Top 10 Most Successful Penny Stocks in History

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By Timothy Sykes Updated on August 28, 2023

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Everyone wants to know about the most successful penny stocks in history … They want to believe in the dream of getting filthy rich on cheap stocks.

They also want to buy big houses and expensive vehicles without doing all the hard work.

Keep dreaming. I’ve been trading penny stocks for over 20 years now. I’ve seen a thing or two in the stock market …

What I rarely see is a penny stock becoming a real, legit company.

That doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Sometimes, you’ll find a diamond in the rough.

I’ve seen a few successful penny stocks in my trading career. Companies have to start somewhere. Some of today’s biggest companies were actually penny stocks back in the day.

But they’re exceptions. 99% of penny stocks will NEVER see this level of success. In fact, most fail. That’s why I teach my students to trade penny stocks … not invest in them.

To be absolutely clear: I don’t invest in penny stocks or recommend investing in penny stocks.

Yes, these results are impressive, but people back then couldn’t have predicted them. For every ‘most successful penny stock,’ MANY will fail.

And, as you’ll see, some of these stocks took years — decades — to become successful. I don’t want to wait that long! I like to look for volatility and stocks that follow patterns. That’s what has created opportunities for me and my top students.

Still, it’s worth learning from any and every stock. Ready to learn? Let’s review what many consider the most successful penny stocks in history…

List of Top 10 Most Successful Penny Stocks

The 10 most successful penny stocks include:

What makes a ‘successful’ penny stock?

You might think it’s a company that started as a penny stock and became a ‘real’ company. There’s more to it than that.

A penny stock is any stock that trades under $5 per share. Plenty of billion-dollar companies — companies with big names — once traded at or under $5 per share.

We haven’t seen many penny stock companies becoming large-cap companies lately, but it does happen.

But remember … Successful companies take years to build — especially if they start small. These companies might be success stories now, but they didn’t make anyone rich fast.

While some of these companies saw exponential growth, it’s crucial to remember that they’re the exception, not the rule.

That said, let’s look at some of the craziest penny stock success stories over the years…

True Religion Jeans (used to trade under NASDAQ: TRLG) — The Defunct Penny Stock

The first successful penny stock on this list is True Religion Jeans (used to trade under NASDAQ: TRLG).

True Religion Jeans used to be one of the great penny stock stories.

It traded under a dollar per share in the early to mid-2000s. But in 2013, the company was acquired by Towerbrook Capital Partners for $32 per share. Long-term investors made a killing as shares appreciated by 5,000%.

TRLG’s story ended the way it ends for most penny stocks. True Religion filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and again in 2020. Even the most successful penny stocks are affected by the boom-and-bust cycle of penny stock land.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) — The Tech Giant Former Penny Stock

The second successful penny stock on this list is Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL).

Apple wasn’t always one of the largest tech companies in the world. This stock wasn’t always invested in by the big funds that  now hold more than 50% of shares.

Back in the early 2000s, AAPL traded for split-adjusted 80 cents per share — a legit penny stock.

Of course, that’s ignoring the many stock splits this stock has had since… But in 2003, it got down to a retail price of $6.56.

As of this writing, AAPL shares trade for over $170. Those stock gains accrued even though the company provides dividends.

This stock returned over 46,750% — it’s now one of the largest companies in the world.

But there was no way of knowing 20 years ago it would become such a success story. And for every company like Apple, there are hundreds of tech penny stocks that fail.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) — The Fortune 500 Former Penny Stock

The third successful penny stock on this list is Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F).

Ford is a $50 billion company. But it was last a penny stock in 2020.

While Ford stock still hovers near penny stock territory price-wise, it’s also issued by one of the most well-known automobile manufacturers in the world.

Why include it in this list? I wanted to give an example of share prices not indicating a company’s performance.

You could consider it a penny stock success story in that it doesn’t seem bound to crash and burn like so many others. Then again, it’s never been a massive mover. It’s not that interesting to me.

I prefer huge spikes like Bravada International Ltd. (OTCPK: BRAV) had in 2020. I traded this first green day OTC play — up on news — for a $612 profit (starting stake $3,937). Penny stocks that are traded on the OTC markets tend to follow my penny stock patterns more closely.

Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ: HEAR) — Back in Penny Stock Land

The fourth successful penny stock on this list is Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ: HEAR).

This chart is the exact reason I teach my students to aim for singles and NOT be overly aggressive.

Short selling can be a good strategy with penny stocks for some traders … Many of these scammy low-priced stocks fail. But, like with HEAR, sometimes they don’t.

For short sellers, these trades can lead to account devastation.

Traders from 2018 might remember this ticker… Over-aggressive shorts and legitimate news spiked HEAR from under $2 to over $30 per share in a few months.

It happened all over again in 2021.

Study this chart in order to see exactly what’s possible with penny stocks. Some trades aren’t worth taking.

Don’t go for home runs — especially if you short. The wrong trade could end your trading career forever.

