Nordex, Power Nickel, Verbio - On the verge of a Breakthrough

Nordex with another order

In Romania, the wind turbine manufacturer has enjoyed an excellent reputation for years. The Hamburg-based company is responsible for the operation of three wind farms with a total capacity of 100 MW, as well as two service stations. Now, the Nordex Group has received a new order to deliver and install five N149/5.X turbines.

The future wind farm will be erected in the southeast of the country. The Nordex Group plans to install the wind turbines, each with a nominal output of 5.9 MW, in 2024 on tubular steel towers with a hub height of 125 meters. The wind farm is located in a region considered to have the highest wind potential in Southeastern Europe.

Patxi Landa, the Chief Sales Officer of the Nordex Group, commented on the project: "It is great to see that after years of consistently installed capacity, we can now implement a new project in Romania. Romania has the highest wind potential in Southeastern Europe. With three wind farms totalling 100 MW, we have been present in the country for years and also maintain two service points. This local know-how is another advantage for the new project, with the long-term service contract to optimize the power generation of the wind farm."

Meanwhile, the chart of Nordex stock shows an indecisive picture. A break of the downward trend established since March 2023 at EUR 12.75 would generate a buy signal towards the next resistance at EUR 13.67. Meanwhile, danger threatens in the south if the level falls below the EUR 10.47 mark.

Power Nickel - This year will be exciting

Nickel plays an elementary role in the development and implementation of renewable energy technologies, as it contributes to improving the performance, efficiency and service life of components and systems. For example, the heavy metal is a key component of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems because it significantly boosts energy density and battery life. The critical raw material is also used in electrolysis to produce hydrogen, in thin-film solar cells, or in wind turbines for alloys to provide corrosion resistance and structural integrity, especially in offshore wind farms where conditions are extreme.

Power Nickel could rise to become a major producer in the Western Hemisphere in the future with its premium Nisk project in Nemaska, Quebec. Recently, the option to acquire 50% of the project was exercised. In addition, partner Critical Elements Lithium Corp. has been advised to exercise the second option for an additional 30%. The only remaining condition is the submission of a technical report in accordance with NI 43-101, which includes a resource estimate and is expected to be completed by the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth quarter. Once this condition is met, Power Nickel will become an 80% owner of the high-grade deposit containing nickel, copper, and platinum group metals.

However, this is not the only goal of the go-getting company, as CEO Terry Lynch revealed in an interview. Together with CVMR Corp., an unlisted company that operates mining projects and processing plants in 18 countries worldwide, work is underway on the feasibility study. The metallurgical study is also scheduled to be submitted in September. In addition, the spin-off of the Copper Gold projects is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

A drill program has been underway since late August, with initial positive results released. The latest step out hole testing at Nisk delivered good data. Approximately 25 m of massive and semi-massive sulfides were encountered at a downhole depth of 457 m.

Verbio with significant decline after record year

The fact that the past year's records could not be topped had already been communicated beforehand. Nevertheless, Verbio Vereinigte Bioenergie AG achieved the second-best company result in history with earnings based on EBITDA of EUR 240.3 million. In the previous year, EUR 503.3 million were recorded.

"Following the exceptional fiscal year 2021/2022 in every respect, fiscal year 2022/2023, which ended on June 30, 2023, was characterized by new challenges. We had anticipated a normalization of price levels in the agricultural sector and declining margins and reflected this appropriately in our forecast. What we could not foresee at the time were the immense biodiesel imports from China to Europe", said Claus Sauter at the annual press conference.

Verbio forecasts an EBITDA of between EUR 200 and 250 million for the current financial year. This is significantly below market expectations of EUR 284 million and would represent the second decline in operating profit in two years.

Despite the rather sobering figures, Hauck Aufhäuser Investment Banking reiterated its Buy rating with a price target of EUR 70. Thus, the key figures of the biofuel producer had slightly exceeded estimates. Deutsche Bank Research considers a target price of EUR 50 realistic and reiterated its "Buy" rating. The share is currently trading at EUR 36.30, down just under 10% after the announcement of the figures.

Nordex received another order from Romania. The Verbio share lost ground after the announcement of the figures but continued to receive positive analyst opinions. For Power Nickel, the positive news flow is expected to continue until the end of the year.