Buy Hold Sell, by Livewire Markets

Buy Hold Sell: The hottest ASX small caps right now (and 2 on the rise)

Unless you've been living under a rock, chances are you're aware of the resurgence in small-cap stocks. The ASX Small Ordinaries is up 19% year-to-date, versus just 7% for the ASX 100.

But it's not just a rotation away from growth-starved large caps that is seeing smalls catch a bid. The recent reporting season showed that many small caps are in rude health, with strong balance sheets and improved earnings backed by margin expansion, built on a bedrock of innovation and competitive advantage.

That's the good news but, of course, not all small caps are created equal. Investors need to be highly selective when considering less mature businesses.

Against that backdrop, Livewire's Chris Conway sat down with James Nguyen from Tyndall and Shaun Weick from Wilson Asset Management to understand their most important factors when assessing companies and run the ruler over three of the hottest ASX small caps.

For good measure, they each share a name they believe is on the rise.

Please note that this episode was filmed 5 November 2025

Buy Hold Sell: The photo finish - 5 ASX stock duels that could go either way

Over the past few episodes, we’ve galloped through our Spring Racing Carnival series - from the “stayers” built to go the distance, to the “wet-track wonders” that hold their footing when conditions turn tough. And now, as we thunder down the home straight, it’s time for the Photo Finish.

In this final instalment, we’re doing things a little differently. Rather than our usual stock-by-stock format, we’ve set up a series of head-to-head matchups - five pairs of closely matched companies, each vying for line honours. Our guests will weigh in on which business they’d back, and why.

It’s a chance to see how professional investors think when they’re forced to make the hard calls, where conviction meets comparison, and small details separate a winner from the pack.

Joining me to make those calls are Nick Pashias from Antares Equities and Marcus Ryan from Yarra Capital Management. 

Please note this episode was filmed on 22 October 2025.

 

 

Buy Hold Sell: 3 ASX stocks built to handle tough conditions

Winter might be over, but in markets, the clouds can roll in at any time. And when they do, only the sure-footed survive. With the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival in full swing, we’re once again taking inspiration from the track - this time, looking for the “wet-track wonders” of the ASX. 

These are the companies that can handle tougher terrain, those with strong balance sheets, reliable earnings, and management teams that know how to keep moving forward when the ground gets heavy.

In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, Livewire’s Chris Conway is joined by Marcus Ryan from Yarra Capital Management and Nick Pashias from Antares Equities. Together, they’ll explore what defines true resilience in the sharemarket and where investors might find the best footing if conditions deteriorate.

Before they dive into the stocks, Chris asks Nick what traits he looks for in businesses that can weather the storm - from fiscal discipline and predictable cash flows to that all-important pricing power. Marcus then weighs in on which sectors tend to thrive when the economic going gets tough.

As well as analysing three ASX names, for good measure, the guests each share a stock in their portfolio that they might look at differently if conditions head south. 

Please note this episode was filmed on 22 October 2025.

Buy Hold Sell: 5 ASX stayers built to go the distance

Spring has arrived, and with it, the familiar buzz of the racing season in Melbourne - where form, endurance, and timing can make all the difference. It’s not just the horses gearing up for a big run - investors, too, are scanning the field for those rare “stayers” that can go the distance.

In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, we’re drawing inspiration from the track to talk about the enduring performers of the sharemarket - the companies that keep compounding, year after year, through every twist in the economic cycle. These are the market’s equivalent of the proven stayers: dependable, disciplined, and capable of delivering over the long haul.

Joining Livewire's Chris Conway to break down what makes a true long-term performer are Nick Pashias from Antares Equities and Marcus Ryan from Yarra Capital Management. 

We kick off by finding out whether the gents fancy a flutter during the Spring Racing Carnival or prefer to keep their bets confined to the stock market. We then explore what the term “quality compounder” really means to them - the traits, fundamentals, and track records that separate the contenders from the also-rans.

And of course, we’ll run the ruler over three proven “stayers”, before each guest reveals the one company they’d hold for the next five years (if they had to!).

Please note this episode was filmed on 22 October 2025.

 

 

Buy Hold Sell: 4 overlooked ASX small cap winners and 3 that are overcooked

Sometimes, the best opportunities aren’t in the headlines. While the market chases momentum, savvy investors know that real alpha often comes from spotting quality before the crowd does, and knowing when to step aside when things get a little too hot.

