A penny stock is a penny stock because a penny is all a buyer is willing to spend on it. It's as simple as that. A price can only be as high as the buyers valuation
Someone said correct on SS but I know penny stocks that only have 120 million O/S and they are under a penny. That is why I see this stock leaving penny land for good. Too many possibilities.
The PPS and market cap. Requirements to be listed on major exchanges (NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE) have a min PPS and market cap. It varies by exchange but not less than $1 PPS and $40 mil market cap, if I remember correctly.
Revenues of a couple hundred million and an OS of 500M would get them to one of the big boards. An infusion of venture could do the same as well. It is their capital structure and the lack of the necessary leverage to raise good debt financing that relegates them to the rank of a "penny stock" it's not a matter of profits.