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This Stock Could Make Electric Vehicles and your Portfolio Soar

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A few weeks back, a flight from San Diego to Newark, New Jersey, had to turn back because a laptop with a lithium-ion battery caught fire.

The plane’s crew was unable to extinguish the flames or to even get the battery pack into a fire bag to prevent the fire from spreading.

Fortunately, the flight wasn’t very far from its origination airport and was able to land safely with no injuries to passengers or crew.

That’s great. But it really got me thinking about the future of flight…

I mean, we’re supposed to be reducing or eliminating our carbon emissions, and jets emit more of that stuff than just about any other machine on the planet.

So you hear a lot of talk about electric airplanes these days. But electric airplanes have a critical flaw in their design…

Batteries Explode on Airplanes!

They’re powered by those same lithium-ion batteries that have a bad habit of exploding when you take them on an airplane.

Cue face-palm moment in three… two… one…

I mean, there are signs everywhere in the airport, on the airline websites, on the booking sites like Kayak…

They all say not to check anything with a lithium-ion battery. No laptops, no electronic cigarettes, not even a cellphone.

And why?

Well, its because, when they’re exposed to the immense pressure changes that go along with flying, they warp, crack, and expose an extremely volatile chemical to the air that ignites it.

So why would anyone think anything other than that would happen to the lithium-ion batteries powering the electric plane?

Now, I’m sure the solution to that issue is to pressurize the whole plane, not just the passenger cabins.

But mid-air explosions aren’t the only thing keeping battery-powered planes on the ground…

Where You Gonna Put the People?

You see, aviation fuel has what’s known as an extremely high energy density. That just means it packs a whole lot of potential energy into a very small package.

Lithium-ion batteries, while they have a greater energy density than other kinds of batteries, don’t even come close to aviation fuel.

In fact, jet fuel is more than 50 times more energy-dense than batteries. That means you need 50 pounds of batteries to replace one pound of fuel.

And in case you didn’t know, jet airliners use a whole lot more than one pound of fuel per flight…

A Boeing 747 can carry 433,195 pounds of fuel in its tanks. And on long flights, it needs every last drop.

You could get an equivalent amount of energy from batteries, but you’d need 21,659,750 pounds of them.

Considering a 747 can only take off if it weighs less than 910,000 pounds, I’d call that a limitation.

The amount of batteries you’d need to replace the fuel and provide the same amount of energy would literally make it too heavy for the plane to get off the ground.

Even if you could create a battery with half the energy density of aviation fuel, you’d need over 800,000 pounds of batteries.

Add in the empty weight of a 747 (around 412,300 pounds) and you get another plane that’s too heavy to even make it off the ground, let alone stay in the air.

That begs the question: Where are you going to put all the passengers and their luggage?

And that explains why literally nobody is working to design large commercial aircraft that are battery-powered.

Batteries simply can’t power them. They can power smaller planes that hold a handful of passengers and a carry-on bag for each of them.

But even those can barely take off, fly across a city, and safely land with the power provided by their weighty batteries.

Zero-Emission Jet Fuel?

That doesn’t mean you or I will never take flight in an electric airplane. It just means the plane isn't likely to be powered by batteries.

But there is an alternative to carbon-intensive aviation fuel and explosive, unwieldy batteries…

And it’s already being used to power industry around the world. So it’s just a matter of time before it makes its way into aircraft.

You see, these machines are powered by electricity. But not the kind you might be thinking about…

Instead of carrying “pre-made” electricity with them in the form of a massive bunch of batteries, these machines create their own electricity as they need it.

And they do it by “burning” a zero-emission fuel that was developed for a top-secret NASA project, no less.

The only byproducts produced are pure oxygen and water clean enough for you or me to drink.

And the power created is just out of this world. Remember, batteries, even the very best of them, have about 50 times less energy density than jet fuel…

But this zero-emission alternative has three times MORE energy density than that same jet fuel…

Making it 150 times more energy-dense than lithium-ion batteries!

But the thing is that everyone is only thinking about lithium-ion batteries when they think about clean transportation options.

A Diamond in the Rough

So they’re completely overlooking the company mainly responsible for getting this zero-emission alternative, the ONLY real alternative, out there.

That means, despite being founded by the very person who first invested this power system for NASA…

Despite having tens of thousands of products already on roads around the world…

Despite inking partnerships with some of the world’s biggest automakers and heavy-equipment manufacturers…

This company’s stock is still trading for less than $10 a share!

Despite potentially holding the most valuable intellectual property in the world, this company is trading for peanuts.

But that’s something I expect to change very quickly…

More people are noticing the progress this company’s made. And more investors are betting it’ll completely change the future of transportation.

And with every new convert it gets, the share price gets a little higher. Like I said, it’s still trading for less than a tenner.

But I could see its share price getting as high as $100 in short order. Eventually, I see its overall gains surpassing those of the gold standard in alternative transportation: Tesla.

From its IPO in 2010 to its most recent peak in November 2021, that stock scored investors a ridiculous 25,640% gain:

Source: WealthDaily.com

And I’m convinced that’s going to amount to child’s play once all’s said and done for this company.

In fact, around the office, we’ve taken to calling it the “Tesla Killer” because it’s destined to steal so much market share from Elon Musk's crown jewel.

So to help make it as easy as possible for you to get a piece of this action before all the gains are gone, I’ve compiled everything I’ve learned about this company, the zero-emission fuel source its founder pioneered for NASA, and the opportunity it represents to investors and the environment.

