Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.
Xfuels disclosed 29 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Xfuels reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Risk Overview Q1, 2016
Risk Distribution
41% Finance & Corporate
28% Tech & Innovation
10% Legal & Regulatory
10% Ability to Sell
7% Production
3% Macro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.
Risk Change Over Time
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
Risks removed
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Risks changed
Xfuels Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
Risk Highlights Q1, 2016
Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 12 Risks
Finance & Corporate
With 12 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
29
S&P 500 Average: 31
29
S&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Apr 2016
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Apr 2016
Number of Risk Changed
0
S&P 500 Average: 3
0
S&P 500 Average: 3
See the risk highlights of Xfuels in the last period.
Risk Word Cloud
The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 29
Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 12/29 (41%)Above Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights6 | 20.7%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
We may, in the future, issue additional common shares that would reduce investors' percent of ownership and may dilute our share value.
The future issuance of common shares may result in substantial dilution in the percentage of our common shares held by our then existing stockholders. We may value any common shares issued in the future on an arbitrary basis. The issuance of common shares for future services or acquisitions or other corporate actions may have the effect of diluting the value of the common shares held by our investors, and might have an adverse effect on any trading market for our common shares .
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
The Market for Penny Stock has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse.
Stockholders should be aware that, according to SEC Release No. 34-29093, the market for penny stocks has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns include: (i) control of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer; (ii) manipulation of prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press releases; (iii) boiler room practices involving high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced salespersons; (iv) excessive and undisclosed bid-ask differential and markups by selling broker-dealers; and, (v) the wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been manipulated to a desired level, along with the resulting inevitable collapse of those prices and with consequential investor losses.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
Our common shares are subject to the "Penny Stock" Rules of the SEC, which makes transactions in our stock cumbersome and may reduce the value of an investment in our stock.
The SEC has adopted regulations that generally define a "penny stock" to be any equity security other than a security excluded from such definition by Rule 3a51-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For the purposes relevant to our Company, it is any equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions.
Our common shares are currently regarded as a "penny stock", since our shares are not listed on a national stock exchange or quoted on the NASDAQ Market within the United States, to the extent the market price for its shares is less than $5.00 per share. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document prepared by the SEC, to provide a customer with additional information including current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer's account, and to make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser, and receive the purchaser's written agreement to the transaction. To the extent these requirements may be applicable; they will reduce the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the common shares and may severely and adversely affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell the common shares.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4
FINRA sales practice requirements may also limit a stockholders ability to buy and sell our stock.
In addition to the penny stock rules promulgated by the SEC, which are discussed in the immediately preceding risk factor, FINRA rules require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer's financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common stock, which may limit the ability to buy and sell our stock and have an adverse effect on the market value for our shares.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5
Our common stock may experience extreme rises or declines in price, and you may not be able to sell your shares at or above the price paid.
Our common stock may be highly volatile and could be subject to extreme fluctuations in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our control, including (but not necessarily limited to): (i) the trading volume of our shares; (ii) the number of securities analysts, market-makers and brokers following our common stock; (iii) changes in, or failure to achieve, financial estimates by securities analysts; (iv) actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results; (v) conditions or trends in our business industries; (vi) announcements by us of significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments; (vii) additions or departures of key personnel; (viii) sales of our common stock; and (ix) general stock market price and volume fluctuations of publicly-trading and particularly, microcap companies.
Investors may have difficulty reselling shares of our common stock, either at or above the price they paid for our stock, or even at fair market value. The stock markets often experience significant price and volume changes that are not related to the operating performance of individual companies, and because our common stock is thinly traded it is particularly susceptible to such changes. These broad market changes may cause the market price of our common stock to decline regardless of how well we perform as a company. In addition, there is a history of securities class action litigation following periods of volatility in the market price of a company's securities. Although there is no such shareholder litigation currently pending or threatened against the Company, such a suit against us could result in the incursion of substantial legal fees, potential liabilities and the diversion of management's attention and resources from our business. Moreover, and as noted below, our shares are currently traded on the OTC-BB and, further, are subject to the penny stock regulations. Price fluctuations in such shares are particularly volatile and subject to manipulation by market-makers, short-sellers and option traders.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6
A decline in the price of our common stock could affect our ability to raise further working capital, it may adversely impact our ability to continue operations and we may go out of business.
