Investing

Nasdaq Stocks With the Most Short Interest

NASDAQ_stock_market
Source: bfishshadow via Wikimedia Commons
Here is a look at the six Nasdaq-traded stocks with the largest number of shares held short as of February 28. All of them experienced rises in short interest, and the sixth-most shorted stock is new to the list this week.

For Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC), short interest rose 1.7% to 212.63 million shares. About 4.3% of Intel’s float is now short and days to cover is nine. The stock’s price rose fractionally during the two-week period and is down about 4.1% year to date. The stock closed at $24.73 on Tuesday, in a 52-week range of $20.75 to $27.12.

Short interest in Frontier Communications Corp. (NASDAQ: FTR) rose 1.9% in the two-week period to February 28. Some 209.15 million shares are currently held short, representing 21.1% of the company’s float and a days-to-cover number of 16. The company’s famously generous dividend yield slipped again in the two weeks, from 8.6% to 8.1%. Shares closed Tuesday at $4.90, in a 52-week range of $3.71 to $5.15, and posted a fractional share price decline for the two-week period.

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) saw its short interest rise 6.6% to 186.33 million shares, about 6.6% of the stock’s float. Days to cover is back up to six. The company’s board has not yet responded to the offer from Liberty Media to buy the 48% of Sirius XM stock Liberty does not already own, which may be casting doubt on whether the merger will actually happen. If it doesn’t, Sirius XM’s share price is very likely to slip. The stock added 1.55% in the two-week period to February 28, but closed at $3.43 Tuesday night in a 52-week range of $2.95 to $4.18.

Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) has 114.38 million shares held short, up 3.1% from the number held short on February 14, as well as 10.9% of the company’s float. Days to cover is three for the heavily traded stock. Shares dropped 3.5% in the two-week period to February 28, after gaining around 7% in the prior two weeks. Shares closed at $24.73 on Tuesday, in a 52-week range of $8.98 to $25.68.

Short interest in BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ: BBRY) jumped 11% in the latter two weeks of February to a total of 104.93 million shares, or 21.5% of BlackBerry’s float. Days to cover is three for this highly volatile stock. Short sellers watched share prices rise more than 11% in the two-week period and decided that now was a good time to bet against the company’s turnaround. Shares closed at $9.31 Tuesday, in a 52-week range of $5.44 to $16.82, and down nearly 11% in the two weeks to February 28.

Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) is the new stock on our top six short holdings list. Its short interest rose 10% to 94.19 million shares and now comprises 14.5% of the company’s float. Days to cover is 12. The company did not announce earnings and store closures until after the period covered in the latest short interest report, but the shorts were ready for the sour news. Staples stock rose about 4.3% in the two-week period but is down more than 25% year to date.

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