The job of the person loaning the money (shareholders) is to give money expecting a return. Nothing or no one, SEC, Robert Downey Jr in that awesome fictitious suit can guarantee a return, no one.
Stay on the right side of the trade.
Anything without regular dividends is a gamble. That, is putting the funds to work. Dropping a few grand into a penny stock and getting butt-hurt when nothing happens is not educating ourselves. It's gambling, full stop.
Disclaimer: Everything I post is opinion and is not to be taken as investment advice. You make your own decisions based on your own judgement. Do your own DD = 'Due Diligence' = Your trade, Your responsibility.