Small Cap Report: Best And Worst
Our weekly best and worst reports show you stocks with the best potential returns over the coming 6 to 12 months. The score is calculated by fusing together the key drivers of price movement including, earnings beats, earnings growth, at-the-market insider buys, institutional activity, short ratio analysis, price to earnings analysis and calendar quarter seasonality. Those stocks appearing in our best list should be bought while those appearing in our worst list should be sold. The best scoring small caps from one year ago have outperformed the R2K by 682 bps over the past year, with no turnover. The top performers have been RAD up 298%, MTRX up 105%, ISSC up 79%, MIDD up 76%, TYL up 74%, and PZZA up 72%.
- The best scoring small cap sector is industrial goods.
- The top scoring small cap industry is railroads.
The average small cap score is 58.54 this week, above the four week moving average score of 56.52. The average small cap is trading -20% below its 52 week high, 7.33% above its 200 dma, and has 6.5 days to cover short.
The best small cap sector is industrial goods, followed by healthcare, and financials. Utilities and services score in line. Technology, basics, and consumer goods score below average.
SMALL CAP | 2/20/2014 | 4 Week MA | |||
Company Name | Symbol | Sector | INDUSTRY | SCORE | SCORE |
BEST | |||||
Agilysys Inc | AGYS | SERVICES | ELECTRONICS WHOLESALE | 105 | 96.25 |
Builders FirstSource | BLDR | SERVICES | HOME IMPROVEMENT STORES | 100 | 98.75 |
Cali. Water Svcs. | CWT | UTILITIES | WATER UTILITIES | 100 | 92.5 |
Ebix Inc | EBIX | TECHNOLOGY | BUSINESS SOFTWARE & SERVICES | 100 | 83.75 |
Greenbrier Companies Inc | GBX | SERVICES | RAILROADS | 100 | 98.75 |
Sun Hydraulics Inc | SNHY | INDUSTRIAL GOODS | INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT & COMPONENTS | 100 | 86.25 |
Encore Wire | WIRE | BASIC MATERIALS | COPPER | 100 | 97.5 |
Cyberonics | CYBX | HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL APPLIANCES & EQUIPMENT | 100 | 100 |
ExamWorks | EXAM | SERVICES | BUSINESS SERVICES | 100 | 100 |
Heartware Int'l | HTWR | HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & SUPPLIES | 100 | 97.5 |
Ironwood | IRWD | HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL LABORATORIES AND RESEARCH | 100 | 100 |
SurModics | SRDX | HEALTHCARE | DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES | 100 | 97.5 |
Anacor Pharma | ANAC | HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 95 | 93.75 |
Calgon Carbon Corp. | CCC | INDUSTRIAL GOODS | POLLUTION & TREATMENT CONTROLS | 95 | 80 |
C D I Corp | CDI | SERVICES | STAFFING & OUTSOURCING SERVICES | 95 | 85 |
Century Aluminum | CENX | BASIC MATERIALS | ALUMINUM | 95 | 93.75 |
Dixie Group | DXYN | CONSUMER GOODS | TEXTILES | 95 | 93.75 |
American Ecology | ECOL | INDUSTRIAL GOODS | WASTE MANAGEMENT | 95 | 82.5 |
FormFactor Inc. | FORM | TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR-BROAD LINE | 95 | 81.25 |
LCA Vision | LCAV | HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS | 95 | 92.5 |
Saba Software | SABA | TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES | 95 | 96.25 |
Silicom LTD | SILC | TECHNOLOGY | NETWORKING & COMMUNICATION DEVICES | 95 | 95 |
Triquint Semi | TQNT | TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR- INTEGRATED CIRCUITS | 95 | 90 |
Analogic Corp | ALOG | TECHNOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL INSTRUMENTS | 95 | 95 |
Anika | ANIK | HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 95 | 95 |
Natus Medical | BABY | HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL APPLIANCES & EQUIPMENT | 95 | 95 |
