German machine builder for semiconductor equipment - key player in SiC/GaN and optoelectronics. Aixtron ($AIXA (-4,16 %) ) supplies the equipment on which the next generation of energy-efficient chips is manufactured - indispensable for AI data centers, electromobility and datacom.

⚙️ What does Aixtron do?

➡️ Specialist for MOCVD and CVD systems for the production of III-V semiconductors (e.g. GaN, SiC).

➡️ Core markets: Power electronics (SiC/GaN), optoelectronics (laser, datacom) and special applications (LEDs, micro-optics).

➡️ Sales basis: 78% equipment, 22% after sales - clear focus on AI & e-mobility growth markets.

➡️ Regions: 60% Asia, 17% Europe, 23% Americas.

➡️ Location: Herzogenrath (NRW), globally active with a focus on Asia, Europe & USA.

📊 Figures & growth (Q3 2025)

📉 Turnover: € 119.6 million (previous year € 156.3 million) → Decline ≈ -23.5 % Y/Y.

📉 Gross margin: ≈ 39% (Q3 2024: 43%) → Margin pressure due to volume shifts & FX effects.

📉 Incoming orders: € 124 million (previous year € 143.4 million) → further decline.

📊 Outlook for 2025: Sales € 530-565 million (previously up to € 600 million), EBIT margin 17-19%.

💰 Balance sheet: Net cash strong, equity ratio high - solid financial base.

🧩 R&D ratio: ~13% - above industry average, underlines technological leadership ambition.

📈 Book-to-bill ratio: 1.04 - shows start of recovery in incoming orders.

🟢 The opportunities

🧠 Technological leadership: Aixtron dominates the production of systems for GaN and SiC - key materials for the next generation of power electronics. This technology enables more efficient power conversion in e-mobility, charging infrastructure, wind energy and data centers.

🌐 Growth through AI & data center boom: Demand for high-speed lasers and optical data communication is growing at > 45% CAGR. Aixtron supplies the key equipment for InP-based laser chips, which are essential for AI servers and cloud networks.

🧱 Strong market position & barriers to entry: The new G10 portfolio offers up to ten times lower defect densities than previous models. High process complexity, patent protection and manufacturing expertise create high barriers for competitors such as Veeco or AMEC.

💸 Solid balance sheet & R&D power: With a 13% R&D share and robust cash position, Aixtron can continue to invest even in periods of weakness - the basis for long-term technological leadership.

📈 Cyclical turning point as an entry window: After the decline in demand in 2025, the valuation is moderate. Rising investments in SiC/GaN from 2026 could usher in the next cycle.

🔴 The risks

⚠️ Cyclicality & timing: Aixtron operates in a highly cyclical market environment. Demand for SiC and GaN equipment is currently declining as customers postpone their investments. A delayed upturn in power electronics could further dampen sales in 2025.

⚠️ High expectations: The market is already pricing in a turnaround for 2026. If this fails to materialize, there is a risk of valuation markdowns. Investors are currently expecting a rapid rebound - any delay will be disproportionately penalized.

⚠️ Currency and volume effectsPostponement of major orders to the fourth quarter and unfavorable exchange rates (especially USD/EUR) are putting pressure on margins and earnings. Short-term forecast deviations are therefore more likely than upside surprises.

⚠️ Technological competitionThe semiconductor equipment market is driven by innovation. Competitors such as Veeco and AMEC are investing heavily in GaN and SiC technologies. AIXTRON must consistently defend its technological leadership position - any lag in innovation could cost market share.

💡 Conclusion & outlook

Aixtron remains a strategically important player in energy efficiency and optoelectronics.

In the short term, the cycle is a burden, but in the long term the technology leadership offers a clear investment story.

🎯 Long-term goal:

Growth phase after 2026 with accelerated SiC/GaN investments.

💬 Community question:

Do you think Aixtron is a "turnaround entry" or the risky cyclical with high uncertainty?

Following NVIDIA's $NVDA (-3,26 %) 800-volt architectures (probably planned for 2027) in data centers for higher energy efficiency and scalability to meet the increasing power requirements of AI applications. I asked myself who COULD benefit from this. And that's when I came across AIXTRON $AIXA (-4,16 %)

What does AIXTRON do?$AIXA (-4,16 %)

• AIXTRON is a German manufacturer of deposition and epitaxy systems (mainly MOCVD = "Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition") for the semiconductor and optoelectronics industry.
• Customers use AIXTRON equipment for the production of components such as LEDs, lasers, sensors, power semiconductors (e.g. with silicon carbide (SiC) or gallium nitride (GaN)), as well as opto/electronic components.
• The company is headquartered in Herzogenrath (Aachen region), Germany.

History in brief

• Founded in 1983 as a spin-off of RWTH Aachen University (then Institute for Semiconductor Technology) with the aim of commercializing MOCVD research systems.
• Since the 1990s fully focused on the production of systems for compound semiconductors (III-V materials).
• IPO in the mid-1990s (Neuer Markt) and later conversion to the European company form (SE).

Business model & technology focus

• AIXTRON develops, produces and installs equipment for material deposition (not only MOCVD, but also other processes) including services, training and support.
• The technologies address megatrends such as energy efficiency (e.g. power semiconductors with SiC/GaN), digitalization (data transmission, laser technology) and miniaturization (sensor technology, micro LEDs) - AIXTRON sees great market opportunities here.
• Investment in research and development is high - for example, around 14% of revenue is invested in R&D (2023) and the company holds hundreds of patent families.

Key figures & market position

• Number of employees approx. 1,200 (as of 2024) at various locations worldwide
• Turnover most recently e.g. in 2024 at around €633.2 million according to Wikipedia.
• AIXTRON is listed in the German TecDAX, among others, and is considered an important supplier in the semiconductor supply chain in the field of compound semiconductors.

Opportunities & challenges

Opportunities:

• The trend towards power semiconductors (SiC, GaN), for example for electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and data centers, opens up growth potential.
• The demand for energy-efficient and high-performance optoelectronic components (e.g. micro LEDs, laser systems) could benefit AIXTRON.
• The company can leverage competitive advantages through technological specialization.

