Top Short-Squeeze Candidates Today: August 12, 2026 — 7-Factor Leaderboard
SPCX leads the August 12, 2026 squeeze leaderboard with a 65.6 composite score, driven by threshold status and high days-to-cover, while biotech names dominate the top ranks.
TL;DR: As of market close on August 12, 2026, SPCX leads Tapeboard's 7-factor squeeze leaderboard with a score of 65.6/100, driven by its threshold status and a 2.85 days-to-cover reading.
Tapeboard's daily squeeze scan ranked 25 stocks by composite score on August 12, 2026, combining seven factors: short interest as a percentage of float, annualized borrow fee, float utilization, the FINRA Consolidated NMS short-volume ratio, days to cover, five-day price momentum, and week-over-week borrow-fee change — each z-scored against a live ~500-stock universe. The dominant pattern is a heavy concentration of biotechnology names in the top ten, with several carrying elevated borrow fees or extended days-to-cover readings.
Today's August 12, 2026 Squeeze Score Leaderboard
| Rank | Symbol | Squeeze Score | SI % Float | Borrow Fee | Days to Cover | Mom 5d | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPCX | 65.6 | — | — | 2.9 | +6.4% | T |
| 2 | NXTC | 61.0 | 58.6% | 94.9% | 1.0 | +55.6% | T |
| 3 | SVRA | 47.5 | 26.2% | 0.4% | 20.8 | +3.4% | T |
| 4 | CHWY | 43.7 | 12.0% | 0.4% | 3.4 | -7.0% | T |
| 5 | OCGN | 43.3 | 31.7% | 3.8% | 18.9 | +9.4% | T |
| 6 | CABA | 42.4 | 27.7% | — | 10.1 | +5.2% | T |
| 7 | CRMD | 42.3 | 21.0% | 0.6% | 17.0 | -4.2% | T |
| 8 | ABOS | 42.1 | 6.7% | — | 8.8 | — | T |
| 9 | WB | 40.8 | 20.7% | 1.1% | 20.8 | -2.4% | T |
| 10 | RUM | 40.7 | 23.4% | 5.6% | 11.1 | +22.0% | T |
| 11 | NTLA | 40.1 | 34.2% | 0.3% | 9.8 | +10.2% | T |
| 12 | PCRX | 39.9 | 20.7% | 0.4% | 15.8 | -4.7% | T |
| 13 | IBRX | 39.6 | 34.1% | 0.9% | 11.9 | +6.8% | T |
| 14 | FIGS | 39.6 | 21.8% | — | 6.7 | +32.1% | T |
| 15 | EH | 39.4 | 16.3% | — | 8.8 | +6.5% | T |
*Source: Tapeboard composite squeeze model, August 12, 2026. Seven factors z-scored vs a ~500-stock universe. Short interest per FINRA settlement schedule; borrow fees from IBKR stock-loan availability; short-volume from FINRA Consolidated NMS. Not investment advice.*
What Drove Today's Rankings
The top ten names are uniformly flagged on the FINRA threshold list, with NXTC standing out for a 94.9% borrow fee and 58.6% short interest, while SPCX leads despite missing both short-interest and fee data. The outlier is SVRA, which carries a minimal 0.4% borrow fee but scores third on the strength of a 20.8 days-to-cover reading and 26.2% short interest. The composite weights short interest and borrow fee most heavily, but days-to-cover and momentum can elevate names when fee data is absent.
Top 5 Names
1. SPCX — Squeeze Score 65.6/100
SPCX leads the leaderboard with a composite score of 65.6, driven primarily by its 2.85 days-to-cover and a 5-day momentum of +6.4%. The stock is flagged on the FINRA threshold list, indicating elevated short-volume pressure over the past week. With both short interest and borrow fee data unavailable, the score was reweighted across the remaining factors, allowing its threshold status and momentum to dominate.
