 billion - still a good fifth less than a year earlier. On December 6, the TUI Group had cash and cash equivalents and credit lines of EUR 3.5 billion. Overall, TUI counted only 5.4 million guests in the past financial year, of which 3.8 million were in the summer quarter. That means business from July to September was only around 50% of the pre-crisis level.

If these figures are anything to go by, TUI can only keep its fingers crossed that sensible pandemic regulations will make travel possible again. As we all know, you can catch an infection anywhere, so why ban the much-needed days of relaxation in the year? From this point of view, TUI could be the best seller in 2022. Collect cautiously at EUR 2.60 and let it lie.

The stock market in 2021 is slowly closing its doors. Some tax peculiarities lead to special movements when prices fall sharply. These can be used. Daimler lets its investors participate in a split, Ayurcann and TUI entice with a low valuation.