This week’s 5 Best Stocks Under $5 feature highlights, as usual, a couple biotech stocks that have been outstanding this week. But we’ve also got a look at a couple of other sub-$5 stocks, including an extreme sports gear company, a tech firm and a small defense and security company.
Here are five of the biggest moves among low-priced stocks this week:
Best Stocks Under $5: Microvision, Inc. (MVIS)
3/20/15 Closing Price: $3.71 (+35%)
Microvision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS) is an electronics company that has recently developed PicoP display technology, which can create miniature video laser displays and imaging engines anywhere the user wants to watch them.
Early this week, Microvision reported it had received $14.5 million worth of component orders from an unnamed Fortune Global 100 company, to whom MVIS had recently given a non-exclusive license to its PicoP display technology.
Volume on MVIS has been unusually heavy since the beginning of March. On Monday, MVIS stock, which normally averages about 980,000 shares traded per day, saw 13 million shares change hands. Since volume often precedes price action, MVIS stock is one to watch.
Best Stocks Under $5: Quiksilver, Inc. (ZQK)
3/20/15 Closing Price: $2.12 (+28%)
Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK) is a designer and distributor of youth-oriented apparel for surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding, with three different clothing brands.
Earlier in the week, ZQK reported a fiscal first-quarter loss of 11 cents a share, which was 3 cents better than the analysts’ estimates. Revenue dropped 13.7% from last year to $340.85 million, but still topped estimates of $337.37 million. The earnings beat sent ZQK stock significantly higher over four consecutive days.
ZQK was a rather poor performer in 2014, falling from $9 in January to less than $2 a share by year’s end. However, ZQK stock seems to have put in a bottom since then, with this week’s performance being its best in quite awhile.
Best Stocks Under $5: Coronado Biosciences Inc (CNDO)
3/20/15 Closing Price: $3.90 (+31%)
Two weeks ago, I featured Coronado Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:CNDO), a biopharmaceutical company that develops new immunotherapy drugs to treat various autoimmune diseases, in this same space.
As is often the case after a significant gain over a short period of time, CNDO stock then pulled back about 15% over the following week.
But this week was quite eventful, and CNDO stock is back once again as one of the best performers among sub-$5 stocks. On Monday, Coronado reported a Q4 loss of $3.7 million, or 10 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $9.8 million, or 27 cents per share for the same quarter, 2013.
Then on Thursday, CNDO announced an exclusive licensing agreement with NeuPharma, Inc. to develop epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), antibodies that slow down or stop cell growth, to treat non-small-cell lung cancer and other forms of cancers.
CNDO stock is up about 170% since November. Clearly, CNDO may have a very bright future.
Best Stocks Under $5: Arotech Corporation (ARTX)
3/20/15 Closing Price: $3.32 (+17%)
Arotech Corporation (NASDAQ:ARTX) is a company that manufactures defense and security products for law enforcement and the military, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Earlier this week, ARTX reported fourth-quarter earnings of 1 cent per share, while Wall Street was looking for a 4 cent loss per share. Revenue grew 36% year-over-year to $28.6 million, which was just slightly below street expectations.
Arotech also gave forward guidance for 2015 of 31 cents to 36 cents, or about double the 16 cents per share the company achieved in 2014.
ARTX stock was already up more than 40% since November, prior to its big move this week. More upside seems to be on the way.
Best Stocks Under $5: Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc (IMNP)
3/20/15 Closing Price: $2.07 (+17%)
It was a torrid week for small company pharma stocks, and Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:IMNP) was no exception. IMNP stock blasted higher after announcing a collaboration with Yissum, the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The deal involves licensing some of Yissum’s nanoparticle patents to aid in IMNP’s development of their neuropathic pain drug, AmiKet. AmiKet is soon to be ready for Phase III clinical trials and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already granted IMNP Orphan Drug Designation for AmiKet.
As of this writing, Ethan Roberts does not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
