Over the last 12 months the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries (Index: ^AXSO) (ASX: XSO) has managed to put on an impressive 19.5% gain, vastly outperforming its large cap rival the S&P/ASX 200.
I believe this gain demonstrates why having a little exposure to small-cap shares can be a good thing for a portfolio.
With that in mind, here are five small-cap shares which I think investors ought to be watching closely today:
Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB)
Bubs is a goat milk infant formula company which I believe has a lot of potential. I think FY 2019 will be a big year for the company after a solid 12 months which saw Bubs sign countless distribution agreements in China and Australia. This year the market will find out whether these agreements have resulted in a serious lift in sales.
Citadel Group Ltd (ASX: CGL)
Citadel is a growing software and services company that provides integration and managed services solutions to state and federal governments and the private sector in Australia. It is profitable, has strong growth prospects, and very little debt on its balance sheet.
LiveTiles Ltd (ASX: LVT)
LiveTiles is a fast-growing digital workplace platform provider which has caught my eye numerous times over the last 12 months. Most recently it was an announcement revealing a significant lift in annualised recurring revenues (ARR). According to the update, ARR reached $15 million as of June 30, up 275% on the prior corresponding period. In addition to this, the company was recently awarded the 2018 Microsoft US Partner of the Year Award for Modern Workplace Transformation.
Paragon Care Ltd (ASX: PGC)
This fast-growing provider of integrated services to the health and aged care markets recently announced the acquisition of specialised medical distribution company REM Systems for a net enterprise value of NZ$54.4 million. Management expects the acquisition to be highly accretive to earnings in FY 2019, which I think makes its shares great value at the current level.
Specialty Fashion Group Ltd (ASX: SFH)
This retailer looked like it could have been going out of business last year, but it has bounced back strongly in 2018. A successful structural review and the offloading of five retail brands to Noni B Limited (ASX: NBL) has left it with just its fast-growing City Chic brand. The brand's attractive growth outlook has the market and myself bullish again.
