Author:
Ihor Dusaniwsky
Managing Director of Predictive Analytics, S3 Partners
The Biotech sector is the fourth most shorted Industry behind Semiconductor, Software and Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels. Total short interest is $53.29 billion. The average SI % Float is 10.47% which is more than double the U.S. average of 4.83%.
Biotech Short Interest
Ticker
SI % Float
Fee
Short Interest
AMGEN INC
AMGN
1.79%
0.30%
$3,049,415,726
MODERNA INC
MRNA
6.16%
0.30%
$2,677,931,555
ABBVIE INC
ABBV
0.82%
0.30%
$2,381,066,010
VERTEX PHARMA
VRTX
1.58%
0.30%
$1,784,922,324
GILEAD SCIENCES INC
GILD
1.77%
0.30%
$1,477,441,631
REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS
REGN
1.26%
0.30%
$1,311,790,175
UNITED THERAPEUTICS
UTHR
9.39%
0.30%
$1,046,824,536
VIKING THERAPEUTICS INC
VKTX
12.49%
0.30%
$987,476,002
MADRIGAL PHARMA
MDGL
22.96%
0.30%
$858,020,532
CRISPR THERAPEUTICS AG
CRSP
18.02%
0.57%
$823,740,154
CYTOKINETICS INC
CYTK
13.25%
0.30%
$812,874,695
BIOGEN INC
BIIB
2.16%
0.30%
$732,829,226
SAREPTA THERAPEUTICS
SRPT
6.02%
0.30%
$709,832,548
NATERA INC
NTRA
5.52%
0.30%
$681,421,991
TG THERAPEUTICS
TGTX
26.39%
0.30%
$653,648,206
LEGEND BIOTECH CORP ADR
LEGN
7.20%
0.30%
$594,751,919
VAXCYTE INC
PCVX
8.03%
0.30%
$594,182,748
NOVAVAX INC
NVAX
34.02%
11.82%
$585,389,552
TWIST BIOSCIENCE CORP
TWST
21.09%
0.30%
$567,988,504
ARGENX SE ADR
ARGX
2.53%
0.30%
$562,850,040
Total Biotech Short Interest
10.47%
1.10%
$53,290,657,074
Over the last thirty days we have seen short interest in the Biotech sector increase by $4.27 billion, or 8.7%. The largest increase in short interest occurred in Moderna Inc (MRNA), Novavax Inc (NVAX) and Amgen Inc (AMGN) while the largest decrease in short interest was in Cytokinetics Inc (CYTK) and Exact Sciences Corp (EXAS).
The Biotech stocks with the largest increase in short interest are:
Biotech Short Interest
Ticker
SI % Float
Fee
Short Interest
30D Change Short Interest
MODERNA INC
MRNA
6.16%
0.30%
$2,677,931,555
$498,826,097
NOVAVAX INC
NVAX
34.02%
11.82%
$585,389,552
$405,058,586
AMGEN INC
AMGN
1.79%
0.30%
$3,049,415,726
$365,024,132
VIKING THERAPEUTICS INC
VKTX
12.49%
0.30%
$987,476,002
$241,129,118
TWIST BIOSCIENCE CORP
TWST
21.09%
0.30%
$567,988,504
$209,676,603
ABBVIE INC
ABBV
0.82%
0.30%
$2,381,066,010
$192,687,956
VERTEX PHARMA
VRTX
1.58%
0.30%
$1,784,922,324
$183,865,902
NATERA INC
NTRA
5.52%
0.30%
$681,421,991
$161,032,376
IMMUNITYBIO INC
IBRX
39.09%
24.57%
$444,923,917
$157,570,674
TG THERAPEUTICS
TGTX
26.39%
0.30%
$653,648,206
$151,188,273
The Biotech stocks with the largest decrease in short interest are:
Biotech Short Interest
Ticker
SI % Float
Fee
Short Interest
30D Change Short Interest
CYTOKINETICS INC
CYTK
13.25%
0.30%
$812,874,695
($142,011,497)
EXACT SCIENCES CORP
EXAS
5.30%
0.30%
$515,803,647
($130,640,056)
MACROGENICS INC
MGNX
18.13%
0.30%
$50,036,916
($95,632,092)
ASCENDIS PHARMA ADR
ASND
6.39%
0.30%
$451,494,103
($71,356,117)
AMICUS THERAPEUTICS
FOLD
9.99%
0.30%
$277,828,100
($56,013,050)
IOVANCE BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC
IOVA
22.36%
0.30%
$528,159,189
($54,165,867)
CEREVEL THERAPEUTICS HOLDING
CERE
7.50%
0.30%
$276,952,954
($53,471,049)
IONIS PHARMA
IONS
6.53%
0.30%
$343,463,363
($52,689,544)
SAGE THERAPEUTICS INC
SAGE
16.41%
0.30%
$95,091,618
($47,547,249)
BIOHAVEN LTD
BHVN
12.46%
0.30%
$351,798,100
($47,299,812)
Total Biotech Short Interest
10.47%
1.10%
$53,290,657,074
$4,275,424,570
Changes in short interest consist of shares shorted & covered as well as the mark-to-market change in the value of shares already shorted. Over the last thirty days in the Biotech sector, we’ve seen the $1.09 billion of net short selling coupled with a $3.19 billion mark-to-market increase in the value of shares shorted. Shorts were actively shorting into a rising market looking for a retracement in the sector.
