The small end of the Australian share market is home to a number of companies with the potential to grow materially in the future.

Four that investors might want to get better acquainted with are listed below. Here’s why they should be on your watchlist:

Alcidion Group Ltd (ASX: ALC)

The first small cap share to watch is Alcidion. It is a growing informatics solutions company aiming to transform healthcare with proactive, smart, intuitive technology solutions that improve the efficiency and quality of patient care in healthcare organisations worldwide. Alcidion notes that it offers a complementary set of software products and technical services that create a unique offering in the global healthcare market.

Bigtincan Holdings Ltd (ASX: BTH)

Another small cap ASX share to look at is this leading provider of enterprise mobility software to businesses globally. Bigtincan’s software unlocks new and more effective ways for teams to perform at higher levels and deliver better business results. Management notes that its platform empowers sales and service representatives to maximise their use of sales collateral to engage with customers and prospects more effectively.

Booktopia Group Ltd (ASX: BKG)

A third small cap ASX share to watch is Booktopia. This online book retailer has been growing at an explosive rate in recent years. This has been driven by the shift to online shopping and the opening of its new distribution centre. The latter is allowing the company to capture the heightened demand and ship more books than ever. In fact, for the 12 months ending June 2021, the company sold one item approximately every 3.9 seconds and shipped approximately 8.2 million items. This averages out to be a massive 32,800 items per business day.

Whispir Ltd (ASX: WSP)

A final small cap ASX share to watch is Whispir. It is a global scale SaaS company that provides a communications workflow platform that automates interactions between organisations and people. Its products enable organisations to improve their communications through automated workflows to ensure stakeholders receive accurate, timely, useful and actionable insights. Management estimates that it has a total addressable market of US$4.7 billion in just the United States market.

The post 4 small cap ASX shares for your watchlist appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Alcidion Group Ltd, BIGTINCAN FPO, and Whispir Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Booktopia Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alcidion Group Ltd, BIGTINCAN FPO, and Whispir Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was unable to reclaim lost ground throughout the day. At the end of the session, the benchmark index was 0.24% lower at 6,971.6 points.

The overall market ended lower despite the majority of companies in the top 200 moving higher today. Consumer staples and financials dragged on the index into the red. In fact, all four of the major banks posted negative moves for the session.

On the other hand, tech shares managed to dodge the negative sentiment on Monday. The sector as a whole conjured up a 3.7% rally.

However, the question is: which shares delivered the biggest returns to investors on the ASX today? Here are the top ten stocks that came through for investors:

Top 10 ASX shares countdown today

Looking at the top 200 listed companies, Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) was the biggest gainer today. Shares in the biotechnology company surged 8.81% as Telix announced the despatch of its share purchase program booklet to raise $25 million. Find out more about Telix Pharmaceuticals here.

The next biggest gaining ASX share today was Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE). The electricity producer rallied 8.20% despite there being no news from the company today. Uncover the latest Genesis Energy details here.

Today’s top 10 biggest gains were made in these ASX shares:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)	$6.79	8.81%
Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE)	$2.77	8.20%
ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB)	$46.15	7.90%
Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P)	$3.16	7.48%
Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)	$45.30	4.89%
John Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG)	$7.71	4.61%
AVZ Minerals Ltd (ASX: AVZ)	$0.70	4.48%
Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX)	$7.50	4.02%
Meridian Energy Ltd (ASX: MEZ)	$4.18	3.98%
Dominos Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)	$103.40	3.90%

Our top 10 ASX shares today countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to ensure you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check-in at Fool.com.au after the market has closed during weekdays to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended WiseTech Global and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ARB Corporation Limited and Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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Key points

• The Novonix share price moves higher on quarterly activities report
• Production capacity increases with additional furnaces commissioned
• KORE Power partnership puts Novonix in the driver’s seat for exclusive supply

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The Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX) share price inched ahead on Monday following the release of its quarterly report.

At the close, shares in the battery materials technology company finished 4% higher at $7.34. Despite the rally, Novonix shares are still 40% below their 52-week high.

Novonix share price rallies on jampacked quarter

It was a busy quarter for Novonix and its shareholders. Here are several notable corporate activities highlighted in the company’s quarterly report:

• Phillips 66‘s (NYSE: PSX) nominates Zhanna Gologryga as new Novonix board member
• New Novonix Riverside synthetic graphite facility officially opened in Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Added to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)
• Received CAD$1.675 million in funding from Next Generation Manufacturing Canada
• Retaining A$259.9 million in cash at the end of the quarter

What else happened during the quarter?

The December ending quarter involved Novonix progressing with its milestones for manufacturing anode materials. A major development for the company during this time was the official opening of a facility spanning more than 400,000 square feet in the United States, sending the Novonix share price higher.

Speaking at the Riverside facility opening, US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said:

The local support for this means not just something for Chattanooga, and it’s not just for Tennessee, but it really is for the country. The fact that we’re at a facility that once employed about 230 people and that now is going to employ 300 people, making the future of our transportation energy system secure, is such a great day for America.

