By midday Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the Russell 2000 was up 1.57% for the week. This compares to a 0.9% gain for the S&P 500. Over the past seven days, the Russell has increased by 2.17%, beating the S&P 500’s 1.44% increase.
So far this week, the Russell 2000 index, which tracks small-cap US stocks, has been outperforming the S&P 500 index of large stocks.
In July alone, small-cap stocks have gained 4.62%, while large-cap stocks have increased by 2.4%. Over the last three months, small stocks are up 18.58%, which is slightly more than the 18.18% increase in large stocks.
However, so far in 2025, large caps are ahead with an 8.02% gain. This compares to an increase of only 2.04% for small caps.
Despite this difference in year-to-date performance, the recent shift in performance suggests that small caps may be gaining momentum and could start to outperform large caps.
With this background in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 best-performing penny stocks so far in 2025.
Stocks
Our Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 best-performing penny stocks so far in 2025, we used the Finviz stock screener to look for stocks with a share price of under $5 as of July 23, 2025. We narrowed down our list by looking for stocks with a market capitalization of more than $300 million and sorted our results based on year-to-date performance. Finally, we ranked the 10 best-performing penny stocks so far in 2025 in ascending order based on their year-to-date performance as of July 23, 2025.
Additionally, we mentioned the hedge fund sentiment surrounding the best-performing stocks, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q1 2025 database of 1,000 elite hedge funds.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
10 Best Performing Penny Stocks So Far in 2025
10. Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA)
Year-to-Date Performance: 111.05%
Share Price: $4.01
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) is one of the best-performing penny stocks so far in 2025. On June 4, H.C. Wainwright analysts initiated coverage of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) and gave it a “Buy” rating with a price target of $8.
This decision was based on confidence in the company’s drug, Vafseo (vadadustat), which is used to treat anemia in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are on dialysis.
In March 2024, Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) received FDA approval for Vafseo (vadadustat) for the treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease in adults who have been receiving dialysis for at least three months. Vafseo became available in the US market starting January 2025.
Currently, Vafseo is being rolled out for dialysis patients. However, there is also potential for expansion in the non-dialysis segment. Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) plans to start a Phase 3 trial for the use of Vafseo (vadadustat) in treating anemia in late-stage CKD patients who are not on dialysis.
H.C. Wainwright analysts expect further growth for Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) as the drug gains acceptance among dialysis organizations, including large ones.
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for kidney disease.
9. United States Antimony Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:UAMY)
Year-to-Date Performance: 115.61%
Share Price: $3.73
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20
United States Antimony Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:UAMY) is one of the best-performing penny stocks so far in 2025. On July 3, United States Antimony Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:UAMY) reported that earlier this year it had started quietly reacquiring mining claims and property next to its existing antimony smelting operations located in Sanders County, Thompson Falls, Montana.
As per the report, United States Antimony Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:UAMY) now owns about 24 acres of surface fee simple land and holds non-patented mining rights on about 1,200 acres.
Earlier this year, after carefully reviewing the geology and history of the area and inspecting the site in and around its existing operations, the company found that there could be sufficient antimony in the three vein systems on the property to restart profitable mining activities.
United States Antimony Corporation’s (NYSEAMERICAN:UAMY) smelter, which is located next to these mines, is the only operating smelter in the United States. This makes the economics of this project very attractive.
United States Antimony Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:UAMY) is a company focused on the production and sale of antimony, zeolite, and precious metals primarily in the US and Canada.
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