Here’s what you might have missed on Stockhead this week, but everyone else didn’t, and liked the most.

 

#10  This small cap wants to capitalise on China’s protein shortage by getting into plant-based meat

What did it for you? Was it the unnerving image selection?

Titled: “Two young friends eating a hamburger.”

The surge of New-York listed Beyond Meat and predictions that the plant-based meat market will be worth US$13.3 billion by 2023 has prompted more companies to break into the space.

There were just two ASX small caps in this market — Roots Sustainable Agricultural Technologies (ASX:ROO) and Wide Open Agriculture (ASX:WOA). Now a third has joined the mix — Jatenergy (ASX:JAT). Read about it here.

 

#9 Surefire is on the threshold of a new gold adventure

WA-based Surefire (ASX:SRN) has just punched 29 holes into a potentially high-grade gold target at the Victory Bore project, just north of Spectrum’s (ASX:SPX) high profile Penny West project.

Is this ~$6m market cap explorer onto something?

 

#8 Commission-free trading is ramping up, but experts warn investors to do their homework

Commission-free trading, which is great, is gaining momentum around the globe.

It’s only a matter of time before it comes Down Under, threatening local brokerages which rely on commission as a source of income.

“But there’s no such thing as a free lunch!” cautions this guy.

 

#7 17 questions: iSignthis responds to ASX, shares remain in suspension

iSignthis (ASX:ISX) was on a scorching run in 2019 — from 20c to $1.70 — until the payments company tripped over its laces, untied by a report from watchdog group Ownership Matters (OM) questioning the company’s governance and accounting practices.

This week, the company released a 12-page response to a list of 17 questions posed by the ASX regarding the company’s operations. It certainly gave investors, analysts and market commentators plenty of material to pore over.

 

#6  Prices could be on the way up for this valuable strategic commodity

Tantalum, the rarely noticed by-product of lithium mining, could be making a comeback.

Analysts at Roskill reckon that tantalum prices could be on their way up, thanks to “lower than expected growth in lithium demand” that has resulted in delays in the commissioning of lithium refineries in China.

Is lithium’s boring cousin coming into its own?

 

#5 Stock valuations are surging as medtech embraces SAAS

The ‘software as a service’ (SAAS) business model has taken off in the computer software sector over the past few years.

Now, the same concept – where companies sell a subscription instead of a perpetual license for a one-off fee — is gaining traction in medtech. Check out the smalls caps set to benefit.

Plus:

Saasy.

 

#4 This is how you pick those pre-IPO winners

1: The company provides solutions to real-world problems

2: It has to include a point of difference “that can’t be replicated”, and

3: and it has to be globally competitive.

(More here, for those who didn’t appreciate my crappy TLDR.)

 

#3 Dr Boreham’s Crucible: Elixinol says FDA hemp call an ‘inflexion point’ for industry

With a market cap approaching $260m Elixinol (ASX:EXL) is the biggest ASX-listed cannabis stock ahead of the $170m market cap Cann Group (ASX:CAN).

And as the only member of ‘cannabis corner’ with a respectable revenue and earnings track record, it is a unicorn stock in a sector that is yet to live up to its promises, says Dr Boreham (note: not a real doctor).

 

#2 Bargain Barrel: These are some ASX small caps with a steady stream of upcoming news flow

In this column, we put the microscope on some tiny, sub $10m market cap companies.

Some of them might be garbage, but it’s at the bottom of the ASX barrel where savvy punters could find the next breakout stock.

Got a few dollars? Let’s go shopping.

 

#1 Lithium prices (may) have hit rock bottom – next, the upswing

Very happy with this headline/image combo:

For lithium plays and their investors, it’s been dire times lately. But evidence is mounting that for both prices — and accompanying sentiment — an upswing is on the horizon.

That’s it from us. Take care folks, see you next week.