Stock market operator OTC Markets Group announced the 2015 OTCQX Best 50 list, the first time the exchange has opted to rank the top performing companies on the OTCQX marketplace.
The OTCQX Best 50 ranks 50 top U.S. and international companies on the OTCQX marketplace based on an equal weighting of one-year share price performance and average daily dollar volume growth. All companies in the 2015 OTCQX Best 50 are ranked based on their performance in the 2014 calendar year.
“The OTCQX Best Marketplace offers the most efficient trading for established, investor-friendly U.S. and international companies that are looking to grow their businesses and increase their exposure to U.S. investors,” said Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President – Corporate Services for OTC Markets Group. “We are proud to recognize the most successful OTCQX companies in our inaugural OTCQX Best 50, which are helping enhance market transparency and deliver long-term value for their shareholders.”
So who are the winners?
The 2015 OTCQX Best 50 class, on average, delivered a return of 52 percent in 2014. The companies’ shares traded an aggregate $4.6 billion during 2014. More than three-quarters of the companies are listed on a major foreign stock exchange such as the Toronto Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange or BM&F Bovespa. Nine of the companies are U.S. community banks or bank holding companies. One-half of all companies paid a dividend in 2014.
The number one top-ranked OTCQX company overall was Western Lithium USA Corp. (TSX: WLC; OTCQX: WLCDF), a Canada-based resource company that has traded on OTCQX since February 3, 2011.
The top performing U.S.-based company was Unilens Vision Inc. (OTCQX: UVIC), a Largo, FL-based company that through its subsidiaries develops, licenses, manufactures, distributes and markets contact lenses primarily under the C-Vue brand directly to independent eye care professionals.
Click here for the complete Best 50 ranking
OTC Markets Group applied the following criteria to the 325 companies traded on OTCQX on December 31, 2014 to determine which companies would qualify for the 2015 OTCQX Best 50:
1) The company traded on OTCQX as of December 31, 2014
2) The closing share price of $0.25 or greater as of December 31, 2014
3) The closing share price on December 31, 2014, was greater than on December 31, 2013
4) The stock traded equal to or more than $500,000 in dollar volume in 2014
5) The stock was not a “penny stock” on December 31, 2014, as defined under SEC Rule 3a51-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
6) The stock traded at least one day in 2013 and was a member of the OTCQX Composite Index as of December 31, 2014.