A prolonged decline in the price of our common stock could result in a reduction in the liquidity of our common stock and a reduction in our ability to raise capital. Because we may attempt to acquire a significant portion of the funds we need in order to conduct our planned operations through the sale of equity securities, or convertible debt instruments, a decline in the price of our common stock could be detrimental to our liquidity and our operations because the decline may cause investors to not choose to invest in our stock. If we are unable to raise the funds we require for all our planned operations, we may be forced to reallocate funds from other planned uses and may suffer a significant negative effect on our business plan and operations, including our ability to develop new products and continue our current operations. As a result, our business may suffer, and not be successful and we may go out of business. We also might not be able to meet our financial obligations if we cannot raise enough funds through the sale of our common stock and we may be forced to go out of business.
Accounting & Financial Operations2 | 6.9%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
We have not and do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common shares and, consequently, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.
We intend to retain any future earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business. We have not, and do not, anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common shares in the foreseeable future. Unless we pay dividends, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
If we fail to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, the price of our common stock may be adversely affected.
We are required to establish and maintain appropriate internal controls over financial reporting. Failure to establish those controls, or any failure of those controls once established, could adversely impact our public disclosures regarding our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any failure of these controls could also prevent us from maintaining accurate accounting records and discovering accounting errors and financial frauds. Rules adopted by the SEC pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 require annual assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. The standards that must be met for management to assess the internal control over financial reporting as effective are complex, and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation to meet the detailed standards. We may encounter problems or delays in completing activities necessary to make an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. If we cannot assess our internal control over financial reporting as effective, investor confidence and share value may be negatively impacted. In addition, management's assessment of internal controls over financial reporting may identify weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal controls over financial reporting or other matters that may raise concerns for investors. Any actual or perceived weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure of management's assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting, or disclosure of our public accounting firm's attestation to or report on management's assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting may have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.
Corporate Activity and Growth4 | 13.8%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
We may not be able to manage successfully the anticipated expansion of our operations.
The uneven pace of our anticipated expansion in facilities, staff and operations may place serious demands on our managerial, technical, financial and other resources. We may be required to make significant investments in our engineering and logistics systems and our financial and management information systems, as well as retaining, motivating and effectively managing our employees. Our failure to manage our growth effectively or to implement our strategy in a timely manner may significantly harm our ability to achieve profitability.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2
We may acquire technologies or companies in the future, and these acquisitions could disrupt our business and dilute our shareholders' interests.
We may acquire additional technologies or other companies in the future and we cannot provide assurances that we will be able to successfully integrate their operations or that the cost savings we anticipate will be fully realized. Entering into an acquisition or investment entails many risks, any of which could materially harm our business, including: diversion of management's attention from other business concerns; failure to effectively assimilate the acquired technology, employees or other assets into our business; the loss of key employees from either our current business or the acquired business; and the assumption of significant liabilities of the acquired company.
If we complete additional acquisitions, we may dilute the ownership of current shareholders. In addition, achieving the expected returns and cost savings from our past and future acquisitions will depend in part on our ability to integrate the products and services, technologies, research and development programs, operations, sales and marketing functions, finance, accounting and administrative functions, and other personnel of these businesses into our business in an efficient and effective manner. We cannot ensure we will be able to do so or that the acquired businesses will perform at anticipated levels. If we are unable to successfully integrate acquired businesses, our anticipated revenues may be lower and our operational costs may be higher.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3
We plan to grow very rapidly, which will place strains on management and other resources.
We plan to grow rapidly and significantly expand our operations. This growth will place a significant strain on management systems and resources. We will not be able to implement our business strategy in a rapidly evolving market without an effective planning and management process, and, to date, we have not implemented sophisticated managerial, operational and financial systems and controls. We may be required to manage multiple relationships with various strategic partners, technology licensors, users, advertisers and other third parties. These requirements will be strained in the event of rapid growth or in the number of third party relationships, and our systems, procedures or controls may not be adequate to support our operations and management may be unable to manage growth effectively. To manage our expected growth, we will be required to significantly improve or replace existing managerial, financial and operational systems, procedures and controls, and to expand, train and manage our intended growing employee base. We will be required to expand our finance, administrative and operations staff. We may be unable to complete in a timely manner the improvements to our systems, procedures and controls necessary to support future operations, management may be unable to hire, train, retain, motivate and manage required personnel and management may be unable to successfully identify, manage and exploit existing and potential market opportunities.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 4
If we do not succeed in our expansion strategy, we may not achieve the results we project.
