Energy Update: Fast-Rising Stocks & $10 Investment Opportunities

Good Evening Traders!

U.S. stocks slid on Friday as investors continued to wrestle with ongoing tariff uncertainty and digested key inflation data.

As of 11:30 AM ET, the Dow was down -517.4 points, or -1.22%, at $41782.3. The Nasdaq Composite lost -383.924 points, or -1.94%, at $19414.697. The S&P 500 declined -82.8 points, or -1.45%, at $5610.51. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 11 showed negative movement, with Communication Services leading the way with a 2.57% decrease.

The core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index released on Friday showed a higher-than-expected rise of 2.8% in February, reflecting a 0.4% increase for the month. This raised concerns over persistent inflation, with economists expecting a 2.7% annual increase and 0.3% for the month. Consumer spending also accelerated by 0.4%, falling short of the 0.5% forecast, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Investors remain focused on President Donald Trump's tariff plans, which continue to cause volatility in the market. This week, Trump announced a 25% tariff on “all cars that are not made in the United States,” affecting auto stocks and fueling concerns of an economic slowdown.

Top Movers: Under $10

Portage Biotech Inc (PRTG) is up 116.35% today to trade at the current level of $10.19. This comes after the company reported promising preclinical results in mesothelioma supporting the first-in-human trial of PORT-7.

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc (LXRX) zoomed 56.04% in today’s trade to $0.54 after announcing that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Novo Nordisk A/S for LX9851, a first-in-class, oral non-incretin development candidate in obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

In current trading, DBV Technologies ADR (DBVT) stock is at $6.32 after announcing financing of up to $306.9 million to advance Viaskin® Peanut Patch through biologics license application submission and U.S. commercial launch, if approved.

Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc (SNSE) rose 63.96% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $0.71 after reporting full-year 2024 financial results and update on clinical progress.

In the current trading session, Lightwave Logic Inc (LWLG) jumped 22.77% to $1.24 over a previous close of $1.01 after announcing the controlled availability of its cutting-edge Process Design Kit (PDK).

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Nucor Corp (NUE) is about to trade ex-dividend Monday, meaning that investors who buy the stock after Monday will not be eligible for the next dividend payment. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.55 per share. It has fixed March 31 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on May 12. Last year, the company distributed a total of $2.17 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, NUE has a trailing yield of 1.76% on the current stock price of $123.10.

Shares of Deere & Co (DE) 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 $1.62 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $6.03 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that DE has a trailing yield of 1.29% on the current share price of $468.73.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) is also set to go ex-dividend on Monday. The next dividend payment from FITB will amount to $0.37 per share. March 31 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for April 15. In the previous year, FITB distributed a total of $1.44 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for FITB stands at 3.71% based on the current stock price of $38.82.

Mondelez International Inc (MDLZ) will be paying out a dividend of $0.47 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of March 31. Over the past 12 months, MDLZ has paid out a total of $1.79 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, MDLZ boasts an impressive trailing yield of 2.63% on the current share price of $67.97.

Crypto Market Highlights

• Blockchain developer platform Gelato is launching a new blockchain-as-a-service solution on Avalanche to meet the growing demand for sovereign blockchain infrastructure amid institutional adoption.

• US stock exchange Nasdaq has filed with the SEC to seek permission to list Grayscale Investments’ spot Avalanche exchange-traded fund (ETF).

• Michael Novogratz’s crypto investment firm, Galaxy Digital, agreed to pay $200 million in a settlement related to its promotion of the now-collapsed cryptocurrency Terra (LUNA).

• The United Arab Emirates plans to launch its digital dirham central bank digital currency in the fourth quarter of 2025.

• South Carolina has dismissed its lawsuit against crypto exchange Coinbase over its staking services, accusing the platform of offering unregistered securities.

 Most Shorted Stocks

Gogo Inc (GOGO) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 38.23% 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 17.7. This represents a change of 150000 shares, which corresponds to a +0.62% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $205.65 million. The average daily volume stands at 1.40M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $1.11B.

The Opko Health Inc with the symbol OPK currently has a short interest of 36.59%. The short interest has changed by 21530000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 23.9. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $187.59 million. On an average day, 4.78M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $1.13B.

For the stock Medical Properties Trust Inc (MPW), the current short interest is at 35.78%. This represents a significant short interest change of -7540000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage decrease of -4.09%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 13.5. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $1.08 billion.

With the symbol SPCE, the stock currently has a short interest of 35.24%. The short interest change is 1170000 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of +10.90%. It would take approximately 6.1 days to cover all the short positions. The shares short value is estimated to be around $534.09 million. The company boasts an average daily volume of 1.98M shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $107.16M.

The stock APLD has a current short interest of 34.59%. The short interest percentage has experienced an increase of +3.98% while there was a change of 2260000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 2.4. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $67.35 million. Trading activity averages at 26.14M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $1.26B.

Energy Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Dorian LPG Ltd (LPG) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Energy industry, attaining an impressive score of 63. The stock's profitability, financial strength, and Piotroski Score are strong. However, its performance is weak. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of growth, stock sentiment, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies Plains GP Holdings LP (PAGP) as a high-quality Energy stock today, presenting a Score of 62. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of performance, financial strength, and Piotroski Score. However, it has weak profitability. The growth, stock sentiment, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Scorpio Tankers Inc (STNG) has the ST Score of 62, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in profitability, financial strength, and Piotroski Score but weak in performance. Growth, stock sentiment, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

Antero Midstream Corp (AM) stock has the ST Score of 61 which implies that the Energy company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its profitability, performance, and Piotroski Score. However, it shows a neutral outlook in growth, financial strength, stock sentiment, and forecast.

Delek Logistics Partners LP (DKL) currently has the ST Score of 61, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Energy stock's strong points are its performance, growth, financial strength, and Piotroski Score, while its weak points are its profitability. 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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