Dear Readers,

Stocks experienced fluctuations on Friday, with the S&P 500 potentially facing a slight weekly decline. The benchmark's 5-week rally paused despite promising economic data that supported optimistic expectations for a gentle economic slowdown.

November's nonfarm payrolls report revealed an unforeseen decrease in the unemployment rate. Concurrently, the 10-year Treasury yield rose by 10 basis points to reach 4.23%. (One basis point signifies a 0.01% change.)

Simultaneously, a highly observed University of Michigan survey indicated a decline in inflation expectations and a surge in consumer sentiment for December, reaching its highest level since July.

As of 11:55 AM ET, the Dow was up 6.2227 points, or 0.0172%, at $36123.6. The Nasdaq Composite lost -9.3418 points, or -0.0583%, at $16013.1455. The S&P 500 declined -1.1499 points, or -0.0251%, at $4584.44. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 6 showed positive movement, with Information Technology leading the way with a 0.61% increase.

Top Movers: Under $10

Intensity Therapeutics Inc (INTS) is up 92.75% today to trade at the current level of $7.71 following the presentation of positive INT230-6 data in patients with early-stage breast cancer in a podium poster spotlight discussion at the 2023 SABCS.

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc (FFIE) zoomed 32.57% in today’s trade to $0.34 after announcing that it expects to deliver two more FF 91 2.0 Futurist Alliance EV’s.

In current trading, Hello Group Inc ADR (MOMO) stock is at $7.35 following the release of its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2023.

VerifyMe Inc (VRME) rose 17.82% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $1.19 after announcing share repurchase plan and changes to Board Compensation Program.

In the current trading session, Volato Group Inc (SOAR) jumped 17.88% to $6.66 over a previous close of $5.65. The company recently announced that its new Volato Partner Benefits program, available to all Volato Fractional Owners and Volato Insider Members.

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY) 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 $0.92 per share. The company has fixed December 12 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on January 02. Last year, the company distributed a total of $3.68 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, BBY has a trailing yield of 4.94% on the current stock price of $74.40.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends on Monday is ST Microelectronics (STM), having a market capitalization of $43.01B. It will pay a dividend of $0.05 per share, the payment date of which is December 19. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 0.53%.

Shares of CBL& Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) will be the talk of stock market on Monday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.38 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of $1.50 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that CBL has a trailing yield of 6.47% on the current share price of $23.17.

Pathward Financial Inc (CASH) is also set to go ex-dividend on Monday. The next dividend payment from CASH will amount to $0.05 per share. December 12 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for January 02. In the previous year, CASH distributed a total of $0.20 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for CASH stands at 0.38% based on the current stock price of $52.37.

Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. (PWOD) will be paying out a dividend of $0.32 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of December 12. Over the past 12 months, PWOD has paid out a total of $1.28 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, PWOD boasts an impressive trailing yield of 6.27% on the current share price of $20.40.

Crypto Market Highlights

Most Shorted Stocks

Birkenstock Holding Plc (BIRK) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 18.6% 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 6.1. The average daily volume stands at 1.54M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $8.82B.

The Beauty Health Company with the symbol SKIN currently has a short interest of 27.43%. The short interest has changed by -1330000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 5.1. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $69.74 million. On an average day, 5.64M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $386.59M.

For the stock Twist Bioscience Corp (TWST), the current short interest is at 26.04%. This represents a significant short interest change of 60000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of +0.40%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 15.2. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $399.08 million.

The stock MVIS has a current short interest of 26.71%. The short interest percentage has experienced increase of +1.52% while there was a change of 760000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 27.7. Trading activity averages at 1.90M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $479.72M.

Energy Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Seadrill Ltd. (SDRL) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Energy industry, attaining an impressive score of 63.0. The stock's profitability, performance, financial strength, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score are strong. However, its growth are weak. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of value, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies Euronav NV (EURN) as a high-quality Energy stock today, presenting a Score of 62.0. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of profitability, financial strength, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score. The value, performance, growth, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Dynagas LNG Partners LP (DLNG) has the ST Score of 62.0, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in valuation, financial strength, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score but weak in performance. Profitability, growth, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

Profire Energy Inc (PFIE) stock has the ST Score of 60.0 which implies that the Energy company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its profitability, financial strength, and Piotroski Score, but its weaknesses are in its growth. However, it shows neutral outlook in value, performance, stock sentiment, and forecast.

DHT Holdings Inc (DHT) currently has the ST Score of 61.0, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Energy stock's strong points are its growth, financial strength, and Piotroski Score. The stock's value, profitability, performance, stock sentiment, and forecast indicate a neutral outlook.