The Biotech stocks with the largest increase in short selling are:
Biotech Short Interest
Ticker
SI % Float
Short Interest
30D Change Short Interest
30D Change Shares Shorted
ABBVIE INC
ABBV
0.82%
$2,381,066,010
$192,687,956
$163,991,462
MADRIGAL PHARMA
MDGL
22.96%
$858,020,532
$69,918,783
$136,817,174
VIKING THERAPEUTICS INC
VKTX
12.49%
$987,476,002
$241,129,118
$117,834,105
LEGEND BIOTECH CORP ADR
LEGN
7.20%
$594,751,919
$26,805,993
$92,156,567
SAREPTA THERAPEUTICS
SRPT
6.02%
$709,832,548
$133,153,524
$63,987,033
NATERA INC
NTRA
5.52%
$681,421,991
$161,032,376
$63,826,164
ARGENX SE ADR
ARGX
2.53%
$562,850,040
$62,603,716
$61,672,918
INCYTE CORP
INCY
4.19%
$530,375,781
$88,738,896
$58,817,010
APELLIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC
APLS
12.13%
$505,681,999
($43,782,470)
$58,428,557
GILEAD SCIENCES INC
GILD
1.77%
$1,477,441,631
$42,352,324
$58,027,041
The Biotech stocks with the largest increase in short selling are:
Biotech Short Interest
Ticker
SI % Float
Short Interest
30D Change Short Interest
30D Change Shares Shorted
AMGEN INC
AMGN
1.79%
$3,049,415,726
$365,024,132
($176,181,545)
UNITED THERAPEUTICS
UTHR
9.39%
$1,046,824,536
$31,371,558
($131,088,900)
CEREVEL THERAPEUTICS HLDNG
CERE
7.50%
$276,952,954
($53,471,049)
($58,304,619)
REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS
REGN
1.26%
$1,311,790,175
$65,349,076
($45,138,522)
ALPINE IMMUNE SCIENCES INC
ALPN
8.74%
$263,145,026
($42,339,703)
($44,947,870)
CYTOKINETICS INC
CYTK
13.25%
$812,874,695
($142,011,497)
($36,693,190)
BIOGEN INC
BIIB
2.16%
$732,829,226
$90,412,034
($35,329,533)
ROCKET PHARMACEUTICALS INC
RCKT
11.41%
$227,352,723
($36,858,479)
($33,007,025)
IONIS PHARMA
IONS
6.53%
$343,463,363
($52,689,544)
($30,379,163)
MODERNA INC
MRNA
6.16%
$2,677,931,555
$498,826,097
($29,899,717)
Total Biotech Short Interest
10.47%
$53,290,657,074
$4,275,424,570
$1,089,775,428
Biotech shorts are down -$2.19 billion in year-to-date mark-to-market losses, down -4.3% for the year. The most profitable shorts in are:
Biotech YTD MTM P\L
Ticker
Short Interest
YTD MTM P\L
P\L %
CYTOKINETICS INC
CYTK
$1,028,390,676
$310,592,106
30.20%
GILEAD SCIENCES INC
GILD
$1,429,600,484
$264,357,608
18.49%
EXACT SCIENCES CORP
EXAS
$487,324,599
$194,612,654
39.93%
APELLIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC
APLS
$645,063,675
$186,894,790
28.97%
ALNYLAM PHARMA
ALNY
$544,659,867
$168,189,411
30.88%
ACADIA PHARMA
ACAD
$216,120,813
$158,172,426
73.19%
LEGEND BIOTECH CORP ADR
LEGN
$594,339,793
$155,182,652
26.11%
BRIDGEBIO PHARMA INC
BBIO
$473,400,734
$146,316,406
30.91%
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
MLTX
$353,685,001
$137,673,148
38.93%
AMICUS THERAPEUTICS
FOLD
$343,841,755
$134,000,558
38.97%
The least profitable shorts are:
