My guest on the show today is Cameron, Founder of Commonsense Investing and author of the Substack microcapstocks.substack.com. Cameron is a microcap investor focused on education, community, and a disciplined research process — bringing a common-sense approach to navigating this often volatile corner of the market.
In our conversation, Cameron shares how his investing journey evolved from chasing high-flyers and exposing bad actors to building a thoughtful framework for identifying quality microcap companies. He discusses the importance of doing your own research, filtering stocks through a rigorous process, and why flexibility is a powerful edge for retail investors.
We also talk about his personal investing experiences, as well as key red flags to look out for — from share dilution to questionable management behavior. And for full disclosure, we discussed a number of companies during today’s podcast. I am not a shareholder in any of them. For more information about Cameron and Common Sense Investing, please visit: https://commonsenseinvesting.ca/
Watch on YouTube:
Overview/Breakdown of the interview:
I. Philosophy & Core Beliefs
“Success in microcaps isn’t about finding the next 10-bagger. It’s about filtering wisely, staying flexible, and constantly learning.”
Cameron’s philosophy centers on practical, long-term investing principles—what he calls a “commonsense” approach. His framework goes beyond hype, prioritizing research, education, and community engagement. Investing is seen as a repeatable process rooted in clear criteria and constant iteration, not lottery-ticket speculation.
“20% of success in micro cap investing is actually the stocks... 80% of it is kind of strategy.”
II. Investing is a Team Sport
“We’re not lone wolves—we’re building together.”
Microcap investing thrives on collaboration. Cameron pushes back against the lone-genius myth often associated with early-stage stock picking. He highlights the importance of events like Planet MicroCap Showcase for building relationships, exchanging ideas, and refining investment theses in a social context.
“Too many new micro cap investors think: I’ll find a stock no one knows and get rich. But the better path is education, community, and learning from different viewpoints.”
III. Research, Filtering & Criteria
“It’s not about picking stocks. It’s about filtering out the noise.”
Cameron outlines a rigorous, layered filtering process. From an initial pool of 100 stocks, he narrows down to ~1% worth serious consideration. Key filters include:
Growth (especially top-line revenue)
Profitability or a clear path to it
Balance sheet strength
Execution-focused management
“You need to dig into the earnings, have criteria, and put stocks through a serious filter.”
He also stresses the advantage of prepping before conferences, identifying potential one-on-ones, and doing the work upfront to focus on high-quality opportunities.
“Being prepared going into an event helps you target the right companies for deeper dives.”
IV. From Exposure to Education: Cameron’s Journey
“I started out exposing bad stocks. Now I focus on teaching what makes a stock good.”
Cameron’s early exposure to investing came via his father and a wild ride with Canadian Solar. His journey took a serious turn during COVID, when rampant speculation inspired him to launch a YouTube channel focused on uncovering fraud and poor governance.
“My father was a degenerate micro cap investor… I got addicted after watching Canadian Solar go from $3 to $40 and back.”
After legal threats shuttered that effort, he pivoted. The mission now: highlighting quality companies and giving newer investors the tools to succeed.
“I thought—if I can’t educate people about bad stocks, I’ll teach them about good ones.”
V. Strategy: Iteration, Flexibility & Conviction
“Retail’s superpower is flexibility. Use it.”
Cameron stresses that unlike institutions, retail investors can scale in and out based on evolving data. His strategy is iterative—begin with a small position, monitor results, and scale conviction over time.
“Add a little, test your thesis, adjust. That’s something big funds can’t always do.”
A major qualitative factor is trust in management. Cameron values CEOs who own missteps and transparently outline solutions.
“When a CEO says, ‘Here’s our problem and how we’ll fix it,’ they build trust.”
VI. Mistakes, Red Flags & Learning Loops
“Follow the money. Follow the shares.”
Cameron shares key red flags: excessive dilution, insider enrichment through options/bonuses, and sweetheart financings.
“If money and shares flow to management or financiers, not to growing the business—that’s your sign.”
He advocates staying humble, exiting positions when the thesis breaks, and learning from missteps. Conviction without ego is key.
VII. Notable Anecdotes & Examples
Telus Stock & Cameron’s Father: A lighthearted story about how a family-held Telus position paid for college—underscoring the multigenerational impact of investing.
Canadian Solar (CISQ): A high-volatility experience that sparked Cameron’s addiction to microcaps.
NTG Clarity Networks (NCI.v): A case study of his filtering strategy. While the stock returned 18x at one point, many investors still lost money—highlighting the danger of chasing hype without a plan.
VIII. Final Thoughts
“Microcap investing isn’t about home runs. It’s about education, process, and patience.”
Cameron’s story offers a refreshingly grounded perspective on microcap investing. His approach blends quantitative rigor with qualitative judgment, all grounded in a strong ethical framework. For newer investors navigating the noise of the market, Cameron’s commonsense lens serves as a valuable guide.
“Let’s stop chasing hype and start teaching people how to fish.”
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