The Best And Worst In Small Cap
The best scoring small caps from one year ago (1/24/2013) have outperformed the R2K by 912 bps over the past year, with no turnover. The best performers have been RAD up 282%, MDSO up 167%, JAZZ up 161%, and AFFX up 134%.
Methodology
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.
NOTE: Universe composition has been updated by market cap
- The best small cap sector is industrial goods.
The average small cap score is 61.61, above the 4 week moving average score of 60.96. The average small cap is trading -17.29% off its 52 week high, 8.8% above its 200 dma, has 7.05 days to cover short, and is expected to grow earnings 37% next year.
The best scoring small cap sector is industrial goods. Healthcare also scores above average. Services and consumer goods score in line. Financials, technology, utilities, and basics score below average.
SMALL CAP | 1/23/2014 | 4 Week MA | |||
Company Name | Symbol | INDUSTRY | SCORE | SCORE | |
BEST | |||||
Hanger Orthopedic | HGR | HEALTHCARE | SPECIALIZED HEALTH SERVICES | 105 | 103.75 |
Agilysys Inc | AGYS | SERVICES | ELECTRONICS WHOLESALE | 100 | 101.25 |
Anacor Pharma | ANAC | HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 100 | 98.75 |
Infospace | BCOR | TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET INFORMATION PROVIDER | 100 | 96.25 |
Builders FirstSource | BLDR | SERVICES | HOME IMPROVEMENT STORES | 100 | 98.75 |
Century Aluminum | CENX | BASIC MATERIALS | ALUMINUM | 100 | 100 |
Cardinal Fin'l | CFNL | FINANCIALS | REGIONAL BANKS | 100 | 97.5 |
Chemed Inc | CHE | HEALTHCARE | HOME HEALTH CARE | 100 | 91.25 |
Cali. Water Svcs. | CWT | UTILITIES | WATER UTILITIES | 100 | 90 |
Greenbrier Companies Inc | GBX | SERVICES | RAILROADS | 100 | 100 |
MarineMax, Inc. | HZO | SERVICES | SPECIALTY RETAIL, OTHER | 100 | 96.25 |
PLX Technology Inc. | PLXT | TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR- INTEGRATED CIRCUITS | 100 | 96.25 |
Saba Software | SABA | TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES | 100 | 100 |
Sun Hydraulics Inc | SNHY | INDUSTRIAL GOODS | INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT & COMPONENTS | 100 | 97.5 |
Encore Wire | WIRE | BASIC MATERIALS | COPPER | 100 | 98.75 |
Olympic Steel Inc | ZEUS | BASIC MATERIALS | STEEL & IRON | 100 | 91.25 |
Affymetrix Inc | AFFX | TECHNOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL INSTRUMENTS | 95 | 97.5 |
Calgon Carbon Corp. | CCC | INDUSTRIAL GOODS | POLLUTION & TREATMENT CONTROLS | 95 | 95 |
Career Education Corp | CECO | SERVICES | EDUCATION & TRAINING SERV | 95 | 91.25 |
Dixie Group | DXYN | CONSUMER GOODS | TEXTILES | 95 | 95 |
I T T Educational | ESI | SERVICES | EDUCATION & TRAINING SERV | 95 | 93.75 |
Intevac Inc | IVAC | TECHNOLOGY | DIVERSIFIED ELECTRONICS | 95 | 92.5 |
Keryx Bio | KERX | HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 95 | 91.25 |
LCA Vision | LCAV | HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS | 95 | 93.75 |
Matthews Intl Corp Cl A | MATW | INDUSTRIAL GOODS | METAL FABRICATION | 95 | 81.25 |
Perceptron Inc | PRCP | TECHNOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL INSTRUMENTS | 95 | 95 |
Silicom LTD | SILC | TECHNOLOGY | NETWORKING & COMMUNICATION DEVICES | 95 | 95 |
State Auto Financial Corp | STFC | FINANCIALS | PROPERTY & CASUALITY INSURANCE | 95 | 87.5 |
Triquint Semi | TQNT | TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR- INTEGRATED CIRCUITS | 95 | 93.75 |
Universal Electronics Inc | UEIC | CONSUMER GOODS | ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT | 95 | 85 |
Abaxis Inc. | ABAX | HEALTHCARE | DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES | 90 | 72.5 |
Astec Industries Inc | ASTE | INDUSTRIAL GOODS | FARM & CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY | 90 | 73.75 |
Christopher Banks | CBK | SERVICES | APPAREL STORES | 90 | 87.5 |
C D I Corp | CDI | SERVICES | STAFFING & OUTSOURCING SERVICES | 90 | 92.5 |
Consolidated Graphics Inc | CGX | SERVICES | BUSINESS SERVICES | 90 | 88.75 |
Dxp Enterprises Inc | DXPE | SERVICES | INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT WHOLESALE | 90 | 87.5 |
American Ecology | ECOL | INDUSTRIAL GOODS | WASTE MANAGEMENT | 90 | 87.5 |
Finish Line Inc | FINL | SERVICES | APPAREL STORES | 90 | 92.5 |
Headwaters Inc | HW | INDUSTRIAL GOODS | GENERAL BUILDING MATERIALS | 90 | 86.25 |
Methode Elect | MEI | TECHNOLOGY | DIVERSIFIED ELECTRONICS | 90 | 88.75 |
Nanometrics Inc | NANO | TECHNOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL INSTRUMENTS | 90 | 87.5 |
Newport Corp | NEWP | TECHNOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL INSTRUMENTS | 90 | 87.5 |
Penn Virginia Corp | PVA | BASIC MATERIALS | INDEPENDENT OIL & GAS | 90 | 85 |
Spartan Motors | SPAR | CONSUMER GOODS | TRUCKS & OTHER VEHICLES | 90 | 81.25 |
WORST | |||||
Affymax | AFFY | HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 20 | 18.75 |
Alvarion LTD | ALVR | TECHNOLOGY | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS | 20 | 23.75 |
Coeur D Alene | CDE | BASIC MATERIALS | SILVER | 20 | 21.25 |
Gigamedia LTD | GIGM | TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES | 20 | 22.5 |
Harmony Gold Mining | HMY | BASIC MATERIALS | GOLD | 20 | 23.75 |
S T R Holdings | STRI | TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR- SPECIALIZED | 20 | 20 |
UT Starcom | UTSI | TECHNOLOGY | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS | 20 | 21.25 |
Yellow Roadway Corporation | YRCWD | SERVICES | TRUCKING | 20 | 21.25 |
The best small cap industry is railroads. Rising carload prices offer opportunity for suppliers (GBX). Specialized health services (HGR) is strong scoring. Demand for staffing (CDI, KFRC) peaks through the holidays, retrenches early in the year and re-exerts by spring. Diversified electronics (IVAC, MEI) are strong and benefit from seasonal demand. Management services (NCI) rounds out the best industries list this week.