Fluidigm | FLDM | TECHNOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL INSTRUMENTS | 95 | 95 |
NewLink Genetics | NLNK | HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 95 | 95 |
Vascular Solutions | VASC | HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & SUPPLIES | 95 | 95 |
Consolidated Graphics Inc | CGX | SERVICES | BUSINESS SERVICES | 90 | 88.75 |
Capstead Mortgage Corp | CMO | FINANCIALS | MORTGAGE INVESTMENT | 90 | 75 |
Cutera Corp | CUTR | HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL APPLIANCES & EQUIPMENT | 90 | 67.5 |
Famous Dave's | DAVE | SERVICES | RESTAURANTS | 90 | 75 |
Dxp Enterprises Inc | DXPE | SERVICES | INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT WHOLESALE | 90 | 87.5 |
Intevac Inc | IVAC | TECHNOLOGY | DIVERSIFIED ELECTRONICS | 90 | 92.5 |
Methode Elect | MEI | TECHNOLOGY | DIVERSIFIED ELECTRONICS | 90 | 87.5 |
Monolithic Power Sys | MPWR | TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR-SPECIALIZED | 90 | 87.5 |
Perceptron Inc | PRCP | TECHNOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL INSTRUMENTS | 90 | 92.5 |
Penn Virginia Corp | PVA | BASIC MATERIALS | INDEPENDENT OIL & GAS | 90 | 90 |
Warren Resources Inc | WRES | BASIC MATERIALS | OIL & GAS EQUIPMENT & SERVICES | 90 | 82.5 |
Xyratex Ltd | XRTX | TECHNOLOGY | DATA STORAGE DEVICES | 90 | 76.25 |
Alimera Sciences | ALIM | HEALTHCARE | DRUG MANUFACTURERS | 90 | 87.5 |
Computer Programs & Sys | CPSI | HEALTHCARE | HEALTHCARE INFORMATION SERVICES | 90 | 90 |
Nat'l Research Corp | NRCIB | SERVICES | RESEARCH SERVICES | 90 | 90 |
Sangamo Bio | SGMO | HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 90 | 95 |
WORST | |||||
Coeur D Alene | CDE | BASIC MATERIALS | SILVER | 15 | 15 |
Rediff.com | REDF | TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET INFORMATION PROVIDER | 15 | 13.75 |
S T R Holdings | STRI | TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR- SPECIALIZED | 15 | 18.75 |
Triple-S Management | GTS | FINANCIALS | ACCIDENT & HEALTH INSURANCE | 15 | 17.5 |
Affymax | AFFY | HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 20 | 17.5 |
Sify Ltd | SIFY | TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS | 20 | 22.5 |
United Online | UNTD | TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES | 20 | 18.75 |
Spectrum Pharm | SPPI | HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 20 | 22.5 |
The best small cap industry is railroads (GBX, ARII). Carload volume is supporting pricing, driving investment in new railcars. Growing global R&D spend supports scientific & technical instrument (FLDM, ALOG, PRCP) demand. Managers should include more medical appliances (CYBX, BABY, CUTR) stocks in portfolios given tax fears may be over-modeled. Business services (EXAM, CGX, ARC) and general building materials (HW) round out our top scoring industry ranking this week.
No small cap basics groups score above average; tilt up in market cap where possible. In consumer, only textiles (DXYN, PERY) outpace the universe average. Buy regional banks (TBBK, MBWM, LKFN), investment brokers (CLMS), and P&C insurers (GLRE) in financials. The top healthcare buckets are medical appliances, drug related products (NUTR, AUXL), and medical instruments (HTWR, VASC, IART). In industrials, focus on general building materials and aerospace/defense (ORB). The best services groups are railroads, business services, and restaurants (DAVE, RRGB, CEC). In technology, concentrate weights in scientific & technical instruments, business software (EBIX, NTCT, MSTR), and semi ICs (TQNT, DIOD, PLXT).
