5 Best Performing Small Cap Stocks So Far in 2026

In this article, we will list the 5 Best Performing Small Cap Stocks So Far in 2026. Please visit 10 Best Performing Small Cap Stocks So Far in 2026 if you would like to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.

5 Best Performing Small Cap Stocks So Far in 2026

5. Century Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IPSC)

Century Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IPSC) is one of the best performing small cap stocks so far in 2026. H.C. Wainwright lifted the price target on Century Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IPSC) to $5 from $2 on April 21, maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. The firm told investors in a research note that Vertex has shown stem-cell islets can work and Sana has shown hypoimmune-edited islets can survive, adding that Century Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IPSC) is attempting to combine these two proof points in CNTY-813. It added CNTY-813 into its model, with a 20% probability of approval and peak sales of $3.4 billion across the globe.

For additional reference, in its full year 2025 results, Century Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IPSC) reported that its cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities are $117.1 million as of December 31, 2025, as compared to $220.1 million as of December 31, 2024. In addition, collaboration revenue generated by the company’s collaboration, option, and license agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb was $109.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $6.6 million for the prior year period.

Century Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IPSC) develops off-the-shelf cell therapies to advance the course of cancer care, with a focus on harnessing the power of adult stem cells to develop curative allogeneic cell therapies for cancer.

4. Shattuck Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:STTK)

Shattuck Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:STTK) is one of the best performing small cap stocks so far in 2026. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage of Shattuck Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:STTK) with an Overweight rating on April 27, telling investors in a research note that the stock’s more than 800% rise over the last 12 months points towards enthusiasm for its DR3 and TL1A programs. It added that investors are betting on differentiated efficacy and upcoming early-phase data that could de-risk key drug attributes, and that continued clinical readouts across several autoimmune indications and interest in combination or bispecific approaches could further support upside.

Shattuck Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:STTK) also received a rating update from H.C. Wainwright on April 20. The firm lifted the price target on the stock to $18 from $6, reiterating a Buy rating on the shares. The firm raised its projected SL-325 probability of success to 15% from 10% based on projections for a broad positive upcoming dataset.

Shattuck Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:STTK) is a biotechnology company involved in the research and development of potential treatments for inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. The company’s focus is on the development of a potential first-in-class antibody to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases.

3. Climb Bio Inc (NASDAQ:CLYM)

Climb Bio Inc (NASDAQ:CLYM) is one of the best performing small cap stocks so far in 2026. Oppenheimer lifted the price target on Climb Bio Inc (NASDAQ:CLYM) to $18 from $10 on April 12, maintaining an Outperform rating on the shares. The rating update came ahead of the upcoming clinical reveals, which will reveal how subcutaneous budoprutug, as well as CLYM116, perform in healthy volunteers. Oppenheimer’s model had not previously included any value for ‘116, in development for IgA nephropathy, and yet the firm views it as exciting as budoprutug, perhaps more so.

Climb Bio Inc (NASDAQ:CLYM) also received a rating update from Mizuho on April 15. The firm initiated coverage of the stock with an Outperform rating and set an $18 price target. It told investors in a research note that the company’s lead assets, budoprutug and CLYM116, are positioned to establish a “compelling B-cell targeting pipeline with best-in-indication profiles in autoimmune nephropathies”. Mizuho believes that Climb Bio Inc’s (NASDAQ:CLYM) updates for budoprutug in primary membranous nephropathy in H2 2026, along with initial data for CLYM116 in healthy volunteers in mid-2026, can offer data points that will “validate potential to drive the deepest reductions in proteinuria within their competitive landscapes”.

Climb Bio Inc (NASDAQ:CLYM) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops therapeutics for patients with immune-mediated diseases. The company’s lead product candidate, budoprutug, is an anti-CD19 antibody designed for a broad range of B-cell mediated diseases.

2. Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRO)

Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRO) is one of the best performing small cap stocks so far in 2026. Citizens lifted the price target on Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRO) to $41 from $35 on April 23, reaffirming an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm told investors in a research note that the recent AACR presentations highlighted strong preclinical results across Sutro’s pipeline, including data suggesting that its lead program, STRO-004, may outperform existing therapies and promising durability from a partnered candidate. Citizens added that with advancing clinical progress, potential best-in-class data by mid-2026, and solid cash reserves, Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRO) is viewed as undervalued despite a sharp year-to-date rally.

Previously, Citizens lifted the price target on Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRO) to $35 from $23 on April 17 and maintained an Outperform rating on the shares. It told investors in a research note that it continues to believe that the company’s shares are undervalued amid the rapid progress in the clinic, a growing pipeline of clinical candidates across novel targets, the potential for STRO-004 to report best-in-class efficacy and safety by mid-2026, and a solid cash position of $212 million.

Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRO) is involved in the drug discovery, development, and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, with a focus on the next-generation cancer and autoimmune therapeutics.

1. Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX)

Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX) is one of the best performing small cap stocks so far in 2026. Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX) received a rating update from Truist on April 28. The firm downgraded the stock to Sell from Hold, bringing the price target down to $8 from $9. It told investors that it still anticipates the company’s earnings to sequentially improve throughout 2026. However, Truist also sees potential for fiscal Q2 guidance to disappoint. The firm added that even when valuing shares on a “mid-cycle / normalized” basis, it believes implied upside is “relatively limited”.

Previously, Truist provided a rating update for Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX) on April 9. The firm downgraded the stock to Hold from Buy, but lifted the price target to $9 from $8. It told investors that the shares of covered TiO2 producers have seen considerable momentum year-to-date, adding that it sees increased risk that factors such as cost pressure and less favorable geographic mix could impact Tronox Holdings plc’s (NYSE:TROX) earnings and cash flows in the near term.

Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX) is involved in the mining and inorganic chemical business, with its products including Titanium Dioxide Mineral Sands. The company is involved in mining and processing zircon, titanium ore, and other minerals, along with manufacturing titanium dioxide pigments.

While we acknowledge the potential of TROX to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TROX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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