In this episode of the Planet MicroCap Podcast, I spoke with Lee Roach, Editor/Founder of The Value Road Newsletter on Substack, to dive into his deep value approach in the micro-cap space, focusing on uncovering massive disconnects between price and underlying asset value. Lee breaks down why writing is central to maintaining discipline, how management quality is often the biggest risk in these setups, and why he prioritizes tangible assets and “stupid low” enterprise values over traditional metrics.
We also explore what actually unlocks value- from asset sales to M&A - and how to avoid common pitfalls like dilution, empire building, and thesis drift when investing in the market's most ignored corners. We mention several companies and sectors during this conversation, and I’m not a shareholder in any of them.
For more information about The Value Road Newsletter, please visit: https://thevalueroad.substack.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Microcap Investing
04:20 Leland Roach's Journey into Investing
07:38 Transitioning to Full-Time Investing
10:22 Investing Philosophy and Strategy
13:37 Evaluating Investment Opportunities
16:26 Research Process and Due Diligence
19:35 Understanding Management and Investor Relations
21:38 Identifying Risks in Microcap Investments
22:17 Exploring Investment Missteps
26:34 Identifying Successful Investment Opportunities
31:56 Catalysts for Value Unlocking
33:21 Navigating Patience and Thesis Drift
39:35 The Importance of Writing in Investing
43:44 Lessons Beyond Books and Screens
You can listen to the Planet MicroCap Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Planet Microcap hosts the highest quality in-person microcap events in North America. The mission is to bring the best microcap investors, companies, and allocators together to gather, connect, and grow.; visit https://planetmicrocap.com/ to learn more about our Las Vegas and Toronto events.
This presentation is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any security referenced herein. Planet MicroCap Holdings LLC and MicroCapClub LLC (collectively, “we” or “our”) are not licensed brokers nor registered investment advisors. We, our partners, contractors, members, subscribers, guests, or affiliates may or may not hold positions in one or more of the securities mentioned in this presentation and may trade in such securities at any time. We may have received cash compensation from one or more participants for presenting at past, present, or future events. We recommend you consult a licensed investment adviser, broker, or legal counsel before purchasing or selling any securities referenced in this presentation.