In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, host Anna Dadic is joined by small-cap specialists Matt Griffin from Maple Brown-Abbott and Luke Laretive from Seneca to unpack some of the market’s lesser-known winners and a couple of names they think are best avoided for now.

From the small-cap success stories flying under the radar to red flags flashing on overhyped names, our guests share where they’re finding value, what signals they look for when identifying early opportunities, and how they avoid the common traps that trip up investors.

Buy Hold Sell: How to play the small-cap rebound plus 4 stocks leading the way

Small caps are in comeback mode, and investors are starting to take notice. After years in the doldrums, this once-unloved corner of the market is showing real signs of life, with the index surging more than 20% year to date. But is this rally built on solid foundations, or is it just another short-term burst of optimism?

In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, host Anna Dadic is joined by Matt Griffin from Maple-Brown Abbott and Luke Laretive from Seneca to unpack what’s really driving the small-cap recovery and where the next wave of opportunity might lie.

From takeover activity heating up to renewed investor appetite for growth, our guests share their read on what’s changed, what still looks cheap, and the risks investors need to keep on their radar. 

If you’ve been sitting on the fence about small caps, this episode is packed with insights to help you separate the real signals from the market noise.

Buy Hold Sell: 5 ASX small-cap ideas and the hot sectors driving them

When it comes to small caps, investors tend to fall into two camps: those who see risk and those who see opportunity. With a small-cap comeback underway, the latter camp might just be onto something. While this part of the market can be volatile and under-researched, it’s also fertile ground for stock pickers with a sharp eye and thick skin.

In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, Livewire’s Anna Dadic is joined by Matt Griffin from Maple Brown Abbott and Luke Laretive from Seneca Financial Solutions to uncover where they’re spotting value in today’s small-cap landscape.

From sector-level trends to the traits that separate a potential winner from a flop, these two fundies share how they’re navigating a dynamic market full of hidden gems and hopefuls.

We put three small-cap names under the microscope, with our guests weighing in on which ones still have room to run and which might have already had their moment. They also each share a high-conviction pick they believe could outperform over the next 12 months.

This interview was filmed on Wednesday 8 October 2025. 

Buy Hold Sell: 5 ASX playmakers making things happen

This year's NRL Finals have been dominated by the players with the magic touch showing up when needed.

But which companies are doing the same thing on the ASX? Who are the real MVPs and who are the also-rans? 

In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, Livewire's Tom Stelzer is joined by Tim Riordan from Blackwattle and Brenton Saunders from Pendal to offer their verdicts on the companies showing strong game management and delivering on the big stage. 

Our guests also bring the ASX innovator they think has a winning strategy right now. 

Please note, this episode was filmed on Wednesday, 24th September 2025. 

Buy Hold Sell: 4 ASX stocks for playing defence (and 1 to leave on the bench)

This episode was filmed Wednesday, 24th September 2025.

The siren might have sounded on another AFL season, but when it comes to markets, the game next stops. 

With the ASX trading near record highs and valuations stretching common sense, investors are asking the big question: how do you protect the scoreboard when conditions turn tough?

As the saying goes, attack wins you games, but defence wins you titles. And while growth stocks often grab the spotlight, low-volatility names and reliable portfolio ballast can be just as crucial for staying in the match when momentum shifts.

So in this episode, we’re drawing up our own starting lineup of ASX defenders. Which stocks deserve a place in your portfolio’s backline, and which ones should be left warming the bench?

Joining Livewire's Tom Stelzer to make the calls are  from Blackwattle and Brenton Saunders from Pendal, who put three ASX names under the spotlight. They also share their best defensive stock picks for when markets get choppy.

Buy Hold Sell: 5 ASX growth stocks kicking goals right now

Growth stocks by definition are going to run hot from time to time, but as the old saying goes: form is temporary, class is permanent.

In a year that's seen a surprisingly resilient stock market, some names have taken the ball and run with it. But it's where they go next that matters.

In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, Livewire's Tom Stelzer is joined by Tim Riordan from Blackwattle and Brenton Saunders from Pendal to analyse some of the ASX's current star performers and see whether they can maintain that form going forward.

They also throw up the ASX growth stock they think can continue to kick goals over the next 12 months.

Please note this episode was filmed on 24 September 2025.