3 High-Risk, High-Reward Micro-Cap Stocks You Shouldn't Ignore

Micro-Cap Stocks Overview - Micro-cap stocks are generally defined as companies with market capitalizations between $50 million and $300 million, but this is not a strict classification as prices can fluctuate significantly [1] - Investing in micro-cap stocks can lead to substantial returns, as evidenced by NVIDIA's market cap of $279 million at its IPO in 1999, which would have turned a $10,000 investment into over $31 million today, representing a total return of over 300,000% [2] - Conversely, micro-cap stocks can also lead to total loss of investment, illustrated by SunPower's delisting and subsequent bankruptcy [3] Rent the Runway - Rent the Runway, a pioneer in the clothing rental market, is currently trading at $9.13 with a 52-week range of $4.46 to $41.81 and a price target of $25.86 [4] - The company is improving its financial situation and aims to break even on cash flow this year, although it is experiencing a decline in subscribers while competitors like Nuuly are growing rapidly [5] - In August, Rent the Runway reported a 20% increase in orders in its "reserve" segment, which is expected to attract more monthly subscribers [5] - Improvements to the website have nearly doubled the checkout completion rate compared to the first half of the year, indicating increased customer purchasing behavior [6] 374Water - 374Water, a wastewater treatment company, is testing new technology with the City of Orlando and is currently trading at $1.27 with a price target of $3.00 [7] - Successful tests could lead to significant revenue as the city intends to purchase multiple units if the trials are successful [8] - The Orlando operation will also serve as a demonstration site for potential federal and industrial customers, which could expand the company's market reach [8][9] Skye Bioscience - Skye Bioscience is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a CB1 inhibitor for weight loss, currently trading at $3.52 with a price target of $18.67 [10][11] - The drug aims to provide weight loss effects similar to GLP-1 agonists but through a different mechanism, potentially opening a new market for customers [11] - There are concerns regarding the negative psychological effects associated with CB1 inhibitors, as seen in recent results from Novo Nordisk, which impacted its stock price [12] - Skye released a statement suggesting that its drug could mitigate these negative effects and has entered Phase 2 trials as of August [12]