Wall Street can be a harsh teacher (I have the grey hairs to prove
it), so it's best to learn certain lessons with a minimal number of
repetitions. One of those lessons is that it almost always pays to be
skeptical when it comes to small development-stage companies that depend
upon commercial launches controlled by larger companies.
Senomyx (NASDAQ:SNMX) has an interesting IP and technology portfolio for taste receptor-based food additives and a high-profile partnership with PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP).
Optimism over the commercialization potential of an additive designed
to reduce the sugar/HFCS content of sodas and other beverages sent these
shares close to $13 this year, but then the market swept the legs out
from under the stock on worries about a later-than-guided commercial
launch from Pepsi and lackluster self-directed sales efforts.
I
had been less bullish on Senomyx's near-term prospects than at least
some of the sell-side, so the consequences of this six-to-nine month
delay aren't as bad to my valuation. I still believe this is a
high-risk/high-reward situation, but the commercial potential of
products that can reduce the sugar or salt content of food and
beverages, or enhance their savory characteristics is such that this is
still a stock for aggressive investors to consider as a 2015 breakout
story.
To read more, follow this link:
Despite A Reminder Of The Risks, Senomyx Still Has Appealing Potential
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