Our Top Penny Stocks Have Crushed the Market in 2015

top penny stocks jarOur top penny stocks have all outpaced the markets in 2015 by a significant margin.

So far this year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up just 0.9%. Our top penny stock picks have climbed 120%, 105%, and 43% in the same time frame.

And these aren't your typical penny stocks. They're real companies, with real products. You won't be buying into a penny stock scam, or a shell company passing itself off as the next best thing.

When we recommended these penny stocks, they all traded between $0.80 and about $5 per share. They weren't trading for fractions of pennies like many penny stocks do. They also all have solid liquidity, meaning you can enter and exit trades easily with these top penny stocks.

They've all posted serious gains in 2015, and they still have plenty of room for more profits...

Top Penny Stocks No. 1: Novavax (Nasdaq: NVAX)

Our biggest penny stock winner of 2015 has been Novavax Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX). We first recommended the stock back in November 2014 when shares were near $5. Since then, NVAX has climbed 120% and now trades at $11.34. It's no longer a penny stock after the gains we've seen, but the stock still has plenty of upside.

Novavax is a biopharmaceutical company that develops vaccines for pandemic flu viruses, rabies, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The key for NVAX stock is the company's strong pipeline of drug candidates. Its vaccine for the H7N9 virus was fast-tracked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That speeds up the approval process significantly and acts as a catalyst for the stock price.

The company is also working on an RSV vaccine and an Ebola treatment.

Keep an eye out for updates on Novavax's clinical trials. Any positive results could send shares soaring even higher.

Money Morning members, continue reading for two more of our top penny stock picks...

Top Penny Stock Picks No. 2: Oncothyreon (Nasdaq: ONTY)

Another one of our top penny stock picks is Oncothyreon Inc. (Nasdaq: ONTY). In 2015, ONTY stock has climbed nearly 105%.

It's a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops treatments for various types of cancer.

Oncothyreon had a major breakthrough at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting earlier this month. Company officials presented its early-stage breast cancer drug, ONT-380, and said the drug was successful in reducing tumors in an early study. The drug was said to be effective in treating women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who didn't respond to other treatments. It was a phase 1 clinical trial.

Since the ASCO meeting in late May, ONTY shares have jumped another 14.8%.

ONTY shares opened today at $3.89. One analyst surveyed by Thomson/First Call has a price target of $5, which would be a 28.5% gain from today's price.

Top Penny Stock Picks No. 3: Ekso Bionics (OTCBB: EKSO)

Another huge penny stock winner we've had in 2015 is Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc. (OTCBB: EKSO). Money Morning Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald first recommended EKSO in October 2014. Shares opened that month at $0.84.

Today, shares opened at $1.20, giving us a 42.8% gain. But Fitz-Gerald sees shares climbing much higher from here. In fact, his price target is $21.14 for the stock by 2020.

Ekso Bionics develops robotic exoskeletons. They're suits that allow people with severe mobility issues, stroke victims, and those with spinal trauma to walk again.

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"The company has more than 150 international patents, with 10 U.S. patents granted and another eight filed," Fitz-Gerald explained. "This gives it an annuity-like revenue stream down the line from partners who license the technology."

In its May earnings release, Ekso reported revenue growth of 55% year over year.

But the company did recently come under an unwarranted short attack. Fitz-Gerald was watching as it happened and advised readers what to do in real time. Unfortunately, short attacks are a reality in penny stock investing. Here's how to handle them if they happen to you... 

The Bottom Line: Our top three penny stock picks have all brought market-beating gains in 2015. Best of all, the runs are not over for these stocks. ONTY, NVAX, and EKSO all offer major upside as we continue toward the second half of 2015.

Follow me on Twitter @KyleAndersonMM.

Profit Alert: Since Money Morning Executive Editor Bill Patalon launched his Private Briefing program just a few short years ago, he's recommended 192 stocks that have either doubled or tripled in value. The service has completely revolutionized the way people invest. Keep reading to find out more about his extensive research and premium stock picks...