It's still only January, and shares of Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND) have already rocketed 60% higher this year.
The stock has bounced back from a lull last year on renewed optimism that the plant-based meat producer can expand with deals with restaurant giants like McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) and Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), and on a new sandwich tie-up with Dunkin' (NASDAQ: DNKN).
Those gains have come during a month of exceptionally high trading volume. A short squeeze seems to have helped lift the stock, as 18% of the fake meat specialist's shares are sold short. Since the year began, the stock has made daily jumps by double-digit percentages on four separate occasions. Here are a few of the highlights that have lifted the stock so far this month: