Plug Power, Daimler Truck, dynaCERT - Which share has the greatest potential in the energy poker game?

Plug Power reports Q3/2023 results today

It is quarterly results week again! Numerous companies are publishing their financial reports, including the US company Plug Power. **The Q3 results of the Company, which focuses on fuel cells and renewable energies, are likely to benefit from the acquisitions of the subsidiary companies of Cryogenic Industrial Solutions, Alloy Custom Products and WesMor Cryogenics, which were made in December 22.

This strategic move has allowed Plug Power to expand its production capabilities, for example, for stainless steel and aluminum cryogenic transport vehicles, cryogenic pressure vessels for trucks, transport trailers and other mobile storage containers. Cryogenic refers to 'at the lowest possible cooled temperature', which is particularly practical for hydrogen solutions.

According to the Investment Research Platform Zacks, Q3/23 revenues indicate an increase of 30.7% compared to the figure reported in the previous year. This is likely due to increased revenues from the supply of fuel to customers along with related equipment. Plug Power has increased the number of locations with fuel contracts as part of its business strategy. The Zacks team expects a 58.8% YOY increase.

Plug Power has also been entrepreneurial in terms of increased revenues from the provision of hydrogen plant installations, liquefiers, cryogenic equipment and electrolysis stacks and systems. Investors can also expect a plus here, with Zacks estimating an increase of around 18% compared to the previous year. Plug Power has also expanded its services business, primarily services relating to fuel cell systems and associated infrastructure.

On the downside, however, are high energy prices, inflationary pressure and the lack of personnel to find the necessary specialists in this very specialized niche. These factors may have weighed heavily on the Company in the third quarter.

**For those who want to find out more, according to the IR release, you can watch the live webcast today at 22:30 CET (4:40 ET). You can access it here.

Daimler Truck share weaker than expected

Truck manufacturer Daimler Truck expects declining demand in Europe and North America in 2024. After benefiting from the upswing in recent years, the Company is lowering its expectations for new financing business this year from the previous EUR 11 to 12 billion to just over EUR 10 billion. During the corona pandemic, there was a backlog of orders with high demand and long delivery times due to a shortage of parts; business has now largely returned to normal. One sign that the upturn is coming to an end is the 17% decline in incoming orders in Q3/23 to 320,000 units.

Despite the slight decline in unit sales, Daimler Truck achieved higher revenue and operating profit in Q3/23 due to higher prices. Adjusted operating profit increased by 5% to EUR 1.34 billion from July to September 2023 compared to the same period last year. Revenue increased by 3% to EUR 13.9 billion. The return on sales improved slightly to 9.8%. 129,000 vehicles were sold in the 3rd quarter, which corresponds to a decrease of 5% compared to the same period last year.

Daimler Truck's profit fell slightly to EUR 957 million in the last quarter. "Despite a volatile environment, we confirm our forecast for the full year 2023 and expect a record result for Daimler Truck," says CEO Daum.

For the current year, Daimler Truck is planning sales of EUR 56 to 58 billion (the previous year, EUR 51 billion) and an operating return on sales of 8.5 to 10%. Unit sales are expected to increase by around 5% to 550,000 trucks. However, in order to achieve "outstanding results" in the coming years, costs must be reduced. How this is to be achieved has not yet been communicated. All the financial results can be found here in the overview. The share is currently trading at EUR 28.48.

dynaCERT focuses on emission-reducing bridge technology for trucks

dynaCERT is a company that combines both hydrogen and truck logistics. The Canadian company has been working on a transitional solution for long-haul trucks for some time. On the one hand, the internal combustion engine is still in business, and numerous logistics companies have based their operating calculations precisely on this technology. On the other hand, there is increasing legal pressure to switch to renewable energies in order to achieve the zero-emission targets of various economies.

However, electric batteries are only suitable for long-distance or heavy-duty transportation to a limited extent. The dead weight of the drive technology is too heavy and not durable enough to travel as usual on a full charge. Hydrogen technology is very cost-intensive as a complete conversion.

dynaCERT occupies precisely this niche with its bridging technologies to combine the best of both worlds. dynaCERT has developed and successfully launched a patented, proprietary electrolyser called HydraGEN™. The system works as follows: Water is fed into the electrolyser, where an electric current is used to split the water molecules. This produces hydrogen gas (H2) at one pole and oxygen gas (O₂) at the other pole of the electrolyser.

HydraGEN™ produces precisely measured quantities of hydrogen and oxygen gases from distilled water and feeds these gases into the air intake of combustion engines. The results are more power, better torque and lower fuel consumption. As a result, there are also fewer harmful emissions.

This innovative technology promises a more efficient and environmentally friendly use of combustion engines, which could positively impact the environmental footprint and performance of vehicles and machinery. It is particularly valuable for logistics companies in the midst of transformation. While it will take some time for new technologies to become established in the future, dynaCERT is bridging this gap. For investors, this Company is worth a second look. dynaCERT has been on the market for around 4 years and is now in the commercialization phase. The investor presentation can be found here.

Plug Power has developed into a solid supplier of renewable energies. Investors can follow today's quarterly results at 22:30 CET (16:30 ET) in the Live-Webcast. Analysts expect an increase in sales of 16.40% compared to the same quarter last year. Business is consolidating at Daimler Truck. The boom phase is giving way to solid business with moderate growth. Whether more electric or combustion engines will be launched will be decided in the coming quarter. For the transitional phase between renewable energies or combustion technology, dynaCERT offers a commercial solution specifically designed for logistics companies. Trucks can be upgraded with HydraGEN™ and reduce their emissions without compromising performance or range.