Surges in short interest between the January 30 and February 13 settlement dates lifted Pfizer and Verizon Communications into the top five most shorted stocks on the New York Stock Exchange. All of the top five saw rising short interest, and all had more than 115,000 shares short at the end of the two-week period.

The number of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) shares short increased about 1% in the first two weeks of the month to more than 305.46 million. That represents 5.9% of the float. At the current average daily volume, it would take about 12 days to cover all short positions. Note that short interest has been rising since last September. During the most recent period, there was much speculation about the approach the FCC will take to net neutrality, and shares ended the two weeks to February 13 up more than 5%. They closed Wednesday at $34.85, less than 2% higher than at the beginning of the year. The 52-week trading range is $31.76 to $37.48.

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Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) short interest jumped more than 207% to more than 207.35 million shares in the first two weeks of the month. That was 3.3% of the float, and by far the highest number of shares short in the past year. The days to cover rose from about two to more than five. Pfizer is a top pick at J.P. Morgan, and the share price rose almost 11% in the two-week period, but it has leveled off since. Shares closed Wednesday at $34.66, in a 52-week range of $27.51 to $34.97.

There was a 17% rise in the short interest in Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE) during the period. That brought the number of shares short to more than 196.56 million, which was highest level it has been in at least a year. It would take more than six days to cover all short positions. Moody’s changed Vale’s outlook to stable at the end of January, and its shares rose more than 14% during the two-week short-interest period. Shares closed Wednesday at $7.29, in a 52-week range of $6.69 to $15.59.

After being below 100,000 shares for the past year, short interest in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) surged nearly 166% to more than 123.73 million shares. That mid-month reading totaled 3.0% of the company’s float. The days to cover swelled to more than five. Verizon remains a Warren Buffet favorite. The share price climbed almost 8% in the two weeks, but it has leveled off since. The stock closed at $49.20 on Wednesday. Shares have traded between $45.09 and $53.66 in the past year.

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (NYSE: PBR), better known as Petrobras, saw the number of its shares short gain 15% by mid-month. That 115.02 million was the fourth reading in a row of more than 100 million shares. At the current average daily volume, it would take more than two days to cover all short positions, about the same as in the past five periods. A shakeup at the top of the petro-giant failed to allay investor concerns. Shares were a roller-coaster in the two-week short interest period, at one point up more than 21%, and they have retreated more than 8% since the most recent settlement date. The stock closed Wednesday at $6.23, in a 52-week range of $5.79 to $20.94.

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Rounding out the top 10 are Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC), J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP), General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) and Exelon Corp. (NYSE: EXC). Of these, Bank of America was the only significant mover, with a more than 17% rise in short interest during the early part of the month.

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