I’ve done all the legwork so that you can reap all the rewards.

All you’ve got to do is get yourself invested for the win that’s all but guaranteed to come.

To your wealth,

jason-williams-signature-transparent

Jason Williams

Read more from Jason Williams at WealthDaily.com

The Top Electric Vehicle Stocks for 2023

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Electric vehicle stocks had a rough ride in 2022, all thanks to shortages of essential supplies, sky-high inflation, rising interest rates and issues over the pandemic. However, don’t count them out just yet. Global leaders are demanding millions of EVs on the roads in an effort to reduce emissions. The U.S. wants to reduce emissions by 52%. Europe is targeting 55%. China even says it will stop releasing carbon dioxide in the next 40 years.

The International Energy Agency says we could see up to 135 million electric vehicles on the roads in the next decade. Analysts at Ernst & Young say EVs could outpace combustion engines globally over the same period. Bloomberg NEF says that, by 2030, more than half of passenger cars sold in the United States will be electric, driven in part by incentives put in place by the Inflation Reduction Act.

That being said, I’d start buying beaten-down electric vehicle stocks, and related stocks, for longer-term growth.

Albemarle (ALB)

Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) is one of the top electric vehicle stocks to own heading into 2023. Not only is it ridiculously oversold, but it’s also one of the top ways to trade the lithium story.

As the world continues to deal with a tight supply-demand issue with lithium, ALB is well-positioned to capitalize. For one, the company drew about 60% of its sales from lithium in the third quarter. Two, company revenues are surging along with lithium prices, which soared about 100% year-over-year.

We also have to remember the lithium story isn’t cooling off — at least not anytime soon. For an idea of just how tight the lithium situation is, Forbes.com contributor Tristan Bove says, “At current extraction rates, carmakers will need more mining to hit industry forecasts of as many as 300 million electric vehicles on the road worldwide by 2030, as will countries to meet their commitments to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.”

[Alexander Green: The New King of LNG]

Krane Shares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility (KARS)

It’s never a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, you want to diversity for safety, with an exchange-traded fund such as the Krane Shares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility (NYSEARCA:KARS). With this fund, all your eggs are in different baskets: electric vehicles, autonomous driving, lithium and copper production, hydrogen fuel and semiconductors. In fact, you’re safer diversifying with an ETF like KARS, than putting all your money in a single stock like Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA).

With an expense ratio of 0.70%, some of the KARS ETF top holdings include Samsung (OTCMKTS:SSNLF), Panasonic Holdings (OTCMKTS:PCRFY), Aptiv (NYSE:APTV), Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI), BYD Co. (OTCMKTS:BYDDY) and dozens more. Also, while the KARS ETF is down about 46% from its 2021 highs, give it time. As the EV story improves, I’d like to see the ETF again challenge its former high of $54.43.

Freeport McMoRan (FCX)

Another key component of the electric vehicle story is copper. That’s because EVs use about two and a half times more copper than your combustion engine cars, which could help pull Freeport McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) well off recent lows.

In fact, “Between today and 2035, achieving the net-zero emissions by 2050 goals will translate into a rapid ramp-up of copper demand, increasing by more than 82 percent between 2021 and 2035,” according to S&P Global analysts, as quoted by InvestingNews.com. “This ramp-up is largely driven by the required transition to clean vehicles and electrification of the economy.”

Helping, ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) CEO and FCX Director, Ryan Lance, just bought $988,300 worth of FCX stock at an average price of $31.88 each. Better, FCX just declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per share on FCX’s common stock, payable on Feb. 1, 2023, to shareholders of record as of Jan. 13, 2023. From a current price of $37.74, I’d like to see the FCX stock rally back to $50, especially as copper prices recover.

[Nomi Prins: 10x Gains on a Small Firm Disrupting a Critical American Industry]

ChargePoint (CHPT)

With the electric vehicle boom set to accelerate, we’ll need a good deal of charging stations, which is great news for companies like ChargePoint (NYSE:CHPT). After all, we can’t have millions of EVs on the roads, and not have anywhere to charge them.

“With the total cumulative investment in EV charging infrastructure in the United States and Europe expected to be $60 billion by 2030 and $192 billion by 2040, ChargePoint’s established business model, comprehensive portfolio for nearly every charging scenario today, recurring revenue and growing customer base demonstrate it is well positioned to continue to lead as the electric mobility revolution accelerates,” says the company.

Helping, the Biden Administration is committed to building a national network of 500,000 EV charging stations by 2030.

Earnings have been solid, too. Third-quarter revenue, for example, was up 93% to $125.3 million YoY. Networked charging systems revenue for the third quarter was $97.6 million, up 105% from $47.5 million YoY. Also, subscription revenue was $21.7 million, up 62% from $13.4 million YoY. For Q4 2022, CHPT expects revenue to fall in the range of $160 million to $170 million, which would be 108% above year-ago numbers.

Fidelity Electric Vehicles and Future Transportation ETF (FDRV)

Another hot EV ETF to consider is the Fidelity Electric Vehicles and Future Transportation ETF (BATS:FDRV). At $14.77, with an expense ratio of 0.39%, the ETF offers exposure to companies involved in the production of electric and/or autonomous vehicles, components and technology, and other companies that are working to change the future of transportation. Some of its top holdings include Nio (NYSE:NIO), Tesla, Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Aptiv and Garmin (NYSE:GRMN).

