2 Small-Cap Stocks on Our Watchlist and 1 We Turn Down

September 16, 2025 at 00:35 AM EDT

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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. Keeping that in mind, 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:

Telephone and Data Systems (TDS)

Market Cap: $4.45 billion

Operating primarily through its majority-owned subsidiary UScellular and wholly-owned TDS Telecom, Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE: TDS) provides wireless, broadband, video, and voice communications services to 4.6 million wireless and 1.2 million broadband customers across the United States.

Why Do We Avoid TDS?

Annual sales declines of 1.5% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
Earnings per share have dipped by 21.9% annually over the past five years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
20× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio shows it’s overleveraged and increases the probability of shareholder dilution if things turn unexpectedly

Telephone and Data Systems is trading at $38.74 per share, or 3.8x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including TDS in your portfolio.

Two Small-Cap Stocks to Watch:

Planet Labs (PL)

Market Cap: $3.04 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 Could PL Be a Winner?

Annual revenue growth of 22.3% over the last five years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
Incremental sales over the last two years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 34.2% annually, topping its revenue gains
Historical investments are beginning to pay off as its returns on capital are growing

Planet Labs’s stock price of $9.83 implies a valuation ratio of 8,263.3x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

Hamilton Lane (HLNE)

Market Cap: $6.43 billion

With over $100 billion in assets under management and supervision, Hamilton Lane (NASDAQ: HLNE) is an investment management firm that specializes in private markets, offering advisory services and fund solutions to institutional and private wealth investors.

Why Do We Love HLNE?

Market share has increased this cycle as its 21.1% annual revenue growth over the last five years was exceptional
Performance over the past two years was turbocharged by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue
ROE punches in at 38.5%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments

At $147.07 per share, Hamilton Lane trades at 30.7x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.

Take advantage of the rebound 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

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

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