A stock with low volatility can be reassuring, but it doesn’t always mean strong long-term performance.
Investors who prioritize stability may miss out on higher-reward opportunities elsewhere.
The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is home to many small-cap stocks, offering investors the chance to uncover hidden gems before the broader market catches on.
However, these companies often come with higher volatility and risk, as their smaller size makes them more vulnerable to economic downturns.
The $10-50 price range often includes mid-sized businesses with proven track records and plenty of growth runway ahead.
They also usually carry less risk than penny stocks, though they’re not immune to volatility as many lack the scale advantages of their larger peers.
Investors looking for hidden gems should keep an eye on small-cap stocks because they’re frequently overlooked by Wall Street.
Many opportunities exist in this part of the market, but it is also a high-risk, high-reward environment due to the lack of reliable analyst price targets.
Wall Street has set ambitious price targets for the stocks in this article.
While this suggests attractive upside potential, it’s important to remain skeptical because analysts face institutional pressures that can sometimes lead to overly optimistic forecasts.
Small-cap stocks can be incredibly lucrative investments because their lack of analyst coverage leads to frequent mispricings.
However, these businesses (and their stock prices) often stay small because their subscale operations make it harder to expand their competitive moats.
A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner.
Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.
Wall Street is overwhelmingly bullish on the stocks in this article, with price targets suggesting significant upside potential.
However, it’s worth remembering that analysts rarely issue sell ratings, partly because their firms often seek other business from the same companies they cover.
The iconic show is one of the most-watched late-night programs on U.S. broadcast television, known for its humorous take on current events and politics.
Consumer staples are considered safe havens in turbulent markets due to their inelastic demand profiles. But they’re also double-edged swords as they often lag in booming conditions, and this pattern has persisted recently.
Over the past six months, the industry has recorded a loss of 7.4%, a far cry from the S&P 500’s 4.1% ascent.
The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is packed with potential breakout stocks, thanks to its focus on smaller companies with high growth potential.
However, smaller size also means these businesses often lack the resilience and financial flexibility of large-cap firms, making careful selection crucial.
Stocks trading in the $1-10 range are generally smaller players with less risk than their penny stock counterparts.
But that doesn’t mean the underlying businesses are cheap, and we advise caution as many have questionable fundamentals.
The Australian Dollar advances on Friday, recovering its more than 0.5% losses from the previous session. The AUD/USD pair appreciates as the US Dollar faces challenges due to dovish remarks from the Fed officials.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell responded to scrutiny over the central bank's multi-billion-dollar, multi-year renovation of its Washington, D.C. headquarters, emphasizing that the project is being managed responsibly, with no extravagant features or misuse of public funds.
The past six months have been a windfall for Worthington’s shareholders. The company’s stock price has jumped 48.1%, hitting $62.85 per share. This was partly due to its solid quarterly results, and the run-up might have investors contemplating their next move.
Axon currently trades at $746.40 and has been a dream stock for shareholders. It’s returned 709% since July 2020, blowing past the S&P 500’s 93.6% gain. The company has also beaten the index over the past six months as its stock price is up 23.3% thanks to its solid quarterly results.
AXIS Capital trades at $97 per share and has stayed right on track with the overall market, gaining 8.7% over the last six months. At the same time, the S&P 500 has returned 4.1%.
Since July 2020, the S&P 500 has delivered a total return of 93.6%. But one standout stock has more than doubled the market - over the past five years, HCA Healthcare has surged 245% to $362.60 per share. Its momentum hasn’t stopped as it’s also gained 13.9% in the last six months, beating the S&P by 9.7%.
Cincinnati Financial trades at $149.03 and has moved in lockstep with the market. Its shares have returned 6.4% over the last six months while the S&P 500 has gained 4.1%.
What a brutal six months it’s been for Lantheus. The stock has dropped 21.9% and now trades at a new 52-week low of $73.50, rattling many shareholders. This was partly driven by its softer quarterly results and may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
Over the past six months, Kemper’s stock price fell to $60. Shareholders have lost 8.8% of their capital, which is disappointing considering the S&P 500 has climbed by 4.1%. This was partly driven by its softer quarterly results and might have investors contemplating their next move.
