The 10 Most Shorted ASX Stocks · Week 26, 2026
22 June 2026 — 26 June 2026
Lotus Resources (LOT) remains the ASX’s most shorted name at 22.81% (down -0.27% WoW), even as the average short position across 695 stocks ticked up +0.02% to 1.51% [ref-1]. The real action was in the movers: ALX jumped from 1.80% to 2.70% (+0.90%) on takeover-related updates, while TLX pushed higher to 12.92% (+0.34%) despite FY2025 revenue of US$803.8 million (+56%) and operating cash flow of US$34.5 million [ref-2] [ref-6].
By Shorted AI Research · Published · Sourced from official ASIC short position reports (T+4 delay). Methodology · Not financial advice.
The week’s cleanest signal wasn’t at the top of the table — it was in the “boring” names. Atlas Arteria (ALX) saw shorts surge from 1.80% to 2.70% (+0.90%) right as takeover paperwork and substantial holder notices stacked up 1 3. When shorts lift into a live corporate situation, they’re usually betting the spread, the structure, or the timeline — not the toll roads.
At the pointy end, the leaderboard barely moved. LOT is still the standout at 22.81% short (WoW -0.27%) 1, and it’s hard to ignore that this comes alongside a Kayelekera project and funding update plus a suspension extension 4. DMP (14.33%, -0.08%) and BOE (13.73%, -0.25%) both eased, while TLX went the other way to 12.92% (+0.34%) and DRO lifted to 12.47% (+0.27%) 1. CAR sat at 12.20% with a -0.00% change — a rare week of complete stasis for a stock that’s often a battleground 1.
Key financial metrics from recent company reports for the most shorted stocks.
Stocks with the largest increase in short interest this week.
Stocks with the largest decrease in short interest this week.
ALX was the biggest riser (+0.90%), and the timing lines up with the IFM takeover update and a string of substantial holding changes 3. In small caps, MAU jumped from 0.02% to 0.53% (+0.51%) as it headed for removal from the official list and scheme implementation — classic event-driven positioning 1 5. On the downside, the unwind in RIO (8.94% to 8.43%, -0.51%) stands out because it’s already a large, heavily-analysed name; shorts don’t usually move that much there without a reason to de-risk 1. RIO’s FY2025 numbers were hardly weak: underlying EBITDA of US$25,363 million and operating cash flow of US$16,832 million 7. MP1 also saw shorts trimmed from 5.84% to 5.38% (-0.46%) after substantial holder exits, despite H1 FY2026 revenue of $134.858 million (+26%) and a net loss of $19.072 million 1 8. NVX fell from 0.69% to 0.32% (-0.37%) even as it launched a share purchase plan and issued a cleansing notice — that looks like shorts stepping back ahead of fresh retail demand 1 9.
Uranium is still where the shorts live: LOT (22.81%), BOE (13.73%) and PDN (11.35%) all sit in the top 10 1. But the week’s rotation was more nuanced — BOE and LOT both de-shorted (-0.25% and -0.27%), while PDN only edged down -0.09% 1. That’s less “pile in” and more “stay involved, but tighten risk”. Outside resources, health and tech kept attracting attention. TLX rose to 12.92% (+0.34%) even after guiding FY2026 group revenue to US$950 million to US$970 million 2, and HLS climbed from 10.33% to 10.77% (+0.44%) with H1 FY2026 revenue of $688.1 million (+3.9%) but a reported net loss of $30.4 million 1 10.
Watch whether TLX can keep absorbing incremental shorting at 12.92% without a volatility spike, and whether ALX’s 2.70% short position keeps building as the takeover process drags on 1 3.
Lotus Resources (LOT) is the most shorted at 22.81% (WoW change: -0.27%) [ref-1].
Atlas Arteria (ALX) rose from 1.80% to 2.70%, a +0.90% increase — the largest riser in the data [ref-1].
ALX had an “Update on Takeover Offer from IFM” plus multiple substantial holding changes; shorts often trade deal risk and timing rather than the underlying business [ref-3].
Rio Tinto (RIO) fell from 8.94% to 8.43% (-0.51%), the biggest faller among the names listed [ref-1].
Three uranium-linked stocks are in the top 10 — LOT at 22.81%, BOE at 13.73% and PDN at 11.35% — showing the sector remains a preferred short target on the ASX [ref-1].
Track the live rankings on the most shorted ASX stocks page, watch short squeeze candidates, or see market-wide totals in the ASX short selling statistics.
Data sourced from ASIC short position reports (T+4 delayed). This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Short selling data may not reflect real-time market conditions.
