Microcaps That Are Generating Big Cap Revenue

BCM Defined

Any nanocap, microcap or smallcap investor knows that stocks can go into overdrive when they attract interest from institutions.

In a time where lack of liquidity in microcaps has been outside the norm, I find that BCM can entice capital from a wider pool of investors when inflection points are nearing.  Many times, BCM already have institutional backing. I generally consider the following as my sweet spot when searching for BCM:

• Currently in a revenue zone between $500 million and $1 billion
• Less than 15 million shares outstanding (the smaller the better)
• Under $20.00 share price

The inflection points that often come with BCM are:

• Top line growth driven by acquisitions
• An increase in organic growth prospects through selling off underperforming assets
• Selling assets to pay down debt and increase margins
• Finding new growth markets from established product lines or retooling them
• Chapter 11 exits

Looking for established companies with revenue between $200 million to $300 million that are embarking on an aggressive acquisition strategy is a great way to find Pre-BCM chances.

Plenty of Opportunities

Most U.S. BCM live on the NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX, but some special situations also exist on the OTC, especially companies exiting bankruptcies.  In total, and after excluding funds, warrants, preferred stock or other non-traditional securities as well as REIT and SPACs, I estimate* that there are over 2500 microcaps and nanocaps trading on the NASADAQ, NYSE and NYSE MKT (AMEX).

*Data is about two months old.

There is a nice pool to choose from. The trick is to find which ones will find ways to maximize shareholder value vs. which ones will stay the same or become “stale.”

A Few Illustrations – Microcap Turns into Big Cap

Patrick Industries Inc. (NMS:PATK): Grow through acquisitions

• Industry: Recreational Vehicle Products
• Shares Out: 16.7 million
• Inflection point year: 2010
• Market Cap at beginning of run: ~13 million
• Current market cap: $1.24 billion
• Sales at beginning of run: $278 million
• Sales now: $1.29 billion

Central Garden & Pet Company (NMS:CENT): Grow through acquisitions and re-tooling of its business segments

• Industry: Pet, Lawn & Garden
• Shares Out: 12.1 million
• Inflection point year: 2014
• Market Cap at beginning of run: ~113 million
• Current market cap: $1.56 billion
• Sales at beginning of run: $1.6 billion
• Sales now: $1.9 billion

Huttig Building Products Inc. (NASDAQ:HBP): Restructuring and acquisition strategy after the 2008 financial crisis

• Industry: Building Products
• Shares Out: 25.8 million
• Inflection point year: 2013
• Market Cap at beginning of run: ~26 million
• Current market cap: $176 million
• Sales at beginning of run: $561 million
• Sales now: $730 million

Conclusion

BCMs are not a big part of my portfolio, but I like to pounce on them when I find them.  I am currently excited about one BCM in the late stages of a restructuring aimed at selling assets to pay down debt and help restart top line growth. I also own another microcap stock that I think is in the pre-BCM stage, led by a new activist management team that is embarking on an acquisition strategy and finding new growth avenues for its established product lines.