Share prices of ten nano- and small-cap companies exploded last week, posting notable increases between 100 to 1,000 percent, outperforming the sluggish weekly performance of Wall Street’s major indices.
In this article, let us explore the 10 small but terrible companies that led last week’s charge, as well as the reasons behind their gains.
To come up with the list, we considered only the stocks with more than 5 million in trading volume. The list was based on their closing prices on May 30 and May 23, 2025.
10. BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ:BLRX)
BioLineRx surged by 43.44 percent week-on-week as investors cheered the positive results from the single-arm pilot phase of the CheMo4METPANC Phase 2 combination clinical trial, which it was set to present at an ongoing oncology annual meeting.
In a statement, BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ:BLRX) said that the CheMo4METPANC trial is evaluating its CXCR4 inhibitor motixafortide for the potential treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Updated results from the trial showed that four of 11 patients remained progression-free after more than a year, while two underwent definitive treatment for mPDAC, a highly aggressive, lethal form of pancreatic cancer. Another patient had complete resolution of all radiologically detected liver lesions, and one had a sustained partial response.
“The data that continue to emerge from the pilot phase of the CheMo4METPANC Phase 2 study are extremely encouraging,” said BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ:BLRX) CEO Philip Serlin, saying that he was looking forward to the results of the ongoing randomized portion of the study.
9. Tian Ruixiang Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:TIRX)
China-based insurer Tian Ruixiang Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:TIRX) saw its share prices increase by 47 percent week-on-week as investor sentiment was buoyed by a share swap deal with an AI-driven hospital and health insurance risk management platform for $150 million.
In a statement, Tian Ruixiang Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:TIRX) said that it is set to acquire 100 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Ucare Inc. in exchange for more than 101 million of its shares at a par value of $0.025 each.
The transaction would make Ucare sellers the controlling owner of Tian Ruixiang Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:TIRX), effectively owning 91.75 percent of the company, which would represent approximately 13.70 percent of its total voting power.
However, it remains unclear if the transaction would result in a potential backdoor listing.
Both parties expect the transaction to close by July 2025. Shares issued to the sellers will be held in escrow and released based on Ucare achieving a cumulative revenue target of at least RMB150 million over the three years post-closing.
8. Fast Track Group (NASDAQ:FTRK)
Newly listed Fast Track Group soared by 47.86 percent in its first week as a public company, jumping to $4.85 apiece on Friday from the $3.28 closing price the week prior.
Fast Track Group (NASDAQ:FTRK), a regional entertainment-focused event management and marketing firm, successfully raised $15 million in fresh funds from the share sale.
Under the offer, it sold 3.75 million of its ordinary shares at a price of $4 apiece.
The company also granted its underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 562,500 ordinary shares at the IPO price, less the underwriting discount, to cover over-allotments, if any.
Since its inception in Singapore in 2012, Fast Track Group (NASDAQ:FTRK) has expanded across Asia Pacific, earning a reputation for being the preferred partner for event and endorsement organizers in the region.
7. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRGB)
Red Robin surged by 60.88 percent week-on-week as investors cheered the company’s impressive earnings performance in the first quarter of the year.
In a statement, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRGB) said it swung to a net income of $1.2 million for the first quarter ending April 20, 2025, reversing a net loss of $9.5 million in the same period a year earlier.
Revenues inched up by 1 percent to $392 million from $388 million year-on-year.
“We are pleased with our strong start to the year as we delivered increases in both sales and profits during the first quarter. We have made significant investments in food quality and hospitality over the past two and a half years and the operational foundation of Red Robin is strong,” said Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRGB) President and CEO David Pace.
“Nevertheless, we are far from claiming victory. There is still more work to be done as we continue the comeback journey of this beloved brand and capture the significant opportunity in front of us,” he added.
Despite the strong performance, the company lowered its revenue guidance for the full-year period, now to a range of $1.21 billion to $1.23 billion versus the $1.225 billion to $1.25 billion as expected previously.
6. DigiAsia Corp. (NASDAQ:FAAS)
DigiAsia Corp. saw its share prices jump by 102 percent week-on-week as investors snapped up shares in the company in a bid to push its stock price back to the $1 level to prevent the risk of forced delisting.
In December last year, DigiAsia Corp. (NASDAQ:FAAS) announced that it received a letter from the Nasdaq notifying the company of its failure to meet its minimum bid price requirement of $1, having hovered below the said amount for 30 consecutive business days from November 1, 2024 through December 16, 2024.
DigiAsia Corp. (NASDAQ:FAAS), an Indonesia-based financial technology company, has until June 16 to comply with the minimum bid price requirement, or it could face a forceful removal from the stock exchange.
On Wednesday, May 28, the company successfully hovered past the $1 level following news that it was allocating $100 million to buy Bitcoins.
