5 Small-Cap Stocks That Are On Fire Right Now

2. MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL)

Year-to-Date Performance: 194.55%

MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL) is one of the small-cap stocks that are on fire right now. On April 23, MaxLinear reported Q1 2026 net revenue of $137.2 million, representing a 43% increase year-over-year. This growth was driven by an inflection in the company’s infrastructure business, which surged 136% compared to the prior year. On a non-GAAP basis, the company achieved a gross margin of 59.5% and diluted EPS of $0.22, a notable improvement from the loss of $0.05 per share reported in Q1 2025.

Management attributed this performance to accelerating momentum in optical data center connectivity, particularly for AI-driven hyperscale platforms. Looking ahead, the company provided an optimistic outlook for Q2 2026, projecting net revenue to rise to between $160 and $170 million, marking what management describes as a step-function increase in their optical business.

Additionally, MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL) announced an amendment to its credit agreement with Wells Fargo, extending the maturity of its revolving credit facility to March 2028. The amendment also increased the available facility amount by $30 million, bringing the total capacity to $130 million. While the facility remains undrawn, the extension and increased capacity provide the company with enhanced financial flexibility as it enters what it describes as a multi-year growth phase.

MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL) provides communications systems-on-chip solutions in the US, Asia, Europe, and internationally. It serves electronics distributors, module makers, OEMs, and original design manufacturers.