Top Penny Stocks List and Weekly Update

This penny stocks list is a curated selection of low-priced stocks, typically trading below $5 per share, that are considered high-risk and potentially high-reward. These lists are valuable tools for traders looking to capitalize on market volatility and are often categorized by sector, market cap, or other financial metrics. Due to the inherent risks and often limited information available on these companies, a penny stocks list should only be used for watching — there’s no guarantee I’ll trade any of these stocks.

My top penny stock picks right now — rated on chart pattern, price action history, and news — include the following:

Let’s get to the picks …

Top Penny Stocks List: September 2026

My top penny stock recommendations to watch this week are:

• NASDAQ: GPRO — GoPro Inc. — The Buyout Trading Above Its Own Buyout Price
• NYSE: BBAI — BigBear.ai Holdings Inc. — Down 46% With A Growing Backlog
• NASDAQ: OPEN — Opendoor Technologies Inc. — Shrinking Business, Shrinking Share Count
• NASDAQ: EOSE — Eos Energy Enterprises Inc. — The Battery Stock Google Just Validated
• NASDAQ: CIFR — Cipher Digital Inc. — The Miner Turned AI Landlord, Cut In Half

Some of these stocks might give you déjà vu…

My watchlists aren’t rocket science. They’re a product of paying attention to what’s already happened.

The stocks on this list are mostly former runners with recent news. That means I’m not the only one paying attention to them.

Here’s your disclaimer: There are a lot of factors to consider when trading penny stocks. The markets won’t forgive you if you trust in random chance instead of studying price patterns and trading selectively.

The best traders watch more than they trade. That’s what I’m trying to model here. Pay attention to the work that goes in, not the picks that come out.

Here’s some background on penny stocks:

What is the most promising penny stock?

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A stock with explosive momentum like GoPro Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRO) is my top choice right now. Remember, we’re traders, not investors. We’re watching these for short-term moves — not betting on where they’ll be in 2030.

What are the top 3 penny stocks to buy now?

My top 3 penny stocks to buy now (as long as the price action is there) are: GoPro Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRO), Eos Energy Enterprises Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE), and Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: OPEN).

Which penny stocks have a “Strong Buy” analyst rating?

Analysts don’t give any penny stocks “strong buy” ratings. These stocks are sketchy and unstable, and should never be investment targets. Always trade with a plan.

Let’s get to the picks …

1. GoPro Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRO) — The Buyout Trading Above Its Own Buyout Price

My first penny stock pick is GoPro Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRO).

This is the best penny stock story on the market right now, and it happened in about a week.

First a well-known YouTube creator disclosed an 8.5% stake in the struggling camera maker, and the stock ripped more than 80% in premarket trading as over-aggressive shorts got squeezed. Then GoPro announced a pivot into AI data centers and jumped another 40%. Then came a definitive $285 million merger agreement with Starman Optical. Shares are up more than 116% in five days.

Now here’s the part almost nobody is doing the math on. The merger pays $1.14 per share in cash. The stock trades around $1.44. The crowd is paying a premium to a fixed buyout price.

GPRO traded as low as $0.57 and as high as $3.05 over the past year, and volume ran about 77 million shares against a 150 million average — meaning the frenzy is already cooling. Morgan Stanley has a 50-cent target and an Underweight rating. Last quarter’s revenue came in at $105 million against $151 million expected, with a 21-cent loss per share. And on September 8 the company issued a $20 million convertible note, because of course it did.

Why traders are watching GPRO:

• Creator stake, AI pivot, and a buyout all landed inside one week
• Stock is trading above the announced $1.14 cash deal price
• Volume is fading off the spike highs

Ride the hype, never believe it. When a stock trades above its own buyout price, the math has a ceiling and gravity does the rest. Watch for failed bounces rather than breakouts here.

Read more: GoPro Stock Rallies On Its Starman Merger And AI Pivot

2. BigBear.ai Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BBAI) — Down 46% With A Growing Backlog

My second penny stock pick is BigBear.ai Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BBAI).

BigBear.ai is the AI-defense name traders treat as a junior Palantir: government contracts, military-focused AI platforms, and a fraction of the market cap, which leaves far more room for percentage moves.

