Report: The 16 Most Shorted ETFs

ETF short interest can shed light for traders on areas of the market where investors see potential weakness.

S3 Partners analyst Ihor Dusaniwsky released his latest list of ETFs with the most short interest on Wednesday. Total short interest in the 2,200 domestic ETFs that S3 tracks was up $4.77 billion to $159 billion last week, Dusaniwsky said. 

“ETF short sellers continue to make fixed income ETF’s a popular short for both hedging and outright trading purposes, as five out of the top 20 ETF shorts are fixed-income ETFs,” he said.

Most Shorted ETFs

The following are the 16 ETFs with the highest short interest, according to S3:

• SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY, $42.12 billion.
• iShares Russell 2000 Index IWM, $11.37 billion.
• PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 QQQ, $9.51 billion.
• iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Indx EEM, $5.54 billion.
• iShares iBoxx $ High Yid Corp Bond HYG, $5.16 billion.
• iShares IBoxx $ Invest Grade Corp Bd Fd LQD, $3.6 billion.
• Utilities SPDR XLU, $3.28 billion.
• SPDR S&P Biotech XBI, $3.27 billion.
• iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond Fund AGG, $3.08 billion.
• iShares Barclays 20+ Yr Treas.Bond TLT, $3.03 billion.
• iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund EFA, $2.91 billion.
• Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund XLF, $2.51 billion.
• Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund XLI, $2.48 billion.
• ISHARES TR/JPMORGAN USD EMERGI EMB, $2.46 billion.
• SPDR Gold Trust GLD, $2.17 billion.
• SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF DIA, $2.07 billion.

Benzinga’s Take

It shouldn’t be worrying that the SPY ETF is the largest short position by far. It doesn’t necessarily mean investors are bearish about the market given that shorting the SPY ETF is one of the most popular ways for investors to hedge against their long stock positions.

Do you agree with this take? Email feedback@benzinga.com with your thoughts.

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