Small Cap News Movers: Your Daily Digest of Stocks Making Moves on Market News
As the new quarter begins, the S&P 500 edges higher, brushing off weak economic data. But the real action is in the small-cap space, where breakthrough deals, earnings surprises, and strategic expansions are driving momentum and generating outsized gains.
Despite weak economic data, the S&P 500 (SPX) closed higher to start the new quarter as traders awaited President Donald Trump’s tariff policy rollout. In the face of financial turbulence, several promising companies are outperforming the market, which we discuss in this edition of Small-Cap News Movers. From FDA approvals and new market expansions to earnings surprises and strategic investments, these small-cap stocks appear poised for serious growth.
Let’s dive into the details to learn how these companies are making waves in their respective industries.
1. Soleno Therapeutics (SLNO)
Market Cap as of April 1: $3.13 Billion
Soleno Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SLNO) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing treatments for rare and chronic diseases, particularly hemoglobinopathies and other genetic conditions.
FDA Approval: On March 27, Soleno Therapeutics announced that it has won the FDA approval for diazoxide choline, a drug which will be branded as Vykat XR and will be used to treat extreme hunger in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.
Market Unmet Need: Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with significant unmet medical needs, particularly for treatments addressing hyperphagia.
Launch Timeline: Soleno has announced that Vykat XR will be launched in the US in April 2025.
Financial Projections: GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center forecast indicates that Vykat XR could generate $876 million in sales by 2030, which is highly attractive to investors looking for growth opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector.
Geographic Expansion: Soleno plans to file for approval of Vykat XR in the EU in the first half of 2025. This international expansion potential adds to the company’s growth prospects.
Stock Performance: Soleno Therapeutics’ stock has gained steadily over the last year, with a 52.30% quarterly gain and a 59.49% year-to-date gain.
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2. Avis Budget Group (CAR)
Market Cap as of April 1: $2.65 Billion
Avis Budget Group (NASDAQ: CAR) is a leading provider of vehicle rental services, offering a wide range of vehicles and solutions to individuals and businesses worldwide through its Avis and Budget car rental brands.
Increase in New Car Prices: The 25% tariff on imported vehicles is expected to increase new car prices by 5-8%. Given that about 60% of cars sold in the US are imported, consumers are likely to shift their purchases to used cars, which are not subject to the tariff.
Benefit to Avis: Avis’s financial performance is closely tied to used car prices. The company holds a significant inventory of used cars, and higher used car prices will result in higher gains when these cars are sold to refresh the fleet.
Financial Performance: In 2024, Avis lost $167 million on vehicle sales due to falling prices, but with rising used car prices, the company is expected to see substantial gains over the next 12-18 months.
Impairment Charge: In 2024, Avis took a $2.3 billion impairment charge on its car inventory. The impairment charge was a non-cash item, and with higher used car prices, the company may see higher reported gains on vehicle sales, given the lower carrying value of the cars compared to their current market value.
Stock Performance: Avis’s stock has surged by 26.68% over the last week. However, the stock has experienced a decline over the last months and year, with a 38.47% loss over the previous year.
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3. Worthington Enterprises (WOR)
Market Cap as of April 1: $2.52 Billion
Worthington Enterprises (NYSE: WOR) is a diversified manufacturing company specializing in automotive, aerospace, industrial, and consumer products. It is known for its high-quality steel and aluminum components.
Earnings Surprise and Positive Reaction: Worthington has reported better-than-expected earnings, beating consensus EPS and revenue forecasts.
Made-in-America Advantage: Worthington Enterprises’ made-in-America advantage positions it well in the current economic landscape, where US trade policies favor domestically produced goods. This strategic positioning can lead to increased demand and higher sales.
Upcoming Earnings Forecast: The company is expected to report earnings and revenue estimates in late June 2025, which could be another upside surprise. The company has a history of consistently beating earnings expectations.
Stock Performance: Worthington’s stock has shown consistent growth, with gains of 20.99% weekly and 23.37% over six months.
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4. Jayud Global Logistics (JYD)
Market Cap as of April 1: $769.26 Million
Jayud Global Logistics (NASDAQ: JYD) provides comprehensive logistics and transportation services, including air, sea, and land freight, and warehousing and distribution solutions for businesses globally.
Exclusive Chartered Air Cargo Service: On March 25, Jayud Global Logistics announced the launch of the exclusive chartered air cargo service between Fuzhou and Jakarta.
Strategic Market Positioning: The new route is strategically positioned to capitalize on Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing e-commerce market and represents a significant expansion of Jayud’s air freight capabilities.
Handling of High-Demand Products: The service is designed to handle lithium-ion batteries, a critical product category for e-commerce.
Technological and Infrastructure Support: The new service complements Jayud’s existing logistics infrastructure and technological capabilities, which have been successfully deployed in other regions.
Stock Performance: Jayud Global Logistics has shown remarkable growth, particularly in the second half of the year, with a 47.59% weekly gain and gains of 193.01% in the quarter and 877.91% over six months, finishing the year with a 697.00% gain.
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5. Alumis (ALMS)
Market Cap as of April 1: $393.91 Million
Alumis (NASDAQ: ALMS) is a technology company that develops and manufactures aluminum-based battery anodes for electric vehicles and energy storage systems to improve battery performance and sustainability.
Collaborate on ESK-001: On March 25, Alumis announced a collaboration and licensing agreement with Kaken Pharmaceutical, a dermatology leader with significant reach and expertise in the Japanese market, for ESK-001 in Dermatology in Japan.
