New York, Jan 23, 2026, 04:54 ET — Premarket
- Shares pushed higher again ahead of the open, building on Thursday’s strong rally
- Traders are weighing if the jump will stick once regular hours begin
Shares of Datavault AI Inc climbed 7.8% in premarket action Friday, reaching $0.967, following a 20.2% surge the day before. The Nasdaq-listed stock ended Thursday at $0.897, having traded between $0.743 and $0.907, with roughly 94 million shares exchanged. 1
This move stands out as Datavault is a low-priced stock known for its volatility, yet Friday’s early surge lacks a clear new catalyst. The company’s investor site lists its latest press release from Jan. 14, with the most recent “current report” filing dated Jan. 15. 2
Traders are now focused on the corporate actions lined up. Datavault disclosed in an 8-K filing that it submitted a prospectus supplement to register 7.5 million shares set for issuance in exchange for intellectual property rights. This move could increase the stock’s supply. (A prospectus supplement updates a registration statement, detailing terms for securities to be issued.)
Earlier this month, the company announced plans to roll out a patented content rating system alongside a “real-time bias meter” on Fintech.TV programming, kicking off a pilot season from January through April. CEO Vince Molinari told the press the network is gearing up for a “24/7 livestream launch” to test these features, according to the release. 3
Datavault flagged a deeper partnership with IBM and edge-data-center operator Available Infrastructure to roll out AI in New York and Philadelphia. CEO Nathaniel Bradley described the project as a way to create “authenticated digital property” right as data emerges. IBM’s Biz Dziarmaga called it an ecosystem play “leveraging watsonx.” 4
The reason the stock swings so sharply is clear: a steady flow of partnership announcements and filings draws quick bursts of short-term cash, only for interest to drop off soon after. Since the shares remain below $1, even minor changes in buying can translate into significant percentage moves.
But there’s a clear drawback to the upside scenario. Issuing registered shares and other equity-linked moves can weigh on a thinly traded stock if investors choose to cash out during rallies. The recent volatility works both ways, adding to the risk.
Friday’s key question is straightforward: will the premarket jump hold once regular trading kicks in and spreads narrow, or will the stock fall back into its previous range?
Datavault has set Feb. 21 as the date to distribute warrants—these give holders the option to buy shares at a predetermined price—to qualifying record equityholders. Traders are likely to monitor if this sparks increased positioning or prompts some sellers to step back. 5
