Earlier on January 27, Matt Stucky from Northwestern Mutual joined CNBC’s ‘Closing Bell Overtime’ to discuss a shifting market landscape where investor focus is broadening beyond mega-cap stocks. Stucky observed that earnings revisions are beginning to improve across various sectors, including small caps, which is helping to unlock value dislocations that have accumulated over the last three years. He argued that for small-cap outperformance to continue, the market needs to see consistent upward earnings re ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the increasing interest in small and micro-cap stocks, particularly penny stocks, as investors seek opportunities amid concerns of a market correction, with Goldman Sachs highlighting its top 12 penny stock picks [1][4]. Market Performance - The S&P SmallCap 600 index has risen over 6% this year, while the iShares Micro Cap ETF is up about 8%. In contrast, the S&P 500 has only increased by 0.35% during the same period, indicating a shift in investor focus towards undervalued small-cap stocks [2]. - Small stocks have underperformed compared to large stocks in recent years, but there is an expectation of earnings growth that could lead to a rotation towards small-cap stocks [3]. Economic Outlook - Goldman Sachs maintains a positive macro outlook for small-cap stocks, predicting that the economic environment will support their performance through 2026. The expectation of interest rate cuts is seen as beneficial for penny and small-cap stocks [4][5]. - The firm believes that the markets are not fully accounting for the potential strength of the US economy in the coming year, which typically favors small-cap stocks during cyclical rallies [5]. Investment Strategy - Goldman Sachs' methodology for selecting its top penny stock picks involves analyzing equity holdings, focusing on companies trading under $5 per share, and considering their popularity among hedge funds [7]. - The strategy of imitating top hedge fund stock picks has historically outperformed the market, with a reported return of 427.7% since May 2014 [9]. Company Highlights - **Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. (NYSE:TV)**: Goldman Sachs holds an equity stake of $902,471, with a share price of $3.32. The company is expected to release its fourth-quarter results soon, with optimistic projections for 2026 due to favorable economic conditions in Mexico [10][11][12]. - **AtaiBeckley Inc. (NASDAQ:ATAI)**: Goldman Sachs has a stake of $2.38 million in AtaiBeckley, which is focused on developing treatments for mental health disorders. The company has shown promising clinical data for its drug BPL-003, which has received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA [16][17][19][20].

Industry Overview - Small-cap and penny stocks are experiencing a notable rally, with the Russell 2000 index up by over 5%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which is up by only 1.7% [1] - The rally is driven by expectations of market-beating results from these companies, which are trading at discounted valuations [1][2] - The Federal Reserve's anticipated monetary policy easing is further supporting the case for investing in penny and small-cap stocks [2] January Effect - The January effect is benefiting small-cap companies as investors are buying smaller stocks, particularly those that faced tax-loss selling in the previous quarter [3] - The Russell 2000 index has shown strong performance in January, suggesting potential continued strength into February [3] Fundamentals and Valuations - Fundamentals for small-cap companies are improving, with their 1-year price-to-earnings multiples being 30% lower than those of large-cap companies [4] - Small caps have shown earnings growth that slightly exceeded larger companies for the first time in thirteen quarters [4] Seasonal Trends - Historically, small caps perform better in midterm election years, averaging a 1.3% advance in February compared to the S&P 500's average of 0.3% [5] - Current seasonal patterns indicate a hawkish bias towards interest rates, favoring small-cap stocks [5] Investment Opportunities - The S&P SmallCap 600 index is already up by more than 5% for the year, indicating a favorable environment for investing in penny stocks trading under $5 [6] - A list of 14 NYSE penny stocks has been compiled based on popularity among hedge funds and potential upside of over 30% [8][9] Company Highlights - **Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (NYSE:NMG)**: Current share price is $2.09 with an upside potential of 107.33%. The company has a net asset value of $919 million or $3.51 per share, factoring in a cash balance of $68.8 million and debt of $11.6 million [11][12]. It has signed a 7-year off-take agreement with the Canadian government for 30,000 tons per annum of graphite concentrate [13][14]. - **Auna SA (NYSE:AUNA)**: Current share price is $4.76 with an upside potential of 53.36%. Analysts expect significant growth due to a $500 million expansion in Mexico and a strategic partnership with Sojitz [15][16][17]. The company operates a vertically integrated network of healthcare facilities in Latin America, focusing on high-complexity care [18].

