
Five Cheap Small-Cap Stocks That Offer Safety
BOSTON (
) -- Investors have been looking for safety in large-cap stocks, but here are five small-companies with pristine balance sheets and cheap shares.
5. Transcend Services
( TRCR) sells medical transcription software.
The numbers
: Fourth-quarter net income increased 7% to $1.6 million, but earnings per share were little changed at 17 cents. Revenue soared 67% to $21 million. The company's operating margin narrowed from 19% to 16%. Transcend holds $28 million of cash and $2.9 million of debt.
The stock
: Transcend Services advanced 84% during the past year, outpacing major U.S. indices. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 25, a discount to health care technology peers. Transcend doesn't pay dividends.
4. Cantel Medical
(CMN)
sells infection prevention and control products.
The numbers
: Fiscal first-quarter profit surged 85% to $6.2 million, or 37 cents a share, as revenue grew 10% to $71 million. The company's operating margin widened from 10% to 14%. Cantel Medical holds $23 million of cash and $38 million of debt.
The stock
: Cantel Medical advanced 28% during the past year, more than the
Dow Jones Industrial Average
, but less than the
S&P 500 Index
. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 17, a discount to health care equipment peers. The shares offer a 0.5% dividend yield.
3. Peet's Coffee & Tea
( PEET) operates cafes and sells coffee.
The numbers
: Third-quarter profit increased 22% to $2.5 million, or 19 cents a share, as revenue increased 7.9% to $74 million. The company's operating margin extended from 4.6% to 5.2%. Peet's holds $21 million of cash and no debt.
The stock
: Peet's soared 54% during the past year, beating major U.S. indices. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 33, a premium to restaurant peers. Peet's doesn't pay dividends.
2. Orchids Paper Products
(TIS) - Get Report
makes paper towels and napkins.
The numbers
: Third-quarter profit more-than-doubled to $3.8 million, or 52 cents a share, as revenue climbed 5% to $25 million. The company's operating margin expanded from 10% to 23%. Orchids holds $23 million of cash and $24 million of debt.
The stock
: Orchids Paper Products soared 91% during the past year, outperforming major U.S. indices. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 10, a discount to household products peers. Orchids doesn't pay dividends.
1. PetMed Express
(PETS) - Get Report
sells pet medications online.
The numbers
: Third-quarter profit increased 14% to $5.6 million, or 25 cents a share, as revenue rose 11% to $48 million. The company's operating margin remained steady at 17%. PetMed Express holds $57 million of cash and no debt.
The stock
: PetMed Express advanced 26% during the past year, lagging behind major U.S. indices. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 16, a discount to Internet retail peers. The shares offer a 2.2% dividend yield.









