Nasdaq Stocks With the Most Short Interest

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) saw its short interest decline 8.4% to 197.06 million shares, about 7.1% of the stock’s float. Days to cover is now four. After some choppy trading in May, the stock is back near its levels of early April. The stock rose about 2.6% in the two-week period to May 15 and closed at $3.32 Tuesday night, up another 5.4%, in a 52-week range of $2.98 to $4.18.

For Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC), short interest fell 2.7% to 177.73 million shares. About 3.6% of Intel’s float is now short and the days to cover is eight. The stock’s price dropped by about 1.8% during the two-week period and is up about 3.6% year-to-date. The stock closed at $26.71 on Tuesday, in a 52-week range of $21.89 to $27.24.

Short interest in Frontier Communications Corp. (NASDAQ: FTR) dropped 5.2% in the two-week period to May 15. Some 160.73 million shares are currently held short, representing 16.2% of the company’s float and a days-to-cover number of 15. The company’s famously generous dividend yield has slipped to 6.9% from more than 8% in late February. Shares closed Tuesday at $5.81, in a 52-week range of $3.80 to $6.10, and posted a share price increase of about 1.5% for the two-week short-interest period.

ALSO READ: The Six Most Shorted NYSE Stocks

Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) has 113.33 million shares held short, down 0.3% from the number held short on April 30 and 10.7% of the company’s float. Days to cover is four for the heavily traded stock. Shares rose 3% in the two-week period to May 15 and are up nearly 30% year-to-date. Shares closed at $28.06 on Tuesday, in a 52-week range of $11.41 to $28.92.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) experienced a rise of 1% in short interest during the two-week period to May 15. Some 6.4% of the company’s shares are held short, and the days to cover is eight. The stock’s price is up 5% in the two-week period and more than 9% year-to-date. Shares closed at $82.16, in a 52-week range of $46.70 to $84.88.

Short interest in BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ: BBRY) fell 7.4% in the first two weeks of May to a total of 93.88 million shares, or 19.2% of BlackBerry’s float. Days to cover is 11 for this highly volatile stock. Short sellers watched share prices fall nearly 4% in the two-week period, a nice pickup for the short sellers. Shares closed at $7.28, in a 52-week range of $5.44 to $15.09, and down nearly 5% year-to-date.

Shares of Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) experienced a rise of 5.6% in short interest to 93.88 million shares, and it now comprises 14.5% of the company’s float. Days to cover is 11. Staples stock rose about 5% in the two-week period but is down nearly 27% year-to-date. Short sellers sniff an opportunity here as office supply stores continue to struggle.

ALSO READ: Nine Companies with the Most Unusual Origins