3 Small-Cap Stock Movers: LUNR Crash-Lands as Russell 2000 Looks Oversold

Small-cap stocks experienced a significant decline today as part of a broader market selloff. This weakness appears to be part of a deteriorating technical picture, as the percentage of Russell 2000 Index (RUT) stocks trading above their 20-day moving average dropped to just 18.72%, down from 27.42% last week. The breadth of the selloff suggests institutional investors are reducing exposure to smaller, riskier companies, with momentum indicators showing widespread weakness across small-cap sectors including technology, healthcare, and consumer discretionary stocks. 

Here’s a closer look at two small-cap stocks that plunged today - plus, one Russell 2000 standout stock that managed to buck the trend and close sharply higher.

Small-Cap Stock #1: Intuitive Machines (LUNR), down -20.20% at $11.26

Intuitive Machines (LUNR) stock experienced a significant decline today due to serious complications with its Athena lunar lander mission, where unexpected positioning issues on the lunar surface forced the company to power down non-essential systems. LUNR stock dropped to $11.26, representing a substantial decline from the previous day's closing price of $5.30, as investors reacted to the uncertainty surrounding the mission's technical difficulties. 

The market's negative reaction reflects growing concerns about LUNR’s operational capabilities and its ability to successfully execute future space missions. This setback is particularly impactful as it challenges the company's previously strong market confidence in its space exploration capabilities, leading investors to reassess their positions.

Small-Cap Stock #2: Core Scientific (CORZ), down -18.23% at $7.85

Core Scientific (CORZ) stock experienced a significant decline of approximately 18% today, partially triggered by Microsoft's (MSFT) decision to reduce commitments to its partner CoreWeave, which directly impacts Core Scientific's planned $1.2 billion data center expansion. The company's challenges were further compounded by weakening Bitcoin (BTCUSD) mining performance, with daily mining rates dropping from 8.3 to 7.7 Bitcoin per day in February 2025. Adding to investor concerns, a notable insider sale occurred recently when Director Todd A. Becker sold 134,250 shares at $10.75 per share on March 3. 

Small-Cap Stock #3: America’s Car-Mart (CRMT), up +15.93% at $44.47

America's Car-Mart (CRMT) stock surged following the release of impressive fiscal third quarter 2025 results, where the company reported an 8.7% increase in total revenue to $325.7 million and a significant improvement in gross margin to 35.7%. The company's credit performance showed notable strength with net charge-offs decreasing to 6.1% of average finance receivables, while their loan origination system is proving highly effective, now managing 58% of the portfolio balance. The market was particularly encouraged by CRMT’s enhanced financial flexibility through a new $350 million asset-based lending facility and a successful $200 million term securitization, setting the stage for future growth despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges.