Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Are Secretly Monitoring But Not Talking About Yet

Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed, and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance to uncover new information.

Benzinga’s Stock Whisper Index uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks each week that are just under the surface and warrant attention.

The index layers editorial commentary to help make sense of why these stocks should be of interest and whether investors and casual readers should watch them.

Here is a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week of Sept. 22, 2023.

Nio Inc NIO: The electric vehicle company saw shares volatile on the week with news of an offering of convertible senior notes. Nio said it will raise $1 billion from the offering, with the proceeds being used to pay debt and strengthen the company’s balance sheet. The company also announced the launch of a smartphone that can be used with its vehicles. The new phone can communicate with Nio vehicles and complete tasks like parking, unlocking and picking up the driver. Nio’s phone is set for a launch in China on Sept. 28 with a price point of around $890 to $1,030.

Related Link: Nio Races Past Tesla With $900 Smartphone Launch To Turbocharge EV Rivalry 

Pinterest PINS: Shares of the social media company traded higher during the week after an investor day presentation shared several company updates. Pinterest said it is expecting revenue to grow in the mid to high teens for the next three to five years on a compound annual growth rate, an estimate that is ahead of previous guidance. The company also announced a $1 billion share buyback plan. Pinterest announced the appointment of Scott Schenkel, the former interim CEO of eBay, to the company’s Board of Directors.

Exscientia Plc EXAI: A pharmaceutical company that uses artificial intelligence, Excientia saw shares trade higher after announcing a collaboration with Merck KGaA. The multi-year collaboration will see Exscientia combine its artificial intelligence with the existing expertise of the German pharmaceutical giant. Three targeted programs have already been identified as focus points, with the potential for more targets down the road. Exscientia received an upfront payment of $20 million and could earn up to $674 million in milestone payments. Exsceintia could also earn royalties if any targets become commercialized drugs in the future.

"We're pleased that Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany chose our team of experts for this AI-led drug discovery collaboration," said Andrew Hopkins, founder and CEO of Exscientia.

Bird Global BRDS: Shares of mobility company Bird traded higher after the company announced an acquisition of Spin. The acquisition makes Bird the largest micromobility company in North America based on market share. Bird shares were halted Tuesday prior to the news and saw shares increase out of their halt. After the acquisition, Bird will have a presence in around 350 global markets with more than 200,000 vehicles.

"Spin is a great financial and strategic acquisition for Bird and we expect this acquisition will enable us to achieve long term sustainable profitability," said Michael Washinushi, Bird Interim CEO.

American Battery Technology ABAT: Shares of battery materials company American Battery Technology Company saw increased attention from investors after an uplisting from the OTC to the Nasdaq was completed. The company called the uplisting a “significant milestone” with the potential to unlock new opportunities for shareholders and the company.

"This access to broader markets and partnership opportunities will allow us to accelerate the commercialization of our internally developed technologies as we execute on our long-term growth strategy and facilitate the transition to a clean energy economy," American Battery Technology Company CEO Ryan Melsert said.

Now Read: iPhone 15 Series: Will Higher Prices And Exclusive Features Boost Apple's Q4 Revenue?

Check out the most recent Stock Whisper reports here:

Sept. 1

Sept. 8

Sept. 15 

Stay tuned for next week’s report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and top market-moving stories here.