In small cap basics, only steel & iron (ZEUS, NWPX) scores above average. In consumer, buy textiles (DXYN). Across financials, focus on regional banks (CFNL, MBWM), P&C insurers (STFC), and S&Ls (WIBC, NWBI). The top healthcare groups are specialized health, biotech (ANAC, KERX, PDLI, NNVC), and medical instruments (MGCD, CMN). In industrials, concentrate on aerospace/defense (ORB). The best services baskets include rails, staffing, and management services. In technology, buy diversified electronics, scientific & technical instruments (PRCP, AFFX, NEWP, NANO), and Internet information providers (BCOR).
SMALL CAP INDUSTRY SCORE | 1/23/2014 | |
Sector | INDUSTRY | Score |
BASIC MATERIALS | STEEL & IRON | 70.71 |
BASIC MATERIALS | INDUSTRIAL METALS & MINERALS | 62.00 |
BASIC MATERIALS | INDEPENDENT OIL & GAS | 50.50 |
BASIC MATERIALS | GOLD | 46.00 |
BASIC MATERIALS | OIL & GAS DRILLING & EXPLORATION | 38.33 |
CONSUMER GOODS | TEXTILES | 68.00 |
CONSUMER GOODS | PROCESSED & PACKAGED GOODS | 61.25 |
CONSUMER GOODS | AUTO PARTS | 54.00 |
CONSUMER GOODS | HOME FURNISHING & FIXTURES | 53.33 |
FINANCIALS | REGIONAL BANKS | 68.57 |
FINANCIALS | PROPERTY & CASUALITY INSURANCE | 64.00 |
FINANCIALS | SAVINGS & LOANS | 62.78 |
FINANCIALS | INVESTMENT BROKERAGE | 61.25 |
FINANCIALS | CREDIT SERVICES | 40.00 |
HEALTHCARE | SPECIALIZED HEALTH SERVICES | 80.00 |
HEALTHCARE | BIOTECHNOLOGY | 67.71 |
HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & SUPPLIES | 67.50 |
HEALTHCARE | MEDICAL APPLIANCES & EQUIPMENT | 67.14 |
HEALTHCARE | HOME HEALTH CARE | 60.00 |
HEALTHCARE | DRUG MANUFACTURERS | 54.00 |
HEALTHCARE | DRUG RELATED PRODUCTS | 53.33 |
INDUSTRIAL GOODS | AEROSPACE/DEFENSE PRODUCTS & SERVICES | 64.00 |
INDUSTRIAL GOODS | GENERAL BUILDING MATERIALS | 62.50 |
INDUSTRIAL GOODS | HEAVY CONSTRUCTION | 61.25 |
INDUSTRIAL GOODS | INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT | 51.67 |
SERVICES | RAILROADS | 81.67 |
SERVICES | STAFFING & OUTSOURCING SERVICES | 80.00 |
SERVICES | MANAGEMENT SERVICES | 75.00 |
SERVICES | RESTAURANTS | 69.17 |
SERVICES | EDUCATION & TRAINING SERV | 65.00 |
SERVICES | BUSINESS SERVICES | 63.75 |
SERVICES | MARKETING SERVICES | 61.25 |
SERVICES | APPAREL STORES | 59.62 |
SERVICES | SPECIALTY RETAIL, OTHER | 59.29 |
SERVICES | BROADCASTING | 56.00 |
SERVICES | CATALOG & MAIL ORDER HOUSES | 51.67 |
SERVICES | TRUCKING | 51.67 |
SERVICES | RESORTS AND CASINOS | 51.25 |
TECHNOLOGY | DIVERSIFIED ELECTRONICS | 75.00 |
TECHNOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL INSTRUMENTS | 73.75 |
TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET INFORMATION PROVIDER | 70.00 |
TECHNOLOGY | BUSINESS SOFTWARE & SERVICES | 68.13 |
TECHNOLOGY | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES | 66.67 |
TECHNOLOGY | NETWORKING & COMMUNICATION DEVICES | 63.33 |
TECHNOLOGY | COMPUTER PERIPHERALS | 61.67 |
TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR- INTEGRATED CIRCUITS | 61.43 |
TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR-SPECIALIZED | 60.00 |
TECHNOLOGY | APPLICATION SOFTWARE | 58.33 |
TECHNOLOGY | COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT | 55.83 |
TECHNOLOGY | PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS | 53.75 |
TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES | 50.63 |
TECHNOLOGY | SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS | 50.00 |
TECHNOLOGY | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS | 33.75 |
TECHNOLOGY | INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS | 33.33 |
None.