The difference from earlier this year is the chart. BBAI is down about 46% year to date, trading under $3, sitting near the bottom of its 52-week range of $2.36 to $9.39 and below its 200-day moving average. Dilution fears did real damage.

The business itself is not falling apart. The company signed more than 20 new contracts last quarter and carries a backlog around $270 million with revenue still growing. That combination — beaten-down chart, intact story, huge short interest — is exactly the setup that produces violent bounces when the AI or defense sectors catch a bid.

Why traders are watching BBAI:

• Near 52-week lows with a $270 million backlog behind it
• Highly reactive to any government tech spending headline
• Dilution risk is the reason it’s down and the reason it can stay down

I’m watching for a high-volume reclaim or a panic dip-buy setup. Not a breakout chase.

Read more: BigBear.ai Stock Slides As Dilution Fears Weigh

3. Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: OPEN) — Shrinking Business, Shrinking Share Count

My third penny stock pick is Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: OPEN).

Opendoor was the meme supernova of the summer, running from under $2 to nearly $11. It now trades in the high $3s, which is exactly the boom-and-bust cycle I look for. These names round-trip, and then they run again.

August earnings were ugly. Revenue came in around $883 million, down sharply year over year, with a 17-cent loss against seven cents expected. The stock sold off after hours and analysts cut targets into the $4s.

Then management did something interesting: bought back 5% of the shares outstanding and raised $440 million at a 0% coupon, while a new CEO runs a public reset of the business. So you have a shrinking share count against a shrinking business, with analyst targets scattered from the low $4s to $7.

Why traders are watching OPEN:

• Proven $2-to-$11 range with short interest and options flow still elevated
• Buyback shrinking the float while the business shrinks too
• Nobody agrees on fair value, which is why it moves

Trade the chart, ignore the balance sheet. Use tight stops and focus on key levels like VWAP or prior day highs.

Read more: Opendoor Stock In Focus After Its Earnings Miss

4. Eos Energy Enterprises Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) — The Battery Stock Google Just Validated

My fourth penny stock pick is Eos Energy Enterprises Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE).

Eos makes zinc-based grid-scale battery storage systems, which puts it directly in the path of the biggest spending story in the market: powering AI data centers. And it just got the validation traders wait for. Shares jumped 19% on a partnership with Google.

Look at the 52-week range to understand the vehicle: roughly $3.47 to $19.86. That is a stock that has already been given away and bid up inside a single year, and it trades tens of millions of shares on active days.

The catch is the same as always in this niche. Eos is unprofitable, capital-hungry, and dependent on partners and contracts that can slip. A partnership announcement is a headline, not revenue. Analysts lean bullish, which on a name like this is a contrarian warning as much as a comfort.

Why traders are watching EOSE:

• Google partnership sparked a 19% single-day move
• Sits in the AI-power theme alongside the data-center names
• Huge 52-week range means both directions are live

I want a high-volume push through the post-news high, or a dip that holds prior support. Not the middle.

Read more: Eos Energy Stock Jumps On Its Google Partnership

5. Cipher Digital Inc. (NASDAQ: CIFR) — The Miner Turned AI Landlord, Cut In Half

My fifth penny stock pick is Cipher Digital Inc. (NASDAQ: CIFR).

Let me be upfront: at roughly $16 this is not a sub-$5 stock. It’s on my list because it is a penny stock in spirit and always will be. Its all-time low was 38 cents in 2022. It ran to an all-time high above $30 in June 2026. That’s the DNA.

Cipher renamed itself from Cipher Mining in February and repositioned from Bitcoin mining into high-performance compute hosting for AI hyperscalers, the same pivot that repriced TeraWulf and the rest of the miners. The market rewarded it, then took it back: shares fell from above $25 in early August into the mid-$16s inside a week and are down again over the past week.

This is one of the most volatile names on my watchlist with a beta near 2.6, and it now trades on two completely separate stories at once — Bitcoin’s price and AI data-center demand. That’s two ways to be right and two ways to be wrong.

Why traders are watching CIFR:

• Roughly 45% off its June all-time high with heavy volume
• Moves with both crypto and the AI data-center group
• Analyst coverage is uniformly bullish on a stock that just got cut in half

Watch how it behaves in the mid-teens. Former runners run again, but only when volume returns.

