Markets

Insider Trading

Hedge Funds

Retirement

Opinion

5 Best Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Right Now

In this piece we will look at the 5 Best Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Right Now. Please visit 8 Best Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Right Now if you’d like to see an extended list and how we came up with the list of Best Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Right Now.

5. CEVA, Inc. (NASDAQ:CEVA)

Market Cap: $1.18 billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19

CEVA, Inc. (NASDAQ:CEVA) is one of the Best Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Right Now. Recently, on June 15, Needham initiated CEVA, Inc. (NASDAQ:CEVA) with a Buy rating and a $55 price target.

​The stock has gained roughly 4% over the past month, mainly due to the strong momentum from Q1 2026 earnings. The company witnessed licensing growth during the quarter and also raised the full-year guidance to the top end of its 8% to 12% growth range.

Needham sees CEVA as an attractive play on the emerging Physical AI sector. The firm believes that Physical AI requires a much broader set of semiconductors beyond just compute and memory. The company is well positioned in this sector and holds a 68% global market share in wireless connectivity, alongside strong positions in sensing and DSP/NPU technology.

​Needham acknowledges that widespread Physical AI adoption is likely still more than two years away, but remains bullish on the stock, expecting significant upside in the near-term.

CEVA, Inc. (NASDAQ:CEVA) delivers silicon and software IP that facilitates smart edge devices to connect, sense, and process data. Established in 1999, the company is based in Rockville, Maryland.

​4. Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (NASDAQ:AOSL)

Market Cap: $1.32 billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (NASDAQ:AOSL) is one of the Best Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Right Now. Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (NASDAQ:AOSL) has gained more than 122% year-to-date and more than 17% since the company’s fiscal Q3 2026 earnings release on May 7.

​During the quarter, the company posted $163.79 million in revenue, ahead of the expected $160.08 million. The company is accelerating investments in higher-value power management solutions for AI servers and data centers to capture growing content gains in premium segments.

​Recently, on June 25, Lake Street initiated coverage of Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (NASDAQ:AOSL) with a Buy rating and a $58 price target. The firm noted the company to be an undervalued AI player and argued that despite having a growing presence in AI data centers, the stock trades at a meaningful discount compared to its power semiconductor peers.

​As a pure-play power semiconductor company, AOSL is directly exposed to the surging demand for power management solutions in AI infrastructure. Lake Street highlights that the company’s AI data center business is expanding and that overall growth is reaccelerating.

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (NASDAQ:AOSL) is involved in the design, development, and supply of power semiconductor products for computing, communication, consumer electronics, and industrial applications. Its operations are divided into the following geographical segments: Hong Kong, China, South Korea, the United States, and Other Countries.

​3. Everspin Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRAM)

Market Cap: $509.98 million

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20

Everspin Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRAM) is one of the Best Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Right Now. Everspin Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRAM) has gained more than 138% over the past 6 months. The gains have been driven by major US defense contracts and the company’s domestic manufacturing partnerships.

​The company, earlier in late April, announced securing a $40 million subcontract spanning over 2.5 years with a US prime contractor. As per the contract, Everspin will provide technology and engineering services for the defense industrial base.

​More recently, on June 9, Everspin Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRAM) announced that the stock is expected to be added to the US small-cap Russell 2000 Index effective June 27, 2026, as part of the annual Russell index reconstitution. MRAM has officially joined the Russell 2000 index.

​Management noted that the inclusion is based on membership in the broader Russell 3000 Index, determined by market capitalization and style attributes. Everspin will also be automatically added to relevant growth and value style indexes. The Russell 2000 is widely tracked by institutional investors and index funds, with approximately $12.2 trillion in assets benchmarked against Russell US indexes. Being added broadens the company’s exposure to this large pool of capital.

Everspin Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRAM) develops and manufactures magnetoresistive random-access memory products for industrial, data center, automotive, aerospace, and other mission-critical applications.

2. Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB)

Market Cap: $1.81 billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27

Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB) is one of the Best Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Right Now. Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB) has declined roughly 10% since its fiscal Q2 2026 earnings, in which the company missed EPS and revenue estimates. However, despite the decline, Wall Street continues to anticipate more than 40% upside over the next 12-months.

