Stock up 30%, Short Interest Notional up 75%, Long Interest Declining

Meta’s short interest notional has increased by $11 billion year-to-date (YTD), the largest gain across all U.S. equities. The second-largest increase belongs to Palantir (PLTR), with a $2.8 billion rise in short interest notional—a distant second to Meta.

Meta’s $11 billion increase matches the combined short interest notional growth of the next five stocks, underscoring its outsized role in current short data.

META’s short interest notional has surged 75% YTD, highlighting a significant increase in short-selling positioning. META’s 30% YTD stock price gain accounts for roughly half of the rise in short interest notional, with the remainder driven by new shorts.

Reasons for shorting META include Heavy AI and Metaverse spending, Trade/Tariff Risks, Growth Slowdown, Higher Valuation and Weakening Ad Market

META’s short interest as a percentage of float has climbed 38% in recent weeks and 35% YTD. META ranks as the 2nd-largest stock after Microsoft (MSFT) to show a notable increase in short interest notional, with all other names lagging.

META is the only Magnificent Seven stock showing an increase in short interest as a percentage of float, making it a clear standout in crowded shorts data.

As META’s stock price climbed, both active and passive long holdings declined, while short interest continued to rise—suggesting selling pressure from both sides.

However, long-side selling was significantly outweighed by the surge in short positioning, as reflected in institutional long holdings data and hedge fund positioning.

Want to know more? Access this data in real time using S3’s BLACK APP & BLACK MAP

The information herein (some of which has been obtained from third party sources without verification) is believed by S3 Partners, LLC (“S3 Partners”) to be reliable and accurate. Neither S3 Partners nor any of its affiliates makes any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information herein or accepts liability arising from its use. Prior to making any decisions based on the information herein, you should determine, without reliance upon S3 Partners, the economic risks, and merits, as well as the legal, tax, accounting, and investment consequences, of such decisions.