Original Research
Most Shorted Stocks 2026
Complete short interest rankings — 76 stocks sorted by short interest as percentage of float, with market cap, performance, and squeeze potential indicators.
Published March 9, 2026 · Data from FINRA/Exchange reports · 76 stocks analyzed
Frequently Asked Questions
What stock has the highest short interest?
As of early 2026, Groupon (GRPN) has the highest short interest at 46.06% of float, followed by Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ) at 44.41% and Better Home & Finance (BETR) at 43.93%. The majority of the most shorted stocks are in the Biotechnology, Health Care, and Technology sectors.
What does high short interest mean?
High short interest means a large percentage of a stock's available shares (float) have been sold short by traders betting the price will decline. Short interest above 20% is considered very high and can indicate strong bearish sentiment — but it also increases the potential for a short squeeze if the price rises, as short sellers rush to buy shares to cover their positions.
What is a good short ratio?
The short ratio (days to cover) measures how many days it would take all short sellers to buy back their shares based on average daily trading volume. A short ratio above 5 days is generally considered high — it means shorts would need significant time to exit their positions, increasing the potential for a squeeze if positive news hits. A ratio below 2 days means shorts can exit quickly.
Can short interest predict a short squeeze?
High short interest is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a short squeeze. A squeeze requires: (1) short interest above ~20% of float, (2) a high short ratio (days to cover), (3) a catalyst that drives the price up (positive earnings, news, or retail buying), and (4) limited available shares (low float). Not every heavily shorted stock squeezes — many decline as the bears predicted. Short interest is one signal among many.
How often is short interest data updated?
FINRA requires broker-dealers to report short interest positions twice monthly — on the 15th and last business day of each month. The data is typically published about 10 business days after the reporting date. This means short interest data always has a lag of 1-2 weeks. Daily short volume data is available from exchanges, but it's not the same as short interest (outstanding short positions).
Methodology
Short interest data was sourced from HighShortInterest.com, which aggregates FINRA and exchange short interest reports (last updated February 13, 2026). We included all stocks with short interest above 20% of float across NASDAQ, NYSE, and AMEX exchanges — totaling 76 stocks.
Market capitalization was calculated from current share price × total shares outstanding. Price performance data (1-month and 3-month changes) was computed from historical closing prices via Yahoo Finance chart API. P/E ratios were sourced from StockAnalysis.com where available; many heavily shorted companies have negative earnings (no meaningful P/E).
Short ratio (days to cover) was estimated as shares short divided by average daily trading volume. Sector classifications follow the GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) taxonomy. All data represents a point-in-time snapshot and should not be used as the sole basis for investment decisions.
This site provides data for informational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.