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The 10 most shorted ASX stocks plus the biggest risers and fallers – Week 22

2 minuti di lettura

Welcome back to the Short Seller Series – A recap of the most heavily shorted stocks on the ASX and those experiencing significant changes to short interest over the past week.

Short selling data is four days behind today's date because reporting is not mandatory until three business days after the trade. The tables below will compare:

  • Week-on-week changes between 12 and 19 May 2025

  • Month-on-month changes between 16 April and 19 May 2025

  • Most covered and rising short tables record week-on-week changes of 0.5% or more

Most Shorted

Ticker

Company

Short %

Week-on-Week

Month-on-Month

BOE

Boss Energy

21.70%

-1.89%

-4.02%

PDN

Paladin Energy

15.63%

0.16%

-1.30%

MIN

Mineral Resources

14.33%

1.25%

1.01%

LTR

Liontown Resources

12.76%

1.46%

0.56%

IEL

Idp Education

12.65%

-0.45%

0.05%

PLS

Pilbara Minerals

12.29%

0.72%

0.31%

DYL

Deep Yellow

11.63%

-0.68%

-1.35%

PNV

Polynovo

10.98%

0.31%

0.77%

CTT

Cettire

10.66%

-0.07%

1.00%

KAR

Karoon Energy

10.12%

-0.11%

0.83%

Key takeaways

  • Uranium Shorts Decline: Short interest in uranium stocks has broadly eased as uranium prices surpassed US$70/lb, rebounding from an 18-month low of US$64 in March and April.

  • Lithium Shorts Increase: Short interest in lithium stocks is rising as prices for the battery metal continue to plummet toward multi-year lows. Lithium carbonate prices in China dropped to a four-year low of 63,000 yuan per tonne, with supply outstripping demand. The Shanghai Metal Market reported spodumene prices at $647 per tonne, down approximately 15% month-on-month. For context, Pilbara Minerals’ March quarter unit operating costs (CIF) were US$499 per tonne.

Rising Shorts

Ticker

Company

Short %

Week-on-Week

Month-on-Month

LTR

Liontown Resources

12.76%

1.46%

0.56%

WHC

Whitehaven Coal

5.73%

1.35%

1.26%

MIN

Mineral Resources

14.33%

1.25%

1.01%

ALX

Atlas Arteria

2.14%

0.99%

1.01%

GPT

GPT Group

2.71%

0.87%

0.93%

NEU

Neuren Pharmaceuticals

6.43%

0.78%

0.78%

PLS

Pilbara Minerals

12.29%

0.72%

0.31%

CKF

Collins Foods

4.85%

0.63%

0.78%

BOQ

Bank of Queensland

4.46%

0.61%

0.98%

DMP

Domino's Pizza

10.01%

0.61%

-0.15%

NAN

Nanosonics

4.55%

0.60%

1.05%

TWE

Treasury Wine Estates

7.56%

0.56%

1.15%

VNT

Ventia Services Group

1.00%

0.54%

0.22%

RMS

Ramelius Resources

6.22%

0.52%

1.62%

Key takeaways

  • Liontown’s Surge Attracts Shorts: Liontown’s stock rallied by as much as 65% in May despite limited news, likely drawing short sellers amid falling lithium prices. During this rally, Chairman Tim Goyder sold 2 million shares, representing about 0.59% of his 333 million shareholding.

  • Whitehaven’s Mixed Dynamics: Whitehaven’s share price climbed approximately 10% this month, yet short interest continues to tick higher. The company’s March quarter report (released April 29) highlighted stronger-than-expected run-of-mine (ROM) and saleable production, driven by strong performances at Blackwater and Maules Creek. However, realised pricing for metallurgical and thermal coal missed market expectations, reflecting a challenging pricing environment. Brokers have commended Whitehaven’s operational resilience and cost-reduction efforts, with capital management initiatives — such as a share buyback program and balance sheet strengthening post-Blackwater selldown — also viewed positively.

Most covered

Ticker

Company

Short %

Week-on-Week

Month-on-Month

BOE

Boss Energy

21.70%

-1.89%

-4.02%

SYR

Syrah Resources

4.86%

-1.08%

-2.90%

DHG

Domain

0.89%

-1.04%

-0.31%

IPG

Ipd Group

0.62%

-0.76%

-0.72%

DYL

Deep Yellow

11.63%

-0.68%

-1.35%

SYA

Sayona Mining

3.01%

-0.56%

-0.47%

Key takeaways

  • Limited Short Covering: Outside of uranium and the under-offer Domain, there has been minimal short-covering activity across other sectors.

  • Syrah’s Rally on Tariff News: Syrah’s stock surged by up to 70% this month, supported by news of the U.S. Commerce Department planning tariffs of up to 720% on certain Chinese graphite imports, boosting sentiment for the graphite producer.