According to the company, its board of directors approved the establishment of a treasury reserve and committed up to 50 percent of net profits generated to fund the acquisition.
5. Imunon, Inc. (NASDAQ:IMNN)
Biotechnology company Imunon Inc. soared by 114.6 percent week-on-week after raising $9.75 million in fresh funds through a private placement priced at the market.
According to the company, it was able to sell 7.2 million common shares and short-term warrants to purchase up to 14 million at a price of $0.45 apiece.
Imunon, Inc. (NASDAQ:IMNN) said it expects to raise some $6.5 million from the short-term warrants if fully exercised on a cash basis. Meanwhile, another $3.25 million has been successfully raised from the private placement.
Imunon, Inc. (NASDAQ:IMNN) said it expects to use the net proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes.
The private placement followed the company’s recent return to the above $1 level, after trading below the Nasdaq’s minimum bid price of $1 for 34 consecutive days between April 4 and May 22, 2025.
Companies listed on Nasdaq are required to comply with the minimum bid price of $1 to stay listed on the exchange or face a potential delisting.
4. Spero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPRO)
Spero Therapeutics soared by 259 percent week-on-week as investors cheered encouraging results of its potential treatment for urinary tract infection.
According to the company, its study for the oral drug tebipenem HBr, which it was developing in partnership with pharmaceutical giant GSK, showed that it was at least as good as an intravenous imipenem-cilastatin, a type of antibiotic, in hospitalized adult patients.
If approved, it could become the first oral carbapenem antibiotic for patients with cUTIs.
The news pushed the company to touch a new all-time high of $2.8 on Friday and propelled its price above the $1 level, having traded below the said price for 94 consecutive days.
Earlier this year, Spero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPRO) received a letter from the Nasdaq notifying the company of failing to meet the minimum bid price requirement of $1.
As a Nasdaq-listed company, it is required to stay afloat the minimum requirement to stay listed, or face a potential delisting. Spero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPRO) had until August 25 to regain compliance.
3. Basel Medical Group Ltd (NASDAQ:BMGL)
Basel Medical Group soared by 344 percent week-on-week as investors were encouraged by the company’s reaffirmation of its strong financial position despite the recent drop in its share prices.
In a statement, Basel Medical Group Ltd (NASDAQ:BMGL) CEO Darren Chhoa addressed concerns in relation to the company’s share prices, assuring shareholders that the fundamentals remain strong and resilient.
“Our financial performance continues to be robust, with our subsidiaries winning new sizable contracts, particularly in the supply chain, and we remain on track with our acquisition growth strategy,” he said.
“We believe that the recent share price decline does not reflect the intrinsic value of our business nor the solid progress we’ve made. BMGL has consistently demonstrated strong operational execution, disciplined capital management, and a commitment to delivering sustainable value for shareholders,” he added.
Following the announcement, shares of Basel Medical Group Ltd (NASDAQ:BMGL) jumped by 484.61 percent on Friday versus its closing price on Thursday.
2. LiveWire Group, Inc. (NYSE:LVWR)
LiveWire Group surged by 345 percent week-on-week as investors gobbled up shares, taking advantage of its cheap value.
In Friday’s trading alone, shares of LiveWire Group, Inc. (NYSE:LVWR) jumped by 56.79 percent to close at $4.5 apiece versus the $2.87 close on Thursday.
In recent news, LiveWire Group, Inc. (NYSE:LVWR) announced a series of promotions for its customers, with its LiveWire S2 models available for a limited time at annual financing rates of 1.49 percent.
Additionally, the company also launched a promo for its LiveWire ONE electric motorcycle for $16,499.
LiveWire Group, Inc. (NYSE:LVWR) is an American electric motorcycle manufacturer initially launched as a dedicated electric vehicle division for Harley-Davidson.
In the first quarter of the year, the company narrowed its net loss by 18 percent to $19.3 million from the $23.6 million reported in the same period last year.
Revenues decreased by 46 percent to $2.7 million from $4.98 million year-on-year.
1. SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBET)
SharpLink Gaming skyrocketed by 1,041 percent week-on-week following news that it was planning to raise $1 billion through a share sale for the acquisition of more Ether coins.
In a regulatory filing on Friday, SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBET) said that it intends to use a substantial amount of the proceeds to acquire Ether, while the balance will be used to fund working capital needs, general corporate purposes, operating expenses, and core affiliate marketing operations.
“Ether will serve as the company’s primary treasury reserve asset. The company believes this strategy will allow the Company to diversify reserves, enhance capital efficiency, and align with emerging financial technologies,” it said.
The share sale followed the company’s disclosure on May 27 that it entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain investors for the private placement of more than 58 million common shares at a price of $6.15 apiece, and pre-funded warrants of more than 10.4 million at $6.1499 per pre-funded warrant. Combined, the transaction amounted to $425 million.
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