The shares of Cara Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:CARA) are up 13.1% to trade at $23.82  at last check -- their highest level in over a year -- on reports that the equity will be added to the S&P 600 SmallCap Index (SP600). The biopharmaceutical company's stock will replace MTS Systems (MTSC), effective before the open on Thursday, April 8.

Prior to the announcement, Cara Therapeutics stock was staging an impressive rise on the charts with solid support emerging at the 50-day moving average. Should today's positive price action hold, it will mark CARA's best single-day percentage gain in over a year. Plus, the security is up 57.4% this year alone. 

A short squeeze could give CARA even more room to run. Short interest is up 14.6% in the last two reporting periods, and the 3.21 million shares sold short represents a healthy 8.3% of the security's total available float. It would take over six days to buy back these bearish bets, at the stock's average trading volume. 

Options traders have been much more bullish, however. The stock's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 13.17 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) sits in the slightly elevated 74th percentile of its annual range, implying long calls have been picked up at a much faster-than-usual clip during the past ten weeks.

The shares of plant-based food producer Beyond Meat Inc (NASDAQ:BYND) have been cooling off recently after hitting a Jan. 26, roughly two-year high of $221. The good news is that this recent dip has put the security near a historically bullish trendline, which could send BYND back up the charts in the coming weeks.

Specifically, Beyond Meat stock just came within one standard deviation of its 320-day moving average, after spending some time above this trendline. According to data from Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White, three similar signals have occurred in the past three years. The security enjoyed a positive return one month later, averaging a whopping 21.8% gain for that time period. From its current perch, a move of similar magnitude would put BYND over the $160 mark, which is closer to that January peak.

Analysts are still pessimistic towards the equity, leaving the door wide open for potential price-target hikes and/or upgrades in the near future. Of the 16 in question, 14 carry a "hold" or worse rating. Plus, the 12-month consensus target price of $128.80 is a 2% discount to current levels.

Short sellers have been piling on the security, too, leaving it ripe for a short squeeze. Short interest added 33.9% over the last two reporting periods, and the 10.95 million shares sold short account for a whopping 19.7% of the stock's available float.

A shift in the options pits could create even more tailwinds. This is per Beyond Meat stock's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.46, which stands in the 96th percentile of its annual range. In other words, short-term traders have rarely been more put-biased.  

Now could be a good time to weigh in on BYND's next move with options. The equity's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 44% sits at the lowest percentile of all other readings from the past year. This suggests options players are pricing in lower-than-usual volatility expectations at the moment.

Lastly, the security's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) sits at a high 95 out of 100, indicating the equity has exceeded volatility expectations during the past 12 months -- a boon for options buyers.

The shares of Snap Inc (NYSE:SNAP) are up 4.5% at $56.52 this morning, buzzing on analyst praise. Specifically, Atlantic Equities lifted its rating to "overweight" from "neutral," citing strength in its ad business and pipeline products, which could help grow revenue.

Atlantic Equities joins an already bullish brokerage bunch. Prior to today's coverage, 21 analysts considered SNAP a "buy" or better, while six said "hold" or worse. Plus, the 12-month consensus price target of $74.03 stands at a 36.8% premium to current levels.

The security seems to be bouncing back from the selloff it suffered from late-February through March, with support at the 120-day moving average providing a springboard late last month. The stock will still have to contend with pressure at the 20-day moving average, though, which has acted as a ceiling on the charts for nearly three weeks. Year-over-year, SNAP is up 345%.

Premiums on SNAP are still relatively inexpensive, as the equity's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 60% sits in the 22nd percentile of its annual range, implying option traders are pricing in relatively low volatility expectations at the moment. 

Plus, the security's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) sits at a high 92 out of 100. This means SNAP has exceeded volatility expectations during the past 12 months -- a boon for options buyers.

The Greenbrier Co. Inc. (NYSE:GBX -- $48.25) designs, manufactures, and markets railroad freight car equipment. Greenbrier will report its Q2 earnings of 2021 before the bell today.

