We asked our freelance writers to share the top micro-cap stocks they’d buy this month. Here’s what they chose:
Tom Rodgers: Sylvania Platinum
Sylvania Platinum (LSE: SLP) is one of those stocks I think will become increasingly strategically important. The platinum group metals the company processes at a low cost from its base in South Africa are used in practically every modern electrical appliance. Prices for rhodium and palladium have rocketed to near all time highs this year as demand outstrips supply.
With $55m cash and no debt, profits and earnings per share both doubling from 2019 to 2020, and investors in line for a special windfall dividend in 2021, this is one of the most obvious micro-cap no-brainers I’ve seen for years.
Tom Rodgers owns shares in Sylvania Platinum.
Zaven Boyrazian: Tristel
Throughout 2020, medical centres around the world have adopted far more rigorous cleaning standards. In light of recent news, a Covid-19 vaccine may soon be ready.
However, even after this pandemic comes to an end, the increased disinfecting practises are likely to continue with stricter legislation. This creates a vast opportunity for Tristel (LSE:TSTL).
The firm manufactures infection prevention products that are widely used throughout hospitals. Given each of their products are consumables, they create a recurring income from existing customers.
As all products require FDA approval, Tristel faces little competition within a rapidly expanding market space.
Zaven Boyrazian does not own shares in Tristel.
Kirsteen Mackay: Tracsis
Tracsis (LSE:TRCS) is a UK tech stock that makes software specifically designed for the transportation industry, with railways being a main beneficiary. The company has been publicly listed for 13 years and its share price has risen approximately 1,075% during this time.
With the pandemic pausing travel, this has caused a sharp shock to the company, but it’s still winning government contracts. Although the Tracsis share price has seen extreme volatility this year, I think it will renew its growth trajectory once normality resumes. It has a £150m market cap. Its price-to-earnings ratio is 28 and earnings per share are 17p.
Kirsteen does not own shares in Tracsis.
Edward Sheldon: Cerillion
My top micro-cap stock for November is Cerillion (LSE:CER). It’s a leading provider of cloud-based (SaaS) billing, charging, and customer management systems.
Cerillion appears to have plenty of momentum at the moment. In October, the group advised that trading in the second half of the year ended 30 September was strong. During this period, the company signed its largest-ever contract. Meanwhile, it said that its back-order book was at record highs and that it expects revenue and adjusted EBITDA for the year to be ahead of current market expectations.
At the time of writing, Cerillion has a market cap of under £100m, meaning there’s plenty of potential for growth. All things considered, I think this micro-cap stock looks pretty exciting.
Edward Sheldon has no position in Cerillion.
Rupert Hargreaves: Inspecs
I have my eye on UK-based designer, manufacturer and distributor of eyewear frames, Inspecs (LSE: SPEC).
The UK eyewear market is vast, and it’s only expected to continue to expand over the next few decades. This growth is projected to show through in Inspecs’ top line next year. Sales set to jump by a third in the next two years.
A cash-rich balance sheet could also hint at the prospect of large dividends from this consumer-focused business.
In my opinion, as Inspecs’ sales expand over the next few years, the stock has the potential to jump higher.
Rupert Hargreaves does not own shares in Inspecs.
Royston Wild: Bloomsbury Publishing
Bloomsbury Publishing is a share I’d buy today and hold for all time. It’s not just the eternal appeal of the Harry Potter franchise which makes this UK share a great long-term buy. I’m also encouraged by the huge profits potential of its move into academic publishing.
Bloomsbury’s shares recently soared to their most expensive since February on some blowout trading numbers. First-half earnings clocked in at twelve-year highs as sales of the publisher’s online books and e-books rocketed. The performance of its digital academic products was also impressive as institutions switched to remote learning due to the pandemic. As a consequence sales of these particular products surged by almost half year on year.
With organic sales rocketing, and its cash-packed balance sheet also creating chances for more profits-boosting acquisitions, I reckon Bloomsbury is a terrific buy right now.
Royston Wild does not own shares in Bloomsbury Publishing.
Kevin Godbold: MPAC
Global packaging company MPAC (LSE: MPA) aims to become a market leader in the “pharmaceutical, healthcare, food and beverage sectors.”
