Tesla (TSLA) has quite a few shares sold short, nevertheless it’s relatively low as share of the float. But three EV makers are amongst the numerous most-shorted stocks: VinFast Auto (VFS), Fisker (FSR) and Faraday Future Intelligent Electric (FFIE). Also amongst the numerous 10-most shorted stocks: Soleno Therapeutics (SLNO), Novavax (NVAX), Beyond Meat (BYND), Upstart Holdings (UPST), C3.ai (AI), Carvana (CVNA) and Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust (WHLR).
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Heavily shorted stocks are vulnerable to large rallies, as shorts rush to cover, fueling further short covering. Indeed, AI stock, Upstart and Carvana are all up greater than 100% in 2023, with SLNO top off greater than 1,000%. But heavily shorted stocks often are in terrible shape, with weak or deteriorating fundamentals and even doubts with regard to the corporate’s future. Several names on this list are big losers, with Wheeler REIT and FFIE stock down greater than 90% in 2023.
10 Most Shorted Stocks
| Symbol | Company | YTD chg | Short interest as of Sept. 29 | Float | Shorted as share of float |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VFS | VinFast Auto | n.a. | 4,070,944 | 7,085,321 | 57.5% |
| SLNO | Soleno Therapeutics | 1124.75% | 1,570,248 | 3,049,963 | 51.5% |
| NVAX | Novavax | -31.42% | 44,435,101 | 87,565,843 | 50.7% |
| FSR | Fisker | -14.58% | 89,262,714 | 191,857,967 | 46.5% |
| BYND | Beyond Meat | -29.81% | 25,172,512 | 60,704,027 | 41.5% |
| FFIE | Faraday Future | -95.48% | 7,089,424 | 17,265,876 | 41.1% |
| UPST | Upstart Holdings | 105.22% | 27,280,228 | 71,126,787 | 38.4% |
| AI | C3.ai | 121.18% | 37,484,724 | 98,930,819 | 37.9% |
| CVNA | Carvana | 614.56% | 31,834,127 | 84,574,840 | 37.6% |
| WHLR | Wheeler REIT | -92.91% | 228,031 | 609,323 | 37.4% |
Source: Marketwatch
VinFast Stock
VinFast Auto is a Vietnamese electric vehicle maker. Deliveries are ramping up from a low base, but VinFast is losing money. The Tesla rival hopeful has big ambitions, including a planned North Carolina factory.
Some 57.5% of the VinFast stock float was shorted as of Sept. 29.
VFS stock came public via a SPAC in mid-August, opening at 22 a share. Shares skyrocketed to 93 on Aug. 28, giving VinFast considered one among the largest valuations of any automakers. VinFast stock quickly plunged, hitting a record-low 7.23 on Oct. 9. It closed at 7..98 on Oct. 13.
Soleno Therapeutics Stock
Soleno Therapeutics is a development-stage biotech. Some 51.5% of the SLNO stock float is shorted.
Soleno stock skyrocketed 505% on Sept. 26, after the company announced positive trial results for its treatment for Prader-Willi syndrome. All told, SLNO stock has spiked 1,125% in 2023.
Novavax Stock
Novavax is a vaccine maker, and has produced a coronavirus vaccine. Sales have jumped, but demand for its Covid vaccine has lagged that of mRNA vaccines from Pfizer (PFE) and Moderna (MRNA).
Some 50.7% of NVAX stock is shorted.
Novavax stock has declined 31% in 2023 to 7.05, though it’s off a three-year low of 5.61 set in March. Nevertheless, shares have cratered since hitting 331.68 in February 2021.
Fisker Stock
Fisker is an EV maker, though it outsources manufacturing to partners. The Ocean SUV is starting to ramp up deliveries. That ought to spice up revenue from near zero, but profits are an amazing distance off.
FSR stock shorts equal 46.5% of the float.
The Tesla rival is off nearly 15% in 2023, but has rallied from April’s all-time of 4.26 to 6.21 as of Sept. 29. Shares have a bottoming base with a 7.22 buy point. FSR stock is well off the March 2021 peak of 31.96.
Beyond Meat Stock
Beyond Meat is a primary producer of faux meat. After initially seeing big growth and briefly turning a profit in 2019, Beyond Meat has seen huge losses and big sales declines.
Roughly 41.5% of the BYND stock float is shorted.
Beyond Meat stock is down 29.8% in 2023, hitting a record low of seven.90 on Oct. 12. That’s vs. the July 2019 all-time high of 239.71.
Faraday Future Stock
Faraday Future is an EV startup. After several years of waiting, Faraday in August delivered a production-spec FF 91, priced at $309,900. Nevertheless it’s not clear when meaningful production or deliveries will occur. The company is suffering massive losses on essentially no revenue.
Some 41.1% of FFIE stock is shorted.
Shares are down 95.5% in 2023, hitting a record-low 1.01 last week. Faraday stock hit a record 1,652 In January 2021, adjusted for a recent 1-for-100 reverse split.
Upstart Stock
Upstart offers a cloud-based AI lending platform, heavily focused on auto loans. The company was profitable in 2019-2022, but is about to lose money in 2023 amid plunging revenue. Earnings are set to return next 12 months.
UPST stock shorts equal 38.4% of the float.
Upstart stock has skyrocketed in 2023, up 105.2%. But that’s after plunging from a 52-week high of 72.58 on Aug. 1 to easily 27.13 on Oct. 13. Upstart stock hit a record 401.49 in October 2021.
AI Stock
C3.ai is an AI-focused software maker. The company is losing money, but analysts see it nearly breaking even in fiscal 2025, ending in April 2025. Revenue growth has been so-so in recent quarters. Fiscal Q1 2024 revenue rose 11% vs. a 12 months earlier but was flat vs. the prior quarter.
As of Sept. 29, 37.9% of AI stock was shorted.
C3.ai stock has leapt 121.2% this 12 months, but shares have nearly halved from the June 16 peak of 48.87 to the Oct. 13 close of 24.75. AI stock hit a record 183.90 in December 2000, quite a lot of weeks after its IPO.
Carvana Stock
Carvana is an online used-car dealer. After narrowing losses in 2021, Carvana bled massive red ink in 2022. Losses are continuing amid tumbling revenue, though Carvana achieved some positive metrics in Q2.
CVNA stock shorting is similar as 37.6% of the float.
Carvana stock is up an unlimited 614.6% in 2023. Shares peaked for the 12 months at 57.19 on July 20, then nearly topped that on Sept. 14, when it broke out of a cup-with-handle base. But since then shares have sold off hard, falling to 33.87 on Oct. 13.
CVNA peaked at 376.83 in August 2021.
Wheeler REIT Stock
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust owns quite a few shopping centers anchored by grocery stores. Its reported huge funds from operation losses in for the last several quarters. Revenue has jumped resulting from a late 2022 merger.
Some 37.4% of WHLR stock’s float is shorted.
Wheeler stock has dived 92.9% this 12 months, hitting a record-low 82 cents last week. Shares have been falling almost since its November 2012 IPO, with shares peaking at 547.19 in December 2012.
Tesla Stock
As for Tesla stock, some 82,428,956 shares were sold short as of Sept. 29. But that was just 2.4% of the float, and fewer in the longer term of typical trading.
The EV giant reports earnings on Oct. 18, with analysts expecting the worst EPS in two years.
But bulls are looking ahead. Tesla stock is up 103.9% in 2023, not far potential recent buy points.
Please follow Ed Carson on X/Twitter at .@IBD_ECarson, Threads at @edcarson1971 and Bluesky at @edcarson.bsky.social for stock market updates and more.
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