Read more: Cipher Digital Stock Moves On Its AI Hosting Pivot

* Past performance does not indicate future results

What Is a Penny Stock?

A penny stock is a stock trading at less than $5 per share. You can trade penny stocks on major exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq, but many of the penny stocks I trade are exchanged through over-the-counter (OTC) trades.

You can buy penny stocks on Robinhood, Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab, and other stock brokerages. All of them allow you to trade penny stocks on major exchanges, but some of them don’t offer OTC trades.

Before you invest your time and resources into penny stocks, it’s crucial to understand what they are and how they operate.

Penny stocks are cheap and often sketchy, but they can build your trading account quickly if you trade well. They’re volatile and unpredictable, so you need a tailor-made strategy for penny stock trading.

Why Penny Stocks Are Great for Trading

Despite being sketchy and unpredictable, I still primarily trade penny stocks. Why is that? Here are my reasons for trading penny stocks:

Small Accounts Grow Quickly

With penny stocks, you should go for singles instead of home runs. And they’ll add up. Penny stock trades are often faster than trades of listed stocks, so you’ll build your trading account faster than if you were trading pricier stocks.

You can’t do this without a good broker though. That’s why I write broker-specific guides — such as this one on penny stocks on Chase. The platform offers a unique set of tools and analytics that can help you make informed decisions. Knowing how different platforms present penny stocks can be a game-changer. Learn more about penny stocks on Chase to expand your trading options.

Less Interference from Big Investors

Wall Street doesn’t like penny stocks because they see them as high-risk and sketchy, which isn’t wrong. However, their loss is our gain because you don’t have to worry about giant investment firms crashing penny stock prices by unloading their shares.

That said, the risk of trading penny stocks is real. You will encounter scams and unscrupulous companies trying to make a buck at your expense, so always research before trading.

Extended Price Moves

Fewer people trade penny stocks due to their sketchy reputation. Because penny stock trading isn’t as popular as other stocks, price moves typically play out over days, not minutes.

This isn’t to say that penny stock prices move slowly. Major price swings can lead to quick profits — or even quicker losses if you aren’t disciplined.

How To Find the Best Penny Stocks to Trade

I skip the fundamental analysis on penny stocks because most companies offering them have bad fundamentals (remember BBBY?). Instead of learning more about the company, the best way to understand penny stocks is to observe and understand. Learn their patterns and how their prices move to get a good feel of how the stock behaves.

Here are some of my top tips:

• Analyze: Analyze the market trends and news to get a better understanding of which penny stocks are worth your attention.
• Compare: Compare the volatility and liquidity of different penny stocks to make an informed decision.
• Track: Track the performance of your selected penny stocks over a period to gauge their reliability.
• Investigate: Investigate the company’s financials and news to avoid falling into a pump-and-dump scheme.
• Monitor: Monitor your watchlist regularly, study their patterns, and spot the stocks that might make big runs in the future.
• Research: Research is the cornerstone of any good trading plan. Use tools like StocksToTrade to dig deeper into each penny stock’s history.
• Assess: Assess the risk factors associated with each penny stock. Remember, we’re here for the long haul. We’re here to identify high-risk to reward setups.
• Evaluate: Evaluate the stock’s performance during market highs and lows to understand its resilience.
• Examine: Examine the stock’s trading volume and price action to predict future movements.

Study the History

Think of stocks like athletes — they won’t deliver the same performance every time, but they have their own styles and a track record you can learn from.

One of the best ways to find which penny stock to trade is to use software like StocksToTrade to create watchlists of past runners. Monitor your watchlist regularly, study their patterns, and spot the stocks that might make big runs in the future.

Understand the Charts

Technical analysis is my preferred method for picking penny stocks because penny stock companies usually don’t have good fundamentals. Technical analysis involves identifying trends and patterns in penny stock movements.

I don’t have any magic tricks for technical analysis aside from practice, practice, and practice. Analyze as many charts as you can, make trades, and learn with every win or loss.

Top Penny Stocks List: September 2026

These are just some of the top stocks I’m watching this year — get the full list here!

