Global Penny Stocks To Watch In May 2026

Amid a backdrop of rising inflation concerns and geopolitical tensions, major U.S. stock indexes have reached new heights, driven by enthusiasm around artificial intelligence stocks and positive earnings reports. As the market landscape continues to evolve, investors might find opportunities in areas often overlooked by mainstream attention. Penny stocks, though sometimes seen as relics of past speculative trends, remain relevant for those seeking growth potential in smaller or newer companies with strong financial foundations.

Let's dive into some prime choices out of the screener.

Heartland Group Holdings (NZSE:HGH)

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

Overview: Heartland Group Holdings Limited, with a market cap of NZ$1.03 billion, operates in New Zealand and Australia offering a range of financial services through its subsidiaries.

Operations: Heartland Group Holdings generates revenue primarily from its Motor segment (NZ$73.20 million), Reverse Mortgages (NZ$61.21 million), Australian Banking Group (NZ$108.82 million), Rural services (NZ$29.86 million), Business lending (NZ$27.22 million), and Personal Lending (NZ$4.54 million).

Market Cap: NZ$1.03B

Heartland Group Holdings, with a market cap of NZ$1.03 billion, has demonstrated significant earnings growth, with net income rising from NZ$3.61 million to NZ$48.84 million for the half-year ended December 31, 2025. The company's Price-To-Earnings ratio of 12.1x is below the New Zealand market average, suggesting potential value for investors seeking financial services exposure in New Zealand and Australia. Despite having a low Return on Equity at 6.5%, Heartland maintains an appropriate Loans to Assets ratio and primarily relies on low-risk funding sources like customer deposits, although its board and management team are relatively inexperienced with short tenures.

• Click to explore a detailed breakdown of our findings in Heartland Group Holdings' financial health report.
• Explore Heartland Group Holdings' analyst forecasts in our growth report.

Serko (NZSE:SKO)

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

Overview: Serko Limited offers online travel booking and expense management services across New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Europe, and other international markets with a market cap of NZ$202.73 million.

Operations: The company has not reported any specific revenue segments.

Market Cap: NZ$202.73M

Serko Limited, with a market cap of NZ$202.73 million, reported full-year revenue of NZ$120.88 million, up from NZ$90.46 million the previous year, while reducing its net loss from NZ$21.96 million to NZ$17.74 million. Despite being unprofitable and having a negative Return on Equity of -20.01%, Serko trades at 67.8% below its estimated fair value and is debt-free with short-term assets exceeding liabilities significantly (NZ$84.2M vs NZ$21M). The company has sufficient cash runway for over three years based on current free cash flow and boasts an experienced board with an average tenure of 12 years.

• Click here and access our complete financial health analysis report to understand the dynamics of Serko.
• Gain insights into Serko's outlook and expected performance with our report on the company's earnings estimates.

7Road Holdings (SEHK:797)

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

Overview: 7Road Holdings Limited is an investment holding company that develops and distributes web and mobile games in the People's Republic of China and internationally, with a market cap of HK$1.70 billion.

Operations: The company's revenue is primarily generated from its Computer Graphics segment, amounting to CN¥521.29 million.

Market Cap: HK$1.7B

7Road Holdings Limited, with a market cap of HK$1.70 billion, has shown a significant turnaround by becoming profitable in the last year, reporting a net income of CN¥37.02 million compared to a loss previously. The company is debt-free and benefits from experienced management and board members. Its recent share repurchase program could enhance earnings per share and net asset value. Despite past volatility in its stock price, the company's financial position is strong with short-term assets significantly exceeding liabilities, although past earnings have been impacted by large one-off losses.

• Click here to discover the nuances of 7Road Holdings with our detailed analytical financial health report.
• Review our historical performance report to gain insights into 7Road Holdings' track record.

Where To Now?

• Access the full spectrum of 3,495 Global Penny Stocks by clicking on this link.
• Interested In Other Possibilities? These 26 companies survived and thrived after COVID and have the right ingredients to survive Trump's tariffs. Discover why before your portfolio feels the trade war pinch.

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.

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