Last month's top 10 short squeeze candidates — how did they actually do?
On 2026-08-02, our composite squeeze score flagged the ten names below as the highest-readiness candidates on the board — high short interest, rising days-to-cover, and at least one bullish technical setup confirming the squeeze thesis.
Over the next 30 calendar days (through 2026-08-31), the basket roughly broke even on a hold basis. The average peak gain was +20.2%, against an average drawdown of -16.0% and an average buy-and-hold return of -1.8%. 7 of 10 names closed green; 1 lost more than 20%.
The screener surfaced genuine tradeable swings — PSKY alone touched +36.4% intra-window — but as is typical for short squeeze setups, the winners failed to outrun the losers when held to today. A majority of names did finish positive, which is unusual for this style of basket. Below is each candidate, in order of composite score, with the price action that followed.
The numbers, top-to-bottom
| # | Ticker | Company | Score | SI % | DTC | Peak | Drawdown | Held to today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HPK | HighPeak Energy, Inc. Common Stock | 97.9 | 58.1% | 13.7 | +29.9% | -9.1% | +16.5% |
| 2 | DOMH | Dominari Holdings Inc. Common Stock | 95.4 | 49.1% | 12.3 | +29.1% | -11.2% | -9.3% |
| 3 | CRK | Comstock Resources, Inc. | 94.9 | 30.6% | 9.1 | +12.9% | -4.1% | +7.6% |
| 4 | PGEN | Precigen, Inc. Common Stock | 93.2 | 23.5% | 9.6 | +16.7% | -8.0% | +4.8% |
| 5 | SMMT | Summit Therapeutics Inc. Common Stock | 92.1 | 27.7% | 11.0 | +20.7% | -7.5% | +4.4% |
| 6 | IBRX | ImmunityBio, Inc. Common Stock | 91.6 | 36.5% | 11.9 | +22.5% | -6.3% | +11.2% |
| 7 | SION | Sionna Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock | 91.3 | 63.5% | 11.5 | +11.6% | -91.9% | -87.8% |
| 8 | ALX | Alexander's Inc. | 90.0 | 31.8% | 12.0 | +7.1% | -0.7% | +3.8% |
| 9 | PLCE | Children's Place, Inc. | 89.9 | 45.3% | 12.5 | +15.4% | -19.4% | -1.6% |
| 10 | PSKY | Paramount Skydance Corporation Class B Common Stock | 89.9 | 25.3% | 10.0 | +36.4% | -1.6% | +32.7% |
Ticker by ticker
#1. HPK — HighPeak Energy, Inc. Common Stock · $903M · score 97.9
HPK (HighPeak Energy, Inc. Common Stock) ($903M) Oil & Gas sector — entered the window at $7.03. A critical-risk reading on the squeeze board: a composite of 97.9 backed by 58.1% of float and 13.7 days-to-cover. The squeeze did show up — price ran to $9.13 by the 6th session, a +29.9% move from entry. Pullbacks were shallow; the low at $6.39 on the 2nd session was just -9.1% from the entry. Held to today, the trade prints +16.5% — a clear win for the composite score.
#2. DOMH — Dominari Holdings Inc. Common Stock · $57M · score 95.4
DOMH (Dominari Holdings Inc. Common Stock) ($57M) Asset Management & Capital Markets sector — entered the window at $2.58. A critical-risk reading on the squeeze board: a composite of 95.4 backed by 49.1% of float and 12.3 days-to-cover. The squeeze did show up — price ran to $3.33 by the 7th session, a +29.1% move from entry. Pullbacks were shallow; the low at $2.29 on the 20th session was just -11.2% from the entry. As of yesterday's close the trade sits at -9.3% — the setup looked good on paper but the market disagreed.
#3. CRK — Comstock Resources, Inc. · $3.9B · score 94.9
CRK (Comstock Resources, Inc.) ($3.9B) Oil & Gas sector — entered the window at $13.41. A critical-risk reading on the squeeze board: a composite of 94.9 backed by 30.6% of float and 9.1 days-to-cover. The squeeze did show up — price ran to $15.14 by the 17th session, a +12.9% move from entry. Pullbacks were shallow; the low at $12.86 on the 1st session was just -4.1% from the entry. Held to today, the trade is essentially scratch at +7.6%.
