Stocks

A Detailed Look at Lumen Technologies' Increase in Short Interest

Published February 23, 2024

Lumen Technologies, the telecommunications giant formerly known as CenturyLink, has seen a notable uptick in short interest in its stock LUMN. Investors and traders monitoring short interest levels will find that Lumen's short percent of float has climbed by 7.74% since the last reported figures. The latest data indicates that there are approximately 146.67 million Lumen Technologies shares sold short. This substantial number amounts to 16.56% of the company's regular shares that are currently available for trading on the market.

Rising Short Interest in Lumen Technologies

The increased short interest in Lumen Technologies' shares can be a signal of investors' sentiment and their speculation about potential declines in the stock price. Short selling involves borrowing shares and selling them with the hope of buying them back at a lower price. A higher percentage of short interest relative to the float suggests that more investors are betting that the stock price will decrease in the future. However, it is essential to consider that high short interest can also lead to a short squeeze if the stock price unexpectedly rises, compelling short sellers to cover their positions at a loss.

Understanding the Short Percent of Float

The short percent of float is a metric used to gauge the level of bearish sentiment in the market for a stock. It is calculated by dividing the number of shares sold short by the number of shares available for trading (the float). An increase in this percentage often suggests that more investors are expecting the stock price to fall. However, this metric should be evaluated alongside other fundamental and technical factors to gain a comprehensive understanding of the stock's potential trajectory.

Lumen Technologies has been in the limelight due to its portfolio of services encompassing communications, network services, security, cloud solutions, and managed services. Headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, the company serves a wide range of customers and industries, making its stock performance an area of interest for many stakeholders.

Lumen, ShortInterest, Telecommunications