For investors willing to shoulder additional risk, these may be the best of times for buying stocks. Writing at Morgan Stanley, Michael Wilson, the firm’s head of US equity strategy, firmly believes that the signs are bullish, and that current conditions in the markets closely resemble those of March 2009. That was when market turned upwards after the 2008 financial crisis, beginning the longest bull run in history.Wilson wrote, “A significant driver of our bullish call … was based on the equity-risk premium reaching the same levels observed in March 2009. If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past 10 years, it’s that when risk premium appears you need to grab it before it disappears.”Investors can maximize that premium by finding stocks with the lowest share price and the highest upside potential – in short, by buying into high-rated penny stocks. These equities, typically trading for under $5 per share, offer a minimal cost of entry – and can sometimes show triple digit upside potential. We’ve used the TipRanks database to pull up the details on three such opportunities. All three have received enough support from Wall Street analysts to earn a “Strong Buy” consensus rating. Not to mention each boasts substantial upside potential of over 100%.Organogenesis Holdings (ORGO)Organogenesis’ subsidiaries operate in the world of medical tech, developing new technologies in two markets: wound care, and surgical and sports medicine.Despite a sharp increase in earnings losses during the first quarter, Organogenesis had good news to report. Top-line revenue came in at $61.7 million, modestly beating the forecast but growing 8% year-over-year. Revenues grew substantially in both the wound care and surgical and sports medicine segments. The company finished the quarter with $46.9 million in cash on hand.Organogenesis returned to public trading at the beginning of last year, after 16 years as a private company. Like many high-tech medical companies, it has not yet turned a profit – but it does have exciting prospects for successful products in potentially lucrative sales fields.This potential lies behind 5-star analyst Richard Newitter’s comments. In his report for Leerink, Newitter writes, “As a relatively new public company, we believe ORGO has yet to be fully “discovered” by investors with a below-peer valuation that in our view is highly dislocated from the company’s longer-term sales growth prospects, healthy end-markets, and a scalable long term 70%+ GM business. Ultimately, as investors increasingly come to appreciate ORGO’s potential for sustainable DD top-line growth & increased profitability prospects into the out-years, we think the multiple will expand driving shares higher.”In line with his upbeat outlook, Newitter rates ORGO shares a Buy, and his $7 price target implies a 112% upside potential. In short, the analyst believes that now is the time for investors to get in at the ground level. (To watch Newitter’s track record, click here)All in all, Wall Street analysts are unanimous in their endorsement of the shares. Organogenesis stock has been endorsed with "buy" ratings by all four of the analysts who have voiced an opinion over the past year. Meanwhile, the consensus estimate of analysts is that ORGO, currently trading at $3.33, should rise over 120% to hit $7.50 within a year. (See Organogenesis stock analysis on TipRanks)Usio, Inc. (USIO)Next up on our list is a tech company, Usio. This company provides payment solutions for merchants and billers, offering credit, debit, and prepaid card processing, and automated clearing house payment platforms. Usio aims to combine card issuing and merchant payment processing options into a ‘one stop shop’ platform.A small-cap company, with a market capitalization of just $32 million, Usio is nevertheless in a strong position despite the coronavirus market disruptions. While markets have lost heavily in the current bear cycle – even accounting for the rally we’re experiencing – USIO shares have outperformed and are trading above their late-February levels. The company reported an 18% growth in revenues for Q1 2020, to $7.8 million, along with steady progress towards break-even cash flow. Usio ended the quarter with $1.7 million in cash on hand. These positive results came despite a net loss in Q1 – but it is important to note that Usio’s Q1 losses were 50% lower than in Q4, and beat the quarterly expectation by 14%.Usio has also been able to take advantage of Congressional stimulus funds. The company qualified for a CARES Act loan of $814,000. The loan comes with generous repayment terms, and provides Usio with needed liquidity to meet the coronavirus crisis.Ladenburg Thalmann analyst Jon Hickman sees a clear path forward for Usio, writing, “…we believe Usio's current market valuation is not reflective of the value of the company’s growing presence in the digital payments space. Given the expected increasing revenue growth and future earnings potential, we believe the company should be valued more in line with its current and potential earnings growth.”Hickman’s Buy rating is bolstered by his $4.50 price target, which indicates confidence in a robust 142% one-year upside potential. (To watch Hickman’s track record, click here)USIO shares have a Strong Buy analyst consensus rating, and it is unanimous. All three of the analysts who have reviewed this stock recently have come down with Buy recommendations. The shares are selling for just $1.75, and the average price target matches Hickman’s $4.50. The upside potential, 142%, implies that this stock will more than double in the coming year. (See Usio analyst ratings on TipRanks)Ramaco Resources (METC)The last stock on our list is Ramaco, a coal mining company operating in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. The company focuses its output on metallurgical coal, a grade used to produce the refined coke that is required in the steel industry.Even with economic activity greatly reduced in Q1 by the responses to the coronavirus crisis, Ramaco reported a quarterly profit. The 5-cent EPS came in 67% over the forecast. Earnings weren’t the only positive in the Q1 report. Revenue came in at $41.9 million, or 2.5% over the estimates.Ramaco’s main sales theater is the eastern US – but demand there has collapsed due to the economic shutdowns. The company has countered this by turning to foreign customers and accepting aid through the Congressionally passed Paycheck Protection Program. The $8.4 million PPP loan has shored up the company’s liquidity position, and allowed it to resume operations at two mines which were idled on April 1.Lucas Pipes, covering the industry and Ramaco stock for B Riley FBR, notes, “…management pointed to a number of marketing successes in the first quarter, including renewing a relationship with a major European customer, their first test shipment to Asia, and a notice that their product was approved for purchase by major integrated steel mills in Brazil […] While we currently see investors focus on liquidity, then capital returns, and growth opportunities last, we regard these growth projects as long-term options when market conditions improve.”These successes put Ramaco in a solid position to move forward, and Pipes rates the stock a Buy. His price target, at $8, implies a sky-high 221% upside potential this year. (To watch Pipes’ track record, click here)It’s not often that the analysts all agree on a stock, so when it does happen, take note. Ramaco’s Strong Buy consensus rating is based on a unanimous 4 Buys. The stock’s $5.25 average price target suggests a potential upside of 103% and a change from the current share price of $2.56. (See Ramaco stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.
