Three small caps carving out solid gains today are listed below. Here's why they are climbing higher:

The Fastbrick Robotics Ltd (ASX: FBR) share price has continued its rise and is up a further 3% to 16.5 cents. On Wednesday the robotics company announced a global partnership with European block-making giant Wienerberger AG. The partnership agreement will see the two companies working together to develop, manufacture, and test clay blocks optimised for Fastbrick's Hadrian X construction robot. After which, the clay blocks will then be introduced into global markets where Wienerberger is active. I think this is a positive development, but a little too soon for me to act upon it.

The MaxiTRANS Industries Limited (ASX: MXI) share price has pushed 5% higher to 61 cents after the supplier of truck and trailer parts announced the sale of its shareholding in the China-based MTC panel manufacturing business. According to the release, MaxiTRANS has entered into an equity transfer agreement with Zhejiang Huazheng New Materials Co. for the sale of its 80% holding for approximately $8 million. In addition to this, MaxiTRANS has also signed a long-term supply agreement for the continuing supply of products to the group by MTC that will take effect from the completion of the sale.

The Netcomm Wireless Ltd (ASX: NTC) share price has climbed 2% to 78 cents. This morning a change of director's interest notice revealed that non-executive director David Spence has dipped into the market to pick up 60,000 shares through an on-market trade today. Mr Spence paid a total of $46,776 for the shares, equating to a price of approximately 78 cents per share. Netcomm's shares have fallen 42% in the space of two weeks after providing disappointing guidance for FY 2019.

The post These 3 small cap ASX shares are climbing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four shares in particular stood out. Here's what has driven them to these new heights:

The MaxiTRANS Industries Limited (ASX: MXI) share price hit a 52-week high of 76 cents yesterday. The leading supplier of road transport equipment has seen its shares gain a remarkable 45% year-to-date thanks largely to a solid first-half of FY 2017. Earnings per share rose 17% on the prior corresponding period to 3.3 cents. Based on this its shares are changing hands at just 11x annualised earnings. With management tipping a stronger second-half, I'm not overly surprised to see its shares rally.

The MMJ Phytotech Ltd (ASX: MMJ) share price hit a new 52-week high of 75 cents yesterday. Incredibly this means the pot stock has now risen an astonishing 240% year-to-date. Interest in the industry has grown strongly recently following the government's plan to relax regulations around the use of medical marijuana. Fellow pot stock Zelda Therapeutics Ltd (ASX: ZLD) also reached a new high yesterday.

The WAM Capital Limited (ASX: WAM) share price hit an all-time high of $2.56 on Monday. Investors appear to be impressed by WAM Capital's ability to consistently outperform the market. But perhaps the most attractive part of investing in WAM Capital is its growing fully franked dividend. At present its shares provide a trailing fully franked 5.8% dividend. WAM Capital's shares go ex-dividend on April 13.

The post Why these 4 ASX shares just hit new 52-week highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time I suggested investors avoid the stock, as management advised that dividends were expected to fall and that second-half profit would come in substantially worse than the 50% decline that was experienced in the first six months of 2015.

Unfortunately, that market update proved fairly indicative of what shareholders received when the company reported Friday afternoon:

The What:

• Revenue fell 6.5%
• Net Profit After Tax (excluding significant items) fell 63.1% to $6.3m
• Net Profit After Tax (including significant items) fell 73.7% to $4.5m
• Earnings per share were 2.43 cents, down from 9.16 cents in 2014
• Maxitrans share of the trailer market improved
• Strong revenue growth of 39% in New Zealand, albeit from a small base
• $4.3m cash at bank
• $47m in interest-bearing liabilities, with interest cover* of 4.2 times
• 'Subdued' outlook for 2016

So What?

Falls in revenue and earnings reflect more aggressive discounting and pricing strategies as well as declining demand from certain sectors. It was no surprise to see a 53% decline in tipper sales compared to 2014, and while Maxi suggests their new VersaBOLT tipper product will cause sales to rise again in 2016 I don't see it having a major impact.

