5 Most Shorted Stocks in the World

4. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 128

Shares Shorted as of August 30: 113.07 million

As of August 30, more than 113 million shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) have been shorted, making it a significant feature on our list of the most shorted stocks in the world. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is facing extra pressure from the U.S. Senators as they have asked members of the intelligence community to examine if a deal between Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and the Chinese memory chip maker, Yangtze Memory Technologies, threatens national security.

On September 20, Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani raised the price target on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to $190 from $185 and kept an Outperform rating on the shares, citing larger demand for high-end iPhone models compared to earlier years. While he sees “modest unit upside” compared to low-single digit Street expectations, average selling prices “could surprise materially”, the analyst added.

According to Insider Monkey’s data, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was part of 128 hedge fund portfolios at the end of June 2022, compared to 131 in the earlier quarter. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is the biggest position holder in the company, with roughly 895 million shares worth $122.3 billion. 

In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Alger Capital, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a leading technology provider in telecommunications. computing and services. Apple’s iOS operating system is the company’s unique intellectual property and competitive strength. This software drives extremely tight engagement with consumers and enterprises. The engagement is fostering the growing purchase of high-margin services like music, apps, and apple pay. Apple’s shares detracted from performance as management lowered its guidance for the second quarter due to headwinds from the war in Ukraine, adverse foreign currency shifts, and dampened consumer demand associated with the coronavirus in China. Additionally, many investors were concerned that lockdowns implemented to curtail the spread of COVID-19 would impact production of apple products, however the manufacturing facilities have resumed activity.”