During fiscal Q2 2026, the company reported revenue of $209.94 million, which fell below the estimates of $216.03 million. The EPS of $0.42 also fell below the $0.53 consensus. The revenue remained flat year-over-year and was led down by the IC business, which declined 5% to $148 million, mainly due to delayed design releases caused by high fab utilization, memory supply constraints, and geopolitical uncertainty. On the bright side, the Flat Panel Display segment revenue grew 13% to $62 million, driven by strong AMOLED demand in China and seasonal recovery in Korea.

​Following the earnings release on May 29, Craig-Hallum lowered the price target on Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB) from $48 to $42, while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. The firm noted that the cut reflects near-term headwinds rather than a change in long-term conviction. The firm pointed to second-quarter softness and cautious third-quarter guidance, driven by weak IC demand, memory supply constraints, and geopolitical uncertainty that delayed design releases. However, management noted early signs of a tape-out recovery starting in May.

Photronics Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB) is a leading manufacturer of photomasks, essential components in the semiconductor fabrication process. Photomasks are high-precision quartz plates that contain microscopic images of electronic circuits. The company produces photomasks for various applications, including integrated circuits (ICs), flat panel displays (FPDs), and other advanced technologies.

​1. SkyWater Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYT)

Market Cap: $1.27 billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33

SkyWater Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYT) is one of the Best Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Right Now. SkyWater Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYT) has gained more than 89% over the past 6-months. The gains have been driven by the company’s strong revenue growth in fiscal 2025 and the pending merger with IonQ, expected to be closed in the second or third quarter of 2026.

​Last month, on May 8, the company announced that its shareholders approved the company’s merger agreement with IonQ, clearing a key milestone in the acquisition process. Final voting results will be filed with the SEC. Under the terms, SkyWater shareholders will receive $35.00 per share, comprising $15.00 in cash and a stock component tied to IonQ’s trading price within a defined collar range.

​According to a bullish thesis on the stock by The Mispricing Desk’s Substack, SKYT still trades at a small discount to the $35 mark. This reflects timing uncertainty around regulatory clearance and short-term volatility in IonQ’s share price, which affects the stock portion of the deal. Analysts view this as a structural and timing risk rather than any fundamental concern about the deal itself.

SkyWater Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYT) is a U.S.-based semiconductor foundry specializing in advanced semiconductor development, manufacturing, and packaging services for integrated circuits. The company offers a unique, pure-play technology foundry model through its Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) approach. SkyWater provides a range of services, including custom semiconductor design, fabrication, and packaging, serving sectors such as aerospace, defense, automotive, and industrial applications.

While we acknowledge the potential of SKYT 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 SKYT and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT:  10 Good Stocks to Invest in Now and 10 Most Undervalued US Stocks According to Hedge Funds. 

Disclosure: None. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below.

The $250 Trillion AI Hype is Real. A few years from now, you’ll probably wish you’d bought this stock.

Dr. Inan Dogan

Dr. Ian Dogan

Co-Founder and Research Director at Insider Monkey

When Jeff Bezos said that one breakthrough technology would shape Amazon’s destiny, even Wall Street’s biggest analysts were caught off guard.

Fast forward a year and Amazon’s new CEO Andy Jassy described generative AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” technology that is already being used across Amazon to reinvent customer experiences.

At the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, Elon Musk predicted that by 2040 there would be at least 10 billion humanoid robots, with each priced between $20,000 and $25,000.

Do the math. According to Musk, this technology could be worth $250 trillion by 2040.

Put another way, that’s roughly equal to:

  • 175 Teslas
  • 107 Amazons
  • 140 Metas
  • 84 Googles
  • 65 Microsofts
  • And 55 Nvidias

And here’s the wild part — this $250 trillion wave isn’t tied to one company, but to an entire ecosystem of AI innovators set to reshape the global economy.

It’s a leap so massive, it could reshape how businesses, governments, and consumers operate worldwide.

Even if that $250 trillion figure sounds ambitious, major firms like PwC and McKinsey still see AI unlocking multi-trillion-dollar potential.

How could anything be worth that much?

The answer lies in a breakthrough so powerful it’s redefining how humanity works, learns, and creates.

And this breakthrough has already set off a frenzy among hedge funds and Wall Street’s top investors.

What most investors don’t realize is that one under-owned company holds the key to this $250 trillion revolution.