2. NXTC — Squeeze Score 61.0/100
NXTC ranks second with a 61.0 score, anchored by a 58.6% short interest and a 94.9% annualized borrow fee, the highest in the top five. Its 5-day momentum of +55.6% is the strongest among all ranked names, contributing significantly to the composite. The stock also carries a FINRA threshold flag, confirming sustained short-side volume. The extreme fee and short interest alone would place it near the top of most squeeze models.
3. SVRA — Squeeze Score 47.5/100
SVRA's third-place score of 47.5 is carried by a 20.8 days-to-cover, the highest in the top five, and a 26.2% short interest. Its borrow fee of 0.4% is minimal, indicating that the squeeze potential here is driven by short-covering duration rather than hard-to-borrow dynamics. The stock is on the FINRA threshold list, and its 5-day momentum of +3.4% adds a modest tailwind. This name is a classic float-and-duration play rather than a fee-driven one.
4. CHWY — Squeeze Score 43.7/100
CHWY scores 43.7 with a 12.0% short interest and a 3.37 days-to-cover, both moderate relative to the top names. Its borrow fee of 0.4% is low, but the FINRA threshold flag and a 5-day momentum of -7.0% indicate active short-side pressure. The negative momentum suggests recent selling, which can sometimes precede covering activity. The composite rewards its threshold status and the combination of short interest and days-to-cover.
5. OCGN — Squeeze Score 43.3/100
OCGN rounds out the top five with a 43.3 score, supported by a 31.7% short interest and an 18.85 days-to-cover. Its borrow fee of 3.8% is elevated, and the stock is flagged on the FINRA threshold list. A 5-day momentum of +9.4% provides positive contribution, while the high days-to-cover signals potential for extended covering pressure. The stock's sector, biotechnology, aligns with today's dominant theme.
Factor Breakdown: How the Score Is Built
The Tapeboard composite squeeze score combines five weighted components, each z-scored against a live ~500-stock universe: 35% short interest as a percentage of float (FINRA), 25% annualized borrow fee (IBKR), 20% float utilization, 15% days to cover, and 5% five-day price momentum (Schwab). The z-score normalization ensures no single factor dominates unless it is statistically extreme relative to the broader market. See the methodology for the full derivation. Data is attributed exclusively to FINRA, IBKR, Schwab, the SEC, and the exchanges (NYSE/NASDAQ).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top short-squeeze candidates today?
The top three candidates by composite squeeze score are SPCX (65.6, threshold-only data), NXTC (61.0, 58.6% short interest, 94.9% borrow fee), and SVRA (47.5, 26.2% short interest, 0.4% borrow fee). SPCX lacks short-interest and fee data, so its score relies on days-to-cover and momentum. NXTC is the clear fee-and-interest outlier, while SVRA is a duration play.
How does Tapeboard calculate its squeeze score?
Tapeboard calculates the squeeze score by taking z-scores of seven factors—short interest, borrow fee, float utilization, FINRA threshold ratio, days to cover, 5-day momentum, and fee change—and weighting them as follows: 35% short interest, 25% borrow fee, 20% float utilization, 15% days to cover, and 5% momentum. Each z-score is computed against a live ~500-stock universe to ensure cross-sectional comparability. The result is a 0-100 composite, with higher values indicating greater squeeze potential.
When does short-interest data update?
Short-interest data lags approximately two weeks per the FINRA settlement schedule, so the figures shown reflect positions as of the prior settlement date. Borrow fees update on a next-day basis from IBKR stock-loan availability, providing more current hard-to-borrow signals. The FINRA threshold list updates daily, capturing recent short-volume dynamics.
Data and Methodology
- Squeeze Score: Tapeboard composite, recomputed nightly from the seven-factor z-score model.
- Short Interest: FINRA, ~2-week settlement lag.
- Borrow Fee: IBKR stock-loan availability, daily.
- Short-Volume Threshold: FINRA Consolidated NMS, daily.
- Momentum: Schwab, end-of-day.
See today's highest borrow fees for the full hard-to-borrow ranking, or the live squeeze leaderboard for tomorrow's update.
This post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Short selling carries unlimited downside risk. A quantitative composite does not predict price, and past squeezes are not indicative of future moves. Editor: Marcus Reilly.