
Group 1: Small-Cap Stocks Performance - Small-cap stocks, represented by the Russell 2000 index, have historically outperformed larger stocks over time, especially coming out of the pandemic [1][25] - The Russell 2000 index has faced challenges, falling behind the S&P 500 since March 2023, despite a strong performance in 2022 [37] Group 2: Company Highlights - Paysafe (PSFE) has seen a stock increase of 43% since last year, with a current price under $18 and a projected earnings growth of 163.8% for the next year, trading at 17 times forward P/E [3][21][38] - Rackspace Technology (RXT) reported a revenue surge of 35% in Q1 to $1.05 billion, with a project backlog of $10 billion, indicating strong future growth [7][23] - Tutor Perini (TPC) stock has increased by 136% this year, driven by winning contracts for complex megaprojects, resulting in a profit of $15.8 million in Q1 compared to a loss of $49 million a year ago [16][42] - Consol Energy (CEIX) operates the largest underground coal mine in the U.S. and has seen its stock rise 55% from 12-month lows, despite being down 5% year-to-date [32][46] - Immersion (IMMR) reported a significant revenue increase to almost $44 million from $7 million last year, with profits more than doubling to 59 cents per share [12][48] Group 3: Industry Trends - The payments processing industry is competitive, with Paysafe focusing on niche markets such as online gaming and cryptocurrencies to differentiate itself [38] - The construction and engineering sector is benefiting from government spending, particularly through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which has allowed companies like Tutor Perini to secure lucrative contracts [42] - The coal industry continues to face challenges due to environmental policies, with a significant reduction in coal-fired power plants over the past decade [45]