"Midday Surge: Top-Rated Energy Stocks & $10 Movers to Watch"

U.S. stocks closed out the week on a high note Friday, with the S&P 500 hitting a fresh all-time record as optimism over global trade developments outweighed lingering macro concerns. The rally marked a dramatic comeback from the April lows, powered by investor hopes that agreements with China and other nations could be within reach.

As of 11:31 AM ET, the Dow was up 413.81 points, or 0.95%, at $43800.66. The Nasdaq Composite added 129.27 points, or 0.58%, at $22576.56. The S&P 500 rose 37.21 points, or 0.61%, at $6178.23. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 9 showed positive movement, with Real Estate leading the way with a 1.32% increase.

The S&P 500 has now surged more than 20% since bottoming out in early April and is up nearly 5% year-to-date. Investors continued to pile into equities despite headwinds such as spiking oil prices driven by Middle East tensions and rising yields fueled by deficit concerns. Momentum in the AI sector—led by heavyweights like Nvidia and Microsoft—also helped lift sentiment.

Not even a slightly hotter-than-expected inflation reading could spoil the rally. Core personal consumption expenditures (PCE), the Fed’s preferred gauge, rose 2.7% year-over-year in May, just above forecasts of 2.6%. Still, investors remain confident that inflation pressures are easing and that multiple rate cuts from the Federal Reserve could be on the horizon this year.

Top Movers: Under $10 

Locafy Limited (LCFY) is up 248.63% today to trade at the current level of $8.89. This comes after the company announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with one of the United States’ foremost online reputation and review management platforms.

NanoVibronix Inc (NAOV) zoomed 32.29% in today’s trade to $1.15 after announcing the official launch of a next-generation robotic development initiative within its ENvue Medical division.

In current trading, Bone Biologics Corp (BBLG) stock is at $4.89 following the pricing of $5.0 million public offering.

I-Mab ADR (IMAB) rose 25.74% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $2.54 after announcing positive data from a Phase 1b study of givastomig with nivolumab and mFOLFOX6 for metastatic gastric cancer, shared in abstract #388MO at ESMO GI 2025.

In the current trading session, New Horizon Aircraft Ltd (HOVR) jumped 22.52% to $1.85 over a previous close of $1.51. The company announced it has regained compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid requirement, and the matter is now closed..

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Calavo Growers, Inc (CVGW) 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 $0.2 per share. It has fixed June 30 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on July 30. Last year, the company distributed a total of $0.70 to its shareholders. Based on last year's payments, CVGW has a trailing yield of 2.64%, compared to the current stock price of $26.55.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends on Monday is Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB), having a market capitalization of $27.72B. It will pay a dividend of $0.37 per share, the payment date of which is July 15. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 3.52%.

Shares of Himax Technologies ADR (HIMX) 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 $0.74 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $0.29 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that HIMX has a trailing yield of 3.07% on the current share price of $9.45.

Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (HST) is also set to go ex-dividend on Monday. The next dividend payment from HST will amount to $0.2 per share. June 30 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for July 15. In the previous year, HST distributed a total of $0.80 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for HST stands at 5.06% based on the current stock price of $15.77.

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 June 30. Over the past 12 months, MDLZ has paid out a total of $1.83 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, MDLZ boasts an impressive trailing yield of 2.71% on the current share price of $67.75.

Crypto Market Highlights

• Founders of Across Protocol accused of siphoning $23 million to a for-profit company.

• Unknown crypto trader turns $6,800 into $1.5 million, accounting for over 3% of maker-side liquidity on a major exchange.

• Bitcoin Treasury Corporation (BTCT) to resume trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada.

• Genius Group to share potential lawsuit winnings with shareholders and expand its Bitcoin treasury 

• Bakkt Holdings Inc. plans to raise up to $1 billion via securities offerings, possibly for Bitcoin purchases.

Most Shorted Stocks

Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc (IOVA) was one of the most shorted stocks as of the latest short interest figures, with 33.50% 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 6.9. This represents a change of 4600000 shares, which corresponds to a +5.33% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $156.45 million. The average daily volume stands at 13.47M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $574.37M.

The Cheesecake Factory Inc with the symbol CAKE currently has a short interest of 20.81%. The short interest has changed by 1020000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 7.2. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $583.29 million. On an average day, 1.32M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $3.03B.

For the stock SELLAS Life Sciences Group Inc (SLS), the current short interest is at 19.21%. This represents a significant short interest change of 6680000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of +54.66%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 8.6. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $36.1 million.

With the symbol MP, the stock currently has a short interest of 25.84%. The short interest change is 3110000 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of +11.18%. It would take approximately 3.5 days to cover all the short positions. The shares' short value is estimated to be around $622.94 million. The company boasts an average daily volume of 9.14M shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $5.39B.

The stock REAL has a current short interest of 23.56%. The short interest percentage has experienced an increase of +4.82% while there was a change of 980000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 6.5. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $154.91 million. Trading activity averages at 3.32M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $567.18M.

Energy Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Epsilon Energy Ltd (EPSN) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Energy industry, attaining an impressive score of 62. The stock's profitability, performance, financial strength, and Piotroski Score are strong. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of growth, stock sentiment, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies Cheniere Energy Inc (LNG) as a high-quality Energy stock today, presenting a Score of 62. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of profitability, performance, and Piotroski Score. The growth, financial strength, stock sentiment, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Tenaris S.A. ADR (TS) has the ST Score of 62, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in profitability, performance, financial strength, and Piotroski Score, but weak in growth. Stock sentiment and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

Antero Midstream Corp (AM) stock has the ST Score of 59 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 neutral outlook in growth, financial strength, stock sentiment, and forecast.

Equinor ASA ADR (EQNR) currently has the ST Score of 59, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Energy stock's strong points are its profitability and Piotroski Score. The stock's performance, growth, 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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