Original Research · March 2026

What Happens When Wall Street Bets Against a Stock?

We analyzed 65 stocks with significant short interest to find out which ones are primed for a squeeze — and which ones deserve the bearish bet.

65
Stocks Analyzed
39
Heavily Shorted (>10% Float)
46.54%CLSK
Highest Short Interest
16.07%
Average Short % of Float

Methodology

How We Built This Study

We aggregated short interest data from Yahoo Finance and SEC EDGAR filings for 65 US-listed stocks with notable short positions. Each stock is scored using our proprietary Squeeze Score — a composite metric (0-100) that weighs five factors to estimate short squeeze potential.

The study covers a mix of mega-caps, mid-caps, and small-caps across all major sectors. Short interest data reflects the most recent FINRA reporting period, with momentum and price data pulled on 2026-03-20.

  • Data sources: Yahoo Finance API, SEC EDGAR, FINRA short interest reports
  • Update frequency: Monthly (aligned with FINRA's bi-monthly short interest reporting cycle)
  • Scoring model: 5-factor weighted composite — see detailed methodology below

The Squeeze Tracker

Our flagship ranking table. Sort by any column, search by ticker, or filter by sector. The Squeeze Score is our proprietary composite — the higher the score, the more conditions are aligned for a potential short squeeze.

# ▼ Company ▼ Short % ▼ Days to Cover ▼ 1M Mom. ▼ 3M Mom. ▼ Squeeze Score ▼

Short Interest by Sector

Average short interest as a percentage of float, broken down by sector. Energy and Real Estate lead the pack — both sectors facing structural headwinds that attract bearish bets.

Energy
31.7%
1 stocks
Real Estate
25.7%
2 stocks
Financial Services
19.1%
9 stocks
Healthcare
18.3%
14 stocks
Technology
16.2%
13 stocks
Consumer Defensive
15.0%
4 stocks
Consumer Cyclical
13.6%
11 stocks
Industrials
13.1%
5 stocks
Communication Services
8.0%
6 stocks

How the Squeeze Score Works

The Squeeze Score is a weighted composite of five measurable factors. Each factor contributes a maximum number of points, for a total possible score of 100. Here's what goes into it:

Short % of Float 0–30 pts
The foundation. Higher short interest means more shares that must eventually be bought back. Above 30% is extreme; above 20% is high.
Days to Cover 0–20 pts
Short ratio = shares short ÷ avg daily volume. Higher DTC means shorts need more days to exit — increasing squeeze pressure if the price moves against them.
Price Momentum 0–20 pts
Positive 1-month and 3-month momentum suggest the tide is turning against shorts. Stocks already rallying put maximum pressure on bearish positions.
Short Interest Change 0–15 pts
Month-over-month change in shares shorted. Declining short interest signals a potential covering rally already underway — or increasing short interest building future fuel.
Institutional Support 0–15 pts
High institutional ownership provides a floor for the stock price and indicates smart money sees value. When institutions hold tight, shorts have fewer shares to borrow.

Key Findings

Energy & Healthcare: Two Different Stories

Energy stocks like PBF Energy (31.7% short) carry high short interest but also strong positive momentum (+80.7% over 3 months) — suggesting the market may be caught off-guard by the sector's recovery. Healthcare/Biotech dominates our list with 14 stocks, largely because clinical-stage companies are natural short targets due to binary drug trial outcomes. NTLA and IOVA stand out with high squeeze scores driven by positive momentum despite heavy short positions.

The Momentum-Short Interest Disconnect

Several stocks show a fascinating divergence: high short interest paired with strong positive momentum. PBF (+80.7% 3M), IOVA (+39.2% 3M), SEDG (+47.7% 3M), and MRNA (+50.1% 3M) are all heavily shorted yet rallying — classic squeeze conditions. When price rises despite heavy shorting, it forces short sellers to either cover (fueling the rally) or increase their margin requirements.

Meme Stocks: The Short Interest Graveyard

The original meme stocks — GME (16%), AMC (23.5%), and BYND (31.9%) — still carry elevated short interest but with Squeeze Scores under 25. All three show negative 3-month momentum and declining market caps. The market has moved on, but shorts remain cautious, creating a persistent but low-quality short interest profile. These are stocks where the short thesis is likely correct.

Crypto-Adjacent Stocks: Maximum Volatility

Bitcoin miners and crypto platforms — CLSK (46.5%), MARA (38.6%), RIOT (13.4%), COIN (12%) — collectively represent some of the highest short interest in our study. These stocks are proxies for Bitcoin sentiment, and their extreme betas (MARA has a 5.42 beta) make them volatile battlegrounds between bulls and bears. However, their Squeeze Scores remain moderate-to-low because momentum remains mixed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most shorted stocks right now?
As of March 2026, the most heavily shorted US stocks include CLSK at 46.54% short interest of float, followed by LCID (42.5%), NTLA (42.0%), MARA (38.6%), and MPW (36.1%). Our interactive Squeeze Tracker above ranks all 65 stocks by short interest and squeeze potential. For a focused list, see our most shorted stocks breakdown.
How do you predict a short squeeze?
Our proprietary Squeeze Score (0-100) combines five factors: Short % of Float (0-30 pts), Days to Cover (0-20 pts), Price Momentum (0-20 pts), Short Interest Change (0-15 pts), and Institutional Support (0-15 pts). Stocks scoring above 60 historically show the highest squeeze probability — they combine high short interest with positive momentum and institutional backing that constrains share supply. No single factor is sufficient; the power is in the combination.
Do heavily shorted stocks outperform the market?
Not consistently. While short squeezes can produce dramatic short-term returns (GME in 2021 gained 1,700% in three weeks), the average heavily shorted stock underperforms the S&P 500 over 3-12 month periods. Stocks are usually shorted for fundamental reasons — declining revenue, unsustainable debt, or competitive threats. The edge comes from identifying the exceptions: stocks where the bearish thesis is weakening while short interest remains elevated. That's exactly what our Squeeze Score attempts to quantify.
What is considered a high short interest percentage?
The average S&P 500 stock has roughly 2-3% short interest as a percentage of float. Here are the thresholds we use: Below 5% — normal range. 5-10% — elevated, worth monitoring. 10-20% — high, indicates significant bearish sentiment. 20-30% — very high, squeeze risk escalates. Above 30% — extreme, historically rare and associated with maximum short squeeze potential. In our study, 39 of 65 stocks exceed the 10% threshold.
How often is short interest data updated?
FINRA requires brokers to report short positions twice per month — around the 15th and the last business day — with data published roughly 10 days after each settlement date. Our Short Interest Study is updated monthly with fresh data from Yahoo Finance and SEC EDGAR. We recalculate all Squeeze Scores with each update. For real-time short data, institutional traders use services like S3 Partners or Ortex, which estimate intraday short interest from securities lending data.

Data Sources & Disclaimer

Data Sources: Yahoo Finance, SEC EDGAR filings, FINRA short interest reports. Market data as of 2026-03-20.

Last Updated: 2026-03-20

Disclaimer: This study is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations, or an offer to buy or sell securities. Short interest data is inherently delayed (FINRA reporting lag), and the Squeeze Score is a proprietary research tool — not a trading signal. Past patterns do not guarantee future results. Always consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Related Research: Beta & Volatility Rankings · Short Interest Guide · Most Shorted Stocks (March 2026)