There are always plays to make in the small-cap market …

But there are times to get aggressive, and times to be cautious.

Right now it’s time to trade more cautiously/conservatively.

There’s a decent amount of fear in the markets.

And while I don’t trade the stocks that people put their retirement money into, three out of four penny stocks follow the market.

That means that if there’s bearish sentiment, there will be fewer spikes in my niche. In addition to that, any potential spike will likely top out earlier than a spike during a bull market.

We’ve got to keep our expectations in check. That’s how pro traders protect their accounts in choppy markets.

I can’t take more than the market is willing to give me.

My job is to show up, play the patterns as I see them, and protect my brokerage account.

Either way, I’m trading safely.

I’m seeing lots of spikes with no follow-through…

You’ll hear me say it a million times. I’d rather go home flat than go home red. So, identify the penny stocks that align with your trading strategy before diving in.

I like trading multi-day runners, which give me confidence that they will bounce well off of the panics I like to trade.

There are still opportunities in this choppy market. Just make sure to keep your risk tight.

Know when to buy. Timing is everything in trading, especially with penny stocks.

Selling at the right time is just as important as buying. Always have an exit strategy.

Trade based on patterns, not emotions. Stick to your rules and you’ll be fine.

Follow the trends but don’t forget to do your own analysis.

Think like a sniper. A sniper can watch a target for days, weeks even. When the right moment comes, they’re prepared.

How Penny Stocks Watch Lists Work

A penny stocks watchlist is a crucial tool for any trader looking to capitalize on the volatile nature of these low-priced stocks. This list helps you monitor potential trades and stay informed about the latest market movements. By organizing and tracking various penny stocks, you can quickly identify opportunities and make more informed trading decisions. Over my 20+ years trading and teaching, I’ve seen how effective watchlists can streamline the trading process and enhance overall performance.

Investors use these lists to track potential investment opportunities. Common tools and resources include:

• Stock screeners: Filter stocks based on specific criteria.
• Financial news sites: Stay updated with market news and trends.
• Broker platforms: Offer advanced charting and tracking features.
• Social media: Monitor sentiment and hype around specific stocks.
• Trading forums: Exchange ideas and strategies with other traders.

Top Penny Stocks That Will Explode in 2026

In 2025, the hottest penny stocks are coming with certain market trends and sectors. Technological advancements, especially in AI and crypto, are likely to drive significant growth. Companies developing innovative products and services in these areas could see substantial returns. My experience with penny stocks has shown that keeping an eye on emerging technologies can lead to profitable trades.

Investors should look for characteristics or indicators such as:

• Strong financial performance
• Innovative products
• High trading volume
• Positive market sentiment
• Strategic partnerships
• Growth potential in emerging markets

Best Penny Stocks for Long-Term

In my philosophy, there are no “best penny stocks to invest in” for the long-term. Penny stocks are inherently speculative and volatile, making them unsuitable for long-term investments. The high-risk nature of these stocks means they can experience significant price swings, often driven by market sentiment rather than solid fundamentals. This volatility is why I trade penny stocks and never invest in them.

When it comes to AI penny stocks or those in emerging sectors, the potential for rapid gains exists, but so does the potential for substantial losses. Traditional finance principles and brokers typically advise against holding penny stocks for extended periods due to their unpredictable nature. Investing in such speculative stocks long-term is more like gambling than making informed financial decisions.

Sure, you might win at the roulette wheel once, but letting it all ride through multiple spins is a sure recipe for going home broke.

Instead of making long-term investments in penny stocks, I approach these stocks with a trading mindset. Here’s what I do in every penny stock trade:

• Focus on short-term gains: Capitalize on quick price movements.
• Use a disciplined strategy: Implement stop-loss orders to manage risks.
• Stay informed: Constantly monitor market trends and news.
• Leverage trading tools: Utilize advanced charting and analysis tools provided by brokers.

Trading Education

Research is your best weapon in this battlefield. Equip yourself with knowledge before you start trading.

Newbie: How fast can I make $1 million?

Veteran trader: How fast can you learn patterns, ideal setups & discipline to be prepared for what the market offers?