[Whitney Tilson: Gold 2.0 Tap Into the Most Lucrative Vein of the SWaB Revolution]

On the date of publication, Ian Cooper did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Read more from Ian Cooper at InvestorPlace.com

Investing in the Next Generation of Nuclear Power

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The devil is always in the details.

This week, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that scientists achieved a nuclear fusion reaction that created more energy than was used. Make no mistake: This is a huge deal. This has never happened before.

To clarify, a nuclear fusion reaction happens when two light nuclei merge to form a single heavier nucleus.

To put it simply, this is essentially the reaction that powers the sun; when properly harnessed, it can be used to create a limitless source of energy on Earth. In fact, according to the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear fusion could generate 4 million times more energy than burning coal or oil…

But, of course, without the massive environmental and social burdens.

While I’ve never been a huge fan of traditional nuclear power — mostly because it remains cost-prohibitive without massive subsidies (far more than coal, gas, solar, and wind) — the promise of nuclear fusion has always been fascinating to me because it could potentially allow us to ditch fossil fuels altogether while creating energy in an economically and environmentally superior fashion.

It’s also far safer than traditional nuclear fission, which produces radioactive waste that, despite world governments' best efforts, creates an inconvenient safety and security risk that few ever want to talk about.

And, of course, because fusion is not based on a chain reaction like we see with fission, a nuclear accident is not actually possible. 

But I’m not here to talk about nuclear physics.

Instead, I’m here to talk about opportunity.

[Whitney Tilson: Gold 2.0 Tap Into the Most Lucrative Vein of the SWaB Revolution]

And as much as I love the promise of nuclear fusion, the opportunity to profit from this is highly unlikely because it’s highly unlikely we’ll ever actually see nuclear fusion happen for at least another 30 years — and that’s figuring conservatively. 

Like I said, the devil is in the details.

As reported in The Washington Post, the net energy gain scientists witnessed only happened at the micro level:

The lasers used at the Livermore lab are only about 1% efficient, according to Troy Carter, a plasma physicist at the University of California at Los Angeles. That means that it takes about 100 times more energy to run the lasers than they are ultimately able to deliver to the hydrogen atoms.

So researchers will still have to reach “engineering net energy gain,” or the point at which the entire process takes less energy than is outputted by the reaction. They will also have to figure out how to turn the outputted energy — currently in the form of kinetic energy from the helium nucleus and the neutron — into a form that is usable for electricity. They could do that by converting it to heat, then heating steam to turn a turbine and run a generator. That process also has efficiency limitations.

All that means that the energy gain will probably need to be pushed much, much higher for fusion to actually be commercially viable.

At the moment, researchers can also only do the fusion reaction about once a day. In between, they have to allow the lasers to cool and replace the fusion fuel target. A commercially viable plant would need to be able to do it several times per second, said Dennis Whyte, director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at MIT. “Once you’ve got scientific viability,” he said, “you’ve got to figure out engineering viability.”

In other words, don’t hold your breath for nuclear fusion.

Yes, it’s absolutely fascinating, and one day it’ll be a real thing.

But it’s not going to be a real thing anytime soon, and it’s certainly of no use for us as energy investors. 

[Alexander Green: The New King of LNG]

What I do find interesting, though, is that while so many people in the media are talking about nuclear fusion this week, they’re completely clueless about the next generation of realistic nuclear power, which is likely to be one of the most profitable energy investment opportunities of our lifetime.

Utilizing a new type of nuclear fuel called “Tri-Fuel 238,” this next-generation nuclear power technology is cheaper than coal and natural gas, carbon emission-free, and, unlike traditional nuclear power plants, its reactors cannot fail.

It’s by far one of the safest, cleanest, and cheapest forms of power in the world, and the best part is there’s only one company making all this possible. 

My good friend and colleague Keith Kohl actually turned me on to this company (along with its ticker symbol) earlier this year, and let’s just say that I really like looking at my trading account these days. 

While I remain bullish on solar, wind, geothermal, and battery storage, I also know a solid opportunity when I see one. And quite frankly, if you look at the details on this new nuclear technology for yourself, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Bottom line: Nuclear fusion isn’t going to happen anytime soon, but Tri-Fuel 238 is a reality right now, and it’s going to make a lot of energy investors very, very rich.

To a new way of life and a new generation of wealth…

Jeff Siegel Signature

Jeff Siegel

[Nomi Prins: 10x Gains on a Small Firm Disrupting a Critical American Industry]

Read more from Jeff Siegel at EnergyAndCapital.com

Graphene Batteries Could Revolutionize the Electric Vehicle Industry

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You have, no doubt, heard already about the veritable epidemic of lithium battery fires that's been sweeping the nation in the past few weeks.

Fires caused by malfunctioning batteries are not news. New York City has at least 200 such fires every year — most of them triggered by the city's 25,000 e-bikes, available for rent via various mobile apps.

But a few weeks back, one such fire nearly destroyed an upscale high-rise in Manhattan's Midtown East neighborhood.

Firefighters responded, pulling dozens from the burning building located at 429 E. 52nd Street. When all was said and done, two were critically injured as almost an entire floor of the high-rise was engulfed in flames.

Like I said, this isn't a new thing, but this latest event was enough to send the New York City council into an emergency meeting for the sole purpose of controlling the city's lithium-ion battery secondary market.

Several other cities across the country followed suit in the days that followed, having tackled their own lithium fire problems for years.

But as lithium-fed fires raged on the east coast, we were getting a glimpse of the future from the other side of the continent.

A Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Last week, researchers at a company based in Southern California did something most of us can only dream of doing to a rechargeable battery — they shot it with a rifle.