Challenges:

• The semiconductor equipment market is cyclical and heavily dependent on end markets such as automotive, consumer and storage - weakness in these areas can affect AIXTRON.
• International trade and export controls (e.g. for high-tech equipment) and geopolitical risks can have a negative impact on business. For example, AIXTRON is affected by export/dual-use regulations.
• Competitive pressure from other manufacturers and the fast pace of technology require continuous innovation and investment.

Why should you pay attention to AIXTRON?

Because AIXTRON plays a key role in a highly innovative value chain: Compound semiconductor systems are important building blocks for modern technologies - from LED displays to POWER ELECTRONICS. So if you have an eye on future-oriented semiconductor equipment, you can't completely ignore AIXTRON.📈

Feel free to share your opinion on the share in the comments

Dear friends and community,

After a month, here's a little update on the bunny challenge.

A few things have happened in the meantime, unfortunately not many of them positive.

Two of the 5 initial values have been dropped and one has been added.

$DEFI (-4,08 %) Purchase 245 x € 2.085 = € 510.82

$HIMS (-1,33 %) Purchase 11 x € 49.72 = € 546.92

$LTMC (+0,6 %) Purchase 23 x € 22.54 = € 518.42

$3350 (-3,3 %) Purchase 150 x € 3.59 = € 525.00

$AIXA (-4,16 %) Purchase 36 x € 13.99 = € 593.64

Total investment = € 2,694.80

The disposals were:

$HIMS (-1,33 %) Sale 11 x € 45.12 = € 496.32

$3350 (-3,3 %) Sale 150 x € 3,06 = € 459,-

Loss € 116.60

Therefore the position was increased from $DEFI (-4,08 %) increased

$DEFI (-4,08 %) Purchase 263 x € 591.28

Gamble in between with $BE (-13,28 %)

Buy 7x € 446.81

Sell 7x € 638.33

Profit € 191.52

New addition $CRCL (-6,33 %)

Purchase 5x € 111,- = € 555,-

Unfortunately, the performance currently leaves a lot to be desired and the 🚀 are waiting for their start.

$DEFI (-4,08 %) - 29,83%

$LTMC (+0,6 %) - 14,90%

$AIXA (-4,16 %) + 17,87

$CRCL (-6,33 %) - 19,46

Unfortunately, the hare seems to have been taken in by the community's misconceptions about the company. But perhaps not and something will happen with the values that have fallen into negative territory.

VERY IMPORTANT:

This challenge is clearly intended as a gamble and a bit of fun for the community! It does not make the rabbit poor, even if it makes his current clothing look different.

No matter which of you introduced which of these companies that are now in the red: Don't take it negatively against your tip! The rabbit has decided whether the value for this challenge is of any use or not and it was clear from the start that it would be highly speculative.

The community and the tips are worth their weight in gold, even if these shares haven't made any money so far! ❤️

The bunny and I wish you all a great weekend 👍🏼

$AIXA (-4,16 %)

The research describes Aixtron as the leading supplier for the production of GaN and SiC semiconductors - and a clear beneficiary of Nvidia's planned 800V data center architecture, which is targeted for 2027.

Share price +15 %.

$KDP (-0,13 %)
$7751 (+0,78 %)
$NXPI (-1,64 %)
$WM (+2,8 %)
$CDNS (-3,82 %)
$BN (+0,62 %)
$SOFI (+0,22 %)
$UNH (+1,45 %)
$AMT (-1 %)
$UPS (+1,06 %)
$BNP (-0,85 %)
$NVS (-0,22 %)
$DB1 (-0,37 %)
$MSCI (+1,92 %)
$ENPH (-3,08 %)
$BKNG (+0,42 %)
$LOGN (-6,19 %)
$V (+0,4 %)
$MDLZ (+0,94 %)
$PYPL (-0,02 %)
$000660
$MBG (+0,33 %)
$BAS (+0,71 %)
$UBSG (+1,17 %)
$SAN (-1,62 %)
$CVS (+0,07 %)
$OTLY (-1,69 %)
$GSK (-0,02 %)
$ETSY (+0,66 %)
$CAT (-3,04 %)
$KHC (+0,29 %)
$ADYEN (+0,17 %)
$ADS (+1,99 %)
$AIR (+0,1 %)
$SBUX (+0,58 %)
$CMG (+3,32 %)
$META (-1,55 %)
$KLAC (-4,84 %)
$MELI (-0,2 %)
$WOLF (-6,19 %)
$GOOGL (-3,46 %)
$EQIX (-0,76 %)
$MSFT (-0,32 %)
$CVNA (-3,57 %)
$EBAY (+1,37 %)
$005930
$6752 (+4,32 %)
$KOG (+0,28 %)
$VOW3 (+0,93 %)
$GLE (-0,31 %)
$LHA (+4,2 %)
$STLAM (-0,39 %)
$SPGI (+0,57 %)
$MA (+1,21 %)
$PUM (+3,13 %)
$AIXA (-4,16 %)
$FSLR (-6,51 %)
$AAPL (-0,42 %)
$REDDIT (+0 %)
$AMZN (-2,35 %)
$NET (-3,02 %)
$MSTR (-4,52 %)
$GDDY (-0,93 %)
$TWLO (-1,36 %)
$COIN (-1,25 %)
$066570
$CL (-0,04 %)
$ABBV (-1,35 %)
$XOM (-1,06 %)

$WOLF
$AIXA (-4,16 %)

My dears, have any of you been invested here?

Furious return to the stock market: the share price of the restructured US chip manufacturer Wolfspeed, which had once planned a plant in Saarland, has risen so rapidly that trading had to be interrupted several times.

29.09.2025, 20.05 hrs

US chip manufacturer Wolfspeed, which has been restructured following insolvency, has celebrated a spectacular return to the stock market. The company's shares shot up by around 1500 percent at times on Thursday before trading was suspended several times due to high volatility.

