Skip to main content

Your stock market edge

STOCK MARKET NEWS – COMPANY PROFILES

Company Profile: Hydrogen Utopia

11/08/2023

Company Profile: Hydrogen Utopia

Introduction:

Waste plastic to hydrogen company, Hydrogen Utopia, was listed on the Aquis Exchange at the beginning of last year at 7.5p. At the start of this year, backed by a strong trail of newsflow and the fact that it is right on the zeitgeist as far as pollution and greenhouse concerns, it moved up to the LSE. This was quite an achievement in current stock market conditions given the way that the requirement to get to the main board in London is now a £30m market cap.

Funding

Perhaps surprisingly since arriving at the LSE, something which can be regarded as making the company most accessible to both retail and institutional investors, the share price has drifted down to 4p. This is despite the announcement, as recently as last month of the award of its Irish subsidiary of up to €450,000. Indeed, this grant takes us to the heart of the bear argument against HUI, and shines a light on the recent medical cannabis deal the company has made in North Macedonia. But to address the funding runway matter first: even a cursory glance at the financials will reveal that even without fresh grants and deals, HUI can exist on current cash until the end of 2024, nearly a year and a half. This is of course a much more comfortable position than the majority of the companies on the London market.

Ohrid Organics

So why do the shorters still take potshots? Presumably, this is on the notion that HUI will not be able to raise the funding for its pan European waste plastic to hydrogen plants? Well, this possible eventuality has also been addressed via a North Macedonia deal, with the company having an option to buy 49% of medical cannabis cultivator Ohrid Organics.

The initial revenues from the deal are likely to come in during Q1 2024. The benefit of this is that it should not only extend the company’s funding runway beyond 2024, once revenues kick in fully, they will ensure an infinite funding runway. Indeed, HUI’s share of the profits should mean it will easily find finance for the rollout of its strategy. This is said on the basis of HUI’s share of a forecast €6m earnings next year, €10m in 2025, and significantly more as Ohrid starts building out its license to build up to 37 greenhouses. This represents up to 50 tonnes of high quality medical cannabis a year in production, or €100m gross revenues, net of €90m, making Ohrid, the cheapest producer in Europe.

Conclusion: Shares of HUI are currently trading well below their IPO price despite significant progress across Europe, funding news, and the contribution to come from North Macedonia. Those who ignore these factors are either extremely selective in their analysis, have a sinister agenda, or simple do not understand the company. A revival in the market cap between now and first medical cannabis revenues would appear to be the most likely scenario. After all, HUI shares were trading at 17p before EU grant and the North Macedonia news.

Disclaimer & Declaration of Interest:
The information, investment views, and recommendations in this Zaks Traders Cafe interview are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing in this interview should be construed as a promotion or solicitation to buy or sell any financial product relating to any companies under discussion or referred to or to engage in or refrain from doing so or engage in any other transaction. Any opinions or comments are made to the best of the knowledge and belief of the commentator but no responsibility is accepted for actions based on such opinions or comments. The commentators may or may not hold investments in the companies under discussion.

RECENT POSTS

Filter

Asiamet Pushes Forward with Key Fundraise as Indonesian Heavyweight Backs the Company

16/10/2024
Asiamet Resources (AIM: ARS) isn’t playing small ball with its latest fundraising. The company has raised $3.3 million, bringing in…

Phoenix Copper (PXC): On The Road To Early Production?

24/09/2024
  Introduction: For a relative mining stock minnow, it can be said that Phoenix Copper (PXC), has generally punched above…

i3 Energy: The Merits Of The Gran Tierra Takeover

18/09/2024
i3 Energy: The Gran Tierra Takeover A feature of the London stock market especially since the pandemic, has been foreign…

All Roads Lead To Rome Resources

25/06/2024
All Roads Lead To Rome Resources The headlines and highlights as far as DRC tin & base metals explorer, Rome…