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February 21st, 2022 | 15:50 CET

Daimler, Yorkton Ventures, Volkswagen: Is the lithium takeover merry-go-round about to start?

  • Lithium
Photo credits: pixabay.com

When Tesla knocks on the door, you don't keep your guest waiting long, even if the visit is spontaneous. Usually, the e-car maker brings solid plans and the necessary means to implement them. That is what happened recently with Liontown Resources. The small Australian Company plans to start commercial production by 2025. Tesla wants to get its foot in the door today and has worked out an agreement that allows for a flexible order volume, depending on how much lithium-spodumene concentrate Liontown can deliver. The deal shows even small lithium companies are in the sights of the big players. We present three stocks that could also fit the picture.

time to read: 3 minutes | Author: Nico Popp
ISIN: DAIMLER AG NA O.N. | DE0007100000 , Yorkton Ventures Inc. | CA9872111096 , VOLKSWAGEN AG ST O.N. | DE0007664005

Table of contents:


    Dr. Thomas Gutschlag, CEO, Deutsche Rohstoff AG
    "[...] China's dominance is one of the reasons why we are so heavily involved in the tungsten market. Here, around 85% of production is in Chinese hands. [...]" Dr. Thomas Gutschlag, CEO, Deutsche Rohstoff AG

    Full interview

     

    Daimler: That looks good

    The Swabian automaker Daimler has already largely electrified itself. While it still has internal combustion engines, the goal is to phase them out. Daimler is therefore dependent on innovative battery technology and the associated basic materials. But the whole thing is to be done sustainably. Daimler insists on indirectly using raw materials certified under the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA). Daimler has also looked at where the lithium it has used so far comes from. Currently, some of it comes from Australia, the rest from Chile. However, the latter country of origin is also considered a "risk hotspot" for Daimler from an ESG perspective. Daimler is currently working to manage the negative consequences of lithium mining in Chile as best as possible and improve the local situation.

    Such impact investing is essential to improve conditions. When major customers make claims and specify clear criteria, this improves the situation for the environment and local residents. But even in the short or medium term, one cannot rule out that Daimler will look for new partners or push for lithium from other regions of the world. Here, projects in the USA or Canada could come into question. Argentina, which neighbors Chile, is also considered up-and-coming. However, better ESG conditions are likely to prevail in North America. To be credible, Daimler will have to pay even more attention to supply chains and eliminate ESG risks in the future. However, the Company is already well on its way in this area. Most recently, the share reached a new three-year high.

    Yorkton Resources: Lithium and Gold with blue sky potential

    On the other hand, the relatively unknown lithium share Yorkton Ventures is trending sideways. The Company acquired several non-contiguous properties just last December, operating as the Cyr-Kapiwak project. Other more advanced lithium projects are in the immediate vicinity, such as Allkem's proposed James Bay mine and Medaro Mining's Cyr South property. Yorkton's projects are still in their infancy, but precisely because of this, they offer the prospect of great leverage. The Company is worth just over EUR 7 million.

    In addition to the lithium projects, Yorkton Ventures has gold projects in its portfolio, one of which is based in Quebec and two others in Newfoundland. The Quebec project is called Bellechasse-Timmins, has a historical resource of 171,000 ounces of gold and scores an average grade of 1.83 g/t gold. It is being explored in partnership with GoldSpot Discoveries. Yorkton Ventures offers access to exciting gold and lithium projects and is suitable for speculative investors with a penchant for projects with blue sky potential.

    Volkswagen: What follows good PR?

    Volkswagen's stock is incomparably more conservative. The Company is considered a showcase e-car company in Germany. This image is partly due to the models and partly to good PR. CEO Herbert Diess ditched the tie early on and staged himself as the German Elon Musk - like a mix between engineer and innovator, so to speak. After the stock benefited strongly from the e-car fantasy a year ago, the value has since oscillated sideways with a downward trend. However, VW is still a master of PR - most recently, the Company made a name for itself with a planned low-cost e-car. The sound barrier for such a vehicle could be EUR 20,000.


    The Volkswagen share hardly reacts to the good news around VW. That could be because the market has already priced in the fantasy. Daimler is a different story at the moment. Here, investors could be happy in the short term, although the share will tend to travel at a leisurely "cruising speed". On the other hand, Yorkton Resources has the potential to ignite the turbo. The catch: you never know when the market will hit the gas pedal. But if you can handle it, Yorkton is a promising stock with several irons in the fire.


    Conflict of interest

    Pursuant to §85 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG), we point out that Apaton Finance GmbH as well as partners, authors or employees of Apaton Finance GmbH (hereinafter referred to as "Relevant Persons") may hold shares or other financial instruments of the aforementioned companies in the future or may bet on rising or falling prices and thus a conflict of interest may arise in the future. The Relevant Persons reserve the right to buy or sell shares or other financial instruments of the Company at any time (hereinafter each a "Transaction"). Transactions may, under certain circumstances, influence the respective price of the shares or other financial instruments of the Company.

    In addition, Apaton Finance GmbH is active in the context of the preparation and publication of the reporting in paid contractual relationships.

    For this reason, there is a concrete conflict of interest.

    The above information on existing conflicts of interest applies to all types and forms of publication used by Apaton Finance GmbH for publications on companies.

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    Der Autor

    Nico Popp

    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.

    About the author



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