The New York Stock Exchange Nyse had previously announced that the company's old shares would be removed from trading as part of the insolvency proceedings. In return, investors will receive new shares in the restructured group, which will secure the company's continued stock market listing.

Wolfspeed shares once cost more than 120 dollars

Profits crumbled in the course of trading, but the shares were still up 1140 percent at just under 15 dollars. However, they are still a long way from their highs. Three years ago, the share price was still more than 120 dollars.

In June, Wolfspeed filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code, which allows the company to reorganize on its own. At the end of June, the shares were therefore trading at just under 40 US cents. The agreement with the creditors provided for a debt cut of 4.6 billion dollars and a financial injection of 275 million dollars.

$AIXA (-4,16 %)

Wolfspeed is a customer of Aixtron. Aixtron is a leading provider of deposition equipment for the semiconductor industry and supplies technologies for the manufacture of high-performance components, which are used by Wolfspeed for the production of semiconductors.

https://www.manager-magazin.de/finanzen/boerse/wolfspeed-aktie-schiesst-um-fast-1500-prozent-hoch-a-0357b117-a887-47d2-bc1c-cfc4c7c86b6e

The rabbit now has its 5 community values together

The choice has fallen on

$DEFI (-4,08 %)

$HIMS (-1,33 %)

$LTMC (+0,6 %)

$3350 (-3,3 %)

$AIXA (-4,16 %)

What do you think of the choice and do you see a chance of success for the first values?

If you are still interested in the challenge, follow the bunny. I will report regularly on how the challenge is progressing.

The bunny and I look forward to comments and discussions. 😊

$AIXA (-4,16 %)

My dears,

I also see a recovery here, which is why I remain invested.

Aixtron's share price is extending its recovery of the last few days - today's high: EUR 12.745, XETRA currently at EUR 12.69 (+2.55 percent). In yesterday's 4investors.de chart check, we already referred to the technical resistance between EUR 12.55/12.64 and EUR 12.70/12.87, which must be overcome for an initial procyclical trading buy signal. This level remains in focus.

The rise is supported by news on the Aixtron share (WKN: A0WMPJ, ISIN: DE000A0WMPJ6, Chart, News). In a study published today, mwb research confirmed its buy recommendation as well as the price target of EUR 20.

At mwb research's High-Tech Engineering Conference (see video), it was confirmed that Aixtron will be a structural winner in the compound semiconductor sector, according to the equity experts. With its 300mm platform, the company is "excellently positioned to meet the explosive growth in demand from AI-driven energy supply from the end of 2026". The forecast for 2025 is realistically achievable, 2026 is a transition year with moderate growth and 2027 should then see a stronger upturn. The current cyclical weakness in demand therefore offers an attractive entry point for the Aixtron share, mwb research said on Wednesday.

Yesterday, there was already a positive analyst opinion on the Aixtron share, albeit with a significantly lower expected price target: Barclays sees further upside potential for the MDAX and TecDAX stock. In a recent analysis, the share experts raised their price target for the shares of the Herzogenrath-based company from EUR 13.50 to EUR 14.00 and confirmed their "Equal Weight" rating.

Note on conflict(s) of interest: The Tenbagger ETF holds direct positions in financial instruments / derivatives on financial instruments of companies that are the subject of this article and whose share prices could be influenced by the reporting: Aixtron.

https://www.4investors.de/nachrichten/boerse.php?sektion=stock&ID=185882

Hello dear Getquin Community,

This year's IAA Mobility in Munich showed that the automotive industry is on the verge of a turning point. With over 30 percent more exhibitors than in 2023 and numerous premieres from Audi, $BMW (+0,46 %) BMW, $MBG (+0,33 %) Mercedes, $VOW3 (+0,93 %) VW, Opel and Chinese challengers such as BYD and $1211 (-1,03 %) BYD and $9868 (-1,19 %) XPeng, it became clear that electromobility has now become the standard. However, behind these new platforms and concepts lies an even bigger topic, namely autonomous driving and the robotaxis of the future.

In order to present this field in a clear and transparent way for investors, I have broken down the entire value chain into individual sectors. These include automotive and suppliers, semiconductors and technology, communication and infrastructure, software and algorithms, logistics and transportation, insurance and finance, energy and infrastructure, battery and propulsion, maps and mapping, and safety and cybersecurity. Within each sector, I have analyzed the big players, the hidden champions and the blade manufacturers and highlighted my favorites in each case with a brief explanation. @Multibagger 😎

My aim was to develop as comprehensive a picture as possible that shows where the opportunities lie in this new industry and how investors can position themselves at an early stage. Perhaps the IAA 2025 was not just a car show, but actually the starting signal for the next big investment ecosystem around robotaxis and autonomous driving. If I have overlooked any important aspects or if a categorization was not quite precise, I look forward to your comments @BamBamInvest
@Epi
😎 and exciting additions @All-in-or-nothing 😎 Together we can understand this topic even better and learn from each other. @Tenbagger2024 😎

Feel free to leave a 👍. I wish you every success with your investments 🚀

🚘 Automotive & suppliers

Big player:

$TSLA (+1,52 %) Tesla - pioneer in autopilot/FSD, vertical integration, huge database

$MBG (+0,33 %) Mercedes-Benz Group - EQS/EQE with Level 3 approval in Germany, strong regulatory expertise

$BMW (+0,46 %) BMW - New class platform, e-models with prepared sensor technology & level 3 approaches

$VOW (+0,69 %) VW Volkswagen - Cariad software unit, massive push towards ADAS/AV

$7203 (+1,88 %) Toyota (Japan) - largest OEM, cooperation with Pony.ai and Denso

$GOOGL (-3,46 %) Alphabet Waymo (private/Alphabet $GOOGL) - robotaxi pioneer in the USA

$9888 (-2,56 %) Baidu Apollo (9888.HK) - Robotaxi & Full-Stack AV in China

$Pony.ai (private, China) - Robotaxi & partnerships with Toyota

👉 Favorite: Alphabet Waymo ($GOOGL (-3,46 %))

Moat through years of data collection in real operation, deep AI integration, financially secured by Alphabet. Compounder potential, as Waymo can scale as a platform.

