The information technology sector, which holds the highest weightage on the S&P, saw an increase in short bets in March compared to the end of February. Average short interest across S&P 500 information technology stocks was 1.42% at end-March.
The S&P 500’s information technology sector (NYSEARCA:XLK) is up 7% YTD, compared to a 9% gain of the broader S&P 500.
Stocks with the largest and least short positions
Ranked by short interest as a percentage of shares float
Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH) was the most shorted information technology stock, with 10.19M shares sold short as of March 31, or 7.82% of the shares float.
AI server maker Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI) was the second-most shorted information technology stock at 6.22% of shares float, followed by Akamai Technologies (AKAM) with short interest of 5.38% and ON Semiconductor (ON) with 5.33%.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is the least shorted stock, with 108.78M shares sold short or 0.70% of the shares float, followed by Microsoft (MSFT) and Oracle (ORCL) with short interest of 0.76% and 0.81% respectively.
Industry Analysis
Average short interest as a percentage of floating shares
Electronic Manufacturing Services, consisting of only Jabil (JBL), was the most shorted industry within the information technology sector with 4.18% short interest as of end-March, down from 3.94% during end-February.
IT Services was the second most shorted industry within the sector with 2.28% short interest as of March 31, compared to 2.08% at February-end.
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals was the least shorted industry in the sector with 1.02% short interest as of March 31.