Top 10 Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now

tags:PQ,ACHN,FCEL,CNR,

Small-cap stocks and the related exchange-traded funds have been outperforming large-cap rivals for several months now. That's not new news, but what's interesting is the margins by which smaller companies are outpacing larger firms.

For the three months ended June 1, the S&P SmallCap 600 Index is up 9.1 percent compared to just 2.1 percent for the S&P 500. The $41.69 billion iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSE: IJR) is one of several ETFs tracking the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.

What Happened

“Small caps just outperformed large caps for three consecutive months for the first time since Sep. 2016,” said S&P Dow Jones Indices in a note out Monday. “From Feb. through May, the S&P SmallCap 600 (TR) outpaced the S&P 500 (TR) by 9.5 percent. It is the biggest premium realized in a three month period since the three months ending in May 2002. In fact, outperformance this big has only happened in a three month period twelve times in history since Sep. 1989.”

Underscoring the strength in small-caps, each of the 11 sectors represented in the S&P SmallCap 600 generated positive returns last month.

Why It's Important

There's more to the story of all small-cap sectors delivering gains in May.

Top 10 Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Petroquest Energy Inc(PQ)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  News headlines about Petroquest Energy (NYSE:PQ) have been trending somewhat positive recently, Accern Sentiment Analysis reports. Accern identifies negative and positive news coverage by reviewing more than 20 million blog and news sources. Accern ranks coverage of publicly-traded companies on a scale of -1 to 1, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. Petroquest Energy earned a coverage optimism score of 0.05 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave news stories about the energy company an impact score of 47.638327846877 out of 100, meaning that recent news coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the company’s share price in the near future.

Top 10 Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ACHN)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Achillion Pharmaceuticals (ACHN)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACHN) – Research analysts at B. Riley reduced their FY2018 EPS estimates for shares of Achillion Pharmaceuticals in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, May 2nd. B. Riley analyst M. Kumar now anticipates that the biopharmaceutical company will earn ($0.58) per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of ($0.55). B. Riley has a “Neutral” rating and a $3.50 price objective on the stock. B. Riley also issued estimates for Achillion Pharmaceuticals’ FY2019 earnings at ($0.64) EPS, FY2020 earnings at ($0.71) EPS, FY2021 earnings at ($0.70) EPS and FY2022 earnings at ($0.84) EPS.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  News articles about Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACHN) have trended somewhat positive this week, Accern Sentiment reports. The research firm ranks the sentiment of press coverage by analyzing more than twenty million blog and news sources in real-time. Accern ranks coverage of companies on a scale of negative one to positive one, with scores closest to one being the most favorable. Achillion Pharmaceuticals earned a media sentiment score of 0.16 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave news articles about the biopharmaceutical company an impact score of 46.941587509483 out of 100, indicating that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an effect on the stock’s share price in the near term.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACHN) has been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the nine brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $5.20.

• [By Lisa Levin] Gainers Avenue Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATXI) rose 29.4 percent to $5.50 in pre-market trading after the company disclosed that its first pivotal Phase 3 trial of IV tramadol achieved the primary and key secondary endpoints. MB Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBFI) rose 16.8 percent to $51.00 in pre-market trading. Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB) agreed to acquire MB Financial for $54.70 per share in cash and stock. LiveXLive Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIVX) rose 9.3 percent to $5.40 in pre-market trading after falling 28.92 percent on Friday. Celyad SA (NASDAQ: CYAD) shares rose 9 percent to $29.30 in pre-market trading after climbing 3.26 percent on Friday. Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (NYSE: ETH) rose 6.7 percent to $26.40 in pre-market trading after gaining 1.64 percent on Friday. Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHN) rose 5.4 percent to $3.90 in pre-market trading after gaining 3.06 percent on Friday. Acacia Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACIA) rose 5.2 percent to $34.70 in pre-market trading after gaining 1.38 percent on Friday. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (NYSE: WAB) rose 5.1 percent to $100 in pre-market trading. General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) agreed to merge its transportation unit with Wabtec. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ: RUN) shares rose 4.7 percent to $11.50 in pre-market trading. Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ: NDAQ) shares rose 4.3 percent to $93.98 in the pre-market trading session. LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) shares rose 4.2 percent to $33.25 in pre-market trading. Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX) will buy LaSalle Hotel Properties in a $4.8 billion deal, Bloomberg reported. Monro, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNRO) shares rose 4 percent to $58.35 in pre-market trading as the company posted upbeat quarterly earnings and disclosed that it has acquired Free Service Tire. HUYA Inc. (NYSE: HUYA) rose 3.7 percent to $19.75 in pre-market trading after falling 4.80 percent on Friday.

  Find out what's going

Top 10 Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: FuelCell Energy Inc.(FCEL)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on FuelCell Energy (FCEL)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Paul Ausick]

  FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a decrease of 25.7% in short interest during the period. Some 5.86 million shares were short as of April 30. The stock closed at $1.93 on Wednesday, up about 1.6% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.80 to $2.49. Shares traded down about 7.8% in the short interest period, and days to cover rose from six to eight.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted an increase of 8% in short interest during the two-week period. Some 7.45 million shares were short as of May 31. The stock’s price was $1.76 at Monday’s market close, a spike of about 1.1% for the day, within a 52-week range of $1.08 to $2.49. Shares traded up about 2.5% in the two-week short interest period, and the number of days to cover rose from 14 to 17.

