The 10 most shorted ASX stocks plus the biggest risers and fallers – Week 35
Short sellers continued to pile into Boss Energy, while covering bearish bets against names like Silex, Liontown and Beach Energy.
Source: iStock
Mentioned
Welcome back to the Short Seller Series – A recap of the most heavily shorted stocks on the ASX and those experiencing significant changes to short interest over the past week.
Short selling data is four days behind today's date because reporting is not mandatory until three business days after the trade. The tables below will compare:
Week-on-week changes between 11 and 18 August
Month-on-month changes between 21 July and 18 August
Most covered and rising short tables record week-on-week changes of 0.5% or more
Most Shorted
Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week | Month-on-Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Boss Energy | 22.78% | 2.95% | 8.70% | |
Paladin Energy | 18.46% | 0.31% | 2.05% | |
Pilbara Minerals | 15.09% | 0.01% | 0.64% | |
Idp Education | 14.11% | 1.24% | 1.86% | |
Polynovo | 13.03% | 1.39% | 2.28% | |
Lifestyle Communities | 11.52% | -0.19% | -0.38% | |
Mineral Resources | 11.52% | -0.18% | -2.00% | |
Corporate Travel Management | 9.83% | -0.07% | -0.31% | |
Silex Systems | 8.88% | -5.70% | -2.35% | |
Cettire | 8.68% | 0.29% | 3.09% |
Rising Shorts
Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week | Month-on-Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Boss Energy | 22.78% | 2.95% | 8.70% | |
Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals | 8.09% | 2.65% | 2.53% | |
Polynovo | 13.03% | 1.39% | 2.28% | |
Idp Education | 14.11% | 1.24% | 1.86% | |
Alpha Hpa | 3.93% | 1.12% | 1.06% | |
Vulcan Energy Resources | 6.23% | 1.06% | 2.18% | |
Audinate Group | 5.68% | 1.03% | 0.85% | |
Bravura Solutions | 2.92% | 0.94% | 0.53% | |
Healius | 6.19% | 0.93% | 2.13% | |
AGL Energy | 3.39% | 0.73% | 0.67% | |
JB Hi-Fi | 4.69% | 0.57% | 0.56% | |
Nick Scali | 4.94% | 0.56% | -0.83% | |
Guzman Y GOMEZ | 8.03% | 0.54% | 1.72% | |
Fletcher Building | 2.72% | 0.54% | 0.59% | |
Digico Infrastructure REIT | 4.82% | 0.52% | 0.26% |
Key takeaways
Boss Energy saw short sellers pile in as the stock continued grinding lower following its 44% one-day selloff on 28 July. The crash came after massive upward revisions to FY26 costs and capex, plus challenges achieving production capacity due to "potential for less continuity of mineralisation and leachability." With an independent review now underway to assess the impact on feasibility study assumptions, uncertainty continues to weigh on the stock.
Post-earnings shorting hit several names including Audinate (poor FY25 earnings), Bravura Solutions (despite an in-line result and special dividend), JB Hi-Fi (valuation concerns overshadowed solid results), and Nick Scali (shares surged on margin beat).
Most Covered
Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week | Month-on-Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Silex Systems | 8.88% | -5.70% | -2.35% | |
Liontown Resources | 7.20% | -3.05% | -4.47% | |
Beach Energy | 3.27% | -1.96% | -0.01% | |
Alkane Resources | 1.05% | -1.75% | -1.54% | |
Weebit Nano | 2.91% | -1.56% | -0.25% | |
James Hardie Industries Plc | 2.79% | -1.19% | -0.13% | |
Johns LYNG Group | 2.78% | -0.88% | -1.86% | |
Alcoa Corporation | 0.74% | -0.78% | 0.30% | |
Orora | 3.50% | -0.73% | -0.84% | |
Lotus Resources | 7.72% | -0.72% | 0.04% | |
Adriatic Metals Plc | 0.80% | -0.67% | -1.74% | |
Whitehaven Coal | 3.95% | -0.51% | -1.67% | |
Platinum Asset Management | 3.96% | -0.51% | 0.17% |
Key takeaways
Silex experienced a sharp 3.04% weekly jump in short interest after completing a $130 million placement at $3.90 per share—a 15.7% discount to market. This short interest appears to be unwinding now.
Liontown continues seeing short interest flow out despite pullback in lithium prices. Even after raising $266 million at a 13% discount (73 cents per share) to "fortify" its balance sheet, short interest declined. The stock surged 18% the day after the raise (11 August), likely squeezing short positions.
Reporting season moves included James Hardie (dumped on poor results and guidance) and Orora (shares surged, likely squeezing shorts).
