Short & Caught: The ASX stocks investors are shorting right now
News
Short & Caught is Stockhead’s fortnightly recap of which ASX small cap stocks are heavily shorted. Stocks that are shorted have investors betting that they fall.
Shorting works by selling stocks you do not actually own in the hope of buying them back at a lower price.
Because shorting is restricted under Australian law, any substantial shorting of stocks is worth knowing about even if you own these stocks and only trade long.
Stockhead’s two preferred metrics are raw short interest as well as percentage changes in them within the last month.
After weeks of Syrah Resources (ASX:SYR) and Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY) being the most shorted stocks both are now only the third and fourth most shorted respectively.
Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) tops the list with 215.7m in shorted shares. This company’s project is in production and exporting lithium and tantalum.
Next most shorted is Mayne Pharma (ASX:MYX). The company’s share price has nearly halved since its half yearly, which it admitted was disappointing with a $17.5m after-tax loss.
Last time Stockhead ran this column we reported shorters had increased their interest in oil stocks due to the oil price crash. Many targets remained on the list this fortnight including Otto Energy (ASX:OEL) and Senex Energy (ASX:SXY).
Code | Name | Price (I) | Short Interest (Shares) | Short Interest 1 Month % Change | Market Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLS | PILBARA MINERALS LTD | 0.14 | 215.71M | 11.09 | 366.91M |
MYX | MAYNE PHARMA GROUP LTD | 0.22 | 126.24M | 36.99 | 402.98M |
GXY | GALAXY RESOURCES LTD | 0.77 | 79.77M | -1.52 | 364.44M |
SYR | SYRAH RESOURCES LTD | 0.19 | 71.87M | 2.49 | 95.35M |
MYR | MYER HOLDINGS LTD | 0.1 | 67.95M | 10.69 | 78.02M |
NCZ | NEW CENTURY RESOURCES LTD | 0.06 | 64.44M | 19.07 | 48.48M |
SXY | SENEX ENERGY LTD | 0.14 | 60.50M | 0.69 | 233.07M |
INR | IONEER LTD | 0.08 | 56.48M | 4.34 | 154.55M |
CVN | CARNARVON PETROLEUM LTD | 0.12 | 55.34M | 5.1 | 234.66M |
NEA | NEARMAP LTD | 0.89 | 47.76M | -3.31 | 459.24M |
CLQ | CLEAN TEQ HOLDINGS LTD | 0.11 | 39.81M | -0.65 | 85.84M |
PDN | PALADIN ENERGY LTD | 0.04 | 36.29M | 72.72 | 81.12M |
MLX | METALS X LTD | 0.05 | 35.68M | 10.96 | 48.99M |
GEM | G8 EDUCATION LTD | 0.51 | 34.49M | 88.42 | 308.32M |
SWM | SEVEN WEST MEDIA LTD | 0.07 | 34.35M | -6.94 | 123.04M |
JMS | JUPITER MINES LTD | 0.22 | 33.64M | 6.19 | 479.95M |
SDA | SPEEDCAST INTERNATIONAL LTD | 0.79 | 31.72M | 1.78 | 189.40M |
BUD | BUDDY TECHNOLOGIES LTD | 0.01 | 31.27M | 68.47 | 21.44M |
FAR | FAR LTD | 0.01 | 30.87M | 1.72 | 119.75M |
BGL | BELLEVUE GOLD LTD | 0.32 | 30.18M | 48.1 | 191.72M |
PGH | PACT GROUP HOLDINGS LTD | 1.29 | 25.90M | 78.63 | 488.47M |
BUB | BUBS AUSTRALIA LTD | 0.53 | 25.69M | -1.83 | 313.77M |