Company Overview - FuboTV is a streaming platform primarily focused on sports, often compared to Netflix, but it is not the largest player in the sports niche [3] - The company recently merged with Hulu+ Live TV, owned by Disney, which closed in October [3][4] Merger Impact - The merger allows FuboTV to diversify its offerings beyond sports, as Hulu+ Live TV has a larger and varied content library [4] - FuboTV's subscriber base has significantly increased to almost 6 million in North America, surpassing its previous total [5] - Disney now holds a 70% stake in the new FuboTV, providing substantial backing and expertise to navigate the competitive landscape [5][6] Competitive Landscape - Despite the merger, FuboTV faces challenges in growing its paid membership, with only a 1.1% increase in subscribers year-over-year before the merger [7] - The company also experienced a decline in its rest-of-world category, with a 9.5% drop in members [7] - Competition in the sports streaming niche is intensifying, with major players like Netflix entering the live sports market [8] Future Prospects - FuboTV could improve its performance by offering bundled services at attractive prices and expanding into new territories with Disney's support [10] - The streaming market is expected to continue growing, potentially allowing FuboTV to capture market share from traditional cable [10]

分组1 - The article discusses fundamentally strong penny stocks that analysts recommend for investment, highlighting their potential despite the general volatility associated with such stocks [1] - The broader economic sentiment is shifting towards optimism, with executives reporting the brightest near-term expectations seen this year, driven by a focus on customer needs and technology investments [2][3] - A recent McKinsey Global Survey indicates that 63% of executives expect their companies' profits to increase in the next six months, the highest share since December 2024 [4] 分组2 - The methodology for selecting penny stocks involved filtering for stocks trading under $5, with market capitalizations over $2 billion and an upside potential of at least 20% [6] - The article emphasizes the importance of hedge fund holdings, suggesting that imitating top stock picks from hedge funds can lead to market outperformance [7] - The quarterly newsletter strategy has achieved a return of 427.7% since May 2014, significantly outperforming its benchmark [8] 分组3 - Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT) has an upside potential of 20.34% as of December 19, 2025, with a market capitalization of $2.27 billion and 25 hedge fund holders [9] - Morgan Stanley downgraded Clarivate to Underweight, citing struggles in its turnaround and limited growth potential due to funding pressures and competition [9][11] - Analyst sentiment on Clarivate is mixed, with 30% of analysts rating it as a Buy and a wide range in consensus price targets, indicating uncertainty [13] 分组4 - Coty Inc. (NYSE:COTY) has an upside potential of 22.70% as of December 19, 2025, with a market capitalization of $2.84 billion and 30 hedge fund holders [15] - Coty sold its remaining 25.8% stake in Wella for $750 million, intending to use the proceeds to pay off debt amid challenges in the mass beauty segment [15][16] - Citi has reduced Coty's price target to $3.50 from $4.25, maintaining a Neutral rating, reflecting a revised outlook for the beauty sector [18]

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates again, contributing to a strong earnings outlook for 2026, which may encourage investors to add to their portfolios in December and early 2026 [1] Group 1: Investment Opportunities - Investors are encouraged to seek out cheap stocks trading under $10 that have strong Zacks Ranks, indicating improving earnings outlooks [2] - Stocks priced between $5 and $10 are generally considered less risky than penny stocks, making them more appealing to investors [5] - A screening process is outlined to identify potential winning stocks under $10, focusing on Zacks Rank, broker ratings, analyst coverage, earnings estimate revisions, price, and trading volume [6][8] Group 2: Specific Stock Highlight - Amicus Therapeutics (FOLD) is highlighted as a promising biotech stock, with a focus on developing medicines for rare diseases [9] - The company reported a 17% revenue growth in Q3 and achieved GAAP profitability, with projections of 19% revenue growth in 2025 and 2026, reaching $745.4 million [10] - FOLD is expected to expand its adjusted earnings by 50% in FY25 and 87% in FY26, with a current Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [11]

Core Viewpoint - Penny stocks are seen as high-risk, high-reward investments, with growing interest in select stocks as 2026 approaches, particularly those in fast-moving sectors [1][2] Group 1: Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) - Plug Power is a hydrogen and clean-energy firm showing signs of potential turnaround after years of volatility, with a new liquefaction plant in Louisiana increasing U.S. hydrogen production capacity to approximately 40 tons per day [3][4] - The Georgia facility achieved a record production of 300 metric tons of liquid hydrogen in a single month, marking the highest output in the U.S. hydrogen sector [4] - The company raised $280 million in March 2025 and secured $399.4 million in net proceeds from a convertible-note financing in November 2025, which helped retire a first-lien loan and support expansion plans [4] - Despite ongoing losses and dilution risks, improving production metrics and rising hydrogen demand position Plug Power for potential re-rating if execution improves, with shares down nearly 10% year-to-date, closing at $2.11, up 9% [5] Group 2: Mobile-health Network Solutions (NASDAQ: MNDR) - Mobile-health Network Solutions is transitioning from physical clinics to an AI-driven virtual-care platform, reporting $7.7 million in revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, a 45.3% decline due to exiting the clinic business [8][9] - The shift to an asset-light model significantly improved its cost structure, narrowing net loss from $15.6 million in FY2024 to $3.4 million in FY2025 [9] - In late November 2025, MNDR announced plans to acquire two AI-optimized data centers in Malaysia, with a potential share issuance of up to 3 million Class A shares valued at up to $120 million based on an agreed share price of $40 [10] - MNDR's stock dropped nearly 85% year-to-date but ended the last session up over 22% at $2.26 [11] Group 3: Common Traits - Both Plug Power and Mobile-health Network Solutions are undergoing measurable transformations supported by concrete progress in production, financial improvements, and strategic expansion [13]

