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7 Up-and-Coming Stocks to Buy

By U.S. News & World Report

Investors are always on the hunt for the next big opportunity in up-and-coming stocks. These picks may not yet be household names, but are showing momentum, innovation or turnaround improvement that may lead to outsized returns.

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While established blue-chip stocks offer stability, much of the market’s most exciting growth often comes from smaller, emerging players. This list of up-and-coming stocks highlights this growth potential across technology, health care and other sectors — and all have delivered impressive gains over the past year.

It’s important to note that many of these stocks carry elevated risk, however. Several are not yet profitable, while others operate in highly competitive or cyclical industries. That said, strong revenue growth and other operational milestones suggest these are among the best up-and-coming stocks to buy now:

Stock Sector Market Cap 1-year return
Aeva Technologies Inc. (ticker: AEVA) Technology $1.2 billion 380.7%
Americas Gold and Silver Corp. (USAS) Materials $1.9 billion 426.2%
AXT Inc. (AXTI) Technology $1.2 billion 970.2%
BigBear.ai Holdings Inc. (BBAI) Technology $2.7 billion 104.4%
Nuvation Bio Inc. (NUVB) Health care $2.2 billion 145.3%
Nutex Health Inc. (NUTX) Health care $1.2 billion 461.1%
Oncology Institute Inc. (TOI) Health care $350 million 1,031.4%

Aeva Technologies Inc. (AEVA)

Market value:

$1.2 billion Sector: Technology 1-year return: +380.7%

Aeva is a sensor specialist committed to transformational technologies ranging from automated driving to industrial robotics. Its solutions include cutting-edge lidar components — think radar but with lasers instead of sound waves — to support next-generation applications. The company is not yet profitable, so there’s a hefty amount of risk in this startup, but revenue is expected to grow by more than 80% in fiscal 2025 and is expected to rise another 70% in the year ahead. Shares are up more than fourfold over the past year, and this up-and-coming stock could kick things into high gear if it continues to grow at this impressive pace.

Americas Gold and Silver Corp. (USAS)

Market value: $1.9 billion Sector: Materials 1-year return: +426.2%

As the name implies, Americas Gold and Silver is a miner focused on gold and silver, while also producing zinc, lead and other byproducts during the exploration process. Precious metals saw a historic surge in 2025, with gains of about 65% for gold last year, which has naturally fueled a big run for USAS. As a “junior” miner valued at under $2 billion even after a jaw-dropping 426% gain in the last year, USAS isn’t just generating cash for shareholders — it’s also seeing a significant influx of capital to take its operations to the next level. That includes the recent acquisition of the Crescent Silver Mine in Idaho, which should help ensure the company isn’t solely reliant on commodity prices to thrive in the years ahead.

AXT Inc. (AXTI)

Market value: $1.2 billion Sector: Technology 1-year return: +970.2%

AXT is a leading manufacturer of compound semiconductor wafer substrates — the foundational wafers that serve as building blocks for transistors and integrated circuits. From the artificial intelligence revolution to the Internet of Things and the broader demands of a digital age, semiconductors remain in high demand, and specialized suppliers like AXT play a critical role in global chip supply chains. Analysts expect 35% revenue growth in fiscal 2026, and while it still operates at a small loss, AXT reported a shortfall of less than $2 million in its October earnings report. As the company moves closer to profitability, this up-and-coming stock is worth a look.

[Read: 7 Best Data Center Stocks, ETFs and REITs to Buy]

BigBear.ai Holdings Inc. (BBAI)

Market value: $2.7 billion Sector: Technology 1-year return: +104.4%

Artificial intelligence player BigBear.ai Holdings occupies a compelling niche within the AI landscape by serving national security, supply chain management and digital identity customers. Analysts expect more than 20% revenue growth in fiscal 2026 as it continues to uncover new opportunities that demonstrate it’s more than a fad stock without substantive sales. During its third-quarter earnings call in November, management reported the acquisition of peer firm Ask Sage for $250 million, a move designed to open new avenues for growth in the year ahead and build on prior momentum.

Nuvation Bio Inc. (NUVB)

Market value: $2.2 billion Sector: Health care 1-year return: +145.3%

Cancer-focused biotechnology firm Nuvation has surged over the past several months thanks to strong results from its late-stage clinical study evaluating Ibtrozi, its treatment for early-stage lung cancer. Investment bank Jefferies initiated coverage with a “buy” rating, signaling that even major Wall Street firms are paying attention. That could bode well for this up-and-coming stock as 2026 begins and the company looks toward eventual commercialization of its next-generation therapy.

