6 Earnings Stocks That Could Crush the Shorts

Approach Resources

One more earnings short-squeeze play is Approach Resources (AREX), which is set to release numbers on Tuesday after the market close. This company is an independent energy player engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and gas properties, focusing on oil and natural gas reserves in oil shale and tight sands. Wall Street analysts, on average, expect this company to report revenue of $27.46 million on earnings of 22 cents per share.

This stock has been ramping up nicely heading into the quarter, with shares up from $19.13 in mid-June to the current price of around$26 a share. That recent strength has me interested in this name going into its earnings report. The current short interest as a percentage of the float for Approach Resources is a very big 21%. That means that out of the 24.44 million shares in the tradable float, 4.73 million are sold short by the bears. It's worth noting that the bears have been increasing their bets dramatically from the last reporting period by 20.9%, or about 816,000 shares.

From a technical standpoint, shares of Approach Resources are currently trading above both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. The stock has also been making higher lows since it hit $19.13 a share, and it's been printing higher highs. The stock just found some buying support at around $25.25 a share, and there's some past overhead resistance at around $28.37 a share.

I would be a buyer of this stock following the report once it trades above $28.37 a share on heavy volume. I would add to any long position aggressively if you see Approach Resources trade above $31 a share on strong volume following earnings. I would only short this name post-earnings if you see the stock drop below its 50-day moving average of $24.10 a share. I would add to any short position if it takes out $22 a share, and my target would be that $19 low from mid-June.

Approach Resources is one of T. Boone Pickens' holdings, as of the most recently reported period.

To see more potential earnings short squeeze candidates, including Central European Distribution (CEDC), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) and Boston Beer Company (SAM), check out the Earnings Short-Squeeze Plays portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Winderemere, Fla.

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At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Windermere, Fla., is an independent trader who focuses on stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. He is also an outside contributor to Beconequity.com and maintains the website Maddmoney.net, which he sold to Blue Wave Advisors in 2008. Roberto studied International Business at The Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany.

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