10 Best Small-Cap Stocks Ready to Explode in 2026

​2. Nuvation Bio Inc. (NYSE:NUVB)

Market Cap: $1.93 billion

Upside: 105.72%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39

​Nuvation Bio Inc. (NYSE:NUVB) is one of the Best Small Cap Stocks Ready to Explode in 2026. On January 27, Gregory Renza from Turist Financial reiterated a Buy rating on the stock and raised the price target from $11 to $13. Earlier on January 23, Soumit Roy from JonesTrading assigned a Buy rating on Nuvation Bio Inc. (NYSE:NUVB) with a $12 price target.

​Analysts from Truist Financial noted that the increase in price target is based on the company’s Q4 2025 pre-report and the firm’s meeting with the company’s management. The firm noted that the company’s Ibtrozi franchise demonstrated a robust opportunity and presents a stronger-than-expected upside. This comes despite seasonal headwinds, which, according to Truist, position the drug as the ROS1 agent of choice.

​Moreover, Truist also likes the company’s mIDH1 glioma opportunity as it awaits clarity on registrational timelines. The firm noted that the key study readouts could arrive as early as 2026, adding to the bullish outlook.

​Nuvation Bio Inc. (NYSE:NUVB) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for oncology patients. Its lead asset, IBTROZI (taletrectinib), targets rare and difficult-to-treat cancers. The company emphasizes precision medicine, pipeline expansion, and improving outcomes for patients with limited therapeutic options in oncology.