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These 3 Penny Stocks Have Massive Upside Potential, Says Cowen

It’s a mixed bag when it comes to opinions on penny stocks. These tickers trading for less than $5 per share divide Wall Street like no other; market watchers either love them or hate them.It’s easy to understand the appeal. First and foremost, you get more bang for your buck. On top of this, with shares changing hands for bargain prices, even what seems like miniscule share price appreciation can translate to monstruous percentage gains. For some, however, the risk poses too great a threat to ignore. When you look under the hood of these low-priced names, you might find very real problems like poor fundamentals or looming headwinds.So, how are investors supposed to spot the penny stocks poised to go from rags to riches? By turning to the pros.With this in mind, we wanted to take a closer look at three penny stocks getting love from the pros, namely the analysts at investment firm Cowen. According to the firm, all three could soar in the year ahead. Using TipRanks’ database, we learned why Cowen analysts are pounding the table despite the risk involved.Neos Therapeutics (NEOS)Developing and commercializing innovative products, Neos Therapeutics wants to make a significant difference in the lives of patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other central nervous system (CNS) conditions. Although this name has struggled in the past, Cowen thinks that at $0.47 apiece, now is the time to snap up shares.Writing for the firm, analyst Ken Cacciatore acknowledges the momentum that was being driven by Adzenys XR-ODT, the company’s amphetamine-based treatment for ADHD, and Cotempla, its methylphenidate-based CNS stimulant also designed for ADHD, has slowed due to the pandemic. However, based on recent prescription trends, the analyst is seeing “signs of recovery ahead of the back to school (via video/classroom) acceleration in Q4.”Expounding on this, Cacciatore stated, “We continue to believe that management is taking the rights steps with the strategic improvements which seem to be benefiting from the more targeted prescriber base focus and more rapid adoption of the newco-pay assistance/fulfillment program (Rx Connect), to improve the profitability per prescription. And given what appears to be its early success of Rx Connect alongside spending reduction plan and salesforce restructuring we believe Neos could reach profitability by early 2022.”As the net revenue per pack for Adzenys and Cotempla grew 6% year-over-year to reach $128, Cacciatore argues the company’s efforts are paying off. “Again, we believe these data points appear to reflect the improved commercial approach, and the effectiveness of the company’s Neos Rx Connect pharmacy program which simplifies the previously more complex prescription fulfillment and co-pay assistance,” he commented.By enabling this access with Rx Connect, physicians can write prescriptions for Cotempla and Adzenys without worrying about patient call-backs. According to management, 30% of prescriptions are currently fulfilled through this program, and after multiple large regional pharmacy chains were added, the total number of partnered pharmacies was almost 900 in June, compared to 800 at the end of Q1.What’s more, the fact that NEOS is the only company to have both a methylphenidate and amphetamine alternate dose formulation product for the treatment of ADHD is enough to make it a stand-out, in Cacciatore’s opinion. Calling Cotempla the “perfect complement to Adzenys,” he notes that each asset covers one half of the large stimulant market.The analyst added, “Adzenys XR-ODT has experienced impressive prescription growth over the course of the past year, and is now the preferred ADHD alternative dosage form taking over from Pfizer’s market-leading Quillivant XR as its new-to-brand market share reached the number 1 position.”Also promising, NEOS offers Adzenys ER, which is an extended-release liquid suspension stimulant product for ADHD. The product is amphetamine-based like Adzenys XR-ODT, but is an alternative dosage form for patients who don’t prefer tablets or capsules. Cacciatore points out that success with the liquid alternative dosage form has already been demonstrated as Pfizer’s Quillivant XR generated over $100 million in annual sales in 2017.To this end, Cacciatore rates NEOS an Outperform (i.e. Buy) along with an $8 price target. Should the target be met, a twelve-month gain in the shape of a whopping 1,604% could be in store. (To watch Cacciatore’s track record, click here)Turning now to the rest of the Street, 3 Buys and no Holds or Sells have been published in the last three months. Therefore, NEOS has a Strong Buy consensus rating….