Our business strategy is designed to develop and market our technology. Our ability to implement our plans will depend primarily on the success of our continuing research and development, our ability to manufacture and market a finished product, the ability to attract customers and the availability of qualified and cost effective sales personnel. We can give you no assurance that any of our expansion plans will be successful or that we will be able to commercialize our technology.
Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 8/29 (28%)Above Sector Average
Innovation / R&D4 | 13.8%
Innovation / R&D - Risk 1
If we do not continually introduce new products or enhance our current technology, it may become obsolete and we may not be able to compete with other companies.
Technology is rapidly evolving. Our ability to compete depends on our ability to develop or license new technologies and products as well as our ability market our current licensed products and our services. We may not be able to keep pace with technological advances and products may become obsolete. In addition, our competitors may develop related or similar products and bring them to market before we do, or do so more successfully, or develop technologies and products more effective than any that we have developed or are developing. If that happens, our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
Innovation / R&D - Risk 2
We may not be able to complete the development of the necessary technology to commercialize our products, which would negatively impact our business and our anticipated growth.
Our success will depend upon our products meeting acceptable cost and performance criteria, and upon their timely introduction into the marketplace. Our product development efforts for pure hydrogen generation may be subject to unanticipated and significant delays, expenses and technical or other problems, as well as the possible lack of funding to complete this development. Our proposed products and technologies may never be successfully developed on a mass commercial scale, and even if developed, they may not perform to commercially acceptable standards. We may experience delays in meeting our development milestones or delays in achieving performance goals relating to efficiency, cost-effectiveness, reliability and service arrangements set by us or our customers. Failure to develop our products for production or significant delays in the development of our products would have a material adverse effect on our relationship with potential customers, cause us to lose business and cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
Innovation / R&D - Risk 3
We may never complete the development of commercially viable hydrogen generation systems for new hydrogen energy applications, and if we fail to do so, we will not be able to meet our business and growth objectives.
Because both our business and industry are still in the developmental stage, we do not know when or whether we will successfully complete research and development of commercially viable applications. If we do not complete the development of such commercially viable products, we will be unable to meet our business and growth objectives. We expect to face unforeseen challenges, expenses and difficulties as a developing company seeking to design, develop and manufacture new products in each of our targeted markets. Our future success also depends on our ability to effectively market some or all of the products once developed:
- Hydrogen Generation systems for new hydrogen energy applications, improving the method of generating ultra-pure hydrogen while both enhancing its productivity and reducing environmental impact associated with the ultra-pure hydrogen production.
Innovation / R&D - Risk 4
Our strategy for the sale of our technology will depend on developing partnerships with OEMs, governments, systems integrators, suppliers and other market channel partners who will incorporate our products into theirs.
Our strategy is to develop and manufacture products and systems for sale to OEMs, governments, systems integrators, suppliers and other market channel partners that have mature sales and distribution networks for their products. Our success may be heavily dependent on our ability to establish and maintain relationships with these partners who will integrate our products developed from our technology into their products and on our ability to find partners who are willing to assume some of the research and development costs and risks associated with our technology. Our performance may, as a result, depend on the success of other companies, and there are no assurances of their success. We can offer no guarantee that OEMs, governments, systems integrators, suppliers and other market channel partners will manufacture appropriate products or, if they do manufacture such products, that they will choose to use our technology as a component. The end products into which our technology will be incorporated will be complex appliances comprising many components and any problems encountered by such third parties in designing, manufacturing or marketing their products, whether or not related to the incorporation of our fuel cell products, could delay sales of our products and adversely affect our financial results. Our ability to sell our products to the OEM markets depends to a significant extent on our partners' worldwide sales and distribution networks and service capabilities. In addition, some of our agreements with customers and partners require us to provide shared intellectual property rights in certain situations, and there can be no assurance that any future relationships we enter into will not require us to share some of our intellectual property. Any change in the fuel cell, hydrogen or alternative fuel strategies of one of our partners could have a material adverse effect on our business and our future prospects.
