Sell AI now and buy turnaround stocks: Nel ASA, Royal Helium, Linde and Plug Power

Linde plc - The heaviest German-rooted stock is listed in London

The heaviest German stock by far is not listed in the DAX 40 index but in London due to its designation as a PLC. The former technology pearl from Munich merged with the American Praxair in 2018, and the stock exchange listing was then moved to London. This marked the end of a traditional German company and simultaneously the birth of the world's largest provider of industrial gases, surpassing the French company Air Liquide. Under the new umbrella, Linde PLC is now the global market leader for gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, argon, helium and hydrogen, which are used in many industrial processes.

The share price has already tripled since 2018, but fundamentally, revenue has not increased significantly since 2022 - a sign that the global economy is faltering. After reaching USD 32.8 billion in revenue in 2023, an increase of only 5% to around USD 34.5 billion is expected for the current year. The EBIT margin is expected to stabilize at around 25% over the next few years, while the dividend payout will remain relatively low at 1.2%. In terms of the chart, a peak was formed in March at around USD 440. With a current 2024 P/E ratio of 30 and a sales valuation of just under 7, the share is anything but cheap, especially as orders for industrial primary products fall in the event of major recessions. At currently just under EUR 430, analysts on the Refinitiv Eikon platform have already set their sights, indicating that it is time to harvest the overripe fruits.

Royal Helium - An active start to 2024

A future supplier of industrial gases is Canadian explorer Royal Helium Ltd, an exploration, production and infrastructure company focused on developing and producing helium and associated gases. The Company controls over 4,000 sq km of prospective helium concessions in southern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta.

There is currently a global undersupply of helium, as known prospects are scarce and undeveloped. The gas is used in critical high-tech applications and is technically non-renewable. In the current context of de-globalization, Royal Helium, as a North American supplier, fits well into the list of strategically valuable companies that will be able to provide critical raw materials on a secure supply basis in the future. Helium is important for space travel, fibre optics and the industrial production of high-tech and medical technology. The number of suppliers worldwide is very limited, especially as hardly any free material comes onto the market due to existing supply contracts. Canada has the fifth largest helium reserves in the world and is increasingly coming under the spotlight of international technology producers.

Now, Royal Helium has signed its first offtake agreement for the sale of food and beverage grade carbon dioxide from its Steveville processing and purification facility. David Young, the Company's president, explains the strategic relevance: "This agreement represents a significant expansion of the economics of Royal's first plant and demonstrates the Company's commitment to growth and innovation. This agreement not only moves us forward in our quest to sell a diversified supply of value-added gases but is also a testament to the diverse commercial products produced at our facility, providing economic cash flow streams to our shareholders." RHC's share price has recently consolidated at CAD 0.15, valuing the Company at a low EUR 28 million. The outlook for Royal Helium is excellent in the current environment of fragile supply chains and securing North American feedstock supplies.

Nel ASA and Plug Power - The catch-up begins

For some time now, we have been evaluating the fundamental key figures of Nel ASA and Plug Power. In the years 2021 to 2023, we had to conclude that they were overpriced and hyped. However, the situation has eased in recent weeks. Due to ongoing losses in the sector, both stocks have fallen by between 80% and 95% at their peak. At the same time, the balance sheet has improved significantly, and the liquidity situation appears to have eased for the time being.

With a market capitalization of 760 million EUR, Nel ASA now only shows a price-to-sales ratio of 4.5 for 2024, while the three times higher valued Plug Power has a ratio of only 2. Operationally, both companies are expected to reach the breakeven point in 2027. The prerequisite for this assumption remains that governments worldwide stick to their decarbonization programs and continue to subsidize green hydrogen technology. Private investors tend to stay away from the sector due to ongoing losses. From a chart perspective, the situation looks much better now than at the start of the year. Nel ASA has already gained 15% from its low point, while Plug Power's multibillion-dollar capital increase is likely still weighing on the market. Those who buy cautiously now should keep their nerve and act with tight stops, as the charts are still bottoming out. We will continue to report on this.

The valuation on the stock markets is already very advanced for many high-tech stocks. Cautious investors are taking profits and re-evaluating their investments. Hydrogen stocks are still in an extended technical bottoming process. Royal Helium has made a good start to 2024 and should attract further attention through its current projects. Linde plc - The heaviest stock with German roots is listed in London.