Since someone mentioned $ASML - do you think there is a similarly important but unknown company in the world? I think it could be BASF. What do you think?
BASF is one of the largest chemical companies in the world, specialising in the production of chemical products for a wide range of industries. The company produces, for example, polymers, pesticides, dyes, pharmaceuticals, catalysts, electronic materials and much more. BASF is attractive to investors because of its long-term success and steady performance, which is reflected in its strong financial statement and dividends to shareholders.
The company invests heavily in research and development, which allows it to maintain a high level of competitiveness and innovate in various areas. However, BASF is not a well-known company to the general public because it primarily targets industrial customers and its products are often used as parts of manufacturing processes rather than as consumer goods.
I really like ASML, but I will definitely look at BASF.
Bingo! I've never heard of BASF.
$IP comes to mind. Cardboard boxes and paper are, although not many people realize it, very important. But I would say the company is not that well known. It's probably not quite at the level of $ASML, but the parallel is perhaps valid.