Top SA Quant rated small-cap stocks as Russell 2000 notches a record close

[Financial term Small Capitalization Stocks on gray and red finance background from graphs, charts. Trend Up and Down, Flat. 3D render]
Vladimir Zakharov/iStock via Getty Images

The Russell 2000 index (RTY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/RTY]) notched a record close on Thursday, underscoring recent strength in the small-cap world. The gauge has now outperformed the blue-chip large-cap Dow (DJI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DJI]), though it still lags the benchmark S&P 500 (SP500 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SP500]).

In light of today's milestone, Seeking Alpha took a look at the top Quant-rated small-cap stocks (each with a market cap of $2B or less).

The list, which contains 95 stocks, is topped by Santacruz Silver Mining (OTCPK:SCZMF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SCZMF]) with a Strong Buy rating of 4.99, followed by Zenas BioPharma (ZBIO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZBIO]) and Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NKTR]) with Strong Buy ratings of 4.97 and 4.96, respectively.

Integra Resources (ITRG [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ITRG]) and Owlet (OWLT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/OWLT]) round out the top five with Strong Buy ratings as well. Many of these stocks trade at lower prices relative to key fundamentals like earnings, dividends, or sales, making them attractive value opportunities for investors.

Here are the top 20 Quant-rated stocks among the 95 small-cap names:

* Santacruz Silver Mining (OTCPK:SCZMF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SCZMF]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy, 4.99 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SCZMF/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Zenas BioPharma (ZBIO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZBIO]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.97 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZBIO/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NKTR]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.96 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NKTR/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Integra Resources (ITRG [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ITRG]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.94 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ITRG/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Owlet (OWLT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/OWLT]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.93 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/OWLT/ratings/quant-ratings]
* IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anónima (IRS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IRS]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.90 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IRS/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Astronics (ATRO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ATRO]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.89 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ATRO/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Willdan Group (WLDN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WLDN]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.88 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WLDN/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Rigel Pharmaceuticals (RIGL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/RIGL]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.88 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/RIGL/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Avino Silver & Gold Mines (ASM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ASM]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.87 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ASM/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Envela (ELA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ELA]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.86 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ELA/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Alpine Income Property Trust (PINE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PINE]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.84 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PINE/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Okeanis Eco Tankers (ECO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ECO]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.81 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ECO/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Getty Realty (GTY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GTY]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.81 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GTY/ratings/quant-ratings]
* eGain (EGAN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EGAN]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.80 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EGAN/ratings/quant-ratings]
* OptimizeRx (OPRX [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/OPRX]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.79 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/OPRX/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Euroseas (ESEA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ESEA]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.79 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ESEA/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Aurinia Pharmaceuticals (AUPH [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AUPH]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.78 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AUPH/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Global Ship Lease (GSL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GSL]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.77 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GSL/ratings/quant-ratings]
* Flotek Industries (FTK [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FTK]), Quant Rating: Strong Buy 4.76 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FTK/ratings/quant-ratings]

Here are some exchange-traded funds that track the Russell 2000: (IWM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IWM]), (VTWO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/VTWO]), (URTY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/URTY]), (UWM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/UWM]), (SRTY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SRTY]), and (TWM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TWM]).

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