SMALL CAP INDUSTRY SCORE | 2/20/2014 | |
Sector | INDUSTRY | Score |
BASIC MATERIALS | STEEL & IRON | 56.43 |
BASIC MATERIALS | INDEPENDENT OIL & GAS | 56.00 |
BASIC MATERIALS | INDUSTRIAL METALS & MINERALS | 53.00 |
BASIC MATERIALS | GOLD | 51.00 |
BASIC MATERIALS | OIL & GAS DRILLING & EXPLORATION | 35.00 |
CONSUMER GOODS | TEXTILES | 60.00 |
CONSUMER GOODS | PROCESSED & PACKAGED GOODS | 58.75 |
CONSUMER GOODS | AUTO PARTS | 50.00 |
CONSUMER GOODS | HOME FURNISHING & FIXTURES | 50.00 |
FINANCIALS | REGIONAL BANKS | 67.14 |
FINANCIALS | INVESTMENT BROKERAGE | 63.75 |
FINANCIALS | PROPERTY & CASUALITY INSURANCE | 61.00 |
FINANCIALS | SAVINGS & LOANS | 59.44 |
FINANCIALS | CREDIT SERVICES | 48.75 |
HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL APPLIANCES & EQUIPMENT | 70.86 |
HEALTHCARE | DRUG RELATED PRODUCTS | 63.75 |
HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & SUPPLIES | 62.14 |
HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 60.39 |
HEALTHCARE | DRUG MANUFACTURERS | 59.67 |
HEALTHCARE | HOME HEALTH CARE | 52.86 |
HEALTHCARE | SPECIALIZED HEALTH SERVICES | 51.43 |
INDUSTRIAL GOODS | GENERAL BUILDING MATERIALS | 68.75 |
INDUSTRIAL GOODS | AEROSPACE/DEFENSE PRODUCTS & SERVICES | 64.00 |
INDUSTRIAL GOODS | HEAVY CONSTRUCTION | 58.75 |
INDUSTRIAL GOODS | INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT | 51.67 |
SERVICES | RAILROADS | 81.67 |
SERVICES | BUSINESS SERVICES | 69.17 |
SERVICES | RESTAURANTS | 66.67 |
SERVICES | MARKETING SERVICES | 63.33 |
SERVICES | STAFFING & OUTSOURCING SERVICES | 59.00 |
SERVICES | TRUCKING | 58.33 |
SERVICES | MANAGEMENT SERVICES | 57.00 |
SERVICES | CATALOG & MAIL ORDER HOUSES | 56.67 |
SERVICES | APPAREL STORES | 54.23 |
SERVICES | BROADCASTING | 52.00 |
SERVICES | EDUCATION & TRAINING SERV | 51.67 |
SERVICES | SPECIALTY RETAIL, OTHER | 50.71 |
SERVICES | RESORTS AND CASINOS | 50.00 |
TECHNOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL INSTRUMENTS | 71.50 |
TECHNOLOGY | BUSINESS SOFTWARE & SERVICES | 64.38 |
TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR- INTEGRATED CIRCUITS | 63.57 |
TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR-SPECIALIZED | 63.33 |
TECHNOLOGY | DIVERSIFIED ELECTRONICS | 63.00 |
TECHNOLOGY | APPLICATION SOFTWARE | 60.71 |
TECHNOLOGY | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES | 57.50 |
TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS | 57.50 |
TECHNOLOGY | NETWORKING & COMMUNICATION DEVICES | 56.67 |
TECHNOLOGY | COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT | 55.00 |
TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES | 52.22 |
TECHNOLOGY | COMPUTER PERIPHERALS | 51.67 |
TECHNOLOGY | PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS | 51.25 |
TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET INFORMATION PROVIDER | 37.50 |
TECHNOLOGY | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS | 35.00 |
TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS | 23.33 |
None.