I mostly avoid shorting these days because of crazy short squeezes like HEAR had. Respect the short squeeze!

Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ: MNST) — The Surprising Mega Penny Stock

The fifth successful penny stock on this list is Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ: MNST).

Yep: way back, before it was a standard offering in grocery and convenience stores, Monster Energy Drinks was a crappy penny stock company.

In the early 2000s, it traded for under 6 cents per share…

As of this writing, it trades for over $100 per share. Over the years, this ticker has returned over 166,000%.

A $1,000 investment at its lows would be worth over $1.6 million today. That’s a good contender for the most successful penny stock.

Don’t get FOMO. It took many years for that to grow and easily could have flopped. It didn’t consistently show the growth trend that we see now.

Mylan N.V. (used to trade under NASDAQ: MYL) — The Delisted Penny Stock

The sixth successful penny stock on this list is Mylan N.V. (NASDAQ: MYL).

MYL used to belong to the hot biotech sector. It had a net worth over $8 billion at its height. Its lows were just under $6 per share.

It ran all the way from $6 to over $70 per share before it imploded.

I’m including it as a cautionary tale. Hold and hope is not a winning strategy in penny stock land.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) — The Clean Energy Former Penny Stock

The seventh successful penny stock on this list is Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG).

PLUG is a great example of the potential of penny stocks — especially in this crazy volatile market.

You’ve gotta be prepared for this volatility. Get my no-cost resource, “The Volatility Survival Guide,” and study up!

PLUG is an example of history repeating. In 2014, it made an initial run from 11 cents to almost $12 per share. In 2020 and 2021, it went from $3 to over $65 per share. It’s now worth more than $7 billion, putting it in mid-cap stock range.

Much of the action is thanks to aggressive short sellers. Don’t short a stock like this every time it goes higher. Because sometimes, it doesn’t stop.

And maybe you missed out on PLUG, but you can learn from it…

You can also learn the basics of my approach to penny stocks with my student Jamil’s book, “The Complete Penny Stock Course.” It covers so many questions I get about this niche.

Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) — The Microchip Maker with Big Penny Stock Potential

The eighth successful penny stock on this list is Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD).

If you like computers, you’ve probably heard of AMD. It’s one of the largest chip manufacturers in the world right now.

Back in 2015, AMD was trading for under $2 per share. Now, it’s over $120 per share, making it one of the most successful penny stocks in history.

AMD now has a market capitalization of $200 billion — making it a mega-cap stock. Penny stocks can become real, legit companies. But you’ve gotta be lucky … and wait a decade or two.

I don’t like to try to guess which companies will make it. My plans work better for the 99% that don’t make it… Get my free guide here.

Medifast Inc. (NYSE: MED) — The Telemarketers’ Revenge Former Penny Stock

The ninth successful penny stock on this list is Medifast Inc. (NYSE: MED).

MED is also a contender for the ‘most successful penny stock’ list. After trading at under $2.30 per share in 2005, the company hit an all-time high of $332 per share in 2021.

Its 14,300% move is impressive. But it took 16 years.

In under half that time, my former student Jack Kellogg has made over $12 million in career earnings.

Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX) — The Pandemic Play Former Penny Stock

The tenth successful penny stock on this list is Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX).

I saved one of the most successful penny stocks for last. NVAX had a huge run this year.

This pharma play ripped from $3.50 at its low to nearly $300 per share at its highs — all in under a year, thanks to the crazy volatility of the coronavirus market.

The problem? Newbie traders see this and expect all penny stocks and biotechs to do the same thing.

In 2023, NVAX is trading under $6. That’s almost back in penny stock land.

Don’t believe the hype!

Recent Penny Stock Success Stories

My recent penny stock success story picks are:

For every 500 penny stocks on the stock market, maybe one or two are capable of this type of breakthrough. More often than not, these companies raise money for their greedy executives through toxic financings.

These stocks often become the subject of speculation and hype, fueled by social media and online forums.

They’re like Pinocchio — except their nose only grows and grows, and they never become real boys.

Now, let’s change gears and discuss some of the most successful penny stocks currently.

GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) — The All-Time Meme Penny Stock

The biggest recent penny stock success story is GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME).

Back in 2020, GameStop was a penny stock…

In 2021, it went supernova on one of the greatest short squeezes of all time. It hit an all-time high of $483 before falling.

If you look at its two-year chart, you can see the long-term downtrend it’s been on. I wouldn’t trade GameStop unless there was some big news. But you can learn from a stock like this.

Study this so you can see the patterns in its chart. It could help you spot similar action in another company with similar growth.

How to Find Penny Stocks Before They Explode

You probably won’t find the next Amazon or Apple by sifting through the penny stock market … But you can find securities that can move 100% or more in a single day.

These are the plays that my students and I like to trade.

Over my 20-plus year trading career, I’m up over $7.4 million in trading profits. I didn’t do it by getting lucky with the ‘most successful penny stocks.’

