Technology

Short Sellers Losing Conviction in Major Semiconductor Stocks

The short interest data have come out for the February 27 settlement date. Recent short interest moves show that investors now appear to have mixed sentiments on the semiconductor industry, after the previous short interest report was slightly pessimistic. It is important to note that semiconductor trends are considered to be leading indicators of technology and broader electronics demand.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) saw its short interest increase by about 2 million shares to 133.3 million, with six days to cover. The previous level was 131.7 million shares, with 5.8 days to cover. During this time, shares of Intel continued their slide lower off a 52-week high from December. Shares closed Tuesday at $31.70, in a 52-week trading range of $24.40 to $37.90.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD) saw its short interest continue to fall to 93.9 million shares, with 11.7 days to cover, compared to the previous reading of 104.2 million shares and about 4.6 days to cover. Short interest for AMD has been steadily falling over the past few settlement dates. Shares closed Tuesday at $2.92. The 52-week trading range is $2.14 to $4.80.

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Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) saw its short interest increase to 17.0 million shares, with 1.8 days to cover, compared to the previous period, which reported a reading of 15.9 million shares with one day to cover. The reading at the end of January was the lowest short interest reading in the past 52 weeks. The only other reading that comes close was posted after the market sell-off in October. Qualcomm shares closed Tuesday at $71.89, in a 52-week trading range of $62.26 to $81.97.

Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) saw its short interest increase to 82.9 million shares, with 4.9 days to cover, for the February 27 settlement date. The previous reading was 76.3 million, with 5.4 days to cover. The stock closed Tuesday at $23.51, in a 52-week trading range of $18.27 to $25.71.

Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) saw its short interest continue to fall to 71.6 million shares, with 4.4 days to cover. Short interest has been in a constant decline since the mid-September settlement date, excluding the mid-January reading of 94.4 million with 2.9 days to cover. On the year, the highest short interest reading was 125.3 million in July. Shares of Micron closed Tuesday at $27.61, in a 52-week trading range of $21.02 to $36.59.

SanDisk Corp. (NASDAQ: SNDK) saw its short interest remain flat for the late February settlement date. The reading was 15.60 million shares, with 4.6 days to cover, compared to the previous reading of 15.63 million, with 4.4 days to cover. Shares closed Tuesday at $80.17, in a 52-week trading range of $73.03 to $108.77.

Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) saw its short interest fall to 5.0 million shares, with one day to cover, versus the previous short interest level of 6.4 million, with one day to cover. The past few short interest readings have been the lowest readings for the past 52-weeks. Broadcom shares closed Tuesday at $43.73 and have a 52-week trading range of $28.86 to $46.22.

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