Short Interest Swings in High-Yield Dividend Stocks

As we have said a number of times, short selling a high-dividend stock takes much more courage and conviction than short selling growth stocks or other stocks with no dividends. Besides being short a stock and having to pay borrowing costs to a brokerage firm, short sellers effectively assume the liability of paying out that dividend as well. Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) saw its short interest rise marginally, with the mid-month short interest at 19.124 million shares, versus 18.94 million shares short as of July 31.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) had a rise in its short interest that more than reclaimed the decline in the previous period. Some 205.44 million shares were short as of the mid-month settlement date, up from 196.91 million shares short in the prior report. General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) shares short rose to their highest level since March. The 71.44 million shares short were up from 67.20 million shares in the previous period. Kimberly-Clark Corp. (NYSE: KMB) saw its third consecutive drop in the short interest, falling to 5.68 million shares as of August 15, versus 6.25 million shares short as of July 31.

Source: Wall St. 24/7

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