Why this matters — Three distinct ORTEX short-side data points have simultaneously spiked on LOBO, signaling acute strain in the stock's borrow market. Short interest, cost to borrow, and utilisation all hit extreme levels within 24 hours, a rare triple convergence that reflects intensifying short-seller activity and shrinking share availability.
Short interest exploded 228% in one day. ORTEX estimates show LOBO's shares short jumped to 2.69 million on April 22, up from 821,000 the prior day. Over the past week, short interest surged 917%. This marks a 6,055% increase from one month ago, when just 44,000 shares were short. The stock's official FINRA reading at end-March was 161,000 shares, underscoring how rapidly the position has grown.
Cost to borrow rocketed to 311% APR. Borrowing fees hit 311% on April 22, up from 99% the day before and just 14% one week earlier. That's a 1,600% one-week spike. The climb reflects a severe shortage of lendable shares. A month ago, CTB sat near 22%. The current rate makes LOBO one of the most expensive US stocks to short.
Utilisation neared its 52-week peak at 96.13%. Nearly all available shares to borrow are now on loan. This is just shy of the 97.46% 52-week high. Two weeks ago, utilisation was below 8%. The near-total depletion of the borrow pool leaves little room for new short positions.
LOBO's short metrics have been volatile in recent months, but this is the first time all three indicators have converged at extreme levels simultaneously. The stock briefly touched 97% utilisation on April 14, but short interest and CTB were far lower then. The current alignment has no recent precedent in this name.
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