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You get what you pay for: Expensive small caps are significantly outperforming cheaper ones
Experts
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Small caps usually cost less than their larger peers. While they can have quick surges of growth, they can go down just as easily through shareholder selling or dilutions through capital raises.
But there are around 140 small caps that cost $1 or more per share and the saying, “You get what you pay for”, rings true here.
In the last 12 months, these stocks have had an average gain of 32 percent.
In contrast, all remaining small caps with share prices under $1 lost nearly 27 percent.
While indeed some stocks over $1 have risen from below the threshold, others have been above and continued to grow. The most 10 expensive small caps gained an average of 95 percent between them.
Here’s a table of the most 10 expensive small caps
| Code | Company Name | Price | 1 year return | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFC | Schaffer Corporation | $14.10 | 18.1% | $194,985,664.00 |
| EMB | Embelton | $12.05 | -6.0% | $26,002,092.00 |
| SSL | Sietel | $7.10 | 19.3% | $56,853,036.00 |
| CGL | Citadel Group | $6.79 | -1.1% | $334,470,272.00 |
| ONT | 1300 Smiles | $6.15 | -3.2% | $145,622,064.00 |
| GZL | Gazal Corp | $6.06 | 217.4% | $270,806,336.00 |
| ELO | Elmo Software | $5.96 | 5.5% | $378,762,432.00 |
| PAC | Pacific Current Group | $5.51 | -17.8% | $264,891,568.00 |
| ABA | Auswide Bank | $5.32 | 6.0% | $224,410,816.00 |
| WLL | Wellcom Group | $5.25 | 16.0% | $207,766,784.00 |
Looking at the entire market, 7 of the top 9 small cap performers across the entire ASX are $1 or more. The biggest winner in the last 12 months is Bidenergy (ASX: BID), which has skyrocketed 720 percent.
The company offers a subscription software which monitors electricity bills and alerts its customers to lower rates available, allowing them to switch. It services consumers and a wide variety of organisations from Singaporean telco Singtel to the Salvation Army.
The second biggest winner, Purifloh (ASX: PO3), first climbed above $1 when an American businessman paid $2.40 per share when the company was only 50 cents per share. But it has continued to rise since and is now $3.51, 513 percent above its price one year ago.
Among the other substantial gainers were City Chic Collective (ASX: CCX), Cape Range Resources (ASX: CAG), Quattro Plus Real Estate (ASX: QPRDC) and Advance Nanotek (ASX: ANO).
Here’s a table of all ASX small caps $1 or more and their performance in the last 12 months…
| ASX Code | Name | Price (Friday 1 March) | 1 year Return (%) | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BID | BIDENERGY LTD | 1.08 | 720.4334 | $116,690,360.00 |
| SFC | SCHAFFER CORP LTD | 14.1 | 18.1088 | $194,985,664.00 |
| EMB | EMBELTON LTD | 12.05 | -5.9877 | $26,002,092.00 |
| SSL | SIETEL LTD | 7.1 | 19.3277 | $56,853,036.00 |
