The 10 Top Penny Stocks to Watch for December Include This 123% Gainer (December 4, 2017)

Pyxis Tankers Inc. (Nasdaq: PXS) is among the top penny stocks to watch for December after climbing 123% last week, and then another 120% by noon on Monday, Dec. 4.

top penny stocks to watch for December

Pyxis is a Greece-based liquid fuel transporter operating a fleet of six double-hull tankers in the United States. There was no recent news from the company or analyst revisions that sparked the stock’s surge. But some analysts suspect the recent $90 million share offering from Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG) attracted unusually high speculation in the sector.

While PXS’ 123% gain was impressive, we’re recommending a different stock to our readers today. This stock is positioned for 70% growth over the next 12 months and is far less risky.

And the company we’ll show you today has beaten analyst earnings expectations in six of the last seven quarters while on pace to grow profits by 33% or more this year.

Before we show you our pick, here are the top 10 penny stocks to watch this week…

Penny Stock Current Share Price Nov. 27-Dec. 1 Gain (as of Dec. 1)
Pyxis Tankers Inc. (Nasdaq: PXS) $4.10 122.83%
Ohr Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: OHRP) $1.28 68.42%
Cerecor Inc. (Nasdaq: CERC) $1.74 47.46%
Proteostasis Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: PTI) $2.52 37.71%
UT Starcom Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: UTSI) $5.20 37.20%
WMIH Corp. (Nasdaq: WMIH) $0.96 33.46%
PhaseRx Inc. (Nasdaq: PZRX) $0.90 30.29%
Bellerophon Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: BLPH) $2.04 29.94%
EV Energy Partners LP (Nasdaq: EVEP) $0.86 27.76%
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: CPRX) $4.40 25.71%

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Over the last two trading sessions, shares of PXS have climbed from $2 to $6.68, for a total gain of 234%. And while that’s an impressive increase in just two trading sessions, the fact that it came without any direct connection to the company leaves its investors in a precarious situation. Hopefully this underscores the amount of risk and speculation that goes on among penny stocks.

You see, most penny stocks are speculative investments, which can have huge price swings in a short amount of time. In this case, after climbing from $2 to $9 on Friday, PXS shares plunged to $4 by closing. And on Monday, after climbing from $5.52 to $11.70, the stock fell to $6.68.

Our Money Morning experts are more interested in finding stocks to buy in companies which will increase in value long enough for you to take profits.

That’s where Money Morning Small-Cap Strategist Sid Riggs comes in.

He’s an expert at bringing readers profit opportunities with massive potential at an affordable price. Consider his pick from December 2013 – Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. (Nasdaq: NBIX). NBIX was trading for just $9 per share when Sid recommended it, and now it has surged 716.66%, to $73.50.

Today, Sid recommends a semiconductor component company whose products are used in everything from solar cells to lasers.

The company’s revenue is now growing at a 20% clip, far faster than the 11.5% growth of the broader semiconductor industry. But that’s only part of the story.

Here’s why this stock could soar next year…

The Best Small-Cap Semiconductor Stock to Buy Before 2018

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Founded in 1986 and based in Fremont, Calif., AXT Inc. (Nasdaq: AXTI) makes semiconductor chip substrates using its proprietary freezing technology. In the semiconductor industry, substrates are typically made of silicon and are used in microchips, solar panels, and lasers.

The company uses a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility just outside of Beijing, China.

Some of AXT’s most popular products include substrates to be used in LCD televisions, 3D sensing devices for autonomous vehicles, as well as fiber optic lasers and data center connectivity products.

Thanks to the company’s proprietary freezing technology, AXT’s chip substrates are nearly twice as efficient as ones made of standard silicon. And this has allowed the company to grow its revenue nearly twice as fast as the broader industry.

And we’re not the only ones following AXTI’s growth, as the stock has already gained over 78% in the past 12 months.

Sid first recommended AXTI on July 20, when it traded at $7.60 per share. Since that date, shares are up 17.10%, to $8.90 today.

But Sid keeps recommending AXTI because analysts are still overlooking it. That means it’s still a value buy right now…

Since Q3 2013, AXT has demolished earnings estimates by an average of 94.44%. Even a fire in part of the company’s manufacturing facility on March 15 didn’t do much but briefly discount the company’s share price over five sessions. However, the share price quickly bounced back.

The company has matched or beaten earnings expectations in 16 of the last 17 quarters. Sid predicts AXTI’s winning streak of earnings reports will only continue.

Up Next: Never Miss a Penny Stock Opportunity Again

Did you know we have a free research service that finds the most profitable penny stock opportunities? It gives you real-time recommendations and price updates on only the best ways to make money now.

Here’s everything you need to know.

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