Close menu




September 7th, 2021 | 12:04 CEST

SMA Solar, Royal Helium, RWE - Supply is becoming increasingly scarce

  • Helium
Photo credits: pixabay.com

Whether for cars or consumer electronics, hardly any machine can do without microchips anymore. Since the beginning of the year, the shortage of semiconductors has been throwing the automotive industry out of step and causing production downtime and short-time work. Meanwhile, there is no end in sight to the supply crisis. Shortages stretch as far as the eye can see, while demand increases due to technological advances. Demand is also rising enormously for raw materials needed to decarbonize the economy.

time to read: 3 minutes | Author: Stefan Feulner
ISIN: SMA SOLAR TECHNOL.AG | DE000A0DJ6J9 , ROYAL HELIUM LTD. | CA78029U2056 , RWE AG INH O.N. | DE0007037129

Table of contents:


    The decade of raw materials

    Looking back at the past year, 2020, the failure of global supply chains stands out, in addition to the outbreak of the Corona pandemic. Everything became more expensive. Wood, plastic, even the price of bicycles shot up - if you could still get hold of one. The former has now returned to normal, but experts believe that the chip shortage will be with us until at least 2023. The situation is different for the raw materials needed for climate change. In addition to copper, demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth metals will skyrocket exorbitantly, and there is already a supply deficit. Helium, the most abundant element in the universe besides hydrogen, will also be in short supply.

    Experts at the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) have been warning of an impending helium crisis for some time. The supply has recently fallen sharply worldwide - and is lower than it has been for almost 20 years. Therefore, the European Union classifies helium as a strategic raw material, and the US government even speaks of a critical element. But here, too, demand is growing, primarily due to the increasing need in the healthcare sector, especially in diagnostics. It is impossible to operate a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner without helium. There has also been a sharp rise in demand from the chip manufacturing industry and quantum computers production in the recent past. The booming space business around the new astronauts Bezos, Musk and Branson are also dependent on large quantities of helium.

    Scarce producers

    The growing volume of demand, however, is matched by a sparse supply. Canada's Royal Helium is focused on exploring and developing a major helium production project in southern Saskatchewan. With over 400,000 hectares of prospective acreage held under permits and leases, Royal is one of the largest helium producers in North America.

    The Company's development, which has a market capitalization of only EUR 12.17 million, has been extremely positive in recent months. In addition to a successfully placed CAD 17.2 million capital increase, test drilling at the Climax I to III projects showed commercially viable helium concentrations, allowing Royal Helium to move directly into production and generate cash flow. Compared to gold production, helium allows a drilled hole to be put into production immediately.

    In addition, Royal Helium received drilling approval for its fourth helium well on the Climax block in southwestern Saskatchewan. Climax-4 will specifically target the new regolith helium discovery zone to produce the helium found in this formation at the Climax-3 location and is permitted for production. It is expected that the well will be drilled to a total depth of approximately 2,700m. While Climax-4 is being tested, the rig will be moved to southeast Saskatchewan to drill the first well on the Bengough land block.

    For Andrew Davidson, CEO of Royal Helium, this marks another milestone in the Company's history: "We are pleased to have multiple, high-impact activities underway over the next several weeks and months - getting the Climax Regolith reservoir defined and on production and drilling 6 new wells over 3 separate land blocks in southeastern Saskatchewan where the highest historic helium concentrations have been recorded."

    Royal Helium's shares corrected to a current EUR 0.32 in the wake of the corporate action, down from a high of EUR 0.63 in May. An attractive opportunity to participate in the long-term helium trend.

    Slump after reduction

    The supply chain bottlenecks are not stopping at solar technology group SMA Solar. Sales and earnings forecasts were lowered, and the share price fell by more than 10% as a result. The SMA board now expects full-year sales of between EUR 980 million and EUR 1,030 million (previously: EUR 1,075 million to EUR 1,175 million) and EBITDA of between EUR 50 million and EUR 65 million, down from a previously estimated range of between EUR 75 million and EUR 95 million. At a current price of EUR 37.16, several supports have been breached. The next one is at EUR 35. Currently, there is no urgent need for investment in SMA Solar.

    The green group

    The transformation of RWE into one of the largest green power companies continues unhindered. Growth takes precedence over dividends at RWE. The turn to green energy is also viewed positively by analysts. Credit Suisse left the rating at "Outperform" with a price target of EUR 35.70. Goldman Sachs also continues to place the DAX stock on its "Conviction Buy List" and believes the Essen-based Company has a target price of EUR 47.


    The shortage of raw materials is one of the dominant themes of the next few years. When it comes to the critical element helium, the Canadian Company Royal Helium stands out. RWE is viewed positively by analysts due to its transformation into a green power provider. In contrast, the experts are likely to be less euphoric about SMA Solar.


