Welcome to this week’s installment of “The Short Interest Report" - The Fly's weekly recap of short interest trends among some of the most widely followed high-short-float stocks. Using the data from our partner Ortex.com, which utilizes the latest information from stock lenders to estimate short interest changes for thousands of publicly traded companies, this version will screen for some of biggest changes in short interest as a percentage of free float and days-to-cover ratios. This report will also continue to layer the short interest data on some of the more volatile and heavier-traded names of the week. Based on the availability of data from Ortex, the report will continue to track the trading period that covers prior Friday through Thursday of this week.

As a basis of comparison, the S&P 500 index was up 0.2%, the Russell 2000 index was up 0.4%, the Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) was up 1.2%, and the Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) was down 0.4% in the period range.

NATIONAL STORAGE SHORT INTEREST SPIKES TO 2021 HIGH

Estimated short interest in National Storage (NSA) was the most extreme upside mover in a week where the vast majority of the Ortex-driven screen saw either little change or gradual declines in short positioning. The short as a percentage of free float spiked up by 34 percentage points to 42%, the highest level of this year, while the days to cover ratio on the stock quintupled to 1.2. Shares of National Storage were up by 1.8% in the five-day trading period covered.

STITCH FIX SHORT INTEREST REACHES THREE-WEEK HIGH

Estimated short interest in Stitch Fix (SFIX) remained buoyant after sinking to just over 10% early in July, nudging higher by one percentage point to 14.7%. This also marks the highest net short position since July 1. The bounce in the days-to-cover ratio for the stock was even more pronounced, rising by about 14% to 3.1. Shares of Stitch Fix were up 3.8% in the five-day trading period covered.

VIRGIN GALACTIC SHORT INTEREST SINKS TO FOUR-MONTH LOW

After an active last week of June and first half of July, volatility and volume in Virgin Galactic (SPCE) have subsided, with short positions tracking a more subdued sentiment. For the week, the estimated short position in the name was down by about six percentage points to 16.6%, with the mid-week low of 14.1% marking the lowest level since late March. Days-to-cover in the name was down 29% at 0.58, with shares of Virgin Galactic trading down 2.9% in the five-day trading period covered.

CLOVER HEALTH SHORT INTEREST SLIDES TO FIVE-MONTH LOW

Clover Health (CLOV) had spent some time as the darling of the WallStreetBets community last month, but interest in the “short squeeze” seems to have faded and the reduced volatility in the stock has reflected diminished sentiment. The estimated short interest on the name was down six percentage points at 21.3%, with days to clover also declining about 14% to 0.7. Shares of Clover Health were up 4.4% in the five-day trading period covered after hitting a seven-week low on Friday.

ARCIMOTO SHORT INTEREST FALLS EVERY DAY THIS WEEK

Estimated short interest in Arcimoto (FUV) was down every day of the week, slipping by over five percentage points to hit a 6-week low of 34.5%. Short position had risen in the prior two weeks, but this week’s decline was comparable to that of mid-June. Likewise, the days to cover ratio in Arcimoto was down 12% at 6.4, with shares jumping by 11% in the five-day trading period covered and by another 5% late on Friday.