Short Sellers Raise the Stakes in Major Biotechs

The short interest data are out for the most recent settlement date, May 15. Generally speaking, companies within the biotech industry are considered to be a riskier group of stocks, with big potential upside and big potential downside. The health care sector in general has rallied since Donald Trump won the presidency, but now that his repeal of the ACA looking uncertain, the health care rally is called into question.

As we have said before, FDA rulings can make or break the biotech stocks, 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 May 15 short interest data have been compared with the previous report, and moves in the selected biotech stocks were mixed.

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Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) saw its short interest increase to 8.69 million shares from the previous level of 7.93 million. Shares were last seen trading at $154.60, in a 52-week trading range of $133.64 to $184.21.

Short interest in Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) decreased to 2.16 million shares from the previous 2.51 million. The stock recently traded at $253.33, within a 52-week range of $223.02 to $333.65.

Celgene Corp.’s (NASDAQ: CELG) short interest for this settlement date increased to 9.36 million shares from the previous 8.98 million. Shares were changing hands at $117.75, in a 52-week range of $94.42 to $127.64.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) saw its short interest drop to 10.14 million shares from 10.58 million in the previous period. Shares were trading at $64.31, in a 52-week trading range of $63.88 to $88.85.

The number of MannKind Corp. (NASDAQ: MNKD) shares short increased to 23.91 million. The previous reading was 21.45 million. The stock was last seen at $1.28, in a 52-week range of $0.41 to $2.38.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s (NASDAQ: ALXN) short interest increased slightly to 4.65 million shares, compared to the previous level of 4.52 million. Shares were trading at $101.08, in a 52-week range of $98.63 to $157.02.

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