On other fronts the demand for refrigerated vans is a positive sign and shows that the company has alternatives to selling products purely for mining purposes. Similarly growth in New Zealand was a positive and I am left with the impression that Maxitrans is competing successfully on price with its competitors.

However, this is also a double-edged sword as the business appears to be trading on razor-thin levels of profitability, especially if the performance in the second half is the 'new normal' going forwards.

Debt rose meaningfully during the year and with negative free cash flow, it is likely to continue rising unless management is able to trim back capital expenditure – which might shoot the business in the foot by delaying new products and facilities.

Now What?

As I wrote back in April, I again suggest that shareholders steer clear of Maxitrans for the time being. Trading on a Price to Earnings (P/E) ratio of 16, it still does not appear cheap given the number of alternatives available for a similar valuation.

When you're investing for the future – which, really, is the definition of investing – it is better to play it safe than take risks with companies being punished by forces outside their control.

The post MaxiTRANS Industries Limited crashes 10% on falling profits appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Ensogo Ltd (ASX: E88) ex-iBuy Group has dropped 9.3% to 19.5 cents. But investors may be taking advantage of the stock's 117% rise since the beginning of this year. Ensogo owns and operates online retail sites in South East Asia, but clearly disappointed investors with its quarterly report today. Ensogo reported a 23% rise in cash collections, and the company finished the quarter with $7.5 million in cash (although it had raised $48 million prior to the end of the period).

Gold miner Troy Resources Ltd (ASX: TRY) has been dumped down 10% to 40 cents, after resuming trading following a trading halt in which the company issued 87.5 million new shares at 40 cents to institutional investors. No wonder shareholders are getting out. A token Share Purchase Plan to raise $5 million at the same 40 cent price is on offer for existing shareholders.

Unilife Corporation (ASX: UNS) is down 6.7% at 70 cents. The company develops injectable drug systems today reported US$11.6 million in cash outflows for the March quarter. Unilife still has US$39 million in cash at the end of March 2015, although the company did raise US$38.8 million from a share issue in late January.

MaxiTRANS Industries Limited (ASX: MXI) has slipped 4.6% to 42 cents. The company manufactures and supplies truck trailers and related transport supplies and equipment, but has seen its share price hammered over the past 2 years, due mainly to its exposure to the resources industry, and cost pressures from the falling Australian dollar. After reporting a profit of $5.1 million for the first six months of 2015 financial year, MaxiTRANS expects full year net profit to be between $5.9 million to $6.9 million. That suggests the second half is going to be awful financially.

Drilling equipment and services company Ausdrill Limited (ASX: ASL) has sunk to 42.5 cents, losing 4.5% so far today. The company's shares are still up 48% in the past month, thanks to a major contract win with gold miner Perseus Mining Limited (ASX: PRU). The contract is estimated to be worth US$223 million over 5 years, more than double Ausdrill's current market capital.

The post 5 ASX stocks on the nose today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It seems that tough trading conditions have been exacerbated since the half-yearly report was released back in June, and heavy discounting combined with rising costs caused by a falling Australian dollar have smashed profits.

After earning $5 million after tax in the first half (1H) of 2015 (down 50% on 1H 2014), profit guidance for the full year has been reduced to between $5.9 and $6.9 million.

In other words, it looks as though the company could earn as little as $900,000 in the second half of 2015. Don't get excited by the 10.8% trailing dividend yield either – dividends are also falling sharply.

There are positives in the form of a new MXI-operated trailer dealership and revenue growth in New Zealand, but given the negative outlook in its customer's sectors, I would caution investors to avoid MaxiTRANS shares at this point in time.

Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) was already a cheap-looking stock before recent cyclone and storm claims in Queensland and New South Wales knocked the insurer down a peg or two.

Claims are expected to cost around $1 billion dollars and shares have traded even lower today on the news that insurance margins would be heavily impacted in the current year.

However with gross written premiums continuing to grow and a strong outlook for the insurance sector, IAG looks well placed to perform in future years.