The projectile, traveling at almost 3,000 feet per second, perforated an experimental new battery with no problem.

Alongside it, a standard lithium-ion battery was subjected to the same treatment.

The traditional battery instantly burst into flames — not surprising, as many lithium batteries do that with no provocation whatsoever.

[Whitney Tilson: Gold 2.0 Tap Into the Most Lucrative Vein of the SWaB Revolution]

The new battery however, didn't just fail to combust, but it actually continued to function as designed.

This experimental new battery featured a new material not found in today's mass-produced rechargeable batteries: graphene.

With the thickness of a single molecule and heat conduction properties unmatched by anything known to man, graphene is a wonder of the modern world.

Discovered at the start of the 21st century, it's so new that its two key researchers, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, were awarded the Nobel Prize for their work back in 2010.

Did Graphene Come From Area 51?

Graphene boasts some other characteristics that will raise your eyebrows. It's lighter than paper yet 200 times stronger than steel.

It's almost invisible.

A sheet of it big enough to cover a football field weighs less than a gram.

It was also extremely expensive to produce, making it little more than a science project… until another company — this one based in the Eastern Australian province of Queensland — figured out a way to mass-produce it for just pennies on the dollar.

This new process, requiring only natural gas and electricity, was the final missing puzzle piece.

The company behind this new production process is a high-tech materials company, but very soon, it could become the biggest name in rechargeable power storage solutions.

You see, its graphene battery is in the final development stages before full-scale commercialization.

The batteries are already rolling off the assembly lines and getting shipped to prospective client firms for testing.

From Concept to Production Line

If reality comes anywhere near expectations, then this may well be the end of the lithium-ion market as we know it.

The new graphene batteries will have up to five times the life span in terms of charge/discharge cycles.

They will have up to three times the charge capacity.

[Alexander Green: The New King of LNG]

And, most important of all by a long shot, they will charge up to 70 times as fast.

Just imagine charging your Tesla in less than a minute and not charging it again for the next 1,000–1,500 miles.

Imagine the battery pack not just outlasting the car, but outlasting you, on its way to a final odometer reading of over 1 million miles.

That's the sort of future that graphene has presented to the world, and it's all in the hands of a single Australian firm.

With prospects that huge, how would you value a company that holds the patents to this process and the products it makes possible?

$10 billion? Maybe $100 billion?

Not even close.

The Cheapest Stock Trading Today?

As of this morning, this Australian company's stock, which is already trading in North America on two major exchanges, was trading hands at a market capitalization of less than USD$200 million.

That's less than 1/1,000th the size of what the lithium-ion battery market is expected to be worth by the end of the decade.

And yet this company has the power to wipe lithium off the economic map.

Put all of these factors together and you get one conclusion: This may be the biggest inefficiency, and the biggest bargain, available anywhere in the public markets today.

I've been following this story for months now, and I'm convinced that it could be the biggest discovery of my career.

Fortune favors the bold,

alex koyfman Signature

Alex Koyfman

[Nomi Prins: 10x Gains on a Small Firm Disrupting a Critical American Industry]

Read more from Alex Koyfman at WealthDaily.com

Demand for LNG Skyrockets Amid Europe Energy Crisis

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Europe’s ravenous appetite for energy will plunge some of its struggling peers into darkness this winter. 

Fall was mercifully mild for most of the continent. France even saw temperatures soar above 95℉. 

Those days are over. A harsh, cold winter is bearing down on a few dangerously unprepared economies.

Wealthier European countries like Germany, France, and the U.K. are vacuuming up every ounce of natural gas they can find, edging other buyers out of the spot market. 

This data from BloombergNEF paints a dismal picture. European buyers can afford to pay irresistibly high prices, prompting producers to abandon their morals and chase the highest bidder.

source: energyandcapital.com

But will all that even be enough to keep on the lights — and, more importantly, the heat — this winter? 

The U.S. is already pushing the upper boundary of its LNG export capacity. It’s expected to take years before it or any other country can increase production to meet surging demand. 

American producers can’t single-handedly supply the entire planet, though they've been doing a hell of a job trying. 

This energy crunch is going to be far, far worse than expected. Pricing for LNG is not yet reflecting the absurdly tight spot market. 

In many cases, LNG has actually become priceless. 

[Alexander Green: The New King of LNG]

And by that, I mean it doesn't really matter what it costs — because you can’t buy any. 

It’s a Free-for-All — as Long as You Pay Cash

Exports of LNG at this level are typically contracted for multi-year deals, often with penalties in place for breaching the terms. 

But during markets like this, all the rules go out the window. 

With demand reaching a point of desperation for many, nations with more disposable income can afford to poach LNG supplies that were promised to another buyer. The surge in spot pricing more than makes up the difference.

source: energyandcapital.com

It’s a cutthroat business, but these producers aren't interested in geopolitics. They follow the almighty dollar. 

And that dollar is leading them straight to the richest corners of Europe. Meanwhile, other countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India are left scrambling for other sources. 

Pakistan’s most recent attempt to field bids for a six-year supply deal garnered zero responses. Not a single producer is willing to cut a deal until 2026, when major supply upgrades finally come online. 

European nations have bought themselves some slightly better footing, but not by much. Their energy gluttony will only sustain them for so long. 

According to official reports, Europe has built up enough of a stockpile to stay comfortable during the winter. Prices are high, but the citizenry won’t freeze to death. 

But as I mentioned before, it will be at least 2026 before global production capacity increases. That means plenty more winters of ever-increasing demand. 

