We recently compiled a list of the 10 Pump and Dump Stocks Favored by Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where NET Power Inc. (NYSE:NPWR) stands against the pump and dump stocks.
Pump and dump stocks are typically characterized by high 52-week volatility, often experiencing rapid price surges followed by sharp declines. While the term “pump and dump” carries a negative connotation, it doesn’t necessarily mean the company is of low quality or incapable of delivering long-term returns – it simply refers to the extreme price fluctuations it exhibits. Traders can profit from these stocks by capitalizing on momentum, buying during the early stages of a price surge, and selling before the inevitable decline. However, timing is crucial, as these stocks can reverse quickly. Risk management, liquidity analysis, and understanding market sentiment are key to navigating these trades successfully. Also, readers should remember that positions in such stocks could exhibit pronounced volatility overnight, and day trading is often the preferrable form of dealing with them.
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Hedge funds gain their information edge through a combination of proprietary research, advanced data analytics, high-frequency trading algorithms, and access to exclusive market insights which are often not accessible to regular investors. Unlike traditional investors, many hedge funds are not focused on long-term value but instead engage in short-term speculation and trading. They may exploit pump and dump stocks by identifying momentum in its early stages, riding the price surge, and exiting just before the downturn (often a moment when the stock gains widespread attention). Some hedge funds even take the opposite approach, shorting these stocks as they peak, profiting from the subsequent decline. Their ability to leverage real-time data, options strategies, and market microstructure analysis gives them a significant advantage over retail traders in volatile market conditions. The key takeaway for readers is that finding “pump and dump” stocks with significant hedge fund ownership could offer unique confirmation for potential short-term trading opportunities, as institutional involvement may indicate informed positioning ahead of major price movements.
Pump and dump stocks become increasingly more attractive during times of pronounced market volatility and uncertainty. Though slightly below the early March peak, the volatility index is still significantly above its moving average and reflects February’s weaker-than-expected batch of economic indicators and investor’s concerns about the likely near-term negative impact of Trump 2.0 policies. Many market participants certainly do not like the tariff turmoil and the shotgun approach in reducing the federal workforce and spending. Several reputable research boutiques, such as Yardeni Research, substantially increased their odds of the US economy entering a recession in 2025. Since the US economy and stock markets work in unison, the year-end targets for the US broad market index were lowered as well. Here’s a snippet for a recent publication from Yardeni Research:
“Vertigo is a sensation of spinning or whirling such that the person or their surroundings appear to be moving. The stock market didn’t do much today, but everything else seemed to be spinning. The epicenter of all this vertigo continues to be the White House. More and more economists are increasing their odds of a recession. We raised ours to 35% a week ago. JP Morgan’s economists raised their odds to 40% today.”
With current market valuations still elevated vs. the previous decade, the risk of a broad market meltdown persists, favoring short-term traders and speculators. Another advantage of engaging in pump-and-dump strategies is the potential to generate profits even in bear markets through short selling and the use of options strategies. However, the downside is that high volatility can work both for and against the trader. Therefore, we advise exercising increased caution when engaging in such strategies.
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Our Methodology
We used Finviz to filter companies that have high 52-week volatility. Then we compared the list with our proprietary database of hedge funds’ holdings, as of Q4 2024 and included in the article the top 10 stocks with the highest hedge fund ownership. It’s important to clarify that calling these companies “pump and dump stocks” does not mean these firms don’t have any solid fundamentals or long-term growth catalysts. We call them pump and dump purely due to their volatility and high risk.
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).
NET Power Inc. (NYSE:NPWR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25
NET Power Inc. (NYSE:NPWR) is an energy technology company developing a proprietary natural gas power generation system with near-zero emissions. Its technology utilizes an oxy-combustion process in a supercritical CO₂ cycle to produce low-cost, dispatchable power while capturing nearly all carbon emissions without additional carbon capture equipment. The company targets utilities, industrial power users, and energy developers, aiming to commercialize its system as a cleaner alternative to conventional fossil fuel power generation. NPWR generates value through technology licensing, project partnerships, and potential power sales, positioning itself in the transition to low-emission energy solutions.
NET Power Inc. (NYSE:NPWR) completed the front-end engineering and design (FEED) for Project Permian (SN1), marking a significant milestone for the world’s first utility-scale, fully integrated clean gas power plant of its kind. However, the company faced challenges due to inflationary pressures and market conditions, resulting in a revised total installed cost estimate of $1.7 billion to $2 billion for SN1, up from the initial estimate of $950 million. In response, NPWR has shifted focus to a post-FEED optimization and value engineering exercise to reduce costs while maintaining performance. The company is also exploring opportunities for modular multi-unit deployments along the Gulf Coast, which could demonstrate further cost reductions.
NET Power Inc. (NYSE:NPWR) continues to advance its technology validation program at the La Porte demonstration facility, having achieved over 140 fired hours of operation during Phase 1 testing. The company maintains a strong liquidity position with $533 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments at the end of 2024. Looking ahead, management aims to position the company as the lowest-cost source of clean firm power in the coming decade, focusing on improving technology, optimizing plant designs, and attracting strategic partners to unlock the technology’s potential. The company is also exploring new opportunities, including an industrial-scale NET Power solution developed in collaboration with Baker Hughes and Woodside Energy. With high stock price volatility in the last 52 weeks and 25 hedge funds owning the stock, NPWR is one of the pump and dump stocks favored by hedge funds.
Overall NPWR ranks 2nd on our list of the 10 pump and dump stocks favored by hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of NPWR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NPWR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
