Why Is Everyone Suddenly Buying These $1–$10 Stocks?

Stocks climbed on Friday, positioning the major indexes for a strong weekly finish. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 145 points (0.3%), while the S&P 500 gained 0.6% thanks to strong earnings from Gilead Sciences, Monster Beverage, and Live Nation. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 0.7%, putting it on track to close at another record high.

For the week, the Dow is up 1.2%, the S&P 500 has advanced 2.2%, and the Nasdaq is leading with a 3.6% gain. Meanwhile, gold prices surged to record highs, fueled by both hopes of a Fed rate cut and a report on a potential import levy on gold bullion. This boosted gold mining stocks, with the Vaneck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) climbing 1% to a 52-week high.

Despite Thursday’s mixed close—where the Dow and S&P 500 dipped while the Nasdaq hit a record—investor sentiment remains influenced by U.S. trade policies. President Trump’s new “reciprocal” tariffs took effect at midnight Thursday, with significant duties on goods from countries like Syria and Myanmar. Markets initially rose after Trump clarified that his 100% chip tariff would exempt companies manufacturing domestically, keeping investor attention firmly on evolving trade developments.

Top Movers: Under $10 

MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc ADR (MRM) is up 47.92% today to trade at the current level of $1.77. This comes after the company has collaborated with Hakuhodo Inc. to participate in “World,” a “proof of human” protocol built for the AI era, co-founded and chaired by Sam Altman.

VivoPower International PLC (VVPR) zoomed 36.32% in today’s trade to $5.26 after announcing that it is acquiring Ripple Labs shares, as part of a strategic enhancement to its XRP-focused digital asset treasury strategy.

In current trading, AMC Networks Inc (AMCX) stock is at $6.84 after reporting second quarter 2025 results.

Spruce Power Holding Corporation (SPRU) rose 17.09% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $1.37. The company announced a multi-year agreement to sell Spruce’s Solar Renewable Energy Credits in the state of New Jersey to an investment-grade energy sector counterparty that is ranked among the Fortune Global 50.

In the current trading session, Ondas Holdings Inc (ONDS) jumped 10.00% to $3.58 over a previous close of $3.25 after announcing a strategic investment in Rift Dynamics AS, a Norway-based defense technology company specializing in affordable, mass-producible combat drone systems.

Ex-Dividend Stocks

Apple Inc (AAPL) 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 $0.26 per share. It has fixed August 11 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on August 14. Last year, the company distributed a total of $1.01 to its shareholders. Based on last year's worth of payments, AAPL has a trailing yield of 0.45% on the current stock price of $223.44.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends on Monday is Arrow Financial Corp (AROW), having a market capitalization of $451.32M. It will pay a dividend of $0.29 per share, the payment date of which is August 25. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 4.10%.

Shares of Astec Industries Inc (ASTE) 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 $0.13 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $0.52 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that ASTE has a trailing yield of 1.20% on the current share price of $43.24.

Exelon Corp (EXC) is also set to go ex-dividend on Monday. The next dividend payment from EXC will amount to $0.4 per share. August 11 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for September 15. In the previous year, EXC distributed a total of $1.56 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for EXC stands at 3.43% based on the current stock price of $45.46.

Clarus Corp (CLAR) will be paying out a dividend of $0.03 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of August 11. Over the past 12 months, CLAR has paid out a total of $0.10 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, CLAR boasts an impressive trailing yield of 3.01% on the current share price of $3.32.

Crypto Market Highlights

• U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing Americans to include crypto and other alternative assets in 401(k) retirement accounts and defined-contribution plans.

• The DeFi protocol CrediX Finance appears to have vanished following a $4.5 million exploit, sparking fears of an exit scam.

• Chinese authorities have instructed local companies to cease publishing research or hosting seminars related to stablecoins, according to Bloomberg.

• Binance has partnered with Spain’s BBVA bank to act as an independent custodian for customer funds, according to sources cited by the Financial Times.

• Standard Chartered's Hong Kong unit has teamed up with Web3 firm Animoca Brands to create a Hong Kong-dollar stablecoin.

Most Shorted Stocks

Avis Budget Group Inc (CAR) was one of the most shorted stocks as of the latest short interest figures, with 22.28% 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 5.6. This represents a change of 720000 shares, which corresponds to a +10.50% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $1.18 billion. The average daily volume stands at 1.37M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $5.49B.

The Capricor Therapeutics Inc with the symbol CAPR currently has a short interest of 21.45%. The short interest has changed by -1370000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 3.3. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $90.75 million. On an average day, 2.90M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $423.25M.

For the stock B. Riley Financial Inc (RILY), the current short interest is at 40.95%. This represents a significant short interest change of -850000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage decrease of -11.58%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 5.8. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $31.87 million.

With the symbol NOG, the stock currently has a short interest of 21.67%. The short interest change is 1660000 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of +8.69%. It would take approximately 11.4 days to cover all the short positions. The shares' short value is estimated to be around $160.69 million. The company boasts an average daily volume of 1.88M shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $2.42B.

The stock AAOI has a current short interest of 21.28%. The short interest percentage has experienced a decrease of -4.98% while there was a change of -620000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 2.6. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $434.92 million. Trading activity averages at 4.89M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $1.18B.

Energy Stocks to Watch

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

Our ST Score also classifies International Seaways Inc (INSW) as a high-quality Energy stock today, presenting a Score of 59. 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, Torm Plc (TRMD) has the ST Score of 59, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in profitability, performance, financial strength, and Piotroski Score. Growth, stock sentiment, and the forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

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

Cheniere Energy Inc (LNG) currently has the ST Score of 57, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Energy stock's strong points are its profitability, performance, and Piotroski Score. The stock's 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

P.S. Want my daily watchlists sent to your cell phone too? Join our WhatsApp Exclusive Community for real-time alerts on hot stocks. Stay ahead with instant updates and exclusive insights!