In addition, in some cases, our relationships are governed by a non-binding memorandum of understanding or a letter of intent. We cannot provide the assurance that we will be able to successfully negotiate and execute definitive agreements with any of these partners, and failure to do so may effectively terminate the relevant relationship. We also have relationships with third party distributors who also indirectly compete with us. For example, we have targeted industrial gas suppliers as distributors of our hydrogen generators. Because industrial gas suppliers currently sell hydrogen in delivered form, adoption by their customers of our hydrogen generation products could cause them to experience declining demand for delivered hydrogen. For this reason, industrial gas suppliers may be reluctant to purchase our hydrogen generators. In addition, our third party distributors may require us to provide volume price discounts and other allowances, or customize our products, either of which could reduce the potential profitability of these relationships.
Trade Secrets2 | 6.9%
Trade Secrets - Risk 1
We depend on intellectual property and our failure to protect that intellectual property could adversely affect our future growth and success.
Failure to protect our intellectual property rights may reduce our ability to prevent others from using our technology. We intend to rely on a combination of patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright laws to protect our intellectual property. Patent protection is subject to complex factual and legal criteria that may give rise to uncertainty as to the validity, scope and enforceability of a particular patent. Accordingly, we cannot be assured that any patents owned by us or third party patents licensed to us will not be invalidated, circumvented, challenged, rendered unenforceable, or licensed to others; or any of our pending or future patent applications will be issued with the breadth of protection that we seek, if at all.
In addition, effective patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret protection may be unavailable, limited, not applied for, or unenforceable in foreign countries.
We also intend to protect our proprietary intellectual property through contracts including, when possible, confidentiality agreements and inventors' rights agreements with our customers and employees. We cannot be sure that the parties who enter into such agreements with us will not breach them, that we will have adequate remedies for any breach or that such persons or institutions will not assert rights to intellectual property arising out of these relationships. If necessary or desirable, we may seek licences under the patents or other intellectual property rights of others. However, we cannot be sure we will obtain such licences or that the terms of any offered licences will be acceptable to us. Our failure to obtain a licence from a third party for intellectual property we use in the future could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and to suspend the manufacture and shipment of products or our use of processes that exploit such intellectual property.
Trade Secrets - Risk 2
Our involvement in intellectual property litigation could negatively affect our business.
Our future success and competitive position will depend in part on our ability to obtain or maintain the proprietary intellectual property used in our principal products. In order to establish and maintain such a competitive position, we may need to prosecute claims against others who we believe are infringing our rights and defend claims brought by others who believe we are infringing their rights. Our involvement in intellectual property litigation could result in significant expense to us, adversely affect the sale of any products involved or the use or licensing of related intellectual property and divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel from their principal responsibilities, regardless of whether such litigation is resolved in our favor. If we are found to be infringing on the intellectual property rights of others, we may, among other things, be required to: pay substantial damages; cease the development, manufacture, use, sale or importation of products that infringe on such intellectual property rights; discontinue processes incorporating the infringing technology; expend significant resources to develop or acquire non-infringing intellectual property; or obtain licenses to the relevant intellectual property.
We cannot offer any assurance we will prevail in any such intellectual property litigation or, if we were not to prevail in such litigation that licenses to the intellectual property we are found to be infringing on would be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. The cost of intellectual property litigation as well as the damages, licensing fees or royalties that we might be required to pay could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
Technology2 | 6.9%
Technology - Risk 1
Rapid technological advances or the adoption of new codes and standards could impair our ability to deliver our technology in a timely manner and, as a result, our revenues would suffer.
While we intend to actively and continuously monitor the developing markets and regulations in markets for our technology, our success depends in large part on our ability to commercialize our technology and once commercialized to keep our products current and compatible with evolving technologies, codes and standards. Unexpected changes in technology or in codes and standards could disrupt the development of our technology and the resultant products and prevent us from meeting deadlines for the delivery of products. If we are unable to keep pace with technological advancements and adapt our technology and the products derived therefrom to new codes and standards in a timely manner, our technology may become uncompetitive or obsolete and our revenues would suffer.
