Let’s take a trip back to March of 2024 when Ztest first hit my radar. They were a $6.5M market cap trading on the CSE who seemingly just posted some interesting results.
While the company had some intriguing financials, the website had not been updated in two years and there was no investor deck to be found. The only method at the time to reach out to management was via a web form. I expressed my potential interest as an investor, but assumed that web form would go into the void, never to be seen. To my surprise, this email came hours later.
I was encouraged. I REALLY wanted an excuse to like the company and throw some money it’s way. Unfortunately after sending at least one reminder, I never heard from Steve directly again.
The stock was 27 cents the day of that review, and two and a half years later it has appreciated by 54%, closing yesterday at $0.415.
I’ve reviewed Ztest on a few occassions since then, and I will admit that it was difficult to give them a fair shake. My next review highlighted the number of days from Steve’s “weekend”commitment. I guess can hold a grudge with the best of them.
So why am I deciding to re-hash history and write about the company again? First, they reported what seems to be a very decent 2026 after a sub par 2025. More importantly, there’s a new sheriff in town with Steve Smith’s retirement back in June, hiring board chair, Dave Barnett to lead the company as President and CEO. The company also strengthened their board with the addition of Stephen Harpur, a proven leader and CEO of 2026 Wolf Pick, Progressive Planet. They also added SmallCap Discoveries, Trevor Treweeke.
As much as I may have liked Ztest previously, I was never able to take them seriously as a potential investment after a simple commitment was not followed through on by their leader.
With new leadership, am I more likely to pull the trigger now? Let’s find out.
(for paid subscribers until free release - Monday Oct 19)