This article was updated on Sept. 11, 2015.

It's not easy finding stocks that are on the cutting edge of their industry, publicly traded, and poised for more growth. Sierra Wireless (SWIR) is a quiet tech company that's leading the machine-to-machine communication market, also called the Internet of Things, and its upside can't be overlooked.

Although Sierra has been on Wall Street since 2000, its business has shifted since then, with some of its technology now powering innovations in Tesla's (TSLA -5.59%) Model S. And as the company's focus has shifted over the years, so has its potential. 

So, Sierra does what exactly?
Let's keep this simple. If the Internet of Things, or IoT, is the connection of everyday objects to the Internet, then Sierra Wireless is the company that makes that connection possible. IoT will allow cars to communicate with each other, vending machines to tell companies when they need to be refilled, and energy systems to manage power usage on their own. Sierra's wireless modules and cloud management services both allow formerly non-connected devices to connect to the Internet and be easily controlled. 

Tesla's Model S is a perfect example of a connected car, in which Sierra provides the 3G-connection module that allows the car's infotainment system to tap into AT&T's wireless network. Tesla can then access data about the car's systems and make upgrades and adjustments based on feedback from the vehicle. Tesla is clearly a leader in automobile connectivity, but it's not the only company moving in this direction. Other car companies such as Ford, Toyota, BMW, and others use Sierra's technology as well.

But cars aren't the only thing Sierra puts its modules into. Nespresso's coffee makers also have Sierra's connected devices, as do energy systems, wireless payment devices, and much more.

The company's goal is to take away all the technical aspects of the connecting devices to the Internet of Things, so that companies can focus on making their products. And Sierra Wireless is in a great position to do it.

The advantages
Right now, Sierra Wireless holds about 34% of worldwide  machine-to-machine (M2M) embedded module revenue. 

And although it has a large IoT reach, the company is still nimble with a market cap under $800 million, $100 million in cash, and virtually no debt. In Q2 2015, Sierra posted revenue of $158 million, up 17% year-over-year.

Even with its strong position in the IoT space, Sierra is trying to build its Internet of Things offerings even bigger.

Last year the company purchased a company called In Motion, which makes rugged in-vehicle mobile routers and a secure platform to manage connected devices. That move allowed Sierra to expand its market share in high-growth, high-value markets such as public safety and commercial fleet connectivity. 

More recently, Sierra purchased Wireless Maingate and Accel Networks. Wireless Maingate adds more managed services to Sierra's device-to-cloud solutions, while Accel Networks' 4G LTE connectivity services will add more subscription-based and reccurring revenue to Sierra's business.

Sierra also just closed on its acquisition of MobiquiThinngs, a European mobile virtual network operator for managed IoT connections. This adds a new IoT platform for Sierra, as well as 75 new customers with a total of 100,000 wireless connectivity subscriptions.

In addition to its acquisitions, Sierra already has an open-source platform called Legato, which allows companies to develop applications for machine-to-machine devices and manage them from Sierra Wireless' cloud. The company also recently released its new  IoT Acceleration Platform, which provides customers with a global multi-operator coverage for Internet of Things connections.

Combining the company's own in-house services with its recent acquisitions should help Sierra hold onto to its strong Internet of Things position.

A few things to consider
Sierra' stock has taken a huge hit this year -- right now, it's down 50% year-to-date -- after making huge gains in 2014. It's worth remembering here that Sierra is a small-cap stock that's betting big on the nascent Internet of Things market. Simply put, this isn't a stock for faint of heart. 

Investors should continue to keep tabs on how Sierra is staying ahead of other M2M businesses, and how that impacts the cost of wireless modules. The company is already steps ahead of the competition and its place as an IoT leader means there's likely lots of opportunity ahead for this company.