Considering that shares trade on a Price to Earnings (P/E) of 10 and offer a ~6% fully franked dividend, I expect that IAG has fallen as low as it will go in the absence of further bad news, and indeed the insurer looks like a bargain for income-focused investors.

(Foolish analyst/writer Mike King warns that IAG's yield isn't the full story in his article here).

Finally, Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS) shares hit a 52-week low last Friday after a prolonged decline and a half-year report that was a tough pill to swallow.

The owner of the Super IGA supermarkets as well as chains of bottle-shops, hardware stores and automotive businesses has been crushed by market sentiment recently, with investors worried about margins amid competition from Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW), and an aggressive Aldi.

With even Woolworths feeling the squeeze it's apparent that the competition in the grocery sector isn't something that will be resolved overnight, and given that Metcash is in the middle of a major business overhaul I recommend investors stay on the sidelines until the future of the business becomes clearer.

Right now, razor thin margins and falling profits make this grocer too risky, even if it does offer a trailing 11.8% dividend (that is expected to fall).

The post 3 companies at 52-week lows: Are they a turnaround story? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Still, these stocks had a horror day, falling by more than 4%.

First, it was the iron ore miners, Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG), Atlas Iron Limited (ASX: AGO) and Arrium Limited (ASX: ARI) falling 6.1%, 5.7% and 4.9%. The cause was the spot iron ore price falling to a new six-year low of US$59.73 a tonne overnight. Media also reports one Australian cargo being sold at US$58 per tonne, suggesting we haven't hit bottom yet.

Next it was the gold miners. Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL), Kingsrose Mining Limited (ASX: KRM), Resolute Mining Limited (ASX: RSG) and Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) all closing down by more than 8%. Regis crashed down 26.7% to $1.40 after reporting lower than expected production for the March quarter.

Spot gold prices have been falling lately, and currently trade at US$1,200 an ounce or A$1,542 an ounce. That suggests many Australian miners should be making a decent margin, but clearly unexpected events can disrupt their results.

GID Dynamics Inc (ASX: GID) had a shocker, losing half its value to close at 15 cents. Illustrating how volatile the biotechnology sector can be, GID fell after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put a hold on enrolment in the company's EndoBarrier drug trials. Where to from here is anybody's guess.

MaxiTRANS Industries Limited (ASX: MXI) fell 6.8% to 55 cents. The provider of trailers and truck parts has seen its shares plunge 54% in the past 12 months, as the company takes collateral damage from the slowing resources boom. To make matters worse, poor financial results saw the company dumped from the S&P/ASX 300 index today.

Boart Longyear Ltd (ASX: BLY), a supplier of products and services to the mining industry, including drilling services and drilling equipment, dropped 6.7% to 21 cents, despite two directors buying shares earlier this month.

The post Several stocks crushed as ASX ends the week flat appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With interest rates forecast to fall (if not this month then maybe in March), and the Australian dollar tumbling, the demand for yield is helping support the usual players.

Of course, that's no consolation for these four stocks, which were soundly beaten up today. Here's our view…

Tiger Resources Limited (ASX: TGS) crashed 55.5%, after majorly disappointing investors. The junior copper miner seems headed for a deeply discounted capital raising, or into the arms of a cashed-up player. Having taken on huge debts to buy out its 40% partner, and hit by falling copper prices and rising production costs, shareholders were looking for the exit.

CML Group Ltd (ASX: CGR) plunged 14.9% to 20 cents but is still up 8% since the start of the year. Formerly Careers MultiList, CML provides finance, payroll and employment services. Investors may not have liked today's announcement that the company had issued 5.5 million convertible notes but had fallen 4.9 million notes short of its target. Clearly a sign that many investors weren't keen on the notes, despite the 9% interest rate attached.

Construction and engineering company WDS Limited (ASX: WDS) lost 10.5% to close at 17 cents, most likely on the news that Shell had ditched plans for its US$20 billion plus Arrow LNG project in Queensland. WDS had been hoping to win more work in the space, after losing a contract on Origin Energy Limited's (ASX: ORG) APLNG project. More oil and gas companies could shelve work in Australia until oil prices recover, potentially leaving WDS with little work.

