These 16 small caps are the most expensive; and they outperformed their peers 10.5 times

When a stock sells for $5 apiece, more often than not it is probably going to be a large cap.

But an analysis by Stockhead revealed that 16 stocks fetching this sort of price are actually still small caps – and they had a far better 2019 than their peers.

And if that isn’t impressive enough, while all other ASX small caps (below $5) are only up 9.41 per cent, these stocks have done 10.5 times better gaining 99.58 per cent.

The most expensive small cap is Macquarie Telecom (ASX:MAQ) at $22.97 per share. Yes it’s a telco, but not just any telco — it is the ATO’s secure internet gateway and cyber security provider.

The company also has the highest customer satisfaction rate of any telco with a Net Promoter Score of +72.

Audio Pixels (ASX:AKP) has risen over 1,000 per cent in 10 years from 15c to $15.83. It is making semi-conductor based audio speakers but is yet to commercialise them.

Third was industrial company Schaffer Corp (ASX:SFC) which had a solid year, gaining 13 per cent.

Among familiar household names on the list is Bundaberg-based lender Auswide Bank (ASX:ABA) and dental practice 1300 Smiles (ASX:ONT) — the same one that sponsored the old North Queensland stadium.

While the majority of stocks on this list made modest gains in 2019, two had breakout years.

Advance Nanotek (ASX:ANO) costs $5.86 per share and is up 541 per cent. This company makes advanced materials for use by chemists.

Its chairman is a familiar name in ASX-land: Lev Mizikovsky.

One stock that only just made the list is PPK Group (ASX:PPK). It was just under 60c at the start of the year but now sits around 862 per cent higher.

It provides equipment, safety and automation services to the mining sector – a sector that has overall had a great year.