ASX Short Selling Weekly: 12 Oct – 16 Oct 2026
The most shorted ASX stocks this week (DRO, LOT, BOE), the biggest increases and covering in short interest, and director buying in heavily shorted stocks. ASIC data as at 12 Oct.
As of 12 October, average short interest on the ASX rose to 1.55%, up from 1.47% on 5 October. DroneShield Limited (DRO) leads the market with 16.23% short interest, having increased by 1.71%. Boss Energy Limited (BOE) recorded the largest build at 15.11%, up 1.99%, followed by Lotus Resources Limited (LOT) at 15.56%, up 1.59%. In terms of covering, EQ Resources Limited (EQR) saw its short position drop by 1.01% to 1.1%, while Karoon Energy Ltd (KAR) decreased by 0.71% to 3.12%. New entrants to the top 20 include Artrya Limited (AYA) at 10.05%, up 1.5%, and Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (CU6) at 9.72%, up 0.79%. Director buys were noted in SIG, BRG, DMP, and HVN.
The 10 most shorted ASX stocks
Short positions as at 12 Oct, with the change since 5 Oct.
| Rank | Stock | Company | Short interest | Weekly change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRO | DroneShield Limited | 16.23% | +1.71% |
| 2 | LOT | Lotus Resources Limited | 15.56% | +1.59% |
| 3 | BOE | Boss Energy Limited | 15.11% | +1.99% |
| 4 | ZIP | Zip Co Limited | 12.90% | +0.32% |
| 5 | PLS | PLS Group Limited | 12.89% | +0.13% |
| 6 | IPX | IperionX Limited | 12.88% | +0.43% |
| 7 | DMP | Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited | 12.14% | +0.49% |
| 8 | PDN | Paladin Energy Ltd | 11.82% | +0.37% |
| 9 | LYC | Lynas Rare Earths Limited | 11.81% | +0.29% |
| 10 | WTC | WiseTech Global Limited | 10.99% | -0.10% |
Biggest increases in short interest
Where short sellers added the most, among stocks with at least 2% short interest.
| Stock | Company | Sector | Before | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOE | Boss Energy Limited | Energy | 13.12% | 15.11% | +1.99% |
| DRO | DroneShield Limited | Industrials | 14.52% | 16.23% | +1.71% |
| LOT | Lotus Resources Limited | Materials | 13.97% | 15.56% | +1.59% |
| AYA | Artrya Limited | Health Care | 8.55% | 10.05% | +1.50% |
| CHN | Chalice Mining Limited | Materials | 2.84% | 4.04% | +1.20% |
| EOS | Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited | Industrials | 9.70% | 10.85% | +1.15% |
| TPW | Temple & Webster Group Ltd | Consumer Discretionary | 3.99% | 5.13% | +1.14% |
| NUGG | Vaneck Gold Bullion ETF Units | – | 2.18% | 3.17% | +0.99% |
Biggest short covering
Where short positions fell the most. Covering can add buying pressure, but it can also just mean the bearish thesis has played out.
| Stock | Company | Sector | Before | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EQR | EQ Resources Limited | Materials | 2.11% | 1.10% | -1.01% |
| KAR | Karoon Energy Ltd | Energy | 3.83% | 3.12% | -0.71% |
| AAI | Alcoa Corporation | Materials | 2.79% | 2.30% | -0.49% |
| INA | Ingenia Communities Group | Real Estate | 5.33% | 4.85% | -0.48% |
| NHC | New Hope Corporation Limited | Energy | 4.75% | 4.27% | -0.48% |
| ELV | Elevra Lithium Limited | Materials | 6.99% | 6.55% | -0.45% |
| ELD | Elders Limited | Consumer Staples | 10.02% | 9.61% | -0.41% |
| 4DX | 4DMedical Limited | Health Care | 11.12% | 10.72% | -0.40% |
New to the top 20
AYA (10.05%, rank 16), CU6 (9.72%, rank 18).
Directors buying heavily shorted stocks
On-market buys lodged this week in stocks with at least 3% short interest: insiders taking the other side of the short trade.
| Stock | Short interest | Director | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIG | 5.38% | Mario Verrocchi | 2,000,000 | $5,092,146 |
| BRG | 8.19% | James D Clayton | 29,330 | $4,365,323 |
| DMP | 12.14% | John James Cowin | 122,307 | $2,980,500 |
| HVN | 3.44% | Gerald Harvey | 463,000 | $1,899,796 |
| DMP | 12.14% | Andrew Gregory | 98,000 | $1,894,732 |
| EDV | 8.58% | Carla Jayne Hrdlicka | 323,468 | $1,000,000 |
| A2M | 7.31% | Grant Andrew Dempsey | 70,000 | $584,500 |
| A2M | 7.31% | Lain Clifford Jager | 24,721 | $238,784 |
Price-sensitive news from heavily shorted stocks
Announcements this week from stocks with at least 5% short interest.
- DRO (16.23% short, 15 Oct): FY2026 Committed Revenue Update & Investor Presentation
- ZIP (12.90% short, 16 Oct): Proposed consolidation of share capital
- PLS (12.89% short, 16 Oct): Pilgangoora Ore Reserve increases 31% in contained lithium
- PLS (12.89% short, 16 Oct): PLS approves P2000 FID to lift production to circa 2Mtpa
- PLS (12.89% short, 16 Oct): Enhancing infrastructure to strengthen Pilgangoora operation
- PLS (12.89% short, 16 Oct): Corporate Presentation - The next phase of Pilgangoora
- PDN (11.82% short, 14 Oct): Quarterly Report - September 2026
- WTC (10.99% short, 15 Oct): Resolution of ASIC matters
- TWE (10.39% short, 15 Oct): TWE 2026 AGM Address
- RIO (9.65% short, 14 Oct): Rio Tinto releases third quarter 2026 production results
- DYL (9.33% short, 16 Oct): Update - Tumas Project, Namibia
- MI6 (8.21% short, 13 Oct): Grade Control Drilling Strengthens Bullabulling Resource
Short positions come from ASIC's daily short position reports, published four business days after the trade date. This report uses positions as at 12 Oct and compares them with 5 Oct. 778 stocks had reportable short positions. This is data, not investment advice.