| CGL | CITADEL GROUP LTD/THE | 6.79 | -1.1072 | $334,470,272.00 |
| ONT | 1300 SMILES LTD | 6.15 | -3.2279 | $145,622,064.00 |
| GZL | GAZAL CORP LTD | 6.06 | 217.3953 | $270,806,336.00 |
| ELO | ELMO SOFTWARE LTD | 5.96 | 5.4577 | $378,762,432.00 |
| PAC | PACIFIC CURRENT GROUP LTD | 5.51 | -17.8041 | $264,891,568.00 |
| ABA | AUSWIDE BANK LTD | 5.32 | 5.9909 | $224,410,816.00 |
| WLL | WELLCOM GROUP LTD | 5.25 | 15.9547 | $207,766,784.00 |
| AD8 | AUDINATE GROUP LTD | 5.115 | 93.5361 | $311,327,712.00 |
| FID | FIDUCIAN GROUP LTD | 5.1 | 2.4726 | $158,280,240.00 |
| LYL | LYCOPODIUM LTD | 5.08 | 1.6301 | $201,840,448.00 |
| OTW | OVER THE WIRE HOLDINGS LTD | 4.99 | 61.51 | $257,356,464.00 |
| FFI | F.F.I. HOLDINGS LTD | 4.22 | 8.819599999999999 | $45,197,748.00 |
| KGN | KOGAN.COM LTD | 4.12 | -54.3422 | $383,355,104.00 |
| TBR | TRIBUNE RESOURCES LTD | 4.1 | -7.9717 | $227,562,400.00 |
| VRT | VIRTUS HEALTH LTD | 4.1 | -24.8289 | $332,808,352.00 |
| MVP | MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS INTERNA | 4.1 | -46.8403 | $268,147,968.00 |
| TWD | TAMAWOOD LTD | 4.02 | 4.4878 | $100,221,760.00 |
| CHR | CHALMERS LTD | 4 | 1.2658 | $30,456,000.00 |
| SNL | SUPPLY NETWORK LTD | 3.9 | 20.129 | $160,192,640.00 |
| MNF | MNF GROUP LTD | 3.76 | -30.0535 | $280,301,504.00 |
| PWH | PWR HOLDINGS LTD | 3.61 | 54.7314 | $369,000,000.00 |
| MWY | MIDWAY LTD | 3.6 | 58.1526 | $314,176,384.00 |
| PO3 | PURIFLOH LTD | 3.51 | 512.9032 | $119,255,232.00 |
| MWR | MGM WIRELESS LTD | 3.22 | 200.9346 | $38,960,392.00 |
| SRV | SERVCORP LTD | 3.19 | -32.2081 | $314,983,296.00 |
| NBL | NONI B LTD | 3.11 | 39.0927 | $291,284,352.00 |
| AQR | APN CONVENIENCE RETAIL REIT | 3.05 | 19.8503 | $240,706,160.00 |
| RCT | REEF CASINO TRUST | 3 | 5.7826 | $147,673,712.00 |
| PFP | PROPEL FUNERAL PARTNERS LTD | 2.95 | -4.6339 | $289,581,120.00 |
| OCL | OBJECTIVE CORPORATION LTD | 2.76 | -2.805 | $255,832,800.00 |
| TRS | REJECT SHOP LTD/THE | 2.71 | -58.907 | $78,341,080.00 |
| RDH | REDHILL EDUCATION LTD | 2.67 | 10.4833 | $82,144,912.00 |
| KOV | KORVEST LTD | 2.64 | 21.9459 | $29,520,070.00 |
| EOS | ELECTRO OPTIC SYSTEMS HOLDIN | 2.63 | -9.3103 | $252,753,200.00 |
| GOW | GOWING BROS LIMITED | 2.61 | -13.3411 | $140,394,960.00 |
| AQZ | ALLIANCE AVIATION SERVICES L | 2.6 | 56.7281 | $327,917,536.00 |
| CVC | CVC LTD | 2.53 | -5.3104 | $302,161,856.00 |
| PPE | PEOPLE INFRASTRUCTURE LTD | 2.51 | 83.8227 | $163,573,888.00 |
| PNC | PIONEER CREDIT LTD | 2.35 | -26.6731 | $149,135,424.00 |
| BBN | BABY BUNTING GROUP LTD | 2.34 | 67.1037 | $298,401,312.00 |
| BWX | BWX LTD | 2.33 | -51.6112 | $294,472,224.00 |
| IGL | IVE GROUP LTD | 2.25 | 7.2552 | $333,403,104.00 |
| SGH | SLATER & GORDON LTD | 2.24 | 16.1458 | $155,045,728.00 |
| ANO | ADVANCE NANOTEK LTD | 2.16 | 346.4775 | $117,996,288.00 |
| A2B | A2B AUSTRALIA LTD | 2.13 | 23.6296 | $257,721,664.00 |
| TTT | TITOMIC LTD | 2.12 | 57.8182 | $267,123,136.00 |