Upfront and Near-Term Payments: Kaken Pharmaceutical has committed to paying Alumis $40 million in upfront and near-term co-development payments.
Potential for Additional Payments: The agreement includes the potential for Alumis to earn up to approximately $140 million in additional payments based on the achievement of milestones and field option fees.
Royalties on Sales: Alumis is eligible to receive tiered royalties ranging from the low double digits into the twenties on aggregate net sales of ESK-001 in Japan.
Stock Performance: Alumis’ stock has had a decent weekly gain of 81% but saw a decline in subsequent periods, declining 7.89% over the last year.
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6. QuantaSing (QSG)
Market Cap as of April 1: $227.60 Million
QuantaSing (NASDAQ: QSG) is a diversified holding company that operates in several sectors, including technology, media, and healthcare, focusing on innovation and sustainable growth.
Strategic Expansion into Pop Toys Sector: On March 24, QuantaSing announced a definitive agreement to invest in Shenzhen Yiqi Culture Co., a PRC-based company specializing in IP incubation, copyright commercialization, and the promotion and sales of pop toys.
Market Opportunity: The global and Chinese character toy markets are expected to grow significantly, with a CAGR of 9.3% and 17.7%, respectively, reaching RMB 540.7 billion and RMB 91.1 billion by 2028, according to Frost & Sullivan.
IP Strength: Shenzhen Yiqi Culture Co. has a strong IP matrix featuring popular characters like Wakuku and Ziyuli, which have gained traction in the collectibles market.
Retail Partnerships: Shenzhen Yiqi Culture Co. has expanded its channels through partnerships with major retail chains, e-commerce platforms, and specialty toy stores, enhancing both online and offline distribution capabilities. The company is also establishing operations in Southeast Asia to capitalize on growing regional demand.
Financial Discipline and Growth Expectations: The investment reflects QuantaSing’s strategic approach to deploying its abundant cash reserves to capture structural opportunities in the consumer sector.
IP Commercialization: QuantaSing’s expertise in lifestyle solutions and consumer products will complement IP incubation and commercialization efforts.
Stock Performance: QuantaSing’s stock has performed exceptionally well in the last year, with a 143.70% weekly gain and gains ranging from 184.85% over the month to 280.36% over six months, culminating in a 494.83% yearly gain.
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7. BioAffinity Technologies (BIAF)
Market Cap as of April 1: $16.98 Million
BioAffinity Technologies (NASDAQ: BIAF) specializes in developing and commercializing biotechnology products and services, focusing on diagnostics and therapeutics.
Record Revenue and Growth: The company reported record revenue of $9.4 million for 2024, a significant increase of approximately 270% from $2.5 million in 2023. The company’s number of CyPath® Lung orders grew by approximately 1,400%.
Innovation Pipeline: The company’s pipeline of new diagnostic tests for conditions like COPD and asthma, which leverages the company’s expertise in sputum-based flow cytometric analysis, suggests a robust future growth trajectory.
International Patent Recognition: The company has received a patent from the Japan Patent Office for its method using flow cytometry to predict lung disease, which further strengthens its intellectual property portfolio and opens up new markets for growth.
Case Study Success: The release of a case study demonstrating the successful detection of a second primary lung cancer using CyPath® Lung highlights the test’s clinical benefit and real-world effectiveness.
Economic Validation: A recent study published in the Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research concluded that adding CyPath® Lung to the standard of care for Medicare patients could have saved an average of $2,773 per patient.
Stock Performance: BioAffinity Technologies’ stock has demonstrated robust weekly and monthly gains of 278.47% and 165.85%, respectively, but faced losses by the end of the year, finishing with a 46.04% decline.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the small-cap market is alive with opportunities, and today’s news underscores the potential for these companies to deliver exceptional returns. Whether through groundbreaking FDA approvals, strategic business expansions, or robust financial performances, these small-cap stocks are worth watching. As these companies continue to innovate and grow, their stock prices will likely reflect their success, making them attractive investments for discerning investors.
Small Cap News Movers & Winner Deep Dive – by WealthyVC.com
At WealthyVC.com, we scan more than 10,000 publicly listed stocks across all seven North American exchanges to find the market-moving news that matters. We zero in on high-quality, liquid, growth-focused companies in sectors attracting serious capital—like AI, blockchain, biotech, and consumer tech.
This isn’t just another news feed. We combine real-time news tracking with our proprietary 4-element, AI-powered analysis system to identify stocks with the potential for powerful multi-day—or even multi-month—moves, often before Wall Street catches on.
Each week, we release Small Cap News Movers, a curated roundup of small and micro-cap stocks surging on meaningful news. We break down what’s moving the stock, tap into rumors circulating on social media, and surface insights from both industry experts and sharp retail sleuths.
From this list, we choose one standout stock for our Small Cap Winner Deep Dive, released the next day, where we go deeper—analyzing the fundamentals, narrative, and technicals that suggest this winner could keep running.
Our goal is simple: cut through the noise, remove the emotion, and help investors dominate the small-cap market with innovative, momentum-driven strategies. And we do it all for free.
Our 4-Element, AI-Powered Report Card Assesses:
- Winning Team & Sector
- Competitive Advantage
- Technical/Fundamental Strength
- Clean Capital Structure
All signal, no noise—free from Wealthy VC.
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Disclaimer: Wealthy VC does not hold a position in any of the stocks, ETFs or cryptocurrencies mentioned in this article.
