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Short interest in healthcare stocks moved lower from mid-January to end of January, with bets against healthcare provider and services ranking highest.
The average short interest for S&P 500 Health Care Index Sector (NYSEARCA:XLV) fell 2 bps from mid-Jan to 1.44% of shares float in the end of January.
The S&P 500 Health Care Index is up 7.86%, compared to the broader S&P 500, which climbed 6.1% YTD.
Stocks with highest and lowest short positions
Ranked by short interest as a percentage of shares float
Waters (WAT) was the most shorted healthcare company till Jan-end, with short interest at 7.05% of float.
Moderna (MRNA) followed by Catalent (CTLT) were the second and third most shorted stocks in the sector, with 6.30% and 6.16% short interests respectively.
The least shorted stock in the sector was Cooper (COO) with 0.37% short interest till end of Jan, followed by Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) with short interest of 0.51% and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 0.52% of float.
Industry analysis:
Average short Interest as percentage of floating shares
Healthcare provider and services is the most shorted in the healthcare sector from mid-Jan to end of Jan. Its short interest stood at 2.07% as of Jan end, falling from 2.16% in mid-Jan.
The Biotechnology sub-sector was the second most shorted industry, whose short interest stood at 1.62% in Jan end, down from 1.66% from mid-Jan.
The pharmaceuticals industry stands as the least shorted within healthcare sector with 1.13% short interest till January end.