Lauren Romeo, a portfolio manager of three Royce funds, has <a href="https://www.royceinvest.com/insights/2024/4Q24/three-high-quality-innovators?utm_source=in_materials">highlighted</a> a trio of innovative smaller companies whose stocks are high-confidence holdings. She points out that technological advances often stem not just from giants like Nvidia and Amazon but also from small-cap companies.

Royce spotlights three small-cap innovators reshaping their industries

Shares of Hong Kong-based ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat Asian food producer DayDayCook (DDC) <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ddc?utm_source=in_materials">rose</a> nearly 10% on Thursday, November 21, following an <a href="https://ir.daydaycook.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/25/ddc-enterprise-receives-nyse-extension-for-filing-the-2023-annual-report-on-form-20-f?utm_source=in_materials">announcement</a> that the New York Stock Exchange had granted the company an extension to file its 2023 annual financial report. The new deadline is February 4, 2025. DDC has spent half its brief history as a public company just trying to comply with NYSE listing standards and <a href="https://kz.kursiv.media/2024-05-22/mrdr-ddc/?utm_source=in_materials">avoid</a> delisting.

Ready-made Asian food company DayDayCook briefly rallies as NYSE extends reporting deadline

Shares of Sidus Space, a space services company, <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/sidu?utm_source=in_materials">advanced</a> nearly 6% on Thursday, November 21, before extending the gains in after-hours trading. This came after the company <a href="https://investors.sidusspace.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/211/sidus-space-and-reflex-aerospace-sign-letter-of-intent-at?utm_source=in_materials">announced</a> a partnership with the German start-up Reflex Aerospace to produce integrated satellite platforms together.

Sidus Space gains after new partnership announced

Shares of video display and scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/dakt?utm_source=in_materials">fell</a> over 5% on Wednesday, November 20. This came after it was <a href="https://investor.daktronics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/daktronics-inc-amends-and-extends-shareholder-rights-agreement?utm_source=in_materials">announced</a> that the company’s board of directors had amended its shareholder rights agreement to prevent an activist investor — a nominee proposed by Alta Fox Capital Management’s affiliates — from joining the board. Alta Fox, a holder of Daktronics convertible bonds, is demanding early repayment of the bonds. Daktronics now plans to force the conversion of part of the bonds while seeking to limit the influence of the new major shareholder.

Daktronics stock slips on moves to block activist investor

Innodata, a small-cap IT solutions provider that uses its large language models (LLMs) to train other companies’ AI, is like "Palantir in its early days," <a href="https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2373029/the-next-big-ai-stock-inod?utm_source=in_materials">according</a> to Zacks. Today, Palantir is a leader in the AI sector with a market capitalization of <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/pltr?utm_source=in_materials">more than</a> $141.5 billion. Zacks strongly recommends buying Innodata stock, which has soared 3,400% over the last five years.

Zacks spotlights Innodata as 'Palantir in its early days'

Two air taxi stocks — Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation — have jumped after the investment bank Needham initiated coverage of them with "buy" ratings, as <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/air-taxi-stocks-joby-archer-af001d89?mod=RTA&amp;utm_source=in_materials">reported</a> by .

Needham initiates coverage on two air taxi stocks with 'buys'

Zacks Small-Cap Research (Zacks SCR) has raised its target price for BioStem Technologies, a developer of perinatal tissue-based therapies, believing the stock should trade at double its current market price. This comes after the company’s third-quarter financial results, which beat Wall Street expectations.

Zacks raises target price for placenta-based drug maker BioStem

In a recent report, Zacks Small-Cap Research (Zacks SCR) has <a href="https://s27.q4cdn.com/906368049/files/News/2024/Zacks_SCR_Research_11112024_ACHV_Vandermosten.pdf?utm_source=in_materials">made the case</a> for its $30 per share target price for Achieve Life Sciences, which is seven times the last closing price. Achieve is a micro-cap company developing the world’s first treatment for vaping addiction.

Zacks sees 600+% upside in vaping addiction drug maker Achieve Life Sciences

Shares of Liberty Energy, an oilfield services company, <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/lbrt?mod=refsymb_mw&amp;utm_source=in_materials">advanced</a> about 5% on Monday, November 18, following the announcement by President-elect Donald Trump that he would nominate Liberty’s founder and CEO, Christopher Wright, as the next U.S. secretary of energy, as MarketWatch <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/liberty-energy-stock-jumps-after-founders-nomination-to-u-s-energy-secretary-e1d6bdc3?mod=newsviewer_click&amp;utm_source=in_materials">reports</a>.

Liberty Energy shares gain as Trump taps founder for energy secretary

On Monday, November 18, shares of the crypto exchange Bakkt, majority-owned by major exchange operator Intercontinental Exchange, soared 162%. This came after a <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/d7f921d5-3668-4b6b-a98d-2681ad73610f?utm_source=in_materials">story</a> by the that Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG), which owns the Truth Social social media site of president-elect Donald Trump, is in "advanced talks" to acquire Bakkt.

Shares of small crypto exchange Bakkt surge 160% amid talks with Trump Media

Spirit Airlines, a pioneer budget airline, has filed for bankruptcy after multiple failed merger attempts with competitors. The company claims to have reached an agreement with most creditors and expects to emerge from bankruptcy next year. Trading in Spirit Airlines shares, which have fallen more than 90% this year, has been suspended.

Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy

Shares of Citius Pharmaceuticals, a small company developing critical care products, <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ctxr?utm_source=in_materials">plunged</a> nearly 40% to an all-time low on Friday, November 15. The trigger was an announced direct offering at $0.25 per share.

Small caps