Biotech YTD MTM P\L
Ticker
Short Interest
YTD MTM P\L
P\L %
VIKING THERAPEUTICS INC
VKTX
$619,149,587
($733,872,295)
-118.53%
MODERNA INC
MRNA
$2,287,542,454
($661,565,282)
-28.92%
NOVAVAX INC
NVAX
$234,166,719
($370,811,474)
-158.35%
NATERA INC
NTRA
$570,365,425
($331,069,748)
-58.05%
AMGEN INC
AMGN
$2,911,142,603
($259,302,142)
-8.91%
IMMUNITYBIO INC
IBRX
$267,166,563
($219,086,837)
-82.00%
ALPINE IMMUNE SCIENCES INC
ALPN
$168,525,251
($207,044,794)
-122.86%
SAREPTA THERAPEUTICS
SRPT
$625,888,283
($188,710,003)
-30.15%
AVIDITY BIOSCIENCES INC
RNA
$178,082,792
($181,608,698)
-101.98%
VERA THERAPEUTICS INC
VERA
$242,889,653
($174,896,481)
-72.01%
Total YTD MTM P\L
$50,562,266,148
($2,194,373,519)
-4.34%
When breaking down short selling by market cap we see an interesting anomaly that the least profitable shorted stocks had the largest market caps and only slice of short selling that was profitable were the Micro\Nano market cap stocks. This may imply that the larger market cap stocks with the larger amount of indexing and passive shareholders held their value more than the smallest cap stocks that have minimal index exposure.
Biotech YTD MTM P\L
Tickers
Short Interest
YTD MTM P\L
P\L %
Mega + Large
19
$17,115,967,178
($1,306,039,165)
-7.63%
Mid
73
$22,142,189,698
($1,101,961,881)
-4.98%
Small
175
$9,992,735,983
($33,112,518)
-0.33%
Micro + Nano
754
$1,311,373,289
$246,740,045
18.82%
Total YTD MTM P\L
1,021
$50,562,266,148
($2,194,373,519)
-4.34%
Recently shorting Biotech stocks has been a very unprofitable trade with short sellers down $4.05 billion in May month-to-date mark-to-market losses, down -7.8%. The most profitable biotech shorts in May are:
Biotech May MTM P\L
Ticker
Short Interest
May MTM P\L
P\L %
MACROGENICS INC
MGNX
$112,548,297
$102,819,659
91.36%
EXACT SCIENCES CORP
EXAS
$531,932,454
$53,841,096
10.12%
IOVANCE BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC
IOVA
$614,588,581
$53,743,557
8.74%
ASCENDIS PHARMA ADR
ASND
$496,239,925
$52,365,471
10.55%
JANUX THERAPEUTICS INC
JANX
$192,592,665
$33,020,848
17.15%
CG OCOLOGY INC
CGON
$81,980,993
$29,685,977
36.21%
APELLIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC
APLS
$552,631,994
$25,996,550
4.70%
IRONWOOD PHARMA
IRWD
$148,823,396
$22,776,260
15.30%
EXELIXIS INC
EXEL
$204,458,497
$21,869,888
10.70%
ACADIA PHARMA
ACAD
$193,384,174
$18,951,919
9.80%
The least profitable biotech shorts in May are:
Biotech May MTM P\L
Ticker
Short Interest
May MTM P\L
P\L %
RECURSION PHARMACEUTICALS
RXRX
$363,718,873
($89,964,933)
-24.73%
VAXCYTE INC
PCVX
$546,231,804
($91,628,985)
-16.77%
REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS
REGN
$1,486,866,907
($135,033,762)
-9.08%
UNITED THERAPEUTICS
UTHR
$1,013,652,797
($145,178,866)
