Frontier Group Holdings, Inc.

Covenant Logistics Group, Inc.

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation

Hecla Mining Company

Since the start of the year, the Russell 2000 index, the benchmark for small- and mid-cap stocks, has risen nearly 11.5% – despite a selloff in March, when it lost more than 10% from its January peak. Such volatility has been driven in part by the scale of the conflict in the Middle East and its impact on commodity flows. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz became the trigger that <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/business/economics/article/strait-of-hormuz-closure-threatens-brent-crude-100-surge-w3sxph3pl#:~:text=The%2520Middle%2520East%2520conflict%2520pushed%2520Brent%2520crude%2520to%2520%2524119.50%2520a%2520barrel%2520for%2520the%2520first%2520time%2520since%25202022%2520but%2520prices%2520fell%2520back%2520on%2520reports%2520that%2520the%2520G7%2520will%2520intervene">pushed</a>&nbsp;Brent crude toward $120 per barrel, while small caps are particularly sensitive to fuel costs and consumer sentiment.

Stabilization or escalation: Two scenarios, four names to play the U.S.-Iran conflict

D-Wave Quantum Inc.

SEALSQ Corp

Riber S.A.

Quantum computing is among “the most stable high-return bets of the next decade,” Louis Navellier, founder and chief investment officer of Navellier &amp; Associates, <a href="https://www.investing.com/analysis/the-next-2-big-things-in-a-volatile-market-space-and-quantum-200678260">wrote</a>&nbsp;in a recent post on Investing.com. “In 2026, quantum-classical hybrid models are being used to manage portfolio risk and logistics routing with a precision that classical supercomputers cannot match,” Navellier says. Although the quantum technology market is still at an early stage, growth estimates are rising rapidly: the “$20 billion by 2030” figure is a “common middle-ground estimate,” while, depending on the analyst, projections could be as high as $125 billion, Navellier noted.

Small caps that can gain in 2026 as quantum computing becomes 'next big thing'

Alligator Energy Limited

Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp.

Forsys Metals Corp.

Shares of uranium miners significantly outperformed the underlying commodity market in 2025: the Sprott Uranium Miners ETF <a href="https://sprottetfs.com/media/muhafrp2/urnm-ar-tsr-2025.pdf?m=1">gained</a>&nbsp;nearly 40% over the year. Against this backdrop, price dynamics in the global uranium market were more subdued: spot prices <a href="https://investingnews.com/uranium-price-update/#:~:text=U3O8%20spot%20price%20remained%20more%20constrained%20through%202025%2C%20fluctuating%20between%20a%20relatively%20short%20range%20of%20US%2463.17%20(March%2013)%20and%20US%2483.33%20(September%2025)%20per%20pound.">traded</a>&nbsp;in the $63-83 per pound range, while long-term contract prices <a href="https://investingnews.com/uranium-price-update/#:~:text=the%20long%2Dterm%20contract%20price%20displayed%20less%20volatility%20in%202025%2C%20starting%20the%2012%20month%20period%20at%20US%2480%20and%20reaching%20US%2486%20at%20the%20end%20of%20November.">rose</a>&nbsp;from $80 to $86 per pound. By the end of 2026, Goldman Sachs has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moomoo.com/news/post/63207946/is-uranium-the-next-gold-goldman-sachs-the-supply-deficit?level=1&amp;data_ticket=1775587806729701#:~:text=Structural%2520shortages%2520will%2520drive%2520prices%2520higher%252C%2520with%2520spot%2520prices%2520projected%2520to%2520reach%2520%252491%2520by%2520the%2520end%2520of%25202026%252C%2520indicating%2520at%2520least%2520a%252020%2525%2520increase.">projected</a>&nbsp;spot prices would reach $91 per pound, driven by a uranium deficit that is expected to widen by nearly 12% to 1.914 billion pounds over the 2025-2045 period.

Which nuclear small caps have benefitted from AI-driven rising electricity demand?