GRR | GRANGE RESOURCES LTD | 0.16 | 20.62M | 8.69 | 190.96M |
OEL | OTTO ENERGY LTD | 0.01 | 19.92M | 111 | 24.60M |
AJM | ALTURA MINING LTD | 0.03 | 19.64M | -20.3 | 85.87M |
WAF | WEST AFRICAN RESOURCES LTD | 0.4 | 19.51M | -3.83 | 383.01M |
KAR | KAROON ENERGY LTD | 0.38 | 18.91M | 62.83 | 229.49M |
Z1P | ZIP CO LTD | 1.17 | 18.91M | 120.69 | 495.79M |
EWC | ENERGY WORLD CORP LTD | 0.05 | 18.65M | 1.53 | 93.37M |
OML | OOH!MEDIA LTD | 0.84 | 17.97M | 161.51 | 203.60M |
IFN | INFIGEN ENERGY | 0.4 | 17.12M | -4.28 | 418.53M |
SLC | SUPERLOOP LTD | 0.49 | 16.40M | 32.36 | 204.89M |
IPD | IMPEDIMED LTD | 0.05 | 16.11M | 19.88 | 24.53M |
LNG | LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS LTD | 0.1 | 15.53M | 3.62 | 57.09M |
STX | STRIKE ENERGY LTD | 0.09 | 15.40M | 414.08 | 168.92M |
VAH | VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LT | 0.06 | 14.52M | 2968.83 | 464.49M |
AMA | AMA GROUP LTD | 0.19 | 14.34M | 19.25 | 160.93M |
SPL | STARPHARMA HOLDINGS LTD | 0.7 | 13.73M | -2.41 | 290.60M |
AMI | AURELIA METALS LTD | 0.22 | 13.59M | 544.46 | 205.39M |
HT1 | HT&E LTD | 1.03 | 12.83M | -3.24 | 294.24M |
PET | PHOSLOCK ENVIRONMENTAL TECHN | 0.32 | 12.43M | 7.37 | 197.75M |
BOT | BOTANIX PHARMACEUTICALS LTD | 0.07 | 11.77M | -0.78 | 68.09M |
DCN | DACIAN GOLD LTD | 1.40 | 11.38M | -0.36 | 319.80M |
WSA | WESTERN AREAS LTD | 1.66 | 11.20M | 34.09 | 476.32M |
LVT | LIVETILES LTD | 0.13 | 10.69M | 5.77 | 121.80M |
SXL | SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP L | 0.17 | 10.28M | 77.15 | 188.41M |
CGB | CANN GLOBAL LTD | 0.006 | 10.22M | 35.37 | 22.83M |
EHE | ESTIA HEALTH LTD | 0.95 | 10.14M | 76.34 | 285.89M |
JHC | JAPARA HEALTHCARE LTD | 0.43 | 9.46M | 113.68 | 130.95M |
ECX | ECLIPX GROUP LTD | 0.45 | 9.21M | -17.51 | 159.82M |
MYL | MYANMAR METALS LTD | 0.03 | 8.89M | 631.47 | 61.90M |
ALG | ARDENT LEISURE GROUP LTD | 0.14 | 8.81M | -39.53 | 93.54M |
EMR | EMERALD RESOURCES NL | 0.03 | 8.46M | 68.92 | 159.90M |
CLH | COLLECTION HOUSE LTD | 1.09 | 8.11M | 0 | 154.01M |
PNR | PANTORO LTD | 0.07 | 7.70M | 155.1 | 97.60M |
FBR | FBR LTD | 0.01 | 7.48M | -1.15 | 24.69M |
REG | REGIS HEALTHCARE LTD | 0.76 | 7.21M | 129.93 | 261.65M |
AVZ | AVZ MINERALS LTD | 0.05 | 7.05M | 54.98 | 110.88M |
WBE | WHITEBARK ENERGY LTD | 0.003 | 6.43M | 0 | 12.10M |
EHL | EMECO HOLDINGS LTD | 0.62 | 6.23M | -28.49 | 287.47M |
KGN | KOGAN.COM LTD | 4.1 | 6.07M | -2.88 | 432.28M |
ARU | ARAFURA RESOURCES LTD | 0.05 | 6.02M | 26.87 | 56.96M |
MRM | MMA OFFSHORE LTD | 0.06 | 5.84M | -79.34 | 57.40M |
AGY | ARGOSY MINERALS LTD | 0.03 | 5.54M | 33.18 | 32.62M |
There are more stocks with less than $5m in short interest against them on the list this week, including travel companies such as Helloworld Travel (ASX:HLO), Apollo Tourism & Leisure (ASX:ATL) and Virgin Australia (ASX:VAH).
