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  • 📈 Small Caps Hit Major Milestone + 4 ETFs To Buy And 1 To Avoid

📈 Small Caps Hit Major Milestone + 4 ETFs To Buy And 1 To Avoid

Plus, Trump-Musk, TikTok drama, earnings and more

Happy Monday! The Federal Reserve’s rate cut and outlook have created a market shift on Wall Street, and small-cap stocks are at the center of it. With the Russell 2000 hitting fresh highs, read on for the full list of companies that are leading the charge and to keep on your watchlist.

Also, markets are defying the September curse, and a quiet rally is taking shape. Here’s a look at four ETFs showing signs of strength and one you should avoid.

TOP STORY

Small-cap stocks are finally having their moment, and in a big way.

Fueled by a fresh interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve and hints of more easing ahead, small caps have helped the Russell 2000 hit new all-time highs. This comeback isn't just a bounce — it's starting to look like a full-on breakout.

Several small-cap names are surging more than 20% in a single day, signaling that investors are rotating quickly. Which companies are leading the charge? Click here for the full list.

SPECIAL EVENT

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MARKET RECAP

Averages & Assets
AssetClose 09/19/25Price Change
â–²
S&P 500
$6,664.36
+0.49%
â–²
NASDAQ
$22,631.48
+0.72%
â–²
DJI
$46,315.27
+0.37%
â–²
10-Year
4.13%
+0.03 bps
â–²
PSKY - Notable Gainer
$18.92
+5.85%
â–¼
DXCM - Notable Loser
$67.45
-10.99%
â–¼
BTC
$115,656.00
-1.27%
â–¼
ETH
$4,470.48
-2.62%
â–¼
XRP
$2.99
-2.92%

Last Week: U.S. indexes soared on Friday to close out the week on a high note as all major indexes finished at record highs, as momentum from a rate cut, strong earnings and resilient economic data continues to drive markets higher. Despite September being known as the toughest month for the market, things have gone well with the Nasdaq climbing 5.5%, the S&P 500 up 3.1% and the Dow up 1.7%. With regards to earnings, shares of FedEx rose on Friday after reporting stronger-than-expected earnings, though the company warned of a potential $1 billion impact from trade-related headwinds. Oil prices declined, pressured by concerns over oversupply and softening demand, despite expectations that a Fed rate cut could spur consumption.

On Our Radar: Analysts will be watching a plethora of Federal Reserve speeches throughout the day to get insights on the economy and future rate cuts. On the earnings front, all eyes will be on Firefly Aerospace (FLY), which will report earnings after the market close today.

MARKET HEATMAP

Shares of Uber (UBER), Palantir (PLTR) and Paramount (PSKY) were climbing, while DexCom (DXCM), Humana (HUM) and Dollar General (DG) tumbled. But those weren’t the only companies making big moves. Here’s a look at some of the biggest winners and losers on Friday.

Discover how the market is moving with our interactive heatmap. Filter by market cap, or click on any box to explore specific sectors in more detail.

FIVE ZINGERS

MARKET HISTORY

On This Day In 1981…

The Home Depot went public on the NASDAQ, offering shares at $12 each. At the time, the company had just four stores in the Atlanta area but was already gaining attention for its innovative big-box retail model, which combined low prices, massive inventory and a DIY-friendly shopping experience. The IPO raised $4.1 million, giving the company the capital it needed to expand beyond its regional footprint and eventually become the largest home improvement retailer in the United States. Today, the company is valued at more than $400 billion.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It's not an experiment if you know it's going to work.“

— Jeff Bezos

ONE FOR THE ROAD

The month of September typically spells trouble for stocks, but this year is shaping up differently. Both equities and bonds are climbing in tandem, a rare alignment that could signal strength heading into the final quarter. Today, we look at four exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are showing a pattern that seasoned investors won’t want to ignore.

But not all ETFs are created equal. Alongside these four potential winners, there’s one that could be heading in the wrong direction — and it’s not the one that you would expect. Read on for the full analysis to see which ETFs are poised to lead and which one to avoid.

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