On Wednesday, September 4, quotes on Athira Pharma, a small developer of therapies for neuronal health, plummeted 78% after the company <a href="https://investors.athira.com/news-releases/news-release-details/athira-pharma-announces-topline-results-phase-23-lift-ad">reported</a> that its Alzheimer’s treatment had not been found significantly more effective than placebo in a 26-week clinical trial. Despite this setback, Athira intends to continue working on the drug, notes .

Athira stock plummets after its Alzheimer's treatment fails in trials

Canada’s KITS Eyecare, a retailer of eyewear and contact lenses, has upgraded its revenue guidance for the third quarter of 2024 just a month after announcing the previous estimate. Analysts have taken note and raised their target prices for the stock.

Eyewear retailer KITS upgrades revenue guidance after strong August

Shares of less-lethal weapons manufacturer Byrna Technologies have surged more than 20% today, Wednesday, September 4. The trigger was preliminary third-quarter earnings, with revenue nearly <a href="https://ir.byrna.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/201/byrna-technologies-announces-record-preliminary-q3-2024">tripling</a>.

Less-lethal weapons maker Byrna preliminarily reports 200% revenue growth, stock soars

The city of Stockholm has proposed revoking the Swedish sales permit for traditional snus from a Haypp Group subsidiary, the company <a href="https://storage.mfn.se/8aedf4cd-23d6-493e-b00f-28c22b66d2a5/the-licensing-unit-of-the-city-of-stockholm-proposes-to-revoke-the-swedish-sales-permit-for-traditional-snus.pdf">reported</a>. Snus in Sweden accounts for a fifth of total sales. Today, Wednesday, September 4, Haypp shares opened lower on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market for smaller European companies.

Haypp could lose 20% of sales in Stockholm city crackdown on snus

The stock of fintech company Pagaya Technologies is trading with 79% upside versus its last closing price, <a href="https://www.barchart.com/story/news/28305495/1-small-cap-ai-growth-stock-with-79-upside-potential">notes</a> Barchart.com contributor Ruchi Gupta, citing analysts’ consensus forecasts. Pagaya has developed an AI platform that <a href="https://pagaya.com/about-us">helps</a> banks, retailers, and payment systems to make lending  decisions.

Barchart.com contributor fingers small AI company with 79% upside

The consulting firm Grand View Research expects the global AI market to grow from less than $200 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2030. Against this backdrop, the tech giants driving AI adoption are Wall Street favorites, making it increasingly difficult to find stocks with untapped potential. Insider Monkey compiled a <a href="https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/7-most-popular-ai-penny-stocks-under-5-1339722/6/">list</a> of the seven AI stocks priced under $5 that are most popular with "elite" hedge funds.

Insider Monkey names seven AI penny stocks most popular with hedge funds

Zacks Small-Cap Research (Zacks SCR) published a report last week on VolitionRx, which develops and sells early-detection tests for serious diseases. It set a target price for the stock of $3.60 per share, five times the closing price as of Friday, August 30, noting the company’s expanding distribution network and work to cut costs and sign licensing agreements.

Zacks spotlights cancer and sepsis test developer VolitionRx as undervalued

Shares of XORTX Therapeutics, which is focused on developing drug therapies to treat progressive kidney disease, soared about 136% on Thursday, August 29. The company <a href="https://ir.stockpr.com/xortx/sec-filings-email/content/0001171843-24-004964/exh_991.htm">highlighted</a> <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/6/712">research</a> that established a link between genetic factors and several diseases, including kidney disease. This might expand the market for XORTX therapies, as the study advocates a "precision-medicine approach in which genetic risk variants would guide treatment decisions."

Value of company developing kidney disease treatments doubles in one day

The unexpected entry of Kamala Harris into the presidential race on July 21 drove a 5.7% rise in the shares of AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF, which provides investors with access to U.S. cannabis companies, with a 19% increase in the number of shares changing hands. More than half of the ETF's portfolio consists of small- and micro-cap stocks.

Small caps and the U.S. election: How investors can win in the home stretch

Shares of less-lethal weapons manufacturer Byrna Technologies <a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/byrn/institutional-holdings">rose</a> 2.6% on Wednesday, August 28. The company <a href="https://ir.byrna.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/200/byrna-launchers-adopted-by-uruguayan-ministry-of-the">announced</a> that the Uruguayan government had purchased launchers and ammunition for use by the National Police.

Byrna shares rise after Uruguay buys its less-lethal launchers, ammunition

Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, which develops treatments for dermatological conditions and advanced wound care with its flagship product stabilized hypochlorous acid, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SNOA/">slid</a> almost 14% in pre-market trading today, Wednesday, August 28. This follows an <a href="https://ir.sonomapharma.com/press-releases/detail/415/sonoma-pharmaceuticals-announces-1-for-20-reverse-split-of">announced</a> reverse stock split to maintain the company’s listing.

Pharmaceutical company Sonoma slides after reverse stock split announced

Shares of La Rosa Holdings, which provides real estate brokerage and related services, advanced about 5% on Tuesday, August 27. The trigger was an <a href="https://larosaholdings.com/press-release?i=137281">announcement</a> that the company had completed the acquisition of a competitor, which will enable it to offer new services, including title insurance.