The world needs a solution, not a stopgap.

There’s Good News and Bad News…

There appear to be two obvious solutions here: find more LNG or find a different fuel. 

Unless Russia has a change of heart and decides to open the Nord Stream pipeline again (or at the very least stops blowing it up), we’re not getting more LNG on the market until 2026 or later. 

That only leaves one short-term option, and it’s a dangerous one. 

Pakistan and India have already expressed interest in shoring up their reserves with oil and even coal from Russia. 

[Alert: Putin Just Screwed Up Royally… Even For Him]

The environmentalists might pitch a fit, but there’s not really any alternative. Energy isn't something that can be boycotted on a whim, and self-righteousness doesn't heat homes. 

Every dollar that goes through Gazprom is then converted into shoddy Soviet-era weaponry and launched at Ukraine. But again, citizens facing blackouts in Pakistan have their own worries. 

Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia said it best himself: “If the rich countries take away all the LNG, what is going to happen to us?”

Nations with robust renewables have fared better than others, but only slightly. Brazil has a massive hydropower system, second only to China in scale. About 75% of the country’s power comes from hydroelectric turbines. 

Yet Brazil still nearly doubled its LNG imports this year. A delayed pipeline project could prompt even more purchases down the line. 

A huge portion of the world is begging for a solution. I’m not confident it’s a perfect solution, but there might only be one way to solve this global crisis. 

No Single Company Could Pull This Off

LNG distribution went global at an astounding rate. The shifting sands of the energy economy have pulled more buyers than ever into the market. 

As such, it suddenly became incredibly profitable to ship LNG across the globe in huge quantities. However, the sprawling process is complex and expensive. 

No single player controls every leg of the journey. Monopolies are few and far between in this market. 

While that can make it difficult to narrow down a stock pick, it also means these smaller companies have the potential to post outsized gains in very short time frames. 

And in this case, they have the potential to rescue the planet from a very cold winter. 

Producing, shipping, and regasification are each just as important as the other. The industry wouldn't exist without all three. 

If there is any chance at exporting enough gas to keep desperate nations out of Russia’s hands, it’s coming from the U.S. No other country has the potential to rise to the occasion. 

And like I said, it’s going to take a village. Our team of analysts is currently compiling a presentation that highlights three star players from each segment of this critical industry. 

To your wealth,

Luke Sweeney

[Whitney Tilson: Gold 2.0 Tap Into the Most Lucrative Vein of the SWaB Revolution]

Read more from Luke Sweeney at EnergyandCapital.com

EV Stocks to Electrify your Portfolio in 2023

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Growth and tech stocks have taken a massive hit this year due to a range of macro factors. Soaring inflation has led to hawkish monetary policy from the Federal Reserve. This hasn’t helped supply chains, which remain bottlenecked around the world. For electric vehicle (EV) stocks, this has been a perfect recipe for lower valuations, at least in the near term.

Many premium EV makers are also suffering from shifting consumer preferences. Many consumers may be looking to delay an EV purchase due to a higher-than-expected price tag. Accordingly, while there does appear to be great opportunity around EV stocks right now, being selective is going to be more important than ever.

Broadly, the ongoing climate crisis is shifting how governments and countries are thinking about this sector. In Germany, targets have been put in place aimed at putting approximately 15 million electric vehicles on their streets by the end of 2030. Additionally, California and Canada plan to make 100% of new car sales zero emission by 2035. These are ambitious goals, to be sure.

In order to achieve these goals, these nations need electric vehicles that their citizens and businesses can purchase. These three companies are among the leading high-growth EV makers I think could gobble up global market share over time.

XPeng (XPEV)

Let’s start our list of EV stocks to buy with Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng (NYSE:XPEV). This company designs, manufactures and delivers smart electric cars mainly in the Chinese market. Other revenue segments aside from EV production include maintenance, vehicle leasing, supercharging and auto finance services.

Notably, XPeng has seen robust growth in deliveries of late. Its October delivery numbers showed the company delivered 5,101 EVs, including 709 G3i smart compact SUVs, 1,665 P5 smart family sedans and 2,104 P7 smart sports sedans. This translated into year-over-year growth of 56%, a very impressive number relative to its peers.

He Xiaopeng, XPeng Inc.’s CEO and Chairman, also said in a statement that the company’s transportation and logistics are all set to increase production at the beginning of November.

Moreover, this Chinese EV giant has passed the autonomous driving test for launching robotaxi services. It plans on launching this service next year in Guangzhou and, within the next two years, expand it to other major cities.

[Whitney Tilson: Gold 2.0 Tap Into the Most Lucrative Vein of the SWaB Revolution]

Polestar Automotive (PSNY)

A Swedish manufacturer of premium electric vehicles, Polestar Automotive (NASDAQ:PSNY) is a very compelling option in the world of EV stocks. Some of this has to do with the company’s impressive backers, which include Geely (OTCMKTS: GELYF) and Volvo (OTCMKTS:VLVLY).

However, one of the key reasons I like this stock right now is the fact that Polestar just declared its first gross profit after turning public.

Compared to the same quarter last year, its sales were up by 105%, amounting to $4 million gross profit. Moreover, driven by rising sales in Q4 2022, Polestar estimates to generate $2.4 billion from the sale of its vehicles. This company is also set to release the Polestar 4 SUV, the Polestar 5 grand touring sedan and the Polestar 6 roadster in the years to come.