Newbie: Give me hot picks so I can get rich ASAP

Veteran trader: Give me education so I can learn to be self-sufficient

— Timothy Sykes (@timothysykes) June 4, 2022

I can give you all the “hot picks” you want — but that means nothing if you don’t know what to do with them.

Becoming a self-sufficient trader isn’t a game of getting the right picks before anyone else…

The market is based on supply and demand. For a stock to move, other traders have to know about it.

If you spend just five minutes with a powerful trading platform like StocksToTrade, it will be obvious what stocks are hot on any given day.

Guess what? Other traders know that too.

Trading is a battlefield. If you don’t read the instructions, you just get the location — no weapon.

But fear not — giving new traders their education is what I was put on this earth to do!

**Apply for the Trading Challenge Today**

I’ve been trading for more than 20 years. During that time, I’ve made over $7.9 million.

That isn’t what I’m most proud of. I’m prouder that I’ve turned more than 20 of my Trading Challenge students into millionaire traders.

I didn’t do this by giving them hot stock picks. I did it by being relentlessly honest about my successes and failures and teaching them to be that way, too.

You don’t become a millionaire trader by trying to impress your Twitter followers, like so many other ‘gurus’ do. You get there by being honest with them, and yourself. That’s why I’m always honest with my students — ESPECIALLY about my failures.

Because they’re not real failures if I’m following my rules, and cutting my losses quickly. When I lose, I want to show my students the right way to trade. That’s the secret to becoming a self-sufficient trader — knowing how to manage your losses.

Are you ready for this level of real talk? Apply for my Trading Challenge and show me what you’ve got.

We don’t accept everyone. We like to limit our community to people who are humble, people who work hard.

Think you’ve got what it takes? Apply to my Trading Challenge today!

Why You Should Consider Penny Stocks

Penny stocks get a bad rap.

Sure, 99% of them are crap. Most are even outright scams.

But where else can you earn 15-30% profits on a single trade?

If you buy a penny stock thinking it will become the next Amazon, you’re basically buying a lottery ticket. That can be fun, but it’s no way to build your trading account.

The right way to go about it requires discipline and a good trading plan.

How To Choose the Right Penny Stocks to Trade

I want my students to become self-sufficient. Like I said before, my watchlists aren’t rocket science. I build them by sticking to these eight steps.

Look for Big Percent Gainers

How do you find hot stocks? The first step is learning to use a stock screener.

I scan in the premarket to know what’s moving. Penny stocks that know the game often put out PR in the premarket. This gives traders the whole day to send their stock prices up before they dilute.

I typically look for 10% gainers. These are the stocks that the rest of the market has their eyes on.

I keep these big gainers at the top of my watchlists. These stocks can offer quick gains if you play your cards right, but remember, the volatility works both ways. Stay ahead of the game by keeping an eye on penny stocks on the move.

Does It Have News?

We’re in the world of penny stocks, so this is a fair question to ask.

The ‘product’ of most penny stocks is their own stock. They want to pump it up, then insider trade/dilute into this built-up demand.

A lot of penny stock traders will believe anything — but I won’t. I want to see more than a celebrity tweet of a stock before I trade it.

How’s the Volume?

Volume is the proof of demand. If a stock has enough volume — on a small enough float — that’s a good sign that the price will continue to move.

Look at the Exchange

OTC exchanges aren’t for everyone.

Figure out whether your strategy works with OTC stocks. If you’re not willing to pay the fees and deal with low volume, you might want to stick to listed stocks.

Penny stocks on Nasdaq offer a different flavor of risk and reward. Understanding their nuances can give you an edge in your trading strategy. Check out this guide on penny stocks on Nasdaq for more insights.

Investigate the Company History

This is another good way of seeing whether the news will hold up.

Is this a real company? Is their stock a former runner?

You know the saying ‘fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me?’ Smart traders don’t get fooled twice.

Always Verify Their Claims

Sketchy penny stock companies will say anything to pump their stocks.

Luckily, you have the internet at your disposal. Always check up on their claims.

Be Skeptical

Expect the stock you’re watching to tank. Nine out of 10 will — the percentage goes higher if you watch them long enough.