Lindsay Corp. (NYSE:LNN -- $169.17) provides water management and road infrastructure products and services. Lindsay will report its Q2 earnings of 2021 before the bell today.

Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX -- $100.36) provides integrated human capital management solutions for human resources (HR), payroll, benefits, and insurance services. Paychex will report its Q3 earnings of 2021 before the bell today.

SMART Global Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:SGH -- $49.48) designs and manufactures electronic products focused in memory and computing technology areas. SMART Global will report its Q2 earnings of 2021 after the close today.

Riot Blockchain Inc (NASDAQ:RIOT) is on fire this afternoon, the equity has added 9% to trade at $56.79 so far today, extending it's impressive March climb, in which it added 21.8% for the month. The security is still a ways from its Feb. 17, 10-year peak of $79.50, with pressure near the $65 mark keeping a lid on shares last month. There's reason to believe, though, that RIOT could extend today's positive price action, making the security a solid growth pick for April. 

According to data from Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White, the crypto stock just pulled back to its 40-day moving average after a lengthy period above the trendline. Similar pullbacks to this trendline have occurred five times over the past three years. One month after 75% of these signals, RIOT was higher, going on to average an impressive 21-day return of 52.5%. Needless to say, a similar return would put the equity well past its February peak, all the way above the $86 mark, which is home to levels RIOT hasn't touched since 2011. 

RIOT's recent bounce could have shorts changing their tune, too, and an exodus of these bears could put even more wind at the stock's back. Short interest rose 24.6% in the last two reporting periods, and now makes up an eyebrow-raising 59.7% of the equity's available float. 

Some of the bearishness in the options pits could unwind and push RIOT higher as well. At the Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), Riot Blockchain stock sports a 50-day put/call volume ratio that sits higher than 74% of readings from the past year. 

In this same vein, options look like the way to go. The stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 123% sits in the 8th percentile of its annual range, meaning option traders have rarely priced in lower volatility expectations during the past year. Plus, RIOT's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) ranks at a 99 out of a possible 100, implying the stock has tended to exceed these expectations over the past 12 months -- a good thing for option buyers. 

The shares of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) are surging this morning, up 4.5% at $691.68 at last check, after the electric vehicle giant hit a delivery record of 184,800 units for the first quarter -- well above Wall Street's estimates of 177,822 deliveries. The tech name attributed the milestone to strong demand, which helped offset the impact of a global shortage of auto parts. 

Additionally, Wedbush upgraded the security to "outperform" from "neutral," and raised its price objective to $1,000 from $950. Cowen and Company and JP Morgan Securities followed suit, doling out price-target hikes to $573 and $155, respectively. Analysts were pessimistic towards the security coming into today, leaving the door open for more price-target hikes and/or upgrades going forward. Of the 20 in question, 12 called it a "hold" or worse. Plus, the 12-month consensus target price of $621.60 is a hefty 10.3% discount to current levels. 

Digging deeper, the security has taken a major step back from its Jan. 25, all-time high of $900.40. Shares have struggled with overhead pressure at the $720 level in the last month, though the 160-day moving average was able to contain two March pullbacks. Today's pop has also helped the security rise back above the 20-day moving average, and year-over-year TSLA is up 622.5%.

Though shorts are already hitting the exits, there is plenty of pessimism left to be unwound, which could push shares even higher. Short interest fell 6.2% in the last two reporting periods, yet the 44.73 million shares sold short account for 25% of the stock's available float.

Additional tailwinds could come in the from of a shift in the options pits. This is per Tesla stock's 50-day put/call volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which stands in the 84th percentile of its annual range. In other words, long puts are getting picked up at a faster-than-usual rate. 

What's more, TSLA options can be had at a discount at the moment. The equity's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 57% sits at the low 8th percentile of its annual range. This suggests the equity is sporting attractively priced premiums right now.

Lastly, the security's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) ranks at a high 95 out of 100. This means Tesla stock has exceeded volatility expectations during the past year -- a good thing for premium buyers.