Top 10 Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: China Metro-Rural Holdings Limited(CNR)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Max Byerly]

  Compass Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI) (TSE:CNR) during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 2,535 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $207,000.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta as represented by Alberta Investment Management Corp cut its position in Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI) (TSE:CNR) by 21.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,956,400 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 522,300 shares during the period. Canadian National Railway accounts for about 1.7% of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta as represented by Alberta Investment Management Corp’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest position. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta as represented by Alberta Investment Management Corp owned 0.27% of Canadian National Railway worth $184,215,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Brokerages expect Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI) (TSE:CNR) to announce earnings of $1.03 per share for the current fiscal quarter, Zacks Investment Research reports. Eight analysts have issued estimates for Canadian National Railway’s earnings, with the highest EPS estimate coming in at $1.10 and the lowest estimate coming in at $0.97. Canadian National Railway reported earnings of $1.00 per share in the same quarter last year, which would indicate a positive year over year growth rate of 3%. The business is scheduled to issue its next quarterly earnings report on Tuesday, July 24th.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI) (TSE:CNR) – Cormark raised their Q3 2018 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Canadian National Railway in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, April 10th. Cormark analyst D. Tyerman now expects that the transportation company will post earnings per share of $1.15 for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $1.14.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Wall Street analysts expect that Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI) (TSE:CNR) will announce $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the current quarter, according to Zacks Investment Research. Seven analysts have provided estimates for Canadian National Railway’s earnings, with the highest EPS estimate coming in at $1.06 and the lowest estimate coming in at $0.97. Canadian National Railway reported earnings per share of $1.00 in the same quarter last year, which would suggest a positive year over year growth rate of 2%. The company is expected to announce its next quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 24th.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  State of Tennessee Treasury Department lessened its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI) (TSE:CNR) by 1.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 842,775 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 13,507 shares during the quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department owned about 0.11% of Canadian National Railway worth $61,565,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Will Wayfair Ever Turn a Profit?

There's no question that�Wayfair�(NYSE:W) has been a success on the stock market. Since its 2014 IPO, the stock has more than tripled, and those gains have come almost entirely since the start of 2017. Revenue growth has accelerated after declining for several previous quarters, and investors now seem convinced the company is here to stay as it approaches $6 billion in revenue this year.

However, one big question has loomed over the stock for its entire history: Will Wayfair ever be profitable? Founded in 2002, the company has never turned a profit, and in most years this decade, its bottom-line loss has widened.��

Image source: Getty Images.

A tough category for e-commerce

Wayfair has been a rare success story as an e-commerce direct seller that has been able to put up steady growth and build a sizable business. Many such companies folded when the dot-com bubble burst, and more recently, pure-play online retailers like�Overstock.com�have struggled to both grow and turn a profit. By contrast, marketplace models like eBay,�Etsy, and�Grubhub, where e-commerce companies simply connect buyers and sellers and take a commission, have been more successful generating profits.

The retail industry overall is known for slim profit margins, and that's highlighted by high-ticket, low-volume items like furniture. The online channel has been notoriously difficult to turn a profit in due to the high cost of shipping and processing returns, and especially because of cutthroat competition from�Amazon. Amazon has been content to operate its retail business at essentially breakeven, pressuring margins at competitors in both online and offline channels, and making life difficult for direct sellers like Wayfair. That could get even worse as Amazon has shown increasing interest in furniture and home goods.

In management's own words

In Wayfair's own IPO prospectus, management admitted that the company may never generate a profit, saying:

We have a history of losses and expect to have increasing operating losses and negative cash flow as we continue to expand our business. Because the market for purchasing home goods online is rapidly evolving and has not yet reached widespread adoption, it is difficult for us to predict our future operating results. As a result, our losses may be larger than anticipated, and we may never achieve profitability.

More recently, the company has outlined long-term goals, including bringing gross margin up to 25% to 27% and other operating expenses down to 15% to 19%. That means its operating margin would be somewhere between 6% and 12%, a respectable figure and one that would translate into a net margin of 4% to 9% after taxes, which is as good or better than most retailers.

A deeper look at the numbers

So how do the latest results stack up against those goals?

Last year, the company had a gross margin of 23.7% and other operating expenses of 28.7%. Given those figures, the company is still far away from reaching its long-term targets, but there are ways it could move closer to them.

Advertising, for example, is one of the company's biggest line items, taking up 11.7% of revenue last year. That percentage should naturally come down as the company gets bigger, and management hopes to bring it down to 6% to 8%. However, the fact that the company is spending so aggressively on marketing is a sign that it sees a significant growth opportunity and understands that it needs to capture those customers while the market for them is ripe. Considering that revenue grew 46% in the most recent quarter, it seems like management is doing the right thing.

Assuming the other current figures hold, however, if advertising spend declines to within Wayfair's desired range, the company would essentially be operating breakeven.

With that in mind, Wayfair could be profitable if that were its only goal. But as evidenced by the stock price tripling over the last year and a half, investors are far less concerned about profits so long as Wayfair continues to deliver outstanding growth. U.S. e-commerce in general is growing 15% annually, and the broad retail sector is expanding by just a few points, so Wayfair's 40% growth in 2017 is evidence of the huge opportunity management is seizing in home goods.

And the more market share it takes, the better its chances are for long-term sustainable profits. For now, the key question for Wayfair isn't whether it will ever be profitable, but how big it can get -- some analysts expect the company to double its 2017 revenue in just three years.

That's the kind of expectation that explains why the stock has enjoyed such an impressive rally since early last year. So long as the top line continues to rise, the stock is likely to follow suit, profits or not.