Small-cap stocks often get overshadowed by their large-cap peers, but many of these under-the-radar companies are quietly fueling key parts of the U.S. economy. From niche industrial suppliers to specialized service providers, small caps are often more agile, more innovative, and better positioned to capitalize on economic tailwinds than the giants of their industries.
For investors, that means an opportunity to capture growth before Wall Street fully catches on. These hidden winners not only deliver potential for outsized returns, but also represent the entrepreneurial backbone driving long-term economic expansion.
Here are some under-the-radar small caps with potential upside.
| Company Name (Ticker) | Analyst Upside | P/E Ratio |
| Liquidity Services (LQDT) | 56% | 31 |
| Astronics (ATRO) | 15% | 21 |
| Innodata (INOD) | 63% | 31 |
| Coastal Financial Corporation (CCB) | 7% | 33 |
| Onto Innovation (ONTO) | 17% | 26 |
| Shoals Technologies Group (SHLS) | 9% | 14 |
| RBC Bearings (RBC) | 12% | 33 |
| Kornit Digital (KRNT) | 58% | 79 |
| SkyWater Technology (SKYT) | 16% | -27 |
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Here are a few of our favorite stocks from this list:
Liquidity Services (LQDT)
Liquidity Services is a small-cap marketplace operator that plays a niche role in helping companies and government agencies dispose of surplus and returned goods. Liquidity Services provides a cost-efficient channel for government agencies and businesses to unlock hidden value.
The business thrives on a digital-first, capital-light model, making it scalable without heavy infrastructure. With the rise in e-commerce returns and supply chain realignments, Liquidity Services is quietly positioning for growth that Wall Street often underestimates.
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Shoals Technologies Group (SHLS)
Shoals Technologies Group develops electrical balance-of-system (EBOS) solutions for solar farms, providing the wiring, connectors, and hardware that link solar panels to the grid. Its plug-and-play system replaces traditional wiring methods, cutting installation time and costs for developers.
The company operates with a capital-light model, outsourcing manufacturing while focusing on design and integration. This gives Shoals room to scale as solar adoption accelerates, without heavy fixed costs weighing on margins. Its recurring role in solar buildouts makes revenue growth tied to one of the most powerful energy megatrends.
While the solar industry is competitive and policy-driven, Shoals has carved out a niche as a cost-saving enabler. For investors looking for small-cap exposure to renewable energy infrastructure, Shoals offers a differentiated way to play the solar growth story.
Track SHLS’s financials, growth trends, and analyst forecasts on TIKR (It’s free) >>>
Innodata (INOD)
Innodata is a hidden gem in the artificial intelligence ecosystem, providing the behind-the-scenes data engineering and labeling that power advanced machine learning models. Unlike the AI giants grabbing headlines, Innodata operates quietly with a services-based model that can scale with an asset-light model.
As demand for structured, high-quality data continues to surge, Innodata provides data prep and annotation services that are useful for the AI revolution. For investors seeking small-cap exposure to one of the biggest technology megatrends, this is a name Wall Street frequently overlooks.
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TIKR Takeaway
Small-cap stocks may fly under the radar, but with the right research, they can offer exciting growth opportunities.
Stay curious and keep exploring these hidden gems for your next big investment win.
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Disclaimer:
Please note that the articles on TIKR are not intended to serve as investment or financial advice from TIKR or our content team, nor are they recommendations to buy or sell any stocks. We create our content based on TIKR Terminal’s investment data and analysts’ estimates. Our analysis might not include recent company news or important updates. TIKR has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading, and happy investing!