Rinse and Repeat to Add Penny Stocks to Your List

That’s it! Keep an eye on stocks that are moving, and wait for their next move. Never trade them before they fit your preferred setup.

How To Use the Top Penny Stocks List

You should use this list as a model for your own watchlists.

Don’t just copy the stocks on this list. Learn my selection process and create your own.

Sign up here and I’ll send you a new NO-COST watchlist every week.

What Are the Common Risks of Investing in Penny Stocks?

If you’re thinking about investing in penny stocks, you better know the risks involved. These aren’t your blue-chip, dividend-paying stocks. We’re talking about companies with a low market cap, often less than $300 million. These are small-cap stocks, and they come with their own set of challenges.

High Volatility

First off, let’s talk about volatility. Penny stocks are like riding a roller coaster without a seatbelt. The share price can swing wildly in a matter of hours. I’ve seen it all in my years of trading and teaching. One minute you’re up, and the next, you’re staring at a sea of red on your trading page. High volatility isn’t for the faint-hearted. You need a solid strategy to navigate these choppy waters.

Low Liquidity

Next up, low liquidity. You might find a penny stock with a great name and business model, but if no one’s buying or selling, you’re stuck. I’ve written articles and newsletters warning about this. You can place an order, but there’s no guarantee it’ll get filled. Low liquidity means you might not be able to sell when you want to, and that’s a risk you can’t ignore.

Pump-and-Dump Scams

Be wary of pump-and-dump schemes. These are orchestrated efforts to inflate a stock’s price artificially. I’ve been exposing these scams for years. They often include misleading information and are usually promoted through sketchy newsletters or web pages. Don’t fall for it. Always do your due diligence.

Lack of Information

Lastly, the lack of information. Unlike large-cap stocks, penny stocks don’t have to disclose as much. You might find yourself sifting through Canadian or even Chinese companies with little to no information. Access to reliable data is limited, and that’s a significant risk. Always double-check your sources and look for credible links.

Key Takeaways

Penny stock trading is a great way to build your account as a new trader. If you’re new to this, study the patterns I teach. And pay attention to the following …

Key Considerations:

• A lot of penny stocks are shady. Risk in penny stocks can be heightened due to limited company information and unsavory promotion.
• There’s a possibility for big gains. I trade penny stocks because you can trade conservatively and still rack up gains. These stocks can go supernova at any time. Aim for “the meat of the move.”
• These companies are often young. Some penny stocks are newer companies, and can dramatically shift their market trajectory and valuation.

Penny stocks can be a blessing or a curse — it’s all in how you trade them. Don’t just copy my penny stock picks blindly. Learn why I picked them and choose your own stocks to watch.

Which penny stocks are on YOUR watchlist? If you’ve been paying attention, write “I always trade with a plan” in the comments!

Frequently Asked Questions

Trading is the hardest thing you’ll ever learn. There are no dumb questions.

How Many Penny Stocks Should I Buy?

Diversification is key, but don’t go overboard. I usually recommend watching a few different penny stocks, and making even fewer trades. But remember, the more you include, the harder it is to keep track of them all. Stick to a manageable number.

Should Beginners Invest in Penny Stocks?

Penny stocks aren’t for everyone. The risks are high, and the learning curve is steep.

And whatever you do, remember… never invest in these stocks, only trade them!

Is There Any Alternative to Investing in Penny Stocks?

If penny stocks seem too risky, there are alternatives. Consider investing in small-cap ETFs. These give you exposure to small businesses without the extreme volatility. You can also look into dividend-paying stocks with a higher market cap for a more stable investment.

How Does Fundamental Research Affect Penny Stocks?

Reports are crucial documents that often provide detailed financial statements and analyses of a company. They can significantly influence the growth of penny stocks by revealing positive or negative performance metrics. Notices, on the other hand, are usually shorter pieces of information like press releases or regulatory disclosures that can also impact stock growth. For example, if a company receives a notice about an upcoming partnership, this could positively affect its growth prospects.

What Role Does Market Context Play in Penny Stocks?

Partners can offer substantial business advantages, especially for penny stocks which are often smaller companies seeking growth opportunities. A strategic partner can provide much-needed capital, expertise, or market access to markets like China.