Markets Rebound, Penny Stocks Explode & AI Heats Up 🔥📊

U.S. stocks rebounded on Wednesday after suffering their sharpest selloff in months, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq each rising more than 1% as investors digested President Trump’s remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Markets found some relief in Trump’s softer tone on Greenland, where he called for negotiations rather than force, though ongoing confidence in pursuing the territory has kept trade-war fears and “Sell America” concerns alive amid renewed EU tariff warnings.

The dollar strengthened against the euro, while political risks remained in focus as the Supreme Court heard arguments on the removal of Fed Governor Lisa Cook, a case seen as testing central bank independence.

On the corporate side, earnings season continued to unsettle investors, with Netflix shares falling after its results and broader S&P 500 earnings beats drawing unusually negative stock reactions, ahead of reports from companies including Johnson & Johnson and Charles Schwab.

Top Movers: Under $10 

Lisata Therapeutics Inc (LSTA) is up 86.34% today to trade at the current level of $4.03. This comes after the company announced that it has entered into a binding term sheet to be acquired by Kuva Labs, Inc., a privately-held company.

Pineapple Financial Inc (PAPL) zoomed 53.09% in today’s trade to $1.49 after announcing audited financial results for the three months ended November 30, 2025.

In current trading, Brand Engagement Network Inc (BNAI) stock is at $8.72 after announcing the finalization of a strategic partnership with Valio Technologies (Pty) Ltd to establish an exclusive AI licensing framework for government and commercial markets across Africa.

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc (LXRX) rose 22.14% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $1.60 after announcing the successful end-of-phase 2 meeting with FDA for pilavapadin in the treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain.

In the current trading session, Lottery.com Inc (SEGG) jumped 32.89% to $2.42 over a previous close of $1.82 after announcing the closing of a registered direct public offering.

Ex-Dividend Stocks

Argan, Inc (AGX) 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 $0.5 per share. It has fixed January 22 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on January 30. Last year, the company distributed a total of $1.62 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, AGX has a trailing yield of 0.42% on the current stock price of $385.98.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends tomorrow is APA Corporation (APA), having a market capitalization of $9.28B. It will pay a dividend of $0.25 per share, the payment date of which is February 23. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 3.82%.

Shares of Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A. ADR (BSBR) will be the talk of the stock market on Thursday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.07 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $0.23 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that BSBR has a trailing yield of 3.52% on the current share price of $6.48.

Oriental Culture Holding Ltd (OCG) is also set to go ex-dividend tomorrow. The next dividend payment from OCG will amount to $0.05 per share. January 22 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for February 09.

Riley Exploration Permian Inc (REPX) will be paying out a dividend of $0.4 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of January 22. Over the past 12 months, REPX has paid out a total of $1.54 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, REPX boasts an impressive trailing yield of 5.59% on the current share price of $27.56.

Crypto Market Highlights

• Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, is set to be released from federal custody after serving 440 days of her two-year prison sentence.

• Crypto platform Bitpanda is expanding its offerings to include stocks and ETFs, moving toward its goal of becoming a “universal exchange.”

• Blockchain security firm SlowMist has identified a new Linux-based attack exploiting trusted Snap Store applications to steal users’ crypto recovery seed phrases.

• A new OKX Insights survey shows younger Americans becoming more confident in crypto, while older generations continue to favor traditional finance.

• Solana Mobile, a subsidiary of Solana Labs, has launched a token airdrop for owners of its Web3 smartphone, Solana Seeker.

Most Shorted Stocks

EZCorp, Inc (EZPW) was one of the most shorted stocks as of the latest short interest figures, with 22.79% 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 16.2. This represents a change of 407280 shares, which corresponds to a 3.09% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $290.07 million. The average daily volume stands at 904.54K shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $1.30B.

The Society Pass Inc with the symbol SOPA currently has a short interest of 23.41%. The short interest has changed by 1505892 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 0.1. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $3.72 million. On an average day, 4.92M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $16.81M.

For the stock CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP), the current short interest is at 23.03%. This represents a significant short interest change of -812307 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage decrease of -3.72%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 14.2. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $1.14 billion.

With the symbol IONQ, the stock currently has a short interest of 23.74%. The short interest change is 7298539 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of 10.30%. It would take approximately 4.3 days to cover all the short positions. The shares short value is estimated to be around $1.03 billion. The company boasts an average daily volume of 22.07M shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $17.36B.

The stock ORIC has a current short interest of 23.34%. The short interest percentage has experienced an increase of 19.56%, while there was a change of 3513143 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 14.2. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $913.96 million. Trading activity averages at 1.41M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $1.14B.

AI Stock to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Monolithic Power System Inc (MPWR) emerges as a high-quality stock in the AI industry, attaining an impressive score of 55. The stock's profitability and financial strength are strong. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of performance, growth, stock sentiment, Piotroski Score, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies Micron Technology Inc (MU) as a high-quality AI stock today, presenting a Score of 55. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of profitability, performance, growth, and Piotroski Score. However, it has weak financial strength. The stock sentiment, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ADR (TSM) has the ST Score of 55, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in profitability and Piotroski Score but weak in financial strength. Performance, growth, stock sentiment, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

ASML Holding NV (ASML) stock has the ST Score of 55, which implies that the AI company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its profitability, performance, and Piotroski Score, but its weaknesses are in its financial strength. However, it shows neutral outlook in growth, stock sentiment, and forecast.

Digital Realty Trust Inc (DLR) currently has the ST Score of 55, which signifies a huge upward potential. The AI stock's strong points are its profitability, growth, and Piotroski Score. The stock's performance, financial strength, 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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