Nasdaq Announces End-of-Month Open Short Interest Positions in Nasdaq Stocks as of Settlement Date September 30, 2026

Nasdaq short interest rose, but average days to cover dropped across all segments.

What the company is saying

Nasdaq is providing a statistical update on short interest as of September 30, 2026, for its listed securities. The company reports that short interest in 3,885 Nasdaq Global Market SM securities reached 18,657,486,300 shares, up from 18,116,572,644 shares in 3,862 issues at the prior settlement. For the Nasdaq Capital Market SM, short interest in 1,667 securities totaled 4,436,257,542 shares, compared to 4,404,738,050 shares in 1,654 securities previously. In aggregate, short interest across all 5,552 Nasdaq securities was 23,093,743,842 shares, up from 22,521,310,694 shares in 5,516 issues at the last reporting date. The announcement emphasizes the days to cover metric, noting a decrease in average daily volume days for all segments: Global Market dropped from 3.55 to 3.19, Capital Market from 1.76 to 1.30, and all Nasdaq securities from 2.96 to 2.49. The tone is strictly factual and neutral, with no commentary or forward-looking statements.

What the data suggests

The figures show that while the number of securities with short interest and total shares sold short increased across both the Global Market and Capital Market segments, the average days to cover declined. For the Nasdaq Global Market, short interest rose from 18,116,572,644 to 18,657,486,300 shares, but days to cover fell from 3.55 to 3.19. In the Capital Market, short interest increased from 4,404,738,050 to 4,436,257,542 shares, with days to cover dropping from 1.76 to 1.30. Across all Nasdaq securities, short interest climbed from 22,521,310,694 to 23,093,743,842 shares, while days to cover decreased from 2.96 to 2.49. This suggests that trading volumes have increased, allowing short positions to be covered more quickly despite the higher number of shares sold short. The data is comprehensive, internally consistent, and allows for clear period-over-period comparison.

Analysis

The announcement is a factual, statistical update on short interest across Nasdaq-listed securities as of September 30, 2026. All claims are realised and supported by specific numerical data, with no forward-looking statements, projections, or promotional language present. There is no attempt to frame the data in a positive or negative light, nor is there any narrative inflation or overstatement of significance. No capital outlay, strategic initiative, or future benefit is discussed, so there is no gap between narrative and evidence. The tone is strictly informational, and all figures are internally consistent and clearly defined.

Risk flags

• ●Short interest levels have increased in both the Global and Capital Market segments, which could signal rising bearish sentiment or hedging activity in certain securities. If this trend accelerates, it may indicate growing market caution or sector-specific concerns.
• ●A decrease in days to cover, while generally positive for liquidity, can also mean that short squeezes could occur more rapidly if trading volumes suddenly drop or if there is a sharp reversal in sentiment. This dynamic introduces potential volatility risk for heavily shorted securities.
• ●The report is purely quantitative and does not provide context or analysis regarding the drivers of these changes, leaving investors without insight into whether the shifts are due to broad market trends, sector rotation, or company-specific events.

Bottom line

Nasdaq's update shows that short interest has increased across its listed securities, but the average days to cover has fallen, indicating higher trading volumes or faster short covering. The data is timely, granular, and transparent, providing investors with a clear view of short-selling activity as of September 30, 2026. While the report is strictly factual and avoids any narrative spin, it does not explain the causes behind these shifts, so investors must look elsewhere for qualitative context. The most actionable takeaway is that liquidity appears robust, but higher short interest may signal caution in certain segments. Monitoring future updates for trend continuation or reversal will be important for assessing market sentiment.

Announcement summary

(NASDAQ:NDAQ) Nasdaq reported short interest statistics as of the settlement date of September 30, 2026. Short interest in 3,885 Nasdaq Global Market SM securities totaled 18,657,486,300 shares, up from 18,116,572,644 shares in 3,862 Global Market issues at the prior settlement date of September 15, 2026. The September short interest for the Global Market represents 3.19 days of average daily volume, compared with 3.55 days for the previous reporting period. Short interest in 1,667 securities on The Nasdaq Capital Market SM totaled 4,436,257,542 shares at September 30, 2026, compared with 4,404,738,050 shares in 1,654 securities for the previous period. This represents a 1.30 day average daily volume for the Capital Market, compared to 1.76 days previously. In total, short interest in all 5,552 Nasdaq ® securities was 23,093,743,842 shares at September 30, 2026, compared with 5,516 issues and 22,521,310,694 shares at the end of the previous reporting period. This equates to 2.49 days average daily volume, compared with 2.96 days for the prior period. The open short interest positions reported for each Nasdaq security reflect the total number of shares sold short by all broker/dealers, regardless of their exchange affiliations. A short sale is defined as the sale of a security not owned by the seller or any sale consummated by delivery of a borrowed security.

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