The 7 Most Heavily Shorted NYSE Stocks

Investing

Published: October 27, 2014 10:45 am

Last Updated: April 28, 2020 6:53 am

Here is a look at the seven stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange with the largest number of shares held short as of October 15. Only one of the seven experienced a decline in short interest, and that may have had more to do with politics than anything else.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) saw its short interest rise by 5.8% to 225.72 million shares, about 4.4% of the stock’s float. Days to cover was nine. The stock’s share price fell about 3.9% in the two-week period to October 15, and it closed at $33.87 on Friday night. The 52-week range is $31.74 to $37.48. The share price has dropped about 3.5% since January 1.

Short interest in Vale SA (NYSE: VALE) fell 1.9% in the two-week period. Some 165.92 million shares were short, with a days-to-cover number of six. Shares closed Friday night at $11.16 in a 52-week range of $10.45 to $17.14. Monday saw the new low for the stock, following the elections in Brazil. Vale posted a share price increase of about 6.3% for the short interest period. Year to date, the stock has dropped about 31%.

ALSO READ: The 7 Most Heavily Shorted Nasdaq Stocks

For Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD), short interest rose 9.6% to 145.92 million shares. About 23.5% of AMD’s float was short and the days to cover was four. The stock’s price dropped more than 26% during the short interest period and is down about 32% year to date. The stock closed at $2.68 on Friday, and its 52-week range is $2.54 to $4.80.

AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) had 111.88 million shares short, up 1.1% from the number short on September 30 and 7% of the company’s float. The days to cover was five. Shares dropped about 6.7% in the two-week period, but they are up nearly 15% year to date. Shares closed at $60.29 on Friday, in a 52-week range of $45.50 to $60.73. That high was set Monday morning.

Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE: KMI) experienced a rise of 10.7% in short interest during the period. Some 16.2% of the company’s shares were short and the days to cover was seven. The stock’s price was down about 8.4% in the two-week period and up about 7.6% year to date. Shares closed at $39.03 Friday, in a 52-week range of $30.81 to $42.49.

Short interest in Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) rose 13.4% in the first two weeks of the month to a total of 104.46 million shares, or 13.4% of Sprint’s float. Days to cover was five for this heavily traded stock. Short sellers watched share prices fall about 3.8% in the two-week period. The stock closed at $6.08 Friday night, in a 52-week range of $5.36 to $11.47. Shares are down about 44% year to date.

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) rounded out the top seven most shorted stocks on the New York Stock Exchange, with the number of shares short rising by 13.5% to 104.27 million. Days to cover was one and just 1% of the shares were shorted. The stock price fell about 7.3% in the two-week period to October 15, and shares closed at $16.72 on Friday in a 52-week range of $13.80 to $18.03. Year to date, the shares are up about 6.4%.

ALSO READ: Biotech Short Interest Becomes Stock Specific

It’s Your Money, Your Future—Own It (sponsor)

Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? For families with more than $500,000 saved for retirement, finding a financial advisor who puts your interest first can be the difference, and today it’s easier than ever. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors who serve your area in minutes. Each advisor has been carefully vetted and must act in your best interests. Start your search now.

If you’ve saved and built a substantial nest egg for you and your family, don’t delay; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.