#4. PGEN — Precigen, Inc. Common Stock · $2.4B · score 93.2
PGEN (Precigen, Inc. Common Stock) ($2.4B) Healthcare - Genomics & Precision Medicine sector — entered the window at $6.61. A critical-risk reading on the squeeze board: a composite of 93.2 backed by 23.5% of float and 9.6 days-to-cover. The squeeze did show up — price ran to $7.71 by the 17th session, a +16.7% move from entry. Pullbacks were shallow; the low at $6.08 on the 9th session was just -8.0% from the entry. Held to today, the trade is essentially scratch at +4.8%.
#5. SMMT — Summit Therapeutics Inc. Common Stock · $10.4B · score 92.1
SMMT (Summit Therapeutics Inc. Common Stock) ($10.4B) Biotech - Drug Development sector — entered the window at $13.04. The score flagged it as critical-risk squeeze: a composite of 92.1 backed by 27.7% of float and 11.0 days-to-cover. The setup worked: the 7th session brought a high of $15.75, a +20.7% swing from the entry close. Bears never got much: $12.07 on the 10th session, -7.5% below entry, was as deep as it went. Net of everything, the trade is roughly flat at +4.4% — the squeeze briefly fired and then gave it all back.
#6. IBRX — ImmunityBio, Inc. Common Stock · $7.5B · score 91.6
IBRX (ImmunityBio, Inc. Common Stock) ($7.5B) Healthcare - Oncology sector — entered the window at $7.15. The score flagged it as critical-risk squeeze: a composite of 91.6 backed by 36.5% of float and 11.9 days-to-cover. The setup worked: the 18th session brought a high of $8.76, a +22.5% swing from the entry close. Bears never got much: $6.70 on the 1st session, -6.3% below entry, was as deep as it went. Net of all the noise, the trade is up +11.2% as of last night's close — the screener's pick worked.
#7. SION — Sionna Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock · $2.2B · score 91.3
SION (Sionna Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock) ($2.2B) Biotech - Drug Development sector — entered the window at $49.26. On the day, our composite tagged it critical: a composite of 91.3 backed by 63.5% of float and 11.5 days-to-cover. Squeeze risk on paper, no squeeze in the tape — high of $54.97 on the 4th session, just +11.6% above entry. Drawdown was steep — the 5th session saw price tag $4.01, a -91.9% retrace from the start. Held to today, the trade prints a brutal -87.8%. The squeeze never showed up; the sellers did.
#8. ALX — Alexander's Inc. · $1.3B · score 90.0
ALX (Alexander's Inc.) ($1.3B) Real Estate & REITs sector — entered the window at $261.77. On the day, our composite tagged it critical: a composite of 90.0 backed by 31.8% of float and 12.0 days-to-cover. Squeeze risk on paper, no squeeze in the tape — high of $280.27 on the 3rd session, just +7.1% above entry. Drawdown stayed manageable — only -0.7% to $259.98 on the 10th session. As of last night's close the position is +3.8% from entry, a wash after a volatile month.
#9. PLCE — Children's Place, Inc. · $56M · score 89.9
PLCE (Children's Place, Inc.) ($56M) Consumer Brands & Retail sector — entered the window at $2.53. A critical-risk reading on the squeeze board: a composite of 89.9 backed by 45.3% of float and 12.5 days-to-cover. The squeeze did show up — price ran to $2.92 by the 4th session, a +15.4% move from entry. The other side of the trade hurt: $2.04 on the 10th session (-19.4% from entry) was the worst of it. Held to today, the trade is essentially scratch at -1.6%.
#10. PSKY — Paramount Skydance Corporation Class B Common Stock · $9.2B · score 89.9
PSKY (Paramount Skydance Corporation Class B Common Stock) ($9.2B) Entertainment & Gaming sector — entered the window at $8.22. A critical-risk reading on the squeeze board: a composite of 89.9 backed by 25.3% of float and 10.0 days-to-cover. The squeeze did show up — price ran to $11.21 by the 20th session, a +36.4% move from entry. Pullbacks were shallow; the low at $8.09 on the 2nd session was just -1.6% from the entry. Held to today, the trade prints +32.7% — a clear win for the composite score.