Potential short squeeze plays gained steam in 2021, with new retail traders looking for the next huge move.
A short squeeze can occur when a heavily shorted stock rises in value instead of falling. Short sellers could be looking to close out their position and can face a loss if they have to buy back the shares they initially borrowed at a higher price.
A squeeze can occur when short sellers are forced into buying to cover their position, which can cause shares to move up on many occasions.
Fintel Data, which requires a subscription, provides a look at several of the top shorted stocks and how likely a short squeeze is to occur. Here’s a look at the top five short squeeze candidates for the week of July 25.
ToughBuilt Industries: Home improvement and construction product company ToughBuilt Industries (NASDAQ: TBLT) tops the short squeeze leaderboard for the week. Data shows 132.1% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 248.9%. Shares of the company went from $3 to $9 last week and could see short interest continue to rise with the recent increase in the share price.
Blue Hat Interactive: Augmented reality company Blue Hat Interactive (NASDAQ: BHAT) creates toys, media and mobile games using its technology. Data shows 40.6% of the company’s float short and a 332.8% cost to borrow, one of the highest figures for the week.
Hour Loop Inc: Ecommerce company Hour Loop Inc (NASDAQ: HOUR) ranks fourth on the short squeeze leaderboard for the week. Fintel data shows 24.4% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 58.6%.
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust: Mall owner and operator Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (NYSE: PEI) ranks fourth on the list for the week. The company has trended in the top five in recent weeks. Fintel data shows 24.6% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 9.5%.
Related Link: 5 Short Squeeze Candidates To Watch This Week: The Singing Machine Company, Revlon And More
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment: Video-on-demand company Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (NASDAQ: CSSE) has been a frequent stock in the top ten of the Fintel Short Squeeze Leaderboard. The stock ranks fifth heading into the new week, with 21.0% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 48.7%.
Stocks to Watch: Software company MicroStrategy Inc (NASDAQ: MSTR) ranks sixth for the week, moving up five positions. The company, which is a large holder of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), has been a popular short candidate for those believing the price of the leading cryptocurrency will keep falling. The stock has moved up the leaderboard in recent weeks.
EvoFem Biosciences (NASDAQ: EVFM), a company that has contraceptive products, moved up 16 places to 14th place on the leaderboard. Data shows 57.4% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 126.3%.
Arts and crafts retailer Joann Inc (NASDAQ: JOAN) ranks 16th on the leaderboard, moving up 20 positions. Data shows 30.5% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 25.4%.
The Singing Machine Company (NASDAQ: MICS), which previously topped the leaderboard for several weeks, fell 10 positions to 11th place. Data shows 31.0% of the float short and a cost to borrow of 113.1%.
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