We also noticed companies in the middle of major deals such as Cardinal Resources (ASX:CDV), which got takeover offer last week, and Ellex Medical Lasers (ASX:ELX), which received a takeover offer for most (but not all) of its assets from European optometry play Lumibird.
Also, deal rainmakers Moelis (ASX:MOE) and Euroz (ASX:EZL) were shorted too.
While the mandatory shutdown of businesses in the hospitality space was only just announced, companies like Gage Roads Brewing (ASX:GRB) and Redcape Hotel Group (ASX:RDC) have been on short sellers’ lists for the past month.
Code | Name | Price (I) | Short Interest (Shares) | Short Interest 1 Month % Change | Market Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
TTM | TITAN MINERALS LTD | 0.03 | 1.45M | 145,258,800 | 29.74M |
GPR | GEOPACIFIC RESOURCES LTD | 0.25 | 500.00k | 49,999,900 | 47.12M |
ATL | APOLLO TOURISM & LEISURE LTD | 0.08 | 107.57k | 10,756,500 | 20.48M |
CDV | CARDINAL RESOURCES LTD | 0.3 | 2.76M | 727,016.88 | 147.51M |
AAR | ANGLO AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES | 0.08 | 17.33k | 86,555 | 41.79M |
DTL | DATA#3 LTD | 2.66 | 29.33k | 86,173.53 | 446.53M |
HCH | HOT CHILI LTD | 0.01 | 3.17M | 50,795.48 | 19.00M |
HLO | HELLOWORLD TRAVEL LTD | 0.84 | 16.30k | 36,945.45 | 107.88M |
AQX | ALICE QUEEN LTD | 0.02 | 2.00M | 36,773.16 | 17.70M |
IGL | IVE GROUP LTD | 0.41 | 334.99k | 30,106.67 | 84.48M |
PGL | PROSPA GROUP LTD | 0.57 | 6.28k | 24,042.31 | 101.65M |
ISD | ISENTIA GROUP LTD | 0.13 | 501.81k | 17,732.66 | 29.00M |
RDC | REDCAPE HOTEL GROUP | 0.44 | 500.16k | 17,321.11 | 242.97M |
EZL | EUROZ LTD | 0.67 | 55.22k | 14,946.05 | 121.08M |
OCL | OBJECTIVE CORPORATION LTD | 4.29 | 2.97k | 14,735 | 426.70M |
ZNO | ZOONO GROUP LTD | 1.29 | 2.25M | 11,862.17 | 231.90M |
LYL | LYCOPODIUM LTD | 3.96 | 94.16k | 10,361.67 | 168.86M |
FLN | FREELANCER LTD | 0.28 | 112.72k | 6945.25 | 129.04M |
GMR | GOLDEN RIM RESOURCES LTD | 0 | 151.93k | 6815.48 | 4.65M |
TER | TERRACOM LTD | 0.19 | 2.50M | 6714.25 | 115.22M |
MMI | METRO MINING LTD | 0.09 | 173.32k | 4005.19 | 131.95M |
TBR | TRIBUNE RESOURCES LTD | 4.51 | 12.13k | 3564.05 | 254.76M |
PAC | PACIFIC CURRENT GROUP LTD | 3.7 | 436 | 3533.33 | 212.26M |
CAJ | CAPITOL HEALTH LTD | 0.17 | 62.68k | 3496.1 | 158.94M |
OMH | OM HOLDINGS LTD | 0.25 | 185.12k | 3375.85 | 184.66M |
MOE | MOELIS AUSTRALIA LTD | 1.5 | 67.33k | 3047.78 | 294.73M |
VAH | VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LT | 0.06 | 14.52M | 2968.83 | 464.49M |
ELX | ELLEX MEDICAL LASERS LTD | 0.49 | 120.99k | 2752.86 | 74.67M |
TPW | TEMPLE & WEBSTER GROUP LTD | 1.75 | 1.86M | 2379.48 | 232.52M |
