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.
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. Keeping that in mind, here are two small-cap stocks that could amplify your portfolio’s returns and one that could be down big.
One Small-Cap Stock to Sell:
Interpublic Group (IPG)
Market Cap: $9.57 billion
With a history dating back to 1902 and roots in the McCann-Erickson agency, Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) is a marketing and communications holding company that owns agencies specializing in advertising, media buying, public relations, and digital marketing services.
Why Are We Out on IPG?
- Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
- Sales are projected to be flat over the next 12 months and imply weak demand
- Free cash flow margin shrank by 17.1 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
Interpublic Group is trading at $26.28 per share, or 8.8x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than IPG.
Two Small-Cap Stocks to Watch:
Mirion (MIR)
Market Cap: $5.55 billion
With its technology protecting workers in over 130 countries and equipment used in 80% of cancer centers worldwide, Mirion Technologies (NYSE: MIR) provides radiation detection, measurement, and monitoring solutions for medical, nuclear energy, defense, and scientific research applications.
Why Do We Watch MIR?
- Annual revenue growth of 8.2% over the last four years beat the sector average and underscores the unique value of its offerings
- Exciting sales outlook for the upcoming 12 months calls for 15.8% growth, an acceleration from its two-year trend
- Additional sales over the last two years increased its profitability as the 28.2% annual growth in its earnings per share outpaced its revenue
At $23.73 per share, Mirion trades at 41.7x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
Palomar Holdings (PLMR)
Market Cap: $3.16 billion
Founded in 2013 to fill gaps in catastrophe insurance markets, Palomar Holdings (NASDAQ: PLMR) is a specialty insurance provider that offers property and casualty insurance products in underserved markets, with a focus on earthquake coverage.
Why Are We Backing PLMR?
- Strong 38.3% annualized net premiums earned expansion over the last two years shows it’s capturing market share this cycle
- Impressive 37.7% annual book value per share growth over the last two years indicates it’s building equity value this cycle
- Book value per share outlook for the upcoming 12 months is outstanding and shows it’s on track to build significant equity value
Palomar Holdings’s stock price of $116.75 implies a valuation ratio of 3.4x forward P/B. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.
The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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
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