After a rather choppy start to the year, the broader market has firmed up significantly, as fears over geopolitical tensions and slowing economic growth begin to ease. With sentiment shifting back to “risk-on,” selective small-cap stocks appear to offer exceptional upside opportunity from current levels, most notably those with strong growth forecasts, favorable valuations, and top Zacks Ranks.Two names in particular, The ONE Group Hospitality ((STKS) and Legacy Education Inc. ((LGCY), stand out as breakout ...

Wealth anchor Brad Smith breaks down the latest financial news for June 11, 2025. Alger Executive Vice President and Portfolio Manager Amy Zhang discusses how to play the small and mid-cap stock trades and why she believes there are opportunities here. Food prices rose in May. Stew Leonard's CEO joins Brad to discuss how to save money on groceries this summer. Author and student loan expert Mark Kantrowitz speaks with Brad about how President Trump's "Big, Beautiful" tax and spending bill could impact stude ...

Group 1: Small-Cap Stocks Overview - Small-cap stocks are considered risky but can offer significant rewards, necessitating investor exposure [1] - A cautious approach is recommended, focusing on the right stocks and avoiding over-investment in any single stock [1] Group 2: Root, Inc. - Root, Inc. is a small insurance carrier with a direct-to-consumer (DTC) business that is gaining traction [2] - The company is expected to shift to profitability in 2024, which is anticipated to be sustained in 2025 [2][3] - Analysts forecast a 12-month stock price of $122.17, indicating an 11.31% downside from the current price of $137.75 [2] Group 3: Applied Digital Corporation - Applied Digital Corporation has shifted focus from Bitcoin to AI, aiming to build high-performance computing centers [7] - The stock is rated as a Buy with a 12-month price forecast of $10.67, representing a 58.26% upside [6] - Revenue growth is expected to sustain a moderate 30% pace for 2025 and 2026, with acceleration anticipated later in the decade [8] Group 4: Astronics Corporation - Astronics Corporation operates in aerospace and defense, with resilient demand from commercial and defense contracts [10] - The stock is currently rated as Hold, with a 12-month price forecast of $21.00, indicating a 30.48% downside from the current price of $30.21 [10] - Institutional ownership exceeds 55%, with buying activity ramping to long-term highs in Q2 2025 [12] Group 5: ThredUp Inc. - ThredUp Inc. is benefiting from AI improvements, leading to reduced costs and increased user counts [14] - The company expects to revert to growth in 2025, projecting a 10% revenue advance by year-end [15] - Analyst sentiment is improving, with rising price targets supporting market action [16] Group 6: Aeva Technologies - Aeva Technologies specializes in LiDAR systems, forecasting revenue growth of up to 100% in 2025 [18] - The company is expanding its manufacturing capabilities through new partnerships, which may sustain growth into 2026 [19] - Analysts have responded favorably, lifting price targets and increasing trading volume, with institutional buying spiking in Q2 2025 [20]

This week's rally is particularly encouraging for investors who like to invest in small-cap stocks. The Russell 2000 index, widely considered to be the small-cap index, is up about 3.8% for the week. This continues the momentum that’s been building for the last month, in which the index has climbed 15.7%. Small-cap stocks are particularly sensitive to interest rates. Many of these companies rely on debt for their operations, which means, in some cases, it would be harder for companies to absorb higher tarif ...

Group 1 - The current market volatility has led to an underperformance of small-cap stocks compared to larger S&P 500 companies, creating an opportunity for increased exposure to small-cap stocks [1] - The author, Gary Alexander, has extensive experience in technology companies and has been involved with seed-round startups, providing insights into industry trends [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the potential for small-cap stocks to outperform in the current market environment due to their macroeconomic sensitivity [1]