Chord Energy Corporation

Matador Resources Company

Kinetik Holdings Inc.

USA Compression Partners, LP

The Iran crisis has reminded investors just how unpredictable the oil market can be. After the Strait of Hormuz was closed in March, Brent crude <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/business/economics/article/strait-of-hormuz-closure-threatens-brent-crude-100-surge-w3sxph3pl#:~:text=The%20Middle%20East%20conflict%20pushed%20Brent%20crude%20to%20%24119.50%20a%20barrel%20for%20the%20first%20time%20since%202022%20but%20prices%20fell%20back%20on%20reports%20that%20the%20G7%20will%20intervene">surged</a>&nbsp;to $120 per barrel, while Dubai crude briefly <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/19/166-a-barrel-middle-east-oil-gives-clue-to-where-all-prices-could-be-headed-if-iran-war-drags-on.html#:~:text=Dubai%2520crude%2520oil%2520prices%2520surpassed%2520%2524166%2520a%2520barrel%2520to%2520a%2520new%2520record%2520high%2520on%2520Thursday%252C%2520according%2520to%2520market%2520data%2520provider%2520Platts">hit</a>&nbsp;a record above $166 per barrel. The International Energy Agency <a href="https://www.iea.org/news/new-iea-report-highlights-options-to-ease-oil-price-pressures-on-consumers-in-response-to-middle-east-supply-disruptions#:~:text=The%2520war%2520in%2520the%2520Middle%2520East%2520is,said%2520IEA%2520Executive%2520Director%2520Fatih%2520Birol.">called</a>&nbsp;it the largest oil supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.

Two strategies, four stocks that can grow at any oil price

Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc.

MDA Space Ltd

MDA Space Ltd.

Exail Technologies

The robotics market is expanding at an accelerated pace and has the potential for multiple-fold growth in the coming decades, Morgan Stanley noted in its "Robot Almanac" report published at the end of 2025. The bank’s strategists estimate that the industry’s total addressable market could reach $500 billion by 2030. By 2040, it could amount to about $9 trillion, and by 2050 to $25 trillion, and that covers only the segment of robotics device sales.

10 robotics stocks with big returns so far in 2026

Red Cat Holdings, Inc.

Ondas Inc.

Parrot S.A.

At the end of last year, at the NATO summit in The Hague, members set a <a href="https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/defence-expenditures-and-natos-5-commitment#:~:text=At%2520the%25202025%2520NATO%2520Summit%2520in%2520The%2520Hague%252C%2520Allies%2520made%2520a%2520commitment%2520to%2520investing%25205%2525%2520of%2520Gross%2520Domestic%2520Product%2520(GDP)%2520annually%2520on%2520core%2520defence%2520requirements%2520and%2520defence%252D%2520and%2520security%252Drelated%2520spending%2520by%25202035">new benchmark</a>: defense spending at 5% of GDP by 2035. Of that, at least 3.5% is to be allocated to core military needs, and up to 1.5% to resilience, innovation, and the development of the defense industrial base. In the U.S., this has translated into consistent regulatory policy: following a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/unleashing-american-drone-dominance/#:~:text=The%2520United%2520States%2520must%2520accelerate%2520the%2520safe%2520commercialization%2520of%2520drone%2520technologies%2520and%2520fully%2520integrate%2520UAS%2520into%2520the%2520National%2520Airspace%2520System.">White House executive order</a> in June 2025, the Pentagon in July <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2025/Jul/10/2003752117/-1/-1/1/UNLEASHING-U.S.-MILITARY-DRONE-DOMINANCE.PDF">moved</a> to accelerate procurement and deployment of small drones for the military. In January, the new National Defense Strategy <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/2003864773/-1/-1/0/2026-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY.PDF">established</a>&nbsp;countering drones as a priority. For the UAV industry, this marks a structural shift: demand is moving from one-off rush orders to formalized, long-term procurement programs. According to <a href="https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/drone-services-market-102682#:~:text=Global%20Drone%20Services%20Market%20Key%20Takeaways&amp;text=2025%20Market%20Size:%20USD%2032.08,:%2025.52%25%20from%202026%E2%80%932034">forecasts</a>, the global UAV market will grow from $42.4 billion in 2026 to $261.3 billion by 2034, implying a CAGR of 25.5%.

