Ian Cassel on small and micro cap investing and the traits of good and great investors | S07 E03
Jan 27, 2025
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Ian Cassel, a micro-cap investing expert, shares his insights on navigating the complexities of small and micro-cap investing, especially in the Canadian market. He emphasizes the skills that distinguish good stock pickers from the greatest, comparing it to Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Cassel also discusses the importance of valuing management and cultivating a watch list to enhance investment strategies. With anecdotes about mole rats, he humorously highlights resilience in investing and promotes a buy-and-hold approach, gearing up for an exciting microcap event in Las Vegas.
The recent performance of micro cap companies has outshone larger growth stocks, revealing their resilience and growth potential in volatile markets.
Canadian micro caps are gaining traction among U.S. private equity firms through mergers and acquisitions, indicating a growing recognition of their undervalued potential.
Great investors distinguish themselves by mastering stock picking skills, assessing intrinsic value, and adapting strategies to keep pace with market changes.
Deep dives
Trends in Micro Cap Investing
The conversation highlights a positive trend for smaller, profitable micro cap companies over the past year, particularly in the context of performance against larger growth stocks. The Micro Cap Club Profitable Index, which tracks 1,200 companies, reported a substantial increase of nearly 45%, reflecting the resilience and growth potential of this segment. Even during downturns, these profitable micro caps showed less volatility compared to broader market trends, suggesting a more stable investment option amid market fluctuations. This trend raises interesting implications for investors looking to explore opportunities in the micro cap space as the market evolves.
The Impact of Canadian Micro Caps
There has been notable activity within the Canadian micro cap sector, with numerous profitable small companies attracting the interest of U.S. private equity firms. The discussion points to a spate of mergers and acquisitions, where Canadian firms, often undervalued and trading at low multiples, are being acquired, indicating a growing recognition of their potential. As some companies transition from private to public status, it raises questions about value discovery and market opportunities for investors. This trend suggests a vibrant landscape for Canadian micro caps that may continue to thrive in upcoming years.
Understanding Small Cap Value Dynamics
The definition and performance of small cap value versus growth stocks are explored, highlighting the challenges investors face in categorizing and evaluating them. There is an ongoing debate about what constitutes small value, considering many small companies may have poor historical performance due to their reliance on sectors like mining. Despite this, opportunities remain within specific profitable micro caps that demonstrate strong growth potential. Recognizing these nuanced differences can help investors strategically position their portfolios to capture value in this complex market.
Skill Sets for Successful Stock Picking
The attributes that differentiate great investors from merely good ones are discussed, emphasizing the importance of mastering specific skills in stock picking. Identifying actionable ideas, assessing intrinsic value, and maintaining due diligence are critical components for sustained success. Moreover, adapting to market changes and refining one's strategy over time are essential for long-term performance. The conversation suggests that great investors engage deeply with the businesses they invest in, allowing them to make informed decisions that outperform the majority of investors.
The Future of Public Companies
The trend of companies remaining private for longer periods poses challenges for public market investors, as many profitable businesses might be taken offline before reaching public status. Concerns arise about the increasing difficulty of finding new public opportunities, as the number of publicly traded companies dwindles. However, the conversation also highlights that there is still a healthy influx of new companies into the market through IPOs, SPACs, and reverse mergers. Emphasizing quality and encouraging smaller businesses to go public could foster a more vibrant market while providing investors with greater access to emerging opportunities.
Value: After Hours is a podcast about value investing, Fintwit, and all things finance and investment by investors Tobias Carlisle, and Jake Taylor. See our latest episodes at https://acquirersmultiple.com/podcast
We are live every Tuesday at 1.30pm E / 10.30am P.
About Jake
Jake's Twitter: https://twitter.com/farnamjake1
Jake's book: The Rebel Allocator https://amzn.to/2sgip3l
ABOUT THE PODCAST
Hi, I'm Tobias Carlisle. I launched The Acquirers Podcast to discuss the process of finding undervalued stocks, deep value investing, hedge funds, activism, buyouts, and special situations.
We uncover the tactics and strategies for finding good investments, managing risk, dealing with bad luck, and maximizing success.
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ABOUT TOBIAS CARLISLE
Tobias Carlisle is the founder of The Acquirer’s Multiple®, and Acquirers Funds®.
He is best known as the author of the #1 new release in Amazon’s Business and Finance The Acquirer’s Multiple: How the Billionaire Contrarians of Deep Value Beat the Market, the Amazon best-sellers Deep Value: Why Activists Investors and Other Contrarians Battle for Control of Losing Corporations (2014) (https://amzn.to/2VwvAGF), Quantitative Value: A Practitioner’s Guide to Automating Intelligent Investment and Eliminating Behavioral Errors (2012) (https://amzn.to/2SDDxrN), and Concentrated Investing: Strategies of the World’s Greatest Concentrated Value Investors (2016) (https://amzn.to/2SEEjVn). He has extensive experience in investment management, business valuation, public company corporate governance, and corporate law.
Prior to founding the forerunner to Acquirers Funds in 2010, Tobias was an analyst at an activist hedge fund, general counsel of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, and a corporate advisory lawyer. As a lawyer specializing in mergers and acquisitions he has advised on transactions across a variety of industries in the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Australia, Singapore, Bermuda, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Guam.
He is a graduate of the University of Queensland in Australia with degrees in Law (2001) and Business (Management) (1999).
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