Bears Flood EVs, Bulls Chase Fizz

Options flow sent a clear split signal on Friday. Bearish bets piled into electric vehicles and chip stocks. Bullish money moved into an unlikely corner: beverages.

LCID stands out as the most exposed name. Short interest sits at nearly 50% of free float. The cost to borrow has climbed to 6.6%. Availability of shares to short is almost zero — just 0.4% of short interest. That combination screams maximum bear commitment. Options traders appear aligned. ORTEX data flags bears piling into EVs this week with notable order flow.

WOLF faces a similar setup. The Wolfspeed chip name drew fresh negative bets alongside Lucid, suggesting sector-wide caution on high-risk growth plays.

The contrast with FIZZ is sharp. National Beverage Corp carries 18.3% short interest. Yet options sentiment flipped bullish this week — just as UBS lifted its price target to the stock's current level. With availability at 782% of short interest, bears are far from crowded here. A rapid sentiment reversal could accelerate quickly.

Meanwhile, JKHY heads into Tuesday's earnings print with its most defensive options skew of the year. The fintech processor carries only 6.2% short interest. But options positioning has turned cautious. That mismatch — low short interest, high put demand — is a classic pre-earnings hedge signal.

APP draws attention from the other side. AppLovin is down 53% year-to-date. Analysts just upgraded the stock. Options traders may be watching for a sentiment bottom.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.