There are a large number of high quality smallcap companies listed on London's AIM market. Using Stockopedia's screening technology I've tried to identify the ten most successful companies on AIM today. I've used a number of metrics* to define 'most sucessful'.
By adjusting the market capitalisation demand, I whittled 1,100 AIM companies down to just 10. The winners (in order of descending market capitalisation) are:
- Abcam (LON:ABC)
- Nichols (LON:NICL)
- Majestic Wine (LON:MJW)
- RWS Holdings (LON:RWS)
- Brooks Macdonald (LON:BRK)
- First Derivatives (LON:FDP)
- Next Fifteen Communications (LON:NFC)
- Portmeirion (LON:PMP)
- Judges Scientific (LON:JDG)
- Mattioli Woods (LON:MTW)
I've picked out five of my favourites.
Portmeirion
You may be surprised to learn that a company specialising in tableware is one of the most successful companies in the UK today. Portmeirion has some fantastic assets: the ceramic brands Spode and Royal Worcester both date back to the late 18th century.
Chairman Dick Steele outlines the secrets of Portmeirion's success: "Our continuing investment in product development, our insistence on quality without compromise, our worldwide sales reach (75% of our sales come from outside the UK) and our prudent financial management. These factors all combine to deliver great brands."
Don't doubt the international stature of Portmeirion. Over 40% of sales are to the North American market. The company sells almost as much to South Korea as it does to the UK.
Portmeirion has never cut its dividend and has been paying out since 1988. EPS for 2012 is expected to be 8.1% higher than the 2011 figure and the dividend is forecast to rise 3.1%. That forecast dividend rise could prove conservative, the payout was raised 15% at the interim stage. Sales in the crucial H2 will determine the yield in 2013.
