Friday Roundup: Bears, Analysts, and Big Insider Moves

Short Sellers on the Move

Short sellers are making bold bets heading into the weekend. SWBI saw the sharpest jump — short interest leapt from 6.0% to 10.1% of free float in a single week. Bears nearly doubled their position in the gunmaker. CROX shorts also built steadily, climbing from 10.3% to 12.8% FF. That steady grind higher suggests bears see lasting pressure on consumer spending. WOLF remains the most crowded short at 82.4% SI % FF with zero shares left to borrow.

Analysts Cut Utilities, Split on Airlines

Morgan Stanley swept through the US utilities sector Friday with broad price target cuts. NEE, PCG, PPL, PNW, and NRG all took hits. The cuts point to valuation and rate sensitivity weighing on the group. Airlines painted a different picture. DAL picked up a Buy upgrade from Rothschild. UAL was simultaneously downgraded with a lower target. JP Morgan upgraded BALL to Buy as a standout single-stock call.

Insider Activity Dominates Headlines

The biggest insider story is NVDA. Director Mark Stevens filed disclosing he sold roughly 1.85 million shares for approximately $411 million between August 31 and September 2. That is one of the largest single-director disposals filed this year. On the other side, Bill Gates added around 1.09 million shares of RSG for roughly $241 million — doubling down as the stock's largest individual shareholder.

Earnings and Options in Focus

MU tops the options board for bullish bets, up 242% year-to-date with analysts still seeing 55% more upside. On earnings, PGR reports today. VFS reports after hours with tight borrow availability at just 25% — expect volatility.