-14.32%
TG THERAPEUTICS
TGTX
$617,247,488
($152,201,810)
-24.66%
VERTEX PHARMA
VRTX
$1,664,319,519
($178,293,013)
-10.71%
TWIST BIOSCIENCE CORP
TWST
$487,013,683
($200,453,188)
-41.16%
NOVAVAX INC
NVAX
$313,671,723
($378,667,129)
-120.72%
MODERNA INC
MRNA
$2,526,685,867
($389,152,428)
-15.40%
AMGEN INC
AMGN
$3,029,746,061
($436,467,221)
-14.41%
Total May MTM P\L
$52,205,592,906
($4,050,598,950)
-7.76%
The Biotech sector is crowded on the short side relative to the entire U.S. market. The sector
has an average Crowded score of 47.3 versus the U.S. average of 32.7. It is a popular sector to short because of its volatility and due to the amount of smaller cap securities that are shorted relative to larger cap securities, the stocks tend to get crowded quicker. The most Crowded stocks in the sector are:
Biotech Crowded Score
Ticker
Short Interest
Crowded Score
BIOMEA FUSION INC
BMEA
$ 182,522,999
95.00
IMMUNITYBIO INC
IBRX
$ 444,923,917
90.00
IGM BIOSCIENCES INC
IGMS
$ 59,943,254
87.50
NOVAVAX INC
NVAX
$ 585,389,552
85.00
ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP
AVXL
$ 94,785,061
85.00
TG THERAPEUTICS
TGTX
$ 653,648,206
80.00
ZENTALIS PHARMA
ZNTL
$ 209,285,423
80.00
SUMMIT THERAPEUTICS INC
SMMT
$ 104,144,609
80.00
And with sector in general being an unprofitable short we should see a good number of Squeezable securities in the sector. The most Squeezable securities are:
Biotech Squeeze Score
Ticker
Short Interest
Squeeze Score
NOVAVAX INC
NVAX
$ 585,389,552
100.00
TWIST BIOSCIENCE CORP
TWST
$ 567,988,504
100.00
IMMUNITYBIO INC
IBRX
$ 444,923,917
100.00
RECURSION PHARMACEUTICALS
RXRX
$ 412,489,213
100.00
BIOCRYST PHARMA
BCRX
$ 216,917,483
100.00
ALTIMMUNE INC
ALT
$ 190,940,234
100.00
BIOMEA FUSION INC
BMEA
$ 182,522,999
100.00
ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP
AVXL
$ 94,785,061
100.00
CAREDX INC
CDNA
$ 78,330,694
100.00
PRIME MEDICINE INC
PRME
$ 70,663,772
100.00
DYNE THERAPEUTICS INC
DYN
$ 291,582,159
97.50
STOKE THERAPEUTICS INC
STOK
$ 121,035,239
97.50
OCUGEN INC
OCGN
$ 95,972,979
95.00
TG THERAPEUTICS
TGTX
$ 653,648,206
90.00
AVIDITY BIOSCIENCES INC
RNA
$ 336,585,077
90.00
AVID BIOSERVICES INC
CDMO
$ 101,116,914
87.50
IGM BIOSCIENCES INC
IGMS
$ 59,943,254
87.50
ARCUTIS BIOTHERAPEUTICS
ARQT
$ 199,396,355
82.50
EDITAS MEDICINE INC
EDIT
$ 119,036,089
82.50
ARCUS BIOSCIENCES INC
RCUS
$ 135,405,023
80.00
The Biotech industry is the fourth most shorted industry in the U.S.
Industry
SI % Float
Short Interest
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
2.74%
$91,100,572,352
Software
5.33%
$82,771,376,368
Oil Gas & Consumable Fuels
4.54%
$82,357,284,207
Biotechnology
10.47%
$53,290,657,078
Banks
2.65%
$48,481,752,767
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