Investor John Templeton got his start in penny stocks. Here are some large companies that were once pennystocks!

Let’s explore how some of these tech giants 

and other companies were once penny stocks:

1. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL): Apple, founded in 1976, had its ups and downs. With nine stock splits taken into account, it was in penny stock territory as recently as 1995. Now, it trades above $300 a share1.

2. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F): Ford, a Fortune 500 company, was also once a penny stock. It has come a long way since then2.

3. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN): Believe it or not, Amazon was once a penny stock too. Its remarkable growth turned it into the e-commerce giant we know today3.

4. Google (now Alphabet): Google (now part of Alphabet) started as a penny stock when it went public in 2004. Its search engine dominance and expansion into various tech sectors transformed it into a powerhouse1.

5. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT): Microsoft, with its stock splits considered, was in penny stock territory until the mid-1990s. It has since become one of the world’s most valuable companies1.

These transformations demonstrate the potential for substantial growth

even from humble beginnings!

As an interesting side note, in 1998 when Amazon was still in it's infancy, Jeff Bezos was not a multi billionaire. 

However, he saw a company that he believed had a vision for the future.  He invested $250,000 (a large sum for him at the time) into that company. That company was Google!

Bezos turned that modest $250,000 investment into $7.9 billion 

a 3 million percent-plus return

Here are five more companies that were once penny stocks that have achieved significant success:

1. Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI): Sirius XM, one of the world’s biggest audio and communication companies, was once a penny stock trading at only $0.60 about 10 years ago. It has since grown over 965% and expanded its reach with the addition of Pandora Radio1.

2. Accelerate Diagnostics Inc. (AXDX): Focused on solving antibiotic resistance challenges, Accelerate Diagnostics has seen substantial growth. Its stock was once considered a very small penny stock but has risen significantly since then1.

3. True Religion (formerly NASDAQ: TRLG): True Religion traded under $1 in the mid-2000s and grew into a strong company2.

4. Pier 1 (formerly NYSE: PIR, now OTCPK: PIRRQ): Pier 1 experienced tremendous highs as a penny stock and managed to reverse its fortunes2.

5. Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ: MNST): Monster Beverage, known for energy drinks, was once a penny stock and has become a major player in the market

Remember, investing in penny stocks can be risky, but these examples show that with the right catalysts and timing, substantial growth is possible! 

Are there hidden gems in today's crop of penny stocks with new technology?

We currently own shares in these Microcap companies!

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Ballard fuel cells to power German auto giants new push!

Image via Wikipedia

Canadian Fuel Cells to Power German Autos2 hours ago by CNW Group

 Daimler has announced that it will outfit its hydrogen fleet with fuel cells produced in Canada. Global engagement in this industry is steadily increasing. In Germany, initiatives like the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) already have the biggest automakers worldwide onboard.

Both Toyota and Honda recently joined the likes of BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen, GM and Ford in the CEP. Chemical companies involved in hydrogen production and other stakeholders are also involved. Germany Trade & Invest is holding an investor event on June 7 in Vancouver to highlight business opportunities for international companies in Germany's budding fuel cell industry, especially in the growth regions of eastern Germany.

"Germany's economy is booming and the fuel cell industry is on the verge of a major breakthrough. International companies and government initiatives have created the optimal conditions for companies to prosper, especially in Germany's high-tech eastern regions," said Dr. Juergen Friedrich, Chief Executive of Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.

Daimler, in a joint venture with Ford and Ballard Power Systems, has created a subsidiary called the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC). At its site in Burnaby near Vancouver, fuel cells for the B-Class F-CELL and the Citaro FuelCell Hybrid city bus will be made. Dr. Andreas Truckenbrodt, CEO of AFCC, along with Geoff Budd of Ballard Power Systems, will highlight the latest developments and business opportunities in Germany at the June 7 event. Alongside some of the auto industry's top players,

  Germany has simultaneously created an excellent framework for investors with generous public programs to support the further development and implementation of fuel cell technology. Funding of EUR 700 million has been made available so far - the biggest program of its kind in Europe. Last month the federal government announced a further EUR 200 million for research in storage technologies including fuel cells.

Germany already features over 300 companies and 65 research institutes specializing in fuel cell technology as well as 70 percent of Europe's fuel cell fleet. Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2011/06/c9652.html
SOURCE: Germany Trade and Invest
SOURCE: Auto News

Germany Trade & Invest Andreas Bilfinger Email:andreas.bilfinger@gtai.com T:
+49(0)30-200099-173 F: +49(0)30-200099-111

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