Charging Into After-Hours: Small-Caps Close Strong as XPON, VENU, and LIXT Light Up the Board
DENVER, Colo., Aug 14, 2025 (247marketnews.com)- Markets are heading into the close of today’s session with a jolt of small-cap strength and a flurry of after-hours anticipation as several emerging growth names closed near highs.
Leading the charge was Expion360 Inc. (NASDAQ:XPON), which surged premarket and held strong throughout the day after announcing blowout Q2 2025 net sales of $3 million, marking 134% year-over-year growth and its sixth consecutive quarter of sequential sales increases. The lithium battery innovator credited momentum to “dealers, distributors, OEMs and private label clients,” according to CEO Brian Schaffner, adding two of the strongest sales months in company history to XPON’s record.
With XPON regaining Nasdaq compliance and holding $1.4 million in liquidity, its decentralized power systems are gaining relevance not just in home storage, but in the broader small mobile nuclear reactor (SMR) ecosystem, where compact, scalable battery and energy storage tech are vital complements. As microgrids gain favor in defense, disaster recovery, and off-grid industrial use cases, XPON’s tech could serve as a bridge between traditional and next-gen SMR deployments.
Terawulf (NASDAQ:WULF), which was on this morning’s watchlist looks like it will close very near today’s high.
Meanwhile, LIXTE Biotechnology Holdings (NASDAQ:LIXT) continues building quiet, but powerful, momentum. The biotech is gaining investor attention as it advances LB-100, a first-in-class PP2A inhibitor through several Phase 1B/2 trials set to report results in H2 2025. The compound enhances tumor sensitivity to chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy, potentially unlocking new treatment paths for ovarian clear cell carcinoma, metastatic colon cancer, and advanced soft tissue sarcoma.
LIXTE is positioning itself in the $200 billion global oncology market, and with multiple catalysts ahead, institutional players are starting to circle. Shares ticked higher again today, as volume outpaced averages heading into the back half of the year.
Another key name riding the momentum wave into the after-hours session is Venu Holding Corporation (NYSE:VENU). Shares continue to hover near fresh 52-week highs as investors gear up for the company’s Q2 2025 earnings report this evening. Fueling optimism is news that Vanguard Group disclosed a new 861,911-share position, worth around $13 million, while Aramark injected $10.125 million in equity funding and secured operational control over VENU’s flagship Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs.
These strategic moves signal long-term institutional conviction and could mark the early innings of a revaluation. Crossing the ~$600M threshold removes the microcap restriction for many mutual funds, pension funds, and insurance company portfolios, which have investment mandates prohibiting holdings in micro-caps due to perceived liquidity, volatility, and governance risks.
Earnings call is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. EDT, with a replay available via https://investors.venu.live.
Other notable names to watch after hours:
- Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) – Earnings expected after the bell with investors watching chip capex trends closely.
- SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) – Flash memory pricing and AI infrastructure spend will be key themes.
- Sidus Space (NASDAQ:SIDU) – Shares active on speculative chatter and commercial launch schedule updates.
Looking Ahead
Investors are eyeing a strong start to Wednesday’s session, especially if VENU delivers upside on revenue or forward bookings. With XPON proving there’s still life in the lithium battery trade, and LIXT and XOS quietly building real-world traction, this after-hours cycle could be a turning point for small-cap innovation, particularly in decentralized energy, bioscience, and electrification, all of which overlap with rising interest in small mobile reactor systems.
Keep your screens on. Tomorrow’s open might ignite more than just momentum, it could power the next generation of scalable infrastructure.
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