StocksBi-monthly · FINRA publishes ~2 weeks after settlement
Short Interest & Squeeze Watch: Who the Market Is Betting Against
Every US-listed stock's short interest from FINRA's consolidated bi-monthly filings — the actual standing bets, not daily short-sale flow. Per stock: percent of shares short, days-to-cover and its percentile across the market. Plus the aggregate gauge since 2017 and a frozen study answering the question every squeeze thread skips: do high-short-interest stocks actually squeeze? Cross-check live action on Unusual Volume and the options tape.
Latest settlement
At the September 15, 2026 settlement, the median US common stock had 3.5% of its shares sold short (median days-to-cover 4.0). 17% of the 5,447-stock universe carried short interest above 10% of shares, and 5.8% above 20% (prior settlement median: 3.3%). Consolidated FINRA data across all US exchanges; the next settlement publishes about two weeks after month-end.
Sources, methodology & freshnessFINRA consolidated short interest (all US exchanges, Rule 4560), joined to our own price and share-count data · Bi-monthly settlements (15th and month-end), published ~2 weeks later; checked daily in the pipelineData as of 2026-10-07 · Open ↓Close ↑
Source
FINRA consolidated short interest (all US exchanges, Rule 4560), joined to our own price and share-count data
Methodology
SI% = shares short ÷ split-consistent shares outstanding; days-to-cover as published by FINRA; tables floored at $300M market cap; frozen quintile study with $300M/$5 floors
Updates
Bi-monthly settlements (15th and month-end), published ~2 weeks later; checked daily in the pipelineData as of 2026-10-07
Maintained & reviewed by Yuriy Matso — methodology shown on the page.
Short Interestsettled 2026-09-15
3.5%
median stock's shares short
Across 5,447 US common stocks in our universe, consolidated over every exchange by FINRA.
SI > 10%
17% of stocks
SI > 20%
5.8%
Median DTC
4.0 days
The study in one line: the typical highest-SI stock went 0.1% over the next quarter (a coin flip), but its +50% squeeze odds were 3.3× a low-SI stock's.
01
The aggregate gauge — market-wide short positioning
The median stock's short interest at every bi-monthly settlement since 2017. Rising medians mean shorts leaning into the whole tape; falling medians mean covering or capitulation. Universe coverage grows over time as listings enter our price database — the level drifts up partly for that reason, so read the direction more than the absolute level.
Range:
The heavily-shorted share: percent of the universe with more than 10% of shares sold short.
Range:
02
Do high-short-interest stocks actually squeeze?
The honest test, frozen before this page shipped: at each of 201 settlement dates, stocks above $300M market cap and $5 were bucketed into short-interest quintiles, and each bucket's forward 63-session returns were graded. The answer cuts both ways. The typical high-SI stock does not squeeze — the top quintile's median forward return is 0.1% with a 50% win rate, a coin flip. But the squeezes live almost entirely there: 5.8% of high-SI names gained +50% within the quarter, versus 1.7% of low-SI names — and that fat right tail drags the top quintile's average (3.4%) above every other bucket. High short interest buys squeeze exposure, not expected return.
| SI quintile | Avg fwd 63s | Win rate | +50% squeeze rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| lowest SI | 2.06% | 53.9% | 1.74% |
| Q2 | 2.82% | 55.4% | 1.71% |
| Q3 | 2.95% | 54.6% | 2.22% |
| Q4 | 3.15% | 52.9% | 3.53% |
| highest SI | 3.36% | 50.1% | 5.78% |
201 settlements since 2017; SPY averaged 3.3% over the same windows. Bi-monthly windows overlap and stock-quarters are not independent samples; the study is frozen and only re-run deliberately.
03
Most shorted stocks — SI % of shares
The 30 highest short-interest names above $300M market cap at the latest settlement. Readings above ~50% usually mix directional bets with arbitrage positions (convertibles, merger spreads) — check the story before reading pure conviction.
