Equities.com created the Small-Cap Stars, our proprietary list of small-cap companies best-positioned for future success, to help investors identify those small-cap companies with the most fundamental strength and the best chance for future success.
In 2013, the Small-Cap Stars generated returns in excess of 45%, and 2014 brings 369 new companies that feature an excellent chance at breaking through.
Here are the today's top-performing Small-Cap Stars as of noon on the east coast:
Net Element Inc. ($NETE)
Net Element Inc. gained 57.03% to $2.28 in morning trading today. Volume reached 2,979,080. The stock's average daily volume is 60,319 shares. Net Element Inc. has a 52-week high of $6.56 and a 52-week low of $0.88, and its 50-day SMA and 200-day SMA are $1.91 and $3.11 respectively.
Net Element Inc is a financial technology-driven group specializing in mobile payments and value-added transactional services in emerging countries and in the United States.
Amtech Systems Inc. ($ASYS)
Amtech Systems Inc. gained 9.73% to $10.49 in morning trading today. Volume reached 13,635. The stock's average daily volume is 33,130 shares. Amtech Systems Inc. has a 52-week high of $13.74 and a 52-week low of $5.44, and its 50-day SMA and 200-day SMA are $10.28 and $9.47 respectively.
Amtech Systems, Inc., is a supplier of horizontal diffusion furnace systems used for solar (photovoltaic) cell and semiconductor manufacturing. It operates in two business segments namely solar and semiconductor equipment, and polishing supplies.
Plug Power Inc. ($PLUG)
Plug Power Inc. gained 9.4% to $6.23 in morning trading today. Volume reached 38,763,700. The stock's average daily volume is 15,471,124 shares. Plug Power Inc. has a 52-week high of $11.72 and a 52-week low of $0.36, and its 50-day SMA and 200-day SMA are $4.42 and $3.64 respectively.
Plug Power Inc is a provider of alternative energy technology. The Company engaged in the design, development, commercialization and manufacture of fuel cell systems for the industrial off-road market.
Erba Diagnostics ($ERB)
Erba Diagnostics gained 7.47% to $2.28 in morning trading today. Volume reached 123,844. The stock's average daily volume is 40,540 shares. Erba Diagnostics has a 52-week high of $4.13 and a 52-week low of $0.72, its P/E ratio is 127, and its 50-day SMA and 200-day SMA are $1.80 and $2.20 respectively.
ERBA Diagnostics Inc develop, manufacture and market diagnostic test kits, and instrumentation in the areas of autoimmune, chemistry, hematology, diabetes and infectious diseases.
22nd Century Group Inc ($XXII)
22nd Century Group Inc gained 7.36% to $2.77 in morning trading today. Volume reached 68,515. The stock's average daily volume is 679,375 shares. 22nd Century Group Inc has a 52-week high of $6.36 and a 52-week low of $0.87, and its 50-day SMA and 200-day SMA are $3.03 and $2.53 respectively.
22nd Century Group, Inc. is a plant biotechnology company focused on tobacco harm reduction and smoking cessation products produced from modifying the nicotine content in tobacco plants through genetic engineering and plant breeding.
Equities.com's Small-Cap Stars: Taking Your Portfolio to the Moon
The equities.com Small-Cap Stars represent a list of small caps that our system has selected as among those most likely to make big gains this year. Our systems takes hundreds of small-cap companies and runs a complex statistical regression to determine how the best companies differ from the worst based on a few dozen different fundamental metrics. This allows us to identify an industry-specific statistical profile that previously successful companies featured immediately prior to their stock taking off. Then, by applying that profile to the current markets, we can those companies in the best position for potential gains in the coming year.
These 369 small caps should give any investor more than a few investment ideas to get started with, and ones that should have a real chance to succeed in the volatile and unpredictable small-cap investing space.