Bears Circle Biotech, Prison Stocks, and Chewy

Short sellers are busy this week. Data from August 11 shows sharp moves across biotech, consumer names, and a surprise in the private-prison sector.

CoreCivic saw the sharpest week-on-week jump among mid-caps. SI % of FF leapt from 2.4% to 10.2% — a near-fourfold rise in seven days. The move follows renewed debate around federal detention policy.

Replimune is another standout. SI climbed to 43.8% of free float, up from 35.7% last week — an 8-point spike. The cancer-therapy biotech carries a cost to borrow of just 0.8%, suggesting bears still have easy access.

Chewy remains the most striking large-cap on the screen. SI sits at 95.6% of free float — deep short territory. Availability is ample at 477%, so pressure has not yet triggered a squeeze.

Hertz continues to attract attention on social platforms. SI holds at 68.9% of float. Availability is zero. Cost to borrow is 27.9%. Those are squeeze conditions worth watching.

EverCommerce carries the highest ORTEX short score among mid-caps at 94.9. Cost to borrow jumped to 60%. Shares available to borrow equal just 2% of short interest — the tightest squeeze setup in the screen.

On the other side, ORTEX data shows UDR shorts retreating fast. SI fell 21% in a single day to 2.4% of float, down 44.9% over the past month.