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Best Penny Stocks Under $1 to Buy Now: April 2025 Watchlist

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Written by Timothy Sykes Reviewed by Ellis Hobbs Fact-checked by Bryce Tuohey
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Penny stocks trading under $1 remain one of the most speculative — yet potentially rewarding — corners of the market. While most of these low-priced stocks will never deliver long-term value, they can offer powerful short-term opportunities for traders who know how to spot momentum, volume, and catalysts.

In this month’s news-driven watchlist, we spotlight some of the best penny stocks under $1 to buy now, with a focus on volatility, sector catalysts, and recent price action. These aren’t investment picks — they’re short-term trading ideas based on current market conditions.

Stock TickerCompany NamePerformance (YTD)
NASDAQ: CISOCISO Global, Inc- 85.65%
NASDAQ: RNAZTransCode Therapeutics Inc.- 85.97%
NASDAQ: HOLOMicroCloud Hologram Inc.- 85.50%
NASDAQ: KOPNKopin Corporation- 32.52%
NYSE: NOVASunnova Energy International Inc.- 90.51%
NASDAQ: LNZALanzaTech Global Inc.- 83.93%
NASDAQ: ICCT¡CoreConnect Inc.- 34.27%

The penny stocks on this list are some of the wildest movers on the market …

Trading any of these stocks should be approached with a clear strategy and an understanding of the risks involved. I don’t trade until I see a setup I like.

Sign up for my NO-COST weekly watchlist to get my latest picks!

CISO Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: CISO)

Sector: Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity remains in focus amid rising threats and increased enterprise spending. CISO is aggressively growing through acquisitions, a strategy that has sparked recent speculation in the stock.

Traders should watch for news-driven spikes and unusual volume.

TransCode Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAZ)

Sector: Biotech

The company’s lead RNA therapeutic candidate targets metastatic cancers — a space that frequently generates outsized moves on clinical updates or trial data. RNAZ has a history of volatility and low float action, making it a watchlist regular for short-term biotech traders.

More Breaking News

MicroCloud Hologram Inc. (NASDAQ: HOLO)

Sector: AI/Metaverse Tech

HOLO fits squarely into the speculative AI/hologram narrative. These stories can run fast, especially if tied to emerging tech themes or government-related initiatives. The stock remains heavily shorted, which increases the odds of short squeeze setups.

Check out the latest HOLO news here!

Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN)

Sector: Defense Tech / Microdisplays

As geopolitical tensions remain high in early 2025, defense names continue to attract attention. KOPN develops advanced display technologies for military and commercial use. Any new contract wins or defense sector rallies could drive renewed momentum.

Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE: NOVA)

Sector: Renewable Energy

While down significantly from past highs, NOVA is still a notable name in the solar energy space. Green energy stocks are once again gaining attention amid talk of tax credits and global emissions policies.

NOVA’s high beta makes it a volatile but tradable setup.

LanzaTech Global Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA)

Sector: CleanTech / Carbon Recycling

LanzaTech’s technology converts carbon emissions into usable fuel and materials.

This is a highly narrative-driven name — and news about partnerships or ESG fund flows could generate big moves. It’s also a former runner with past spike history.

iCoreConnect Inc. (NASDAQ: ICCT)

Sector: Healthcare SaaS

ICCT offers secure, cloud-based HIPAA-compliant software. The company operates in a niche healthcare tech space where contract wins or expansion announcements can fuel price action.

Low float status also makes this name prone to fast spikes… and fast drops.

Why Traders Are Watching Penny Stocks Under $1 Right Now

Market conditions in 2025 have shifted sharply in recent weeks. The S&P 500 has erased over $4 trillion in market cap since late February, and crypto has shed more than $1 trillion — even after bullish headlines.

This sharp correction has driven a shift in trader sentiment and liquidity, causing capital to flow back into low-priced, high-volatility setups. At the same time, fund outflows in small and mid-cap equities are reaching multi-month highs, creating increased opportunities for traders focused on price dislocations and speculative momentum.

The volatility index (VIX) has surged over 70% in the last month, and traders are increasingly positioning for big intraday swings. That’s exactly the type of environment where stocks under $1 can see exaggerated price action — both up and down.