| WAT | WATERCO LTD | 2.12 | 8.615 | $78,172,512.00 |
| PCG | PENGANA CAPITAL GROUP LTD | 2.1 | -39.7508 | $216,882,032.00 |
| NVL | NATIONAL VETERINARY CARE LTD | 2.06 | -25.3256 | $137,352,800.00 |
| MNY | MONEY3 CORP LTD | 2.04 | 11.555 | $369,506,496.00 |
| KPT | KANGAROO ISLAND PLANTATION T | 2.01 | -15.5462 | $111,717,936.00 |
| OCP | OCEANIA CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD | 2 | -10.281 | $70,463,144.00 |
| VLW | VILLA WORLD LTD | 1.995 | -13.6958 | $249,843,744.00 |
| CYL | CATALYST METALS LTD | 1.98 | 58.4746 | $131,297,272.00 |
| EGD | EVANS & PARTNERS GLOBAL DISR | 1.95 | 3.707 | $252,467,136.00 |
| ARQ | ARQ GROUP LTD | 1.915 | -37.3467 | $236,563,680.00 |
| TNK | THINK CHILDCARE LTD | 1.91 | -5.0156 | $92,573,232.00 |
| ADH | ADAIRS LTD | 1.9 | 0.07290000000000001 | $311,844,608.00 |
| AEF | AUSTRALIAN ETHICAL INVT LTD | 1.87 | 29.4876 | $210,734,848.00 |
| MRN | MACQUARIE MEDIA LTD | 1.82 | 38.2371 | $308,168,192.00 |
| GLB | GLOBE INTERNATIONAL LTD | 1.8 | 45.8333 | $74,634,872.00 |
| CLV | CLOVER CORP LTD | 1.785 | 158.6045 | $294,849,312.00 |
| CAN | CANN GROUP LTD | 1.775 | -42.6229 | $244,482,432.00 |
| SOM | SOMNOMED LTD | 1.75 | -43.9103 | $109,907,296.00 |
| FWD | FLEETWOOD CORP LTD | 1.71 | -30.5842 | $161,704,624.00 |
| ENN | ELANOR INVESTOR GROUP | 1.71 | -2.7525 | $164,118,112.00 |
| RND | RAND MINING LTD | 1.695 | -11.1144 | $101,951,664.00 |
| GBT | GBST HOLDINGS LTD | 1.69 | -29.5277 | $114,432,576.00 |
| QIP | QANTM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | 1.68 | 46.0851 | $223,525,216.00 |
| DTL | DATA#3 LTD | 1.6375 | 4.4618 | $252,518,912.00 |
| RHP | RHIPE LTD | 1.615 | 74.408 | $221,739,536.00 |
| KSC | K & S CORP LTD | 1.6 | 1.1784 | $201,413,168.00 |
| GCM | GARDA CAPITAL GROUP | 1.6 | 75.17270000000001 | $40,368,000.00 |
| ED1 | EVANS DIXON LTD | 1.6 | $365,485,088.00 | |
| CYP | CYNATA THERAPEUTICS LTD | 1.565 | 37.2294 | $160,869,664.00 |
| VTG | VITA GROUP LTD | 1.545 | 7.2946 | $248,675,792.00 |
| SIV | SILVER CHEF LTD | 1.53 | -62.569 | $70,289,568.00 |
| APW | AIMS PROPERTY SECURITIES FUN | 1.515 | -5.6219 | $67,978,104.00 |
| SDG | SUNLAND GROUP LTD | 1.51 | -10.8065 | $228,181,056.00 |
| BRI | BIG RIVER INDUSTRIES LTD | 1.5 | -24.5728 | $79,565,920.00 |
| PBP | PROBIOTEC LTD | 1.5 | 66.34690000000001 | $95,744,032.00 |
| BWR | BLACKWALL PROPERTY TRUST | 1.5 | 15.6408 | $99,953,064.00 |
| SLC | SUPERLOOP LTD | 1.495 | -29.4115 | $344,863,424.00 |
| REX | REGIONAL EXPRESS HOLDINGS LT | 1.49 | -5.1526 | $164,130,016.00 |
| MTO | MOTORCYCLE HOLDINGS LTD | 1.48 | -62.6196 | $91,325,928.00 |
| CII | CI RESOURCES LTD | 1.47 | -14.1152 | $169,904,224.00 |
| CL1 | CLASS LTD | 1.47 | -47.5086 | $174,139,840.00 |
| D2O | DUXTON WATER LTD | 1.47 | 39.8898 | $158,520,992.00 |
| PVS | PIVOTAL SYSTEMS CORP INC-CDI | 1.465 | $162,613,328.00 | |
| XIP | XENITH IP GROUP LTD | 1.46 | 33.5861 | $129,971,768.00 |
