Megatrend stocks: BioNTech, Plug Power, Memiontec

Memiontec benefits from the water treatment megatrend

Population growth, economic upswing and changing consumer habits: There are many reasons for the continuous increase in water consumption. At the same time, water is a finite resource, and up to 90% of all wastewater worldwide is discharged untreated, polluting the environment and reducing natural drinking water supplies. This mix makes water treatment a megatrend, and Memiontec is benefiting from it. The Singapore-based company has been developing complete solutions for water and wastewater management for 20 years. Target markets are China, Indonesia and Singapore, and customers include state institutions - e.g. the infrastructure developer Jakpro and Indonesia's national water authority PDAM - and private companies.

Memiontec offers them a wide range of products, from individual modular systems to complete solutions, including maintenance contracts. The special return kickers are the segments "Build-Own-Operate-Transfer" (BOOT) and "Transfer-Own-Operate-Transfer" (TOOT). In these two segments, Memiontec invests in water treatment infrastructure together with public and private partners and thus becomes a water supplier. In doing so, Memiontec profits twice. On the one hand, revenue is generated from the operation, maintenance, and service activities. On top of that, it participates directly in the revenue generated from the sale of purified water. The concession contracts have an average contract term of 25 years and thus provide stable, recurring income.

In the future, Memiontec intends to grow, especially in the BOOT and TOOT projects. In addition, organic growth is to be supplemented by acquisitions. Organic growth is already respectable. In the first half of the year, sales totaled EUR 17.4 million. As a result, Memiontec is well on its way to significantly exceeding the 2020 annual revenue of EUR 22.4 million. In addition, a record order backlog of EUR 58.38 million was reported as of the end of July, and Memiontec secured an additional order worth a total of around EUR 8 million from Singapore's water authority. 


BioNTech takes an important step in the fight against cancer

The BioNTech share price is currently clearly determined by the development of the Corona pandemic and the Mainz-based Company's successful COVID-19 vaccine. However, it is often forgotten that the Company has other blockbusters in the pipeline. For one thing, the COVID-19 vaccine can be used as a basis for active substances against other infectious diseases. In addition, the fight against cancer is a matter of the heart for the BioNTech founders and can become a gold mine for shareholders. There is still a long way to go before this happens, but BioNTech is pursuing it consistently. Yesterday, the Company celebrated the topping-out ceremony for the "world's first facility of its kind for the manufacture of individualized products for cancer immunotherapy". Assuming successful development, the facility will produce more than 10,000 batches annually for the customized therapy of people with cancer. Currently, treatments for colon cancer and black skin cancer are in Phase 2 clinical trials. Given the current billion-dollar revenues from the COVID-19 vaccine, BioNTech can afford to begin construction of the facility before the high-risk development is complete. Thus, the future production facility could be up and running as early as 2023, generating billions in new sales.

Plug Power strengthens market position through joint venture

Plug Power is one of the heavyweights in the hydrogen segment, and the Company is consistently consolidating this position. The most recent example is its cooperation with ACCIONA Energia, the world's largest 100% renewable energy producer. The Spanish Company has a total production capacity of 11 GW from renewable sources in 16 countries. Together, the two partners founded the AccionaPlug joint venture based in Madrid. The new company aims to develop and also operate green hydrogen projects throughout Spain and Portugal. Initially, storage, transport and delivery services are to be offered in the industrial and mobility segments. The hydrogen production plants are to be located directly at industrial customers. There are also plans for stand-alone hydrogen production plants for regional energy sales. The first plants are scheduled to come on stream in 2023. In the medium term, production capacity is to be expanded to over 100 tons of green hydrogen per day. As a result, the Company would likely be the market leader in green hydrogen in Spain and Portugal.

Especially in volatile times, it is worthwhile to focus on companies with attractive long-term prospects. Plug Power, BioNTech and Memiontec belong in this group.