Short Sellers Back Off Major Pharma
March 10, 2017 by Chris LangePharmaceutical companies usually are involved in a lengthy process of getting their drug candidates to market through clinical trials. There is a fair amount of risk involved, should a study come back negative or a candidate not be approved. Conversely, if a drug gains FDA approval or passes a clinical trial, there can be big upside.
The Trump administration has promised reforms in the health care sector, such as changing the bidding process for drugs and shortening the FDA approval process. It has yet to be seen how much headway the White House can actually make with these reforms.
Keep in mind that short sellers betting against big pharma are taking on an added risk. They have to pay out the ongoing high dividends on top of the cost of borrowing the shares.
The February 28 short interest data have been compared with the previous figures, and short interest in most of these selected pharmaceutical stocks decreased.
Short interest in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) fell sharply to 110.37 million shares from the previous 137.21 million. Its shares were last seen at $34.05, within a 52-week trading range of $28.74 to $37.39.
The number of Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) shares short decreased to 17.23 million from 18.98 million in the previous period. Its shares were trading at $65.89, in a 52-week range of $51.33 to $66.80.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s (NYSE: TEVA) short interest fell to 20.51 million shares, compared to the previous level of 27.97 million. Shares were trading at $32.96, in a 52-week range of $31.90 to $59.35.
The sharp rise in Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) short interest was to 47.39 million shares, from the previous reading of 15.95 million. Shares were trading at $57.99, within a 52-week range of $46.01 to $77.12.
The number of shares short in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) decreased to 29.95 million, compared to the previous 31.63 million. The stock was trading at $64.50, in a 52-week range of $54.41 to $68.12.
Eli Lilly and Co.’s (NYSE: LLY) short interest decreased to 12.15 million shares from the previous 12.37 million. The stock was trading at $84.55. The 52-week range is $64.18 to $84.77.
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