Dear Readers,

Stock market sentiments were mixed on Tuesday, with all eyes on the pivotal Federal Reserve policy meeting that could set the market's direction. The Fed's two-day meeting commenced this morning, presenting a critical moment for a market that has been rattled by recent inflation data, dampening hopes of near-term rate reductions.

As of 12:21 PM ET, the Dow was up 227.4219 points, or 0.5863%, at $39017.85. The Nasdaq Composite lost -40.9766 points, or -0.2278%, at $17944.031. The S&P 500 rose 9.08 points, or 0.18%, at $5158.51. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 10 showed positive movement, with Energy leading the way with a 0.87% increase. 

Market participants are not expecting a rate cut, but rather are keenly anticipating the release of the Fed's "dot plot," which could offer insights into the potential number and timing of rate adjustments within the year. The central bank’s announcement is scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.

In the crypto arena, bitcoin (BTC-USD) saw a retreat from its latest peak, dropping more than 5% to fall beneath the $63,000 mark. This downturn is positioning the cryptocurrency for its most significant one-day decline in a fortnight. Consequently, shares of cryptocurrency-centric firms like Coinbase (COIN) and Marathon Digital (MARA) also faced declines.

On the corporate side, consumer goods giant Unilever (UL) experienced a share price surge after announcing its plans to streamline operations, which includes job reductions and the separation of its ice cream division, the maker of Ben & Jerry's.

Top Movers: Under $10

Ontrak Inc (OTRK) is up 92.11% today to trade at the current level of $0.37 as investors prepare for the company’s presentation at the 36th Annual Roth Conference.

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp (LICY) zoomed 46.42% in today’s trade to $1.61 after providing a business update.

In current trading, National Cinemedia Inc (NCMI) stock is at $5.22 following the release of its results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023, ended December 28, 2023.

Hoth Therapeutics Inc (HOTH) rose 13.04% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $1.30. The company unveiled positive pre-clinical research showcasing the potential of HT-ALZ, an innovative Alzheimer's disease therapeutic.

In the current trading session, Cerus Corp. (CERS) jumped 12.92% to $2.10 over a previous close of $1.86 after releasing positive topline results for ReCePI, a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of pathogen reduced INTERCEPT Red Blood Cells (INTERCEPT RBCs) transfused to complex cardiac surgery patients.

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Broadcom Inc (AVGO) 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 $5.25 per share. It has fixed March 21 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on March 29. Last year, the company distributed a total of $19.05 to its shareholders. Based on last year's worth of payments, AVGO has a trailing yield of 1.56% on the current stock price of $1222.74.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends tomorrow is Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY), having a market capitalization of $16.78B. It will pay a dividend of $0.94 per share, the payment date of which is April 11. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 4.72%.

Shares of NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI) will be the talk of stock market on Wednesday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $1.01 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $3.04 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that NXPI has a trailing yield of 1.29% on the current share price of $235.96.

Philip Morris International Inc (PM) is also set to go ex-dividend tomorrow. The next dividend payment from PM will amount to $1.3 per share. March 21 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for April 09. In the previous year, PM distributed a total of $5.14 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for PM stands at 5.39% based on the current stock price of $95.28.

Restaurant Brands International Inc (QSR) will be paying out a dividend of $0.58 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of March 21. Over the past 12 months, QSR has paid out a total of $2.20 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, QSR boasts an impressive trailing yield of 2.72% on the current share price of $80.75.

Crypto Market Highlights

• Solana memecoin Slerfsol (SLERF) successfully launches despite the creator's accidental burning of over $10 million worth of Solana during the presale, thanks to community support.

• Genesis Global Capital to pay a $21 million civil penalty in settlement related to Gemini Earn lending program.

• MicroStrategy completes convertible notes offering to increase its Bitcoin holdings.

• 1inch Network integrates Lumia into its aggregated sources, aiming to enhance on-chain liquidity and offer better pricing for users.

• Bit Digital, a Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining firm, reports earnings of $44.9 million for 2023, marking a 39% increase from 2022.

Most Shorted Stocks

B. Riley Financial Inc (RILY) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 80.88% 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 8.9. This represents a change of 2040000 shares, which corresponds to a +18.01% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $227.16 million. The average daily volume stands at 1.45M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $519.55M.

The Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc with the symbol ATMU currently has a short interest of 69.66%. The short interest has changed by 3970000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 7.8. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $292.36 million. On an average day, 2.26M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $2.18B.

For the stock Arbor Realty Trust Inc. (ABR), the current short interest is at 36.87%. This represents a significant short interest change of 140000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of +0.20%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 13.4. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $886.95 million.

The stock UPST has a current short interest of 37.30%. The short interest percentage has experienced an increase of +4.70% while there was a change of 1240000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 2.8. Trading activity averages at 8.48M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $2.08B.

EV Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) emerges as a high-quality stock in the EV industry, attaining an impressive score of 54.0. The stock's profitability, and financial strength are strong. However, its growth are weak. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of value, performance, stock sentiment, Piotroski Score, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies FREYR Battery Inc. (FREY) as a high-quality EV stock today, presenting a Score of 46.0. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of valuation, and financial strength. However, it has weak growth, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score. The profitability, performance, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Niu Technologies ADR (NIU) has the ST Score of 51.0, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in valuation, and profitability but weak in stock sentiment. Performance, growth, financial strength, piotroski score, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

Li Auto Inc ADR (LI) stock has the ST Score of 66.0 which implies that the EV company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its profitability, growth, financial strength, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score, but its weaknesses are in its value. However, it shows neutral outlook in performance, and forecast.

Hyliion Holdings Corporation (HYLN) currently has the ST Score of 50.0, which signifies a huge upward potential. The EV stock's strong points are its growth, and financial strength, while its weak points are its profitability, and Piotroski Score. The stock's value, performance, stock sentiment, and forecast indicate a neutral outlook.

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