In this article, we will look at 10 Hot Biotech Stocks Under $5.
The biotechnology sector is gaining new momentum with better market conditions, cutting-edge innovations, and growing investor attention. After a tough 2024, the industry is ready for major growth powered by developments in personalized medicine, AI-driven drug discovery, and rising demand for biologics. MarketsandMarkets reported that the global biotech market should grow from $483.0 billion in 2024 to $546.0 billion in 2025, reflecting a solid 13% increase. This growth shows the sector’s resilience and future potential.
A major factor in this upturn is the expected change in the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policies. Biotech needs lots of capital for expensive R&D and clinical tests, making it sensitive to shifting rate trends. Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News noted that lower rates increase capital availability, helping biotech companies extend operations, attract venture funds, and speed up drug development. Analysts think a rate cut could free up billions in sidelined investment money for struggling new biotech companies seeking stable funding.
Biotech stocks are gaining traction among investors. Despite short-term ups and downs, biotech remains a high-growth area with good opportunities for risk-takers. Top investment banks have noticed biotech’s recovery. Goldman Sachs called it an “undervalued opportunity,” pointing to strong fundamentals, better clinical results, and a favorable regulatory setting. Goldman Sachs stressed that biotech stocks offer an “option-like structure” with strong upside potential, especially as interest rates fall. Simultaneously, JPMorgan analysts expect biotech funding to recover, noting signs of stability in research and manufacturing areas that suffered in previous funding droughts. Though biotech IPOs have been quiet since 2021, industry experts believe that falling interest rates and favorable conditions for investments could reopen the IPO window for companies seeking institutional backing.
Meanwhile, scientific breakthroughs are also driving biotech growth as gene editing, AI-powered drug discovery, and precision medicine are changing how we treat cancer, autoimmune disorders, and rare genetic conditions. With advances in CRISPR gene editing and cell therapies, biotech companies are addressing medical needs in ways unimaginable just ten years ago.
With that in mind, let’s explore the 10 Hot Biotech Stocks Under $5, offering both price appreciation potential and reliable shareholder returns.
A close-up of a biotechnology machine working on an oncology therapy.
Our Methodology
To identify the 10 Hot Biotech Stocks Under $5, we screened for companies in the biotechnology sector trading below $5 per share while meeting key financial and growth criteria. We focused on stocks with a strong market capitalization, ensuring they had a solid financial foundation. Additionally, we selected companies that have gained at least 20% in the past six months, reflecting recent positive momentum, and exhibit a potential upside of at least 20%, indicating strong future growth prospects. After filtering stocks based on these parameters, we ranked them in ascending order of their potential upside to determine our final list.
To further validate our selections, we analyzed hedge fund sentiment using data from Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 hedge fund database. Stocks with higher hedge fund ownership are often backed by institutional investors with deep research capabilities, adding an additional layer of confidence to their growth potential.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? 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. Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:XERS)
Potential Upside: 29.97%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21
Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:XERS) is gaining attention as a biotech stock supported by robust commercial results and pipeline advancements. The company posted a total revenue of $203.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of 24% from the previous year, while product sales climbed 28%. For 2025, Xeris projects revenue between $255 million and $275 million, suggesting over 30% growth at the midpoint.
A crucial factor in Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:XERS)’s growth was Recorlev’s success, which generated $64 million in revenue in 2024, a 118% year-over-year increase. The company boosted investments in sales and patient support, resulting in peak patient starts in the second half of 2024. Gvoke, Xeris’s ready-to-use glucagon therapy, saw revenue rise 24% to nearly $83 million, driven by increasing prescriptions and prescriber growth. Although Keveyis experienced reduced annual revenue, it maintained stability by ending the year with roughly the same patient count with which it began.
Furthermore, Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:XERS) is also progressing with XP-8121, a once-weekly subcutaneous levothyroxine injection currently in phase 3 trials for hypothyroidism. If authorized, this treatment could fill an important gap for patients who struggle with oral thyroid medications because of gastrointestinal conditions. The company’s XeriSol and XeriJect formulation technologies continue to attract potential partners, enhancing Xeris’s potential.
In a recent development, Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:XERS) collaborated with the American Diabetes Association to boost the importance of glucagon prescriptions for patients facing a high risk of severe hypoglycemia. This collaboration aims to enhance access to critical treatments, simultaneously strengthening the company’s position in diabetes care.
Moreover, the market has responded positively, as the company’s stock price increased by 110% over the past six months. Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:XERS) is emerging as a hot biotech stock with impressive revenue growth, a promising late-stage pipeline, and ongoing improvements in patient care.
9. Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMLX)
Potential Upside: 105.96%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 30
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMLX) is continuously growing its business focused on treatments for neurodegenerative and metabolic conditions. It intends to deliver groundbreaking therapies, with its major candidates focusing on diseases that lack adequate treatment options. With several ongoing clinical studies, the company is positioning itself for major growth soon.
On the financial front, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMLX) concluded 2024 with $176.5 million in cash, in addition to an additional $65.5 million raised in January 2025. Research and development costs fell to $104.1 million from $128.2 million in 2023 due to lower spending on AMX0035, the company’s ALS treatment. Meanwhile, selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses also decreased to $114.3 million from $188.4 million due to reduced payroll and professional services. The company posted a $301.7 million net loss for 2024, or $4.43 per share. Nevertheless, Amylyx remains confident that its current funds will support operations through 2026 despite these losses.
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMLX) recently initiated its Phase 3 LUCIDITY trial, with the first participant expected to receive a dose in Q1 2025 and preliminary results expected in 2026. Moreover, Avexitide has FDA Breakthrough Therapy and Orphan Drug status, indicating its promise as the first approved PBH treatment.
The company is also advancing AMX0035 for Wolfram syndrome and progressive supranuclear palsy, with results expected in 2025. Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AMLX) AMX0114 program for ALS is also advancing, with early Phase I data expected to come later this year. With solid financial backing and a promising pipeline of projects, it stands as a hot biotech stock to buy.