Quick money is not a reliable penny-stock strategy. For a high-risk short-term watchlist around September 18, 2026, GoPro (NASDAQ: GPRO) is the strongest candidate for trading volume and sharp price movement. Taboola.com (NASDAQ: TBLA) is the more established operating business, with a less binary setup.
These are trading candidates, not guaranteed investments. The figures below reflect the supplied market snapshot.
Best Penny Stocks for Short-Term Trading
| Stock | Latest price | Market capitalization | Recent trading volume | Why traders may watch it | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoPro (GPRO) | $1.31 | About $199.5 million | About 16.3 million shares | Merger, restructuring and new-product events | Revenue decline and merger uncertainty |
| Taboola.com (TBLA) | $3.60 | About $1.04 billion | About 3.2 million shares | Advertising technology, AI and exposure to an operating business | Competition and execution risk |
Market data source: ****
1. GoPro (GPRO): Best for Aggressive Short-Term Traders
GoPro is the more suitable name here for traders seeking volume and large price swings. The stock recently traded near $1.31, with about 16.3 million shares traded. That gives short-term traders more liquidity than many thinly traded penny stocks.
The main event is GoPro's proposed merger with Starman Optical. Under the announced terms, GoPro shareholders would receive about $1.14 per share in cash, subject to adjustment. They would also retain about 10% ownership of the combined company. Approximately $92 million of debt would be repaid at closing.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to shareholder approval, regulatory approval and other conditions.
GoPro launched its MISSION 1 PRO ILS camera in September 2026. The launch could draw trading interest, but it does not solve the company's operating problems. GoPro reported six-month 2026 revenue of $204 million, down 28.9% from $287 million in the comparable 2025 period.
Trading verdict: GPRO is an event-driven speculation. The merger terms, closing conditions and falling revenue make it unsuitable as a low-risk investment.
2. Taboola.com (TBLA): Better Business-Quality Alternative
Taboola is the more established business of the two, although its shares may produce less dramatic price movement than GPRO. TBLA recently traded near $3.60, with a market capitalization of about $1.04 billion and approximately 3.2 million shares traded. The supplied market snapshot also showed a price-to-earnings ratio near 10 and positive earnings per share.
Taboola operates an advertising technology platform that connects advertisers with publishers, mobile applications and other digital properties. Its June 2026 SEC filing describes about 12,000 digital-property partners and reach of more than 600 million people per day.
A stronger operating business does not guarantee a quick stock-market gain. Taboola's latest quarterly filing recorded a write-off of approximately $12.2 million related to certain publisher prepayment assets. The charge shows the execution and profitability risks that remain.
Trading verdict: TBLA suits traders who want a low-priced technology stock with an operating platform rather than a pure merger or turnaround bet.
Which One Is Best for Quick Money?
For an aggressive short-term trade, GPRO is the better watchlist candidate. Its share volume and proposed merger give it a clearer near-term event than TBLA.
For a less binary speculative position, TBLA is the stronger alternative. Its valuation is tied to an advertising business, although competition, profitability and execution remain risks.
Neither stock is a dependable way to make money quickly. A merger announcement, product update or financial result can lift the price, but the same events can cause a sharp decline when expectations or deal conditions change.
How to Trade Penny Stocks Without Turning a Small Trade Into a Large Loss
The process is to control the entry, exit and position size before placing the trade.
- Trade only stocks with meaningful liquidity. Low volume can make it difficult to enter or exit without affecting the price.
- Use limit orders instead of market orders. Penny stocks can have wide bid-ask spreads.
- Check the latest SEC filing before trading. Review revenue, cash, debt, share count, warrants and possible dilution.
- Identify the event and its deadline. For GPRO, the merger still has to satisfy the required conditions before closing.
- Set the maximum loss before entering. Do not increase the position simply because the price falls.
- Avoid leverage and margin. A small percentage move can quickly create a large account loss.
- Do not rely on social-media promotion. The SEC warns that microcap stocks are especially vulnerable to low liquidity, limited information, paid promotion and pump-and-dump schemes.
The SEC also warns that penny stocks may trade infrequently, may be difficult to price accurately and may leave investors unable to sell their shares. Investors should be prepared to lose their entire investment.
Penny Stocks to Avoid
Avoid a stock when several of these conditions apply:
- It trades over the counter with little or no dependable financial reporting.
- The company has no identifiable revenue or operating business.
- The stock is promoted mainly through social media, newsletters or unsolicited messages.
- The company repeatedly issues new shares, warrants or convertible securities.
- The stock has no meaningful bid or trades only a few thousand dollars per day.
- The investment case depends on an unverified acquisition, product claim or imminent announcement.
Bottom Line
GPRO belongs on a high-risk event watchlist for September 2026. TBLA is the better fit for traders who prefer an operating technology company.
Neither stock is guaranteed quick money. If the money is needed for rent, debt payments or near-term expenses, penny stocks are inappropriate.