Bulgaria's transition to the euro has become one of the main drivers of the local stock market in early 2026, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-14/euro-entry-makes-bulgarian-stocks-world-s-best-in-early-2026?embedded-checkout=true">wrote</a>. Since the beginning of the year, Bulgaria's main index SOFIX has risen by almost 7% - investors are betting that the country's entry into the eurozone currency bloc will accelerate the integration of the economy with Europe and attract new capital. Alexander Buyukli, Director of Freedom24 in Bulgaria, told Oninvest why the transition to the euro is not only a new opportunity for investors, but also a test of the maturity of the Bulgarian economy.

"Euro changeover is a test of the economy's maturity": interview with Freedom24 head in Bulgaria

Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.

Wells Fargo has <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/13/wells-fargo-upgrades-this-discount-retail-chain-on-store-growth-and-value-shopping-tailwinds.html">upgraded</a>&nbsp;mid-cap discount retailer Ollie’s Bargain Outlet as the company expands its store network and increases comparable-store sales, while it may also benefit from new tax incentives in the U.S. As a result, the analysts say “confidence is building into an attractive '26 set-up.”

'Confidence is building': Wells Fargo upgrades mid-cap discount retailer Ollie's

Investors should not panic because of the rapidly changing market situation related to the war in Iran and the rising cost of oil, according to analysts <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/where-to-invest-stock-market-strategy-oil-us-iran-war-2026-3">surveyed by</a> Business Insider. Their advice is based on historical experience: in the post-World War II period, markets recovered losses 72% of the time within six months of the outbreak of military conflicts, according to Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth Management's Art Hogan. "So any abrupt change in a long-term investment portfolio is likely to be a mistake," he told Business Insider.

The US-Iran war is dragging on. What investors should do: 5 tips from Business Insider

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

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

SK hynix Inc.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited

Western investment giants are actively buying back shares of Asian beneficiaries of the AI boom after a record drawdown 

AI vs. geopolitics: how the Iran war opened a window for investment in Asia's IT sector

Primo Brands Corporation

Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dauch Corporation

ProPetro Holding Corp.

ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.

Freedom Broker, at the request of <i>Oninvest</i>, has analyzed which small cap stocks are most widely held by hedge funds as of the end of the fourth quarter. The sample includes 15 names with market capitalizations below $6 billion as of then, with 13 of them offering Wall Street target prices of $20 per share or less.

Freedom looks at top small-cap holdings among hedge funds; most are below $20 a share

Star Equity Holdings, Inc.

Noble Capital Markets has initiated <a href="https://dashboard.channelchek.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/STRR_20260304_28032.pdf">coverage</a>&nbsp;of Star Equity Holdings with an “outperform” rating and a valuation implying upside of about 60% from current levels. It says the diversified holding company is seeking replicate the playbook of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in the micro-cap space.

Noble initiates on 'Mini Berkshire in the making' Star Equity with 60% upside 

Ondas Inc.

BlackSky Technology Inc.

Iridium Communications Inc.

Oppenheimer analysts have identified three small companies whose technology could help the U.S. and its allies defend against drone attacks in the Middle East. “It appears the US and Israel have significantly underestimated Iran’s drone capabilities,” Oppenheimer analyst Timothy Horan wrote in a research note <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/anti-drone-stocks-iran-war-ondas-blacksky-iridium-4066149d?mod=RTA">cited</a>&nbsp;by Barron’s.

Oppenheimer names three promising small caps making counter-drone technology

Venture Global, Inc.

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

On Monday, the securities of the company, which has collapsed 60% since its IPO, added 17%, the same amount they are rising by in the March 3 premarket

A little-known US LNG exporter could be a beneficiary of the EU gas crisis

Shell plc

Eni S.p.A.

TotalEnergies SE

Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A.

Wall Street's largest investment bank sees European share prices as "efficient rather than outright overvalued"

JPMorgan bet on Europe's oil and gas majors over Gulf risks

Dutch Bros Inc.

Dutch Bros, a small U.S. coffee chain, is a growth stock that "could supercharge your returns over the next five years and beyond," <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/02/26/growth-stock-supercharge-invest-return-5-years/">argues</a>&nbsp;Motley Fool contributing analyst Neil Patel. The company’s stock is trading about 45% below its peak even as its fundamentals remain strong, he says, creating an attractive entry point for investors.

Motley Fool analyst likes growing U.S. coffee chain Dutch Bros on dip

PicS N.V.

BofA Securities has <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/24/tuesday-stocks-by-analyst-calls-like-nvidia.html">initiated</a>&nbsp;coverage of Brazilian fintech PicPay with a “buy” rating, less than a month after the company <a href="https://filemanager-cdn.mziq.com/published/f4269298-97ef-427d-ac29-04f9d6a6054a/590c0052-1dc9-410c-9c7d-0d8615ae5783_picpay_pricing_press_release.pdf">went public</a> in an IPO, listing on the Nasdaq. The company’s earnings per share is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 117% through 2028, with the main driver being an expansion of PicPay's loan portfolio, BofA <a href="https://www.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/bofa-securities-initiates-picpay-stock-with-buy-rating-on-credit-growth-93CH-4521017">said</a>.

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