Momentum Ideas: 18 Rallies Being Targeted by Short Sellers

The following is a list of stocks in rally mode, i.e. trading above the 20-day, 50-day and 200-day moving averages. All of these stocks have seen a significant increase in shares shorted over the last month, suggesting growing skepticism about the sustainability of these rallies.

Will the inevitable short-covering provide further upward momentum to these stocks? Or will the shorts continue to pressure these companies? Full details below.

Short trends data sourced from Yahoo! Finance.



The list has been sorted by the change in shares shorted between 1/15 - 2/15.

1. Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL): Meat Products Industry. Market cap of $7.34B. The stock is currently trading 3.87% above its 20-day MA, 7.09% above its 50-day MA, and 20.16% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 55.55%. Shares shorted have increased from 3.73M to 7.63M (104.56% change).

2. Atlas Pipeline Holdings LP (AHD): Gas Utilities Industry. Market cap of $547.08M. The stock is currently trading 28.95% above its 20-day MA, 35.36% above its 50-day MA, and 95.2% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 58.62%. Shares shorted have increased from 3.26M to 4.40M (34.97% change).

3. 99 Cents Only Stores (NDN): Discount, Variety Stores Industry. Market cap of $1.16B. The stock is currently trading 0.77% above its 20-day MA, 4.52% above its 50-day MA, and 3.27% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 11.82%. Shares shorted have increased from 5.10M to 6.34M (24.31% change).

4. Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO): Multimedia & Graphics Software Industry. Market cap of $1.35B. The stock is currently trading 0.24% above its 20-day MA, 13.51% above its 50-day MA, and 41.08% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 14.06%. Shares shorted have increased from 9.44M to 11.70M (23.94% change).

5. Capstone Turbine Corp. (CPST): Industrial Electrical Equipment Industry. Market cap of $432.92M. The stock is currently trading 17.18% above its 20-day MA, 38.3% above its 50-day MA, and 82.84% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 14.37%. Shares shorted have increased from 29.19M to 35.16M (20.45% change).

6. China Security & Surveillance Technology, Inc. (CSR): Security & Protection Services Industry. Market cap of $470.13M. The stock is currently trading 15.93% above its 20-day MA, 9.13% above its 50-day MA, and 0.73% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 17.06%. Shares shorted have increased from 10.00M to 11.85M (18.5% change).

7. Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. (MHR): Oil & Gas Drilling & Exploration Industry. Market cap of $574.21M. The stock is currently trading 8.46% above its 20-day MA, 5.55% above its 50-day MA, and 41.82% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 17.97%. Shares shorted have increased from 9.57M to 11.30M (18.08% change).

8. LHC Group, Inc. (LHCG): Home Health Care Industry. Market cap of $547.14M. The stock is currently trading 2.94% above its 20-day MA, 1.89% above its 50-day MA, and 12.48% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 12.04%. Shares shorted have increased from 1.55M to 1.82M (17.42% change).

9. Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC): Regional Bank. Market cap of $1.21B. The stock is currently trading 3.72% above its 20-day MA, 4.55% above its 50-day MA, and 7.57% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 13.23%. Shares shorted have increased from 3.88M to 4.52M (16.49% change).

10. China Biologic Products, Inc. (CBPO): Biotechnology Industry. Market cap of $409.63M. The stock is currently trading 1.82% above its 20-day MA, 3.64% above its 50-day MA, and 32.55% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 13.26%. Shares shorted have increased from 1.22M to 1.42M (16.39% change).

11. Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (ETH): Home Furnishings & Fixtures Industry. Market cap of $671.71M. The stock is currently trading 2.72% above its 20-day MA, 7.82% above its 50-day MA, and 32.39% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 18.08%. Shares shorted have increased from 4.03M to 4.69M (16.38% change).

12. Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (BWLD): Restaurants Industry. Market cap of $974.59M. The stock is currently trading 1.4% above its 20-day MA, 11.43% above its 50-day MA, and 19.45% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 13.81%. Shares shorted have increased from 2.13M to 2.46M (15.49% change).

13. Regis Corp. (RGS): Personal Services Industry. Market cap of $1.05B. The stock is currently trading 4.73% above its 20-day MA, 6.13% above its 50-day MA, and 4.16% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 13.65%. Shares shorted have increased from 6.84M to 7.79M (13.89% change).

14. Boise Inc. (BZ): Paper & Paper Products Industry. Market cap of $765.99M. The stock is currently trading 0.17% above its 20-day MA, 4.72% above its 50-day MA, and 27.15% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 29.28%. Shares shorted have increased from 18.90M to 21.51M (13.81% change).

15. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (HOS): Shipping Industry. Market cap of $762.55M. The stock is currently trading 11.72% above its 20-day MA, 24.03% above its 50-day MA, and 47.96% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 21.63%. Shares shorted have increased from 4.45M to 5.03M (13.03% change).

16. Masimo Corporation (MASI): Medical Appliances & Equipment Industry. Market cap of $1.80B. The stock is currently trading 0.95% above its 20-day MA, 3.1% above its 50-day MA, and 11.35% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 12.06%. Shares shorted have increased from 5.81M to 6.52M (12.22% change).

17. Lindsay Corporation (LNN): Farm & Construction Machinery Industry. Market cap of $925.33M. The stock is currently trading 3.64% above its 20-day MA, 10.05% above its 50-day MA, and 46.88% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 22.36%. Shares shorted have increased from 2.47M to 2.75M (11.34% change).

18. RPC Inc. (RES): Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Industry. Market cap of $3.12B. The stock is currently trading 13.46% above its 20-day MA, 17.15% above its 50-day MA, and 46.74% above its 200-day MA. Short float at 25.88%. Shares shorted have increased from 10.12M to 11.17M (10.38% change).

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.