Hidden champions:

$APTV (-2,19 %) Aptiv - supplier for ADAS, sensor fusion, E/E architectures

$MG (+0,17 %) Magna International - produces complete vehicle systems including autonomous components

$ZF Friedrichshafen (private) - German giant in steering and braking systems for AVs

Veoneer (private, formerly listed) - safety software, vision, sensor technology

$SHA0 (+1,31 %) Schaeffler AG (DE, Germany, Xetra) - global supplier of drive, chassis and intelligent steering systems. Important for e-mobility and redundancy solutions in autonomous driving.

👉 Favorite: Aptiv ($APTV (-2,19 %)
)

High barriers to entry through system integration, broad customer base (OEM-agnostic), strong cash flow and close partner of major car manufacturers.

Blade manufacturer:

$NVDA (-3,26 %) Nvidia - Drive Orin / Thor chips for OEMs, standard in the AV sector

$QCOM (-2,01 %) Qualcomm - Snapdragon Ride platform for AVs

$INTC (-4,8 %) Intel Mobileye - EyeQ chips, one of the market leaders in ADAS

$LAZR (-4,88 %) Luminar Technologies - Lidar, partnerships with Volvo, Mercedes, SAIC

$OUST Ouster, Inc. - Lidar solutions

$INVZ Innoviz (INVZ) - Lidar sensor technology, cooperation with VW & BMW

👉 Favorite: Nvidia ($NVDA (-3,26 %)
)

Dominance in high-performance AI chips, ecosystem with software (CUDA, DriveSim), network effects through partnerships with almost all OEMs. Classic compounder, enormous moat due to technology and developer lock-in.

Takeaway:

In the automotive & supplier sector, it's not just who sells the most cars, but who has mastered the best technology stack for autonomy. OEMs work closely with specialized suppliers and blade manufacturers. Investors should focus less on unit numbers and more on data basis, software expertise and partnerships. The real levers often lie with suppliers and technology enablers, not just the traditional car brands.

💻 Semiconductors & technology

Big players:

$NVDA (-3,26 %) Nvidia - GPUs & AV chips (Drive Orin, Drive Thor), software ecosystem

$QCOM (-2,01 %) Qualcomm - Snapdragon Ride platform, automotive pipeline >30 billion USD

$INTC (-4,8 %) Intel / Mobileye - EyeQ chips, ADAS market leader

$AMD (-4,68 %) AMD - GPU/CPU, entry into automotive AI compute

👉 Favorite: Nvidia ($NVDA (-3,26 %)
) Unique position: Technological moat through CUDA ecosystem, enabler of almost all AV developments, quasi-monopoly in high-end compute. Classic compounder with long-term growth leverage.

Hidden champions:

$LAZR (-4,88 %) Luminar Technologies - Lidar supplier, partnerships (Volvo, Mercedes, SAIC)

$INVZ Innoviz Tech. - Lidar, BMW & VW as customers

$KOTMY Koito Manufacturing - world market leader in automotive lighting, entry into lidar through Cepton integration, important role as supplier for OEMs

$AMBA (-5,27 %) Ambarella (AMBA) - camera chips & vision processors for AV

$STMPA (-1,27 %) STMicroelectronics (France/Italy, Euronext) - automotive microcontrollers, sensors, power electronics. European counterpart to Infineon.

$AIXA (-4,16 %) Aixtron (Germany, Xetra) - supplies manufacturing equipment for SiC and GaN semiconductors, indispensable for power electronics in EV/AV.

$ELG (-3,09 %) Elmos Semiconductor (Germany, Xetra) - niche player for mixed-signal semiconductors in automotive, e.g. for radar and driver assistance.

👉 Favorite: Luminar ($LAZR (-4,88 %)
) Clear technical USP, strategic OEM deals in series production, high barriers to entry in lidar technology. Scalable compounder in a niche market.

Blade manufacturer:

$TSM (-4,23 %) Taiwan Semiconductor - production of all relevant automotive chips

$ASML (-3,69 %) ASML Holding - Lithography monopolist, without ASML no AI/AV chips

$EQIX (-0,76 %) Equinix - data center colocation for AI training & simulations

$DLR (-3,29 %) Digital Realty - cloud and data infrastructure

$AMZN (-2,35 %) Amazon AWS - Cloud resources for AI training, simulation & OTA updates

👉 Favorite: ASML ($ASML (-3,69 %)
) Monopoly on EUV lithography, no advanced chips for autonomous driving without ASML. Moat through technology and patents, classic compounder.

Takeaway:

Semiconductors & technology are the foundation of autonomous driving. While Nvidia plays the central role with computing power, lidar specialists such as Luminar ensure perception. The real shovelware winner, however, is ASML, without whose machines there would be no AV chips. Investors will find the deepest technological moats in the entire value chain here.

📡 Communication & infrastructure

Big players:

$ERIC B (-1,6 %) Ericsson - 5G/6G networks, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) applications, global player

$NOK (-0,93 %) Nokia - 5G/Edge solutions for automotive & smart cities

$QCOM (-2,01 %) Qualcomm - Snapdragon Digital Chassis, V2X chipsets, automotive pipeline

Huawei (private, China) - strong player in 5G/AV communication, partnerships in Asia

👉 Favorite: Qualcomm ($QCOM (-2,01 %)
) Wide moat through IP in mobile communications, at the same time deep automotive integration via Snapdragon Ride & Digital Chassis. Compounder, as economies of scale in chips + licenses worldwide.

Hidden champions:

$Cohda Wireless (private, Australia) - pioneer for V2X communication, software solutions for OEMs

$Autotalks (private, Israel, acquisition by Qualcomm planned) - leader in dedicated V2X chips

Commsignia (private, Hungary) - V2X middleware & roadside units

👉 Favorite: Autotalks (private, Israel)

Technology leader in dedicated V2X chips, unique IP portfolio. Strong takeover candidate (Qualcomm already active), giving moat + exit potential.

