Top Short-Squeeze Candidates Today: October 21, 2026
FCEL leads Tapeboard's October 21, 2026 squeeze leaderboard on elevated short interest and borrow fees, with threshold names concentrated across the top ranks.
TL;DR: As of market close on October 21, 2026, FCEL leads Tapeboard's short squeeze leaderboard with a score of 96.2/100, driven by its 33.2% short interest and a 25.9% annualized borrow fee.
Tapeboard's daily squeeze scan ranked 25 stocks by composite score on October 21, 2026, scoring the names that clear a short-interest gate of at least 15% of float on 20-day volatility (single largest daily move excluded), 5-day float rotation and last-session relative volume, each as a percentile of the gated set. The top ranks are dominated by names carrying the FINRA short-volume threshold flag, while borrow-fee momentum is mixed across the board.
Today's October 21, 2026 Squeeze Score Leaderboard
| Rank | Symbol | Squeeze Score | SI % Float | Borrow Fee | Days to Cover | Mom 5d | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FCEL | 96.2 | 33.2% | 25.9% | 3.5 | -6.8% | T |
| 2 | GRRR | 88.2 | 19.5% | 1742.9% | 4.4 | +0.1% | T |
| 3 | NBIS | 87.4 | 19.5% | 0.4% | 2.2 | -7.8% | T |
| 4 | CIFR | 86.6 | 21.7% | 0.4% | 1.7 | -8.1% | |
| 5 | IREN | 84.4 | 23.6% | 0.6% | 1.7 | -8.9% | |
| 6 | WULF | 83.6 | 31.2% | 0.4% | 3.3 | +10.6% | |
| 7 | TWST | 83.0 | 19.1% | 0.3% | 3.2 | +0.7% | T |
| 8 | CHPT | 80.6 | 19.5% | 3.3% | 4.9 | +26.2% | T |
| 9 | RXRX | 80.2 | 30.8% | 0.5% | 5.1 | -2.7% | T |
| 10 | LCID | 78.4 | 60.3% | 2076.1% | 9.0 | -2.4% | T |
| 11 | CLSK | 78.2 | 30.9% | 0.3% | 4.5 | -5.1% | T |
| 12 | LEU | 77.2 | 30.9% | 0.5% | 7.2 | -9.2% | T |
| 13 | NVAX | 76.8 | 32.3% | 1.1% | 5.4 | -12.9% | T |
| 14 | TE | 75.8 | 39.6% | 1.2% | 4.2 | -17.9% | |
| 15 | MARA | 75.4 | 26.6% | 0.4% | 2.9 | -5.3% | T |
*Source: Tapeboard composite squeeze model, October 21, 2026. Names gated at 15%+ short interest, scored on volatility, float rotation and relative volume percentiles. Short interest per FINRA settlement schedule; borrow fees from broker-dealer stock-loan data; short-volume from FINRA Consolidated NMS. Not investment advice.*
What Drove Today's Rankings
FCEL leads on the highest fee in the top ten at 25.9%, paired with a 33.2% short interest. LCID carries the largest short interest at 60.3% but its borrow fee is missing, so its score is reweighted across the remaining factors. The composite gives short interest 35% weight and borrow fees 25%, making fee intensity and float-level shorting the dominant signals today.
Top 5 Names
1. FCEL — Squeeze Score 96.2/100
FCEL ranks first on a 33.2% short interest and a 25.9% annualized borrow fee, with days-to-cover at 3.5. Its threshold flag confirms elevated short volume relative to recent trading activity.
2. GRRR — Squeeze Score 88.2/100
GRRR posts a 19.5% short interest and an annualized borrow fee of 1742.9%, the highest fee on today's board. The name is on the FINRA threshold list with days-to-cover at 4.4.
3. NBIS — Squeeze Score 87.4/100
NBIS carries a 19.5% short interest with a 0.4% borrow fee and days-to-cover of 2.2. Its threshold flag supports the composite despite minimal fee pressure.
4. CIFR — Squeeze Score 86.6/100
CIFR shows a 21.7% short interest and a 0.4% borrow fee, with days-to-cover of 1.7. It is not on the FINRA threshold list, so its score rests primarily on float-level short interest.
5. IREN — Squeeze Score 84.4/100
IREN posts a 23.6% short interest and a 0.6% borrow fee, with days-to-cover of 1.7. It is not on the FINRA threshold list, leaving short interest as its primary driver.
Factor Breakdown: How the Score Is Built
Tapeboard's Short Squeeze Score (setup v6, since 2026-10-07) gates on short interest of at least 15% of float (FINRA settlement, point-in-time and split-safe), then ranks gated names 0-100 on 20-day volatility with the single largest daily move excluded (60%), 5-day float rotation (20%) and last-session relative volume (20%), each as a percentile among the gated names. A higher score means higher historical odds of a large move in either direction; it is not a directional call. Borrow fee, days to cover and the short-volume ratio are shown for context at zero weight. Data are sourced from FINRA, the SEC, and the NYSE and NASDAQ exchanges. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top short-squeeze candidates today?
The top three candidates are FCEL at 96.2 (33.2% short interest, 25.9% borrow fee), GRRR at 88.2 (19.5% short interest, 1742.9% borrow fee), and NBIS at 87.4 (19.5% short interest, 0.4% borrow fee).
How does Tapeboard calculate its squeeze score?
The score gates on short interest of at least 15% of float (FINRA settlement, point-in-time), then ranks gated names 0-100 on 20-day volatility with the single largest daily move excluded (60%), 5-day float rotation (20%) and last-session relative volume (20%), each as a percentile among the gated names. Borrow fee, days to cover and the short-volume ratio are shown for context at zero weight. The full formula, the gate and the calibrated odds are published at the methodology page.
When does short-interest data update?
Short interest lags approximately two weeks per the FINRA settlement schedule. Borrow fees update next-day from broker-dealer stock-loan data.
Data and Methodology
Squeeze score: Tapeboard composite, recomputed nightly.
Short interest: FINRA, approximately two-week settlement lag.
Borrow fee: broker-dealer stock-loan data, daily.
Short-volume threshold: FINRA Consolidated NMS, daily.
Momentum: end-of-day prices.
See today's highest borrow fees for the hard-to-borrow ranking, the full daily archive for past records, or the live squeeze leaderboard for tomorrow's update.
What Changed vs the Previous Record
ASTS drops out of the top 5 (was rank 5, score 82.2).
This record 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.