Zacks Small Cap Research was hard at work in 2024 initiating analyst coverage on 40 companies. Each of our initiation reports provides a valuation, investment thesis and financial forecast model that comes from our 11 experienced analysts’ expertise and due diligence. Our work has generated investment ideas in health care, consumer electronics, finance technologies, transportation, AI-based products, and oil and gas production among other industries.
The last year has been one fraught with risks, critical elections around the globe and multiple ongoing military conflicts among other material events. Despite this, index performance as measured by the S&P was positive in 2024, with large caps outperforming mid-caps and mid-caps surpassing small caps. Much of the strong performance was driven by tech stocks and the Magnificent Seven while other areas lagged.
However, at Zacks SCR, we see a lot of opportunity in the smaller cap names. As we look forward to 2025, Zacks Chief Equity Strategist John Blank expects industrials and technology to continue their run and is recommending names in the transportation, insurance and utilities spaces. We list some of our best ideas in smaller end of the equity universe below:
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:LGND) is a royalty aggregator which has a large opportunity set of biopharma names where it can deploy its capital for future growth.
- MetaVia Inc. (NASDAQ:MTVA; previously NRBO) has two development assets in the metabolic space which could ride the tidal wave in the obesity driven by GLP-1 agonist success.
- Telomir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TELO) represents another area of interest in longevity. It is developing a technology to address a variety of aging related disease.
- In the natural resources industry, Goliath Resources (OTC:GOTRF) boasts an attractive land position and a large portfolio of future projects in gold and other metals extraction.
- Clip Money (OTC:CLPMF), a fast-growing startup that provides inexpensive and convenient cash management services to small businesses.
- Transportation is another attractive area represented by Titan International (NYSE:TWI). It is a global vehicle equipment manufacturer that targets the agriculture and construction markets manufacturing OEM-spec replacement products.
- Another transportation derivative is Consumer Portfolio Services (NASDAQ:CPSS), which purchases and services auto loans. Its use of technology builds upon an improving backdrop of origination volumes.
- For those looking to take advantage of China’s continued modernization and expanding middle class, Viomi Technology (NASDAQ:VIOT) offers home water purification in a region increasingly demanding higher water safety.
Zacks SCR offers a number of compelling ideas that may be appropriate for your portfolio in 2025. From health care to manufacturing and consumer to technology, we have several small cap ideas that leverage the most important investment themes of the coming year. View the full list of Zacks SCR’s initiation reports by analyst below.
Zacks SCR Analysts | Research Reports
Analyst |
Company |
Initiation Report |
Description |
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Adaptimmune Therapeutics |
Cell therapy for cancer |
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Beneficient |
Investment liquidity solutions |
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Consumer Portfolio Services |
Auto finance |
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DeFi Technologies |
Crypto asset management/trading |
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Lobo EV Technologies |
China EV: bike, scooter, golf cart |
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QuantaSing Group Limited |
Senior products/services |
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ATRenew |
Pre-owned consumer electronics platform |
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reAlpha Tech Corp. |
Real estate pricing technology |
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American Shared Hospital Services |
Surgery equipment – gamma knife |
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SBC Medical Group Holdings |
Med practice management services – cosmetics |
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Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee |
Decaffeination of green coffee |
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Syra Health Corp. |
Behavioral & mental health |
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Azitra |
Rare skin disease |
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Cingulate |
New ADHD formulation |
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Grace Therapeutics |
New nimodipine formulation |
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IN8bio |
Cell therapy in cancer |
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Ligand Pharmaceuticals |
Pharma royalty aggregator |
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Lantheus Holdings |
Radiopharmaceuticals |
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Spectral AI |
Burn diagnostic |
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Rani Therapeutics |
Oral delivery of biologics |
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Clip Money |
Cash management services |
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KULR Technology Group |
EV battery & thermal runaway for space & aviation |
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Perfect Corp. |
AI-based AR try-on for fashion & beauty brands |
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Cadrenal Therapeutics |
Anticoagulant for heart attack/stroke |
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FibroBiologics |
Cell therapy, regen medicine |
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MetaVia (formerly NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals) |
Cardiometabolic disease, obesity |
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Evaxion Biotech A/S |
DNA based cancer therapy |
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NurExone Biologic |
Paralysis reversal |
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Telomir Pharmaceuticals |
Age reversal sciences |
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Goliath Resources |
Metals & mining |
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Monogram Orthopedics |
Orthopedic implants |
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SunCar Technology Group |
Insurance & auto services in China |
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Sacks Parente Golf |
Golf products |
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Titan International |
Machinery vehicle parts |
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U.S. Energy Corp. |
Oil & gas production |
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SaverOne 2014 Ltd. |
Tech for driver safety |
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Viomi Technology Co. |
Water filtration technology |
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DISCLOSURE: Zacks SCR has received compensation from the issuer directly, from an investment manager, or from an investor relations consulting firm, engaged by the issuer, for providing research coverage for a period of no less than one year. Research articles, as seen here, are part of the service Zacks SCR provides and Zacks SCR receives quarterly payments totaling a maximum fee of up to $40,000 annually for these services provided to or regarding the issuer. Full Disclaimer HERE.