| DBF | DUXTON BROADACRE FARMS LTD | 1.46 | -7.0064 | $62,751,624.00 |
| JYC | JOYCE CORP LTD | 1.445 | -0.7886 | $40,414,128.00 |
| CCX | CITY CHIC COLLECTIVE LTD | 1.44 | 504.2553 | $272,975,296.00 |
| ECL | EXCELSIOR CAPITAL LTD | 1.43 | 10.3874 | $41,462,088.00 |
| GDF | GARDA DIVERSIFIED PROP FUND | 1.395 | 30.4502 | $219,049,648.00 |
| EGG | ENERO GROUP LTD | 1.39 | 34.9465 | $118,990,888.00 |
| JHC | JAPARA HEALTHCARE LTD | 1.38 | -28.3777 | $368,646,656.00 |
| CLH | COLLECTION HOUSE LTD | 1.375 | 14.9039 | $189,293,248.00 |
| CAG | CAPE RANGE LTD | 1.37 | 426.9231 | $114,611,872.00 |
| TPW | TEMPLE & WEBSTER GROUP LTD | 1.35 | 132.7586 | $151,951,536.00 |
| DGH | DESANE GROUP HOLDINGS LTD | 1.35 | 18.4203 | $55,228,488.00 |
| GTN | GTN LTD | 1.31 | -28.75 | $303,372,864.00 |
| AFG | AUSTRALIAN FINANCE GROUP LTD | 1.3 | -21.3519 | $276,034,272.00 |
| STG | STRAKER TRANSLATIONS LTD | 1.3 | $70,737,408.00 | |
| JLG | JOHNS LYNG GROUP LTD | 1.28 | -5.2883 | $284,272,320.00 |
| PSQ | PACIFIC SMILES GROUP LTD | 1.27 | -21.4646 | $197,591,408.00 |
| MCP | MCPHERSON'S LTD | 1.24 | -0.1027 | $138,259,200.00 |
| SMR | STANMORE COAL LTD | 1.22 | 75.6614 | $303,393,024.00 |
| ERF | ELANOR RETAIL PROPERTY FUND | 1.205 | -1.3055 | $155,119,360.00 |
| DWS | DWS LTD | 1.195 | -13.1704 | $158,856,752.00 |
| EZL | EUROZ LTD | 1.19 | 16.9337 | $191,577,360.00 |
| BLX | BEACON LIGHTING GROUP LTD | 1.185 | -26.3339 | $258,255,120.00 |
| NEU | NEUREN PHARMACEUTICALS LTD | 1.185 | -67.14700000000001 | $117,613,824.00 |
| GNG | GR ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD | 1.18 | -11.5259 | $181,124,912.00 |
| CYC | CYCLOPHARM LTD | 1.18 | 24.1277 | $81,064,672.00 |
| EOL | ENERGY ONE LTD | 1.18 | 77.1542 | $26,635,862.00 |
| PAR | PARADIGM BIOPHARMACEUTICALS | 1.17 | 283.3333 | $161,344,368.00 |
| BIS | BISALLOY STEEL GROUP LTD | 1.155 | 37.1854 | $52,583,548.00 |
| ASG | AUTOSPORTS GROUP LTD | 1.155 | -39.934 | $231,150,000.00 |
| FSA | FSA GROUP LTD | 1.15 | -23.1322 | $141,980,112.00 |
| KSL | KINA SECURITIES LTD | 1.14 | 42.9166 | $190,642,160.00 |
| IPC | IMPERIAL PACIFIC LTD | 1.14 | 5.8005 | $3,519,375.00 |
| VHT | VOLPARA HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES | 1.11 | 47.2603 | $192,801,424.00 |
| 3PL | 3P LEARNING LTD | 1.095 | -27.9605 | $152,570,912.00 |
| NTC | NETCOMM WIRELESS LTD | 1.0725 | -25.1748 | $156,572,992.00 |
| KAR | KAROON ENERGY LTD | 1.07 | -7.8261 | $260,464,416.00 |
| MVF | MONASH IVF GROUP LTD | 1.07 | -7.8192 | $249,715,792.00 |
| MFD | MAYFIELD CHILDCARE LTD | 1.06 | 2.7646 | $32,821,962.00 |
| CSS | CLEAN SEAS SEAFOOD LTD | 1.06 | -11.25 | $88,925,432.00 |
| WND | WINDLAB LTD | 1.05 | -31.0976 | $76,414,448.00 |
| TGP | 360 CAPITAL GROUP LTD | 1.04 | 7.1131 | $240,107,552.00 |
| HIT | HITECH GROUP AUSTRALIA LTD | 1.03 | 9.0588 | $39,191,500.00 |
| EDC | EILDON CAPITAL LTD | 1 | 3.9148 | $46,083,452.00 |
| QPRDC | QUATTRO PLUS REAL ESTATE | 1 | 400 | $58,167,964.00 |