Key Takeaways

  • Stocks trading under $1 are rarely solid investments — but they can offer outsized gains in short bursts.
  • Watch for volume, news catalysts, and sector rotation.
  • Use risk management and avoid holding these names long-term unless part of a very specific strategy.
  • This list is updated based on current news, market sentiment, and trading patterns — not fundamentals.

Stay prepared. And remember: the best penny stocks under $1 to buy now are often the ones you’re already watching — if you’ve done your research.

This is a market tailor-made for traders who are prepared. Penny stocks thrive on volatility, but it’s up to you to capitalize on it. Stick to your plan, manage your risk, and don’t let FOMO drive your decisions.

These opportunities are fast and unpredictable, but with the right strategy, you can make them work for you.

If you want to know what I’m looking for—check out my free webinar here!

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* Results are not typical and will vary from person to person. Making money trading stocks takes time, dedication, and hard work. There are inherent risks involved with investing in the stock market, including the loss of your investment. Past performance in the market is not indicative of future results. Any investment is at your own risk. See Terms of Service here

The available research on day trading suggests that most active traders lose money. Fees and overtrading are major contributors to these losses.

A 2000 study called “Trading is Hazardous to Your Wealth: The Common Stock Investment Performance of Individual Investors” evaluated 66,465 U.S. households that held stocks from 1991 to 1996. The households that traded most averaged an 11.4% annual return during a period where the overall market gained 17.9%. These lower returns were attributed to overconfidence.

A 2014 paper (revised 2019) titled “Learning Fast or Slow?” analyzed the complete transaction history of the Taiwan Stock Exchange between 1992 and 2006. It looked at the ongoing performance of day traders in this sample, and found that 97% of day traders can expect to lose money from trading, and more than 90% of all day trading volume can be traced to investors who predictably lose money. Additionally, it tied the behavior of gamblers and drivers who get more speeding tickets to overtrading, and cited studies showing that legalized gambling has an inverse effect on trading volume.

A 2019 research study (revised 2020) called “Day Trading for a Living?” observed 19,646 Brazilian futures contract traders who started day trading from 2013 to 2015, and recorded two years of their trading activity. The study authors found that 97% of traders with more than 300 days actively trading lost money, and only 1.1% earned more than the Brazilian minimum wage ($16 USD per day). They hypothesized that the greater returns shown in previous studies did not differentiate between frequent day traders and those who traded rarely, and that more frequent trading activity decreases the chance of profitability.

These studies show the wide variance of the available data on day trading profitability. One thing that seems clear from the research is that most day traders lose money .

Millionaire Media 66 W Flagler St. Ste. 900 Miami, FL 33130 United States (888) 878-3621 This is for information purposes only as Millionaire Media LLC nor Timothy Sykes is registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser. No information herein is intended as securities brokerage, investment, tax, accounting or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, or as an endorsement, recommendation or sponsorship of any company, security or fund. Millionaire Media LLC and Timothy Sykes cannot and does not assess, verify or guarantee the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information, the suitability or profitability of any particular investment, or the potential value of any investment or informational source. The reader bears responsibility for his/her own investment research and decisions, should seek the advice of a qualified securities professional before making any investment, and investigate and fully understand any and all risks before investing. Millionaire Media LLC and Timothy Sykes in no way warrants the solvency, financial condition, or investment advisability of any of the securities mentioned in communications or websites. In addition, Millionaire Media LLC and Timothy Sykes accepts no liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this information. This information is not intended to be used as the sole basis of any investment decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the investment needs of any particular investor. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future returns.

Citations for Disclaimer

Barber, Brad M. and Odean, Terrance, Trading is Hazardous to Your Wealth: The Common Stock Investment Performance of Individual Investors. Available at SSRN: “Day Trading for a Living?”

Barber, Brad M. and Lee, Yi-Tsung and Liu, Yu-Jane and Odean, Terrance and Zhang, Ke, Learning Fast or Slow? (May 28, 2019). Forthcoming: Review of Asset Pricing Studies, Available at SSRN: “https://ssrn.com/abstract=2535636”

Chague, Fernando and De-Losso, Rodrigo and Giovannetti, Bruno, Day Trading for a Living? (June 11, 2020). Available at SSRN: “https://ssrn.com/abstract=3423101”