Nomad Foods Limited

The Simply Good Foods Company

Utz Brands, Inc.

Coursera, Inc.

Westrock Coffee Company

Since the beginning of the year, the S&amp;P 500 Consumer Discretionary index has <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500-consumer-discretionary-sector/#overview">declined</a> by 8.5%. By comparison, the energy sector has shown rapid growth over the same period: the S&amp;P 500 Energy index has <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500-energy-sector/#overview">added</a> almost 32%. However, at the beginning of the year, it was the consumer segment that was <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4548107-consumer-staples-emerge-as-the-market-safe-haven-while-the-other-10-sp-500-sectors-slide">considered by</a> investors as a "safe harbor" against the background of Big Tech overheating.

Coffee, snacks, online learning: 10 small-caps from the under-$30 consumer sector - Insider Monkey

Freedom Holdings Corp.

Freedom Holding Corp. will hold the Freedom Inside forum in Astana on April 9. The key theme of the event is the impact of digital ecosystems on the economy and everyday life.

Freedom Inside: a forum on the future of ecosystems will be held on April 9 in Astana

Stoxx 600 loses ground despite recovery earlier in the week

European stocks fall more than 1% after Trump's statements on Iran

Penguin Solutions, Inc.

Penguin Solutions, a small-cap maker of AI computing infrastructure, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/PENG/">soared</a> more than 10% in extended trading on April 1. The company <a href="https://ir.penguinsolutions.com/news/news-details/2026/Penguin-Solutions-Reports-Q2-Fiscal-2026-Financial-Results/default.aspx">released</a> quarterly earnings that <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/penguin-solutions-stock-earnings-4729efd0?mod=RTA">beat</a> Wall Street expectations and doubled its revenue guidance for the full fiscal year.

Shares of AI infrastructure maker Penguin soared. It improved its outlook for the year


They are reassessing geopolitical risks after the US president's statements

'A way to calm the markets': analysts expect more volatility from Trump's speech

National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC

Bank of America predicts nearly 60% jump in uranium prices 

Bet on uranium: Kazakhstani company made it to the "top 10 stocks" of emerging markets

Neither governments nor businesses are yet implementing long-term solutions to adapt to a potential crisis

US President Donald Trump has promised an end to the Iran war sooner rather than later. The world economy is on its way to crisis  

Globalstar, Inc.

Amazon.com, Inc.

Pop Mart International Group Limited

US President Donald Trump <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/tramp-poobesal-nanesti-po-iranu-krajne-mosnyj-udar-cena-brent-prevysila-105">has warned of</a> a possible escalation of conflict with Iran in the next 2-3 weeks, driving oil prices above $105 a barrel. Globalstar shares soared more than 15% on news of talks with Amazon about a potential acquisition that could strengthen Kuiper's satellite project in competition with Starlink. On these and other topics - in our review of key events for the morning of April 2.

Data

Alumis Inc.

Nurix Therapeutics, Inc.

DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc.

Oppenheimer has listed 30 small- or mid-cap stocks that it rates as "outperform" and could be set up for strong rallies, as reported by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/01/buy-these-small-caps-set-for-big-gains-in-the-spring-says-oppenheimer.html">CNBC</a>. The list includes biotechs Alumis and Nurix Therapeutics, as well as cloud computing company DigitalOcean.

Oppenheimer names 'best of the best' smid-cap stocks

Biogen Inc.

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The market capitalization of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, a small-cap maker of therapies for rare kidney diseases, more than <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/APLS/">doubled</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday after it <a href="https://investors.apellis.com/news-releases/news-release-details/biogen-acquire-apellis-enhancing-companys-growth-portfolio">said</a>&nbsp;it would be acquired at a substantial premium by pharmaceutical company Biogen.

Small-cap biotech Apellis skyrockets 135% on news of acquisition by Biogen

Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc.

MDA Space Ltd

MDA Space Ltd.

Exail Technologies

The robotics market is expanding at an accelerated pace and has the potential for multiple-fold growth in the coming decades, Morgan Stanley noted in its "Robot Almanac" report published at the end of 2025. The bank’s strategists estimate that the industry’s total addressable market could reach $500 billion by 2030. By 2040, it could amount to about $9 trillion, and by 2050 to $25 trillion, and that covers only the segment of robotics device sales.

10 robotics stocks with big returns so far in 2026

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc.

Shares of Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc, founded by Richard Branson for space tourism, jumped nearly 9% in early trading on Tuesday after the company <a href="https://investors.virgingalactic.com/news/news-details/2026/Virgin-Galactic-Announces-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2025-Financial-Results-and-Provides-Business-Update/default.aspx">announced</a>&nbsp;the resumption of ticket sales for spaceflight expeditions following a two-year hiatus, with a limited number of seats priced at $750,000.

Virgin Galactic shares rising as sales of commercial space flights resumed

Energy Transfer LP

Ares Capital Corporation

Motley Fool contributor Matt DiLallo has <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/03/29/is-it-time-to-load-up-on-these-3-ultra-high-yieldi/">spotlighted</a>&nbsp;three stocks with ultra-high-yielding dividends. They vary in size and operate across different sectors, but share a long track record of stable or growing payouts.

Motley Fool spotlights three ultra-high-yield dividend plays

Small Caps

Important news and analysis of global stock markets, plus crypto, bonds, and ETFs

Investment and Finance News