Shovel manufacturer:

$CSCO (-2,24 %) Cisco Systems - network infrastructure for automotive, cloud & edge

$AMT (-1 %) American Tower - cell towers & infrastructure, benefits from 5G expansion

$CCI (-0,76 %) Crown Castle - radio tower and fiber optic infrastructure (mainly USA)

$EQIX (-0,76 %) Equinix - data centers, basis for edge computing and OTA updates

$DLR (-3,29 %) Digital Realty - colocation & data center capacity for simulations and AV data

👉 Favorite: Equinix ($EQIX (-0,76 %)
)

Global leader in data center colocation, benefits from the edge computing trend. Strong moat due to network effects & high switching costs. Long-term compounder.

Takeaway:

Communication & infrastructure are the silent cornerstones of autonomous driving. Without low-latency networks, edge data centers and V2X communication, no AV can drive safely. While Qualcomm forms the technological bridge between chip and infrastructure, hidden champions such as Autotalks secure niche leadership. On the blade side, Equinix remains unbeatable, as every OEM & service provider needs computing power at the edge.

🤖 Software, platforms & algorithms

Big Player:

$GOOGL (-3,46 %) Alphabet / Waymo - Robotaxi pioneer, full-stack AV software, years of database

$TSLA (+1,52 %) Tesla - FSD, Dojo supercomputer, vertical integration incl. fleet

$9888 (-2,56 %) Baidu Apollo (HK) - largest robotaxi network in China, full-stack solution

$UBER (-0,49 %) Uber - AV platform in partnership (e.g. with Momenta), scaling via existing user base

👉 Favorite: Alphabet / Waymo ($GOOGL (-3,46 %)
)

Unbeatable moat due to millions of real driving kilometers + simulations, strong financial base via Alphabet, focus on platform scaling (robotaxi, licensing model). Compounder with global expansion potential.

Hidden champions:

$Momenta (private, China) - L4 software for OEMs, partner of Mercedes, Toyota

$AUR Aurora Innovation - software + sensor technology for truck autonomy, partner PACCAR, Volvo

$Argo AI (private, USA) - formerly Ford/VW, now partly continued through partner projects

$Oxbotica (private, UK) - modular AV software, focus on industrial & logistics applications

👉 Favorite: Aurora Innovation ($AUR
)

Clear focus on trucking (biggest lever in the AV market), long-term OEM partnerships, strong moat due to specialization in long-haul autonomy. Still young, but strong compounder potential.

Shovel manufacturer:

$PLTR (-2,82 %) Palantir - data management, simulation & AI analysis for AV training

$SNOW (-1,63 %) Snowflake - Cloud data platform, relevant for AV data streams

$MSFT (-0,32 %) Microsoft Azure - cloud & simulation platform for OEMs

$AMZN (-2,35 %) AWS - largest provider for AI training & simulations in the AV sector

$ADBE (+1,2 %) Adobe - Simulation & Digital Twin Tools (via partnerships)

👉 Favorite: Palantir ($PLTR (-2,82 %)
)

Deep integration in data pipelines, modular platform for simulation & decision logic. Moat due to lock-in effects with major customers, strong compounder with AI scaling.

Takeaway:

Software and algorithms are the real key to autonomous driving. Vehicles are becoming "data centers on wheels" and only the companies with data, simulation and AI stacks can dominate the market in the long term. Waymo provides the scalable robotaxi ecosystem, Aurora scores with its trucking focus, and Palantir ensures that data streams remain manageable. This is where the biggest margins are generated, not in the sale of hardware.

🚚 Logistics & transportation

Big player:

$AUR Aurora Innovation - focus on autonomous trucks, partnerships with Volvo & PACCAR

$TuSimple (private, USA) - pioneer for autonomous trucks, strong in the USA and China, currently undergoing restructuring

$AMZN (-2,35 %) Amazon / Zoox - Robotaxi & autonomous delivery services, integration into e-commerce and Prime

$FDX (-0,45 %) FedEx - test programs for autonomous delivery (cooperations with Aurora, Nuro, among others)

$DHL (+0,05 %) Deutsche Post DHL - pilot projects with autonomous delivery vehicles & drones

👉 Favorite: Amazon / Zoox ($AMZN (-2,35 %)
)

Moat through e-commerce ecosystem, integration of AV in the last mile, strong financial power and scalability. Compounder due to synergies between logistics and technology.

Hidden champions:

$Nuro (private, USA) - autonomous delivery vehicles specifically for the last mile

$Einride (private, Sweden) - electric autonomous trucks, focus on freight & sustainability

$Gatik (private, Canada/USA) - AV for medium distances (B2B supply chains, e.g. Walmart)

$Starship Technologies (private, Estonia/USA) - autonomous delivery robots for urban logistics

👉 Favorite: Gatik (private, Canada/USA)

Clear business model: "middle-mile" logistics, profitable niche market with predictable routes. Moat through early commercial contracts (Walmart). Compounder potential through scaling in the B2B sector.

Shovel manufacturer:

$CAT (-3,04 %) Caterpillar - autonomous technologies for construction machinery & mining, know-how transferable

$DE (+2,56 %) Deere & Co - autonomous agricultural machinery, similar technology stacks as for trucks

$ISRG (-0,67 %) Intuitive Surgical - example of high-end automation (here as a cross-reference for AV tech transfer)

$UPS (+1,06 %) United Parcel Service - logistics infrastructure, partner for AV integration

$R (-4,15 %) Ryder System - fleet management, leasing and AV test integration

👉 Favorite: Deere & Co ($DE (+2,56 %)
)

Autonomy already in use (precision farming), moat through data & technology in the agricultural sector. Compounder quality, as know-how in navigation & autonomy is transferable to transportation/logistics.

Takeaway:

Logistics is one of the first markets where autonomous driving brings real profitability. Trucks and delivery services benefit from 24/7 operation without drivers, while the last mile (Nuro, Gatik) opens up new business models. Amazon is the most powerful player through vertical integration, while hidden champions like Gatik occupy targeted profitable niche markets. Shovel manufacturers such as Deere supply the already proven autonomy stacks.

