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It wasn’t hard for investors to find gains in 2013. This year is different unless you’re invested in one or more companies on this growing hot penny stocks list boasting huge year-to-date gains.

Leading the pack of 2014’s surging low-priced stocks are biotech companies with promising new treatments in their pipeline. Also near the top are technology companies offering cutting edge products and solutions.

In mid-January, shares of Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd (Nasdaq. CHTP ) enjoyed a 91.74% one day surge to $4.49, skyrocketing as much as 120% intraday. The reason for the pop: An independent panel found the company’s drug to treat a rare form of low blood pressure effective enough to warrant regulatory approval.

Shares traded as high $5.63 Friday as the Charlotte, N.C.-headquartered biotech company awaited word of the FDA’s approval.

Another small-cap mover this year is Plug Power (Nasdaq: PLUG ). Shares of this alternative energy provider jumped 68% to a 52-week high of $4.90 last month after inking a deal with FedEx Corp (NYSE: FDX ) to develop hydrogen fuel cell extenders for 20 FedEx trucks.

PLUG shares have given up some gains on profit taking, but they added 20.97% to $3.79 on Feb. 10 after winning a major contract from leading retailer GenKey. Under the agreement, PLUG will launch its turnkey hydrogen fuel cell system solutions at six North America GenKey distribution centers. The first site is expected to be ready in Q2. This multi-site GenKey order helps PLUG shore-up its position as the premiere global proton exchange membrane fuel cell solution provider.

Those are just two micro-cap stocks Money Morning recently featured; following are five of the hottest penny stocks today .

Penny Stocks List: Five Hot Ones for 2014

Smart Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: SMT ) shares hit a one-year high of $3.65 last week, surging some 28.15%. The gains followed much better-than-expected earnings per share of $0.08 for its December quarter. That was eight times forecasts for the maker of whiteboard and other display technology. The company also announced it’s getting out of the waning PC business. Amid some profit taking, shares ended Friday at $3.04, up 3.05%. The company’s outlook remains bright thanks to a positive uptrend in earnings estimates and solid share momentum. Investors have taken note. Volume remains brisk and shares are up 51% over the last month.