Short Interest

What is Short Int?

The total number of shares that have been sold short but not yet covered or closed out.

Think of it like this

Like knowing how many people are betting against a horse in a race - high short interest means lots of skeptics.

Formula

Short Interest = Total Shares Currently Sold Short
  • Shares Short: Borrowed shares sold expecting price drop
  • Float: Shares available for trading
  • Short % Float: Short interest as percentage of float

Why it matters

  • Shows bearish sentiment
  • High short interest = squeeze potential
  • Contrarian indicator
  • Can amplify price movements

What's a good value?

< 5%
Low
Normal bearish activity
5-15%
Moderate
Notable short position
15-30%
High
Significant bearish bet
> 30%
Very High
Extreme - squeeze risk

Real-world example

GameStop had over 100% short interest in early 2021, enabling the historic squeeze.

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