| Symbol | SI % shares | Days to cover | SI value | Mkt cap | Pctile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOLF | 100.8% | 10.3 | $819M | $497M | 99 |
| AVTX | 69.8% | 13.2 | $176M | $301M | 99 |
| ONDS | 61.5% | 3.9 | $1.70B | $5.3B | 99 |
| FCEL | 52.2% | 3.2 | $457M | $474M | 99 |
| ALT | 49.6% | 15.4 | $138M | $561M | 99 |
| NUAI | 49.4% | 4.3 | $146M | $431M | 99 |
| SERV | 43.1% | 11.4 | $150M | $987M | 99 |
| CAPR | 43.0% | 5.9 | $159M | $1.3B | 99 |
| SOUN | 42.6% | 7.0 | $929M | $4.6B | 98 |
| EOSE | 41.6% | 4.1 | $372M | $5.9B | 98 |
| SLS | 41.5% | 8.6 | $668M | $768M | 98 |
| NTLA | 40.3% | 14.1 | $547M | $1.8B | 98 |
| ASST | 38.4% | 2.4 | $675M | $1.1B | 98 |
| HTZ | 37.2% | 8.5 | $240M | $1.8B | 98 |
| RXRX | 34.8% | 12.6 | $763M | $2.6B | 98 |
| BBAI | 34.4% | 10.0 | $377M | $2.7B | 98 |
| DDD | 34.1% | 21.3 | $150M | $413M | 98 |
| LENZ | 34.0% | 14.6 | $38M | $666M | 98 |
| OCGN | 34.0% | 10.4 | $106M | $515M | 98 |
| UWMC | 33.0% | 7.6 | $95M | $1.6B | 98 |
| JACK | 32.7% | 11.1 | $76M | $415M | 98 |
| GRPN | 32.2% | 14.3 | $242M | $659M | 98 |
| SEI | 32.2% | 5.1 | $1.20B | $2.8B | 98 |
| SOC | 32.2% | 6.6 | $171M | $1.8B | 98 |
| PCT | 31.2% | 18.0 | $214M | $2.2B | 98 |
| TE | 31.2% | 3.5 | $247M | $1.8B | 98 |
| TNGX | 31.1% | 18.8 | $914M | $1.7B | 98 |
| RCAT | 31.0% | 6.6 | $228M | $2.1B | 98 |
| BTDR | 31.0% | 5.7 | $572M | $3.3B | 98 |
| LEU | 31.0% | 7.0 | $797M | $5.5B | 98 |
WOLF100.8%
DTC 10.3$819M$497M
AVTX69.8%
DTC 13.2$176M$301M
ONDS61.5%
DTC 3.9$1.70B$5.3B
FCEL52.2%
DTC 3.2$457M$474M
ALT49.6%
DTC 15.4$138M$561M
NUAI49.4%
DTC 4.3$146M$431M
SERV43.1%
DTC 11.4$150M$987M
CAPR43.0%
DTC 5.9$159M$1.3B
SOUN42.6%
DTC 7.0$929M$4.6B
EOSE41.6%
DTC 4.1$372M$5.9B
SLS41.5%
DTC 8.6$668M$768M
NTLA40.3%
DTC 14.1$547M$1.8B
ASST38.4%
DTC 2.4$675M$1.1B
HTZ37.2%
DTC 8.5$240M$1.8B
RXRX34.8%
DTC 12.6$763M$2.6B
BBAI34.4%
DTC 10.0$377M$2.7B
DDD34.1%
DTC 21.3$150M$413M
LENZ34.0%
DTC 14.6$38M$666M
OCGN34.0%
DTC 10.4$106M$515M
UWMC33.0%
DTC 7.6$95M$1.6B
JACK32.7%
DTC 11.1$76M$415M
GRPN32.2%
DTC 14.3$242M$659M
SEI32.2%
DTC 5.1$1.20B$2.8B
SOC32.2%
DTC 6.6$171M$1.8B
PCT31.2%
DTC 18.0$214M$2.2B
TE31.2%
DTC 3.5$247M$1.8B
TNGX31.1%
DTC 18.8$914M$1.7B
RCAT31.0%
DTC 6.6$228M$2.1B
BTDR31.0%
DTC 5.7$572M$3.3B
LEU31.0%
DTC 7.0$797M$5.5B
04
Slowest exits — days to cover
Short interest divided by average daily volume: how many normal sessions of buying it would take for every short to cover. Squeezes need this — a crowded short with huge daily volume can unwind quietly.
