Dear Readers,

Stocks showed minimal movement on Friday as traders analyzed the initial set of fourth-quarter earnings and absorbed the second of two closely monitored inflation reports this week.

On a positive note, wholesale prices unexpectedly dipped by 0.1% in December, countering the slightly higher-than-expected consumer prices reported on Thursday, which showed a 0.3% increase for the month and a 3.4% rise from a year ago.

Weekly performance indicates modest gains, with the Dow up approximately 0.7%, the S&P 500 poised for a 2.2% increase, and the Nasdaq leading with over a 3.5% gain as of Thursday's close.

As of 11:50 AM ET, the Dow was down -208.1406 points, or -0.5519%, at $37502.88. The Nasdaq Composite lost -16.0156 points, or -0.0952%, at $16804.885. The S&P 500 declined -6.54 points, or -0.1368%, at $4773.7. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 10 showed negative movement, with Consumer Cyclical leading the way with a 0.81% decrease.

Top Movers: Under $10

Volcon Inc (VLCN) is up 26.01% today to trade at the current level of $0.12. This comes after Empery Asset Management, LP took a stake in Volcon.

Applied UV Inc (AUVI) zoomed 28.50% in today’s trade to $2.93 after announcing the launch of its groundbreaking Fighter Flex LED solution at the upcoming AHR Expo on January 22nd.

In current trading, Inpixon (INPX) stock is at $0.05 following the declaration from the company that it is working with XTI Aircraft Company to expeditiously satisfy applicable closing conditions to the previously announced business combination transaction.

Wipro Ltd. ADR (WIT) rose 17.50% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $6.31 after revealing financial results for the quarter-ended December 31, 2023.

In the current trading session, SMX (Security Matters) Plc (SMX) jumped 5.40% to $0.38 over a previous close of $0.36. The company announced a $5 million contract with R&I Trading of New York.

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (DGX) is about to trade ex-dividend Tuesday, meaning that investors who buy the stock after Tuesday will not be eligible for the next dividend payment. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.71 per share. It has fixed January 17 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on January 31. Last year, the company distributed a total of $2.78 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, DGX has a trailing yield of 2.06% on the current stock price of $134.57.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends on Tuesday is EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG), having a market capitalization of $67.52B. It will pay a dividend of $1.5 per share, the payment date of which is December 29. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 4.37%.

Shares of Global Water Resources Inc (GWRS) will be the talk of stock market on Tuesday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.03 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $0.30 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that GWRS has a trailing yield of 2.40% on the current share price of $12.40.

Quaker Houghton (KWR) is also set to go ex-dividend on Tuesday. The next dividend payment from KWR will amount to $0.46 per share. January 17 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for January 31. In the previous year, KWR distributed a total of $1.20 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for KWR stands at 0.60% based on the current stock price of $199.94.

Watsco Inc. (WSO) will be paying out a dividend of $2.45 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of January 17. Over the past 12 months, WSO has paid out a total of $9.74 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, WSO boasts an impressive trailing yield of 2.39% on the current share price of $408.45.

Watsco Inc. (WSO) will be paying out a dividend of $2.45 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of January 17. Over the past 12 months, WSO has paid out a total of $9.74 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, WSO boasts an impressive trailing yield of 2.37% on the current share price of $411.15.

Crypto Market Highlights

Most Shorted Stocks

Smart for Life Inc (SMFL) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 7.83% 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 0.1. This represents a change of 5100 shares, which corresponds to a +17.65% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $54400.0. The average daily volume stands at 2.83M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $0.77M.

The Imperial Petroleum Inc with the symbol IMPP currently has a short interest of 59.36%. The short interest has changed by 780000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 4.8. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $11.35 million. On an average day, 718.89K shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $52.30M.

For the stock First Wave BioPharma Inc (FWBI), the current short interest is at 54.49%. This represents a significant short interest change of 355600 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of +2,914.75%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 0.6. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $1.56 million.

With the symbol FSR, the stock currently has a short interest of 26.86%. The short interest change is 4020000 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of 4.46%. It would take approximately 4.5 days to cover all the short positions. The shares short value is estimated to be around $97.93 million. The company boasts an average daily volume of 22.09M shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $362.83M.

Energy Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Teekay Corp (TK) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Energy industry, attaining an impressive score of 74.0. The stock's valuation, performance, financial strength, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score are strong. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of profitability, growth, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies Geospace Technologies Corp (GEOS) as a high-quality Energy stock today, presenting a Score of 70.0. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of profitability, performance, growth, financial strength, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score. The value, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, DHT Holdings Inc (DHT) has the ST Score of 71.0, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in profitability, performance, growth, financial strength, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score. Value, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited (TNP) stock has the ST Score of 66.0 which implies that the Energy company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its valuation, profitability, performance, growth, and financial strength. However, it shows neutral outlook in stock sentiment, Piotroski Score, and forecast.

Dorian LPG Ltd (LPG) currently has the ST Score of 67.0, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Energy stock's strong points are its valuation, profitability, performance, growth, financial strength, and stock sentiment. The stock's Piotroski Score, and forecast indicate a neutral outlook.