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.
The downside that can come from buying these securities is precisely why we started StockStory - to isolate the long-term winners from the losers so you can invest with confidence. That said, here are two small-cap stocks that could be the next 100 baggers and one that may have trouble.
One Small-Cap Stock to Sell:
Wabash (WNC)
Market Cap: $481.1 million
With its first trailer reportedly built on two sawhorses, Wabash (NYSE: WNC) offers semi trailers, liquid transportation containers, truck bodies, and equipment for moving goods.
Why Should You Sell WNC?
- Backlog has dropped by 32.8% on average over the past two years, suggesting it’s losing orders as competition picks up
- High input costs result in an inferior gross margin of 13.9% that must be offset through higher volumes
- Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last five years, showing each sale was less profitable
Wabash is trading at $11.49 per share, or 12.1x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why WNC doesn’t pass our bar.
Two Small-Cap Stocks to Watch:
SPX Technologies (SPXC)
Market Cap: $8.08 billion
SPX Technologies (NYSE: SPXC) is an industrial conglomerate catering to the energy, manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace sectors.
Why Could SPXC Be a Winner?
- Annual revenue growth of 13.5% over the past two years was outstanding, reflecting market share gains this cycle
- Operating profits and efficiency rose over the last five years as it benefited from some fixed cost leverage
- Earnings per share grew by 25.5% annually over the last two years, massively outpacing its peers
SPX Technologies’s stock price of $173.03 implies a valuation ratio of 27.2x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Planet Labs (PL)
Market Cap: $2.08 billion
Pioneering the concept of "agile aerospace" with hundreds of small but powerful satellites, Planet Labs (NYSE: PL) operates the world's largest fleet of Earth observation satellites, capturing daily images of our planet to provide insights on deforestation, agriculture, and climate change.
Why Are We Positive On PL?
- Impressive 21.3% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
- Additional sales over the last two years increased its profitability as the 27% annual growth in its earnings per share outpaced its revenue
- Historical investments are beginning to pay off as its returns on capital are growing
At $6.85 per share, Planet Labs trades at 7.2x forward price-to-sales. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth.
While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we’re leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today
