Future investments that will soon ignite: Volkswagen, JinkoSolar, Defense Metals

JinkoSolar as a beneficiary of the German solar pact?

If you don't have a crystal ball, you have to count on probabilities instead. One of these probabilities is that renewable energy sources are on the verge of an unparalleled boom. There are several reasons for this. Regenerative energy is not only very cheap but also largely climate-neutral. However, even when looking at the details, it becomes clear to investors that investments in solar companies despite the rosy outlook** are not a foregone conclusion. Companies like JinkoSolar score with a strong market position and good quality, but Chinese companies are facing more and more international headwinds. Import barriers and other trade obstacles could jeopardize the market position of companies like JinkoSolar and ensure that Chinese shares are considered unattractive across the board. With the Chinese photovoltaic company's stock having lost more than 50% over one year, investors would be better off keeping their hands off the stock given the uncertain geopolitical outlook.

Could solar stocks from other regions become attractive instead? Last Friday, representatives of the German solar industry and representatives of the German federal states met for a Solar Summit. The topic was more subsidies for German companies. However, the logical conclusion that investors should invest in German companies instead of JinkoSolar also does not necessarily suggest itself.

The German solar industry has been considered uncompetitive internationally for over a decade. The planned new rules, which would include a minimum production requirement for solar modules in Germany, will likely help domestic companies only to a limited extent. They are likely to remain junior partners in joint ventures with foreign investors - with all the negative consequences, such as increased cost pressure and little room for manoeuvre of their own. So, German solar shares are not an alternative either.

Volkswagen snatches IT guru from Tesla

While investments in photovoltaic shares are currently hardly worthwhile due to the diffuse overall situation, the German automotive industry could be a third sector to emerge. German carmakers are still world leaders but are facing a turning point due to the mobility revolution: In the future, manufacturers like Volkswagen will no longer be able to bring their strengths in powertrains and chassis to the road as comprehensively as they have in recent years. The reason is that electric cars function in a completely different way. This is likely one of the reasons why Volkswagen has announced a prominent addition from Silicon Valley in the form of IT manager Sanjay Lai. Lai previously worked for Google, Tesla and Rivian and is tasked with revamping the software at Volkswagen. A comprehensive software that combines driving assistants and entertainment and convinces users is considered one of the new features that customers really value in e-cars. The addition of Sanjay Lai is a genuine future investment for Volkswagen. However, the prominent newcomer has not yet boosted Volkswagen's share price - the value is still deep in a downward trend. Investors should monitor Lai's progress at VW for potential developments. Currently, there is no immediate urgency for investors regarding VW.

Defense Metals: More rare earths from Canada

Something can also arise with the Canadian mining company Defense Metals. This stock also has a heavy dose of future. But why? Isn't mining an extremely conservative industry that usually requires high investments and promises only limited returns? Defense Metals stands for Wicheeda, a rare earths project in British Columbia, Canada. Rare earths are in numerous future technologies - in PV systems and related components as well as in batteries for e-cars or their modern entertainment systems. Especially against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions, rare earths from countries such as Canada are in particularly high demand. Only recently, Defense Metals announced an updated resource estimate for a total of 34.2 million tons of rock with an average grade of 2.02% rare earth oxides in the categories Measured and Indicated.

Compared to the 2021 resource estimate the rare earth oxide content increased by 17%. "With over 10,000 meters of additional drilling since our 2021 Mineral Resource Estimate, we have now converted 100% of this resource into Proven and Indicated resources and increased the total resource by 17%. We believe that the resource update now demonstrates that we have the tonnage and grade to proceed with our ongoing preliminary feasibility study," commented Defense Metals CEO Craig Taylor. Feasibility studies are used to demonstrate to capital providers such as banks and investors that a resource project can be profitable. Defense Metals' stock could, therefore, be in a promising phase.

If the key data of a feasibility study can be convincing, the market is likely to price a fair amount of risk out of the stock. Currently, Defense Metals is a penny stock trading around EUR 0.13. The market capitalization is only EUR 33.8 million. For risk-averse investors who have already decided about the Company in advance, this market phase can be promising. If the Company makes progress towards production, the share price should also continue to rise - especially against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions. Rare earth projects in regions such as North America or Europe are particularly in demand. Compared to established companies such as Volkswagen or JinkoSolar, Defense Metals must be considered significantly more speculative, but conversely, it also holds significantly more blue sky potential. Also, unlike JinkoSolar and Volkswagen, companies like Defense Metals should profit from the growing uncertainty surrounding China in the long run.