MaxiTRANS Industries Limited (ASX: MXI) dropped 8.9% to 51 cents, despite no news from the company. Shares in the trailer business have plunged 50% in the past six months, as weak markets continue to generate headwinds. MaxiTRANS noted in October 2014 that the first half of 2015 financial year net profit was likely to be significantly below the previous years, at between $4.5 and $5.3 million. Was it shareholders exiting the stock before the company reports worse-than-expected results?

The post Here's why these 4 ASX stocks plunged today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The weak economic growth being experienced by many companies just reinforces how important high yielding, dividend-paying stocks can be to a portfolio. Luckily there are still a number of opportunities out there for investors to secure high yields.

1)      Bradken Limited (ASX: BKN) is forecast to pay dividends in financial year (FY) 2015 totalling 27.7 cents per share (cps) according to Morningstar research. This implies the stock is trading on a forecast fully franked dividend yield of 7.9%.

2)      McPherson's Ltd (ASX: MCP) is forecast to pay fully franked dividends totalling 12.5 cps in FY 2015, implying a huge yield of 11.1%.

3)      Wotif.com Holdings Limited (ASX: WTF) is forecast to pay dividends of 19.5 cps in FY 2015. Based on that forecast the stock is trading on a forecast fully franked dividend yield of 7.8%.

4)      MaxiTANS Industries Limited (ASX: MXI) is forecast to pay dividends totalling 7.8 cps in FY 2015. At the current share price, this equates to a forecast fully franked yield of 8.7%.

5)      WDS Limited (ASX: WDS) is forecast to grow its dividend from 7 cps in FY 2014 to 8 cps in FY 2015. If it manages to achieve this, then the stock is trading on a forecast yield of 8.3%.

6)      Countplus Ltd (ASX: CUP) is forecast to maintain a steady dividend of 12 cps from FY 2013 through FY 2015. This forecast implies a dividend yield of 6.8%.

The post 6 undervalued small caps with high dividend yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

One of those metrics is the price-to-book ratio (P/B). The PB ratio compares the book value (also known as net equity) per share of a business to its share price. The ratio provides an investor with a representation of the implied cost of purchasing all of a company's assets less all its liabilities.

While the PE and PB metrics can be used independently, looking for stocks which trade on a combination or a low PE and a low PB compared with their peers can turn up even more appealing investment candidates than just using one metric on its own.

Here are four stocks which look appealing based on both their PE and their PB ratios (data supplied by Morningstar).

Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) is a gold miner with operations in Brazil. The company just released its full-year accounts which show a book value of $238 million. With the share price trading at 59 cents Beadell is trading on a PB ratio of 1.9x and a PE based on financial year (FY) 2014 estimated earnings of 3.6x.

Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW) recently made a move on oil & gas explorer Nexus Energy Limited (ASX: NXS). It would appear to be no coincidence that Chairman Kerry Stokes has installed the experienced oil & gas executive Don Voelte as Managing Director. Seven has balance sheet strength and Stokes is not one to waste a good opportunity to maximise value for shareholders from the beaten-up mining and mining services sector. Seven is trading on a PB ratio of 0.96x and a current year PE of 11.2x.

MaxiTRANS Industries Limited (ASX: MXI) is a manufacturer and supplier of trailers and parts to the transport industry. The firm is trading on a PB ratio of 1.85x and a FY 2014 PE of 10.3x.

DEXUS Property Group (ASX: DXS) specialises in owning, managing and developing property assets spanning the office, industrial and retail sectors. The company is currently trading on a PB ratio of 0.96x and a forward PE ratio of 13.8x.

Foolish takeaway

Investors who demand a margin of safety in their purchase price naturally find it harder to identify opportunities as a bull market stampedes on. While the five-year bull market means pickings are slim, opportunities are out there for savvy investors.

The post 4 wickedly cheap buy ideas for April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.