ASX Short Interest by Industry
How heavily each industry group is shorted, compared with the market as a whole.
Market median 0.41% across 692 stocksASIC data as at 12 Oct 2026
Industry Heat Map
Median short interest in each industry compared with the market median of 0.41%
Automobiles & Components3.48%8.6× market3 stocks · small sampleConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail2.99%7.4× market5 stocks · small sampleInsurance2.80%6.9× market9 stocks · small sampleBanks2.61%6.4× market9 stocks · small sampleFood, Beverage & Tobacco1.58%3.9× market11 stocks · small sampleTelecommunication Services1.48%3.6× market8 stocks · small sampleConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail1.12%2.7× market28 stocksEquity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)1.03%2.5× market31 stocksHealth Care Equipment & Services0.96%2.4× market32 stocksConsumer Services0.92%2.3× market24 stocksTransportation0.85%2.1× market13 stocks · small sampleSoftware & Services0.74%1.8× market33 stocksFinancial Services0.57%1.4× market44 stocksCommercial & Professional Services0.56%1.4× market17 stocksTechnology Hardware & Equipment0.44%1.1× market6 stocks · small sampleMedia & Entertainment0.39%1.0× market19 stocksCapital Goods0.31%0.8× market43 stocksReal Estate Management & Development0.21%0.5× market9 stocks · small sampleEnergy0.19%0.5× market48 stocksMaterials0.17%0.4× market252 stocksUtilities0.12%0.3× market8 stocks · small samplePharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences0.08%0.2× market32 stocks
Medians are used because a few heavily shorted stocks can pull an industry's average well above what's typical. Based on 692 stocks with reportable short positions (funds and ETFs excluded).
All industries compared
industryStocksMedianvs market medianAverageMost shorted
- Automobiles & Components3 stocks · 8.6× market33.48%8.6×3.05%ARB4.1%AOV3.5%PWH1.6%
- Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail5 stocks · 7.4× market52.99%7.4×3.80%EDV8.6%MTS4.8%GNC3.0%
- Insurance9 stocks · 6.9× market92.80%6.9×3.22%GDG7.5%AUB7.4%SDF4.0%
- Banks9 stocks · 6.4× market92.61%6.4×2.51%BEN5.8%BOQ4.4%WBC2.9%
- Food, Beverage & Tobacco11 stocks · 3.9× market111.58%3.9×3.80%TWE10.4%ELD9.6%A2M7.3%
- Telecommunication Services8 stocks · 3.6× market81.48%3.6×1.86%ABB6.4%CNU2.4%TPG2.1%
- Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail28 stocks · 2.7× market281.12%2.7×1.68%NCK7.1%SUL5.3%TPW5.1%
- Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)31 stocks · 2.5× market311.03%2.5×1.61%DGT5.1%INA4.8%ARF4.0%
- Health Care Equipment & Services32 stocks · 2.4× market320.96%2.4×2.15%4DX10.7%AYA10.1%PNV7.3%
- Consumer Services24 stocks · 2.3× market240.92%2.3×2.36%DMP12.1%FLT10.5%TLC10.0%
- Transportation13 stocks · 2.1× market130.85%2.1×0.80%TCL2.2%KLS1.7%QAN1.3%
- Software & Services33 stocks · 1.8× market330.74%1.8×2.10%WTC11.0%NXT8.6%SDR7.9%
- Financial Services44 stocks · 1.4× market440.57%1.4×1.65%ZIP12.9%TYR6.5%PNI6.1%
- Commercial & Professional Services17 stocks · 1.4× market170.56%1.4×1.35%IPH9.0%CWY2.7%SIQ2.7%
- Technology Hardware & Equipment6 stocks · 1.1× market60.44%1.1×1.02%ELS4.0%AD80.9%DDR0.5%
- Media & Entertainment19 stocks · 1.0× market190.39%1.0×1.18%NEC5.6%CAR5.0%REA3.7%
- Capital Goods43 stocks · 0.8× market430.31%0.8×1.46%DRO16.2%EOS10.9%SLX8.0%
- Real Estate Management & Development9 stocks · 0.5× market90.21%0.5×2.53%LLC8.9%PXA6.5%LIC6.1%
- Energy48 stocks · 0.5× market480.19%0.5×1.56%BOE15.1%PDN11.8%DYL9.3%
- Materials252 stocks · 0.4× market2520.17%0.4×1.20%LOT15.6%PLS12.9%IPX12.9%
- Utilities8 stocks · 0.3× market80.12%0.3×1.01%AGL4.9%APA1.8%ORG1.1%
- Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences32 stocks · 0.2× market320.08%0.2×1.48%TLX10.7%CU69.7%CUV8.9%
Median short interest is the middle stock in each industry; the bar shows it against the market-wide median. Averages are shown for reference but can be pulled up by one or two heavily shorted names. Industries with fewer than three stocks reporting short positions are left out. ETFs and funds are excluded.