In fact, Verge argues this company’s supercheap AI technology should concern rivals.

Before I reveal the details, let’s talk about how some of the richest people on the planet are positioning themselves.

  • Bill Gates sees artificial intelligence as the “biggest technological advance in my lifetime,” more transformative than the internet or personal computer, capable of improving healthcare, education, and addressing climate change.
  • Larry Ellison — through Oracle, is spending billions on Nvidia chips and partnering with Cohere to embed generative AI across Oracle’s cloud and apps.
  • Warren Buffett — not known for tech hype — says this breakthrough could have a ‘hugely beneficial social impact.

When billionaires from Silicon Valley to Wall Street line up behind the same idea — you know it’s worth paying attention to.

Even as we admire what Tesla, Nvidia, Alphabet, and Microsoft have built, we believe an even greater opportunity lies elsewhere…

But the real story isn’t Nvidia — it’s a much smaller company quietly improving the critical technology that makes this entire revolution possible.

And judging by what I’m hearing from both Silicon Valley insiders and Wall Street veterans…

This prediction might not be bold at all:

A few years from now, you’ll wish you’d owned this stock.

The best part? You can discover everything about this company and its groundbreaking technology right now.

I’ve compiled everything you need to know about this groundbreaking company in a detailed, members-only report.

Trust me — you’ll want to read this report before putting another dollar into any tech stock.

For a ridiculously low price of just $9.99 a month, you can unlock a year’s worth of in-depth investment research and exclusive insights – that’s less than a single fast food meal!

Here’s what to do next:

1. Subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter for just $9.99 a month. (33% Off – was $14.99).

2. Enjoy a year of ad-free browsing, exclusive access to our in-depth report on the revolutionary AI company, and the upcoming issues of our Premium Readership Newsletter over the next 12 months.

3. Sit back, relax, and know that you’re backed by our ironclad 30-day money-back guarantee.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Subscribe now and take control of your AI investment future!

<b>Cancel anytime.</b> Turn off auto-renewal via our website with just a click.

 

Buy This $3 Stock Now Before the 400% Surge Begins

Dr. Inan Dogan

Dr. Ian Dogan

Co-Founder and Research Director at Insider Monkey

My name is Inan Dogan. I’m the co-founder and Research Director of Insider Monkey. I have an important message for you today.

Since March 2017, my stock picks have returned 16.5% annually. Today, I’ve found an opportunity even bigger than my British American Tobacco call.

Two years ago, Wall Street wrote off British American Tobacco (BTI) as a “melting ice cube.” The stock had crashed 40% from its peak, and consensus said the business was dying.

We looked under the cover and realized they were wrong.

We alerted our subscribers, and BTI returned 90% in just 16 months.

Now if you had invested just $10,000 in BTI in June 2024, you’d be sitting on $19,000 in October 2025.

Today, we have identified a nearly identical pattern in a digital-first giant trading at $3.

While the market panics over a surface-level revenue decline, our PhD-led research shows management has actually surgically cut $100 million in waste to focus on high-margin growth.

This pattern is a hallmark of our 16.5% annual return track record. The current opportunity offers a 400% upside potential—dwarfing even our 90% BTI return.

Get the ticker for our new “Underdog” pick and the full BTI case study for just 99 cents.

This exclusive offer is for NEW newsletter subscribers ONLY! Join our Premium Readership Newsletter for only $0.99 and become part of a savvy investor community.!

This offer vanishes in 7 days, so don’t miss your chance to lock in market beating returnsSign up NOW! The monthly newsletter comes with a 30-day, no-risk money-back guarantee. This offer is available to the first 1000 new investors who respond.

Regular price $9.99/mo. Cancel anytime.

Space is Limited! Only 1000 spots are available for this exclusive offer. Don’t let this chance slip away – subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter today and unlock the potential for a life-changing investment.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Head over to our website and subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter for just $0.99.

2. Enjoy a month of ad-free browsing, exclusive access to our in-depth report on the Trump tariff and nuclear energy company as well as the revolutionary AI-robotics company, and the upcoming issues of our Premium Readership Newsletter.

3. Sit back, relax, and know that you’re backed by our ironclad 30-day money-back guarantee.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Subscribe now and take control of your AI investment future!

Regular price $9.99/mo. Cancel anytime.