Dear Readers,

Stocks took a tumble on Tuesday, with investors returning from the long weekend to face renewed anxiety about interest rates. This bearishness follows last week's hotter-than-expected inflation data, which reignited concerns about the Federal Reserve's monetary policy trajectory.

The CME Group's FedWatch Tool now reflects only an 8.5% chance of a quarter-point rate cut in March, a significant drop from previous expectations. Even the odds of a cut in May have plummeted to a mere 32.9%. This shift highlights the market's growing conviction that the Fed will stay vigilant in its fight against inflation, potentially keeping rates higher for longer.

No major economic data releases were scheduled for Tuesday, leaving investors to grapple with existing anxieties. However, some clarity might emerge on Wednesday with the release of the Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy meeting minutes.

As of 12:01 PM ET, the Dow was down -127.8867 points, or -0.3311%, at $38500.1. The Nasdaq Composite lost -247.209 points, or -1.3978%, at $17438.771. The S&P 500 declined -42.02 points, or -0.8395%, at $4963.55. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 6 showed positive movement, with Communication Services leading the way with a 0.42% increase.

Top Movers: Under $10

Monopar Therapeutics Inc (MNPR) is up 146.00% today to trade at the current level of $0.84. This comes after the company announced that it has received Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) clearance in Australia to commence a Phase 1 dosimetry trial of its novel radiopharmaceutical MNPR-101-Zr.

Trxade Health Inc (MEDS) zoomed 90.63% in today’s trade to $8.75 after the company announced a major asset sale.

In current trading, Biofrontera Inc (BFRI) stock is at $1.35 after declaring restructuring of supply agreement with Biofrontera AG.

CISO Global Inc (CISO) rose 44.80% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $0.14. The company announced the independent valuation of its initial IP Solutions Portfolio by a global leader in valuation, corporate finance, and restructuring.

In the current trading session, SciSparc Ltd (SPRC) jumped 26.01% to $4.39 over a previous close of $3.48 after announcing that as part of its ongoing collaboration with Clearmind Medicine Inc.Clearmind filed three patent applications under the international Patent Cooperation Treaty.

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) is about to trade ex-dividend tomorrow, 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 $0.32 per share. It has fixed February 22 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on March 14. Last year, the company distributed a total of $1.22 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, AMAT has a trailing yield of 0.65% on the current stock price of $188.23.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends tomorrow is Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU), having a market capitalization of $3.11B. It will pay a dividend of $0.07 per share, the payment date of which is March 13. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 0.95%.

Shares of Discover Financial Services (DFS) will be the talk of stock market on Wednesday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.7 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $2.70 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that DFS has a trailing yield of 2.13% on the current share price of $126.86.

International Paper Co. (IP) is also set to go ex-dividend tomorrow. The next dividend payment from IP will amount to $0.46 per share. February 22 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for March 15. In the previous year, IP distributed a total of $1.39 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for IP stands at 3.81% based on the current stock price of $36.42.

Marriott International, Inc. (MAR) will be paying out a dividend of $0.52 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of February 22. Over the past 12 months, MAR has paid out a total of $1.96 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, MAR boasts an impressive trailing yield of 0.81% on the current share price of $243.20.

Crypto Market Highlights

Most Shorted Stocks

Maxeon Solar Technologies Ltd (MAXN) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 28.45% 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 3.4. This represents a change of 290000 shares, which corresponds to a +3.38% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $44.7 million. The average daily volume stands at 2.57M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $266.01M.

The ParaZero Technologies Ltd with the symbol PRZO currently has a short interest of 12.00%. The short interest has changed by 477200 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 0.2. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $0.53 million. On an average day, 3.83M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $2.63M.

For the stock Rail Vision Ltd (RVSN), the current short interest is at 38.86%. This represents a significant short interest change of 394500 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of +616.41%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 0.1. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $2.09 million.

With the symbol BFRG, the stock currently has a short interest of 27.74%. The short interest change is 328200 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of +479.12%. It would take approximately 0.2 days to cover all the short positions. The shares short value is estimated to be around $1.91 million. The company boasts an average daily volume of 2.55M shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $25.33M.

The stock FWBI has a current short interest of 28.69%. The short interest percentage has experienced increase of +39.72% while there was a change of 50200 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 0.3. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $2.15 million. Trading activity averages at 731.52K shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $3.62M.

EV Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, QuantumScape Corp (QS) emerges as a high-quality stock in the EV industry, attaining an impressive score of 52.0. The stock's performance, financial strength, and stock sentiment are strong. However, its profitability, and Piotroski Score are weak. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of value, growth, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies FREYR Battery Inc. (FREY) as a high-quality EV stock today, presenting a Score of 52.0. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of valuation, and financial strength. However, it has weak growth, and Piotroski Score. The profitability, performance, stock sentiment, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) has the ST Score of 51.0, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in profitability, financial strength, and stock sentiment but weak in performance, and growth. Value, piotroski score, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

AYRO Inc (AYRO) stock has the ST Score of 50.0 which implies that the EV company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its financial strength, but its weaknesses are in its profitability. However, it shows neutral outlook in value, performance, growth, stock sentiment, Piotroski Score, and forecast.

Baidu Inc ADR (BIDU) currently has the ST Score of 50.0, which signifies a huge upward potential. The EV stock's strong points are its valuation, profitability, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score, while its weak points are its performance, growth, and financial strength. The stock's forecast indicate a neutral outlook.