Furthermore, thanks to the financial support from its major shareholders (Geely and Volvo), the Swedish EV maker has $1.6 billion in capital to support its operations in 2023. Volvo Cars provided $800 million of this amount in the form of an 18-month term loan that also has an equity conversion option.

Thomas Ingenlath, the CEO of Polestar, welcomes this funding, as it will help the EV maker stay focused on its business while the capital market suffers from volatility and unpredictability.

Volvo (VLVLY)

Another Sweden-based EV maker, Volvo is one of the most popular companies globally in the world of electric vehicles. Interestingly, this company’s focus on the EV sector isn’t limited to passenger vehicles. The company also produces and distributes buses, trucks and construction equipment.

This is a segment I think is worth looking at. The company’s production in these niche areas of the market is picking up. As of early October, Volvo announced the supply of 20 heavy-duty, fully electric trucks to Amazon in Germany. These trucks have the expected capacity to drive for one million kilometers in a year, and have the potential to curtail Germany’s domestic transport emissions — 36% of which are caused by heavy goods and commercial vehicles.

Volvo has also increased its production of electric trucks for regional and inter-city use, setting an important milestone for decarbonization. Moreover, this global EV manufacturer says that approximately 50% of its new truck sales will be fuel-cell electric or battery-operated by 2030.

Volvo also plans to make battery modules at its Belgium plant in 2025. As per company sources, this will help Volvo develop a future value chain for its battery systems. Thus, I think this is one of the top EV stocks to consider in terms of growth upside moving forward.

[Nomi Prins: 10x Gains on a Small Firm Disrupting a Critical American Industry]

On the date of publication, Chris MacDonald did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Read more from Chris MacDonald’s at InvestorPlace.com

Solar and Semiconductor Stocks for Long Term Investors

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  • Many semiconductor stocks are on sale, and investors who buy low can see their returns go supersized in they play their cards right.
  • First Solar (FSLR): A new tax credit for manufacturers of photovoltaic solar modules will boost profits.
  • Pineapple Energy (PEGY): The small company has big plans for a national network.
  • ON Semiconductor (ON): The company makes semiconductors that are used in automotive, communications, computing, consumer, industrial, lighting, medical, and military applications.
  • Amkor Technology (AMKR): The company’s stock is up by 30% since July.
  • Broadcom (AVGO): This is a great way to also invest in 5G. Broadcom designs and develops semiconductors for the wireless and broadband communication industry.
  • Enphase Energy (ENPH): The company’s products allow homeowners and businesses to gather and store solar power to use during a grid failure.
  • Inpinj (PI): Its products can be used by retailers to prevent theft, food suppliers to help record use-by dates, pharmaceutical companies and fleet management.

Once considered to be a cash cow for investors, finding semiconductor stocks to buy and hold can be daunting these days.

The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX), an exchange traded fund that holds 30 leading semiconductor stocks, is down more than 35% so far this year as a chip shortage continues to stress the industry.

But if you’re a believer in technology and realize that semiconductors will continue to be in high demand, such a drop is pretty interesting for long-term investors.

Many of these semiconductor stocks to buy and hold are on sale, and investors who buy low can see their returns supersized if they play their cards right.

There are some indications that the chip shortage could begin to ease. The CHIPS and Science Act, passed by Congress and signed into law this year, is designed to increase semiconductor research and production in the U.S. Already, companies are making plans to expand their manufacturing bases in the U.S.

Where does that leave us? It’s time to go bargain shopping for semiconductor stocks to buy and hold.

The Portfolio Grader can be a great tool to help us find the best semiconductor stocks to buy now. The Portfolio Grader is my free tool that evaluates and grades stocks based on qualitative metrics and buying momentum.

 First Solar (FSLR)

When you think about First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR), you probably think first about solar power and not semiconductors. That’s perfectly reasonable. FSLR is one of the most well-known solar stocks out there.

It’s also one of the best-performing stocks of the year. So far in 2022, FSLR stock is up by more than 70%, with plenty of reasons to think the trend will continue.

The company announced that it will invest up to $1.2 billion to scale production of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, which could allow it to increase its power capabilities by more than 10 gigawatts by 2025.

The company says each of those modules features a layer of Cadmium Telluride semiconductor that’s thinner than a human hair. And it’s researching more ways to make products with an even thinner semiconductor layer.

The potential here is clear, particularly with the emergency of the Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S. that restores a tax credit for U.S. manufacturers that start production of PV projects before 2025. FSLR stock has a “B” rating in the Portfolio Grader.

[Alert: Don’t Make This Million-Dollar Mistake]

Pineapple Energy (PEGY)

This is one of the smallest and least-known stocks on this list. But never fear – even though Pineapple Energy (NASDAQ:PEGY) is a true penny stock at fewer than $3 per share, and even though it has a market capitalization of barely $20 million, there are plenty of reasons to be bullish about this energy company.

While Pineapple’s core market is in Hawaii, the company actually has Minnesota roots. Communications Systems, which previously traded on the Nasdaq exchange as JCS, bought out Pineapple earlier this year and changed its name and ticker accordingly.

Just prior to the merger, Pineapple had already bought two Hawaii solar companies, Hawaii Energy Connection and E-Gear. That gives the new Pineapple Energy a solid position in the Hawaii market.

Pineapple aims to use that as a launching point for building a nationwide footprint in offering solar solutions.

The company’s Q2 earnings report (its first since the merger) shows promise. Revenue was $5.9 million after being zero a year ago, and earnings per share was 15 cents – a welcome profit after the company lost 74 cents per share a year ago.

