Small-cap stocks are out of favor with investors right now and have been for some time. The Russell 2000 index comprised of the 2,000 smallest U.S. stocks, generally those with a market capitalization of under $10 billion, is up only 1% this year.
Natural gas demand in the US is expected to rise significantly by 2030 due to data center demand. Coal is facing challenges from environmental organizations and governments, but there is a strong bull case for the commodity. CONSOL Energy may be an attractive investment despite the negative sentiment towards coal.
Small-cap stocks have trailed their larger rivals for the last decade. The Russell 2000 Index that is comprised of 2,000 stocks with the smallest market capitalizations in the U.S. has risen 2.54% this year.