This article will look into the 10 best short-squeeze stocks that have gained analysts’ attention.
Stock market trading has an ever-changing environment. Short squeeze is among the few phenomena capable of capturing and holding the attention of such markets. The phenomenon involves a heavily shorted stock suddenly experiencing a rapid price increase, urging short sellers to buy shares to cover their positions, thereby accelerating the upward momentum. Astute investors make significant gains out of the scenario upon identifying these opportunities in their early stages. After Donald Trump’s ascension to the U.S. Presidency, recent market activities have demonstrated the significance of short squeezes.
READ ALSO: 10 Best Short-Term Stocks To Buy Right Now
Tariff rates were the first aspect to take a hit and directly impact the stock market after President Trump’s arrival in the White House. The U.S. announced a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, effective March 4, 2025. The announcement came alongside increased tariffs on Chinese goods from 10% to 20%. These new tariff rates sent ripples through the financial markets, affecting the stocks in the U.S. and beyond, as countries like Canada started countering the move by threatening to increase tariffs on U.S. products as well.
By March 6, 2025, the U.S. President signed orders and brought many goods to the list of exemptions from his new tariffs on Canada and Mexico. For instance, CNN reported a temporary halt on the new 25% tariff rates on imports for carmakers from Canada and Mexico. However, the decision did not alleviate the substantial adverse effect the U.S. stock market felt. CNBC noted that individual investors pulled $1.2 billion from the U.S. equity market, the highest ever in the decade.
However, tariffs do not only affect the volatility of the U.S. market. Various incidents contribute to the shifts in the broader market, setting the stage for potential short squeezes. For instance, the advent of new AI models from China initially caused a wave in the technological industry, leading many of the giant tech companies to witness a never-before-seen decline in their return. These foreign AI models were comparatively more flexible yet cheaper than their U.S. counterparts, thus resulting in many investors pulling their investment from tech companies.
The hedge funds have been reducing their holdings in Chinese equities for the fourth consecutive week; however, the enthusiasm for Chinese tech stocks, initially sparked by the new AI startups, began to wane. The trend reflects a cautious approach, possibly opening avenues for short-squeeze opportunities in other sectors.
Furthermore, Asia-focused hedge funds have performed better than their U.S. counterparts during recent market sell-offs. Owing to the recent market volatility in the U.S., global investors sought refuge in the Chinese stocks, eventually contributing to this outperformance. These events increase the potential for short-squeeze scenarios in different markets, including the U.S.
These developments have led to an upward trend in the attention of analysts on stocks with high short interest and substantial upside potential. Hence, investors will find it beneficial to their investment portfolio to delve into the top 10 short-squeeze stocks to consider, as recommended by leading analysts.
So, stick with us as we countdown the 10 best short squeeze stocks to buy, from 10 to 1. You will find the top 5 on the list, which is the most interesting.
Image by Sergei Tokmakov Terms.Law from Pixabay
Our Methodology
We compiled our list using a few key financial metrics. Primarily, we took stocks with Short Float of over 15%. This is a critical factor for potential short squeezes, representing significant short interest. We also filtered our list based on Relative volume. Our list comprises stocks with a Relative Volume of over 1.5, indicating higher-than-usual trading activity.
Additionally, we included only those with Positive EPS to signify profitability. We refined our selection further by considering only the stocks with a Buy or better recommendation from analysts, as this ensured they had favorable market sentiment. Lastly, we included only stocks with an average trading volume of at least 100K, providing sufficient liquidity. The final list was ranked based on the analysts’ upside potential, which was used to deliver the highest expected price appreciation in our article. We also found it helpful to mention the number of hedge funds from Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 database, following each stock in our list, to allow the investors to understand their level of institutional interest.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
10. Groupon, Inc. (NASDAQ:GRPN)
Short % of Float: 29.34%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17
Analysts Upside Potential: 14.48%
The Chicago-based company, Groupon, Inc. (NASDAQ:GRPN) is an online marketplace connecting consumers with local businesses through discounted deals on services, travel, and experiences. Unlike traditional e-commerce platforms, Groupon focuses on hyper-local engagement. Specifically, through the promotion, the company helps small businesses become more visible in the market. In addition to merchant visibility, the company creates value by driving foot traffic. Europe and Australia are some places where the company’s business reaches beyond the U.S.
With 29.34% of its float sold short, Groupon, Inc. (NASDAQ:GRPN) is positioned as one of the best short-squeeze candidates. The positive 8% billings growth in North America Local during Q4 suggests a significant turnaround from a previous decline. Additionally, the technical migration of the company, including the fraud detection platform, North American cloud infrastructure, new website, and ERP system, indicates a high potential for growth in future value.
As per the Insider Monkey database of Q4 2024, 17 funds currently hold positions in Groupon, Inc. (NASDAQ:GRPN), increasing the institutional interest in the stock. Analysts have issued a consensus Buy rating and a $17 price target, indicating a 14.48% upside from its current valuation of $14.85. The upside is more moderate compared to other short-squeeze stocks. Nonetheless, a strong investor interest alongside significant short exposure raises the potential for price volatility.
9. TG Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:TGTX)
Short % of Float: 18.24%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 36
Analysts Upside Potential: 17.53%
TG Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:TGTX), headquartered in New York City, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases. The company’s flagship product, Briumvi, targets chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple sclerosis. It maintains its competitiveness in the market by focusing on novel combination therapies that aim at improving efficacy in hematologic and autoimmune conditions.
Holding a short interest of 18.24%, TG Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:TGTX) has attracted substantial market attention. The fourth quarter results announced by the company showed that it performed well, with revenue that exceeded its target guidance. Additionally, BRIUMVI’s five-year follow-up data indicated neutralized disability progression in 92% of patients, with a low annualized relapse rate. The current positive outlook for the company is also contributed by its patent portfolio expansion, whereby TG Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:TGTX) gained protection for BRIUMVI through 2042.
Institutional investors, with 36 hedge funds on board, maintain confidence in the company’s long-term prospects, as per Insider Monkey’s database of Q4 2024. Analysts remain bullish as they gave a consensus Buy rating and forecasted a 17.53% upside, with a one-year median price target of $48 against its current trading price of $40.84. TG Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:TGTX) remains a notable contender for investors monitoring short-squeeze potential, though it has a low upside compared to other entries in the list.