🏦 Insurance & finance

Major players:

$ALV (-0,79 %) Allianz - the world's largest insurer, involved in AV pilot projects at an early stage

$MUV2 (+0,12 %) Munich Re - reinsurance, develops models for AV risk transfer

$CS (+0,92 %) Axa - active in AV insurance testing & research

$BRK.B (+0,77 %) Berkshire Hathaway - large presence in the US motor insurance market via Geico

👉 Favorite: Munich Re ($MUV2 (+0,12 %)
)

Moat through global reinsurance strength, pioneer in new risk models for AVs. Compounder characteristics through diversification and ability to insure new markets (cyber, AV, climate) at an early stage.

Hidden champions:

$LMND (-5,25 %) Lemonade - digital insurance, AI-driven, quickly adaptable for AV policies

$Root Insurance (private/USA, formerly listed) - data-driven car insurance, use of driving data

$Next Insurance (private, USA) - platform approach, simple onboarding for new risks

$Wefox (private, Germany) - digital platform for insurance brokerage, flexible for new products

👉 Favorite: Lemonade ($LMND (-5,25 %)
)

Pure digital insurer with AI-driven underwriting. Moat through data and automation approach. Still small, but compounder potential as scalable platform can be used in new markets such as AV policies.

Shovel manufacturer:

$SREN (+0,31 %) Swiss Re - global reinsurer, benefits from increasing AV risk volume

$VRSK Verisk Analytics - data & risk analytics for insurers, AV risk models

$GWRE (+0,23 %) Guidewire Software - software solutions for insurance companies, customization for AV policies

$FICO (+1,03 %) Fair Isaac - Analytics & risk modeling, increasingly relevant for complex AV data

👉 Favorite: Verisk Analytics ($VRSK
)

Moat through exclusive data pools & analytics. Enabler for almost all insurers. Compounder character, as growing demand for data & models in new markets such as AVs.

Takeaway:

Autonomous driving shifts liability from the driver to the manufacturer or software provider. Insurers need to develop new products, reinsurers and data providers are becoming more important. Munich Re is protecting the industry, Lemonade is testing digital models and Verisk is providing the data intelligence without which no AV insurance can function. Investors will find silent but indispensable winners of the upheaval here.

🛡️ Security & Cybersecurity

Big players:

$PANW (-0,11 %) Palo Alto Networks - market leader in network security, focus on cloud & IoT, relevant for connected vehicles

$CRWD (-3,05 %) CrowdStrike ($CRWD) - endpoint security, strong platform for AV endpoints and fleets

$CHKP (-3,01 %) Check Point ($CHKP) - Security appliances & firewalls, focus on embedded & IoT

$CSCO (-2,24 %) Cisco Systems ($CSCO) - Network security + automotive infrastructure

👉 Favorite: Palo Alto Networks ($PANW (-0,11 %)
)

moat due to the width of the platform, which extends from the data center to the vehicle. With the $CYBR (+0,73 %) -integration, PANW has also covered the topic of identity security. Compounder properties through continuous expansion, high customer loyalty and a strong M&A strategy.

Hidden champions:

$CON (+0,23 %) Argus Cyber Security (private, subsidiary of Continental) - specialized in automotive cybersecurity

$Upstream Security (private, Israel) - cloud-based cyber platform specifically for connected vehicles

Karamba Security (private, Israel) - embedded security for control units (ECUs)

$4704 (-0,87 %) VicOne (subsidiary of Trend Micro) - AV-specific threat analysis

👉 Favorite: Argus Cyber Security (private, part of $CON (+0,23 %)
Continental)

Pioneer in the automotive segment, deep integration in OEMs. Moat through early partnerships and specialization in vehicle architectures.

Shovel manufacturer:

$AKAM (+0,43 %) Akamai - Content Delivery & Edge Security, relevant for OTA updates

$FTNT (-1,36 %) Fortinet - Network & IoT security, broad base

$ZS Zscaler - cloud-native security for data traffic between AV & cloud

$NET (-3,02 %) Cloudflare - infrastructure protection, DDoS protection for fleets & updates

$BB (-1,89 %) BlackBerry QNX - Operating system & security framework for automotive

👉 Favorite: BlackBerry ($BB (-1,89 %)
)

Moat by QNX, which is already running in millions of vehicles. Strong lock-in with OEMs. Compounder potential if QNX continues to scale as a security operating system for AV architectures.

Takeaway:

Cybersecurity is the nervous system of autonomous driving. Without secure communication, OTA updates and fleet protection, AV is inconceivable. Palo Alto Networks provides the necessary breadth and depth, Argus secures the vehicles themselves, and BlackBerry QNX provides the foundation in the control units. Investors are relying on the invisible gatekeepers of tomorrow's mobility.

⚡ Energy & infrastructure

Big player:

$EBK (+0,61 %) EnBW - operator of charging infrastructure in Germany, expansion of fast-charging parks

$SHEL (-1 %) Shell - massive entry into e-mobility & charging infrastructure, partnerships with OEMs

$BP (-0,99 %) BP - charging and energy infrastructure via bp pulse, global rollout

$TSLA (+1,52 %) Tesla ($TSLA) - Supercharger network as AV backbone, potential licensing model

👉 Favorite: Tesla ($TSLA (+1,52 %)
)

Moat due to world's largest fast charging network with high availability & own software integration. Compounder, as Supercharger can grow as a service independently of the OEM.

Hidden champions:

$Ionity (private, joint venture of BMW, Mercedes, Ford, VW, Hyundai) - Europe's premium charging network 👉 Access via OEMs such as BMW or Mercedes

$ALLG Allego - listed charging infrastructure operator, focus on Europe

$FAST (-2,38 %) Fastned (FAST.AS) - fast charging network in Europe, rapidly growing

$DCFC Tritium DCFC - manufacturer of fast charging stations, globally active

👉 Favorite: Fastned ($FAST (-2,38 %)
)

Clear business model as a pure fast-charging operator, strong moat through premium locations & brand perception. Compounder potential via expansion in Europe.

