Here is our weekly recap of short interest trends among some of the most widely followed high-short-float stocks. Using the data from our partner Ortex.com, which utilizes the latest information from stock lenders to estimate short interest changes for thousands of publicly traded companies, this version will screen for some of biggest changes in short interest as a percentage of free float and days-to-cover ratios. This report will also continue to layer the short interest data on some of the more volatile and heavier-traded names of the week. Based on the availability of data from Ortex, the report will continue to track the trading period that covers prior Friday through Thursday of this week.

As a basis of comparison, the S&P 500 index was up 1.0%, the Russell 2000 index was up 2.0%, the Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) was up 1.7%, and the Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) was up 0.7% in the period range.

AMC ENTERTAINMENT SHORT INTEREST AT SIX-WEEK HIGH AS WSB FOCUS RECEDES

Ever since June 2, when volumes spiked and AMC Entertainment (AMC) stock price nearly doubled above $60 per share to the raucous delight of its WallStreetBets fan base, shares have consolidated, weekly trading volumes have come in to a five-week low, and even the Reddit message board volume has decelerated. After a long period of ushering the retail-led "short squeeze", QuiverQuant.com estimates message count in AMC being down to fourth place. Fundamentally-oriented bears are taking notice of the flame being dialed down to a simmer, as estimated short interest in AMC during Friday through Thursday was up five percentage points to 18.6% and days-to-cover ratio up about 5%. Shares of AMC Entertainment were down 6.6% in the five-day trading period covered and off by an additional 4.9% at the time of writing late on Friday.

MACY’S SHORT INTEREST REACHES THREE-MONTH HIGH

Since its twenty percentage point decline in the first two months of 2021, estimated short interest in Macy’s (M) has oscillated in the 9%-16% range for nearly four months. This week finds those levels near the top end of that band, with the most notable change in the short position coming yesterday, which was coincidentally also the highest-volume-day of the five-day period. For the week, the estimated short interest in Macy’s was up five percentage points to 16.5% and the stock was up 7.1% in the five-day trading period covered.

PUBMATIC SHORT INTEREST AT 2021 HIGH

Estimated short position in Pubmatic (PUBM) spiked over ten percentage points last Thursday, and the bears have since added to their bets as short percentage of free float was up another three percentage points to 49% - a high for this year and beyond. Days to cover ratio in the stock was also up a modest 3% to 2.9, while shares of PubMatic were up a whopping 17.3% in the five-day trading period covered with another 4.5% gain on Friday at the time of writing.

SEAWORLD SHORT INTEREST BRIEFLY SPIKES ABOVE 80%

SeaWorld (SEAS) is the lone notable newcomer to the Ortex-driven data set screen for outsized short interest changes. After an earlier spike above 80%, the estimated short position in the stock is up nearly nine percentage points to 27.7% for the week while the days to cover ratio in the name has more than tripled to 4.0. Shares of Seaworld were up 3.2% in the five-day trading period covered.

SHORT POSITION IN ARCIMOTO, BED BATH BEYOND, SECOND SIGHT, AND WORKHORSE DECLINES

The record highs being made by S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices appear to have made a dent among the more bearishly inclined traders, with several high-profile excess short-interest names experiencing a notable decline in that positioning. Among these, the estimated short position in Arcimoto (FUV) was down 13 percentage points at 34.9% as shares rose 4.3%; Bed Bath Beyond (BBBY) short position was down over 10 percentage points to 16.5% as shares rose 3.1%; and Workhouse Group (WKHS) estimated short position decreased by 18% to 41.9% with shares higher by 7.2 % in the five-day trading period covered. Second Sight (EYES) was the lone decliner among these, with stock price driven down by an equity raise to fall over 33.1% through Thursday, even though its estimated short position was off by about seven percentage points at 14%.