2 small-cap shares that could supercharge my 2023 profits

Jon Smith writes about two small-cap shares that might not get much coverage, but he feels could still be a source of profits for his portfolio.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

White note with '2023' written on, pinned to a yellow background

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Small-cap shares are generally defined as companies with a market-cap between £50m to £230m. These type of firms are large enough to generate good profits, but small enough to have high growth potential before reaching maturity.

As such, I can find ideas that can generate me good profits if I choose the right ones. Here are a couple I have on my radar now.

It’s never just a game

Frontier Developments (LSE:FDEV) is a PC and console game developer. Popular games by Frontier include F1 Manager and Jurassic Park Evolution. The share price has dropped by 65% in the past year, with the bulk of that coming in the past few months.

Should you invest £1,000 in Allied Minds Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Allied Minds Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

The main reason for the drop was due to a trading update in January where the business announced it would miss revenue and operating profit targets for 2023, due to lower game sales than expected.

However, the half-year results (released just a few days later in January) actually were very positive. Revenue grew by 16% versus H1 2022, with the business also swinging from an operating loss of £1.3m to a profit of £6.9m.

Further, the business has a generous gross profit margin of 63%. This means Frontier is very efficient at controlling the cost of goods sold. In turn, this can help to filter down to a larger net profit.

Even though the expected miss on numbers this year is a risk, I don’t see it as a long-term problem. The business is still growing year-on-year. I feel over the course of this year it can recover the recent drop, providing me with a generous profit.

A growing global business

The second stock is The Pebble Group (LSE:PEBB). With a market-cap of £175m, it sits as a small-cap share. Over the past year, the share price is down 9%.

The company focuses on providing promotional products and services to other brands. This can range from the creative side to more on the delivery. It has offices all around the world, from China to Canada.

I like the business because of the global reach. Even though the company is still relatively small, it has a great foundation to expand due to the offices around the globe. Indeed, it’s already growing, with H1 2022 revenue up 29% on the same period the year before.

If it can continue this strategy, I feel the share price could start to take off later this year as it gets more media and investor attention.

One concern I do have is that the business might struggle to tap into big businesses, as some won’t outsource this area of marketing. It’ll be all cared for in-house, which could hinder growth further down the line.

On balance, I think both ideas could make me money this year, so am looking to buy now.

5 Shares for the Future of Energy

Investors who don’t own energy shares need to see this now.

Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — sees 2 key reasons why energy is set to soar.

While sanctions slam Russian supplies, nations are also racing to achieve net zero emissions, he says. Mark believes 5 companies in particular are poised for spectacular profits.

Open this new report5 Shares for the Future of Energy — and discover:

  • Britain’s Energy Fort Knox, now controlling 30% of UK energy storage
  • How to potentially get paid by the weather
  • Electric Vehicles’ secret backdoor opportunity
  • One dead simple stock for the new nuclear boom

Click the button below to find out how you can get your hands on the full report now, and as a thank you for your interest, we’ll send you one of the five picks — absolutely free!

Grab your FREE Energy recommendation now

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Jon Smith has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Frontier Developments Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Small-Cap Shares

Young woman working at modern office. Technical price graph and indicator, red and green candlestick chart and stock trading computer screen background.
Investing Articles

2 mega-cheap penny stocks to consider in May

These penny stocks look dirt cheap, reckons our writer Royston Wild. Here's why they could be great UK shares to…

Read more »

Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

1 of my favourite growth stocks crashed 20% in a day this week. Here’s what I’m doing

Stephen Wright thinks the market’s overreacting to short-term growth challenges in one of his favourite UK stocks, creating a buying…

Read more »

piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

This FTSE small-cap stock could rise 61%, according to experts

A once-popular FTSE AIM stock has lost nearly half its value inside the past 12 months. Is it now worth…

Read more »

Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Small-Cap Shares

2 penny stocks that have been battered by the recent market fall

Jon Smith sees the higher volatility in penny stocks as a potential opportunity to target some that he believes could…

Read more »

Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

2 small-caps on the London Stock Exchange to consider for passive income 

Aiming to generate passive income from an ISA portfolio? Our writer reckons these two smaller firms from the London Stock…

Read more »

British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

Looking for penny shares? Here’s one I think looks like a terrific bargain to consider!

I think this penny share -- which has almost doubled in value over the last year -- is one of…

Read more »

UK financial background: share prices and stock graph overlaid on an image of the Union Jack
Investing Articles

UK stocks are still where the discounts are! Here’s what I’m buying

As the stock market sells off after the latest tariff news, UK stocks are still cheap compared to their US…

Read more »

Dominos delivery man on skateboard holding pizza boxes
Investing Articles

This 10p penny stock just jumped 9.9%! Should I buy more?

This investor in fast-growing pizza company DP Poland (LON:DPP) digs into why the penny stock jumped almost 10% to 10p…

Read more »