🚀 Penny Stocks Are Surging Despite Market Drop — Here’s Why

US stocks moved lower on Thursday as conflicting signals from the US and Iran increased uncertainty over efforts to ease Middle East tensions. The S&P 500 fell 0.7%, the Nasdaq dropped 1.1%, and the Dow Jones slipped 0.3%, partially reversing the previous session’s gains.

Investor sentiment remained fragile amid continued military exchanges and a lack of progress on a ceasefire, although losses narrowed after reports that Iran had responded to a US truce proposal.

Meanwhile, oil prices stayed elevated, intensifying concerns about inflation and the risk of a US recession, even as jobless claims data came in broadly in line with expectations.

Top Movers: Under $10 

Lunai Bioworks Inc (LNAI) is up 41.44% today to trade at the current level of $0.57. This comes after the company announced a $20 million deal to acquire BBB delivery technology and Alzheimer’s CNS drug assets from Clemann Group.

Firefly Neuroscience Inc (AIFF) zoomed 31.55% in today’s trade to $2.21 after announcing a partnership with the Department of War to support treatment of service members and veterans with PTSD and TBI.

In current trading, Olaplex Holdings Inc (OLPX) stock is at $2.01 after announcing that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA.

OceanPal Inc (SVRN) rose 21.76% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $0.25 after reporting financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025.

In the current trading session, RenovoRx Inc (RNXT) jumped 15.05% to $1.27 over a previous close of $1.1 after announcing key phase III milestone: TIGeR-PaC trial surpasses 100 randomized patients as study nears completion of enrollment.

Ex-Dividend Stocks

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc (KDP) 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 $0.23 per share. It has fixed March 27 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on April 10. Last year, the company distributed a total of $0.92 to its shareholders. Based on last year's payments, KDP has a trailing yield of 3.49% at the current stock price of $26.37.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends tomorrow is National Research Corp (NRC), having a market capitalization of $390.78M. It will pay a dividend of $0.16 per share, the payment date of which is April 10. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 3.03%.

Shares of Prospect Capital Corp (PSEC) will be the talk of the stock market on Friday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.04 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $0.54 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that PSEC has a trailing yield of 20.77% on the current share price of $2.6.

Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp (SHIP) is also set to go ex-dividend tomorrow. The next dividend payment from SHIP will amount to $0.2 per share. March 27 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for April 10. In the previous year, SHIP distributed a total of $0.33 to its valued shareholders. Considering last year's cumulative dividend payments, the trailing yield for SHIP is 2.59% based on the current stock price of $12.75.

Interface Inc (TILE) will be paying out a dividend of $0.03 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of business hours on the record date of March 27. Over the past 12 months, TILE has paid out a total of $0.06 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, TILE boasts an impressive trailing yield of 0.23% on the current share price of $25.64.

Crypto Market Highlights

• The UK government is moving toward a potential ban on political donations made via cryptocurrencies after an independent review and mounting political pressure.

• Coinbase is reportedly opposing a proposed Senate compromise that would address stablecoin yield rules in upcoming crypto market legislation.

• The Reserve Bank of Australia has expressed support for real-world asset tokenization, estimating it could add about $16.7 billion annually to the economy.

• Circle, issuer of the USDC stablecoin, allegedly froze 16 wallets by mistake in connection with an ongoing U.S. civil case, according to investigator ZachXBT.

• Crypto industry leaders told a U.S. House committee that existing investor protection and financial monitoring laws should also apply to tokenized securities.

Most Shorted Stocks

Medifast Inc (MED) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 19.09% 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 7.5. This represents a change of 15028 shares, which corresponds to a 0.74% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $19.53 million. The average daily volume stands at 262.04K shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $105.41M.

The Monro Inc with the symbol MNRO currently has a short interest of 18.94%. The short interest has changed by 656738 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 7.4. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $90.91 million. On an average day, 779.02K shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $490.82M.

For the stock Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP), the current short interest is at 22.19%. This represents a significant short interest change of 109,669 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of 5.98%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 3.1. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $30.92 million.

With the symbol ORIC, the stock currently has a short interest of 21.79%. The short interest change is -1,140,799 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of 5.23%. It would take approximately 12.0 days to cover all the short positions. The shares' short value is estimated to be around $245.78 million. The company boasts an average daily volume of 1.64M shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $1.17B.

The stock MBC has a current short interest of 18.63%. The short interest percentage has experienced an increase of 14.12%, while there was a change of 2879742 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 7.9. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $179.48 million. Trading activity averages at 2.23M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $1.11B.

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Biotech Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc (LGND) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Biotech industry, attaining an impressive score of 58. The stock's profitability, performance, financial strength, and Piotroski Score are strong. However, its growth is weak. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of stock sentiment and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies GH Research PLC (GHRS) as a high-quality Biotech stock today, presenting a Score of 58. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of performance and financial strength. However, it has weak growth and a Piotroski Score. The profitability, stock sentiment, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Palisade Bio Inc (PALI) has the ST Score of 60, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in performance and financial strength, but weak in the Piotroski Score. Profitability, growth, stock sentiment, and forecasts suggest a neutral outlook.

Minerva Neurosciences Inc (NERV) stock has the ST Score of 58, which implies that the Biotech company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its performance and financial strength, but its weaknesses are in its stock sentiment, Piotroski Score, and forecast. However, it shows a neutral outlook in profitability and growth.

Compugen Ltd (CGEN) currently has the ST Score of 58, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Biotech stock's strong points are its profitability, performance, and Piotroski Score, while its weak points are its growth. The stock's 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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