In addition, the company’s commissioning of new equipment to meet production targets continued on track. On this note, a generation 2 furnace system is fully operational with a second system to be added in the third quarter.

Novonix noted it plans to defer deliveries to Samsung SDI and Sanyo. However, the company remains engaged with both partners and will provide material specifications based on its generation 3 furnace technology.

Furthermore, the cathode segment of the business reportedly experienced strong revenue growth. During this period, ASX-listed Novonix expanded its hardware sales and research and development offerings. The battery technology solutions team is now 56 people strong, compared to 27 at the beginning of 2021.

For the three months ended 31 December 2021, Novonix recorded A$2.22 million in receipts from customers. However, investors appear to be looking past current financial metrics as the company ramps up its battery material production capabilities.

What’s next?

Lately, ASX-listed Novonix has been touting its proposed agreement with leading US-based battery developer KORE Power. As announced last week, Novonix is slated to be the exclusive supplier of graphite anode material to KORE’s planned battery production facility.

From here, Novonix will continue to scale its anode production capabilities. At this stage, the company plans to complete the installation of its first two generation 3 furnace systems in the third quarter. Ultimately, continuing to increase capacity to meet its 30,000 tonnes per annum production target by 2025.

Novonix share price snapshot

The Novonix share price is up more than 170% in the last year. In other words, it has provided a far superior return to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

However, in the past month, the excitement has begun to subside with shares falling by nearly 30%. Despite the knock, the company boasts a market capitalisation of $3.57 billion based on the current Novonix share price.

The post Novonix (ASX:NVX) share price lifts 4% on quarter of expansion appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Novonix (ASX:NVX) share price drops 6% amid agreement with US battery cell developer
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Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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Key points

• Green shorting might soon hit the mainstream, but market watchers are scratching their heads in wonder of what it means
• The method can be a branch of both ESG investing and shorting. It sees short sellers target a company based on its environmental credentials
• Today, an Australian investment management firm launched a fund featuring green shorting, and these ASX 200 shares have made its books

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This ESG investment style is becoming increasingly mainstream and some S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are being targeted.

Green shorting is a method of short selling shares based on environmental credentials. It can be argued to help push for climate action and hedge against risks. And one fund manager believes the ASX is one of the best places on earth to engage in green shorting.

Here are the ASX 200 shares that are reportedly being targeted by green shorters.

But first, what is green shorting?

Green shorting is a form of short selling. Short selling is a method whereby a ‘short seller’ will borrow shares from another investor.

The short seller will then sell the borrowed shares on market and buy them back prior to returning them.

They will pocket any fall in value the borrowed stock might experience in the meantime as profit.

Green shorting is when an investor shorts a company based – mainly – on their climate credentials.

As AQR’s Cliff Asness explains, shorting companies because of their climate policies can put pressure on them to ‘clean up’ their emissions.

It could also be seen to help protect short sellers from some climate-related risks.

Finally, green shorting can give short sellers power over carbon intensive companies as voting shareholders.

Which ASX 200 shares are being green shorted?

Plato Investment Management announced the launch of its Global Net Zero Hedge Fund this afternoon. The fund is designed to outperform broader markets while being exposed only to net zero investments.

It also engages in green shorting.

Plato’s managing director Don Hamson and portfolio manager David Allen told The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald the newly unyielded fund is taking part in green shorting. It’s short selling shares in ASX 200 companies with net zero action plans that it thinks might prove difficult to pull off.

The publications quoted Hamson as saying:

We short stocks that are higher carbon with poor return outlook and long-stocks with low carbon on average with good return averages.

Meanwhile, Allen told the publications that the ASX, with its many carbon-intensive sectors, could be a beacon for green shorting:

The ASX is unfortunately one of the worst developed markets in the world. It’s not quite as bad as emerging markets, but that’s perhaps to be expected.

The fundies said the ASX 200 companies being green shorted include AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) and Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN).

The fund reportedly believes AGL’s reliance on coal-fired power and Qantas’ plan to decarbonise using not-yet-existent technologies will see them struggling to reach net-zero.

At Qantas’ 2021 annual general meeting, its chair Richard Goyder stated that the airline planned to reach net zero by 2050 using methods including biofuels, offsetting emissions, and embracing low-emissions technology.

AGL has previously stated its net zero by 2050 strategy will encompass offering customers carbon neutral energy, investing in low emissions energy, and transitioning its portfolio. It will also be helped along by its planned demerger.

The post What is green shorting and which ASX 200 shares are being targeted? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why have ASX energy shares become such hot property in 2022?
• Why is the Qantas (ASX:QAN) share price gaining altitude today?
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• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell next week
• Why are AGL (ASX:AGL) shares having such a stellar start to 2022 while the ASX 200 is struggling?

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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