On a down day for the S&P / ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) there are several stocks going against the tide to post significant gains. Let's take a look at each and consider whether there may be more gains ahead.
Vocation Ltd (ASX: VET) is a vocational training and private education provider that may be attracting contrarian investors looking to make a quick profit. The company lost more than 80% of its value recently and has forecast a statutory earnings loss in the first half of financial year 2015 with no interim dividend. Nevertheless the stock has climbed more than 3.5% to 29 cents today
The next two hurdles for brave investors to look out for are the reporting of half-year results in February and the outcome of legal actions commenced against the business for misleading and deceptive conduct. If the business is able to negotiate these obstacles and restore investor confidence today's price may be cheap.
Neuren Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: NEU) is up 0.5 cent to 16 cents today, and up more than 28% over the last month. It's a biopharmaceutical business developing new therapies for brain conditions, and has made some notable progress recently in attempting to commercialise its products.
Neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Rett syndrome represent one of the last great frontiers for modern medicine in attempting to find genuinely effective treatments. Unsurprisingly there are multiple hopeful biotechs hoping to change that with Neuren currently developing drugs for the treatment of Rett syndrome.
Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME) is a provider of IT and software services to the healthcare sector which today announced the signing of a $5 million five-year contract with a US medical practitioner. As a result the shares have jumped more than 5.5% or 7 cents to $1.22 and are up around 35% over the last three months.
The business has a market value of around $115 million and has been on a roll recently in winning business in the giant US market. This looks a stock worthy of serious consideration given the US growth prospects backed up by recent contract wins.
TFS Corporation Ltd (ASX: TFC) is an Indian sandalwood business with a volatile share price incongruent with the mundane nature of its tree growing businesses.
One derivative of the wood is pharmaceutical grade East Indian Sandalwood Oil. Recently Nestle-owned U.S. pharmaceutical company Galderma launched an anti-acne cream named Benzac, which contains the sandalwood oil and sells through major U.S. retailers like Target and Walmart. Sandalwood oil reportedly contains anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and the vote of confidence in its pharmaceutical potential from one of the world's leading dermatology businesses suggests a positive outlook. Moreover, several credible analysts have price targets on TFS Corporation significantly above today's price of $1.63.
