Meme stock mania is alive and well in April 2026. Avis Budget Group (NASDAQ:CAR) is leading the pack, but several other heavily-shorted stocks are joining in.



<ul>
<li>CAR stock is moving. See the chart and price action here. </li>
</ul>



<h2>CAR Keeps Squeezing</h2>



Shares of Avis are up 9.23% to $665 Tuesday, capping a staggering rally that has seen the stock surge 500% over recent weeks from lows in the $80s — a move that has left short sellers bleeding. 



Barclays downgraded CAR to Sell Monday after the run, noting short interest near 100%. The downgrade has done nothing to stop the momentum. 



According to Benzinga data, short interest stood near 54% of the free float as recently as late March, with an elevated days-to-cover that amplifies every uptick. 



A stake disclosure from Pentwater Capital added fuel to the fire, and options gamma dynamics have market makers scrambling to hedge by buying shares — creating a classic feedback loop where rising prices force more covering, which drives prices higher still.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div>

</div></figure>



<h2>Potential Squeezes</h2>



Navitas Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:NVTS) is making a strong case for a place in the squeeze conversation, surging +19.28% to $15.74 on volume of 43 million shares — roughly double its average, per Benzinga Pro.  



Earlier this month, traders purchased over 80,000 call options on NVTS, representing a 134% spike versus the daily average. 



With 28% of the float sold short, the setup looks textbook. Fundamentals remain weak — quarterly revenue cratered 59% year-over-year — but in a meme tape, that’s beside the point.



Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND) is also in the mix. The embattled plant-based protein company, which carries ~33.7% of its float short, is seeing enormous activity with volume topping 259 million shares against an average of 38 million — though shares are slightly lower at $1.13 midday.



Elsewhere in the heavily-shorted universe, Lucid Group (NASDAQ:LCID) is pushing 9.34% higher to $7.38 despite persistent analyst bearishness and a short float exceeding 52%. 



Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) is up 8.97% to $5.83, with 14.5% of the float short. 



ImmunityBio Inc. (NASDAQ:IBRX) sits at $8.16, relatively quiet but with 43.2% of the float short and 120 million shares sold short — a powder keg should a catalyst emerge.



The broad meme tape revival echoes familiar dynamics: a frothy risk-on environment, speculative retail participation and short sellers caught offside in names with structural weaknesses that the market is temporarily choosing to ignore. 



History suggests these moves can last longer — and go higher — than almost anyone expects, before reversing just as violently.



Photo: Mino Surkala / Shutterstock

BYND

NVTS

NVTX

Avis Budget Group is experiencing a significant short squeeze, with its stock surging 500% recently, leading to a 9.23% increase to $665. Other heavily shorted stocks like Navitas Semiconductor and Beyond Meat are also seeing increased activity, with Navitas up 19.28% and Beyond Meat experiencing high trading volume. The meme stock trend is reviving, driven by speculative retail participation and short sellers facing losses. Analysts warn that while these moves can continue, they may reverse sharply.

Avis Brings Back The Short Squeeze — Navitas, Beyond Meat Join In