The short interest data are out for the most recent settlement date, December 15. Generally speaking, companies within the biotech industry are considered to have a riskier group of stocks, with big potential upside and big potential downside. Now that the U.S. presidential election is over and Hillary Clinton is out of the picture, major biotech companies can breathe a little easier knowing that the pressure is off, if for just now.
As we have said before, FDA rulings can make or break the biotech sector, and short sellers and mega-bulls often go to war against each other in these companies. After all, if a single failed clinical trial can mean disaster for a stock, then some short sellers can argue for a stock implosion down the road.
24/7 Wall St. has reviewed the top biotech companies, without focusing on speculative companies. The December 15 short interest data have been compared with the previous report, and short interest was down in most of the selected stocks.
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) saw its short interest decrease to 6.90 million shares from the previous level of 7.08 million. Shares were last seen trading at $148.63, in a 52-week trading range of $133.64 to $176.85.
Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) had its short interest decrease to 1.99 million shares from the previous 2.30 million. The stock was recently trading at $291.49, within a 52-week range of $223.02 to $333.65.
Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ: CELG) short interest for this settlement date decreased to 7.71 million shares from the previous 8.69 million. Shares were changing hands at $117.50, in a 52-week range of $93.05 to $127.00.
Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) saw its short interest decrease to 14.98 million shares from 15.82 million in the previous period. Shares were trading at $73.52, in a 52-week trading range of $70.83 to $103.10.
MannKind Corp. (NASDAQ: MNKD) saw the number of its shares short increase to 106.22 million. The previous reading was 105.13 million. The stock was last seen at $0.68, in a 52-week range of $0.41 to $2.24. Note that MannKind is one of the most shorted Nasdaq stocks.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s (NASDAQ: ALXN) short interest increased to 5.50 million, compared to the previous level of 4.16 million. Shares were recently trading at $125.06, in a 52-week range of $109.12 to $193.45.
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