Nutex Health Inc. (NUTX)

Market value: $1.2 billion Sector: Health care 1-year return: +461.1%

Health care services company Nutex operates 24 micro-hospitals and hospital outpatient departments across 11 states. In addition, it provides management and support services to affiliated hospitals and offers a cloud-based medical records platform. The company saw revenue more than double in fiscal 2025, and shares continue to ride strong momentum as 2026 begins. The recession-resistant nature of health care, combined with Nutex’s niche focus on urgent care and imaging rather than full-service inpatient hospitals, makes it one of the most attractive up-and-coming stocks to consider.

Oncology Institute Inc. (TOI)

Market value: $350 million Sector: Health care 1-year return: +1,031.4%

Many investors chase small-cap biotech stocks in hopes of a massive one-time gain following a favorable clinical trial. While that strategy can be profitable, it also carries significant risk. The Oncology Institute offers a more stable small-cap alternative, as it provides support services for clinical trials without the “all-or-nothing” dependency on a single drug’s success. The company also operates patient services and prescription drug dispensaries tailored specifically to cancer patients. Still small and specialized, TOI has posted meteoric gains recently as investors grow increasingly optimistic about its long-term growth prospects.

[READ: 9 Best Growth Stocks for the Next 10 Years]

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7 Up-and-Coming Stocks to Buy originally appeared on usnews.com

Update 01/14/26: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.

Deputy followed her six miles, then threw her to the ground: Sun Prairie family alleges racial profiling, excessive force