Technology - Risk 2
We have no history of commercializing technology which makes it difficult to evaluate our business.
We have just finalized our acquisition agreement, filed the patents for our technology and are setting in place operations. We have no history of operations in our industry. Our limited operating history makes it difficult for prospective investors to evaluate our business. Therefore, our operations are subject to all of the risks inherent in the initial expenses, challenges, complications and delays frequently encountered in connection with the early stages of any new business, as well as those risks that are specific to the our industry. Investors should evaluate us in light of the problems and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies attempting to develop and market new products, services, and technologies. Despite best efforts, we may never overcome these obstacles.
Our business is dependent upon the implementation of our business plan, as well as our ability to commercialize our technology. There can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful or result in continued revenue or profit.
Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 3/29 (10%)Above Sector Average
Regulation1 | 3.4%
Regulation - Risk 1
Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure will result in additional expenses.
Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC regulations, have created uncertainty for public companies and significantly increased the costs and risks associated with accessing the public markets and public reporting. For example, on January 30, 2009, the SEC adopted rules requiring companies to provide their financial statements in interactive data format using the eXtensible Business Reporting Language, or XBRL. We currently have to comply with these rules. Our management team will need to invest significant management time and financial resources to comply with both existing and evolving standards for public companies, which will lead to increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue generating activities to compliance activities.
Environmental / Social2 | 6.9%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
Changes in environmental laws and regulations, potential liability for environmental damages and related enforcement actions could adversely impact our operations.
Our business is subject to numerous laws and regulations that govern environmental protection. These laws and regulations have changed frequently in the past and it is reasonable to expect additional changes in the future. Our operations may not comply with future laws and regulations and we may be required to make significant unanticipated capital and operating expenditures. If we fail to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations, governmental authorities may seek to impose fines and penalties on us or to revoke or deny the issuance or renewal of operating permits and private parties may seek damages from us. Under those circumstances, we might be required to curtail or cease operations, conduct site remediation or other corrective action or pay substantial damage claims. Our business also exposes us to the risk of accidental release of hazardous or flammable materials, such as natural gas and hydrogen, which could result in personal injury or damage to property. Depending on the nature of the claim, we may not have sufficient funds or sufficient insurance, which we intend to obtain to cover the costs incurred in settling environmental damage claims.
Environmental / Social - Risk 2
Our products use flammable fuels that are inherently dangerous substances and could subject us to product liabilities.
While it is a key focus of management to develop and manufacture safe and reliable products, our financial results could be materially impacted by accidents involving either our products or those of other fuel cell manufacturers, either because we face claims for damages or because of the potential negative impact on demand for fuel cell products. Our products use hydrogen, which is typically generated from gaseous and liquid fuels, such as propane, natural gas or methanol, in a process known as reforming. While our fuel cell products do not use these fuels in a combustion process, natural gas, propane and other hydrocarbons are flammable fuels that could leak and then combust if ignited by another source. In addition, certain of our OEM partners and customers may experience significant product liability claims. As a supplier of products and systems to these OEMs, we face an inherent business risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event our products, or the equipment into which our products are incorporated, malfunction and result in personal injury or death. We may be named in product liability claims even if there is no evidence our systems or components caused the accidents. Product liability claims could result in significant losses from expenses incurred in defending claims or the award of damages. Since our products have not yet gained widespread market acceptance, any accidents involving our systems, those of other fuel cell products or those used to produce hydrogen could materially impede acceptance of our products. In addition, although our management believes our liability coverage is currently adequate to cover these risks, we may be held responsible for damages beyond the scope of our insurance coverage.
Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 3/29 (10%)Above Sector Average
Competition2 | 6.9%
Competition - Risk 1
There is significant competition in our market, which could make it difficult to attract customers, cause us to reduce prices and result in reduced gross margins or loss of market share.
The market for the products and services is highly competitive, dynamic and subject to frequent technological changes. We expect the intensity of competition and the pace of change to either remain the same or increase in the future. A number of companies may offer products that provide the same or greater functionality than our product. We may not be able to maintain our competitive position against current or potential competitors, especially those with significantly greater financial, marketing, service, support, technical and other resources. Competitors with greater resources may be able to undertake more extensive marketing campaigns, adopt more aggressive pricing policies and make more attractive offers to potential employees, distributors, resellers or other strategic partners. We expect additional competition from other established and emerging companies as the market for pure hydrogen products continues to develop.
