Gain detailed insights into the trading activity of Congress members for F5 on our government trades page. Stay updated on how elected officials are investing in FFIV.

F5 - Government Trades

F5 is a market leader in the application delivery controller market. The company sells products for security, application performance, and automation. Its three customer verticals are enterprises, service providers, and government entities. Revenue is evenly split between its services business and products business with revenue trending toward products due to software adoption. The Seattle-based firm was incorporated in 1996, and went public in 1999.

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F5 Inc

F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) has been analyzed by 8 analysts in the last three months, revealing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
In the table below, you'll find a summary of their recent ratings, revealing the shifting sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the previous months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $240.88, along with a high estimate of $262.00 and a low estimate of $212.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 15.25% from the previous average price target of $209.00.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734458432_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Investigating Analyst Ratings: An Elaborate Study</h2>
A clear picture of F5's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Meta Marshall</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$262.00</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Fish</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$246.00</td>
<td>$186.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ng</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$241.00</td>
<td>$212.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Samik Chatterjee</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Hedberg</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$205.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim Long</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$246.00</td>
<td>$214.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Marshall</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$215.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ng</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$212.00</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to F5. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of F5 compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts predict movements in price targets, offering estimates for F5's future value. Examining the current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of F5's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FFIV/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on F5 analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>All You Need to Know About F5</h2>
F5 is a market leader in the application delivery controller market. The company sells products for security, application performance, and automation. Its three customer verticals are enterprises, service providers, and government entities. Revenue is evenly split between its services business and products business with revenue trending toward products due to software adoption. The Seattle-based firm was incorporated in 1996, and went public in 1999.
<h3>Unraveling the Financial Story of F5</h3>
Market Capitalization: Indicating a reduced size compared to industry averages, the company's market capitalization poses unique challenges.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, F5 showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 5.62% as of 30 September, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Information Technology sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers.
Net Margin: F5's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 22.14%. This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health.
Return on Equity (ROE): F5's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROE, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROE of 5.38%, the company showcases efficient use of equity capital and strong financial health.
Return on Assets (ROA): F5's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 3.0%. This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, F5 adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>Understanding the Relevance of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Ratings come from analysts, or specialists within banking and financial systems that report for specific stocks or defined sectors (typically once per quarter for each stock). Analysts usually derive their information from company conference calls and meetings, financial statements, and conversations with important insiders to reach their decisions.
Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Expectations For F5's Future

Morgan Stanley analyst Meta Marshall maintains F5 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $230 to $262.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on F5, Raises Price Target to $262

F5's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NYSE">FFIV</a>) short percent of float has fallen 10.72% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 2.09 million shares sold short, which is 4.08% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.91 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>F5 Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733248811_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for F5 has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing F5's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, F5's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 7.02%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Looking Into F5's Recent Short Interest