PEGY stock was trading at less than $1 per share at the beginning of the month but is up more than 215% since then. PEGY has a “B” rating in the Portfolio Grader.

ON Semiconductor (ON)

ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ:ON) is a much less volatile play than PEGY, but it also has more of a track record to go by. It did get a big boost this summer when it joined the all-important S&P 500 index.

While much of the market is still deep in the red, ON Semiconductor is nearly breaking even, down less than 2% so far on the year. In a year like this, having a stock that’s flat is definitely better than one that’s been handing out losses right and left.

The company makes semiconductors that are used in automotive, communications, computing, consumer, industrial, lighting, medical and military applications. That’s a great place to be in as companies are clamoring for semiconductors and the CHIPS Act makes buying semiconductors from U.S. companies easier.

Earnings in the third quarter continued the company’s winning ways – revenue of $2.19 billion beat analysts’ expectations for $2.12 billion. EPS of $1.45 per share was better than the $1.31 the Street expected.

ON has an “A”  rating in the Portfolio Grader.

Amkor Technology (AMKR)

Amkor Technology (NASDAQ:AMKR) packages and tests integrated circuits for chip manufacturers. The company has a pretty big footprint outside of it’s home base in Arizona, with factories also in China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Portugal and Taiwan.

Although it has faced some challenges this year – the company’s operations in Shanghai were hurt by China’s extended Covid-19 shutdown – but the stock has rallied as of late, up nearly 30% since early July.

Third-quarter earnings of $2.08 billion and EPS of $1.25 per share easily beat analysts’ expectations and showed strong year-over-year growth (revenue was up 24% from a year ago, with net income of $306.1 million being  an increase of 69%).

AMKR stock has a “B” rating in the Portfolio Grader.

[How to Get $2,500 Back Into Your Pocket Every Year? (Without Buying a Single Stock)]

Broadcom (AVGO)

I’m a big fan of Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) stock because of its position in the 5G space.

Broadcom designs and develops semiconductors for the wireless and broadband communication industry.

That’s a great opportunity for investors because I’ve long been convinced that the applications of 5G could be life-changing. The ability to get lightning-quick internet speeds even when on Wi-Fi opens the doors for smart cities, machine learning, AI, virtual reality, and more.

Broadcom is also buying enterprise software company VMWare (NYSE:VMW) in a $61 billion deal that will allow it to expand into cloud computing.

Q3 revenue of $8.46 billion and earnings of $9.73 per share beat analysts’ expectations for $8.41 billion and $9.56 EPS.

AVGO stock has a “B” rating in the Portfolio Grader.

Enphase Energy (ENPH)

Another solar energy stock, Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH) makes and markets solar energy inverters and battery storage products. The company’s products allow customers to gather solar power, store it on a battery and use it in the event of a power grid failure.

Enphase will be able to use a smartphone app to direct power to essential appliances, which will help them to maximize their power reserves.

Earnings in the third quarter topped analysts’ estimates for the top and bottom lines as Enphase stock kept its hot streak intact. ENPH is up 55% so far on the year, including an 11% gain over the last month.

ENPH stock has an “A” rating in the Portfolio Grader.

Inpinj (PI)

Based in Seattle, Inpinj (NASDAQ:PI) is a pretty cool company. It manufactures tag chips that use radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to allow users to track an item’s identity, location and authenticity.

Its products can be used by retailers to prevent theft, food suppliers to help record use-by dates, pharmaceutical companies and fleet management. Its tags are also a critical tool for the Internet of Things, as it allows computers to track inventory and the supply chain.

PI stock has had a pretty good year as well, up 16% in 2022, and up 22% just in the last month. Third-quarter earnings also continued the company’s trend of beating expectations, as it reported $68.27 million in revenue of 34 cents EPS – both better than the forecasted $64.79 million revenue and 20 cents EPS.

PI stock has an “A” rating in the Portfolio Grader as well.

[Exclusive: Whitney Tilson – Gold 2.0 Tap Into the Most Lucrative Vein of the SWaB Revolution]

Read more from Louis Navellier at InvestorPlace.com

Don’t Make This Million-Dollar Mistake

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There is massive rollout of an entire new industry happening across the world as you read this.

Before I tell you how you can take full advantage, there's one thing I want to make clear.

When I first reveal details of this rollout to you, your initial reaction might be…

“Wait, haven't I heard of this before?“

Some of you might even close out of this presentation.

But I think that would be a “million-dollar mistake.”

You see, I'm sure 99.9% of Americans only know bits and pieces about this breakthrough.

When I explain what's happening and show you the big picture… you'll begin to understand why I say what's coming is far bigger than the Internet.

So before you click the link, please be prepared to hear some stuff you've already heard in the past.

More important, be prepared for the coming together of known forces to create a disruptive new world order.

When you're ready to get started, click here.

Regards,

Whitney Tilson
Founder, Empire Financial Research

How to Get $2,500 Back Into Your Pocket Every Year? (Without Buying a Single Stock)

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How does $2,500 back in your pocket every year sound to you?

If you think “that's not a big deal,” you're right. It isn't.

The $2,500 a year is just the fringe benefit of a global reset that will usher in the biggest change we've seen in over two decades.

Think about when the Internet first came along. It was basically a glorified newspaper and mail service.

It offered fringe benefits like money saved on newspapers and postage.

But you know what the real value of the Internet is to your business, your earning capacity, your investments, and your spending?

If you add all those benefits up, it's likely worth hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more).

The same thing is happening with this coming “reset.”

