Health and Healthcare

Short Sellers Run for Cover From Major Pharma

Chris Lange

Published: May 10, 2018 10:20 am

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 11:49 pm

Pharmaceutical 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 White House 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 they 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 April 30 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) decreased to 65.45 million shares from the previous 81.03 million. The stock was last seen trading at $35.15, within a 52-week range of $31.67 to $39.43.

The number of Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) shares short decreased to 20.40 million from 22.95 million in the previous period. Its shares were trading at $58.50, in a 52-week range of $52.83 to $66.41.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s (NYSE: TEVA) short interest decreased to 53.78 million from the previous level of 55.84 million. Shares were trading at $19.25, in a 52-week range of $10.85 to $33.82.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) short interest decreased to 12.71 million shares from the previous reading of 14.32 million. Shares were last seen at $51.45, within a 52-week range of $49.96 to $70.05.

The number of shares short in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) increased to 18.77 million, compared to the previous 15.66 million. The stock was trading at $102.25, in a 52-week range of $64.61 to $125.86.

Eli Lilly and Co.’s (NYSE: LLY) short interest increased to 9.81 million shares from the previous 9.66 million. The stock was trading at $80.10. The 52-week range is $73.69 to $89.09.