With the S&P 500 down this year, it's no surprise that the most heavily shorted stocks (when compared to their equity floats) are down significantly as well.
As shown below, NutriSystem (NTRI) is the most heavily shorted stock in the Russell 1,000, with 64% of its float sold short. The stock is down 26% year to date. WBMD and VMW trail NTRI and are both down 20% as well. Other notables on the list of heavily shorted stocks are SHLD, SPWR, CROX, BIG (which is up 94%), KBH, LEN and ETFC.
While the shorts have pounded most of these names lower thus far in 2008, they should pop on any significant broad market rally going forward. ABT, GE, T, PEP, XOM and KO (all largecap names) are all on the list of the least shorted stocks in the Russell 1,000.
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This article has 4 comments:
throughout the year.
This condition is indicative of a "short squeeze" stock price pop; especially with ETFC since it just moved in to secure an exclusive BlackBerry Mobile Streaming Platform yesterday.
Positive exclusive technology position on top of several other positive brokerage metrics over the past two months; and yet a heavy short position condition.