Benzinga - by Chris Katje, Benzinga Staff Writer.
Potential short squeeze plays gained steam in 2021, continued throughout 2022, and remain a focus of traders looking for the next huge move.
High short interest and steep borrowing costs are among the common traits that could lead to a short squeeze.
Here’s a look at the top five short squeeze candidates and several stocks to watch this week based on the Fintel short squeeze leaderboard.
1. Getty Images Holdings (NYSE: GETY) tops the short squeeze leaderboard for the week, moving up three positions from last week's report. Data shows 144.3% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 62.2%. Since going public via a SPAC merger, the content creator and image marketplace company has been a popular short-squeeze target. The company previously topped the leaderboard on several occasions and has been hovering in the top five over the last several months.
2. Alset Capital Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ: ACAX) ranks second for the week, moving up four positions. The low-float SPAC announced a merger with lifestyle company HWH International in September 2022 to bring the health, wellness and happiness company public. Low-float SPACs have attracted interest from investors prior to their merger completion dates or shortly after their deals are complete. Data shows 8.5% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 202.3%.
3. Bitcoin Depot (NASDAQ: BTM) ranks third for the week, moving up 81 positions. The stock continues the trend of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) related stocks, which often attract strong short interest from investors and occasionally land on the short squeeze list. The company, which is among the largest Bitcoin ATM operators, completed a SPAC merger earlier this year to hit the public markets. Data shows 15.1% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 56.6%.
4. VistaGen Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VTGN) drops one position to rank fourth for the week. Data shows 16.6% of the float short, in line with last week’s report. The cost to borrow on shares falls from 72.8% to 69.0%. The stock ranked third on the short squeeze leaderboard for two straight weeks prior to its drop to fourth.
5. Blue Apron Holdings (NYSE: APRN) drops four positions to fifth place for the week. Data shows 31.3% of the float short, in line with last week’s report. The cost to borrow on shares rose from 37.3% last week to 47.6% in the latest report. In three of the last four weeks, the meal delivery company topped the short squeeze leaderboard, securing a second-place spot during the remaining week before the latest drop. Blue Apron has been a popular short-squeeze candidate in recent years.
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Stocks to Watch: Outside the top five short-squeeze candidates, several other names are making big moves. Here are five stocks rising on the charts with significant short percentages or borrowing costs.
Jupiter Wellness (NASDAQ: JUPW) ranks seventh for the week, moving up two positions. Data shows 16.5% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 108.8%.
Genius Group Limited (AMEX:GNS) moves up two positions to rank ninth on the leaderboard. Data shows 13.6% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 107.7%.
Bullfrog AI Holdings (NASDAQ: BFRG) moves up one position to rank 13th on the list. Data shows 12.0% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 269.5%. The stock has been a popular short squeeze candidate on the list in the past.
AirSculpt Technologies (NASDAQ: AIRS) moves up six positions to rank 20th in the latest report. Data shows 22.9% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 14.3%. The stock previously topped the short squeeze leaderboard earlier this year.
Vapotherm Inc (NYSE: VAPO) ranks 22nd on the list, making a big jump of 154 places. Data shows 6.4% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 8.7%.
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