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3 Small-Cap Stocks With Promising Growth Prospects

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Many investors love to buy small-cap stocks. They offer much higher growth potential, making it easy to see why they’re so popular.  

Still, there’s a lot of negative sentiment around the stocks, and for a few reasons – small-cap stocks are typically much more volatile, may never get off the "ground floor", and many believe that fraudulent activities are widespread.

However, the negative sentiment seems to be overdone – plenty of small-cap stocks turn out to be major winners. They typically have less analyst coverage, allowing individual investors to get in “early.” And, of course, the growth potential is incredible.

Still, investing in small-caps may not suit more conservative investors, as they typically have large price swings. However, for investors with higher risk tolerance, they can be much more enticing.

Three highly-ranked small-caps paired with solid growth projections and strong share performance in 2022 include Quanex Building Products (NX - Free Report) , Bel Fuse (BELFB - Free Report) , and CECO Environmental .   

Below is a year-to-date chart of all three companies with the S&P 500 blended in as a benchmark.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

As we can see, all three stocks reside nicely in the green YTD, posting market-beating returns. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Bel Fuse

Bel Fuse (BELFB - Free Report) designs, manufactures, and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits. The company sports the highly-coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Analysts have been bullish across the board over the last 60 days, upping their earnings outlook significantly.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company has rock-solid growth projections – for the company’s current fiscal year (FY22), the Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate of $3.20 reflects a sizable 50% uptick in earnings Y/Y. And the growth doesn’t stop there – Bel Fuse’s top-line is projected to tack on 14% of growth in FY22.

Below is a chart illustrating the company’s revenue on a quarterly basis.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In addition, the company has reported strong bottom-line results – over its last four quarters, Bel Fuse’s average EPS surprise sits at a massive 370%. Just in its latest print, Bel Fuse penciled in a 260% bottom-line beat.

Quanex Building Products

Quanex Building Products (NX - Free Report) is an industry-leading manufacturer of components sold to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the building products industry. The company carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Analysts have raised their bottom-line outlook across nearly all timeframes – a bullish signal.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In addition, NX carries a Style Score of a B for Growth, and here’s why – the Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate of $2.35 for the company’s current fiscal year (FY22) reflects a 35% double-digit uptick in earnings Y/Y.

Top-line growth projections also display strength; Quanex is forecasted to generate $1.2 billion in revenue throughout FY22, penciling in an 11% year-over-year uptick.

Below is a chart illustrating the company’s revenue on a quarterly basis.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Just in its latest quarter, the company registered a sizable 80% bottom-line beat. And over its last four quarters, the average EPS surprise is a notable 30%.

CECO Environmental Group

CECO Environmental is a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company whose solutions protect people, the environment, and industrial equipment across the globe. Currently, the company rocks a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Over the last 60 days, analysts have moved their earnings estimates upwards notably across all timeframes.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Similar to the stocks above, the company’s projections reflect remarkable growth – the Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate of $0.63 for CECE’s current fiscal year (FY22) registers a triple-digit 125% Y/Y uptick in earnings.

Looking at top-line estimates, the Zacks Consensus Sales Estimate for FY22 resides at $394 million, representing a sizable 21% increase from FY21 annual revenue of $324 million.

Below is a chart illustrating the company’s revenue on a quarterly basis.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In addition, CECE has consistently reported bottom-line results above estimates as of late, exceeding the Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate in three consecutive quarters. Just in its latest print, the company penciled in a 63% bottom-line beat.

Bottom Line

Investing in small-caps comes with many perks, such as “getting in early” on the next big thing. They also offer much higher growth potential and often go under analysts’ radars.  

Still, investors should be aware of the high-volatility nature of small-cap stocks.

Those who invest in the space typically have a much higher risk tolerance, as it’s very possible for some of these companies to never get off the ground floor.  

All three companies above deserve a spot on any small-cap trader’s watchlist.


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


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Quanex Building Products Corporation (NX) - free report >>

Bel Fuse Inc. (BELFB) - free report >>

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