One of our analysts used to be a gaming analyst, rating companies that operated casinos, poker machines and wagering businesses. It became clear that no matter how good the management was, it didn't make a difference. Anti-smoking laws and a general crackdown via increased regulation by the state of gambling meant that the profits of the whole industry were contracting. It is always good to have a top down view of things.

In the financial crisis it was obvious, but the rule always applies: Cash is king. No matter how rosy the investment climate may look, it is important to look at the balance sheet to see what financial engineering is going on behind a company's returns. If you are in an investment for the long term, you want to be sure that the assets the company lists can be sold and that it is producing a solid amount of cash after paying for its day to day requirements as well as those necessary to ensure its profits grow in the future.

The ratios we like to look at include a company's book value (its net assets), its forecast price earnings ratio – with an emphasis on the E in PE, and the amount of interest it is forecast to pay, relative to its earnings before interest payments and tax.

In the case of mining companies and biotechs, there is a different orientation. Here we look at the cash burn rate and what the likelihood of raising capital is. Raising equity isn't the worst thing in the world, but you want to know that there are performance hurdles the company will meet in the near term that will help raise investor sentiment (meaning its share price). Also, a clear understanding of when the company will be cash flow positive and not need any more cash injections is critical.

The graph of a company's share price always tells an interesting story. Although the Small Cap share chart won't tell you how to invest for the long term, it gives the best idea of the sentiment that any given stock/sector/market has experienced over differing time frames. This is a big aid in timing a decision to jump into or out of a company and whether it is regarded overall as a consistent performer by the investment community.

Our Small Cap cap analysts, or for other investors who are looking to delve a little further look at the beta of a company, that is, how it is correlated against the market. But I believe that the one-year and five-year charts are good enough indicators of investor sentiment.

Under the Radar Report gives you clear Buy, Sell and Hold recommendations for all our small cap stocks. Each week we tell you which stocks have changed recommendation so it is very easy to keep up to date and to take action when you need to.

Whether talking to management or not, it is important to gauge their performance. A Small Cap investor needs coherent explanations of past performance as well as what their plans are for the future. Management needs to both talk the talk and walk the walk.

Our analysts interview management of the Small Cap stocks we cover.

What are the positives and negatives of the small company from an investors perspective? Our analysts are independent and Under the Radar Report does not take leads or publish PR! Our analysis is all from the ground up and we write the bull and bear points objectively.

For an investor, everything really comes down to this. Having a clear idea of what a company's valuation is makes it easier to make buy and sell decisions. Our decisions are assisted using valuation methodologies such as price earnings multiples and analysing the present day value of near-term forecast cash flows.

What will happen in the future that will lead to a stock moving towards the valuation we have chosen? Underlying this is the primacy of timing. In investing timing is important, although rarely do people get it right. We have a belief that the main thing to do is to buy and hold. Patience is one of the biggest virtues and investor can have.