Shovel manufacturer:

$ABBN (-1,06 %) ABB - leader in charging hardware & power grid infrastructure

$ENR (-3,96 %) Siemens Energy - grid infrastructure & charging hardware, important supplier for energy transition + AV

$SU (-1,35 %) Schneider Electric - power distribution, smart grids for charging infrastructure

$6594 (+0,18 %) Nidec - motors & drives for e-mobility

$ETN (-5,21 %) Eaton - Energy management & charging infrastructure components

👉 Favorite: ABB ($ABBN (-1,06 %)
)

Broadly positioned from fast charging hardware to grid technology. Moat due to market leadership & long-standing customer base. Compounder, as electromobility + AV will bring growth for decades.

Takeaway:

Autonomous vehicles don't just need software, they need a reliable charging and energy base. Tesla is securing a massive advantage with its Supercharger network, while hidden champions such as Fastned are setting the pace in Europe. On the shovel side, ABB dominates with its global infrastructure expertise. Investors should not underestimate this sector, as no AV will drive without energy.

🏙️ Mobility services & platforms

Big players:

$UBER (-0,49 %) Uber Technologies - ride-hailing, partnerships with AV start-ups (Momenta), robotaxi plans in Munich

$LYFT (-0,8 %) Lyft - ride-hailing, own AV programs, cooperations with Aptiv & Motional

$DIDIY (-1,61 %) Didi Global - largest ride-hailing network in China, AV research on Didi Autonomous Driving

$9888 (-2,56 %) Baidu Apollo - robotaxi operator in China, leading with Apollo Go

$AMZN (-2,35 %) Amazon / Zoox - fully autonomous robotaxi, integration into Amazon ecosystem

👉 Favorite: Baidu Apollo ($9888 (-2,56 %)
HK, China, HKEX)

Moat through network effects in the world's largest mobility market. Apollo Go has already completed hundreds of thousands of robotaxi journeys. Compounder potential as China aggressively promotes AV.

Hidden champions:

$Momenta (private, China) - L4 autonomy software, partnerships with Mercedes & Toyota, based in Suzhou, China

👉 Access indirectly via investors such as $7203 (+1,88 %) Toyota or Mercedes $MBG (+0,33 %)

$Motional (joint venture Hyundai & Aptiv, private, USA/South Korea) - Robotaxi tests in the USA

👉 Access via $Hyundai or $APTV (-2,19 %) Aptiv

$WeRide (private, China) - Robotaxi & AV bus solutions, based in Guangzhou, China

👉 Investors: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance

$Cruise (private, USA) - GM subsidiary for robotaxis, based in San Francisco

👉 Access via $GM (-0,48 %) General Motors

👉 Favorite: Motional (private, USA/South Korea)

Strong moat through OEM partnerships (Hyundai + Aptiv). Realistic scaling through series integration, compounder potential via global fleet integration.

Shovel manufacturer:

$HTZ (-0,23 %) Hertz Global - fleet management, integration of AVs in rental fleets

$SIX2 (-0,7 %) Sixt SE - Car sharing & fleet leasing, focus on Europe

$R (-4,15 %) Ryder System ($R, USA, NYSE) - fleet services & leasing, AV test integration

$GRAB (-0,18 %) Grab Holdings ($GRAB, Singapore, Nasdaq) - Southeast Asian ride-hailing market leader, entry into AV services

$Ola Cabs (private, India) - AV pilot projects in India

👉 Favorite: Sixt SE ($SIX2 (-0,7 %)
.DE, Germany, Xetra)

Moat due to premium positioning in Europe, flexible business model (rental, leasing, car sharing). Compounder, as Sixt invests early in fleet integration of AVs and benefits from growing Mobility-as-a-Service market.

Takeaway:

Mobility services are the interface to the end customer. This is where it will be decided whether AVs remain just technology or break through to the mass market. Baidu dominates in China, Motional scores with strong partners in the West, and Sixt provides the platform to bring scalable AVs into everyday life in Europe. Investors who get in early will secure access to the future platform monopolies of mobility.

🔋 Battery & drive

Big player:

$300750 CATL - world market leader for battery cells, supplies almost all major OEMs

$373220 LG Energy Solution - global player, supplier for Tesla, Hyundai, GM

$6752 (+4,32 %) Panasonic Holdings - long-standing partner of Tesla, strong in energy storage

$1211 (-1,03 %) BYD - integrates battery production and vehicles, pioneer in blade batteries

👉 Favorite: CATL ($300750
SZ, China, Shenzhen)

Moat due to technological leadership and economies of scale, supplies almost all global OEMs. Classic compounder, as batteries are at the heart of every AV fleet.

Hidden champions:

$Northvolt (private, Sweden) - European battery startup, sustainable production, supplies VW and BMW 👉 Access indirectly via VW ($VOW3 (+0,93 %) DE, Germany, Xetra) or BMW ($BMW (+0,46 %) DE, Germany, Xetra)

$SLDP Solid Power - specialist for solid-state batteries, partnerships with Ford and BMW

$ProLogium (private, Taiwan) - solid-state batteries, pilot projects with Mercedes👉 Access indirectly via Mercedes-Benz Group ($MBG (+0,33 %) DE, Germany, Xetra)

$QS (-2,8 %) QuantumScape ($QS, USA, NYSE) - solid-state batteries, strong focus on future technology

$MOD (-14,99 %) Modine Manufacturing (USA, NYSE) - Thermal management for batteries, e-motors and power electronics. Critical for range and safety.

$KULR (-2,11 %) Technology (USA, NYSE) - specializes in battery cooling, energy storage and recycling. Still small, but focus on safety makes it interesting in the AV context.

$ZIL2 (-0,61 %) ElringKlinger (DE, Germany, Xetra) - supplier of battery packs, housings, seals and fuel cell technology. Supports OEMs in electrification and alternative drive systems.

👉 Favorite: Solid Power ($SLDP
USA, Nasdaq)

Technology leader in solid-state batteries with strong OEM partnerships. Moat through patents and early market entries. Compounder potential through commercialization from 2027+.

