Markets were up big on the opening bell today with a massive jobs report beat for June from the Labor Department. Nonfarm payrolls soared by 4.8 million jobs, a record increase, and far better than the 2.9 million increase that was expected. The unemployment rate also fell to 11.1% versus the expected 12.4%. This was a massive increase on the 2.7 million jobs gained in May and is showing the economic rebound that many economists had predicted. However, markets soon gave back some of those gains as a surge in coronavirus cases was reported across the country, with the country adding 50,600 cases in a single day with Florida having a 10,000 spike alone. If you’re looking for a place to hedge your exposure, or bet against the market, our deep learning algorithms paired with Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) technology has you covered with the Top Shorts today.
Alpine Immune Sciences Inc (ALPN)
First on the list is Alpine Immune Sciences Inc, which is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing and discovering protein-based immunotherapies targeting a range of diseases. Our AI systems have identified factor scores of A in Technical, F in Momentum Volatility, and F in Quality Value for the stock that is up 162.47% for the year. The recent gap higher is giving short sellers an opportunity to bet against the stock here. The financials are mixed, with revenue growing by 62.7% in the last fiscal year to $1.74M, which is a growth of 63.54% over the last three fiscal years from the $1.73M level. Operating Income grew by 16.3% in the last fiscal year but was negative $(43.57)M, much worse than the $(13.47)M from three years ago. EPS grew by 17.54% in the last fiscal year but was negative $(2.28), compared to $(1.2) three years ago. ROE was (113%) in the last year compared to (17.5%) three years ago. Forward 12M Revenue is expected to grow by 66.48% and the stock trades with a forward 12M P/E of 17.29.
Concert Pharmaceuticals Inc (CNCE)
Concert Pharmaceuticals Inc is the next Top Short today, with factor scores identified by our deep learning algorithms of C in Technical, C in Momentum Volatility, and D in Quality Value. The stock is up just slightly on the year, at 4.35%. The company aims to discover and develop small-molecule drugs by incorporating new elements into molecules or by leveraging currently approved drugs for new treatments. Revenue grew by 27.42% over the last three fiscal years to $1.08M from $0.06M three years ago. Operating Income grew by 2.21% in the last fiscal year but was negative $(79.02)M, compared to $(51.18)M three years ago. EPS grew by 6.99% in the last fiscal year but came in at negative $(3.29) compared to $4.06 three years ago. ROE was (58.1%) in the last year, much worse than the 67.8% three years ago.
Everspin Technologies Inc (MRAM)
Another Top Short today is Everspin Technologies Inc MRAM, a semiconductor company involved in providing Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) products. Factor scores of rated F in Technical, D in Momentum Volatility, and C in Quality Value have been identified by our AI technology for the stock that is up 25.73% for the year. Revenue grew by 0.22% in the last fiscal year to $37.5M, a growth of 4.59% over the last three fiscal years from $35.94M. Operating Income was negative, however, at $(13.63)M in the last fiscal, a growth of 19%. In the last three fiscal years, Operating Income grew by 45.37% from the negative $(20.21)M level. EPS was also negative at $(0.85) in the last fiscal year, a growth of 18.82%, from $(1.69) three years ago. That was a growth of 59.17% over the last three fiscal years. ROE was (67.6%) in the last year compared to (111.8%) three years ago. Forward 12M Revenue is expected to grow by 7.18% and the stock trades with an expensive forward 12M P/E of 31.32.
Shiftpixy Inc (PIXY)
Shiftpixy Inc makes the Top Short list today after receiving factor scores of D in Technical, D in Momentum Volatility, and C in Quality Value from our AI technology. The company is primarily a staffing enterprise, specialized in human capital management with an initial focus on the restaurant industry in Southern California. The small-cap company has had a tough year, already down 33.69%, and the longer-term downtrend does not appear to be changing anytime soon. Revenue grew by 940.74% in the last fiscal year to $5.4M from a level of $20.2M three years ago. Operating Income grew by 29.94% in the last fiscal year but was negative $(15.7)M, from $(7.5)M three years ago. EPS was negative $(22.9) in the last fiscal year, growing by 70.52%, compared to $(11.19) three years ago. ROE was (261.1%) three years ago.
SG Blocks Inc (SGBX)
Our final Top Short today is SG Blocks Inc, a US-based design and construction services company using code-engineered cargo shipping containers for safe and sustainable construction. It is engaged in the redesign, re-purpose and converting of heavy-gauge steel cargo shipping containers into SG Blocks - safe green building blocks for commercial, industrial, and residential building construction. Factor scores have been identified as C in Technical, F in Momentum Volatility, and C in Quality Value for the stock that has lost 32.75% for the year already. The financials are a bit messy, as while EPS grew by 41.92% in the last fiscal year and grew by 66.03% over the last three fiscal years, it came in at negative $(22.85) in the last fiscal and negative $(39.07) three years ago. Revenue was $2.99M in the last fiscal year compared to $5.06M three years ago. Operating Income was negative $(3.77)M in the last fiscal year, worse than the $(3.26)M from three years ago. ROE was (121%) in the last year, much worse than the reading of (53.2%) three years ago.