7 Stocks to Trade Intra-Day

The name of the game for short-term, intra-day traders is volatility. Finding the right stocks to trade can often mean the difference between success and failure for daytraders. There are simply more opportunities and better risk/reward setups in volatile stocks. Traders can hone in on names that are likely to move around a lot by running a simple scan. For example, a scan looking for small-cap stocks (under $2 billion), with high short interest (over 25%) and high betas (over 2) turned up some interesting stocks to trade on an intra-day basis. Benzinga takes a closer look at these names below on the basis of their relative trading attractiveness in terms of short interest, liquidity, and beta. ATP Oil & Gas ATPG - This small-cap stock has traded in a range between $5.53 and $21.40 in the last 52-weeks and also has some attractive properties for daytrading - namely, the stock's high short interest (44%), and beta (2.9). ATPG is also quite liquid for such a small name, with a 3-month daily average volume of 2.3 million shares. Hovanian Enterprises HOV - This homebuilder has seen its market cap dwindle to just $146.18 million. Its small-size, sensitive industry, and high short interest (30%) has made it a very volatile name with a beta of 2.9. The stock is also liquid enough for smaller daytraders to move in and out. HOV has a 3-month daily average volume of 1.3 million. James River Coal JRCC - This is a very volatile small-cap energy name (which is up nearly 10% on Tuesday). The stock has a beta above 2, and around 30% of its float has been sold short, making it susceptible to large short-term price moves. Like the others on this list, JRCC has sufficient volume for traders with a 3-month daily average of 2.1 million shares. Coffee Holding Co. JVA - This was one of the best daytrading stocks of 2011, and millions upon millions of dollars were made and lost by short-term traders in this name over the last year. The stock has a 52-week range of $3.70 to $30.98 and currently trades at $8.25 (volatile enough for you?). Unfortunately, liquidity has dried up as the stock price has collapsed, but the name still offers opportunity every now and again. JVA has a 3-month daily average volume of around 769,000, a beta of 2.3 and short interest of 27%. Liz Claiborne LIZ - Small-cap retailers are often good trading hunting grounds when the broader market is moving. LIZ, in particular, has some attractive properties. The stock has a very high beta of 2.4, driven in part, by the 29% of its float that has been sold short (and must eventually be bought back). It is also a liquid name with a 3-month daily average volume of 3.7 million. Over the last 52-weeks, LIZ has ranged between $4.02 and $9.18, so this name has yielded plenty of opportunity for swing traders as well. Saks SKS - This is another small-cap retailer that is very active. Saks currently has short interest of around 28%, and a beta of 2.5. The name is liquid with a 3-month daily average volume of 2.8 million and has traded in a range between $7.67 and $12.97 in the last 52-weeks. VirnetX Holding VHC - This is a very interesting small-cap name which has recently become extremely volatile. In the last 5 years, VHC is up nearly 2,800%. The stock has a beta of 2.3 and around 33% of its float has been sold short. In just the last 3 months, VHC is up over 100%, so more movement in the next couple of months is likely. The stock has a 3-month average volume of 1.1 million.