While blue-chip stocks should always make up the core of your investments, it pays to also look at other options when creating an optimized portfolio. You should still look for growth stocks to buy, but it’s a good idea to consider those that are under the radar.
One good method is to look for growth stocks at a low price point – for this an exercise, we’ll use a price point of $25. Buying stocks at this level gives you a chance to get more share for your money.
For instance, for $1,000 you can buy 40 shares of a $25 stock versus 10 shares of a $100 stock. More shares mean that even small price increases can result in significant gains, providing a substantial return on investment.
This strategy also helps you diversify your portfolio. Spreading your investments across various sectors and companies helps mitigate risk.
If one stock underperforms, your losses will be minimal. Including a mix of established companies and lesser-known entities in your portfolio can increases your chances of capturing high returns from emerging leaders in different industries.
The names on this list are smaller companies that have strong potential for expansion and profitability. Focus on under $25 growth stocks for potential undervalued opportunities and future growth.
We’ll use the Portfolio Grader to identify these under-$25 gems, based on their earnings history, growth, momentum and analyst sentiment. These stocks are a great way for growth investors to add some diversification to their holdings.
Taseko Mines (TGB)
Taseko Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:TGB) is a copper mining company based in British Columbia, Canada.
The company trades on the NYSE American exchange, which is populated by small-cap stocks.
Taseko has five mining properties, including its anchor Gibraltar Mine in central British Columbia.
It is preparing to bring online its Florence Copper project in Arizona, which the company says will position Taseko for significant growth.
The company mined 30 million pounds of copper and 247,000 pounds of molybdenum in the first quarter. Revenue for the first quarter was CAD 146.9 million ($107.6 million), versus CAD 115.5 million in the first quarter of 2023. Income was CAD 7.7 million versus CAD 5.08 million a year ago.
TGB stock is strong performer, up 100% so far in 2024. It gets an “A” rating in the Portfolio Grader.
Seanergy Maritime (SHIP)
Seanergy Maritime (NASDAQ:SHIP) is a dry bulk shipping company headquartered in Greece.
The company has the distinction of being the only exclusively capesize shipping company listed in U.S. markets (capesize ships are so large they can’t navigate the Panama Canal and have to cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans by sailing around Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope).
Seanergy currently operates 17 vessels, with most of them based in Japan or Korea. The ships stay busy, with a utilization rate of 99.4% in the first quarter of the year.
The company’s fleet operated at a time charter equivalent rate of $24,073 per day in the quarter, up from $11,005 a year ago.
Revenues for the first quarter were up accordingly, coming in at $38.3 million versus $18 million in the first quarter of 2023. The company posted net income of $10.2 million versus a loss of $4.2 million a year ago.
Seanergy plays an important role in the transportation of goods around the world. SHIP stock is up 55% in 2024 and gets an “A” rating in the Portfolio Grader.
OptimumBank (OPHC)
OptimumBank (NASDAQ:OPHC) is a regional banking company operating in south Florida.
While the company offers internet banking, it also maintains the philosophy that true community banks should have traditional services and brick-and-mortar locations for people to visit.
Founded over 20 years ago by a group of Broward County, Florida, business people, OptimumBank provided an alternative to out-of-state banking companies. It eventually went public, giving local residents and investors the chance to own a stake in the bank.
Net earnings in the first quarter were $2.37 million versus $1.15 million in the same quarter a year ago. The company reported assets of $940 million, with loans of $746 million and deposits of $798 million at the end of the quarter.
OPHC stock is up 3% this year, but up 53% over the last 12 months. It gets an “A” rating in the Portfolio Grader.
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA)
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA) is a banking and financial company that’s based in Spain, but also operates with separate segments for United States, Mexico, Turkey, South America and the rest of Eurasia, which it includes as anything in Asia and Europe outside of Spain and the aforementioned regions.
In the U.S., the bank operates as BBVA USA.
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria is also in growth mode, as it’s working on a proposed merger with Banco Sabadell, a Spanish financial services and banking company.
The merger, which would see Banco Sabadell shareholders receive a BBVA share for each 4.83 of Sabadell shares, would increase earnings per share for BBVA by roughly 3.5%, the bank says.
The bank reported earnings in the first quarter of 4.85 million euros ($5.26 million), an improvement from last year’s earnings of 3.94 million euros. Profits came to 2.2 million euros, a 19.1% increase from the previous year.
BBVA stock is up 19% in 2024 and gets an “A” rating in the Portfolio Grader.
Genco Shipping & Trading (GNK)
Genco Shipping & Trading (NYSE:GNK) is the largest U.S.-based dry bulk shipping company. Genco says that its “barbell” approach to fleet construction provides the upside of major bulk cargoes handled by capesize fleets with the stable earnings stream of minor bulk vessels.
Genco operates a fleet of 16 capesize ships and 27 ultramax and supermax ships. It serves more than 110 global customers with an aggregate capacity of 4.49 million dead weight tons.
Revenue for the first quarter was $117.4 million, up from $94.3 million a year ago. Operating income was $22.09 million, up from $4.44 million in the same period a year ago.
The company also declared a dividend of 42 cents per share, with is the 19th consecutive quarter Genco paid a dividend. The company offers a dividend yield of 5.1%.
GNK stock is up 34% this year and gets an “A” rating in the Portfolio Grader.
CleanSpark (CLSK)
CleanSpark (NASDAQ:CLSK) is a Nevada-based miner of Bitcoin (BTC-USD) – and that’s a very good business to be in these days. The price of Bitcoin is near $70,000, up 61% so far this year, and that makes Bitcoin mining much more profitable than it was a few short months ago.
CleanSpark maintains Bitcoin mining facilities in New York, Georgia and Mississippi. It also agreed to purchase 75 megawatts of Bitcoin mining sites in Wyoming, with the potential to expand the sites by an additional 55 MW.
Earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was $111.8 million, up 163% from a year ago. CleanSpark also posted net income of $126.7 million, versus a loss of $18.5 million a year ago.
The company increased its operational capacity by 60% and now has $323.1 million in cash and $358 million in Bitcoin, versus total liabilities of only $74.4 million.
CLSK stock is an outstanding way to play cryptocurrencies without actually owning Bitcoin yourself. The stock is up 48% this year and gets an “A” rating in the Portfolio Grader.
Oscar Health (OSCR)
Oscar Health (NYSE:OSCR) is a health insurance company that has about 1.4 million members.
The company operates a full-stack platform – meaning the company is responsible for developing both the public-facing elements and the technology and programs that power it.
By operating its full-stack +Oscar platform, Oscar is in a position to fully customize the platform for its customers’ needs while increasing efficiency and lowering administrative expenses.
Oscar operates in 20 states and offers individual and family plans, as well as small group plans.
Total revenue for the first quarter was $2.14 billion, up from $1.46 billion a year ago. The company posted a profit of $177.3 million versus a loss of $390,000 in the same period last year.
OSCR stock is continuing to grow and profits should increase as it expands. The stock is up 116% in 2024 and gets an “A” rating in the Portfolio Grader.
On the date of publication, Louis Navellier did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.
The InvestorPlace Research Staff member primarily responsible for this article had a long position in BTC-USD. The staff member did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any other positions in the securities mentioned in this article.