Small caps are the best arena for investors to beat the market in my opinion. Exchange traded funds (ETFs), analysts and investment managers all tend to be focused on the large end of the market, that leaves little upside surprises and therefore less chance to beat the market.
The sheer size of small caps also gives investors an advantage. It is much easier for a company to double its market capitalisation from $100 million to $200 million compared to growing from $1 billion in size to $2 billion.
That's why I'm already a shareholder in the following shares and I want to buy more of them:
Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP)
Propel is Australia and New Zealand's second largest funeral operator. The company estimates that it has 4.1% of the Australian market and 6.7% of the New Zealand market.
I believe Propel is a good candidate to beat the market because it has plans to acquire other funeral businesses to increase its funeral market share. The best reason to invest is that the death volumes in Australia are expected to increase by 1.4% per annum between 2016 to 2025 and then 2.2% per annum from 2025 to 2050.
I think Propel could be a very good slow-and-steady grower over the coming years as long as there isn't any price pressure from competitors.
It's currently trading at roughly 30x FY18's estimated earnings.
Zenitas Healthcare Limited (ASX: ZNT)
Zenitas is a small cap healthcare operator that provides allied care, home care and primary care. I really like that Zenitas operates in a few different segments of the healthcare market. It's growing well, it delivered 7.5% organic revenue growth in the first half of FY18.
The company says it has a strong pipeline of acquisition opportunities and as long as it integrates those businesses successfully it could have a very promising future.
It's trading at around 19x FY18's estimated earnings.
National Veterinary Care Ltd (ASX: NVL)
National Vet Care is following in the footsteps of the early Greencross Limited (ASX: GXL) by acquiring other veterinary businesses. Indeed, it was launched with a few ex-Greencross staff.
The business is approaching 70 veterinary clinics, but it could easily reach a total of 150 or more over the next several years. It also generated good organic growth of 3% from its clinics for the half-year result to 31 December 2017.
It's trading at 23x FY18's estimated earnings.
Foolish takeaway
Like I said in my introduction, I believe in all three of these businesses which is why I already own shares of all of them. The current market volatility is presenting an attractive price to buy all three in my opinion. I would slightly prefer Zenitas or National Vet Care at the current prices.