Competition - Risk 2
We may not be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors.
We will compete, in our current and proposed businesses, with other companies, some of which have far greater marketing and financial resources and experience than we do. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to penetrate this market and be able to compete at a profit. In addition to established competitors, other companies can easily enter our market and compete with us. Effective competition could result in price reductions, reduced margins or have other negative implications, any of which could adversely affect our business and chances for success. Competition is likely to increase significantly as new companies enter the market and current competitors expand their services. Many of these potential competitors are likely to enjoy substantial competitive advantages, including: larger technical staffs, greater name recognition, larger customer bases and substantially greater financial, marketing, technical and other resources. To be competitive, we must respond promptly and effectively to the challenges of technological change, evolving standards and competitors' innovations by continuing to enhance our services and sales and marketing channels. Any pricing pressures, reduced margins or loss of market share resulting from increased competition or our failure to compete effectively, could seriously damage our business and chances for success
Demand1 | 3.4%
Demand - Risk 1
The products we intend to market may not be accepted by the market.
Our success depends on the acceptance of the products we will market in the marketplace. Market acceptance will depend upon several factors, including (i) the desire of consumers and corporations for the ability to use the products. A number of factors may inhibit acceptance of the products, including (i) the existence of competing products, (ii) our inability to convince consumers that they need to pay for the products and services we offer, (iii) our inability to convince corporations that they need to pay for the products and services we offer or (iv) failure of individuals and corporations to use the products. If the products are not accepted by the market, we may have to curtail our business operations, which could have a material negative effect on operating results and result in a lower stock price.
Production
Total Risks: 2/29 (7%)Above Sector Average
Employment / Personnel2 | 6.9%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
We will need to recruit, train and retain key management and other qualified personnel to successfully expand our business.
Our future success will depend in large part on our ability to recruit and retain experienced research and development, engineering, manufacturing, operating, sales and marketing, customer service and management personnel. We will compete in emerging markets and there are a limited number of people with the appropriate combination of skills needed to provide the services our customers require. If we do not attract such personnel, we may not be able to expand our business. In addition, new employees generally require substantial training, which requires significant resources and management attention. Even if we invest significant resources to recruit, train and retain qualified personnel, we may not be successful in our efforts.
Employment / Personnel - Risk 2
The success of our business depends upon the continuing contributions of our Chief Executive Officer and other key personnel and our ability to attract other employees to expand our business.
We will rely heavily on the services of our Chief Executive Officer, as well as other senior management personnel that we intend to hire. Loss of the services of any of such individuals would adversely impact our operations. In addition, we believe that our technical personnel will represent a significant asset and provide us with a competitive advantage over many of our competitors. We believe that our future success will depend upon our ability to retain these key employees and our ability to attract and retain other skilled financial, engineering, technical and managerial personnel. For example, we presently do not have any directors or officers, other than our CEO,, who have experience with preparing disclosure mandated by U.S. securities laws and we will be required to engage such persons, and independent directors, in order to satisfy the initial listing standards of the major exchanges on which we may seek to list our common stock. In addition, if we fail to engage qualified personnel, we may be unable to meet our responsibilities as a public reporting company under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Macro & Political
Total Risks: 1/29 (3%)Above Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment1 | 3.4%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
Economic conditions could materially adversely affect our business.
Our operations and performance depend to some degree on economic conditions and their impact on levels of consumer spending, which have recently deteriorated significantly in many countries and regions, including the regions in which we operate, and may remain depressed for the foreseeable future. For example, some of the factors that could influence the levels of consumer spending include continuing increases in fuel and other energy costs, conditions in the residential real estate and mortgage markets, labor and healthcare costs, access to credit, consumer confidence and other macroeconomic factors affecting consumer spending behavior. These and other economic factors could have a material adverse effect on demand for our products and on our financial condition and operating results.
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
FAQ
What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
1. Financial & Corporate
Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
2. Legal & Regulatory
Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
3. Production
Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
4. Technology & Innovation
Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
5. Ability to Sell
Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
6. Macro & Political
Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.