Viewing posts by Claude Walker

Atlas Pearls Limited (ASX:ATP) and the IR guy that could

This post is about a micro-cap company called Atlas Pearls Limited (ASX:ATP) that farms pearls and has recently moved into the production of essential oils. It's also about that company's investor relations firm, Bourse Communications, and Bourse's managing director Rod North, who contacted me some time ago.

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What are the cool kids watching?

I caught up with a friend of mine the other day who is an experienced investor. He told me that one of the reasons that he bought My Net Fone was because he made a spreadsheet of companies and marked off who (of the good investors he knows) liked them. I am going to attempt to do the same thing with my Micro - Nano Watchlist.

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Hypothetical Ethical Share Portfolio Update, 10 June 2014

I'm pleased to present to you the first ever report on the portfolio's progress that incorporates dividends. There have been no changes to the portfolio since I last wrote in March. Also, prices are true at 3pm 10 June. I simply wanted to get it done (I've been putting it off for ages). With luck, they won't change too much in the next hour of trading.

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Resonance Health Limited not worth the risk (ASX:RHT)

In its most recent quarterly report, Resonance Health Limited (ASX: RHT) reported positive operating cashflow of $94,000 and $829,000 in the bank.

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How I missed Nearmap Limited (ASX: NEA) and regret paralysis

Sorry, this post is more of a diary entry than thorough research, I'm just feeling so frustrated and I need to vent. Psychology and lesson learning are consistently underrated elements of the investing equation.

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Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX:SRX), another Australian biotech superstar

Fifteen years ago CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) earned under $50 million in profit. In 2013, it earned over $1.30 billion. Sirtex might not be as cheap as CSL was then, but the company's profits could follow a similar trajectory (though starting from a lower base). Where CSL supplies blood products, Sirtex Limited sells a treatment for liver cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Both companies are concerned with saving lives. Back in 1999 CSL was less expensive than Sirtex is now, but Sirtex clearly belongs on any ethical investor's watchlist, and I regret not covering it sooner.

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Azure Healthcare Ltd Update - Takeover Proposal dropped, FDA registration granted.

Azure Healthcare Ltd (ASX: AZV) just announced that the takeover offer won't proceed, and shareholders dumped their shares enthusiastically. I continue to hold, as I was never particularly excited about the takeover offer anyway. The long term future for Azure is bright, as it rolls out its solutions to more and more hospitals in the US. Because the new, more complete system has recurring revenue, Azure should increasingly have more stable growing cashflow. For the next 30 years or so, demand for hospital beds will only be going up. Azure helps hospitals profit more from each bed, and US hospitals love to profit.

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DWS Ltd: a possible contrarian play with a big dividend yield (ASX:DWS)

DWS Ltd (ASX:DWS) is an IT Consulting and Software Solutions business, forever Danny Wallis Services (in my head) though apparently it's pure coincidence. Founder Danny Wallis remains the major shareholder and controls the company, but has recently stepped down as CEO. The major way that this company creates value for clients is to allow them to perform their own processes more efficiently. My view is that a lot of the work that once would have been performed by Australian IT consultants will now shift elsewhere, because of the increasing use of cloud data storage and software.

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Azure Healthcare Ltd receives a takeover proposal, and Nathan Buzza is leaving (ASX: AZV)

Azure Healthcare Ltd (ASX:AZV) will be losing a key person, Nathan Buzza, who was responsible for overseeing the development of the software that is now revolutionising the business. As I previously pointed out, the fact that the company now offers software solutions - not just hardware - is central to the Azure Healthcare investment thesis. Indeed, it was only once Buzza (and founder Robert Grey) both rejoined the company that its fortunes turned around. At least the software has been fully developed, so to an extent, it makes sense that Mr Buzza is now leaving. Having said that, I don't think there is any reason why the company couldn't have put it on their website or issued a press release.

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