By CNN
Click here for updates on this story    SUN PRAIRIE, WI (365 Media Foundation, Inc) -- A Sun Prairie family has filed complaints with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and Sun Prairie Police Department (SPPD), and is pursuing legal action, after a Dane County Sheriff’s Deputy followed a 19-year-old woman for more than six miles, handcuffed her father, forcibly threw her to the ground and violently detained her without provocation.Sun Prairie Police body camera video shows Bryanna Montgomery, 19, was backing away from Deputy Tory Boyce when he grabbed her arm and the back of her neck, throwing her to the ground and kneeling on her back. With the assistance of Sun Prairie Police officer Tyler Chitwood, who also knelt on Bryanna Montgomery’s back, Boyce placed Montgomery in the back of his patrol car.“I’m about to watch my kid get killed in front of our (expletive) house,” Jovan Montgomery recalls thinking. He said he may pursue therapy, as the whole encounter has given him recurring nightmares.A Sun Prairie Police Department spokesman said the department is looking into the case but could not comment at this time. “The Dane County Sheriff’s Office takes all complaints about the conduct of our employees seriously. Maintaining the trust and confidence of our community members is of the utmost importance,” Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barret said in an email to Madison365. “Whenever we receive a complaint, we thoroughly review the matter and take appropriate action based on the outcome of the investigation.”The following video comes from two SPPD body cameras. The second depicts a better view of Boyce’s actions but is muted, which is against SPPD policy. The video contains profanity and disturbing images.youtu.be/Q1m7lt0gYOs?si=mZGLeF-gYyLHu0EwAll eight body camera videos are available at this link: youtu.be/AwpbkPlcdkEThe incidentJovan Montgomery told Madison365 that he and his daughter Bryanna had gone to Madison’s east side to pick up his other daughter’s car late Wednesday, July 29. Bryanna was driving that car back to their home in Sun Prairie, with Jovan in his car behind. He said he noticed a Dane County Sheriff’s Deputy following closely behind Bryanna on the East Side of Madison, and that the deputy continued to follow her all the way to Sun Prairie. A ticket mailed to Bryanna subsequently alleges that she ran the stop sign at Portage Road and Hanson Road in the Town of Burke. Google Maps indicates that it’s a 6.6-mile drive from there to the Montgomery home, which is where Boyce finally turned on his lights and pulled Bryanna over.A DCSO representative said there’s no set policy on how long it should take to initiate a traffic stop after a deputy observes a violation.“The timeline completely depends on the discretion of the individual law enforcement officer surrounding the anticipated contact,” DCSO Public Information Officer Elise Shaffer wrote in an email responding to Madison365’s questions. “Every contact with the public presents its own unique set of circumstances.”Madison365 has submitted open records requests for Boyce’s patrol car dash cam video. The dark blue route is the one Jovan Montgomery said he and his daughter took from the East Side of Madison to Sun Prairie, with Sheriff’s Deputy Tory Boyce following the entire way. Jovan Montgomery said he followed the deputy as the deputy followed Byranna, calling his wife, who was at home. When they arrived home and the deputy turned his lights on, Jovan parked behind the deputy’s car. Jovan got out of his car just as Boyce was getting out of his, and Jovan said Boyce immediately shone his flashlight into Jovan’s eyes and demanded to see his ID. Jovan Montgomery said he asked what crime he had committed, and declined to show his ID. A law enforcement officer can ask anyone for an ID, and a person can decline that request, unless the officer has reasonable suspicion that they’ve committed a crime, Shaffer said. “He probably wanted to see if I got a warrant (for arrest),” Jovan Montgomery said. “I don’t. Once he saw me, he saw a Black man, and he’s like, ‘target acquired.'”After declining to provide an ID, Jovan Montgomery walked onto his front lawn and requested Boyce summon assistance from the Sun Prairie Police Department (SPPD), because he knew SPPD uses body cameras. Eight SPPD officers arrived very shortly thereafter.SPPD body camera video indicates that Boyce told SPPD officers “he’s detained, she’s detained,” pointing in turn at Jovan and Bryanna Montgomery. Jovan Montgomery’s wife and Bryanna’s stepmother, Emily Wendt, was also outside and vocally confrontational with police, but was not detained.Wendt is white. Jovan and Bryanna Montgomery are Black.SPPD officer Tyler Chitwood wrote in an incident report that he asked Boyce if he wanted Jovan Montgomery in handcuffs, and that Boyce said yes.Chitwood’s body camera video shows that he asked, “You want him actually detained?” And Boyce answered, “Yes, with the way he’s acting,” as Jovan Montgomery, standing on his front lawn, took a step back with his arms folded.Chitwood and officer Odalys Gloria then placed Jovan Montgomery in handcuffs. Chitwood wrote in his report that Jovan Montgomery offered “passive resistance” by tensing his arm, but complied.Shaffer said Wisconsin law enforcement officers “are allowed to handcuff a person when that person is under formal arrest, placed in protective custody, or when a law enforcement officer has specific articulable facts showing the person poses a safety or flight risk during temporary detention.”Madison365 has submitted open records requests for Deputy Boyce’s incident reports to ascertain whether he articulated any such facts. Shaffer could not answer whether his reports contain such facts.Video recorded by Chitwood and Gloria then shows Boyce speaking with Bryanna Montgomery on the sidewalk. Boyce said he wanted to “explain the traffic stop” and seemed to indicate he wanted Bryanna Montgomery to move closer to the street for that purpose. It’s unclear why he couldn’t explain the traffic stop where they were standing, on the sidewalk. Bryanna Montgomery did not seem threatening, nor did she seem to be attempting to flee. However, when she refused to walk with Boyce toward the street, he grabbed her upper arm with one hand, the back of her neck with the other and threw her face-first to the ground, on the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the curb. While Wendt screamed and implored officers to get off of her, and Jovan told Bryanna to hold still and calm down, both Chitwood and Boyce knelt on her back while securing her in handcuffs. She said once that she couldn’t breathe. Once they had her cuffed, Chitwood asked whether she needed an ambulance; she said no. They then walked her to a patrol car and she voluntarily got in the back seat, saying, “I weigh like 20 times less than both of you. You don’t need two grown men on my (expletive) back.”A few minutes later, a DCSO Sergeant arrived and walked Jovan toward his garage door, away from the SPPD officers. Jovan said he explained the situation to the sergeant and the sergeant unlocked the handcuffs on him and instructed SPPD officers to get Bryanna out of the squad car and unlock the handcuffs on her. Boyce told Bryanna that he would mail a ticket, and the police all left.Bryanna Montgomery then received tickets in the mail for failure to obey a traffic sign, for following too closely and for driving without her driver’s license on her person. Jovan Montgomery received a ticket for following Boyce too closely. That ticket indicates the violation happened on Main Street in Sun Prairie, even though all three vehicles avoided Main Street due to road construction.“This was a big deal”After the police had all left, Wendt and Jovan Montgomery took Bryanna to the emergency room, where she was treated for a racing heart rate, difficulty breathing, and abrasions to her legs. A little over a week later, during an interview with Madison365, Jovan seemed more traumatized than Bryanna was.“You’re supposed to de-escalate,” he said of his expectations of police. “You’re supposed to make sure people feel safe. I don’t even feel safe in front of police anymore.”He said he remembers hearing Bryanna say, “We’re not doing this today” to Boyce, and thinking she meant, “we’re not doing what you guys just did a week ago with Corey (Ruiz),” referring to the man shot and killed by Madison police on July 22, just a week before this encounter. “That’s not gonna happen. You’re not gonna do any violence or murder somebody in front of our house. I’m no threat.”Bryanna said she felt more disrespected than fearful.“You’re not even talking to me like I’m a human,” Bryanna said. “You’re talking to me like you own me.”“It just seemed like it was just a really bad day, and it seemed like the deputy wanted to make it a worse day,” Jovan Montgomery said. “I really feel that I was being targeted… as a Black man.”The family has filed complaints with both DCSO and SPPD. They have also consulted an attorney and are considering a lawsuit against both agencies.“I want a public apology towards me and for my child, because a routine traffic stop should not turn into where people are being thrown around like rag dolls or like we’re slaves,” Jovan said. “Those days are over with.”Wendt said she wants “some accountability that something’s going to change. There’s going to have to be some monetary compensation, too. This is trauma… what we want is acknowledgement. We want Byranna’s case to mean something for change. This was a big deal.”Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
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