Penny stocks are high-risk investments. But they can be worth including in an ISA or SIPP as they can generate explosive gains at times.
Looking for penny stocks to buy for 2026? Here are three shares that have caught my eye recently and could be worth considering.
Skillcast
First up, we have Skillcast (LSE: SKL). It’s a software company that specialises in compliance solutions and counts the likes of Tesco, Barclays, and Schroders as customers.
There’s a lot to like about this stock as we kick off 2026. For a start, recent results have been strong.
In September, for example, the company reported 18% revenue growth for the first half of 2025. Subscription revenue for the period was up 23%.
Second, profits are rising rapidly. This year, analysts expect net profit to rise about 40%.
Third, the share price is in a strong uptrend. Note that as I write this, it’s near all-time highs meaning that there are going to be no disgruntled long-term holders waiting to break even and sell shares.
I’ll point out that artificial intelligence is possibly a risk here. This technology could help customers develop their own compliance solutions.
All things considered, however, I see a lot of potential.
Made Tech
Another penny stock in the technology space I like the look of right now is Made Tech (LSE: MTEC). This company helps the UK government and regulated industries with digital transformation.
It has also released some good trading updates recently. In December, it told investors that trading for FY26 (the financial year ending 31 May 2026) would be significantly ahead of expectations.
Note that like Skillcast, the company is seeing good results in terms of profitability. This financial year, analysts expect net profit to soar 85%.
A key risk is a cut in tech spending by the UK government. This scenario is a possibility and could lead to less growth for the company.
I think the stock is worth a look though. Note that the company’s valuation is quite low at present.
Ilika
The third stock I want to highlight, Ilika (LSE: IKA), is far more speculative than the first two. Because it doesn’t have any profits.
It could be worthy of further research though. That’s because the company specialises in solid state battery technology – a huge growth market – and it’s aiming to produce batteries for some high-growth markets including miniature medical implants, industrial wireless sensors, and electric vehicles (EVs) in the years ahead.
One thing that interests me is the fact that Ilika says it has very little competition in the miniature battery sector for active implantable medical devices. This could be a big opportunity for the company.
Now, this is the kind of penny stock that could either soar or crash in 2026. For example, if the company signs some major deals for its battery technology, it could do really well. But if it has to raise a ton of money to stay afloat, its share price could sink.
So, it’s not going to be suitable for those who are averse to risk. If an investor has a high risk tolerance, however, I reckon it’s worth a closer look.
