As of writing, ASX Emerging Companies were enjoying a solid week, up 2.86% and 13.82% for the month, although still 16.65% down on a year ago.

That’s still leading the broader market (All Ords +1.89%) which was largely held up by Tech enjoying a return to form, up +4.83% on the rising tide out of a good run of US Big Tech earnings.

Biotech ResApp (ASX:RAP) shareholders were enjoying a change of heart from Pfizer which put its takeover bid back on the table, sending its price up some 65% for the week. But the biggest winner was Cobre (ASX:CBE) which jumped another 109% after hitting a second big copper intersect in Botswana within a week.

Here’s what the experts are watching.
 

Barry FitzGerald

Garimpeiro’s been soaking up the action from Diggers and Dealers in Kalgoorlie, where battery metals fervour had a grip on attendees.
“But,” he says, “if the world is fair dinkum about tackling climate change, it is carbon emissions free uranium-fuelled nuclear power that stands ready to be a big part of the solution.”

Paladin (ASX:PDN) and Boss (ASX:BOE) have hit the restart button on their projects as uranium prices rise 50% in the last 12 months and approach the magic US$60/lb mark that signals there’s money to be made again in yellowcake.

But for some proper deep value, Fitz has his eye on a couple of juniors operating in the Alligator Rivers Uranium Province in the NT.
DEVEX (ASX:DEV) is trading in the mid-30c mark and kicked off a drilling campaign in July. With its hands on a second rig, expect the news flow to increase. It’s also owned 18% by Tim Goyder, backer of Chalice and Liontown.

And straight out of the bargain bin at under 6 cents, ALLIGATOR ENERGY (ASX:AGE) is prepping an airborne gravity survey to ID some more drilling potential, also has uranium projects near Whyalla, and $27m cash to keep it afloat through it all.
 

Dean Fergie

Director, Cyan Investment Management

Fergie has a fairly contrarian view and sees value in the least favoured companies across sectors that are not necessarily the ‘flavour of the month’. It all comes down to cherry picking the better stories out there, he says.

Stories like gaming developer, Playside Studios (ASX:PLY).

“Historically gaming developers in Australia have struggled to do well but Playside has got strong revenues and has made a bit of money on some NFTs in the past,” Fergie explains. “…We think it has a great future.”

Healthcare software specialists Alcidion Group (ASX:ALC): “This stock has come off its highs by about 70% but has been cash flow positive in the last year and we are now starting to see some really strong revenues – this is a good example of a business that has been far too harshly dealt with given its performance metrics.”

Micro-investing platform Raiz (ASX:RZI): “This is another stock that has almost halved from its peak but is operating very close to profitability and has a strong customer base.”
 

John So

Co-founder, VP Capital

As Australia continues to open back up to international travellers, So says ASX “reopening” stocks in sectors such as international education services, online employment services and hospitality will benefit.

He likes IDP Education (ASX:IEL), which helps international students study in English-speaking countries. Seek (ASX:SEK) will benefit in this tight labour market, as will PeopleIn (ASX:PPE), which advertising for roles in the hospitality and healthcare industry.

Ideally, So says get in before earnings results are released. Dan Murphy’s owner Endeavour Group (ASX:EDV) has flagged August 23 as its big day.

“It is worth taking a position in these stocks early in anticipation that there may be preliminary guidance ahead of results coming out because the services they provide will once again be needed in the economy.”

And with discretionary spending on the wane in Australia, James Whelan’s sniffing shorts around the likes of Harvey Norman (ASX:HVN), Nick Scali (ASX:NCK) and Premier Investment (ASX:PMV).

The views, information, or opinions expressed in the interviews in this article are solely those of the interviewees and do not represent the views of Stockhead. Stockhead does not provide, endorse or otherwise assume responsibility for any financial product advice contained in this article.