| Symbol | SI % shares | Days to cover | SI value | Mkt cap | Pctile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMAC | 10.5% | 36.7 | $44M | $434M | 84 |
| SVRA | 21.3% | 36.3 | $212M | $1.3B | 95 |
| LXEO | 28.3% | 33.4 | $68M | $561M | 97 |
| TY | 1.5% | 30.6 | $27M | $1.7B | 31 |
| TEVA | 2.7% | 27.4 | $1.23B | $36.3B | 43 |
| LCTX | 12.8% | 26.6 | — | $380M | 88 |
| PRTA | 15.9% | 26.5 | $72M | $557M | 91 |
| IMO | 3.9% | 26.2 | $2.27B | $49.3B | 54 |
| AVXL | 16.0% | 25.1 | $22M | $474M | 92 |
| ACIU | 3.5% | 25.0 | $9M | $365M | 50 |
| IEP | 2.9% | 24.7 | $116M | $4.8B | 45 |
| SKYH | 9.8% | 24.7 | $32M | $325M | 82 |
| RC | 11.5% | 23.7 | $23M | $371M | 86 |
| CD | 7.8% | 23.5 | $54M | $449M | 75 |
| LUXE | 2.9% | 23.3 | $41M | $1.2B | 45 |
DMAC10.5%
DTC 36.7$44M$434M
SVRA21.3%
DTC 36.3$212M$1.3B
LXEO28.3%
DTC 33.4$68M$561M
TY1.5%
DTC 30.6$27M$1.7B
TEVA2.7%
DTC 27.4$1.23B$36.3B
LCTX12.8%
DTC 26.6—$380M
PRTA15.9%
DTC 26.5$72M$557M
IMO3.9%
DTC 26.2$2.27B$49.3B
AVXL16.0%
DTC 25.1$22M$474M
ACIU3.5%
DTC 25.0$9M$365M
IEP2.9%
DTC 24.7$116M$4.8B
SKYH9.8%
DTC 24.7$32M$325M
RC11.5%
DTC 23.7$23M$371M
CD7.8%
DTC 23.5$54M$449M
LUXE2.9%
DTC 23.3$41M$1.2B
05
Biggest changes vs the prior settlement
The largest swings in short interest among names already carrying 5%+ SI — building bets and covering in progress, per FINRA's own change calculation.
| Symbol | SI % shares | Days to cover | Change vs prior | Mkt cap | Pctile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RWT | 17.0% | 2.1 | +238.4% | $713M | 92 |
| GOSS | 30.9% | 5.1 | -98.8% | $664M | 98 |
| BKV | 10.4% | 2.9 | +64.4% | $2.7B | 83 |
| CNQ | 8.8% | 22.1 | +61.6% | $73.9B | 79 |
| LX | 5.5% | 1.0 | +56.7% | $512M | 65 |
| HTB | 6.5% | 4.9 | +50.7% | $764M | 71 |
| CSR | 5.5% | 2.0 | +48.7% | $1.1B | 65 |
| PSTL | 9.7% | 6.6 | +45.3% | $475M | 82 |
| SARO | 7.1% | 7.3 | +45.2% | $10.8B | 73 |
| RUSHA | 10.7% | 10.7 | +45.1% | $5.0B | 84 |
| MATW | 18.9% | 7.1 | +42.0% | $871M | 94 |
| MBIN | 5.6% | 12.2 | +40.3% | $1.7B | 65 |
| GLOB | 25.2% | 10.7 | +39.5% | $3.0B | 97 |
| WLTH | 6.5% | 2.8 | +39.5% | $1.3B | 70 |
| ENS | 8.2% | 5.5 | +38.5% | $6.5B | 77 |
RWT17.0%
DTC 2.1+238% chg$713M
GOSS30.9%
DTC 5.1-99% chg$664M
BKV10.4%
DTC 2.9+64% chg$2.7B
CNQ8.8%
DTC 22.1+62% chg$73.9B
LX5.5%
DTC 1.0+57% chg$512M
HTB6.5%
DTC 4.9+51% chg$764M
CSR5.5%
DTC 2.0+49% chg$1.1B
PSTL9.7%
DTC 6.6+45% chg$475M
SARO7.1%
DTC 7.3+45% chg$10.8B
RUSHA10.7%
DTC 10.7+45% chg$5.0B
MATW18.9%
DTC 7.1+42% chg$871M
MBIN5.6%
DTC 12.2+40% chg$1.7B
GLOB25.2%
DTC 10.7+40% chg$3.0B
WLTH6.5%
DTC 2.8+39% chg$1.3B
ENS8.2%
DTC 5.5+39% chg$6.5B
Short Interestsettled 2026-09-15
3.5%
median stock's shares short
Across 5,447 US common stocks in our universe, consolidated over every exchange by FINRA.
SI > 10%
17% of stocks
SI > 20%
5.8%
Median DTC
4.0 days
The study in one line: the typical highest-SI stock went 0.1% over the next quarter (a coin flip), but its +50% squeeze odds were 3.3× a low-SI stock's.
How Short Interest & Squeeze Watch Works
- 1Pull every bi-monthly settlement from FINRAFINRA member firms must report short positions in all equity securities twice a month (Rule 4560), with settlements on the 15th and the last business day, published about two weeks later. We pull the consolidated dataset — all exchanges, not one venue — for every settlement since 2017.
- 2Join to our own price and share dataEach snapshot is joined to our US common-stock universe. Short interest percent = shares short ÷ shares outstanding, using split-consistent share counts derived from market cap and adjusted prices. Days-to-cover is FINRA's own figure: shares short ÷ average daily volume.
- 3Aggregate the market-wide gaugeAt every settlement we compute the median stock's short interest, the median days-to-cover, and the share of stocks with more than 10% and 20% of their shares sold short — the positioning cycle in three lines.