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New On The Block</h3>
Evolent Health Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVH#NYSE">EVH</a>) is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/08/40529349/evolent-health-explores-sale-garners-inbound-interest-from-private-equity-firms">reportedly up for sale</a>. The Arlington, Virginia-based software provide initiated an auction process after receiving takeover inquiries. Among the potential suitors are TPG Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPG#NASDAQ">TPG</a>), Clayton, Dubilier &amp; Rice, and KKR &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>). Reuters reported that health insurer Elevance Health Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>) may join forces with a private equity partner to pursue a deal.
Kronos Bio Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRON#NASDAQ">KRON</a>), a company focused on developing therapies for cancer, is exploring &#8220;strategic alternatives,&#8221; including an acquisition or merger.The San Mateo, Califonia-based company reported $124.9 million in cash reserves as of Sept. 30. 
Saint-Gobain (PARIS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SGO#PARIS">SGO</a>) is considering a sale of its auto glass unit, which could fetch up to 2.5 billion euro ($2.6 billion), per <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-13/st-gobain-is-said-to-weigh-2-5-billion-sale-of-auto-glass-unit">Bloomberg</a>. The company is reportedly considering this strategic move as part of its broader business evaluation. This sale aligns with Saint-Gobain&#8217;s efforts to streamline its operations and focus on core business areas.
Shell (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHEL#NYSE">SHEL</a>) is seeking to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-13/shell-aims-to-sell-majority-stake-in-carbon-offsets-business?srnd=phx-deals">jettison</a> a majority of its carbon offsets portfolio. The company first launched the portfolio of offsets, which covers dozens of projects, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-08-31/shell-silently-abandoned-its-100-million-a-year-plan-to-offset-co2-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in 2018</a>. 
Unilever (LSE: ULVR) is exploring the sale of some Dutch food brands, including Unox soups and Conimex seasonings. According to Reuters, the company will instead focus on its biggest &#8220;power&#8221; labels.
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bankruptcy Block</h3>
Alex Jones&#8217;s media company, Infowars, is now the property of satirical publication The Onion. The publication&#8217;s backers were none other than the families <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/11/41982446/jokes-on-jones-onion-backed-by-families-of-sandy-hook-victims-buys-info-wars">of Sandy Hook victims</a>. Observers praised the deal as poetic justice, considering Jones owes over $1 billion in defamation judgments against those families. Jones, who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36168941/elon-musks-controversial-move-alex-jones-returns-to-x-after-user-vote">has garnered sympathy from</a> right-wing personalities like Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson, confirmed the acquisition in a visibly distressed social media video, blaming &#8220;Democrats.&#8221;
Diamond Sports Group&#8216;s restructuring will include reducing its debt from nearly $9 billion to $200 million, <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42388454/diamond-sports-group-emerges-bankruptcy">ESPN</a> reports. The restructuring plan received what Diamond categorized as &#8220;nearly unanimous support&#8221; from debt holders. Diamond, currently possessing $100 million in liquidity, will emerge from bankruptcy and operate as a stand-alone entity. Sinclair, the parent company, took on $8 billion in debt to buy regional channels from Fox for $10.6 billion in 2019. That debt contributed to Diamond&#8217;s bankruptcy.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Updates From The Block</h3>
Currently, there are no concrete indications that Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) is actively pursuing a sale. Recent speculation regarding Humana being acquired by Cigna Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>) was definitively addressed, with Cigna explicitly stating that it is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/11/41877573/cigna-not-pursuing-humana-merger-stock-soars">not pursuing a merger</a> with Humana at this time. This clarification came after rumors reignited post-election, driven by the potential for more lenient antitrust reviews under the new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41979935/golden-years-for-ma-deals-ahead-under-trump-analysts-highlight-top-10-large-cap-candidates">Republican administration and Congress</a>.
Spirit Airlines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAVE#NYSE">SAVE</a>) is no longer in deal talks with Frontier Airlines (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULCC#NASDAQ">ULCC</a>). It&#8217;s now in advanced discussions with bondholders to finalize a bankruptcy plan. The carrier continues to struggle with mounting losses and looming debt maturities. A bankruptcy filing is expected to happen within weeks, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/41932146/spirit-airlines-nears-bankruptcy-creditors-may-approve-equity-cancellation-heres-what-it-means-for-investors-as-shares-fall-with-a-thud">the Wall Street Journal</a>.
MEI Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEIP#NASDAQ">MEIP</a>) continues to explore M&amp;A opportunities, hiring Oppenheimer &amp; Co., Inc. as an exclusive financial advisor to assist the process. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, the company commenced cash preservation efforts that include a reduction-in-force, which will continue in stages as the Company's operational and strategic direction evolves.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Notes From The Block</h3>
Wall Street anticipates a surge in M&amp;A as Republicans take control of Congress and deregulate. Analysts expect Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan's removal, which could ease antitrust scrutiny. Bank of America highlights that Republican administrations, like President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s, historically foster over 50% more financial sector M&amp;A activity compared to Democratic ones. 
Bank of America also predicts that 2025 could mark a better year for M&amp;A as rate cuts take effect and economic conditions stabilize. Here&#8217;s a list of five potential targets the bank compiled. For the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41979935/golden-years-for-ma-deals-ahead-under-trump-analysts-highlight-top-10-large-cap-candidates">full list, click here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Sector</th>
<th>Market Cap ($M)</th>
<th>Free Cash Flows-to-Enterprise Value (%)</th>
<th>Long-Term Growth Expectations (%)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Universal Health Services Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UHS#NYSE">UHS</a>)</td>
<td>Health Care</td>
<td>13,932</td>
<td>4.4</td>
<td>25.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ralph LaurenCorp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RL#NYSE">RL</a>)</td>
<td>Consumer Disc.</td>
<td>12,473</td>
<td>5.99</td>
<td>10.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paramount Global (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NYSE">PARA</a>)</td>
<td>Comm. Services</td>
<td>7,250</td>
<td>3.4</td>