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Hertz and LATAM became the latest companies that have been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. Yahoo Finance’s Tom Belger weighs in on how the companies are faring.Nokia last week suspended operations at a telecoms gear manufacturing plant in southern India, the company said on Tuesday, after some employees tested positive for COVID-19. Nokia did not disclose how many workers at the plant in Sriperumbudur in the southern state of Tamil Nadu tested positive, but a source familiar with the matter said they were at least 42. The factory had begun operations in a restricted manner over the past few weeks, Nokia said in a statement, after India eased the world’s biggest lockdown to kick-start its economy which has been pummelled by the shutdown.
Biotech firm Novavax has entered its coronavirus vaccine in a Phase 1 clinical trial in Australia — the first in the Southern Hemisphere.
Macau gambling king Stanley Ho, who built a business empire from scratch in the former Portuguese colony and became one of Asia’s richest men, died peacefully at the age of 98, his family confirmed on Tuesday. The flamboyant tycoon, who loved to dance and advised his nearest and dearest to shun gambling, headed one of the world’s most lucrative gaming businesses through his flagship firm, SJM Holdings Ltd , valued at about $6 billion. Ho oversaw the transformation of once-sleepy Macau into the world’s biggest casino centre, outpacing the United States’ Las Vegas strip, and held a monopoly until 2002 when the enclave licensed five other operators to run casinos.
The New York Stock Exchange initiated proceedings to delist Hertz Global Holdings Inc (NYSE: HTZ) on Tuesday following the car rental chain's bankruptcy filing, according to Reuters. Coronavirus Fuels Hertz Bankruptcy Filing Economic damage from the coronavirus forced Hertz to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Friday after nearly a month of speculation. Between Feb. 20 and May 26, as the pandemic stalled airport business, Hertz's stock fell from $20.29 to $2.84."The impact of COVID-19 on travel demand was sudden and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the company's revenue and future bookings," the company said in a Friday press release."Hertz took immediate actions to prioritize the health and safety of employees and customers, eliminate all non-essential spending and preserve liquidity. However, uncertainty remains as to when revenue will return and when the used-car market will fully re-open for sales, which necessitated today's action."Hertz had already furloughed or laid off around 20,000 employees, replaced its CEO and, according to Reuters, discussed selling more than 30,000 of its 500,000 vehicles per month through the end of 2020 to try to raise about $5 billion. The team failed to find financial relief from creditors and the U.S. government.Hertz Grabs Carl Icahn's Attention This isn't the first time the NYSE has threatened to remove Hertz from the public market. The company received a delisting notice in 2015 for failing to file its 2014 10-K form on time.Even before the pandemic hit, Hertz had ceded enough market share to ride-sharing services to capture the attention of activist investor Carl Icahn, who claimed nearly 39% ownership when the pandemic started.The company adopted a turnaround plan. Its efforts accrued about $19 billion in debt, but helped sustain 10 consecutive quarters of year-over-year revenue growth.What's Next For Hertz A bankruptcy filing isn't necessarily the end of Hertz's efforts to stay afloat."Depending upon the length of the COVID-19 induced crisis and its impact on revenue, the company may seek access to additional cash, including through new borrowings, as the reorganization progresses," the company's press release said. The stock, which has been halted since early Tuesday morning, ended Friday's session down 7.49% at $2.84. Related Links:Avis Budget Group Reports Mixed Q1 Earnings As Pandemic Hits Car Rental BusinessActivist Investors Go Dormant As COVID-19 Depresses EconomySee more from Benzinga * Activist Investors Go Dormant As COVID-19 Depresses Economy(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Yahoo Finance’s Brian Sozzi, Alexis Christoforous, and Anjalee Khemlani speak with Novavax R&D President Dr. Gregory Glenn about the company’s coronavirus vaccine candidate. 
Nela Richardson, Edward Jones Investment Strategist, joins Yahoo Finance’s Alexis Christoforous and Brian Sozzi to discuss overall markets and what she is keeping a close watch on. Chile’s LATAM Airlines Group SA on May 26 became the largest carrier so far to seek an emergency reorganisation during the pandemic. British regional airline said on March 5 it had entered into administration as the already struggling carrier failed to withstand the plunge in travel demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The Swedish airline applied for a court-administered reorganisation after demand plunged due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, it said on its website on April 6.
Novavax has begun phase one of its clinical trail for a coronavirus vaccine candidate. Yahoo Finance’s Anjalee Khemlani breaks down the latest developments.