The S&P/TSX SmallCap Index soared 6.68 per cent in August, significantly outperforming the S&P/TSX Composite Index, which advanced 2.96 per cent.
Roughly one-third of the constituents in the SmallCap Index posted double-digit price returns in a single month.
Last month, there were four sectors in the index that realized positive price returns: materials, energy, financials and communication services with gains of 22.2 per cent, 7.21 per cent, 3.94 per cent and 0.54 per cent, respectively.
Analysts’ forecast returns, recommendations and yields for all stocks in the S&P/TSX Composite Index
Sectors that were the largest detractors were utilities, real estate, industrials and consumer discretionary with negative returns of 6.58 per cent, 6.36 per cent, 4.33 per cent and 2.82 per cent, respectively.
Powering the TSX SmallCap Index higher were precious metals stocks. The top 10 performers in August were:
- GoGold Resources Inc. (GGD-T), up 49 per cent
- New Pacific Metals Corp. (NUAG-T), up 46 per cent
- Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB-T), up 45 per cent
- Jaguar Mining Inc. (JAG-T), up 42 per cent
- Fortuna Mining Corp. (FVI-T), up 42 per cent
- Endeavour Silver Corp. (EDR-T), up 41 per cent
- Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (AYA-T), up 40 per cent
- Americas Gold and Silver Corp. (USA-T), up 38 per cent
- I-80 Gold Corp. (IAU-T), up 38 per cent
- Troilus Mining Corp. (TLG-T), up 38 per cent.
Stocks with large positive revisions to their average target prices over the past month include:
- Cascades Inc. (CAS-T), increased 28 per cent to $18.50 from $14.50
- Russel Metals Inc. (RUS-T), increased 26 per cent to $83.86 from $66.57
- Bird Construction Inc. (BDT-T), increased 19 per cent to $84.63 from $71.13
- Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CURA-T), increased 17 per cent to $19.33 from $16.49.
In the first eight months of the year, the TSX SmallCap Index is up 21.77 per cent, compared to a 14.38 per cent return for the TSX Composite Index.
Now, here’s a look at analysts’ current target prices, recommendations, forecast returns and yields for all securities in the S&P/TSX SmallCap Composite Index grouped by sector and ranked according to their expected price returns (excluding dividend and distribution income).
The posted target price for each security is an average of all available target prices from analysts. A target price typically reflects an expected share or unit price 12 months from now based on an analyst’s financial modelling, such as a discounted cash flow or sum-of-the-parts model. For the yield provided, Bloomberg calculates this figure by annualizing the most recent announced dividend or distribution value.
It’s important to note that high target prices, which imply stellar returns that seem unbelievable may be just that - unrealistic. At times, when a stock price falls analysts may maintain their bullish expectations, inflating the forecast return.
In addition, an outlier (extreme target price) can skew the average target price, to the upside or downside, particularly when the number of analysts covering a stock is low.
Don’t let a huge projected gain lure you into a position – it is critical to look at the company and industry fundamentals.