PWH | PWR HOLDINGS LTD | 2.6 | 667.81k | 1646.64 | 291.26M |
CXL | CALIX LTD | 0.6 | 67.22k | 1528.39 | 98.00M |
MNS | MAGNIS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES L | 0.05 | 724.62k | 1380.66 | 36.63M |
GRB | GAGE ROADS BREWING CO | 0.04 | 34.00k | 1326.17 | 49.04M |
IME | IMEXHS LTD | 0.02 | 2.06M | 1239.61 | 23.51M |
PPC | PEET LTD | 0.65 | 14.99k | 1109.11 | 335.89M |
FWD | FLEETWOOD CORP LTD | 1.23 | 9.87k | 1106.6 | 122.99M |
ADT | ADRIATIC METALS PLC-CDI | 0.82 | 63.30k | 979.95 | 157.37M |
ACF | ACROW FORMWORK AND CONSTRUCT | 0.15 | 578.32k | 973.52 | 39.13M |
AVL | AUSTRALIAN VANADIUM LTD | 0.01 | 999.00k | 962.61 | 22.98M |
SGH | SLATER & GORDON LTD | 0.82 | 754 | 947.22 | 113.51M |
URF | US MASTERS RESIDENTIAL PROPE | 0.22 | 163.25k | 878.05 | 110.51M |
EVS | ENVIROSUITE LTD | 0.08 | 2.71M | 804.44 | 83.50M |
88E | 88 ENERGY LTD | 0.01 | 161.25k | 735.58 | 99.53M |
MYE | MASTERMYNE GROUP LTD | 0.53 | 59.94k | 728.83 | 57.28M |
OPY | OPENPAY GROUP LTD | 0.35 | 119.59k | 671.37 | 40.33M |
NEU | NEUREN PHARMACEUTICALS LTD | 1.11 | 315 | 668.29 | 114.52M |
RBL | REDBUBBLE LTD | 0.47 | 1.04M | 667.37 | 128.68M |
GGG | GREENLAND MINERALS LTD | 0.07 | 970.00k | 651.8 | 94.09M |
MYL | MYANMAR METALS LTD | 0.03 | 8.89M | 631.47 | 61.90M |
MCR | MINCOR RESOURCES NL | 0.41 | 334.34k | 631.39 | 162.60M |
BLK | BLACKHAM RESOURCES LTD | 0.01 | 2.81M | 621.34 | 47.07M |
TTT | TITOMIC LTD | 0.54 | 387.97k | 609.51 | 94.57M |
TLX | TELIX PHARMACEUTICALS LTD | 0.76 | 896.97k | 600.66 | 220.50M |
LPD | LEPIDICO LTD | 0.01 | 532.56k | 572.82 | 37.07M |
AMI | AURELIA METALS LTD | 0.22 | 13.59M | 544.46 | 205.39M |
AEF | AUSTRALIAN ETHICAL INVT LTD | 2.08 | 6.36k | 432.94 | 260.74M |
IMM | IMMUTEP LTD | 0.27 | 123.72k | 427.67 | 111.61M |
BBN | BABY BUNTING GROUP LTD | 1.55 | 1.50M | 415.01 | 210.48M |
STX | STRIKE ENERGY LTD | 0.09 | 15.40M | 414.08 | 168.92M |
CAN | CANN GROUP LTD | 0.63 | 50.68k | 406.79 | 96.13M |
VRL | VILLAGE ROADSHOW LTD | 0.97 | 381.83k | 381.38 | 261.57M |
CPH | CRESO PHARMA LTD | 0.04 | 491.52k | 379.48 | 9.97M |
BSX | BLACKSTONE MINERALS LTD | 0.09 | 47.80k | 356.93 | 16.74M |
SWK | SWICK MINING SERVICES LTD | 0.13 | 45.07k | 345.16 | 39.64M |
FRI | FINBAR GROUP LTD | 0.6 | 3.33k | 338.42 | 193.21M |
GTN | GTN LTD | 0.44 | 785 | 324.32 | 99.30M |
MVP | MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS INTERNA | 3.91 | 271.49k | 323.48 | 275.55M |
PRN | PERENTI GLOBAL LTD | 0.55 | 3.72M | 268.46 | 464.00M |
SMR | STANMORE COAL LTD | 0.75 | 173.83k | 261.89 | 199.75M |
MNF | MNF GROUP LTD | 3.53 | 121.18k | 244.63 | 324.35M |