Today, we've compiled a watch list for 10 penny stocks in October 2017, based on the biggest gainers of September. These stocks gained at least 87% during that month.
But those gains were in September. For investors looking for a stock with future profit potential, we'll also show you a small-cap stock to buy in the cashless banking industry, which could grow 716% by 2021...
(Nasdaq: ITUS)
(Nasdaq: ARDM)
Nasdaq: NETE)
(Nasdaq: CAPR)
(Nasdaq: NVCN)
(Nasdaq: ZAIS)
(NYSE: JONE)
(Nasdaq: MRNS)
(NYSE: SDRL)
(Nasdaq: ARLZ)
The biggest penny stock gainer of September 2017 was ITUS Corp., a biotech that develops the tumor-detection testing platform Cchek. Shares of the company rallied 292% last month from $0.67 at the Aug. 31 close to $2.90 at the Sept. 29 close.
ITUS stock surged 623.1% between Sept. 18 and Sept. 26 after the company announced a patent was issued on its Cchek platform. Investors saw this as Cchek getting an edge over other cancer-detection biotechs such as Grail, which helped lift ITUS stock over that period.
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As a tumor-detection product, Cchek is unique because it's based in flow cytometry. This is a scientific way of saying Cchek measures blood cells and components with a laser. By patenting the test, ITUS ensures its peers won't be able to develop similar platforms that could steal ITUS' customers.
The stock's 440.2% gain in September isn't the only reason to keep an eye on it in October. The ITUS share price could keep swinging as trading volumes stay far above average. Today's volume is 2.8 million shares - 53% above the average volume of 1.83 million over the last two months. The stock will likely continue seeing high volume as investors continue to react to the Cchek patent news.
Although ITUS' triple-digit return makes it look enticing, we don't advise investing in it - or any of the top penny stock gainers on the list - right now. Those 10 companies have already surged at least 87.7%, and our experts only recommend stocks with gains ahead of them.
Money Morning Small-Cap Specialist Sid Riggs has one of those stock picks for our readers today...
Sid consistently recommends small-cap winners to Money Morning Members. His picks include Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. (Nasdaq: NBIX), a late-stage biotech that's up 552.1% since he first recommended it on Dec. 20, 2013. That return smashes the S&P 500's 42.4% gain over the same time.
Today's stock pick is a play on cashless banking - an emerging financial sector that lets people make bank transactions over their smartphones. These include depositing checks and making peer-to-peer payments via popular services like Venmo, which is owned by Paypal Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: PYPL).
Sid's research shows the value of mobile transactions across the globe could reach $865 billion by 2022. That would be up 716% from the current value near $106 billion.
Here's why today's small-cap stock pick is poised to rally from that immense growth...
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Our small-cap recommendation today is Mitek Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: MITK).
Mitek develops identity verification software and services that let users safely complete mobile banking transactions like insurance payments and check deposits. These include Mobile Docs, which is used for scanning financial documents, and Mobile Verify, which can be used for validating driver's licenses.
The company has a presence in the exploding mobile transaction market, which is projected to expand by up to 716% through 2021. According to Statista, total revenue for the tech companies making those transactions could be over $865 billion by 2021.
Mitek's continued dominance will not only come from its mobile banking business, but also from its identity services.
"The company is already the world leader in mobile capture and identity verification, so it has a huge first-mover advantage over its competition," Sid said. "It's no surprise, then, that its top line nearly doubled over the last two years."
Mitek's earnings history shows how its profits are growing at such a rapid rate. The company's annual net income staged a massive turnaround in recent years, going from a $5.3 million loss in 2014 to a $1.9 million profit in 2016. Mitek raked in income of $2.9 million - or $0.08 per share - in Q2 2017. That was up from $2.4 million - or $0.07 per share - in the same period in 2016.
Even more attractive is Mitek's projected earnings growth...
Five analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance expect the firm to post average 2017 earnings per share (EPS) of $0.28. That's more than quadruple the 2016 EPS of $0.06.
Right now, MITK stock still trades under $10 per share, at $9.68 each.
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