<td>46.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jabil Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBL#NYSE">JBL</a>)</td>
<td>Technology</td>
<td>14,480</td>
<td>6.39</td>
<td>12.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hasbro Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAS#NASDAQ">HAS</a>)</td>
<td>Consumer Disc.</td>
<td>9,215</td>
<td>3.6</td>
<td>27.5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
For last week&#8217;s Deal Dispatch, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/24/11/41866114/deal-dispatch-prison-companies-in-focus-post-election-tripadvisor-boasts-11b-in-cash">click here</a>.
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With Republicans taking control of Congress, Wall Street is buzzing about a potential boom in mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) under the upcoming<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump"> Trump administration.</a>
Bank of America analysts see brighter days ahead for deal-making, anticipating that Trump could remove Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, whose aggressive antitrust stance has been a major roadblock for M&amp;A activity across sectors.
Combined with favorable macro factors and investor demand for capex and M&amp;A over debt paydown, there are plenty of reasons to believe that 2025 and beyond could see significant deal activity.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Banks And Biotech: Two Key Sectors To Watch</h3>
Analysts at Bank of America's U.S. banks team are particularly bullish about the M&amp;A prospects for financials, which have historically enjoyed more than 50% higher deal activity under Republican administrations than Democratic ones. With regulatory scrutiny expected to loosen, the landscape is ripe for a surge in bank deals.
Deal activity in biotech has already started picking up, especially in smaller acquisitions. Big Pharma faces mounting pressure to offset patent expirations, so it&#8217;s hunting for acquisition targets to replenish its drug pipelines. Lower rates and potential deregulation could further fuel biotech M&amp;A as we head into 2025.
"The election results could lead to a less restrictive regulatory environment, which may open the door for more bank mergers and acquisitions,&#8221; Jill Carey Hall, CFA, a Bank of America analyst, said. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Macro Factors: Green And Yellow Lights for M&amp;A</h3>
Several macroeconomic factors support a cyclical pick-up in M&amp;A activity. 
Strong equity market returns, cheap small-cap valuations relative to large caps and tight credit spreads all suggest a favorable environment for deal-making.
Not all signals are flashing green. Slowing GDP growth, rate uncertainty and high volatility could throw some caution flags. Long-term growth expectations for small caps, though improved, still remain below average.
Bank of America's credit strategists predict that 2025 could be a better year for M&amp;A activity as rate cuts begin to materialize and volatility subsides. 
"Sponsors are sitting on a pile of uncalled capital, and there's a real incentive to deploy it in a friendlier economic environment," Hall said.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Who Stands To Gain: Small-Cap Targets, Large-Cap Acquirers</h3>
With large deals on the decline, smaller targets have become the prime candidates for takeovers. 
Aggregate deal value has been falling in recent years as mega-cap deals have dried up and smaller, more manageable transactions have become the norm.
This trend has paid off for both sides: small-cap targets have outperformed post-announcement and large-cap acquirers have seen record one-day gains in 2023 despite paying higher deal premiums.
This pattern suggests that investors are rewarding companies that buy growth, especially in today's uncertain economic landscape.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">10 Potential M&amp;A Candidates Among Large Caps</h3>
Bank of America's latest screening of potential M&amp;A candidates includes high-growth, undervalued names, each with distinct value propositions that may appeal to suitors looking for long-term growth.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Sector</th>
<th>Market Cap ($M)</th>
<th>Free Cash Flows-to-Enterprise Value (%)</th>
<th>Long-Term Growth Expectations (%)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Universal Health Services Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UHS#NYSE">UHS</a>)</td>
<td>Health Care</td>
<td>13,932</td>
<td>4.4</td>
<td>25.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RL#NYSE">RL</a>)</td>
<td>Consumer Disc.</td>
<td>12,473</td>
<td>5.99</td>
<td>10.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paramount Global (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NYSE">PARA</a>)</td>
<td>Comm. Services</td>
<td>7,250</td>
<td>3.4</td>
<td>46.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jabil Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBL#NYSE">JBL</a>)</td>
<td>Technology</td>
<td>14,480</td>
<td>6.39</td>
<td>12.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hasbro Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAS#NASDAQ">HAS</a>)</td>
<td>Consumer Disc.</td>
<td>9,215</td>
<td>3.6</td>
<td>27.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F5 Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>)</td>
<td>Technology</td>
<td>13,431</td>
<td>6.39</td>
<td>9.9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DaVita Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVA#NYSE">DVA</a>) </td>
<td>Health Care</td>
<td>11,976</td>
<td>5.39</td>
<td>15.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BWA#NYSE">BWA</a>)</td>
<td>Consumer Disc.</td>
<td>7,316</td>
<td>6.5</td>
<td>12.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aptiv plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APTV#NYSE">APTV</a>)</td>
<td>Consumer Disc.</td>
<td>13,143</td>
<td>4.4</td>
<td>23.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>A. O. Smith Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AOS#NYSE">AOS</a>)</td>
<td>Industrials</td>
<td>10,895</td>
<td>2.3</td>
<td>10.0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41950023/us-stock-markets-equity-risk-premium-disappears-should-you-sell-now">US Stock Market&#8217;s Equity Risk Premium Disappears: Should You Sell Now?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Capri23auto from Pixabay

Golden Years For M&A Deals Ahead Under Trump? Analysts Highlight Top 10 Large-Cap Candidates

F5 Reports Early Access Of F5 AI Gateway To Streamline Interactions Between Applications, APIs, And Large Language Models Driving Enterprise AI Adoption

F5's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NYSE">FFIV</a>) short percent of float has fallen 4.36% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 2.12 million shares sold short, which is 4.17% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.81 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>F5 Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1731332753_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for F5 has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing F5's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, F5's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 7.27%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into F5's Recent Short Interest

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Shares of companies within the broader technology sector are trading higher in sympathy with overall market strength after Donald Trump was elected president of the United States.

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