BP – Benefiting From the Iran Conflict
The situation at French gas stations is more than just a local bottleneck; it is a warning shot for all of Europe. If the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz intensifies, a genuine energy lockdown with rationing and driving bans looms. This is precisely where the short-term potential for BP lies. In recent months, the company has divested itself of loss-prone refineries such as the one in Gelsenkirchen and is now focusing on the high-margin upstream business. With rising oil prices, which are currently hovering around the USD 100 mark again, BP’s operational leverage is particularly strong.
The sale of the Gelsenkirchen refinery complex to the Klesch Group was a strategic move to shed a burden. With the disposal of these loss-making assets, BP is raising its cost-cutting target to up to USD 7.5 billion by 2027. At the same time, the capital saved is flowing into growth regions such as Egypt, where the company is investing over USD 1 billion in new gas projects. For investors, this is the classic story of operational streamlining. The cash breakeven point for the remaining refineries is falling, the balance sheet is being relieved, and the remaining businesses are operating more profitably.
On April 1, Meg O’Neill takes the helm, an external executive with experience in large-scale projects who stands for operational discipline. But in the run-up to the annual general meeting, there is friction in the ranks. Activists are demanding more transparency in capital allocation and questioning the return to oil and gas. BP is rejecting the resolutions, which amounts to a fundamental debate over direction. For investors, this means increased political risks, but also the chance for a management team that sets clear priorities: returns over ideology. The stock is currently trading at EUR 6.758.
Stallion Uranium – Drilling in the Athabasca Basin
The supply-demand balance for uranium has evolved into a classic case of structural scarcity. While the importance of nuclear energy for the energy transition is increasingly recognized, a significant deficit is looming for the coming years. The solution to this problem lies not in optimizing existing mines, but in new discoveries with high-grade zones. A company named Stallion Uranium, which aims to do exactly that, has positioned itself in the Athabasca Basin, the region with the highest ore grades worldwide. There, where nearly 20% of global production originates, Stallion Uranium is searching for the next major deposit.
The area where the company operates covers 1,700 sq km, nestled between well-known deposits such as Arrow and Triple R. Historically, this part of the basin remained untouched because exploration took place along road corridors. With the expansion of infrastructure, this terrain is now economically viable. Added to this is a team that has already made three high-grade discoveries in the region. The ownership structure underscores this conviction with 45% of the shares held by management and insiders. With over CAD 21 million in cash, the company is fully funded.
Currently, two drill rigs are in operation at the primary target area, Coyote. The alteration anomaly there far exceeds historical discoveries. In parallel, the team has completed a VTEM survey over the Stone Island Target, an area south of Coyote that is now being systematically mapped for the first time. The evaluation of this data is underway. Further high-grade drill targets are to be derived from the results. The goal is to be able to present at least four promising targets on par with Coyote by spring. The company is thus systematically testing a structure that exhibits all the technical characteristics of a potential discovery. On March 31, the stock surged by over 40% on massive volume without any news and is currently trading at CAD 0.47. This stock belongs on the watchlist.
Nordex – The Operational Engine is Running at Full Speed
Nordex has used the first months of 2026 to continue the strong momentum from its record year. The figures for 2025 had already shown a jump in revenue to EUR 7.55 billion and a doubled operating margin of 8.4%. Even more important for investors is that free cash flow reached a new record high of EUR 863 million. Management has set the bar high for this year. With a revenue forecast of up to EUR 9 billion and a margin of up to 11%, the company is confident it can sustainably improve profitability.
The basis for this confidence is a well-stocked order book of over EUR 16 billion. In March alone, several major orders were added from Germany, such as from STAWAG for the Frettertal project or from Max Bögl for a community wind farm. The trend toward increasingly high-performance turbines is striking. With the N175/6.X on tall hybrid towers, Nordex is specifically targeting inland locations with moderate wind conditions. The technology makes the projects more economical and strengthens the company’s strong domestic position, where Nordex was recently responsible for nearly one-third of newly installed capacity.
Despite the solid fundamentals, some analysts are urging caution. They point out that the stock may have benefited significantly recently from geopolitical speculation, specifically tensions in the Persian Gulf. Rising oil and gas prices increase the appeal of renewable energy, but an easing of tensions could quickly cause this driver to fade.
From a technical perspective, the zone around EUR 47 currently appears to be acting as resistance. If the operational performance in the upcoming quarterly report at the end of April fails to meet high expectations, a correction looms should the geopolitical risk premium decline. Currently, one share costs EUR 44.08.
The energy issue is becoming the decisive driver of returns. BP is focusing on operational leverage following its strategic streamlining and benefits directly from spikes in fossil fuel prices. Stallion Uranium is addressing the structural supply gap in uranium for emission-free baseload power through targeted exploration in the high-grade Athabasca Basin. Nordex is delivering operational records and a strong order backlog. For investors, all three offer different approaches to the same thesis: energy security is driving returns.
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