I think MPAC’s niche in those defensive sectors looks attractive. The business is bouncing back from the first wave of Covid-19 lockdowns. And in September the directors announced an acquisition in the US, followed in October by the relaunch of the MPAC brand along with a new corporate website.
City analysts expect earnings to resurge more than 50% in 2021. And with the stock near 400p, the forward-looking earnings multiple is just below 11. With growth on the agenda, I’d buy the micro-cap stock for November and beyond.
Kevin Godbold does not own shares in MPAC.
Jonathan Smith: Oxford Metrics
Oxford Metrics (LSE: OMG) is a UK based software and data analytics company, with offices worldwide. It has an asset management software arm called Yotta, that has been performing very well in recent times. I feel the business is well set to perform well even during an extended pandemic situation. The firm has no debt, and cash balances of over £14m as of Q2 2020.
The nature of the business also means strong ‘annualised recurring revenue’, that was up 14.6% versus last year. This should aid continued growth in the future. The share price has doubled in value over the past 5 years.
Jonathan Smith does not own shares in Oxford Metrics.
Roland Head: Brickability
Recent results suggest the housebuilding market is enjoying a rapid recovery from the COVID-19 slump. One company I think could benefit from this strong demand is Brickability (LSE: BRCK).
This £115m firm sells bricks, roofing, and other building materials to housebuilders. Growth areas include heating, plumbing and doors. Chairman John Richards says that the company is seeing a “V shaped” recovery and the firm has just issued a solid set of half-year results.
The shares trade on just seven times 2021 forecast earnings and offer a well-covered 5% yield. I’d be happy to buy at these levels.
Roland Head does not own shares in Brickability.
Paul Summers: Churchill China
With things looking positive on the coronavirus vaccine front, my pick of the micro-cap stocks this month is ceramic tableware supplier Churchill China (LSE: CHH).
Naturally, the £140m cap has seen its revenue, profits, and share price walloped by the virtual shutdown of the hospitality sector in 2020. However, I think the potential rewards now outweigh the risks.
While a full recovery won’t be immediate, earnings are expected to bounce back in 2021 as pubs, restaurants and hotels reopen. In the meantime, this high-quality, ‘family-owned’ company has cut costs where it can and remains debt-free.
Paul Summers owns shares in Churchill China.
Matthew Dumigan: Tatton Asset Management
Since flotation in 2017, shares in Tatton Asset Management (LSE: TAT) have been rather volatile. However, over the three years, the company’s share price has risen 45%, delivering a tidy return to investors.
The company provides a range of on-platform only services ranging from discretionary fund management and compliance to mortgage provision. What’s more, the firm’s recent half-year results report was positive, with group revenue increasing by 12.6% year-on-year and adjusted operating profit rising by 21.9%.
Ultimately, I’m impressed by the company’s earnings growth and I reckon Tatton can continue to deliver a strong performance in the years to come.
Matthew Dumigan does not own shares in Tatton Asset Management.
G A Chester: Trans-Siberian Gold
Trans-Siberian Gold (LSE: TSG) is a small but profitable miner with ambitions of becoming a premier mid-tier operator. Its strategy is to maintain a strong balance sheet, while both investing in growth opportunities and paying a base level of sustainable dividends through the commodities cycle.
The base level’s set at around $3m a year (a 2.5% yield at the current share price), but the company regularly distributes more. This year’s interim dividend alone was $7m (5.9% yield).
With its growth prospects and record of distributing surplus cash to shareholders, Trans-Siberian Gold is my top pick in the smaller companies space.
G A Chester has no position in Trans-Siberian Gold.
James J. McCombie: Surface Transforms
Surface Transforms (LSE: SCE) recently won a contract worth £27.5m to supply an eighth global automotive customer with its high-performance carbon-ceramic brake discs. As a result, revenues should quadruple to £8m in 2022 versus 2020, and earnings per share should turn positive.
The high-performance brake market is worth £200m and growing, but a single supplier is dominant. Surface is now a credible alternative for manufacturers looking to diversify, and I think it will increase its market share significantly.
Since electric vehicles need brake discs, Surface also looks good for the long-term, and I think it’s a great micro-cap stock pick.
James J. McCombie owns shares in Surface Transforms.
