Market Spotlight: Energy Game-Changers & $10 Power Plays

Stocks were little changed on Friday, taking a breather after a strong week as investors evaluated global trade developments and inflation trends.

As of 11:12 AM ET, the Dow was down -3.9 points, or -0.0087226%, at $44707.53. The Nasdaq Composite added 49.369 points, or 0.22409%, at $22080.084. The S&P 500 rose 9.97 points, or 0.16304%, at $6125.04. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 8 showed positive movement, with Real Estate leading the way with a 2.24% increase.

Traders found some relief in January’s producer price index and this week’s consumer price index report, both of which hinted at a potentially softer reading for the upcoming personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index—the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge.

Despite a positive finish in the previous session, some analysts caution that the market’s optimism over a pause in reciprocal tariffs may be short-lived. Investors will continue to monitor economic indicators and global trade policies for signals on the Fed’s next moves.

Top Movers: Under $10

Jet.AI Inc (JTAI) is up 148.06% today to trade at the current level of $6.40. This comes after flyExclusive Inc. (FLYX) entered a definitive agreement to acquire the aviation business of Jet.AI Inc. (JTAI).

Moleculin Biotech Inc (MBRX) zoomed 68.50% in today’s trade to $2.14 after announcing exercise of warrants for $5.8 million gross proceeds.

In current trading, SRM Entertainment Inc (SRM) stock is at $0.67 after announcing a lock-up agreement with major shareholder, reinforcing commitment to long-term growth and shareholder value.

OS Therapies Inc (OSTX) rose 29.40% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $2.58 after announcing that it has entered into agreements for the commercial manufacture of OST-HER2.

In the current trading session, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc (NUS) jumped 33.64% to $8.58 over a previous close of $6.42 after reporting fourth quarter and full-year 2024 results.

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Archer Daniels Midland Co (ADM) is about to trade ex-dividend Monday, meaning that investors who buy the stock after tomorrow will not be eligible for the next dividend payment. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.51 per share. It has fixed February 18 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on March 11. Last year, the company distributed a total of $2.00 to its shareholders. Based on last year's payments, ADM has a trailing yield of 4.34%, and the current stock price is $46.07.

Shares of DHT Holdings Inc (DHT) will be the talk of the stock market on Monday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.17 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $1.00 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that DHT has a trailing yield of 8.86% on the current share price of $11.29.

Tomorrow, Ford Motor Co (F) is also set to go ex-dividend on Monday. The next dividend payment from F will amount to $0.15 per share. February 18 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for March 03. In the previous year, F distributed a total of $0.60 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for F stands at 6.35% based on the current stock price of $9.44.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) will be paying out a dividend of $1.24 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of February 18. Over the past 12 months, JNJ has paid out a total of $4.91 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, JNJ boasts an impressive trailing yield of 3.13% on the current share price of $156.65.

Crypto Market Highlights

• Dubai’s Virtual Assets and Regulatory Authority (VARA) issued a warning about the risks of meme coins, urging caution on speculative and unregulated assets.

• China-based Gaorong Ventures invested $30 million in the Hong Kong-registered HashKey crypto exchange.

• Bybit has been removed from France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) blacklist, according to a company executive.

• Michigan proposed a strategic Bitcoin reserve bill, bringing the total number of US states with crypto reserve-related legislation to 20.

• The US Securities and Exchange Commission acknowledged Grayscale’s filings to list spot XRP and Dogecoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Most Shorted Stocks

Luminar Technologies Inc (LAZR) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 32.34% short interest. The days to cover ratio, a measure of how long it would take for all the short positions to be covered based on average trading volume, is 2.9. This represents a change of 650000 shares, which corresponds to a +9.08% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $53.58 million. The average daily volume stands at 2.74M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $228.45M.

The Arbor Realty Trust Inc with the symbol ABR currently has a short interest of 31.06%. The short interest has changed by 1440000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 26.4. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $806.06 million. On an average day, 2.18M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $2.59B.

For the stock Hims & Hers Health Inc (HIMS), the current short interest is at 32.94%. This represents a significant short interest change of 1630000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of +2.88%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 3.7 Days to Cover. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $3.69 billion.

With the symbol APLD, the stock currently has a short interest of 34.05%. The short interest change is -2380000 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of -4.21%. It would take approximately 2.7 days to cover all the short positions. The shares short value is estimated to be around $493.62 million. The company boasts an average daily volume of 20.71M shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $1.89B.

The stock BMEA has a current short interest of 33.92%. The short interest percentage has experienced a decrease of -12.62% while there was a change of -1550000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 13.4. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $203.45 million. Trading activity averages at 797.81K shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $136.26M.

Energy Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Dynagas LNG Partners LP (DLNG) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Energy industry, attaining an impressive score of 67. The stock's profitability, financial strength, and Piotroski Score are strong. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of performance, growth, stock sentiment, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies NCS Multistage Holdings Inc (NCSM) as a high-quality Energy stock today, presenting a Score of 67. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of profitability, performance, financial strength, and Piotroski Score. The growth, stock sentiment, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Texas Pacific Land Corporation (TPL) has the ST Score of 64, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in profitability, performance, financial strength, and Piotroski Score. Growth, stock sentiment, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

EOG Resources, Inc (EOG) stock has the ST Score of 63 which implies that the Energy company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its profitability, performance, financial strength, and Piotroski Score. However, it shows a neutral outlook in growth, stock sentiment, and forecast.

International Seaways Inc (INSW) currently has the ST Score of 62, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Energy stock's strong points are its profitability, financial strength, and Piotroski Score, while its weak points are its performance and growth. The stock's stock sentiment and forecast indicate a neutral outlook.

That's it for today. Thanks for reading. Good luck out there!

Best Regards,

Stocks Telegraph Team

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