In this article, we will look at the 10 Worst High-Risk High-Reward Growth Stocks To Buy.
Is the Tariff Solution Around the Corner?
On March 14, Tom Lee managing partner and head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors appeared on a CNBC interview to talk about how the markets react to crises and what approach investors should take considering the broader perspectives. Lee believes that the market will recover and it has recovered every time in the past as well. He emphasized that one thing that investors have to keep in mind is that the market was at an all-time high less than a month ago. When a market falls from a 52-week high, it is a market pricing in crises and the current market is pricing in for recession which brings the “Fed Put” into play. Lee highlighted that the Fed is now in a position to cut rates, which should mitigate the downside.
Moreover, Lee noted that he thinks that there is a very high probability that a tariff solution will happen before April 2. He explained that it is simple to see that China, Europe, Canada, and Mexico have been outperforming the US. This tells that these countries are not headed towards a recession. In addition, Lee also quoted the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, highlighting that it was a 12-day crisis, however, the market bottomed only 7 days into the crisis and had recovered two-thirds, 5 days before the crisis ended.
In addition, to Tom Lee, Nancy Tengler, Laffer Tengler CIO and CEO further added that she believes that the market is still in a bullish stance, however, it is going through an overdue correction. She noted that while the sentiment is low and the expectations across the board have fallen, however, the bond market is stable which tells that the market is not headed towards a recession. Moreover, she also highlighted that most of the recession sentiment is driven by the import figures which rose 70% in January. However, it was just the purchasing managers trying to get ahead of the tariffs. Nancy believes that similar to 2022 this will also settle in, moreover, the decelerating growth is also healthy in terms of the price correcting which she believes was much needed. Lastly, Nancy pointed out that the current market volatility can be a solid buying opportunity for investors.
With that let’s take a look at the 10 worst high-risk high-reward growth stocks to buy.
A portfolio manager studying various stocks and other securities on a tablet.
Our Methodology
To curate the list of 10 worst high-risk high-reward growth stocks to buy we used the Finviz stock screener, Yahoo Finance, CNN, and Seeking Alpha as our sources. Using the screener we aggregated a list of growth stocks with beta (5-year monthly) between 2 and 5, analyst upside potential of at least 30%, and 3-year sales growth of more than 20%. Next, we check the beta values from Yahoo Finance, analyst upside potential from CNN, and sales growth from Seeking Alpha. Lastly, we ranked the stocks in descending order of the analyst upside potential, from best to worst. We have also added hedge fund sentiment around each stock. Please note that the data was recorded on March 18, 2025.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
10 Worst High-Risk High-Reward Growth Stocks To Buy
10. Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ARCT)
Beta (5Y Monthly): 2.96
3-Year Sales Growth: 130.98%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15
Analyst Upside Potential: 359.04%
Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ARCT) is a biotechnology company that specializes in the development of messenger RNA (mRNA) medicines and vaccines. It focuses on creating treatments for infectious diseases and rare genetic disorders, particularly those affecting the liver and respiratory systems. The company collaborates with partners like CSL Seqirus and has a joint venture in Japan, for mRNA vaccine and therapeutic manufacturing.
On March 13, Analyst Myles Minter from William Blair maintained a Buy rating on the stock. Minter anticipates that the Phase II trial results for ARCT-032 and ARCT-810 will be crucial. These trials are expected to yield significant data by the end of Q2 2025. Positive outcomes could strengthen Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ARCT) market position and provide substantial growth opportunities. In addition, the analyst noted that the company is making strategic financial decisions, such as delaying the recognition of Kostaive profit share revenues until Q4 2026. This aligns with covering a 40% cost share with CSL, which is expected to stabilize the company’s financials over the long term.
Lastly, Minter noted that although collaborative revenue projections for 2025 have been reduced, the potential for milestone payments following EU approvals and future US regulatory filings presents a promising outlook for revenue growth beyond 2025. Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ARCT) is one of the worst high-risk high-reward growth stocks to buy.
9. Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAPR)
Beta (5Y Monthly): 4.11
3-Year Sales Growth: 324.93%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14
Analyst Upside Potential: 210.56%
Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAPR) is a biotechnology company primarily focused on developing transformative cell and exosome-based therapeutics. Its main focus is on treating rare diseases, with a significant emphasis on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Its lead product, Deramiocel (CAP-1002), is an allogeneic cardiac-derived cell therapy currently in Phase 3 clinical development for DMD.
On March 17, Analyst Joseph Pantginis from H.C. Wainwright reiterated a Buy rating on the stock, with a price target of $77. Pantginis highlighted that HOPE-2 trial results show that Deramiocel has demonstrated significant efficacy in slowing disease progression and preserving muscle function over more than three years. The study found a 52% reduction in disease progression compared to an external comparator group, highlighting Deramiocel’s potential as a durable and effective treatment option. Moreover, the therapy was well tolerated with no new safety concerns, reinforcing its favorable safety profile. The analyst thinks that given the limited treatment options available for DMD, these results strengthen the case for deramiocel’s future regulatory approval and market potential. Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAPR) is one of the worst High-Risk High-Reward growth stocks to buy.
