Editor’s Note: This story was updated to correct the average 14-day volume criterion to above 1 million shares.
Fresh short‑interest data for late June shows a tightly packed group of mid‑ and large‑cap names where bearish positioning has reached extreme territory, setting the stage for violent moves if sentiment flips.
- LCID stock is moving. See the chart and price action here.
For short sellers, these are high‑conviction trades. For longs, they are potential powder kegs.
The image below shows the top 10 most heavily shorted stocks (market caps above $2 billion, average 14-day volume above 1 million and free floats above 5 million) based on data from Benzinga Pro as of June 29, 2026:
10 Most Shorted Stocks
Avis Budget Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CAR) tops the list, with short interest above 60% of float and shares recently trading around $166.50. CAR has already been the center of one of 2026’s most dramatic squeezes, and elevated bearish bets leave it vulnerable to another sharp upside burst if fundamentals or liquidity surprise.
RH (NYSE:RH) follows closely, with short interest near 56.7% and a triple‑digit share price, giving bears significant exposure to any rebound in high‑end consumer spending or housing‑related demand.
EV maker Lucid Group Inc. (NASDAQ:LCID) sits in the high‑risk camp with short interest approaching 48% and shares around $5.84, reflecting deep skepticism about its path to scale and profitability. Any progress on costs, deliveries or fresh capital could force shorts to reassess quickly.
CleanSpark Inc. (NASDAQ:CLSK), a Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) miner pivoting to an energy play, shows short interest above 46%.
Intellia Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) and Beam Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:BEAM) bring the gene‑editing trade into focus, with short interest in the mid‑40% range and solid daily liquidity. Bears here are effectively betting against long‑dated clinical and regulatory outcomes, which can change suddenly on trial data or partnership news.
PRMB, FIG, SoundHound AI Inc. (NASDAQ:SOUN) and Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE:BROS) round out the list of the 10 most heavily-shorted stocks, each sporting short‑interest readings north of 40%.
The Takeaway
With short interest this elevated, the group is highly sensitive to any broad improvement in risk appetite or sector‑specific catalysts.
A stronger macro backdrop, easing rates or a string of positive company‑level headlines could flip the trade quickly, turning today’s crowded bearish trades into tomorrow’s forced‑buying stampedes.
For traders tracking potential squeeze setups, these 10 names are the current powder‑keg shortlist.
Photo: Militarist / Shutterstock
