Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images Unprofitable companies have lifted the indexes that track smaller companies' shares this year. Key Takeaways Unprofitable companies in the Russelll 2000 have outpaced profitable constituents in the index. Some investors think small-caps can keep rising, citing more affordable valuations and expectations of improved earnings growth. The froth in U.S. stock markets can be seen in small companies too. The Russell 2000 index has outperformed the S&P 500 since this yea ...