In this article, we examine the 13 Best NYSE Penny Stocks to Invest in Now.
Penny stocks, usually trading below $5, are known for volatility but attract investors—including hedge funds, for their turnaround potential. Many are listed on major exchanges like the NYSE, offering better liquidity and oversight than OTC markets.
Market data shows that trading activity in low-priced stocks is robust. According to the SIFMA Equity Market Structure Compendium for 2024, penny stocks accounted for 28% of all shares traded that year, with 13.5% of that volume concentrated in securities priced below $1. The report concluded that low-priced equities continue to command a sizable share of overall market activity, reinforcing a multi-year trend of elevated interest in this segment.
Performance data further supports the case. The Russell Microcap Index, which tracks the smallest 1,000 U.S. stocks in the Russell 3000, gained 13.70% in 2024, compared to the Russell 3000’s 23.81% return. Granted, the spread is sizable. However, it highlights that micro-cap stocks can still generate solid returns even in a broader market rally. Analysts at BofA Global Research recently observed that “selective exposure to small-cap and micro-cap stocks may offer asymmetric return potential as the rate cycle nears its peak.”
Against this context, we highlight 13 NYSE-listed penny stocks that have gained investor attention and may be poised for further upside.
Our Methodology
To create this list, we utilized the Finviz stock screener to filter for stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) trading below $5 per share. From this group, we narrowed our selection to include only stocks with positive year-to-date returns as of August 11, 2025. We then incorporated hedge fund holdings data from Insider Monkey’s Q1 2025 database to verify institutional interest in the selected names. The final list represents the top 13 NYSE penny stocks ranked in ascending order based on their year-to-date price performance.
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).
Best NYSE Penny Stocks to Invest in Now
13. NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO)
Year-To-Date Returns: 7.91%
Share Price: $4.91
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21
NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) is one of the best NYSE penny stocks to invest in now. On August 1, Macquarie upgraded NIO’s rating from “Neutral” to “Outperform” and raised its 12-month price target on the company’s U.S.-listed shares from $3.90 to $5.50. The decision came right after NIO launched the new ONVO L90 SUV, which Macquarie analysts described as a “potential blockbuster” and possibly NIO’s “most competitive offering” to date.
The L90 is a six-seat SUV priced at RMB 265,800 ($36,857). This pricing, the analysts noted, undercut rivals like Li Auto’s L8 by 17% but offers similar features, and comes close to the price of Tesla’s five-seat Model Y. The analysts highlighted the family-focused positioning of the L90, emphasizing space and usability over advanced tech. They see this as a key way for NIO to address its “core problem of insufficient volume” in past sales.
Macquarie projects monthly sales for the L90 could reach 8,000–12,000 units and describes the vehicle as a possible “category killer” in its segment. As a result, the analysts raised their FY25 and FY26 NIO vehicle delivery forecasts by 7% and 10% respectively (to 347,000 and 500,000 vehicles).
NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer that designs, builds, and sells premium smart EVs, including the ET5, ET7, ES6, and EC7. It develops core technologies in-house while leveraging both self-owned and partner manufacturing capabilities. The company operates an expansive NIO Power network, comprising battery-swapping stations, fast chargers, service centers, and NIO House/NIO Space retail sites, to support delivery growth and energy subscription services.
12. Enel Chile S.A. (NYSE:ENIC)
Year-To-Date Returns: 13.64%
Share Price: $3.25
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 10
Enel Chile S.A. (NYSE:ENIC) is one of the best NYSE penny stocks to invest in now. On July 31, the company held an earnings call in which management reported strong EBITDA growth in Q2 2025. EBITDA reached $293 million for the quarter and $659 million for the first half of the year. Net income for H1 2025 was $246 million, which is 8% lower than in the previous year. Management attributed the decrease to higher expenses for general and administrative functions, as well as higher depreciation.
Revenue for the quarter fell by 7.3%. The company stated that the decline was primarily because of lower energy sales in the Generation Segment. The quarter’s operating revenues were $1.177 billion, down 12.6% compared to Q2 2024.
Operational performance was also weak. Net electricity generation dropped 5% year-over-year, totaling 5.9 terawatt-hours (TWh). This decline was attributed to weaker hydropower output (hydro dispatch) and lower renewable electricity production. The company added that transmission bottlenecks and some unavailable thermal (gas or coal) units also caused efficiency losses.
Despite the challenges, the company’s procurement and services dropped 16.1% year-over-year for the first half and nearly 20% for Q2 alone. The cash flow from operations surged to $403 million in H1 2025, much higher than in 2024.
Enel Chile S.A. (NYSE: ENIC) is a Chilean electric utility company that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity throughout Chile. It operates over 8.5 GW of installed capacity, including approximately 6.5 GW from renewable sources. The company manages the electricity distribution network in Santiago and other metropolitan areas.
11. Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE:SB)
Year-To-Date Returns: 13.93%
Share Price: $4.14
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15
Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE:SB) is one of the best NYSE penny stocks to invest in now. On July 29, the company announced its Q2 2025 earnings results, reporting an EPS of $0.01 for the quarter, which was $0.05 below the analyst consensus estimate. The company’s revenue came in at $65.7 million, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $61.42 million.
Net income declined to $1.7 million from $27.6 million reported in Q2 2024, and net revenues decreased by 16.3% to $65.75 million compared to the same quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter also fell to $25.9 million from $50.7 million in Q2 2024. The company stated that the decline in revenues was mainly due to a weaker charter market and reduced earnings from scrubber-fitted vessels (ships equipped with devices to reduce emissions).
The average daily Time Charter Equivalent (TCE) rate decreased from $18,650 in Q2 2024 to $14,857 in Q2 2025. The company operated an average of 46.75 vessels during the quarter, slightly higher than the 45.43 vessels in Q2 2024. Be that as it may, Safe Bulkers declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share. The dividend will be paid on September 5, 2025, and marks the company’s fifteenth consecutive payout.
Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE:SB) is a Monaco-based provider of marine dry bulk transportation services. It owns and operates a fleet of bulk carriers that transport commodities worldwide. Safe Bulkers’ core business is dry bulk shipping, supported by long-term charter contracts.
