The market (S&P 500) continues to chug along.
It’s pulled back modestly, but that’s to be expected given September is historically the worst month for the market.
Many cyclicals look attractive.
I especially like energy stocks.
ESG considerations have limited the number of investors that can invest in the space. That, coupled with real challenges in the industry which resulted in several oil price crashes over the past ten years, has reduced S&P 500’s exposure to the energy industry.
But that is starting to change.
Many large-cap energy stocks are incredibly cheap and on the precipice of returning significant capital to investors.
This is resulting in a turn in the market as you can see in the chart below.
If energy stocks continue to perform well, more generalist investors will have to add exposure to avoid lagging the benchmark.
I’m currently recommending three energy names, Dorchester Minerals LP (DMLP), Epsilon Energy (EPSN), and Stabilis Solutions (SLNG). I think they are all excellent plays on the continued energy market recovery.
While there wasn’t much news for our CMCI stocks, press reports indicate that P10 Holdings (PIOE) is likely to up-list to the NYSE (covered below). This would be a nice catalyst for shares.
The next issue of Cabot Micro-Cap Insider will be published on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. As always, if you have any questions, please email me at rich@cabotwealth.com.
Changes This Week
Increasing buy limit on PIOE to Buy under 10.00
Updates
Aptevo (APVO) traded down this week on no news. The thesis remains the same: If you back out Aptevo’s cash and the value of its royalty payments, the company’s pipeline is being valued by the market at negative-$15MM. This doesn’t make sense given that Aptevo’s main drug, APVO436, has shown promising data and the company has a pipeline of other assets. This is a high-risk/reward trade because the upside could be substantial, but downside could also be substantial if it continues to burn cash with little to show for it. We will see preliminary phase II data later this year which could be a nice catalyst. Original Write-up. Buy under 40.00
Atento S.A. (ATTO) traded up this week on no news. Atento reported earnings in August. In the quarter, revenue increased 22% to $382MM, beating consensus by 4%. EBITDA increased 123% y/y to $50.7MM. EBITDA margin increased to 13.3%, up from 7.1% a year ago. Despite the strong performance, ATTO is still only trading at 3.5x my estimate for 2022 EBITDA. Peers such as Concentrix (CNXC) trade at 10x or higher. Original Write-up. Buy under 30.00
BBX Capital (BBXIA) was flat on the week on no news. The company reported an excellent quarter in August, with revenue increasing 132% y/y. The company is on pace to generate $22MM of free cash flow this year. The company benefited from strong consumer demand, especially in single-family and multi-family housing in many of the markets in Florida where BBX Capital’s real estate segment operates. My new price target is 12.00 which still represents a large discount to book value per share ($17.53). Original Write-up. Buy under 9.00
Cipher Pharma (CPHRF) is my latest recommendation. It traded up this week on no news. The company is a cheap, Canadian specialty pharma company that has a promising pipeline. Despite strong potential, the stock trades at a draconian valuation. Insider ownership is high, and insiders have been buying the stock in the open market. Further, the company is buying back its own shares in the open market. Downside protection is high given net cash on its balance sheet and strong free cash flow generation. My price target of 2.50 implies good upside over the next 12 months. Original Write-up. Buy under 2.00
Dorchester Minerals LP (DMLP) was relatively stable on the week. The company disclosed that the CFO of the company bought stock in the open market. The company recently reported Q2 2021 earnings of $0.46, or $1.84 on an annualized basis. As such, the stock is trading at 9.2x annualized earnings, too cheap a multiple for such a high-quality, high-margin, and no-debt business. At its current quarterly dividend, the stock is trading at a dividend yield of 11.4%. I continue to like this low-risk stock which will continue to benefit from higher oil prices. Original Write-up. Buy under 17.50
Drive Shack (DS) had no news this week. The company reported an excellent quarter in August with revenue growth of 130%, beating consensus expectations by 9%. The company reported EBITDA of $7.7MM versus consensus expectations of $1.2MM. The investment case is on track for Drive Shack. At its current valuation, Drive Shack’s share price gives minimal value to the strong upside potential from new Puttery venues. Finally, alignment is high as management and directors own 16.3% of shares outstanding and have recently bought in the open market. My price target is 6.00. Original Write-up. Buy under 4.00
Epsilon Energy (EPSN) has performed well as natural gas prices have rallied. Epsilon has some natural gas hedges in place but should nonetheless benefit from higher natural gas prices in 2022 and 2023. In August, the company reported solid earnings with 12% revenue growth y/y. Year to date the company has generated FCF of $6.3MM or $12.6MM on an annualized basis. As such, it’s trading at a 10x. Also, this year, the company has bought back about 1% of shares outstanding. Insiders already own 25% of shares outstanding but are buying stock in the open market. The company has downside protection with a net cash balance sheet and a valuable midstream business. I see significant upside over the next 12 months as the company benefits from high natural gas prices. Original Write-up. Buy under 5.50
FlexShopper (FPAY) continued to see strong insider buying as several directors have bought shares in the open market. These insider buys follow a strong quarter from the company. Revenue grew 25% y/y to $30.7MM. Looking out to the rest of the year, strong growth should continue as the company is expanding its pilot program with an undisclosed national retailer and has added a second national retailer to its pilot program. My 12-month price target for FlexShopper is 4.70. Original Write-up. Buy under 2.50
