One reason I was originally dubious about this stock when it first started appearing as a buy candidate was it's small float and resultant lack of liquidity. (Evidently not dubious enough!) The problem is, this is a very small company, with sales which were (are?) projected at $35- 37 million (plus or minus) for this year. These sales numbers, and a float of 2.4 million, or 3.6 million or even 5 million should it split a few more times, still places the company in the micro-cap category. This means many institutional investors, including MOST mutual funds, can't or won't even go near a company this size. I believe it's actually spelled out in some fund charters. Rainier may know better on that score.
As such, EQNX is just not going to be a stock which attracts the "elephants", nor will it be a stock that affords much liquidity in times of "market distress". And despite some cleaning up by the NASD, I sure wouldn't trust the "market makers" to maintain the fairest of spreads when a stock like this gets hit. I would love to get my hands on a reasonably current list of the top institutional holders of these shares- my guess is that there are a few micro- and small cap funds, some small pension and retirement plans (universities, governments, that sort of thing) and definitely not a lot of "strong hands" on the institutional side. Thus, not a lot to hold up the stock when, as Rainier said, the small shareholders (us Bozos on the bus) are kept in the dark. Hence, a day like today.
While I don't think they can be accused (or convicted) of driving down their own stock price, I'm one of those pissed off people running around who's convinced someone somewhere knew something, and that management was asleep at the switch. And sure have a gotten a great buy point as a result. But, and I'm not being facetious, I'm not sure technical charts would stand up in court as evidence of that.
Mark Kacer mentioned 600K plus as the number of shares available in the buyback. I think (guess) that is based on splitting of these shares 3 for 2 just like all outstanding shares were split. So, at $8 to 9 a share, there's about $5 million potential buying power in the stock. Again, on a micro -cap, that's not chump change.
I too don't envy management one bit. They have a big task ahead of them. But cynic that I am, I have to also remember that that's why they get the big bucks.
Best wishes and good luck. |
