5 Top Penny Stocks to Watch in November

Today Money Morning is publishing a list of the five top penny stocks to watch in November. These stocks have all already seen gains over 250% year to date (YTD) and could easily continue their runs this month.

What's more, the No. 1 penny stock to watch in November has posted YTD gains of nearly 430%…

While we're excited about the potential gains of these five penny stocks this month, we're not necessarily recommending these stocks as "Buys." It's up to readers to decide whether they have the risk tolerance for penny stock investing, and whether these stocks align with their personal portfolio goals.

At the end of our list today, we're also sharing a bonus 90-page guide about investing in the marijuana industry. This guide features many great penny stock investments that we are recommending to readers.

But first, here's our list of the top penny stocks to watch in November, including the No. 1 penny stock to watch with gains of nearly 430% YTD…

Top Penny Stocks to Watch No. 5: Helios and Matheson Analytics

Helios and Matheson Analytics Inc. (Nasdaq: HMNY) is an information technology company that provides its clients predictive analytics. The company uses big data for most of its software and operates within the financial services, insurance, and healthcare industries. HMNY is up 278% YTD after it announced a strategic merger with a GPS application company, called RedZone Maps. RedZone is known for mapping crime in major cities. News of the merger sent HMNY climbing over 1,000% from $1.11 per share to $13.75 per share over the course of a week. The stock has since fallen to $5.23 per share as of Monday intraday.

Top Penny Stocks to Watch No. 4: Vista Gold

Vista Gold (NYSEMKT: VGZ) focuses on gold exploration and acquisition. It operates primarily in Australia and North America. VGZ is up 266% YTD after it announced a nearly $1 million tax refund under the Australian government's R&D incentive program. The news helped steadily send VGZ shares climbing about $1 between April and June, reaching its 52-week high of $2.09 in July. The stock has since settled at $1.02 per share as of Monday intraday.

Top Penny Stocks to Watch No. 3: Golden Star Resources

Golden Star (NYSEMKT: GSS) is a gold mining and exploration company, and operates gold mines in Ghana, West Africa. GSS is up 396% YTD after it announced in July that it had begun pre-commercial production of gold in an underground mine in Ghana. GSS is trading at $0.825 per share on Monday intraday.

Top Penny Stocks to Watch No. 2: Alexco Resource

Alexco Resource (NYSEMKT: AXU) operates in two segments: an environmental services business and a mining company. Its mining segment explores developments in Canada, while its environmental segment provides consulting and project management services in the United States and Canada. AXU is up over 400% YTD. The stock has been steadily rising since January. It isn't clear what's driving AXU upwards, other than general investor speculation. The stock is trading at $1.72 per share as of Monday intraday.

While AXU has had tremendous gains this year, it's still trumped by the No. 1 penny stock to watch in November, which has gains over 430% YTD…