Core Insights - The article discusses the current investment landscape for penny stocks, emphasizing that their performance is influenced more by market psychology than macroeconomic conditions [1] - Small-cap stocks are gaining momentum, particularly after strong third-quarter earnings, making them more attractive compared to large-cap stocks [2] - Several catalysts are driving interest in small-cap stocks, including M&A activity, biotech developments, and opportunities in sectors linked to AI [3] Small-Cap Stock Performance - The Russell 2000 index has increased by 21.60% over the past six months, although it has experienced four consecutive weeks of decline recently [4] Methodology for Stock Selection - The list of 12 hot penny stocks was compiled based on stocks priced under $5, with over 50% returns in the last three months and an upside potential exceeding 20% as of November 24, 2025 [6] - Hedge fund sentiment was also considered, utilizing data from Insider Monkey's hedge fund database tracking 983 hedge funds as of Q2 2025 [7] Individual Stock Highlights - **Shattuck Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:STTK)**: - 3-month performance of 102.21% with an average upside potential of 45.63% [9] - The company has a cash balance of $86.10 million and reported a net loss of $10.1 million for Q3 2025 [10][11] - **Erasca, Inc. (NASDAQ:ERAS)**: - 3-month performance of 93.08% with an average upside potential of 73.01% [13] - The company reported a net loss of $30.6 million for Q3 2025 but has a solid cash position of $362.4 million [15][17] - **CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTMX)**: - 3-month performance of 107.50% with an average upside potential of 78.09% [18] - The company reported a revenue decline to $6 million for Q3 2025 but maintains a cash balance of $143.6 million [20][21]

Market Overview - The equity markets are facing potential declines after a record-high performance, with concerns about valuations and profit-taking [1][2] - Analysts predict a possible market pullback of up to 9%, with technical factors indicating downside risks [2][3] - The US Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts are expected to stimulate economic growth, benefiting small-cap and penny stocks [3][4] Small-Cap Performance - Historically, small-cap companies have outperformed large-cap companies during central bank easing cycles, with an average return of 35% for the Russell 2000 compared to 23% for the SPX in the year following rate cuts [4] - A dovish Federal Reserve is seen as a positive indicator for small-cap performance [5] Fastest Growing Penny Stocks - A list of the fastest-growing penny stocks has been compiled, focusing on companies trading under $5 with over 100% sales growth in the past year and 50% growth over three years [8] - Stocks were selected based on their upside potential of more than 30% and popularity among elite hedge funds [9] DeFi Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:DEFT) - DeFi Technologies has shown significant sales growth with a 3-year sales growth of 1181.92% and a year-over-year growth of 138.94% [10] - The stock has an upside potential of 78.21% and is held by 9 hedge funds [10] - Despite a decline in revenues from $28.1 million to $22.5 million year-over-year, the company maintains a strong financial position with over $900 million in average assets under management [12][13] Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE:URG) - Ur-Energy has a 3-year sales growth of 1181.92% and a year-over-year growth of 138.94%, with an upside potential of 80.21% and 22 hedge fund holders [15] - The company is positioned to benefit from increasing uranium demand, having secured off-take agreements with US nuclear power plants and projecting revenues of $27.2 million for 2025 [16][19] - Ur-Energy is ramping up production at its Lost Creek project and is set to start production at a second uranium mining project in Wyoming [17]

Group 1 - Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) is recognized as one of the 15 Best Aggressive Growth Stocks to Buy currently [1] - Cantor Fitzgerald raised its price target for Robinhood from $130 to $155 while maintaining an Overweight rating [1] - The company reported a remarkable revenue growth of 100% year-over-year in Q3 2025, alongside record trading activity in equity and options [2] Group 2 - Total Platform Assets for Robinhood grew by 119% year-over-year, reaching $333 billion, supported by new deposits of $20.4 billion in Q3 [2] - Keefe, Bruyette & Woods also increased its price target for Robinhood from $121 to $135, maintaining a Market Perform rating [3] - The research firm adjusted its estimates for net interest revenues and transaction revenues due to stronger industry volume estimates, particularly in options and equities [3]