It could completely alter your earning potential… how you work, shop, and travel… Everything.

But the real reason you should know about this reset is because of the investment opportunity attached to it. One company associated with this opportunity has already returned 3,000% in less than 6 years.

Meaning if you took the $2,500 going back into your pocket and put it into that stock, you'd be sitting on $75,000 in profits today.

If you're interested in learning more, click here.

Regards,

Sam Latter
Editor in Chief, Empire Financial Research

The Top Hydrogen Stocks to Buy for the Renewable Energy Era

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In this Article:

Today, electric vehicles are all the rage. They’re at the epicenter of the world’s shift to cut carbon emissions dramatically and rapidly for a cleaner future. But EVs weren’t always at the forefront of the Clean Energy Revolution. Indeed, back in 2003, it was all about hydrogen.

In his 2003 State of the Union address, then-President George W. Bush said, “the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen and [be] pollution-free.”

He was half-right. There are a lot of pollution-free cars out there today. And many children born back in 2003 are driving them. But for the most part, they’re powered by electric batteries, not hydrogen fuel cells.

Where did it go wrong?

In the words of Matthew Blieske, Shell’s (SHEL) global hydrogen product manager, “… there was always something missing.”

The History of Hydrogen

In the early 2000s, hydrogen fuel cells were hyped up for their ability to reduce energy dependence. That was at a time when crude oil prices were north of $50 and rising. But falling oil prices in the late 2000s and early 2010s sapped some of this hype. And it dramatically slowed the Clean Energy Revolution.

Then the world started getting serious about decarbonization again in the back half of the 2010s. And hydrogen was but one of many zero-emission energy sources out there, alongside solar, wind, and electric batteries.

And relative to those other energy sources, hydrogen has proven to be less efficient and more expensive.

That’s because hydrogen, while the most abundant element in the universe, doesn’t exist in its pure form on Earth. So, producing it requires a complex, multi-step process. And that results in significant electricity loss and requires tons of added infrastructure – and dollars.

Not to mention, to offset these extra costs, most companies have turned to producing hydrogen from cheap natural gas. That means that most isn’t zero-emissions at all.

Net-net, hydrogen has gone from being the epicenter of the Clean Energy Revolution to just a niche afterthought.

But that’s all about to change.

The Hydrogen Economy is on the cusp of an enormous tipping point.

For the first time in its choppy history, the time has come for this clean energy source to reign.

[Whitney Tilson: Gold 2.0 Tap Into the Most Lucrative Vein of the SWaB Revolution]

The Drivers Have Arrived

As every country works toward a net-zero emissions target, the global political stage is set for mass decarbonization.

Economies of scale have led to the cost of hydrogen fuel cells dropping 60% over the past decade. Deloitte expects those costs to drop below electric battery and combustion engine costs within just a few years…

Technological advancements and falling renewable energy costs have led to a new era of scalable “Green Hydrogen” production. And now it can be cost-effectively produced from renewable energy sources, like solar and wind.

In other words, all the drivers have finally shown up to the party at the same time.

In the words of Blieske: “[In the past] there was a policy missing, or the technology wasn’t quite ready, or people were not so serious about decarbonization. We don’t see those barriers anymore.”

With those barriers removed, the Hydrogen Economy will tip into its long overdue renaissance in the 2020s. And that will create what Morgan Stanley (MS) sees as an $11 trillion market in the coming decades.

Source: investorplace.com

Where will all this hypergrowth come from?

We’ll see it in high-usage and long-range energy and transportation markets. That’s where hydrogen’s advantages over electric batteries shine brightest.

[Nomi Prins: 10x Gains on a Small Firm Disrupting a Critical American Industry]

The Final Word on Hydrogen Stocks

You see, when it comes to cost, efficiency, safety, and public roads infrastructure, battery electricity wins out. To that extent, battery electricity will likely be the dominant clean energy source for passenger cars and last-mile delivery vans.

But thanks to its unmatched energy density, hydrogen outplays battery electricity when it comes to range, recharging times, and emissions. So, in heavy-usage and long-range situations, hydrogen is best in class. Therefore, those fuel cells will likely be the dominant clean energy source for industry, stationary and cross-country haul.

Think forklifts in warehouses, trucks that travel across the country, and ships that sail across oceans. And what about data centers that have to be “always on”?

Indeed, hydrogen fuel cells are on the cusp of disrupting those industries over the next decade.

Who is at the forefront of this multi-trillion-dollar disruption?

Plug Power (PLUG) is. The company started out supplying hydrogen fuel cells for forklifts to warehouse operators like Walmart (WMT) and Amazon (AMZN). Now Plug Power is morphing into an all-in-one, vertically integrated powerhouse at the epicenter of the Hydrogen Economy.

Needless to say, Plug Power stock is a long-term winner.

But other names are also piquing interest in this hypergrowth space…

Like Ballard Power (BLDP), who’s making hydrogen fuel cells for buses, trucks, and trains. And Bloom Energy (BE) is creating energy “boxes” powered by green hydrogen to help replace grid power.

With these hypergrowth stocks, you have three of the highest-quality plays on the multi-trillion-dollar Hydrogen Revolution. And they’re three stocks that could easily rise several hundred percent in the 2020s.

Hypergrowth investors should take a good hard look at these emerging hydrogen stocks.

On the date of publication, Luke Lango did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.

[Whitney Tilson: Gold 2.0 Tap Into the Most Lucrative Vein of the SWaB Revolution]

Read more from Luke Lango at InvestorPlace.com