Investor's Radar: Top 5 Sizzling Biotech Stocks Right Now!

US stock markets fell on Thursday, reversing the previous day's gains after a temporary reprieve from the bond sell-off. Investors are now focused on the key labor market data that will be released on Friday.

As of 11:43 AM ET, the Dow was down -150.3711 points, or -0.4539%, at $32979.18. The Nasdaq Composite lost -147.9131 points, or -1.001%, at $14628.34. The S&P 500 declined -28.3701 points, or -0.6654%, at $4235.38. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 10 showed negative movement, with Consumer Cyclical leading the way with a -1.17% decrease.

US weekly jobless claims rose slightly last week but remained near historic lows, undershooting economists' expectations and signaling resilience in the labor market despite the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes.

Ahead of Friday's jobs report for September, the weaker-than-expected ADP private-sector hiring data released today is another sign that the labor market is cooling. This could prompt the Federal Reserve to reconsider raising interest rates again, which could lift some pressure on markets. Some analysts believe that the monthly jobs report could be bad for stocks, regardless of whether the data is strong or weak, due to the recent surge in bond yields.

Top Movers: Under $10

Ault Alliance Inc (AULT) is up 26.20% today to trade at the current level of $0.35 following the announcement by its majority owned subsidiary, Giga-tronics, Inc. (GIGA), that its Q3 2023 orders have surpassed $15.4 million.

EZGO Technologies Ltd (EZGO) zoomed 11.23% in today’s trade to $0.15. The company completed delivery of state-of-the-art security patrol rrobots with transaction value of RMB11 Million.

In current trading, Momentus Inc (MNTS) stock is at $1.19 following the declaration from the company that it has signed a contract with C3S for transportation and orbital delivery services in 2025.

Clene Inc (CLNN) rose 16.31% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $0.57 after announcing that it has been awarded a four-year grant totaling $45.1 million from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), to support an Expanded Access Protocol (EAP) for the Company’s investigational drug, CNM-Au8®, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

In the current trading session, Icecure Medical Ltd (ICCM) jumped 8.42% to $0.90 over a previous close of $0.83 in response to the recent revelation of compelling findings from an independent breast cancer study.

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Elbit Systems Ltd. (ESLT) 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 $0.42 per share. The company has fixed October 10 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on October 23. Last year, the company distributed a total of $1.97 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, ESLT has a trailing yield of 0.96% on the current stock price of $205.02.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends tomorrow is Micron Technology Inc. (MU), having a market capitalization of $75.09B. It will pay a dividend of $0.12 per share, the payment date of which is October 25. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 0.54%.

Shares of NewtekOne Inc. (NEWT) will be the talk of stock market on Friday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.18 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of $0.72 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that NEWT has a trailing yield of 5.15% on the current share price of $13.99.

United Security Bancshares (CA) (UBFO) is also set to go ex-dividend tomorrow. The next dividend payment from UBFO will amount to $0.12 per share. October 10 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for October 25. In the previous year, UBFO distributed a total of $0.46 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for UBFO stands at 6.37% based on the current stock price of $7.22.

A-Mark Precious Metals Inc (AMRK) will be paying out a dividend of $0.2 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of October 10. Over the past 12 months, AMRK has paid out a total of $0.80 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, AMRK boasts an impressive trailing yield of 2.85% on the current share price of $28.04.

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Most Shorted Stocks

Big Lots Inc (BIG) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 29.57% 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 4.6. This represents a change of 430000 shares, which corresponds to a +5.65% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $31.84 million. The average daily volume stands at 1.75M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $115.59M.

The Celsius Holdings Inc with the symbol CELH currently has a short interest of 29.28%. The short interest has changed by 490000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 9.2. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $1.71 billion. On an average day, 1.25M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $11.79B.

For the stock Cipher Mining Inc (CIFR), the current short interest is at 29.34%. This represents a significant short interest change of 50000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of +0.40%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 8.0. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $30.72 million.

The stock ZVSA has a current short interest of 28.92%. The short interest percentage has experienced increase of +1,168.79% while there was a change of 3343900 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 0.8. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $0.96 million. Trading activity averages at 5.36M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $3.36M.

Biotech Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Neoleukin Therapeutics Inc (NLTX) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Biotech industry, attaining an impressive score of 57.0. The stock's performance, financial strength, and forecast are strong. However, its profitability, and Piotroski Score are weak. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of value, growth, and stock sentiment.

Our ST Score also classifies Bionomics Ltd. ADR (BNOX) as a high-quality Biotech stock today, presenting a Score of 55.0. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of performance, financial strength, and stock sentiment. However, it has weak profitability, growth, and Piotroski Score. The value, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Quince Therapeutics Inc (QNCX) has the ST Score of 54.0, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in performance, and financial strength but weak in Piotroski Score. Value, profitability, growth, stock sentiment, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

Equillium Inc (EQ) stock has the ST Score of 54.0 which implies that the Biotech company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its valuation, and stock sentiment. However, it shows neutral outlook in profitability, performance, growth, financial strength, Piotroski Score, and forecast.

Halozyme Therapeutics Inc. (HALO) currently has the ST Score of 58.0, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Biotech stock's strong points are its profitability, growth, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score, while its weak points are its financial strength. The stock's value, performance, and forecast indicate a neutral outlook.