Intel Corporation

Apple Inc.

Intel's securities jumped 14% amid reports of a possible partnership with the iPhone maker

Intel shares hit a high: Apple could use its factories to make chips

Meta Platforms, Inc.

Meta's securities are trading at a noticeable discount to those of other bigtechs, but that cheapness is deceptive, according to The Wall Street Journal

'Investor trap': WSJ urged not to be seduced by 'throwaway price' of Meta shares

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) partially closed its airspace for the first time in weeks after Iran launched missiles and drones toward the country, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-05/uae-restricts-airspace-for-jets-after-iran-launched-missiles?srnd=homepage-europe">writes</a>, citing notices to pilots (NOTAM). Iran's attack on UAE infrastructure the day before was the most serious escalation of the conflict in the Middle East since a four-week truce between the U.S. and Iran began in April, the agency notes.

UAE closes airspace again after Iran attacks

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

Despite renewed tensions in the Middle East, the major indexes on Wall Street started the trading day on May 5 in the plus, with the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq once again approaching record highs, Barron's notes.

S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq near new highs amid lower oil prices

Revenue at Nvidia and Apple supplier soars 30% to a record high

Assertio Holdings, Inc.

Quotes of Assertio Holdings, a micro-cap <a href="https://investor.assertiotx.com/overview/default.aspx">maker of</a> oncology and neurology drugs, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ASRT/">soared</a> 17% on May 4, to the highest since October 2023. The company <a href="https://investor.assertiotx.com/news/news-details/2026/Assertio-Announces-Amended-and-Restated-Merger-Agreement-with-Garda-Therapeutics/default.aspx">reported</a>: Garda Therapeutics agreed to pay 21% more for it than it had <a href="https://investor.assertiotx.com/news/news-details/2026/Assertio-Announces-Agreement-to-be-Acquired-by-Garda-Therapeutics/default.aspx">planned</a> just a month ago. The reason is that Assertio received a more favorable acquisition offer, it explains.

There's been a struggle to buy small pharma maker Assertio. Shares soared

A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S

Danish shipping giant Maersk said one of its commercial vessels successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz on May 4 under the protection of the U.S. military, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/05/maersk-ship-strait-of-hormuz-iran-war.html">writes.</a>

Denmark's Maersk reported its ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. protection

Despite disruptions in oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, the global economy is not in danger of an oil shortage, according to Goldman Sachs analysts. However, stocks of jet fuel and other key petroleum products, which provide air transportation and uninterrupted operation of industrial supply chains, are rapidly decreasing, they warn. The analysts' data <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-oil-jet-fuel-naphtha-lpg-shortage-hormuz-disruption-2026-5">is cited</a> by Business Insider.

Reserves close to lows: Goldman Sachs warns of jet fuel shortages

Data

Bruker Corporation

In late April, iconic investor and founder of Scion Asset Management Michael Burry <a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-195940224#:~:text=CASSANDRA%2520UNCHAINED,April%252029%252C%25202026">announced</a> on the Cassandra Unchained blog that he had purchased preferred shares of laboratory equipment manufacturer Bruker Corporation. It is Series A convertible preferred stock (ticker BRKRP) with a coupon of 6.375% and mandatory conversion on September 1, 2028<b>. </b>

Michael Burry bought shares of small-cap Bruker. Should we follow his example?

Firefly Aerospace Inc.

Firefly Aerospace, a mid-cap competitor of Elon Musk's SpaceX, a <a href="https://investors.fireflyspace.com/">developer of</a> launch vehicles and orbiters, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/FLY/">rose in price</a> by almost 9% on the pre-market on May 5. The company first announced that its subsidiary <a href="https://investors.fireflyspace.com/news-releases/news-release-details/firefly-aerospace-subsidiary-scitec-receives-agreement-advance">would participate in</a> the U.S. Golden Dome missile defense program. Then the company <a href="https://investors.fireflyspace.com/news-releases/news-release-details/firefly-aerospace-announces-first-quarter-2026-financial-results">reported</a> revenue that <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/firefly-aerospace-stock-price-earnings-4ef0fb4f?mod=RTA">exceeded</a> Wall Street forecasts.

Shares of mid-cap rival SpaceX soared. What caused it?

Spirit Airlines, which has spent the last year and a half trying to restructure its business, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/spirit-airlines-begins-orderly-wind-062300402.html">announced</a>&nbsp;on Saturday that it would immediately begin winding down operations. The carrier said the move was its only option amid a sharp rise in oil prices and the lack of additional funding.

Budget airline Spirit finally shuts down, citing higher oil prices

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Esperion Therapeutics shares, a small cap maker of cholesterol-lowering drugs, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ESPR/">surged</a>&nbsp;almost 56% on Friday to hit a two-month high after the company <a href="https://www.esperion.com/news-releases/news-release-details/esperion-be-acquired-archimed">announced</a>&nbsp;it would be acquired by funds managed by healthcare-focused investment firm ARCHIMED.

Small-cap biotech Esperion to be taken private by ARCHIMED; shares jump more than 50%

Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Organon & Co.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Frontline plc

Rigetti Computing, Inc.

First Trust Small Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund

Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF

This week, we learned that Peloton workouts are coming to Spotify. Meanwhile, Indian drugmaker Sun Pharma will acquire women’s health company Organon, while Italy’s Chiesi is buying rare disease therapy developer KalVista. Among small-cap ETFs, the top performers in the first quarter turned out to be funds that have gained from the Iran conflict and the resulting energy shock. Below is a roundup of these and other key developments in the small-cap segment from April 27 through May 1.

Small caps last week: Peloton on Spotify, biotech M&A, small-cap ETF leaders

Small Caps

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