    Conflict of interest

    Pursuant to §85 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG), we point out that Apaton Finance GmbH as well as partners, authors or employees of Apaton Finance GmbH (hereinafter referred to as "Relevant Persons") may in the future hold shares or other financial instruments of the mentioned companies or will bet on rising or falling on rising or falling prices and therefore a conflict of interest may arise in the future. conflict of interest may arise in the future. The Relevant Persons reserve the shares or other financial instruments of the company at any time (hereinafter referred to as the company at any time (hereinafter referred to as a "Transaction"). "Transaction"). Transactions may under certain circumstances influence the respective price of the shares or other financial instruments of the of the Company.

    Furthermore, Apaton Finance GmbH reserves the right to enter into future relationships with the company or with third parties in relation to reports on the company. with regard to reports on the company, which are published within the scope of the Apaton Finance GmbH as well as in the social media, on partner sites or in e-mails, on partner sites or in e-mails. The above references to existing conflicts of interest apply apply to all types and forms of publication used by Apaton Finance GmbH uses for publications on companies.

    Risk notice

    Apaton Finance GmbH offers editors, agencies and companies the opportunity to publish commentaries, interviews, summaries, news and etc. on news.financial. These contents serve information for readers and does not constitute a call to action or recommendations, neither explicitly nor implicitly. implicitly, they are to be understood as an assurance of possible price be understood. The contents do not replace individual professional investment advice and do not constitute an offer to sell the share(s) offer to sell the share(s) or other financial instrument(s) in question, nor is it an nor an invitation to buy or sell such.

    The content is expressly not a financial analysis, but rather financial analysis, but rather journalistic or advertising texts. Readers or users who make investment decisions or carry out transactions on the basis decisions or transactions on the basis of the information provided here act completely at their own risk. There is no contractual relationship between between Apaton Finance GmbH and its readers or the users of its offers. users of its offers, as our information only refers to the company and not to the company, but not to the investment decision of the reader or user. or user.

    The acquisition of financial instruments entails high risks that can lead to the total loss of the capital invested. The information published by Apaton Finance GmbH and its authors are based on careful research on careful research, nevertheless no liability for financial losses financial losses or a content guarantee for topicality, correctness, adequacy and completeness of the contents offered here. contents offered here. Please also note our Terms of use.


    Der Autor

    Stefan Feulner

    The native Franconian has more than 20 years of stock exchange experience and a broadly diversified network.
    He is passionate about analyzing a wide variety of business models and investigating new trends.

    About the author



    Related comments:

    Commented by André Will-Laudien on July 16th, 2024 | 07:00 CEST

    Trump shares: Airbus, Royal Helium, Hensoldt, and Rheinmetall appear systemically relevant, and Plug Power aims high!

    • Helium
    • hightech
    • Defense
    • Fuelcells

    The world seems to be coming apart at the seams! While the capital markets are skyrocketing, we find ourselves in the midst of several geopolitical conflicts and a brutalization of social conditions. In Saxony, poster-holders are being beaten up; in the US, presidential candidates are being shot at, and in Ukraine and the Middle East, there seems to be no end in sight to the warfare. No wonder the population's need for security is at an all-time high. This also drives up gold and Bitcoin, as political confidence is waning. Donald Trump may be a flamboyant and over-excited politician, but he is right when he says that the current situation is almost unbearable. He wants to invest a lot of money in security and get "his country" back on track. Strategically relevant shares remain in demand in this context. Here is a current selection!

    Read

    Commented by Stefan Feulner on July 8th, 2024 | 06:30 CEST

    Varta, Royal Helium, and Lufthansa with significant catch-up potential

    • Helium
    • renewableenergies
    • Batteries
    • Travel

    After the corrections in recent weeks, the leading German index DAX celebrated a comeback with a weekly gain of around 2%. After a long period of suffering, Lufthansa AG's stock was one of the shooting stars. With a price loss of over 55% since the beginning of the year alone, hopes of a comeback for the Varta share have also been raised following a recent report. However, the rebound of the helium company Royal Helium, which has just completed its transition from explorer to industrial gas company, may have the greatest potential.

    Read

    Commented by Fabian Lorenz on July 4th, 2024 | 07:05 CEST

    Takeover battle, boom, and price surge: Evotec, Siemens Energy, Royal Helium in focus

    • Helium
    • renewableenergies
    • Biotech

    Is Evotec heading for a takeover battle? The share price crash has likely attracted private equity. Now, the biotech company is said to have hired an investment bank for defence plans. An order from the US Department of Defense comes at the right time. Helium is also likely to gain importance in the US. The noble gas is indispensable for quantum computers, rockets, and other high-tech applications. In Canada, Royal Helium is currently making the transition from explorer to producer. The share is ripe for a price surge. Siemens Energy's share price currently only knows the way up. And according to analysts, a further 50% is possible.

    Read