Blade manufacturer:

$6594 (+0,18 %) Nidec (JP) - leader in electric motors for EVs and AVs

$IFX (-1,76 %) Infineon Technologies (DE) - semiconductors for power electronics and battery management

$300450 Wuxi Lead Intelligent (China, Shenzhen) - machines for battery production

$UMI (+2,61 %) Umicore (Belgium, Euronext) - cathode materials and recycling

$ALB (+0,15 %) Albemarle (USA, NYSE) - Lithium mining and processing

👉 Favorite: Infineon Technologies ($IFX (-1,76 %)
DE, Germany, Xetra)

Moat due to market leadership in power electronics, deeply integrated in battery and drive systems. Compounder potential due to growing demand for silicon carbide (SiC) chips for EV and AV applications.

Takeaway:

Battery and drive are the foundation of autonomy. Without powerful energy storage, reliable electric motors and robust power electronics, no autonomous vehicle can be operated economically. CATL dominates cell production, Solid Power is a promise of the future in solid state technology, and Infineon supplies the critical power electronics. Investors who neglect this sector are ignoring the heart of autonomous driving.

🗺️ Maps & Mapping

Big players:

$GOOGL (-3,46 %) Alphabet / Waymo (USA, Nasdaq) - HD maps for robotaxis, combined with AI-supported real-time navigation

$9888 (-2,56 %) Baidu Apollo (China, HKEX) - leader in AV mapping in China, integrated into Apollo Go

$HERE Technologies (private, based in NL/DE, owners: Audi, BMW, Mercedes and others) - global provider of HD maps, industry standard for many OEMs

$TOM2 (-0,8 %) TomTom (Netherlands, Euronext) - specialized in HD maps for AVs, partner of Volvo and Bosch

👉 Favorite: HERE Technologies (private, access via OEMs Audi, BMW, Mercedes)

Moat through global map databases, OEM consortium as backing. Compounder potential, as almost all autonomous vehicles rely on HD maps.

Hidden champions:

$002405 Navinfo Co. Ltd, (China, Shenzhen) - market leader for digital maps in China, partnerships with OEMs - unfortunately not tradable in the EU

$Civil Maps (private, USA) - specialized in AI-supported HD mapping for AVs

$DeepMap (private, USA, acquired by $NVDA (-3,26 %) Nvidia) - high-precision mapping, integration with Nvidia Drive

$Mapbox (private, USA) - cloud-based mapping platform, strong in the developer ecosystem

👉 Favorite: NavInfo ($002405
SZ, China, Shenzhen)

Dominance in the Chinese market, regulatory anchoring and partnerships with major OEMs. Moat through market access in China, compounder potential through data growth.

Shovel manufacturer:

$PL Planet Labs (USA, NYSE) - daily earth observation data, basis for dynamic mapping

$HEXA B (-0,06 %) Hexagon AB (Sweden, Nasdaq Stockholm) - measurement technology and geodata solutions

$TRMB (-4,16 %) Trimble (USA, Nasdaq) - positioning and geospatial data for AV and industrial applications

👉 Favorite: Hexagon AB ($HEXA B (-0,06 %)
Sweden, Nasdaq Stockholm)

Moat due to decades of experience in geodata and measurement technology, strong market position in industry and automotive. Compounder potential, as mapping and positioning are indispensable for all AV applications.

Takeaway:

High-precision maps are the nervous system of autonomous driving. Without continuously updated HD maps, vehicles cannot navigate safely. HERE secures a key role through OEM stakes, NavInfo dominates the Chinese market, and Hexagon provides the geospatial bucket technology. Investors should not overlook this sector, as mapping is the invisible foundation on which autonomy works.

Sources: own research, https://www.t-online.de/mobilitaet/aktuelles/id_100901210/iaa-mobility-muenchen-2025-alle-neuheiten-von-audi-bmw-vw-opel.html

Images: https://www.deraktionaer.de/artikel/mobilitaet-oel-energie/robotaxis-das-milliardenrennen-der-autonomen-autos-20381083.html

https://insideevs.de/features/763886/vorschau-iaa-2025-neuheiten-2026/

Hello my dears, @Klein-Anleger1

after the great performance in the previous months

August was unfortunately not so successful.

But September is going well again so far. And so I am YTD with + 5.04 % better than the

NASDAQ 100 + 0.16% World+ 1.14 %.

Reasons for the underperformance in August are earnings at my large position GFT and negative news at Defi Technologie.

The tariffs weighed on Embraer, and the correction in defense weighed on Kitron and AeroVironment.

Vertex's earnings were also the fly in the ointment.

Negative position: (month of August)

Defi Technology - 25.61%. $DEFI (-4,08 %)

Innodata - 23.64%. $INOD (-3,92 %)

Tokyo Electron - 20.95%. $8035 (-6,59 %)

Vertex. - 16,38% $VRTX (+2,03 %)

Aixtron. -15,53%. $AIXA (-4,16 %)

Transdigm. -15,13%. $TDG (-0,27 %)

Vertiv. -14,72%. $VRT (-10,05 %)

Coinbase. -13,01%. $COIN (-1,25 %)

AeroVironment. -11,91%. $AVAV (-4,12 %)

Kitron. -7,79%. $KIT (-1,21 %)

Microsoft. -7,64%. $MSFT (-0,32 %)

Embraer. -4,75%. $ERJ (-0,73 %)

Nvidia. -4,33%. $NVDA (-3,26 %)

GFT Technology -3.67%. $GFT (-0,27 %)

With so many negative positions, I am glad that I got off lightly due to my positive positions.

Plus positions: (month of August)

Gilat Satellite. +22,14%. $GILT (-2,7 %)

Applovin. +18,69%. $APP (-6,93 %)

NU Holdings +17.88%. $NU (+0,49 %)

SoFi. +12,24%. $SOFI (+0,22 %)

Alphabet. +8,95%. $GOOGL (-3,46 %)

Fortescue. +8,90%. $FSUGY (-0,77 %)