Some will tell you to buy shell stocks, because the 0/S is low, or the float is low, or "it is real thin". Beware, the smaller the O/S, the greater risk you could entail. Think about an A/S of 25M, O/S of 725K. Picture the new owners increasing the A/S to 500M, and doing a 1-100 R/S. Just how much of your investment do you think you will recoup?