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Technology remains fertile ground for young companies to try their hand at putting new tech solutions on the market. That means investors will find plenty of penny stocks to choose from. If you want to learn more about the process of trading penny stocks, Investopedia has a day trading course.

Here is a selection of four penny tech stocks for you to consider. These stocks were chosen based on their positions in their industries. In other words, these stocks have the potential to capture additional market share. All figures are current as of October 1, 2019.

Key Takeaways

  • Penny stocks lure some investors because they can accumulate relatively large amounts of shares at a low price point, with some potential for finding diamonds in the rough.
  • The trouble with penny stocks is that investors have to make some guesses about the future.
  • Very few penny stocks have a strong enough track record to indicate that they will survive and prosper.
  • Here we look at just 4 such stocks as potential opportunities, although they are also high-risk.

Zix Corporation (ZIXI)

Zix is an email provider. It focuses on secure messaging, marketing itself to corporate and government entities. The unique approach of encryption, coupled with avoiding downloading, makes this an attractive service.

With sales rising 65% in five years, Zix is making headway. It tends to range in and out of the penny stock category, as it rises over $5 per share on occasion, and after year-to-date gains of roughly 28%, the stock is currently trading at $7.33. Revenues have been increasing steadily over the past four years. With data breaches and privacy concerns drawing ever more attention to cybersecurity issues, Zix shows promise for investors who are willing to take on the risk of a low-priced stock.

Glu Mobile Inc. (GLUU)

Glu Mobile makes games for smartphones. It has multiple titles that are gaining popularity for players who use phones or tablets. Many of the titles are based on action movies, while others are based on existing console games. Interestingly, its biggest selling title is a casual role-playing game based on the life of reality TV star Kim Kardashian. This celebrity focus helps Glu Mobile stand out in the gaming industry, as approximately two-thirds of its revenues come from products geared toward female gamers.

The company has worked its way out of debt and has strong cash reserves. Revenues have been rising over the past four quarters, and while operating income is negative, the company has been narrowing its losses. Glu Mobile is spending on research and development to find its next hit. The potential for this stock is based on its industry, as games continue to grow in popularity and gamers are willing to try new games even if they are from smaller companies. The stock gapped up by around 15% as the markets reacted to upbeat guidance issued along with the company's late-July earnings report, and the shares continued to post gains through the summer. If Glu Mobile comes up with a new hit game, it will likely send the stock soaring even higher. As of October 1, 2019 GLUU shares traded at around $5.10.

  • Average Volume: 3,060,000
  • Market Cap: $744.5 million
  • P/E Ratio (TTM): 460x
  • EPS (TTM): +$0.01
  • Beta: 1.04

Arotech Corporation (ARTX)

This company has combined two of the hottest trends around today: drones and virtual reality. It creates technology for the military and law enforcement, offering simulations for use-of-force training. The company also sells to the security and emergency services sectors and provides weapons simulations for aircraft and missile systems. In June 2018, Arotech subsidiary FAAC was awarded a contract worth up to approximately $29 million to update convoy simulators for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Arotech has positioned itself as a significant provider of surveillance and attack technologies at a time when drones are gaining increased attention and artificial intelligence is being deployed. After several quarters of flat performance, revenue ticked up in the quarter that ended September 30, 2017, while the company's operating income turned positive during that period and remained in the positive column during the subsequent quarters. These are positive signals for Arotech, and the stock could offer room for additional growth based on the potential for the company and the sector. It's shares trade around $2.94 as of October 1, 2019.

  • Average Volume: 257,000
  • Market Cap: $78.4 million
  • P/E Ratio (TTM): N/A
  • EPS (TTM): $0.00
  • Beta: 1.89

Plug Power Inc. (PLUG)

Plug Power is a player in the burgeoning alternative energy industry, focusing on the field of hydrogen fuel cell technology. The company provides fuel cell solutions to the material handling and stationary power sectors. Based in Latham, New York, Plug Power has been in existence since 1997, indicating that there is some longevity to the story despite its current status as a penny stock, trading at $2.58 a share on October 1, 2019.

Operating income has been consistently negative for the past few years, and that trend has continued into 2019. However, the stock price reached a bottom in the first few months of 2017, and it broke out in March and April of 2018 on strong trading volume, with the shares doubling in value over that time frame. Plug Power saw its share price slide downward in November 2017 and saw spikes in mid to late 2019.

  • Average Volume: 3,215,000
  • Market Cap: $652.6 million
  • P/E Ratio (TTM): N/A
  • EPS (TTM): -$0.38

The Bottom Line

With penny stocks being a less common type of trading, few brokers devote much attention to them. You can take a look at some of the best places to buy penny stocks with Investopedia's list of the best brokers for penny stocks.

Investing in penny stocks is highly risky and speculative. Investopedia makes no claims for future outcomes and advises investors to perform their own research and seek professional advice before making any decision involving risky assets such as these.