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Microcaps
by Brian Hicks
Small and microcaps come back in favor -- and Taipan hits it big with several emerging growth stocks. Our microcap positions had a massive year -- especially in key growth groups like biotechnology. Taipan's core pure play on the Human Genome Project -- Millennium Pharmaceuticals (MLNM-NASDAQ) -- gained in excess of 325% from our original entry price.
But the gains won't stop there. At the beginning of the post-Y2K party, stocks connected with the Human Genome project took off. And Millennium was one of them -- hitting a high of US$167 a share. But Millennium wasn't the only one. Another core biotech holding, MedImmune (MEDI-NASDAQ), returned Taipan a profit of 252% in a year. Optimal Robotics (OPMR-NASDAQ), a play on the self-checkout rage in grocery stores, is up more than 273% in less than 6 months.
Look for more gains in OPMR in the coming months as the company is ramping up a massive roll-out of its U-Scan Express self-checkout systems across the U.S. Micros Systems (MCRS-NASDAQ) doubles in less than a year-and-a-half. Micros Systems has gone from my original entry price of US$29 a share to over US$60 a share.
The leader in wireless ordering units for restaurants, Micros will rally in the coming months.
| Microcaps |
| |
Company |
Exchange/Symbol |
Entry Price |
12/31/99/Sell Price |
Gain/Loss |
Status |
| ’98 open positions |
ADFlex Solutions |
NASDAQ:AFLX |
US$12 |
US$3.50 |
-70% |
closed |
| |
AVI Biopharma |
NASDAQ:AVII |
US$3.25 |
US$5.25 |
61% |
open |
| |
Aviron |
NASDAQ:AVIR |
US$22 |
US$15.75 |
-28% |
open |
| |
Closure Medical |
NASDAQ:CLSR |
US$22.50 |
US$12.90 |
-42% |
open |
| |
Micros Systems |
NASDAQ:MCRS |
US$27 |
US$75.75 |
180% |
open |
| |
Modtech |
NASDAQ:MODT |
US$18 |
US$6 |
-66% |
open |
| |
Nastech Pharmaceutical |
NASDAQ:NSTK |
US$8.50 |
US$2.60 |
-69% |
open |
| |
Printrak |
NASDAQ:AFIS |
US$8 |
US$9.75 |
21% |
open |
| Jan. 99 |
MedImmune |
NASDAQ:MEDI |
US$50 |
US$164 |
228% |
open |
| Mar. 99 |
Pharamaceutical Product Develop. |
NASDAQ:PPDI |
US$35 |
US$11.90 |
68% |
open |
| |
Orbital Sciences |
NYSE:ORB |
US$22 |
US$18 |
-18% |
open |
| Apr. 99 |
Visx |
NASDAQ:VISX |
US$55 (a) |
US$52 |
0% |
open |
| May. 99 |
Millennium Pharmaceuticals |
NASDAQ:MLNM |
US$36 |
US$121 |
236% |
open |
| Jun. 99 |
CheckFree Holdings |
NASDAQ:CKFR |
US$50 |
US$104.50 |
109% |
open |
| Jul. 99 |
Univision |
NYSE:UVN |
US$60 |
US$102 |
70% |
open |
| Aug. 99 |
Optimal Robotics |
NASDAQ:OPMR |
US$12 |
US$37.25 |
210% |
open |
| Sep. 99 |
Ballistic Recovery System |
OTC BB: BRSI |
US$3 |
US$1.25 |
58% |
open |
| Nov. 99 |
Sensormatic Electronics |
NYSE:SRM |
US$12.50 |
US$17.50 |
40% |
open |
| Average Percent Gain: 54% |
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