Ceres Power (LON: CWR) holds the largest net short position among UK stocks at 18.71% of issued capital, in the FCA report dated yesterday, the 3rd of November. Nine of the ten names were on the previous report, on the 27th of October, and Weir is the only new entrant. Three stocks saw positions fall: Vistry, Rightmove and Ibstock.
In this article
- 1. Ceres Power: 18.71%
- 2. Yellow Cake: 16.39%
- 3. Ibstock: 13.82%
- 4. Genuit: 13.10%
- 5. Vistry: 12.94%
- 6. Breedon: 12.37%
- 7. Crest Nicholson: 12.24%
- 8. WH Smith: 12.24%
- 9. Rightmove: 10.90%
- 10. Weir: 10.48%
- How to read the numbers
The top 10 most shorted UK stocks
| Rank | Company | Net short (% of issued capital) | Previous week | Change (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ceres Power | 18.71 | 18.69 | +0.02 |
| 2 | Yellow Cake | 16.39 | 15.66 | +0.73 |
| 3 | Ibstock | 13.82 | 14.03 | -0.21 |
| 4 | Genuit | 13.10 | 13.06 | +0.04 |
| 5 | Vistry | 12.94 | 13.93 | -0.99 |
| 6 | Breedon | 12.37 | 11.63 | +0.74 |
| 7 | Crest Nicholson | 12.24 | 11.94 | +0.30 |
| 8 | WH Smith | 12.24 | 11.19 | +1.05 |
| 9 | Rightmove | 10.90 | 11.21 | -0.31 |
| 10 | Weir | 10.48 | 10.09 | +0.39 |
1. Ceres Power: 18.71%
Ceres Power’s net short position is the largest in the list, at 18.71% against 18.69% in the previous report, a rise of 0.02 percentage points. It was also on the previous list.
2. Yellow Cake: 16.39%
Yellow Cake’s position rose 0.73 percentage points from 15.66%. The company has larger uranium holdings and a higher estimated net asset value (NAV, the value of its holdings) after a Kazatomprom delivery, and its board is monitoring the discount to NAV. Its next results are due on the 3rd of December.
3. Ibstock: 13.82%
Ibstock’s position eased 0.21 percentage points from 14.03%. The building products maker has a market value of about £318.6 million, with shares 46.9% below their 52-week high, 3.1% above the low and down 46% this year. The shares fell 10% on Monday after its second profit warning of the year.
4. Genuit: 13.10%
Genuit’s position rose 0.04 percentage points from 13.06%. Its market value is about £663 million, the shares are 25.3% below their 52-week high and down 12.9% this year.
5. Vistry: 12.94%
Vistry recorded the biggest fall in the list, down 0.99 percentage points from 13.93%. The housebuilder is worth about £805.5 million, with shares 61.5% below their 52-week high and down 55.8% this year.
6. Breedon: 12.37%
Breedon’s position rose 0.74 percentage points from 11.63%.
7. Crest Nicholson: 12.24%
Crest Nicholson’s position rose 0.30 percentage points from 11.94%, level with WH Smith. The housebuilder is worth about £162.8 million, with shares 61.7% below their 52-week high and down 54.9% this year.
8. WH Smith: 12.24%
WH Smith recorded the biggest increase in the list, up 1.05 percentage points from 11.19%. The retailer is worth about £642.9 million, with shares 38.1% below their 52-week high and down 32.3% this year. Results are due on the 12th of November.
9. Rightmove: 10.90%
Rightmove’s position fell 0.31 percentage points from 11.21%. The property portal is worth about £3.74 billion, with shares 18.5% below their 52-week high and up 5.1% this year.
10. Weir: 10.48%
Weir is the only new entrant, with a position of 10.48% against 10.09% in the previous report, a rise of 0.39 percentage points. The engineer is worth about £6.64 billion, with shares 25.2% below their 52-week high and down 6.8% this year.
How to read the numbers
The figures are the FCA’s disclosed net short positions as a percentage of issued capital, a snapshot as of the report on the 3rd of November, not live. Change is in percentage points against the previous report, on the 27th of October. High short interest describes positioning; it does not predict direction.