- 4Grade the squeeze folklore, then freeze itAt each settlement date, stocks above a $300M market cap and $5 price are bucketed into short-interest quintiles; forward 63-session returns, win rates and +50% squeeze frequencies are graded per bucket. The study is frozen — it re-runs only deliberately, never silently.
Who Uses Short Interest & Squeeze Watch
Squeeze-narrative skeptics
When a ticker trends as "the next big squeeze," look it up: its actual SI%, days-to-cover and percentile are here from FINRA filings rather than social-media screenshots — and the settlement date tells you how stale the number is.
Single-name traders
The top-SI and biggest-change tables surface where bearish positioning concentrates and where it is building or covering fastest, twice a month. A large SI drop alongside a rally is covering; a build into weakness is conviction.
Market-regime readers
The aggregate gauge shows whether shorts are leaning in or backing off across the whole tape — the median stock's SI% and the share of heavily-shorted names expand and contract with the risk cycle.
Squeeze-lottery hunters
The study quantifies the trade-off: the typical high-SI stock went nowhere over the next quarter (median ~0%, coin-flip win rate), but the odds of a +50% move were about three times a low-SI stock's. High short interest buys squeeze exposure, not expected return.
Pro Tips
01
Squeezes need both ingredients
Days-to-cover above ~10 means even modest covering pressure meets thin volume — a real squeeze setup pairs high SI% with high DTC. One without the other is a weaker setup.
02
Read the change column first
A 20%+ jump in short interest at one settlement is fresh conviction; a 20% drop into strength is a squeeze already in progress. The level tells you where the crowd is; the change tells you what it is doing.
03
The print is always stale in a fast squeeze
Settlement data publishes ~2 weeks late, so during a squeeze the posted number describes the world before it started. Treat it as positioning context and use live volume for timing.
04
Interrogate readings above ~50%
Extreme SI% usually involves convertible arbitrage, merger spreads or share-count drift alongside directional bets — check the situation before reading it as pure crowd conviction.
Common Issues & Solutions
The SI% here differs from my broker's number▾
We divide by shares outstanding; most broker sites divide by float, which is smaller and produces higher percentages. Neither is wrong — they are different denominators, and ours is stated on every table.
A stock shows an implausibly high SI%▾
Share counts come from our market-cap snapshot and are made split-consistent, but recent offerings or buybacks can drift a name's denominator until the next snapshot. Readings above 150% are excluded from tables as data-suspect.
A thin stock shows no days-to-cover▾
FINRA reports 999.99 as a sentinel for near-zero-volume names; we treat those as missing rather than ranking them as extremes.
A famous squeeze never appeared in the data▾
The series is bi-monthly: a position opened and covered between settlements never prints. That is a limitation of the source, and it is why the page pairs with live volume and options tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is short interest?▾
The total number of shares investors have sold short and not yet covered, reported to FINRA by member firms twice a month for every US equity. Expressed as a percent of shares outstanding, it measures how heavily the market is positioned against a stock.
What counts as high short interest?▾
The median US common stock runs a low-single-digit percent of shares short. Above 10% is elevated (roughly the top sixth of the market), above 20% is heavily shorted (top ~5%), and readings above 50% are rare and usually involve arbitrage positions or share-count quirks alongside directional bets.
What is days-to-cover and why does it matter?▾
Short interest divided by average daily volume — how many typical sessions of buying it would take for every short to exit. High days-to-cover means covering is slow and crowded; squeezes need it, because high SI% with huge daily volume can unwind without fireworks.
Do high-short-interest stocks actually squeeze?▾
Occasionally — and that is the honest answer. In our study across every settlement since 2017, the typical highest-quintile stock returned about zero over the next quarter with a coin-flip win rate, but its chance of a +50% move was roughly triple a low-SI stock's. High short interest buys squeeze exposure, not expected return.
How often is short interest data updated?▾
Twice a month. Settlements fall on the 15th and the last business day, and FINRA publishes the consolidated data roughly two weeks later; this page updates the same day each new settlement publishes.
Is this the same as the daily short volume data?▾
No. Daily short-sale volume files count shares sold short during a day (most of it market-making flow, closed intraday); this dataset is open short positions outstanding at settlement — actual standing bets. The bi-monthly positions series is the one squeeze analysis needs.
Explore Other Tools
Unusual Volume
Squeezes in progress show up here first — volume spikes on heavily-shorted names are the live confirmation the bi-monthly data cannot give.
Unusual Options Activity
Call-buying in high-SI names is the modern squeeze accelerant — cross-check the options tape against the short-interest base.
Market Heatmap
See how the heavily-shorted cohort is trading today against the rest of the tape.
Margin Debt
The long-leverage counterpart to short positioning, from the same regulator's monthly statistics.
Last updated: 2026-10-07