As the U.S. market experiences a downturn with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite facing sharp declines, investors are increasingly cautious about economic prospects and policy impacts. In this context, penny stocks—often representing smaller or newer companies—remain an intriguing area for those seeking potential growth opportunities despite their vintage-sounding name. These stocks can offer affordability and significant upside when backed by solid financials, making them worth monitoring for hidden value in today's market landscape.

Top 10 Penny Stocks In The United States

Click here to see the full list of 728 stocks from our US Penny Stocks screener.

Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks.

Check-Cap

Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★

Overview: Check-Cap Ltd. is a clinical stage medical diagnostics company developing a capsule-based screening technology using ultra-low-dose X-rays to detect precancerous polyps and other structural abnormalities in the colon, with a market cap of $4.53 million.

Operations: Check-Cap Ltd. currently does not report any revenue segments as it is in the clinical stage of developing its innovative capsule-based screening technology for colon diagnostics.

Market Cap: $4.53M

Check-Cap Ltd., a pre-revenue company with a market cap of US$4.53 million, is developing innovative capsule-based screening technology for colon diagnostics. Despite its unprofitability and negative return on equity, the company has maintained financial stability with no debt and sufficient cash runway exceeding one year based on current free cash flow. Recent management changes have seen David Lontini take an active role as Chairman amidst a volatile share price environment. While Check-Cap's board is relatively inexperienced, shareholders have not faced significant dilution recently, and short-term assets comfortably cover liabilities.

• Take a closer look at Check-Cap's potential here in our financial health report.
• Review our historical performance report to gain insights into Check-Cap's track record.

Equity Commonwealth

Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★

Overview: Equity Commonwealth (NYSE: EQC) is a Chicago-based, internally managed real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on commercial office properties in the United States, with a market cap of approximately $187.03 million.

Operations: The company's revenue segment is derived entirely from the ownership and operation of office properties, generating $58.43 million.

Market Cap: $187.03M

Equity Commonwealth, a Chicago-based REIT with a market cap of US$187.03 million, focuses on commercial office properties and has experienced declining earnings over the past five years. Despite being debt-free and having substantial short-term assets (US$2.3 billion) exceeding liabilities, its profitability remains challenged with negative growth and volatile share prices. Recent shelf registration closures totaling approximately US$275 million reflect strategic capital management amid these challenges. The seasoned management team, alongside an experienced board, offers stability; however, low return on equity (2.1%) and significant one-off losses impact financial results negatively, complicating its valuation as it trades below estimated fair value.

• Jump into the full analysis health report here for a deeper understanding of Equity Commonwealth.
• Understand Equity Commonwealth's track record by examining our performance history report.

Wilhelmina International

Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★

Overview: Wilhelmina International, Inc. operates in the fashion model management industry and has a market cap of $18.98 million.

Operations: The company generates revenue from its Management Consulting Services, totaling $17.09 million.

Market Cap: $18.98M

Wilhelmina International, with a market cap of US$18.98 million, has shown improved profitability with net profit margins rising to 3.4% from 2.8% last year and earnings growth of 18.7%, surpassing industry averages but below its five-year trend. The company benefits from being debt-free, reducing financial risk while maintaining stable weekly volatility at 10%. Its short-term assets of US$22.7 million comfortably cover both short and long-term liabilities, supporting financial stability despite recent index removals which may affect investor sentiment. An experienced board enhances governance; however, the low return on equity at 2.2% remains a concern for potential investors.

• Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of Wilhelmina International stock in this financial health report.
• Gain insights into Wilhelmina International's past trends and performance with our report on the company's historical track record.

Where To Now?

• Jump into our full catalog of 728 US Penny Stocks here.
• Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks.
• Simply Wall St is your key to unlocking global market trends, a free user-friendly app for forward-thinking investors.

Ready For A Different Approach?

• Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention.
• Jump on the AI train with fast growing tech companies forging a new era of innovation.
• Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqCM:CHEK NYSE:EQC and OTCPK:WHLM.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com