Two Small-Cap Tech Stocks Loved by Analysts

BOSTON (TheStreet) -- Small-cap technology stocks tend to get little media exposure. The following two rank high on TheStreet's -- and many brokerages' -- "buy" lists. Both have outperformed the stock market over the past year, but are still cheap.

Super Micro Computer

(SMCI) - Get Report

designs motherboards and servers. During the past three years, its stock has returned 24% annually, on average. It has surged 75% in 2010. The company is scheduled to report quarterly results today.

Quarter

: Fiscal second-quarter profit increased 42% to $7.6 million, or 19 cents a share, as revenue grew 42% to $182 million. The operating margin widened from 5.7% to 6.8%. The company holds $84 million of cash, equal to a quick ratio of 1.1, and no debt.

Stock

: Super Micro Computer has advanced 228% during the past year, beating U.S. stock-market indices. It trades at a price-to-book ratio of 3.4 and a price-to-sales ratio of 1.2, 38% and 57% discounts to industry averages. It's expensive based on cash flow.

Consensus

: Of analysts covering Super Micro Computer, four, or 80%, advise purchasing its shares and one suggests selling them.

Broadpoint

( BPSG) expects the stock to advance 13% to $22.

Needham & Co.

predicts that it will rise 8% to $21.

Holders

: During the fourth quarter, six of Super Micro Computer's 15 largest shareholders, including

Fidelity

and

BlackRock

(BLK) - Get Report

, purchased more shares. Four retained the size of their bets and five decreased their holdings. Fidelity owns 14% of the float.

QLogic

(QLGC)

sells networking-infrastructure components to equipment manufacturers. During the past three years, its stock has gained 9.2% annually, on average. It has jumped 18% in 2010. The company will report quarterly results on Thursday.

Quarter

: Fiscal third-quarter net income decreased 7% to $29 million, but earnings per share rose 4.2% to 25 cents. Revenue decreased 8.9% to $149 million. The operating margin dropped from 29% to 23%. QLogic holds $349 million of cash and no debt.

Stock

: QLogic has risen 62% during the past 12 months, more than U.S. stock-market benchmarks. It sells for a price-to-book ratio of 4.1, a 25% discount to its peer average. It's expensive based on trailing earnings, projected earnings, sales and cash flow.

Consensus

: Of researchers following QLogic, 12, or 67%, rate its stock "buy," four rate it "hold" and two rank it "sell."

Pacific Crest Securities

believes the stock will gain 21% to $27.

Jefferies

(JEF) - Get Report

and

Stifel Financial

(SF) - Get Report

project that it will gain 12% to $25.

Holders

: During the fourth quarter, eight of QLogic's 15 largest shareholders, including

State Street

(STT) - Get Report

and

Goldman Sachs

(GS) - Get Report

, amplified their bets while seven sold a portion of their stock.

Wellington Management

owns 13% of shares outstanding.

-- Reported by Jake Lynch in Boston.