I did it by being prepared and reacting rather than predicting. Many of these stocks are driven by speculation rather than fundamentals, making it essential to do your homework.

It’s also worth noting that these stocks can be subject to regulatory scrutiny and enforcement actions, so tread carefully.

My strategy is to find plays before they make their full move.

My go-to weapon for finding plays? StocksToTrade.This software is essential for trading penny stocks. There are two key tools on StocksToTrade you need to use — check the guides on my site:

These are my secret weapons in finding hot plays every day. The Breaking News chat room alerts me to important news articles in penny stocks and the overall economy, giving me a crucial trading edge.

In fact, roughly half of my recent trades have been direct effects of Breaking News.

Get a 14-day trial of Breaking News Chat here — only $17!

A good stock screener has many tools, which help traders scan for stocks and do research… That’s important for building the watchlists that let you keep an eye on high-potential penny stocks.

Check out this video where I walk you through how to make a watchlist:

I also have some tips for spotting potential breakout penny stock companies. Try to find companies that exhibit these characteristics:

Is a Low-Float Stock

Low-float stocks have less than 10 million shares publicly available that traders can buy. This limited supply can have an effect on big price swings, especially when these stocks have a volume of or exceeding their float.

Shows an Unusual Daily Trading Volume

Stocks with high daily trading volumes tend to be more liquid, which lets you enter and exit positions more easily. This is especially important with volatile stocks like penny stocks.

Is a Former Runner

Stock performance changes over time, but you’ll find clues in the chart. Penny stocks that have run in the past are more likely to run in the future.

Has a Frequent Media Presence

News and press releases often lead to major stock price swings. Find penny stock companies with a strong media presence — news articles are often signs to buy or sell shares.

2 Hot Penny Stocks to Watch in 2023

Here are two penny stocks I’m watching in 2023.

These stocks are often associated with emerging industries, like EV batteries, making them hot targets for traders.

American Battery Technology Co. (OTCQB: ABML) — The EV Battery Penny Stock Play

My first hot penny stock to watch in 2023 is American Battery Technology Co. (OTCQB: ABML).

I’ve traded this stock for $22k in profits since 2020. Even though I haven’t traded it too much recently, it always has a spot on my EV watchlist.

I’m waiting for the EV sector to heat up again. And I think it might in 2023.

Asia Broadband Inc. (OTCPK: AABB) — The Former Supernova True Penny Stock

My second hot penny stock to watch in 2023 is Asia Broadband (OTCPK: AABB).

I’ve traded this former supernova for over $61k since 2020.

This trashy penny stock was one of the stars of 2021…

It went full supernova on a pump surrounding gold-backed crypto. I only kept those gains because I traded safely, and cut my losses quickly.

Now it’s trending again on news that it’s going after market makers for manipulation. It’s joining a weird sector headlined by Genius Group Ltd. (AMEX: GNS) — this other hot penny stock has started a movement of crappy penny stocks accusing the short sellers of the world of illegal short selling…

It’s ridiculous, but it might still lead to big gains.

How Often Do Penny Stocks Succeed?

Penny stocks rarely succeed. The 13 assets discussed in this post — some of which increased by more than 100,000% — are rare.

The reality is, these stocks are subject to high volatility and risk, and they’re also influenced by macroeconomic factors. That’s why I talk so much about the penny stocks that do fail (99% of them).

Here’s a BIG disclaimer: you shouldn’t expect these results from any penny stock.

Most serve as a cautionary tale for high-risk investments, reminding us that not all that glitters is gold.

The Bottom Line on the Most Successful Penny Stocks

Penny stocks have insane potential — but few will make it into the ‘most successful penny stock’ hall of fame.

Most penny stocks won’t perform well long-term because of greedy CEOs and sketchy business plans. Then there are promoters and “financial advisors” who pump penny stocks to help get a quick move … then cash out while subscribers are stuck holding a losing stock.

While some have resulted in significant gains, they’re also subject to manipulation by unscrupulous individuals, making due diligence a must.

That’s why I teach my students to trade penny stocks — not invest in them.

And I never recommend following alerts. The alerts I send to my students are to teach the process and show what a trading opportunity looks like. My goal is to teach traders to be self-sufficient.

Don’t play guessing games in the market. Instead, learn to day trade and focus on small gains. If you’re dedicated to learning and building experience, consider applying to my Trading Challenge.

What’s the most successful penny stock you’ve ever seen? Let me know in the comments below!

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Comments (1)
Author imageTimothy Sykes
Hey Everyone,

As many of you already know I grew up in a middle class family and didn't have many luxuries. But through trading I was able to change my circumstances --not just for me -- but for my parents as well. I now want to help you and thousands of other people from all around the world achieve similar results!

Which is why I've launched my Trading Challenge. I’m extremely determined to create a millionaire trader out of one my students and hopefully it will be you.

So when you get a chance make sure you check it out.

PS: Don’t forget to check out my 30 Day Bootcamp, it will teach you everything you need to know about trading.

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