In this article, we will take a detailed look at the 16 Best 52-Week Low Stocks To Buy Now According to Short Sellers.
The US stock market reached new all-time highs in late February 2025, as inflation remained near the 2% target while a potential end in the Ukraine conflict sparked some optimism for the long term. Besides the creation of multi-billion-dollar demand for potential rebuilding efforts of the country, including agriculture, residential, and infrastructure, the return of American business to Ukraine and Russia is a big win for most corporations, many of which could experience up to double-digit uplift in revenue and earnings growth due to up to 200 million customer market. More importantly, this outlook is favorable for energy security, stimulates volumes, and might push energy prices lower, which in turn allows for higher profitability.
Despite the aforementioned tailwinds, the US stock market gains are still largely driven by the Magnificent 8 companies, which trade at record-high valuations and have contributed to an unprecedented rise in the stock market concentration. These companies are anticipated to have tremendous growth opportunities arising from AI and data center megatrends, on top of existing rapidly growing niches like cloud computing, media streaming, SaaS, and others. Only time will tell whether the current valuations are fair; what is certain is that many industries have been struggling since 2022, as inflationary pressures followed by high interest rates and an increasingly tough labor market dominated by layoffs and scarcity of entry-level positions have put tremendous pressure on US consumers. The high financing costs have led to diminishing Capex appetite in many industries, leading to struggle in several market segments – perfectly illustrated by underperforming consumer discretionary and industrial sectors since 2022.
On top of harsh macro conditions in the last 3 years, the new “Trump 2.0” regime and his administration can be a threat for the healthcare sector. Trump is a notorious critic of the health insurance business and might create headwinds for it through attempts of deregulation and efforts to cut the government financing of healthcare programs. As a result, the healthcare sector relative to the overall market is at record lows comparable to the 2008 depression. All in all, despite apparent optimism in the market, there are pockets of underperformance and many companies trading near their 52-week low, which may present compelling opportunities to acquire good companies at attractive prices.
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Our Methodology
We screened 30-40 stocks with at least $1 billion in market cap that are near their 52-week lows. Then we sorted them by open short interest as a percentage of outstanding shares and included the top 16 with the lowest open short interest in the article. Our belief is that a low open short interest implies a lack of bearish views on the business from leading hedge funds, which represents a bullish signal from a contrarian perspective.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 363.5% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 208 percentage points (see more details here).
16. Parsons Corporation (NYSE:PSN)
Short Interest as % of Shares Outstanding: 4.39%
Parsons Corporation (NYSE:PSN) is a technology-driven defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure solutions provider serving government and commercial clients worldwide. With a strong focus on cybersecurity, space, missile defense, and smart infrastructure, PSN leverages advanced engineering and software capabilities to address complex security and modernization challenges. The company’s expertise in AI, data analytics, and digital transformation positions it as a key player in national security and infrastructure resilience.
After a strong rally in mid-2024, Parsons Corporation (NYSE:PSN)’s stock price is down 45% since November and reached a new 52-week low. The new administration’s philosophy of cutting public spending and the liquidation of such organizations as USAID has led to several large project cancellations for PSN, which were previously under the radar and labeled as “secret”. Despite peak market fears that further cancellations will follow and that the “Trump 2.0” regime will be a headwind for government contractors, Parsons Corporation (NYSE:PSN) delivered record results across major financial metrics in 2024, achieving organic revenue growth of 22% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 30%. The company reported record contract awards of $7 billion, increasing 17% over 2023, with strong win rates of 71%. During the recent Q4 2024 earnings call, management guided toward solid 5% organic growth next year and disclosed several multi-million-dollar project awards in hot niches like cybersecurity. All in all, the relatively low short interest of 4.39% implies that short sellers still don’t have a compelling bear thesis for the long term, which may be a bullish signal from a contrarian perspective.
15. MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MKTX)
Short Interest as % of Shares Outstanding: 3.97%
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MKTX) is a leading electronic trading platform operator specializing in fixed-income securities, particularly corporate bonds. The company revolutionized bond trading by enhancing liquidity, transparency, and efficiency through its proprietary technology and data-driven solutions. MKTX serves institutional investors globally, offering automated trade execution, credit market data, and portfolio analytics. With the increasing adoption of electronic trading in fixed-income markets, the company continues to expand its product offerings and leverage AI and data analytics to strengthen its competitive position in the evolving financial landscape.
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MKTX) has had a tough Q4 2024 as the stock price is down 35% from the October peak. The company sees high levels of volatility in the rates market which is further aggravated by the consolidation of two major banking trading desks, which creates a headwind for fee distribution. On top of that, MKTX’s income was pressured by mark-to-market losses from its US Treasury portfolio as the new Trump administration has pushed yields higher due to concerns that tariffs will fuel inflation in the following years. The aforementioned headwinds are certainly temporary, while the company is taking the right steps to solidify its position for the long-term – it is undergoing a significant technology transformation, focused on delivering innovative trading solutions and data-driven analytics to its clients. As disclosed at a recent financial services conference, management is seeing strong growth opportunities in emerging markets and is working to carefully monetize its unique data assets to drive increased electronic trading volumes and revenues. Despite some near-term headwinds from portfolio trading, MKTX is well-positioned to capitalize on the continued electronification of fixed-income markets in the years ahead.
14. TriNet Group Inc. (NYSE:TNET)
Short Interest as % of Shares Outstanding: 3.65%
TriNet Group Inc. (NYSE:TNET) is a leading provider of comprehensive human resources solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Specializing in payroll, benefits, risk management, and compliance, TNET operates as a professional employer organization, enabling clients to streamline HR functions while focusing on core business growth. The company’s technology-driven platform, combined with industry-specific expertise, helps businesses navigate complex regulatory landscapes and attract top talent with competitive benefits.
Unlike the previous companies, TriNet Group Inc. (NYSE:TNET) has underperformed for the entire calendar 2024, as the tough macro conditions and peak uncertainty in the economy have constrained the hiring activity at American businesses, which directly impacts the need for HR-related services. On top of that, TNET was hit with higher healthcare and pharmacy utilization headwinds, as well as increasing insurance cost trends. Nevertheless, the company is optimistic about the market opportunity ahead, with the election uncertainty behind them and a renewed focus on strategic priorities, including investing in its sales force, managing expenses prudently, and returning capital to shareholders while maintaining a strong balance sheet. The new US administration may prove itself as a tailwind for long-term hiring, due to efforts to bring manufacturing back to the US soil which could drive a hiring spree at some point in the future. Short sellers can’t deny the optimistic long-term landscape for TriNet Group Inc. (NYSE:TNET), as the short interest stands at only 3.65%.
