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Short Seller Series: ASX Short Selling Insights
In this update on Australia’s stock market, we dive into the most heavily shorted stocks on the ASX, focusing on trends in short interest over the past week and month. As short selling data is reported three business days post-trade, the information presented here is current as of late May 2025.
Week-on-Week and Month-on-Month Comparisons
We’ll examine short position changes from two perspectives:
- Week-on-week, between May 12 and May 19, 2025.
- Month-on-month, from April 16 to May 19, 2025.
Most Shorted Stocks
| Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week | Month-on-Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOE | Boss Energy | 21.70% | -1.89% | -4.02% |
| PDN | Paladin Energy | 15.63% | 0.16% | -1.30% |
| MIN | Mineral Resources | 14.33% | 1.25% | 1.01% |
| LTR | Liontown Resources | 12.76% | 1.46% | 0.56% |
| IEL | Idp Education | 12.65% | -0.45% | 0.05% |
| PLS | Pilbara Minerals | 12.29% | 0.72% | 0.31% |
| DYL | Deep Yellow | 11.63% | -0.68% | -1.35% |
| PNV | Polynovo | 10.98% | 0.31% | 0.77% |
| CTT | Cettire | 10.66% | -0.07% | 1.00% |
| KAR | Karoon Energy | 10.12% | -0.11% | 0.83% |
Key Observations
- Uranium Stocks’ Diminishing Shorts: Short interest in uranium companies has subsided notably as uranium prices rallied to over US$70/lb after dipping to US$64 earlier in the year.
- Increasing Lithium Shorting: The bearish sentiment towards lithium stocks is growing as demand falters. Recent reports indicate lithium carbonate prices in China have hit a four-year low, with excess supply driving the costs down.
Rising Short Positions
| Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week | Month-on-Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTR | Liontown Resources | 12.76% | 1.46% | 0.56% |
| WHC | Whitehaven Coal | 5.73% | 1.35% | 1.26% |
| MIN | Mineral Resources | 14.33% | 1.25% | 1.01% |
| ALX | Atlas Arteria | 2.14% | 0.99% | 1.01% |
| GPT | GPT Group | 2.71% | 0.87% | 0.93% |
| NEU | Neuren Pharmaceuticals | 6.43% | 0.78% | 0.78% |
| PLS | Pilbara Minerals | 12.29% | 0.72% | 0.31% |
| CKF | Collins Foods | 4.85% | 0.63% | 0.78% |
| BOQ | Bank of Queensland | 4.46% | 0.61% | 0.98% |
| DMP | Domino’s Pizza | 10.01% | 0.61% | -0.15% |
| NAN | Nanosonics | 4.55% | 0.60% | 1.05% |
| TWE | Treasury Wine Estates | 7.56% | 0.56% | 1.15% |
| VNT | Ventia Services Group | 1.00% | 0.54% | 0.22% |
| RMS | Ramelius Resources | 6.22% | 0.52% | 1.62% |
Rising Short Highlights
- Liontown in Focus: Despite its stock price surging by 65% in May, short interest in Liontown has increased as lithium prices remain low.
- Whitehaven’s Performance: Whitehaven has seen a 10% increase in share price this month, although short interest is also climbing. Their recent quarter report showed positive production metrics but missed revenue expectations amid tough market conditions.
Most Covered Stocks
| Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week | Month-on-Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOE | Boss Energy | 21.70% | -1.89% | -4.02% |
| SYR | Syrah Resources | 4.86% | -1.08% | -2.90% |
| DHG | Domain | 0.89% | -1.04% | -0.31% |
| IPG | Ipd Group | 0.62% | -0.76% | -0.72% |
| DYL | Deep Yellow | 11.63% | -0.68% | -1.35% |
| SYA | Sayona Mining | 3.01% | -0.56% | -0.47% |
Key Takeaways
- Minimal Covering Noted: Aside from uranium and Domain, there has been scarce activity in short-covering across sectors.
- Syrah’s Positive Momentum: A notable rally in Syrah stock—spurred by proposed tariffs on Chinese graphite imports—has increased market enthusiasm for this graphite producer.
In summary, the data showcases significant shifts in short selling dynamics within the ASX, particularly reflective of broader commodity price trends and economic sentiments. Investors and analysts should actively monitor these developments as they navigate the market landscape.