IDT Corporation (IDT) has pulled back sharply on no news. I view this as a buying opportunity. IDT’s core business (legacy telecom) and high-growth subsidiaries (BOSS Money Transfer, National Retail Solutions, and Net2phone) continue to perform well. I expect Net2phone to be spun off in early 2022 and National Retail Solutions to be spun off in late 2022 or early 2023. I recently increased my price target to 64, but longer term, I could see this stock trading up to 100 or higher. Original Write-up. Buy under 45.00
Liberated Syndication (LSYN) has been languishing of late, and I recently wrote an article that addresses why that might be the case. In short, it might become very difficult to buy companies that are not current on their financials or don’t report their financials to the SEC or OTCmarkets.com due to an SEC rule change (15c2-11). I believe this is pressuring Libsyn’s stock lower. But I also believe it represents an opportunity as when the company reports its restated financials it will show a company growing revenue at ~17%. At its current valuation of 2.5x 2021 revenue, it looks very attractive. Original Write-up. Buy under 5.00
Medexus Pharma (MEDXF) has rebounded since its weak quarter. I think the risk/reward looks attractive at the current valuation. Nonetheless, I’m not going to be buying more stock until I start to see some good news/good execution from the management team. Sales should stay roughly flat sequentially over the next couple of quarters, but I think sales will perk up in the fourth quarter and into 2022. I believe IXINITY has strong potential longer term, and the company has several interesting pipeline opportunities which should drive growth into 2022. Assuming execution improves, there is a lot of upside. I still believe this could be a mid-teens stock within a couple of years. But I’m personally going to be waiting for improved results before adding to my position. If I must pay a slightly higher price, so be it. It will be a small price to pay to gain increased conviction. Original Write-up. Hold
Performant Financial (PFMT) has rebounded from weakness related to a recent secondary offering ($40MM raise). While I’m disappointed in the dilution, it will improve the company’s balance sheet substantially and allow it to accelerate growth. All in all, the investment case is still on track. My price target decreases a little bit in the medium term to 6.60 (due to the dilution), but longer term, I think this stock could trade over 10. Original Write-up. Buy under 5.00
P10 Holdings (PIOE) continues to look attractive. News leaked this week that its looking to uplist to the NYSE at a $1BN valuation (current market cap is $880MM), as it would raise equity. Despite the move up, the stock still looks attractive as its trading at 13x free cash flow and 15.5x EBITDA. Very reasonable considering its closest (albeit larger) peer is Hamilton Lane (HLNE) which trades at 28.2x EBITDA and 21.5x free cash flow. Given the recent news, I’m going to increase my buy limit to 10.00. Original Write-up. Buy under 10.00
Stabilis Solutions (SLNG) recently reported record earnings with revenue of $16.1MM, up 221% y/y. It was 45% above Q2 2019 revenue (pre-pandemic) of $11.0MM. The investment case remains on track. As a reminder, Stabilis Solutions specializes in delivering liquid natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen to its customers who are away from pipelines and off the energy grid. Customers use Stabilis Solutions as it provides them with cheap, reliable energy that is cleaner than other fossil fuels. The company has grown revenue at a 27% CAGR and has a bright outlook. Insiders own more than 50% of the company but have been relentlessly buying more stock in the open market. The stock has performed well since the pandemic but looks like a double over the next 12 months. Original Write-up. Buy under 9.00
Rich Howe
Chief Analyst, Cabot Micro-Cap Insider
| Stock | Price Bought | Date Bought | Price 9/14/21 | Profit | Rating |
| Aptevo Therapeutics (APVO) | 32.01 | 3/10/21 | 16.67 | -48% | Buy under 40.00 |
| Atento SA (ATTO) | 21.57 | 8/24/21 | 25.99 | 20% | Buy Under 30.00 |
| BBX Capital (BBXIA) | 3.17 | 10/5/20 | 8.35 | 163% | Buy under 8.00 |
| Cipher Pharma (CPHRF) | 1.69 | 9/8/21 | 1.90 | 12% | Buy under 2.00 |
| Dorchester Minerals LP (DMLP)* | 10.45 | 10/14/20 | 16.91 | 75% | Buy under 17.50 |
| Drive Shack (DS) | 2.58 | 5/12/21 | 2.68 | 4% | Buy under 4.00 |
| Epsilon Energy (EPSN) | 5.10 | 8/11/21 | 5.19 | 2% | Buy under 5.50 |
| FlexShopper (FPAY) | 2.13 | 12/9/20 | 2.78 | 31% | Buy under 2.50 |
| IDT Corporation (IDT) | 19.37 | 2/10/21 | 45.06 | 133% | Buy under 45.00 |
| Liberated Syndication (LSYN) | 3.06 | 6/10/20 | 3.50 | 14% | Buy under 5.00 |
| Medexus Pharma (MEDXF) | 1.78 | 5/13/20 | 2.65 | 49% | Buy under 5.00 |
| P10 Holdings (PIOE) | 1.98 | 4/28/20 | 10.00 | 405% | Buy under 8.00 |
| Performant Financial (PFMT) | 4.66 | 7/14/21 | 4.50 | -3% | Buy under 5.00 |
| Stabilis Solutions (SLNG) | 7.85 | 6/9/21 | 6.30 | -20% | Buy under 9.00 |
| * Return calculation includes dividends |
Disclosure: Rich Howe owns shares in BBXIA, LSYN, MEDXF, PIOE, FPAY, IDT, APVO, DS, SLNG, DMLP, and PFMT. Rich will only buy shares after he has shared his recommendation with Cabot Micro-Cap Insider members.
Buy means accumulate shares at or around the current price.
Hold means just that; hold what you have. Don’t buy, or sell, shares.
Sell means the original reasons for buying the stock no longer apply, and I recommend exiting the position.
Sell a Half means it’s time to take partial profits. Sell half (or whatever portion feels right to you) to lock in a gain, and hold on to the rest until another ratings change is issued.