Shares of micro-cap Achieve Life Sciences <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/achv?utm_source=in_materials">rose</a> 5% on Tuesday, January 7, following the company’s <a href="https://ir.achievelifesciences.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/217/achieve-life-sciences-announces-critical-milestone?utm_source=in_materials">announcement</a> that its clinical trial for a smoking cessation drug successfully reached a critical milestone. This progress allows Achieve to file for regulatory approval and, if granted, begin commercial sales.

Achieve shares climb on positive smoking cessation therapy trial results

Shares of Acurx Pharmaceuticals, a small company specializing in the development of new antibiotics, <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/acxp?utm_source=in_materials">fell</a> 10% in after-hours trading on January 6 following the announcement of a planned secondary offering. The news dampened investor enthusiasm sparked earlier that day by regulatory approval of the company’s trial plan for its lead drug candidate: during regular trading hours, Acurx shares soared over 20%, hitting a one-month high. Meanwhile, analysts are recommending Acurx stock, projecting a price target 11 times higher than its current level.

Acurx shares drop despite approval for new antibiotic trials

Shares of Citius Oncology, a lymphoma drug developer with a market capitalization of $110 million, <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ctor?utm_source=in_materials">jumped</a> more than 18% on Monday, January 6, following the <a href="https://citiusonc.com/news/news-details/2025/Citius-Oncology-Engages-Jefferies-as-Exclusive-Financial-Advisor-to-Explore-Strategic-Alternatives/default.aspx?utm_source=in_materials">announcement</a> that it had hired the investment bank Jefferies as a financial advisor to explore strategic alternatives.

Citius Oncology spikes after hiring Jefferies to explore new strategies 

In December, Carl Icahn, one of Wall Street's most successful investors, increased his stake in nitrogen fertilizer producer CVR Partners to 38% by purchasing common units worth $2.4 million. The billionaire took an interest in the company after Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election. Known as an activist investor, Icahn often pushes for changes in the companies he invests in.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn increases his stake in fertilizer producer CVR Partners

The Motley Fool has <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/01/05/got-8000-3-top-growth-stocks-to-buy-that-could-dou/?utm_source=in_materials">highlighted</a> three stocks that investors should keep an eye on: two large caps and one small cap. It believes that all three have the potential to double investors’ money over the next decade but might appeal more to those willing to take on higher risk.

The Motley Fool highlights three stocks that could double returns for investors

Freedom Broker has highlighted three small-cap companies worth investors' attention. While operating across different industries, these companies share one common trait: their stock has a projected growth potential of at least 20% in 2025.

Freedom Broker highlights three small-cap companies with high growth potential in 2025

The percentage of employees whose workplace drug test showed signs of tampering has reached a 30-year high, <a href="https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/risk-management/more-workers-testing-positive-marijuana-cheating-drug-screens?utm_source=in_materials">warns</a> Quest Diagnostics, one of the largest independent laboratories in the U.S. To deceive employers, test-takers substitute urine specimens, use synthetic alternatives, or mix samples with additives. The micro-cap Intelligent Bio Solutions (INBS), with a market capitalization of less than $6 million, believes its rapid drug screening solution — which detects drugs through sweat collected from fingertips — can solve this problem. With the product already commercially available in over a dozen countries, the company is now preparing to enter the <a href="https://www.researchnester.com/ru/reports/drug-screening-market/4891?utm_source=in_materials">world's largest</a> screening market — the U.S.

How maker of drug tests Intelligent Bio Solutions builds its business on people’s tendency to lie

The S&amp;P 600 index, which tracks small- and mid-cap companies, is expected to rise nearly 25% in 2025, outperforming the S&amp;P 500, which represents the largest issuers, according to Freedom Broker. Analysts attribute this to increased appetite for riskier assets, including small-cap stocks, under Donald Trump’s presidency.

Small-cap index to surge nearly 25% in 2025 — Freedom Broker

In 2024, small caps generally lagged behind their larger peers. However, several niche small-cap stocks experienced explosive growth, having soared more than 1,000%, according to Freedom Broker. Among them were genetic testing provider GeneDx, quantum computing pioneer Rigetti Computing, and Gen Z-focused banking service Dave. Let’s take a look at what made these companies stand out. 

Quantum, genomics, and finance: three small-cap stocks with over 1,000% returns in 2024

has <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/companies-to-watch-2025/?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=Y0jVLcFo&amp;utm_source=in_materials">identified</a> ten small- and mid-cap companies to watch carefully in 2025. These companies are poised for potential transformation, driven by catalysts such as leadership changes, asset sales or acquisitions, and plans for new products or services. The list also considers the potential impact of the incoming U.S. administration's policies, ongoing geopolitical conflicts, and technological advancements. Here are the small-cap stocks analysts recommend keeping an eye on:

Bloomberg highlights ten small-cap companies to watch in 2025

Shares of Grid Dynamics Holdings, a provider of technology consulting, platform and product engineering, and analytics services, <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/gdyn?mod=search_symbol&amp;utm_source=in_materials">surged</a> nearly 10% in after-hours trading on Thursday, December 26. This came after the announcement that the company <a href="https://press.spglobal.com/2024-12-26-Grid-Dynamics-Holdings-Set-to-Join-S-P-SmallCap-600?utm_source=in_materials">will join</a> the S&amp;P SmallCap 600 index on January 2.

Engineering IT services company Grid Dynamics jumps on inclusion in S&amp;P SmallCap 600

Quotes on SoundHound AI, a developer of voice assistants, has soared over 1,000% for the year to date, <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2024/12/26/why-soundhound-stock-is-soaring-today/?utm_source=in_materials">reports</a> the Motley Fool. While this rally makes it one of the year's best-performing stocks, the Motley Fool warns that the company may be overvalued.

Small caps