Oninvest military drone index outperforming small caps and broad market

Frontline plc

Nordic American Tankers Limited

DHT Holdings, Inc.

Teekay Tankers Ltd.

Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc.

The conflict between the U.S. and Israel and Iran has sharply reshaped the global oil market over the past three weeks. The Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of global oil supply transits, has been effectively closed. Prices have reacted quickly: oil is up about 50% and gas 55% versus the end of February. Brent crude has stabilized around $100 per barrel, having briefly jumped to $119, while regional benchmarks Dubai crude and Oman crude are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/middle-east-oil-benchmarks-hit-record-highs-war-cuts-supply-2026-03-16/#:~:text=Cash%20Dubai%20was%20assessed%20at%20a%20record%20%24157.66%20per%20barrel%20on%20Tuesday%20for%20May%2Dloading%20%E2%80%8Bcargoes%2C%20S%26P%20Global%20Platts%20said%2C%20surpassing%20Brent%20futures%27%20all%2Dtime%20high%20of%20%24147.50%20in%202008">above</a>&nbsp;$150 per barrel, with Dubai having&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/19/166-a-barrel-middle-east-oil-gives-clue-to-where-all-prices-could-be-headed-if-iran-war-drags-on.html#:~:text=Dubai%2520crude%2520oil%2520prices%2520surpassed%2520%2524166%2520a%2520barrel%2520to%2520a%2520new%2520record%2520high%2520on%2520Thursday%252C%2520according%2520to%2520market%2520data%2520provider%2520Platts.">rising</a>&nbsp;as high as $166. Against this backdrop, seaborne oil transport, as a sector, is experiencing one of its strongest periods in recent years – longer routes are boosting ton-mile demand, and freight rates have <a href="https://en.sedaily.com/news/2026/03/14/container-freight-rates-surge-30-percent-since-us-iran#:~:text=Container%2520Freight%2520Rates%2520Jump%252030%2525%2520Since%2520US%252DIran%2520Conflict">risen</a>&nbsp;30-40% depending on the region.

Tankers and oilfield services: Eight stocks and one ETF being buoyed by the oil shock

Absci Corporation

Mitek Systems, Inc.

Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc.

The AI Small Cap Index, assembled for <i>Oninvest </i>by analyst Aldiyar Anuarbekov, delivered a strong gain in 2025. The index includes 43 small caps whose businesses are linked to AI infrastructure, sensing technologies, robotics, and quantum computing. For 2025, the equal-weight index climbed 34.6%, while the cap-weight index rose 58.2%. For comparison, the broad-market S&amp;P 500 gained 16.3%, while the Russell 2000, which tracks smid-cap companies, advanced 11.3% over the same period.

Three AI small caps that look ready to extend gains as investors grow more selective

Major U.S. indices <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/08/stock-market-today-live-updates.html">collapsed</a> at the opening on March 9 by more than 1%. The war in the Middle East has pushed the oil market beyond previous stress models. Brent is trading around $100 per barrel, and at the opening of the Asian session the price rose to almost $120. The main driver is not only strikes on energy infrastructure, but also the actual stoppage of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. For investors, this is no longer a local geopolitical episode, but a whole macroeconomic shock, which strengthened the demand for the dollar, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/176a8568-5982-459a-a36a-d2cbf577568a?utm_source=chatgpt.com#:~:text=Iran%20war%20muddles%20expectations%20of%20likely%20Federal%20Reserve%20interest%20rate%20cuts">reduced</a> expectations of a soon easing of the Fed policy, and led to a large-scale sell-off in Europe and Asia.

A nightmare, prolonged stress or a quick pullback: what to expect on Wall Street

Aldiyar Anuarbekov

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