Stock Analysis

Three Undiscovered Gems With Strong Potential

KLSE:MBSB
Source: Shutterstock

In the midst of recent market volatility and economic uncertainties, small-cap stocks have been particularly impacted, as evidenced by the S&P 600's performance. Despite these challenges, certain undiscovered gems within this category exhibit strong potential due to their robust fundamentals and growth prospects. Identifying promising stocks in such a dynamic environment requires a keen eye for companies with solid financial health, innovative business models, and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions. Here are three small-cap stocks that stand out as potential opportunities amidst today's fluctuating market landscape.

Top 10 Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals

NameDebt To EquityRevenue GrowthEarnings GrowthHealth Rating
Payton IndustriesNA8.94%12.12%★★★★★★
Impellam Group31.12%-5.43%-6.86%★★★★★★
Ovostar Union0.01%10.19%49.85%★★★★★★
Polyram Plastic Industries34.64%9.13%13.03%★★★★★★
Tianyun International Holdings10.09%-5.59%-9.92%★★★★★★
Societe de Limonaderies et de Boissons Rafraichissantes d'Afrique39.37%8.04%-3.72%★★★★★☆
Strauss Group74.59%3.72%-12.93%★★★★☆☆
A2B Australia15.83%-7.78%25.44%★★★★☆☆
Isracard73.43%7.99%-2.01%★★★★☆☆
Wilson64.79%30.09%68.29%★★★★☆☆

Click here to see the full list of 4834 stocks from our Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener.

Here's a peek at a few of the choices from the screener.

Optima bank (ATSE:OPTIMA)

Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★☆

Overview: Optima Bank S.A. offers banking, brokerage, and investment banking services in Greece with a market cap of €894.14 million.

Operations: Optima Bank S.A. generates revenue through its banking, brokerage, and investment banking services in Greece. The company has a market cap of €894.14 million.

Optima bank, with total assets of €4.5 billion and equity of €548 million, has seen impressive growth. Total deposits stand at €3.7 billion, while loans amount to €3 billion. The bank's earnings surged by 83% last year, outpacing the industry average of 56%. It trades at 37% below its estimated fair value and boasts a low bad loans allowance at 1%. Recent earnings reports show net income for Q2 was €36 million compared to last year's €26 million.

ATSE:OPTIMA Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Aug 2024
ATSE:OPTIMA Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Aug 2024

MetroGAS (BASE:METR)

Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★☆☆

Overview: MetroGAS S.A. is a company that focuses on the distribution of natural gas primarily in Argentina with a market cap of ARS542.42 billion.

Operations: MetroGAS generates revenue primarily from its distribution segment, which contributed ARS185.55 billion, and its marketing segment, which added ARS143.44 billion.

MetroGAS, a relatively small player in the gas utilities sector, has shown impressive earnings growth of 489.2% over the past year, far outpacing the industry average of 22.4%. The company’s debt-to-equity ratio improved significantly from 70.1% to 8.9% in five years, indicating better financial health. Despite its high level of non-cash earnings and a low P/E ratio of 5.2x compared to the AR market's 18.8x, MetroGAS's interest payments on its debt are not well covered by EBIT at just 0.1x coverage.

BASE:METR Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Aug 2024
BASE:METR Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Aug 2024

MBSB Berhad (KLSE:MBSB)

Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★☆☆

Overview: MBSB Berhad, an investment holding company with a market cap of MYR6.50 billion, provides banking services in Malaysia.

Operations: MBSB Berhad generates revenue primarily from Consumer Banking (MYR963.55 million) and Corporate Banking (MYR515.97 million). The company also has a Segment Adjustment of MYR152.27 million.

MBSB Berhad, with MYR65.6B in total assets and MYR9.9B in equity, has a solid foundation supported by MYR47.9B in deposits and MYR41.4B in loans. The company’s liabilities are primarily funded by customer deposits (86%), which is less risky than external borrowing. Despite a high level of bad loans at 7.1%, MBSB has kept its allowance for bad loans low at 52%. Recently, the company announced a name change effective June 11, 2024, reflecting its evolving identity and strategic direction.

KLSE:MBSB Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Aug 2024
KLSE:MBSB Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Aug 2024

Taking Advantage

Curious About Other Options?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

New: Manage All Your Stock Portfolios in One Place

We've created the ultimate portfolio companion for stock investors, and it's free.

• Connect an unlimited number of Portfolios and see your total in one currency
• Be alerted to new Warning Signs or Risks via email or mobile
• Track the Fair Value of your stocks

Try a Demo Portfolio for Free

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com