At the start of each week, I like to look at ASIC's short position report to find out which shares are being targeted by short sellers.
This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.
With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:
- Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) remains the most shorted ASX share with short interest of 19.8%. This is up week on week. Short sellers continue to load up on the uranium producer's shares after its guidance for FY 2026 fell materially short of expectations.
- Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has seen its short interest rise again to 18.2%. This may be due to concerns over the ramp up of the uranium miner's Langer Heinrich Mine.
- Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) has seen its short interest rebound to 15.1%. Short sellers appear to believe that lithium prices are going to remain under pressure for some time to come.
- Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX) has seen its short interest jump to 14.6%. This uranium enrichment technology company tumbled this month after raising $130 million. Short sellers appear to be betting on further declines.
- IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) has 12.9% of its shares held short, which is up week on week again. This language testing and student placement company is battling very tough trading conditions due to student visa changes.
- Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC) has seen its short interest remain flat at 11.7% for another week. This retirement living company's shares have been sold off again this year after it lost a major court battle.
- Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) has short interest of 11.7%, which is down week on week again. This may be due to concerns over the state of its balance sheet and weak commodity prices.
- Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has 11.6% of its shares held short, which is up week on week again. Valuation concerns and softer than forecast sales growth may be behind this.
- Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) has short interest of 10.3%, which is down sharply week on week. It is yet another lithium miner that short sellers are targeting.
- Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) has short interest of 9.9%, which is up week on week. Concerns that corporate travel demand could be softening due to tariff uncertainty appears to be behind this.
