By Chris Hollingworth 
Top performing penny stocks this quarter are Ardelyx Inc., Snowline Gold Corp., and Nordic American Tankers Ltd., each experiencing over 100% growth in the last year. This surge contrasts with the small-cap Russell 2000 index’s 17% drop and the large-cap Russell 1000’s 13% decline.
Penny stocks, typically priced at $5 or less per share, are considered risky due to low liquidity and predominantly over-the-counter trading, leading to higher transaction costs. The Securities and Exchange Commission has heightened scrutiny on these stocks following various high-profile fraud cases.
Let’s delve into three categories of the top penny stocks: best value, fastest growth, and most momentum, based on data as of March 21 for stocks and March 26 for indices.
### Best Value Penny Stocks
These penny stocks boast the lowest 12-month trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios, indicating a lower cost for potential profit returns through dividends or buybacks.
| **Stock** | **Price ($)** | **Market Cap ($M)** | **12-Month Trailing P/E Ratio** |
|———————–|—————|———————|———————————|
| Cemex SAB de CV (CXMSF) | 0.50 | 7,243.9 | 0.5 |
| ECN Capital Corp. (ECNCF) | 2.42 | 593.8 | 0.6 |
| Marfrig Global Foods SA (MRRTY) | 1.33 | 869.1 | 1.0 |
**Source:** YCharts
– **Cemex SAB de CV:** Mexican building products company operating across the Americas, Africa, and Europe. Received a $3.2 million award in February from the U.S. Department of Energy for a joint decarbonization project.
– **ECN Capital Corp.:** Canadian financing firm serving various financial institutions, reported earnings of $0.02 per share in Q4 2022.
– **Marfrig Global Foods SA:** Brazilian food processing company, the world’s second-largest beef producer.
### Fastest Growing Penny Stocks
These stocks lead in growth based on a model combining year-over-year revenue and earnings-per-share (EPS) growth in the latest quarter, ensuring a balanced assessment of company performance.
| **Stock** | **Price ($)** | **Market Cap ($M)** | **EPS Growth (%)** | **Revenue Growth (%)** |
|———————–|—————|———————|——————–|————————|
| Inter & Co. Inc. (INTR) | 1.50 | 602.7 | 960.6 | -2.3 |
| Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN) | 4.71 | 808.8 | 466.7 | 2.8 |
| Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LYG) | 2.32 | 38,799.5 | 350.2 | 6.3 |
**Source:** YCharts
– **Inter & Co. Inc.:** Brazilian investment holding company with interests in digital banking, recently acquiring YellowFi Mortgage LLC and YellowFi Management LLC.
– **Brandywine Realty Trust:** Real estate investment trust (REIT) managing properties in various U.S. locations, declared a quarterly dividend on February 16.
– **Lloyds Banking Group PLC:** British banking and financial services firm offering a range of services including retail banking and insurance.
### Penny Stocks With the Most Momentum
These stocks exhibited the highest total return over the past 12 months.