Pinterest has had an impressive run over the past six months as its shares have beaten the S&P 500 by 8.7%. The stock now trades at $36.20, marking a 12.9% gain. This run-up might have investors contemplating their next move.
Bark’s stock price has taken a beating over the past six months, shedding 51.5% of its value and falling to $0.93 per share. This might have investors contemplating their next move.
Hartford has followed the market’s trajectory closely, rising in tandem with the S&P 500 over the past six months. The stock has climbed by 8.2% to $121.22 per share while the index has gained 4.1%.
TreeHouse Foods’s stock price has taken a beating over the past six months, shedding 42.3% of its value and falling to $20.24 per share. This may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
Light & Wonder trades at $98.23 and has moved in lockstep with the market. Its shares have returned 7.7% over the last six months while the S&P 500 has gained 4.1%.
Take-Two has had an impressive run over the past six months as its shares have beaten the S&P 500 by 22.2%. The stock now trades at $233.91, marking a 26.3% gain. This performance may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
Avantor has gotten torched over the last six months - since January 2025, its stock price has dropped 39% to $13.29 per share. This was partly driven by its softer quarterly results and may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
Over the past six months, Merchants Bancorp’s shares (currently trading at $35.16) have posted a disappointing 11.5% loss, well below the S&P 500’s 4.1% gain. This was partly driven by its softer quarterly results and might have investors contemplating their next move.
Repligen’s stock price has taken a beating over the past six months, shedding 26.1% of its value and falling to $124.04 per share. This may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
Over the past six months, Ingersoll Rand’s shares (currently trading at $88.27) have posted a disappointing 6.2% loss, well below the S&P 500’s 4.1% gain. This was partly driven by its softer quarterly results and may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
The past six months have been a windfall for Coupang’s shareholders. The company’s stock price has jumped 40.7%, setting a new 52-week high of $31.23 per share. This performance may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
Over the last six months, Karat Packaging’s shares have sunk to $28.25, producing a disappointing 8.1% loss - a stark contrast to the S&P 500’s 4.1% gain. This might have investors contemplating their next move.
Over the past six months, Hershey has been a great trade, beating the S&P 500 by 5.5%. Its stock price has climbed to $168.32, representing a healthy 9.6% increase. This was partly due to its solid quarterly results, and the run-up might have investors contemplating their next move.
Over the past six months, Emerson Electric has been a great trade, beating the S&P 500 by 7.5%. Its stock price has climbed to $144.50, representing a healthy 11.6% increase. This was partly due to its solid quarterly results, and the run-up might have investors contemplating their next move.
Over the past six months, CoreCivic’s shares (currently trading at $21.25) have posted a disappointing 7.4% loss, well below the S&P 500’s 4.1% gain. This might have investors contemplating their next move.
FARO has had an impressive run over the past six months as its shares have beaten the S&P 500 by 35%. The stock now trades at $43.80, marking a 39.1% gain. This was partly due to its solid quarterly results, and the run-up might have investors contemplating their next move.
Netflix said it is open to partnering with top YouTube creators like Miss Rachel and the Sidemen—but only if their content fits its premium streaming model, as the company eyes the untapped 80% of global TV viewership to drive future growth.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other execs reached a last-minute, confidential settlement with shareholders over claims they cost the company billions via repeated privacy lapses, avoiding a major Delaware trial on executive accountability.
The bid to set clear working rules for the cryptocurrency industry in the U.S. got a booster pill Thursday as the House of Representatives passed key pieces of legislation.
The early lab study used cells from a child with progeria and showed improvements in cell survival, reduced oxidative stress, and restored mitochondrial function, which are key signs of aging.
Another blissfully bullish day on the stock market saw the Dow grow +229 points, +0.52%, the S&P 500 +33, +0.54%, the Nasdaq +153 points, +0.74%, and the small-cap Russell 2000 led the way once again for the session: +27 points, +1.22%.
