StockSlam: Top stock pitches from private investors are back

For the time being, Covid has rewritten the rules on how we all gather and socialise – and for many private investors, it’s made a sometimes solitary endeavour even lonelier.

Over the past 12 months there’s probably been more call than ever for a chance to get together and share ideas – so it was great to see this week’s online StockSlam reach full capacity.

Back in 2018, a discussion between Damian Cannon and Stockopedia’s Ed Croft led to what became a regular gathering of investors in London. The StockSlams were a chance to pitch ideas and discuss them over pizza and drinks – but Covid derailed them.

This week, the StockSlam made a welcome return – with 10 three-minute pitches presented online to a capacity crowd of over 1,000 people. That’s far, far more than could have ever been accommodated at the physical events – and the limit will be lifted at the next one. The format – as Damian pointed out ahead of the presentations – means that everyone gets to share their ideas, but nobody outstays their welcome!

In addition to Damian’s masterly hosting, this week’s StockSlam was impressively-managed and recorded by Tamzin and Tim at piworld. So for anybody that missed the event or wants to see it again, here’s the video and a quick summary of the pitches…

• Damian Cannon:Caledonia Mining (CMCL)
  A Zimbabwe gold mining operator that looks cheap and could see production soar.

• David Brunsdon: Unite Group (UTG)
  A student accommodation specialist that could bounce back strongly when normality returns.

• Nick Cotton: RWS Holdings (RWS)
  A large language services company that could see profits grow quickly after a recent acquisition.

• John Sladden: Braemar Shipping Services (BMS)
  An international ship broking group that could beat forecasts on the back of higher shipping rates and lower costs.

• Paul Scott: Renold (RNO)
  A small but highly regarded industrial chains group where a solid turnaround is well under way.

• Tamzin Freeman and Rebecca Stewart: SDI (SDI)
  A high quality buy-and-build scientific equipment group with a habit of underpromising and overdelivering.

• Ed Croft: Cake Box (CBOX)
  A fast growing and highly profitable franchise retailer of celebration cakes on a rapid roll-out.

• Martin Flitton: Gear 4 Music (G4M)
  The number-one player in selling musical instruments in the UK could be poised to benefit post-Covid.

• Diarmuid O’Hare: Halfords (HFD)
  Macro trends could be playing into the hands of the UK’s leading provider of motoring and cycling products and services.

• Edmund Shing: Atalaya Mining (ATYM)
  Multiple reasons why this copper miner operating in Spain could be a solid play on the new commodities super-cycle.

A big thanks to all the presenters and everyone who joined to watch them. The good news is that the next StockSlam has already been scheduled, and is set to take place on 7 April – so watch out for more details in the near future. Next time, we’ll be expanding capacity to make sure everyone who wants to join the live event, can do.

Stockopedia